_____
[The Storyteller’s Tale]
Night.
The sky stretches wide—
A sea of stars flickering like whispered secrets.
A bonfire crackles, its golden light flickering against the faces of gathered villagers.
Children sat on the grass, leaning in,
Eyes wide with wonder.
The storyteller—
**an old man with a voice like rolling thunder—**sits on a weathered log, his cane resting beside him.
His voice carries through the night air, weaving a tale they’ve all heard before—
Yet somehow, it never loses its magic.
---
“Once, long ago, before our fathers and their fathers—”
“There was a cave.”
“A place not made by man. Not carved by time. But born from something else entirely.”
The fire pops.
A hush falls over the children.
The storyteller’s smile is small, knowing.
He leans forward, his voice dropping lower.
“They say it lies deep within the forest.”
“A doorway to a world beyond our own.”
“A place of magic. A place of wonder.”
“But those who seek it—”
“Never return.”
The wind shifts.
A few of the younger children huddle closer together.
Others—**the daring ones—**grin,
Excitement flickering in their eyes.
The storyteller’s gaze sweeps over them.
Because he has told this tale a hundred times.
And every time—it sparks something new.
Curiosity. Wonder.
The kind that makes young minds dream of what might be waiting beyond the trees.
The storyteller leans back, spreading his arms wide—
“And so, the legend remains.”
“A story whispered in the dark.”
“A tale told beneath the stars.”
“Nothing more… or perhaps—”
“Something waiting to be found.”
---
(The Idea That Changed Everything)
The night air was cool and crisp.
Fireflies blinked lazily along the dirt path, weaving between the trees, their glow flickering like tiny stars.
The village lay ahead—
A handful of houses with warm, welcoming lights glowing through the windows.
But the real adventure wasn’t in the village.
It was behind them.
In the woods.
In the story still fresh in their minds.
Seven kids walked together—their voices full of energy, still caught in the storyteller’s web.
Some whispered.
Some laughed.
Some couldn’t stop thinking about it.
And some—
Were already planning something.
*”I’m just saying—what if it’s real?”
“Like, what if the cave actually is a gateway?”
KING (rolling his eyes, unimpressed)
“And what, you think it just lets people in?”
“You heard the story. No one ever comes back.”
AURORA (thoughtful, glancing toward the treetops)
“Maybe they don’t come back because they don’t want to. Ever thought of it like that?”
“Maybe they just.. found something better.”
That made them all pause.
Jake shoved his hands into his pockets, frowning.
JAKE (skeptical, but intrigued)
“Or, maybe they just found something waiting for them.”
“Something that doesn’t let anyone come back.”
FINN (grinning, unfazed)
“Yeah, yeah, spooky ghosts, monsters in the dark, we get it, Jakey.”
“But seriously, what if the old guy was right?”
“What if there IS something in that cave?”
SALLY (raising an eyebrow, arms crossed)
“And what exactly do you plan on doing about it?”
Finn grinned wider.
Jake immediately groaned.
Because he knew exactly where this was going.
“We go, obviously!”
Finn said, with his trademark grin.
Aurora laughed under her breath.
King rubbed his temple.
John, who had been silent until now, finally spoke—
His voice calm, considering.
JOHN (quiet, but curious)
“Even if we do it,
“How would we even find it?”
“It’s not like anyone in the village knows where it is.”
All of them were thinking the same thing.
They were all mere village kids,
With no clue regarding it.
But,
That didn’t stop Finn.
If anything—it only fueled him more.
His loud and dangerously over excited voice broke the silence.
“…Then, we’ll investigate.”
Jake groaned louder.
Sally shook her head.
King gave Finn a deadpan look.
KING (flat, unimpressed)
“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve heard all day.”
FINN (smirking, unfazed)
“Come on, buddy. That’s hardly the dumbest one.”
“Probably the fourth, honestly.” Aurora added,
Walking right beside him.
JAKE (grumbling, arms crossed, frustrated that the two actually had a point)
“Ugh.”
John glanced between them.
He was skeptical,
But, didn’t shut the idea down right away.
Because a small part of him—**a dangerous part—**
Was curious, too.
JOHN (low, thoughtful)
“The storyteller said it was deep in the forest, right?”
“But… didn’t really specify how deep.”
Aurora smiled slightly.
Because John wasn’t rejecting the idea.
He was thinking about it.
And if John was considering it…
It meant it wasn’t impossible.
AURORA (playful, nudging John slightly)
“You’re not saying no.”
He shrugged.
