The four friends finally stepped deeper into the cursed forest. The sunlight slowly disappeared as the tall trees covered the sky. Everything around them became darker and colder.
Ravi looked around nervously. "Why does it feel like someone is watching us?"
"No one is here," Arjun replied, trying to sound brave. "It's just a forest."
Suddenly, a strange wind passed through the trees. The leaves started shaking, making a sound that almost felt like whispers.
"Did you hear that?" Maya asked softly.
"Hear what?" Kabir said.
"It sounded like someone saying our names…"
The group stopped walking. For a moment, the forest became completely silent.
Then again, the whisper came from behind them.
"Raa…viii…"
Ravi quickly turned around, but there was no one there.
His heart started beating faster. "Guys… I think we are not alone here."
Just then, Kabir noticed something strange carved into a tree nearby. He pointed his flashlight at it.
On the tree trunk were the words:
"TURN BACK BEFORE IT WAKES."
Maya swallowed nervously. "What… is it?"
Before anyone could answer, a loud crack came from deeper inside the forest… as if something huge had just moved.
The four friends looked at each other with fear.
Something in the forest had just woken up.