Chapter 1: The Path We Shouldn't Have Taken
The trail wasn't supposed to be this quiet.
Tejas adjusted the strap of his backpack and glanced behind him. "Are you sure this is the right way?"
"Relax," Kiara said, not even turning around. "It's literally a straight trail."
"That doesn't make it right," he muttered.
Diya laughed softly. "We've been walking for, what, an hour? It's fine."
"Yeah…" Mia's voice came out smaller than the rest. She hugged her arms slightly. "But doesn't it feel a little… off?"
No one answered that.
At the back, Anish walked quietly, eyes scanning the trees instead of the path. He hadn't said much since they started.
The forest felt… different.
Too still.
---
"Wait."
Kiara suddenly stopped.
"What now?" Tejas sighed.
"Don't move," she said, raising her phone slowly.
Everyone followed her gaze.
Perched on a low branch just ahead was a bird.
It was… beautiful.
Deep blue feathers shimmered faintly, catching the light in a way that didn't feel natural. Its eyes—bright, glossy green—reflected them like glass.
Diya whispered, "Have you ever seen something like that before?"
Mia shook her head slowly. "No…"
The bird tilted its head.
It was looking directly at them.
Not scared. Not curious.
Just… watching.
---
Kiara took a step forward. "Hold on, I'm getting a picture of this."
"Don't get too close," Tejas warned.
She ignored him.
The bird didn't move.
Not yet.
It waited.
Just as Kiara lifted her phone—
It flew.
A flash of blue disappeared deeper into the trees.
"Hey!" Kiara snapped. "No way I'm missing that."
"Kiara, leave it—" Tejas started.
Too late.
She was already running after it.
"Great," he muttered. "Now we're definitely lost."
"Wait!" Diya called, hurrying after her.
Mia hesitated only for a second before following. "Guys, slow down!"
Anish was the last to move.
He glanced once more at the branch where the bird had been.
Then quietly followed.
---
Branches scratched against their arms as they pushed through the trees.
"Kiara, stop!" Tejas shouted.
"I almost had it!" she called back. "It went this way!"
The forest grew denser.
Darker.
Quieter.
Then suddenly—
Kiara stopped.
The others nearly ran into her.
"What now—" Tejas began, then froze.
---
In front of them stood a massive structure.
A temple.
Ancient. Crumbling. Covered in vines and roots that had claimed it over time.
It didn't belong there.
It was too large. Too… deliberate.
Mia stepped back slightly. "We should go."
"No way," Kiara said, eyes lighting up. "This is amazing."
"It's abandoned," Tejas said. "And probably unsafe."
"Or it's just old," she shot back. "You guys are seriously scared of a building?"
Diya looked at the entrance. "It does feel a bit… strange."
"Exactly," Mia said quickly. "Let's just go back."
Kiara rolled her eyes. "You all can go. I'm checking it out."
She walked forward.
"Kiara—" Tejas called.
She didn't stop.
He exhaled sharply. "…We can't leave her alone."
And just like that—
They followed.
---
The air inside was colder.
Each step echoed against stone walls.
Light filtered faintly from cracks above, barely illuminating the space.
Mia stayed close to Diya. "I don't like this…"
"It's okay," Diya said gently. "We'll just take a look and leave."
Anish's gaze moved slowly across the walls.
Symbols were carved into the stone.
Worn.
Unreadable.
Unfamiliar.
---
"Guys…"
Kiara's voice echoed from deeper inside.
They followed it.
And then—
They saw it.
---
A statue.
Massive.
Standing at the center of the temple.
Its body was intact—carved with intricate detail—but its head…
Was gone.
Broken off.
Fallen long ago.
Behind it—
Four large wings spread outward, frozen in stone.
A chill ran down Mia's spine. "What… is that?"
"No idea," Tejas said quietly.
Diya frowned. "It feels like it's… watching us."
"That's creepy," Mia whispered.
---
"At least it's interesting," Kiara said, stepping closer.
"Don't touch anything," Tejas warned immediately.
"Relax."
At the base of the statue, something rested.
A book.
Old. Dust-covered. Out of place.
Kiara crouched down. "What's this?"
"Kiara, don't—" Tejas started.
Too late.
She had already picked it up.
Dust scattered into the air as she opened it.
Inside—
Strange symbols filled the pages.
None of them could read it.
Anish stepped closer, eyes narrowing slightly.
"…These aren't any scripts I've seen."
"Of course you haven't," Kiara said. "It's probably just ancient."
Mia shook her head. "We shouldn't be messing with this."
---
The air changed.
Subtly.
At first.
Then—
The symbols on the page began to glow.
Faintly.
Green.
"Guys…" Diya whispered.
The light grew stronger.
"What did you do?" Tejas snapped.
"I didn't do anything!" Kiara shot back.
Wind rushed through the temple—
Even though there were no openings.
The light spread.
From the book—
To the statue—
To the entire room.
"Close it!" Mia cried.
"I'm trying!" Kiara shouted, panic slipping into her voice for the first time.
The ground trembled.
The wings of the statue seemed almost—
To move.
---
"Everyone stay together!" Tejas shouted.
Diya grabbed Mia's hand.
Anish stepped back, eyes fixed on the statue.
"…This wasn't random," he said quietly.
"What?!" Tejas snapped.
But before he could answer—
The light exploded.
---
Everything went white.
---
Silence.
---
Tejas groaned softly as he pushed himself up.
The ground felt different.
Softer.
"…Is everyone okay?"
No response.
He forced his eyes open.
Trees.
Tall. Dense. Endless.
This wasn't the trail.
"…Guys?"
"Tejas?"
Relief hit him as Diya's voice answered.
"I'm here," she said, sitting up nearby.
Mia was curled on the ground, shaking. "What just happened…?"
Kiara sat up abruptly. "Where are we?"
Anish stood a few steps away, looking around.
Carefully.
Quietly.
"This isn't the same forest," he said.
Tejas swallowed.
He already knew that.
The air felt different.
The silence felt heavier.
---
"Hey…"
Mia's voice trembled.
"Where's the bird?"
No one answered.
---
High above them—
Hidden among the leaves—
A flash of blue moved.
Watching.
---
End of Chapter 1