A small, almost hidden smile flickered at the corner of his mouth.
JOHN (calm, teasing back, but still unreadable)
“I’m not saying yes, either.”
But that was all they needed to hear.
Because now—the idea was real.
And, for them..
The legend wasn’t just a story anymore.
It was a possibility.
---
The village streets were now quieter.
The warmth of the bonfire lingered in their minds,
The storyteller’s words echoing in their thoughts.
But the night was ending.
Finn stretched, letting out a loud yawn.
FINN (grinning, stretching dramatically)
“Welp. That was a good night, right?”
“Storytime, spooky legends, potential life-altering discoveries—classic evening.”
KING (deadpan, unimpressed)
“Yeah. Thrilling.”
He rolled his eyes but didn’t argue further.
Sally nudged him with her elbow.
SALLY (smirking, teasing)
“Aw, come on, King. Don’t tell me you’re scared.”
He huffed.
KING (grumbling, crossing his arms)
“Not scared.”
“Just have better things to do than chasing some fairy tale in the middle of the woods.”
Jake snorted.
JAKE (grinning, raising an eyebrow)
“Like what? Sitting at home looking all grumpy?”
King genuinely considered this for a second.
Then—without a word—
He turned and walked away.
FINN (laughing, waving him goodbye)
“Yeah, yeah, we love you too, buddy!”
Sally shook her head, but she was smiling.
One by one, they left.
Sally. King. The others.
And finally—John.
The night was over.
Or so he thought.
John had just settled in.
He sat on the edge of his bed, pulling off his boots,
Ready to let the night fade into memory.
He looked up,
The familiar wooden ceiling of their old village hut.
Nothing too fancy.
But, it was more than he could ask for.
As someone who craved nothing more or less—than a simple, normal life.
He pulled up his blankets,
got comfy.
The silence was only noise he could hear around him.
And,
Maybe faint sound of the river in the distance.
When—
A knock.
John stopped.
He stared at the door.
Another knock—
Louder this time.
Then—
A voice.
FINN (way too cheerful for this hour)
“Joooooohn~!”
John closed his eyes.
Because of course.
He sighed, rubbing his temple.
Then—without standing—he called back.
“No.”
A beat.
Then—Aurora’s voice.
AURORA (sweet, but completely ignoring his refusal)
“Come on, open up!”
“We have things to discuss.”
John stared at the door.
Then, very deliberately—he flopped back onto his bed, arm over his eyes.
JOHN (muffled, into his pillow, still refusing)
“Still no.”
Silence.
Then—Jake.
JAKE (sounding like he’d rather be in bed too, but committed to the cause)
“Just so you know, we already asked Mom.”
“And apparently being awake means you’re fair game.”
John lifted his arm just in time to see the door open.
And, there they were.
Finn. Aurora. Jake.
Standing there.
Like they owned the place.
JOHN (flat, unimpressed)
“You know, normal people wait for permission before breaking into someone’s room.”
FINN (grinning, unbothered)
“Good thing we’re not normal!”
Jake clapped a hand on John’s arm, already hauling him up.
JAKE (grinning, deadpan)
“C’mon. We know you’re not sleeping yet.”
John sighed deeply.
Because he already knew how this was going to end.
Aurora linked arms with him, leading him toward the door.
AURORA (sweet, teasing)
“No biggie, we’re just borrowing you for a bit.”
“And besides—“* (she grinned) *
”You want to hear what Harry found, don’t you?”
John smiled, shaking his head.
Because, unfortunately—she was right.
He did.
He exhaled, dragging a hand down his face.
JOHN (deadpan, resigned)
“You guys are gonna be the death of me someday.”
He kept walking anyway.
Because this was how it always went.
---
[Knocking on Trouble’s Door]
Harry’s house was one of the tallest in the village.
It wasn’t grand or extravagant, but it had layers.
An old brick foundation,
A second floor built on years later,
And an attic that probably wasn’t supposed to be there but was anyway.
But, more importantly—
The lights were still on.
Which meant someone was awake.
Finn, ever the fearless, knocked loudly.
Jake stood a step back—just in case Harry threw something at them for showing up unannounced.
Aurora bounced on her heels, amused.
Beside her stood a very unenthusiastic John, his expression saying he was mourning the loss of his precious sleep.
The door gently creaked open.
But instead of Harry—
Stood a woman.
Tall, dark hair pulled into a loose braid, her arms crossed.
Harry’s older sister. Madeline.
And she did not look impressed.
