Soren stared at the Black sheriff standing outside the car.
Boyd's face was tight, like he was trying to see straight through the younger man.
"What the hell are you, really?"
He finally spoke. "That sword. This Nico you mentioned. Where did you two even come from?"
"Just looking for someone," Soren said without elaborating. He turned the question back. "You didn't come all the way out here just to ask that, did you?"
Boyd stayed quiet for a beat, his eyes flicking toward the stuff in the back of the car. "You saw what your friend left behind. So tell me—what are you planning to do?"
"Go into the forest. Find the faraway tree covered in glass bottles. Then go through once it gets dark."
Soren wasn't surprised they'd gone through the laptop. When you were trapped and desperate, you grabbed every scrap of hope you could find.
"Are you out of your damn mind?!"
Even after seeing what Soren could do, Boyd still couldn't stop himself from shouting.
"The forest at night is a whole different world!"
He planted both hands on the car window. "Those things get a lot sharper after dark. And the woods themselves change once the sun's gone."
"It's fine," Soren said, voice flat. "They can't touch me."
He met Boyd's stare. "What, Sheriff? You here to stop me?"
Boyd's hand drifted toward the gun on his hip. He looked like he was fighting himself over it.
After a long moment, he yanked his hand away and ground his teeth. "I'll take you there."
Soren raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. "You've been out there?"
"Not just been there. I almost died there."
Boyd let out a bitter laugh, fear flashing across his face. "Why do you think I ran into you on the road?"
He leaned against the car door, eyes distant. "I saw that lighthouse the notes mentioned. Only back then I was being chased by a whole pack of those things, and the sky just opened up and started dumping rain. Couldn't see a damn thing."
"Nowhere left to run, so Sara shoved me into one of those tree holes. That's how I made it out."
Saying her name made Boyd's expression twist.
"Sara killed a lot of people in town. Kept saying she could hear instructions—that killing the right ones was the only way to save everyone else."
He sighed.
"And because she could do that, I broke my own rules and pulled her out. Otherwise, by town law, if you kill someone—even by accident—you get thrown into the death room. No talisman, no chance once night hits."
"After that… I ran into you."
Boyd straightened up and looked Soren in the eye. "The paths in the forest keep shifting, especially at night. Without someone who knows the way, even with a map you could wander forever and never find that tree."
"Since you're sure you can handle those things, count me in. Even if it's not for me… I need a way out. For my son."
Soren listened, then nodded. "Alright. But we're clear on one thing."
He pushed the door open and stepped out, meeting Boyd's gaze head-on. "If shit goes sideways, I might not have time to watch your back."
"I was in the military. I can take care of myself."
Boyd's voice was steady.
"Fair enough. Still daylight. Want to go say goodbye to your boy first?"
Soren asked.
Boyd's eyes darkened. He looked toward town and stayed quiet for a long time.
"…No."
He shook his head, bitter. "If this works, we'll see each other again. If it doesn't… saying goodbye now would just make it worse."
Soren raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected that answer.
They packed light and were about to head out when a panicked shout cut through the air.
"Dad!"
Boyd's son came running, out of breath, and grabbed his arm.
His eyes were wide with confusion and anger. "You're going out again? Are you crazy?!"
Ever since Boyd started talking about the tree holes and the things he'd seen inside them, nobody in town had believed him. Even his own son thought the forest had broken his father's mind.
Boyd looked at him and didn't argue.
He just rested a hand on his son's shoulder. "Ellis, stay in town. Make sure the doors and windows are locked before dark. Hang the talismans."
Then he turned and followed Soren toward the trees.
Time passed. The last light bled out of the sky, and darkness swallowed the town and the forest whole.
Every resident was already inside, doors and windows sealed tight, curtains drawn. Everyone double-checked their talismans, terrified of missing even one.
In the forest, Boyd and Soren walked single file.
"It's night," Boyd said, gripping his flashlight but not turning it on. His voice was tight.
"Maybe we should hole up in the tent tonight? I brought talismans. We could wait till morning."
Soren kept walking. "No point. Wasting time only makes it worse."
From somewhere deeper in the trees came the distant roars of monsters.
But here there were no insects, no birds. Just dead silence.
Then, from the darkness ahead, figures started appearing.
"They're here," Boyd whispered, sweat already soaking his back.
"How much farther?" Soren asked, dropping the map.
Boyd had been right—the paths changed at night. The map was useless now.
"Should hit some blood-stained rocks up ahead," Boyd said, pointing. "After that, not too far to the tree."
"Good."
Soren nodded and kept moving, completely ignoring the monsters closing in around them.
As they walked, more and more human-shaped figures gathered—men and women, no kids. All of them smiling, dressed neatly, moving with calm purpose as they formed a circle around the two men.
If you didn't know better, it almost looked like some weird midnight gathering.
Soren stopped when the path ahead was blocked. He stared at the smiling monsters.
They didn't rush in like mindless beasts. Instead they spread out slowly, boxing them in.
Then a middle-aged man stepped out from the group.
He wore a sharp, well-tailored suit, his face calm and polite. He extended a hand toward Soren.
"Good evening, sir."