Jasmin's POV
The forest around us had transformed completely. These trees were ancient monsters, their gnarled branches reaching toward each other like skeletal fingers. The darkness felt heavier here, pressing against my skin with an almost tangible weight. We had been walking for about half an hour since leaving the vampire cave, but it felt like we had stepped into an entirely different world.
"Something's not right here," I whispered, my voice barely audible in the oppressive silence. The very air seemed to whisper warnings, telling us to turn back while we still could.
Max kicked at the ground beneath his feet, frowning. "The soil was red before. Now look at it."
I glanced down at the earth we walked on. He was right. The ground had turned black, almost charcoal-like in its darkness. It didn't look natural.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I knelt down to examine it more closely. "What do you think caused this change?"