Without turning her head, she called back into the house—
“…Yeah. It’s just the kids, Dad.”
She turned back to them.
MADELINE (flat, raising an eyebrow)
“Do you people ever go home?”
FINN (grinning, completely unfazed)
“Ehhh, home, where?”
MADELINE (deadpan, unimpressed)
“Anywhere that isn’t here.”
Aurora smiled sweetly beside Finn.
AURORA (tilting her head, innocent)
“Come on, Madeline. Can’t we borrow your brother for just a little while?”
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
Madeline snorted.
MADELINE (dry, amused but pretending not to be)
“You don’t just.. borrow Harry. He gets involved,
And then next thing you know, you’re all are in the woods building explosives or something.”
Finn perked up.
FINN (grinning, intrigued)
*”Wait, are we making explosives? Because I am so on board—”
JOHN (tired, cutting him off)
“We are not making explosives.”
Madeline sighed dramatically, stepping aside.
MADELINE (waving them in, grumbling)
“Fine, fine. Upstairs. Just don’t break anything.
And for the love of everything, don’t start digging in our garden again if you’re trying to hide things.”
The proud troublemakers bowed half respectfully as they entered.
Finn walked in like an honorable guest, who was totally not invited.
Jake gave Madeline a casual salute. He waited insistently for a bit till she reluctantly returned it.
Aurora just flashed a grin before stepping inside. She dragged John along with her, like the task had been assigned to her.
John nodded politely.
Because someone had to have manners.
Madeline rolled her eyes,
As she shut the door behind them.
_____
The second floor as usual,
was covered in books.
Stacks of old papers, half-written notes, maps pinned to the walls.
The familiar smell of parchment mixed with candle wax.
And at the center of it all—
Harry,
Hunched over a desk, flipping through a book.
He didn’t even look up when they entered.
HARRY (calm, dry)
“Took you long enough.”
JOHN (blinking, raising an eyebrow)
“You were really waiting, huh?”
HARRY (flat, as if this should be obvious)
“I assumed you’d come.
You always do, john.”
Jake grinned.
JAKE (nudging John, smirking)
“See? He gets it too.”
Harry slowly closed the book he was reading and gestured to the table.
“Sit down. If we’re doing this, we’re going to need a plan.”
Aurora stepped closer, leaning over the table before anyone else could move.
Her eyes skimmed the scattered pages—symbols, half-formed theories, notes written and crossed out again.
Then they stopped.
On a sketch.
Rough. Old. Drawn in worn ink.
A cave.
Its entrance jagged. Its interior darkened with heavy strokes.
Margins crowded with scribbles, measurements,
questions that never found its answers.
“…You’ve been working on this for a while,” she said quietly.
Harry shrugged.
Finn grinned, nudging Jake.
FINN (smirking)
“Told you we could count on him.”
Jake rolled his eyes.
JAKE (grumbling, arms crossed)
“Yeah, yeah, you’re so smart, congrats.”
Harry ignored them, flipping through his notes.
HARRY (focused, scanning the notes)
“The cave isn’t just some fairytale.
There are mentions of it in old records. Nothing concrete—just bits and pieces.”
“But enough to suggest that it’s real.”
John traced a finger over the map.
JOHN (curious, thoughtful)
“Does any of it, say where?”
Harry tapped a spot on the page.
HARRY (low, considering)
“Somewhere deep in the forest. Near the cliffs, past the old river bend.”
“No one’s mapped it properly. But there are mentions of strange occurrences in that area.
People reporting strange voices. Lights in the trees.
Shadows moving like they shouldn’t.”
FINN (grinning, clearly enjoying this too much)
“Oooh, creepy! I love it.”
Jake grinned, nudging him.
JAKE (grinning, amused)
“Sure you won’t piss your pants?”
FINN (Clearly offended, trying to clear his name)
“Hey—when has that ever happened?”
They all gave him a look.
“Ugh, fine.”
John leaned against the wall, crossing his arms.
JOHN (calm, reluctant)
“Then, I suppose…
We can have a look.”
The three of them beamed.
Finn and Aurora tag teamed him into a hug.
Jake threw an arm around his shoulder,
JAKE (grinning, determined)
“Alright. Sounds like a plan.”
“We get the things we need, and then—
Tomorrow night, we head out.”
John stared at him.
Then at Finn.
Then at Aurora.
“You guys are really committed to this, huh?”
Aurora smirked.
AURORA (teasing, nudging him)
“Yes sir.”
He shook his head, but couldn’t quite hide the smile forming.
