Into The Shadows

Chapter 4: The Forest Divides

The ground beneath them began to tremble. The tree’s shimmering leaves rustled violently, and a blinding light erupted from its trunk. Aria shielded her eyes, panic overtaking her excitement. She didn't even notice when a loud scream escaped her lips.

When the light subsided, everything was eerily still. The forest seemed unchanged, yet Aria and Milo both felt an undeniable shift in the atmosphere.

“What just happened?” Aria asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I don’t know,” Milo said, his voice trembling. “But I think... I think the tree granted my wish.”

“What’d you do? What do you mean it granted your wish? You didn’t make one; you just said you wanted to be brave. How’s that even a wish?” Aria said, her voice filled with fear.

Still trembling, he replied, “I don’t know, but I just feel like it heard me, and it grant...” He looked at Aria as if deciding whether to speak or not before keeping quiet.

“The tree can’t hear you; it’s not alive,” Aria said, staring at him, her mind racing with possibilities and fear. “We have to leave. Now.”

Milo, wanting to drop the topic, nodded, but as they turned to go, the forest seemed to change around them. The path they had taken was gone, replaced by endless trees.

“Milo, is it just me, or did the path change? This isn’t where we came from,” Aria whispered, scared.

“It does look different. Let’s just take our things and go, and let’s not touch anything,” Milo said, walking back to the tree.

“Wait! I forgot the book,” Aria said, running off towards its direction.

“Aria, no! Don’t even think of it after everything. Who knows what’s going to happen next?” Milo said, glancing at it.

“Look, why don’t we follow the map? It may get us out,” Aria said.

Milo sighed in defeat. “I have a bad feeling about this, but fine. Let’s follow your spooky map.”

As they continued their journey, the atmosphere grew heavier. The sounds of the forest faded, replaced by an unnatural silence. Shadows seemed to shift in the corners of their vision, and both Aria and Milo felt the weight of unseen eyes watching them.

Hearing more strange noises, they both looked at each other before running.

Suddenly, Aria paused.

“Aria, what’s wrong? We need to get out of here as soon as possible.”

“We’re not alone,” Aria whispered, her voice trembling.

As they turned to leave, they noticed faint footprints leading away from the altar—footprints that didn’t belong to either of them.

“Let’s get out of here,” Milo said urgently, pulling her along.

But as they hurried back the way they came, the forest seemed to twist and change around them, making it impossible to find their way. The path they’d taken was gone, replaced by an endless expanse of trees.

“We’re lost,” Milo said, panic creeping into his voice.

“No,” Aria said, clutching the book tightly. “We’re exactly where we’re supposed to be.”

“I think you’ve finally gone crazy. We’re stuck in this stupid forest, and we may die, and all you can say is we’re meant to be here after everything that’s happened!” Milo screamed, frustration dripping in his voice.

Aria blinked several times, not expecting his outburst, before talking. “Listen, I know you’re mad at me, but calm down. You think I want to be stuck here too? Let’s just relax and try going separate ways to see if maybe we can get out. Then we’ll just meet back here.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s gotten into me. I just want to go home so fast. We’re having smoked fish at home tonight,” Milo said, also trying to calm himself.

“Of course, that’s what is on your mind. Now come here and give your bestie a hug,” Aria said, already closing in on him.

“So you go this way, and I go that way,” she continued, pointing in opposite directions.

“Okay, so how are we going to get back in case we get lost?” Milo asked. She hummed for a while, as if lost in thought, before speaking.

“We can use some sticks to mark the ground after walking for a while, or we just drop stones.”

“Sure, then try and come back only to realize the wind has blown it away,” Milo said sarcastically.

Frowning, Aria gave him a dirty look. “I’m trying, okay? At least I thought of something. What’s your great idea?”

Milo, looking at her, sighed, then responded.

“As the brains of this friendship, I already thought of something,” Milo said teasingly before continuing.

“We could use our pens to write on the tree or use the paper we brought to hang on the tree branches.”

“Wow, that’s actually a surprisingly good plan,” Aria said. “So we meet back here when the sun starts to set,” she continued.

Without responding, Milo walked back in the direction.

“Dummy, you could at least respond,” Aria shouted. “And don’t you dare leave me if you find the exit, and don’t even think about coming late,” she said as he finally disappeared into the forest.

