The next morning, with a backpack full of snacks and a flashlight, Arjun stood at the entrance of the forest. The air felt colder here. As he stepped inside, the chirping of birds suddenly stopped.
The further he walked, following the map's jagged lines, the stranger things became. The trees had thick, twisted trunks that looked like tired old man.Suddenly, he heard a faint sound. It wasn't the wind. It sounded like a thousand tiny voices murmuring just out of reach.
"Is.... is someone there?" Arjun asked, his voice trembling slightly.
The whispering grew louder, and the path ahead began to glow with a soft, blue light. He realized the map was vibrating in his hand. He was close, but the shadows between the trees seemed to be moving toward him.