Harry closed the book,
He looked up, meeting each of their eyes in turn.
HARRY (steady, serious)
“Should we do this, we have to be prepared.”
“If it isn’t just a story,”
“If the cave is real—”
“Then whatever’s inside… is real too.”
Silence.
FINN (lighthearted, shrugging)
“Well. Guess we’ll find out.”
Jake nudged John.
“Guess we’re packing, then.”
John snorted quietly.
“…Great,” he said, rubbing his eyes.
“Just what I needed. Less sleep.”
Outside, the village was quiet, still.
Windows dark. Lanterns dimmed. The kind of quiet only found when everyone else had already gone to bed—
And a few idiots were about to sneak off into something far bigger than them.
---
(The Day in Full Color)
The morning came slow.
Golden sunlight crept across the rooftops, warming clay tiles and wooden beams alike.
The village was alive and moving—
Not in the way cities were, with crowded streets and endless noise,
But in the way a place filled with familiar faces always was.
People moved through the dirt roads with purpose but never in a rush.
There was always time to talk.
To laugh.
To share stories.
To linger a moment longer than necessary.
Because in a place like this—
People knew each other.
And for the seven kids at the heart of this story—
It was home.
.
.
.
John had spent most of the morning helping out.
Fixing a broken fence.
Carrying supplies for the baker.
He wasn’t asked—he just did it.
Because that’s who he was.
The village was small, but full of people who trusted him.
And for the most part?
He liked that.
“John!”
He turned, already knowing the voice.
An older woman, waving him over.
She ran the tailor shop, her arms full of fabric.
TAILOR (huffing, shifting the weight)
“Be a dear and carry these inside for me, will you?”
John smiled slightly.
JOHN (good-natured, nodding)
“Of course.”
He took the bundles, following her in.
The shop smelled like fresh linen and warm candle wax.
John set the fabric down carefully.
The tailor watched him, smirking.
TAILOR (teasing, amused)
“You’re always helping someone, aren’t you?”
“One of these days, you should ask for payment.”
John chuckled.
JOHN (grinning, shaking his head)
“I don’t mind.”
The tailor huffed, shaking her head.
TAILOR (playful, but fond)
“That’s your problem, dear. You never mind.”
John just smiled.
Because that was fine with him.
He hauled a wooden crate onto the cart, wiping sweat from his brow.
Jake was sitting nearby.
On the cart.
Eating an apple.
And very much not helping.
He shot him a look.
JOHN (flat, unimpressed)
“You know, these crates don’t magically move themselves.”
JAKE (taking another bite, leaning back lazily)
“I mean, they could. If you believed in them enough.”
John let out a slow breath, setting the next crate down a little harder than necessary.
JOHN (dry, muttering)
“If I throw this at you, will you magically move?”
Jake grinned, completely unbothered.
JAKE (cheerfully, raising his apple)
“Only one way to find out!”
John grabbed the nearest crate.
Jake immediately sat up.
JAKE (quick, grinning nervously)
“Okay, okay! Joking! No need to commit murder.”
John rolled his eyes.
Jake hopped down, finally helping—
Though mostly just to dodge anything John might throw next.
And that was how it always was.
Not serious. Not deep.
Just bickering, teasing—brothers being brothers.
---
Finn had exactly one goal today.
Avoid responsibilities at all costs.
Which is why he was currently convincing Aurora to sneak pastries from the bakery.
AURORA (raising an eyebrow)
“I don’t know about this finn—”
“You want me to distract the baker again so you can steal food?”
FINN (grinning, hands on his hips)
“Steal is the wrong word.”
“We’re only borrowing.”
Aurora tilted her head.
AURORA (flat, unimpressed)
“Don’t think he will buy that, Finn.”
FINN (shrugging, unconcerned)
“You don’t know that.”
Aurora sighed.
Then, to Finn’s complete delight—
She smirked.
“Ugh, fiine. Let’s do it.”
He beamed.
And just like that—
they were off.
The village bakery was bustling.
Warm bread lined the shelves, the smell drifting into the streets.
The baker—
**a stocky, balding man—**was handing out loaves, talking to customers.
And at the far end of the shop—
Finn and Aurora were absolutely up to something.
AURORA (muttering, low)
“You do realize he’s watching us, right?”
FINN (grinning, unconcerned)
“Oh, I know.”
The baker narrowed his eyes.
BAKER (firm, pointing at them)
“I swear—if either of you so much as touch something without paying—”
Aurora beamed, innocent.
