The forest had gone silent again.
Too silent.
The announcement still echoed in their minds—
"The Yellow Team… is missing."
No one spoke for a few seconds.
Even Felix, who usually had something to say, stayed quiet.
Finally, Noah broke the silence.
"Teams don't just… disappear."
Lily shook her head slowly. "Not in an exam like this."
Zoya looked around carefully. "This isn't just a test anymore."
David clenched his jaw. "…I told you. Someone is watching us."
Daniel didn't say anything.
But inside—
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
🌫️ Moving Forward
"We can't stay here," Felix said firmly. "If we stop moving, we become targets."
"Agreed," Lucy nodded.
They regrouped and started walking deeper into the forest.
But this time—
No one relaxed.
Every step felt heavier.
Every shadow felt alive.
After walking for a while, David suddenly stopped again.
"Wait."
Everyone turned.
"What now?" Zoya asked.
David whispered—
"…He's here again."
"Who?" Noah asked.
"The one I saw earlier."
Everyone immediately became alert.
"Where?" Daniel asked.
David pointed toward a cluster of tall, dead trees.
"There."
They all looked.
But—
Nothing.
Empty.
Daniel narrowed his eyes.
"Stay together."
Suddenly—
Daniel felt a sharp pain in his head.
He grabbed it instantly.
"Ah—!"
"Daniel?!" Mary rushed to him.
"I'm fine…" he said, breathing heavily.
But he wasn't.
Because—
He heard it.
A voice.
Soft.
Cold.
Whispering.
"…Daniel…"
Daniel froze.
His eyes widened.
No one else reacted.
"Did you hear that?" he asked quickly.
"Hear what?" Felix replied.
The voice came again.
Clearer this time.
"Daniel… Williams…"
His heartbeat started racing.
Mary held his arm. "Daniel, what's wrong?"
He looked at her… but couldn't answer.
Because the voice continued—
"I finally found you…"
Suddenly—
Daniel dropped to his knees.
"Daniel!" everyone shouted.
He held his head tightly.
The voice was louder now.
Stronger.
"Do you like this place?"
Daniel's breathing became uneven.
"This forest… is mine."
Everyone around him looked confused and scared.
"Daniel, say something!" Mary said, shaking him lightly.
But Daniel wasn't hearing them anymore.
Only that voice.
Everything around him went dark.
He was no longer standing with his team.
He was… somewhere else.
A black void.
And in front of him—
A shadow.
A figure he couldn't fully see.
But he could feel its presence.
Heavy.
Terrifying.
👤 The Master
The figure spoke.
"Welcome, Daniel."
Daniel clenched his fists.
"…Who are you?"
A low chuckle echoed.
"You already know."
A pause.
Then—
"I am the one you've been searching for."
Daniel's eyes widened.
"…Master?"
The shadow smiled—though its face was still unclear.
"Good. You're not as slow as I thought."
The air grew colder.
"You've grown… stronger."
"But not enough."
Daniel tried to move—but his body wouldn't respond.
"Why are you doing this?" he shouted.
The Master tilted his head slightly.
"Because you're special."
A pause.
Then—
"Because you are his blood."
Daniel froze.
"…What?"
"Seventh generation…" the Master whispered.
"The legacy of the one who stood against me."
Daniel's mind started spinning.
"My ancestor…?"
The Master's voice turned darker.
"He should have died properly that day."
"But now…"
"You will finish what he started."
💀 A Deadly Promise
The shadow stepped closer.
The pressure increased.
"This forest… is not part of your exam."
Daniel's heart dropped.
"It is my hunting ground."
The Master's voice became dangerously calm.
"Today… is your last day."
Daniel tried to resist.
Tried to speak.
But—
The next words hit him harder than anything.
"Enjoy your time… with your girlfriend."
A pause.
Then—
"Mary… wasn't it?"
Back in reality—
Daniel suddenly screamed—
"NO!"
Everyone jumped.
"Daniel!!" Mary held him tightly.
His eyes were wide.
Filled with fear.
Real fear.
"What happened?!" Felix asked.
Daniel looked around wildly.
"He—he said—he—"
He couldn't finish.
His hands were shaking.
Far away…
Hidden deep within the forest—
A shadow watched everything.
Silently.
Patiently.
And then—
Daniel looked at his team.
Then at the dark forest ahead.
His voice trembled—
"…He's here."
A pause.
"…And he's watching us."
TO BE CONTINUED…