Hours had passed the sky had darkned really fast, without any luck from the two of them before they decided to head back,milo was the first to turning and sat on a tree to get some rest. After a while aria returned but won't see milo anywhere thinking she was the first to get there she decided to wait for him unknown to her he had slept of on the tree,at least two hours at past and aria felt uneasy feeling restless she screamed "I swear milo if you left me here I'll kill you"

Hearing her voice he woke up but unfortunately fell then due to the confusion he left at the moment seeing each other they both screamed "ahhhhhhhhhh"

realized it was milo and not some spirit aria relaxed

"milo what the hell were you doing up on the tree do you want to get yourself killed or worse me"aria screamed annoyed

still sleepy he responded" it's all your fault i was waiting for you for so long i slept off "

"what'd you mean you were waiting for too long i got here hours ago and was waiting for you,who knew your i***t self would decide to sleep on a freaking tree " aria said so fast she got breathless

"fine let's say we're both wrong what are we going to do now it's already dark" milo said

"wow genius as if I didn't already notice that let's just grab our things and use our flashlight to look around "Aria said clearly annoyed .

It was night time already with the moon shining bright in the sky and the stars twinkling as if mocking them.

the two of them were no closer to getting out as they were before,it was safe to say they were dragging at this point.

"Argggg i can't do this anymore if I take any more steps I'm sure i either die or faint" aria said tiredly

without stopping milo talked

"well I refuse to spend the night here let's just go,if we don't die for the tiredness we'll died from the wide animals I'm sure are here

"nope I'm not going anywhere you'd have to drag my body. plus we have even seen or heard any sound of an animal and even if there was one here i rather get killed with my strength being intact "aria spoke as she sat on the ground

With a heavy sigh milo said

that's a stupid thing to say and you call me dumb, but I agree let's rest here tonight or at least a night then we'll continue to morning"

"thank you, now let's eat i brought bread and some snacks what's you bring" aria said unpacking her backpack.

Getting everything out aria stared at milo waiting for him to bring out his own

"so we have five bottles of water, two jars of milk, corn bread, lemonade, nine packs of biscuits, four apples, two bananas, two sugar cane, pumpkin seeds,some sweets, and ten crackers. Aria said done counting everything

"i must say you came prepared,look at everything you brought well I don't expect much from a foodie " she said laughing

"look whose talking who brings 10 crackers and almost a boul of pumpkin roasted seeds"milo responded laughingly"

"you're welcome at least we have something to last us, so we are going to eat the ones who spoil faster meaning we're having corn bread and lemonade tonight and we'll eat the rest tomorrow"aria said passing the food to him

After a while they were both done they decided to go to sleep

"ahh i wish we brought some blankets"milo whined

"but we didn't now let's go to sleep"aria replied getting comfortable on the ground

"Goodnight" milo said joining her on the ground

"night" she responded eyes closed

"gosh i can sleep with all this insects around milo can you sleep"aria said poking him

"i was until i heard your voice can you just go to sleep already, it's your fault we are hear don't make it worse"milo said annoyed, shocked by his words aria went slient unsure of what to say before finding her voice

"don't tell me you're blaming me for this like i wanted this is happen "aria said her voice filled with hurt

"I'm not okay just tried let's it go we'll talk about it tomorrow"milo said quickly to end the discussion.

"no we're going to talk about it right,you think i want to be hear?,you think i would have made us come here if I knew it would happen" Aria said

sighing "i didn't say that you're overreacting the and what'd you mean you didn't know this would happen after all the stories we heard you sti...".

sitting up aria responded"wow just wow go ahead and blame it on me like you always do plus you also heard the story and chose to go with me so don't blame me"aria said sitting up.tension that had been simmering between them finally boils over. The girl, feeling guilty for dragging the guy into this situation, tries to mask her guilt with anger.

“Excuse me? You forced me to come here, remember? This whole disaster is on you!”milo said also sitting up

Aria temper flares "I forced you? You’re the one who kept complaining the whole time! Maybe if you weren’t so scared of everything, we’d have found our way out by now!”

“Scared? I wasn’t scared—I was cautious! Because, unlike you, I actually think before I act!”milo answer hurt

Milo's word hitting a nerve aria answered “Oh, so now I’m reckless? You think you’re so much better than me, don’t you?”

“I never said that, but clearly you can’t take responsibility for anything you do wrong! You don’t even care that we’re lost because it’s all about your stupid need to explore!”milo shouted

The argument escalates as they both throw hurtful accusations at each other. aria accuses him of being a coward who never takes risks, while he accuses her of being selfish and inconsiderate.

unable to bear it anymore aria said:“Fine! If you’re so done with me, then maybe you should just leave!”

“You know what? Maybe I will! Good luck getting out of here on your own!” milo said angrily

Without another word, he grabs his flashlight and backpack bed storms off into the forest. Aria watches him go, fuming with anger but also slightly panicked. She shouts after him"Good riddance! Don’t come crawling back when you get lost!”

As silence settles in the clearing, both of them are left alone with their anger—and the eerie sounds of the forest at night.