AURORA (sweet, smiling)
“Sir, I am deeply offended.”
“Would we ever do such a thing?”
FINN (nodding solemnly, hand over his heart)
“Truly, we are model citizens.”
The baker looked absolutely done with them.
BAKER (deadpan, flat)
“You literally stole a whole pie last week.”
Finn looked shocked, a little offended even.
FINN (cheerful, unashamed)
“Sir, we only took it for some… taste tasting.”
AURORA (cheerful, absolutely unashamed)
“For safety reasons.”
The baker sighed, rubbed his temple.
BAKER (grumbling)
“Look, if you’re gonna stand here, at least make yourselves useful.”
“Finn—go carry those flour sacks.”
“And Aurora,
just… stop touching things.”
Finn clapped his hands together.
FINN (grinning, to Aurora)
“That’s a no on the free pastries, then.”
Aurora sighed dramatically.
AURORA (playful, teasing)
“Tragic.”
The baker smirked,
already turning back to the counter.
“Less talking,” he called over his shoulder.
“More lifting, boy.”
He took about two steps—
Then stopped.
“Aurora,”
She sighed.
“I know, I know.”
Aurora slowly pulled her hand back from the cooling rack.
And, so..
They did as they were told.
Because for all their mischief—
They liked the bakery.
And they liked being part of this place.
Even if it meant working for it sometimes.
---
The village well was the usual meeting place.
Old stone worn smooth by years of hands and water buckets, surrounded by shade and soft chatter.
The kind of place where time seemed to move just a little slower.
A small group of girls gathered there every afternoon—
talking, laughing, sharing the latest village news.
Sally was right in the middle of it.
One hand rested on the stone edge of the well,
the other moving as she talked, eyes bright, expression animated as she leaned in and out of the circle.
She laughed at the right moments. Gasped at the right ones. Added commentary when needed.
“No way!”
“Again?!”
“You’re totally making that up.”
She leaned in, lowering her voice dramatically.
“I swear on my life. And this time he tripped over nothing.”
“Stop. Oh my god.”
“You’re lying, right?”
She laughed, pressing a hand to her chest.
“Why would I lie about that?”
“Because it’s ridiculous.”
“I am absolutely not,” she said.
“If anything, I’m being very kind here.”
“Okay, okay—but what happened after?”
She leaned closer, eyes bright.
“That’s the best part.”
A pause.
“Nothing. He just… stood there.”
For half a second, silence—
Then the well erupted.
Laughter spilled over itself, hands covering mouths, shoulders bumping, voices rising all at once.
“You’re awful!”
“I can’t breathe—”
“No, that’s too good.”
And then—
There was King.
Just… there.
Standing a little too close to the well.
Leaning casually against the well, arms crossed, bored but present.
Close enough to definitely hear the giggling.
To his credit, he hadn’t wandered over by accident.
Sally had told him to wait.
Just a bit, she’d said.
We’ll head out after.
Endured the sideways looks.
The barely-hidden whispers.
The unspoken question of why is the guy still here?
King shifted his weight, gaze drifting to the sky,
Possibly rethinking every life choice that had led him to this exact moment.
“Did you hear?”
“Thomas from the tannery finally asked Elise to walk with him after supper!”
The girls gasped.
Sally smirked.
SALLY (smug, arms crossed)
“Called it.”
“Took him long enough.”
OTHER GIRL (laughing, nodding)
“Right? He’s been staring at her for weeks!”
King, who had been doing an admirable job of tuning them out, failed at the last moment.
A quiet snort escaped him.
And, unfortunate for him—
Sally heard it.
Her head turned slowly.
Her eyes lit up like a predator spotting prey.
SALLY (grinning, turning to him)
“Oh? You wanna weigh in?”
He tilted his head slightly, unimpressed.
“Nope.”
Sally clasped her hands, eyes bright.
SALLY (teasing, sing-song)
“Liar. You reacted.”
“That means thoughts happened.”
King exhaled, rubbing his temple.
KING (grumbling, muttering to himself)
“I knew I shouldn’t have agreed to this.”
The girls laughed.
Sally, sensing victory, turned back to the group—grinning.
But that?
That was her mistake.
King saw the opening.
And he took it.
He tilted his head, watching her for a long moment—
Then, casually—
KING (calm, completely unreadable)
“You sure do love gossip, Sally.”
SALLY (casual, proud)
“Uh huh.”
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of King’s mouth.
“Tell me,” he said lightly,
“when are you planning to take your own advice… instead of handing it out?”
Sally blinked.
The girls paused.
GIRL 1 (grinning, suddenly interested)
“Wait—what does that mean?!”
OTHER GIRL (gasping, eyes darting between them)
“Sally, do you like someone?!”
Sally froze.
Then—
Her expression twisted into a very different kind of smile.
The forced kind.
The “I walked straight into that, didn’t I?” kind.
She slowly turned back to King—who was grinning in delight.
The worst part?
He said nothing.
Just let the others go wild with the idea.
Sally tried to recover, shaking her head.
SALLY (grinning, but now nervous, waving them off)
“Pfft—what?! No! That’s not what he meant!”
GIRL 2 (laughing, leaning closer)
“Oooooh, but what if it was?!”
“Come on, who’s the lucky guy, Sally?”
The girls crowded in, delighted.
Sally forced a laugh, waving them off, trying to change the subject—
King, arms still crossed.
Didn’t say another word.
Because he didn’t need to.
He’d already won.
---
Harry sat at his desk, quill scratching softly against parchment.
His room was a maze of books and notes—half-organized, half a disaster.
And, he liked it that way.
He wasn’t working on anything particularly urgent.
Just… reading.
Taking notes. Thinking.
A guy who liked understanding things.
Even if no one else ever asked the questions he did.
His sister, madeline passed by the door, peering in.
“You know, most people take breaks, Harry.”
He didn’t look up.
HARRY (calm, turning a page)
“Breaks are inefficient.”
She rolled her eyes.
MADELINE (rolling her eyes, pointing at him)
“You are inefficient.”
Harry smirked. Completely unbothered.
And,
Continued reading.
She narrowed her eyes.
MADELINE
“Okay, that’s it. Up.”
HARRY (still reading)
“Up where?”
MADELINE
“Up and out. Outside. Into the sun.
You remember the sun, right?”
Harry finally glanced up. Blinked at her like she’d just asked him to wrestle a dragon.
HARRY
“I’m not a plant, Mads. I don’t photosynthesize.”
MADELINE
“No, but you are pale enough to make me wonder sometimes.”
HARRY (calm, matter-of-fact)
“Besides… this is actually important.”
“We might need this.”
“No excuses, mister.”
Before he could argue, she crossed the room, caught his sleeve, and started pulling him up.
HARRY (deadpan, resisting)
“Hey—this is academic harassment.”
MADELINE (dry)
“No. This is older-sister intervention.”
She dragged him, chair and all, toward the hallway.
Harry sighed dramatically, grabbing his book on the way out.
Because if he had to touch grass,
He was at least taking his reading with him.
---
The sun was almost about to set.
Sally sat on a wooden fence, kicking her legs idly.
She doesn’t come here often.
Too far from the center of things. Too quiet.
But today, the quiet felt earned.
A soft wind stirred the dry grass. The roofs of the village glowed faint orange.
King stood beside her, arms crossed, watching the village like he was its personal bodyguard.
Sally glanced at him.
Then—without warning—she flicked a pebble at his arm.
King didn’t react.
She did it again.
Still nothing.
SALLY (teasing, playful)
“You know, if there was a competition of standing still and looking all serious..”
“You’d probably win first place.
Do they teach that, or is it just a natural talent?”
King sighed.
KING (flat, unimpressed)
“I choose to ignore you.”
Sally beamed.
SALLY (grinning, proud)
“That’s progress! Usually, you threaten to throw me off something by now.”
King gave her a long, tired look.
KING (deadpan, considering it)
“…There’s still time.”
Sally laughed.
King shook his head, but even he couldn’t hide the small smirk creeping in.
---
The sun had set.
Night had taken hold.
People trickled back from the day’s work—
Back to their homes,
Back to their families.
But John moved in the opposite direction.
He walked toward the place they’d agreed to meet.
Because soon—he wouldn’t be here anymore.
Soon—they’d be gone.
He adjusted the strap of his bag, steady, focused.
Behind him—footsteps.
Soft, easy, familiar.
Sally caught up to him.
Not rushing. Not calling his name.
Just walking beside him.
That was how it always was.
SALLY (casual, glancing at him)
“So. You’re actually going through with it, huh?”
JOHN (small chuckle, nodding)
“Guess I am.”
Sally smirked.
But it didn’t quite reach her eyes.
She didn’t say it—didn’t have to.
She wasn’t sure how she felt about this.
SALLY (playful, but quiet)
“And here I thought you were the smart one.”
John laughed under his breath.
JOHN (teasing, raising an eyebrow)
“And here I thought you didn’t care.”
Sally paused.
She didn’t answer right away.
Just exhaled softly, looking up at the sky.
SALLY (thoughtful, quieter now)
“You think…”
She hesitated.
“…that maybe staying might be the strange choice?”
“When everyone around me already decided.”
John glanced at her.
She wasn’t looking at him.
But he could tell—she wanted an answer.
JOHN (quiet, honest)
“I don’t know.”
Another pause.
Then,
She smiled.
Not teasing. Not playful.
Just soft. Warm.
SALLY (softly, nudging him)
“Figures.”
She glanced ahead, then back at him
“Guess you’ll have to tell me what it’s like…
If you manage to find it.”
JOHN (raising an eyebrow, smirking slightly)
“Not coming to see it for yourself?”
SALLY (laughing, shaking her head)
“I like hearing your stories, not living them.”
John chuckled.
But he didn’t miss the way she looked at him.
Or the way King—
Walking a short distance behind them—was watching quietly.
John slowed his pace a little.
“Don’t bother, John,” King said dryly.
“She’s always like this.”
JOHN (grinning as King caught up beside him)
“You’re always watching, aren’t you?”
KING (shrugging)
“Someone’s got to make sure you don’t run off and do something stupid.”
JOHN (mock offense)
“No faith at all, huh.”
KING (smirking)
“Nope. Just experience.”
John let out a soft laugh.
“Still. Kinda feels good to know if I ever do fall on my face, you’ll be the first one there.”
SALLY (without missing a beat)
“Oh yeah. He’ll be there.”
“Laughing.”
KING
“Nah. Second.”
A beat.
“Finn would beat me to it.”
They burst into laughter.
It echoed briefly down the dirt road,
Then softened—absorbed by the quiet of the village around them.
John shakes his head, still smiling,
and started walking again.
---
By the time they arrived,
The clearing was already alive with energy.
Finn was balancing on a fallen log, pretending it was a tightrope.
Jake was throwing small rocks at him—trying to knock him off.
Aurora was laughing, sitting cross-legged on the grass.
&,
Harry was going through his notes, double-checking everything.
King arrived first, nodding at the others.
John weren’t far behind.
FINN (grinning, spreading his arms like a showman)
“Ah, the final members have arrived!”
“Welcome, welcome. We were about to start without you.”
JAKE (deadpan, arms crossed)
“We were not about to start without them.”
FINN (winking, nudging him)
“That’s what you think.”
John rolled his eyes, but he was smiling.
Harry looked up, adjusting his glasses.
HARRY (calm, focused)
“Everything’s ready. We can leave tonight.”
The words landed heavier now.
Because this wasn’t a vague idea anymore.
Not a half-joke or a maybe-someday plan.
It was real now.
They were gonna go through with it.
FINN (grinning, stretching his arms)
“Great. That gives me exactly one hour to pack everything I don’t need.”
AURORA (nudging, raising an eyebrow)
“You mean like last time when you brought seven pairs of shoes?”
FINN (offended, pointing at her)
“You never know when you’ll need options!”
JAKE (deadpan, unimpressed)
“You don’t need options in a forest.”
FINN (shrugging, unconcerned)
“Tell that to fashion.”
Aurora laughed.
John sighed.
But this was them.
A little chaotic. A little reckless.
In a moment,
they were about to walk into something none of them were ready for.
But for now,
For now, they were just friends having fun beneath the stars.
“Alright,”
Harry closed his notebook.
“Enough talking.”
“Lets pack what we need, and meet back here in an hour. Don’t be late.”
Finn hopped off the log.
Jake straightened.
Aurora pushed herself to her feet.
John glanced around at them—
At the clearing, the stars beginning to peek through the canopy,
“See you all in an hour.”
And just like that—
They drifted apart in different directions.
---
[The Last Normal Moment]
The night was alive.
Crickets hummed in the grass.
Lantern light flickered behind closed windows.
The village slept around them.
The clearing was quiet now.
Because the moment had finally arrived.
Bags packed. Supplies checked.
There was nothing left to do—except go.
Aurora glanced around.
AURORA (soft, adjusting her pack)
“Alright. Everyone ready?”
Finn clapped his hands together.
FINN (grinning, easygoing as ever)
“No time like the present!”
“Or in this case, the very dark, slightly terrifying present.”
JAKE (grumbling, arms crossed)
“Still not too late to not do this, by the way.”
HARRY (calm, steady)
“It would be pointless to turn back now.”
Finn nodded sagely.
FINN (serious, nodding)
“Exactly. We’ve come too far.”
“By which I mean,
We already packed, so we might as well go.”
Jake dragged a hand down his face.
John exhaled slowly.
King crossed his arms, scanning the treeline.
And then—
Aurora stepped forward.
She turned back one last time.
AURORA (soft, certain)
“Let’s go, you guys.”
One by one, they followed.
And just like that—
---
[Wait, What Are You Doing Here?]
The group moved in a quiet, steady line—lantern light flickering against the dirt path.
No one spoke.
And then—
“Oh, for crying out loud.”
King suddenly stopped.
The others turned.
He wasn’t looking at them.
He was looking behind them.
At Sally.
Standing there, arms crossed, clearly caught in the act.
Finn blinked.
“Well, well, well! Look who changed their mind!”
JAKE (raising an eyebrow, amused)
“Didn’t you say you weren’t coming?”
Sally huffed.
She wasn’t flustered.
Wasn’t nervous either.
She just shrugged.
“Yeah, well. Someone’s gotta make sure you idiots don’t die out here.”
John tilted his head, amused.
JOHN (smirking, raising an eyebrow)
“Oh? And that someone is you, sal?”
SALLY (grinning, arms crossed)
“That’s right, yours truly.”
King exhaled slowly, shaking his head.
KING (dry, unimpressed)
“You’re so predictable.”
Sally shot him a look.
SALLY (mock-offended, hand on her chest)
“Oh, I’m predictable am I? You followed me here.”
He rolled his eyes.
KING (grumbling, turning back toward the path)
“Whatever. Just don’t slow us down.”
Sally smirked, falling into step beside John.
Finn threw an arm around her shoulders.
FINN (grinning, dramatically wiping a fake tear)
“Sal, this is beautiful. I always knew you secretly loved us.”
SALLY (deadpan, shoving him off)
“Ugh, I change my mind.”
Jake laughed.
Aurora shrugged,
Harry just sighed.
And with that—She was one of them now.
Like she had been all along.
.
.
.
They were finally off.
As they walked, the quieter it became.
And as the last flicker of village light disappeared behind them—
They walked into the unknown.
---
The forest was alive.
Not with voices or movement—but with something else.
Something quiet. Watching.
The trees stretched high above them, blocking most of the moonlight.
The deeper they walked—the more the air changed.
Still, they kept moving.
Seven kids.
One path.
On a journey they didn’t fully understand yet.
Finn was the first to break the silence.
Which was not surprising.
FINN (grinning, nudging Jake)
“…So,
What’s the over-under on us getting horribly lost?”
Jake glanced at him, unimpressed.
JAKE (dry, raising an eyebrow)
“Why would you say that out loud?”
FINN (shrugging, unconcerned)
“I like to set expectations!”
Sally rolled her eyes,
SALLY (deadpan)
“You mean low expectations?”
FINN (grinning, pointing at her)
“Exactly!
That way, if we do get lost, it won’t be a shock.”
John glanced back, adjusting his bag.
JOHN (calm, muttering)
“Hey, we just got here.”
“Let’s try not to jinx it.”
Finn huffed dramatically.
FINN (grinning, dramatically throwing his hands up)
“Fine, fine. No more jinxing.”
“I’ll be very serious from now on.”
Jake snorted.
JAKE (flat, not buying it)
“You? Serious?”
FINN (grinning, nodding)
“Yep. Completely serious.”
He took exactly three steps forward—
Then tripped over a root.
He caught himself, barely, before faceplanting into the dirt.
A beat of silence.
Then—
Jake burst out laughing.
Sally smirked.
John sighed and looked at Aurora.
She shook her head and walked over.
And Finn?
He was still grinning like an idiot.
FINN (grinning, brushing himself off)
“Okay. Maybe not completely serious.”
HARRY (adjusting his glasses, eyebrow raised)
“Maybe try watching where you’re going.”
FINN (grinning, shrugging)
“Where’s the fun in that?”
King exhaled slowly.
“This is going to be a loong night.”
The trees pressed closer together.
The path wasn’t as clear now.
And the village,
Felt far away.
It hit them.
They were really here.
No houses. No lanterns.
Just them.
Jake ran a hand through his hair, glancing around.
JAKE (muttering, thoughtful)
“So… how do we know we’re going the right way?”
Harry spoke, not looking up from his map.
HARRY (calm, precise)
“I’ve been keeping track of the landmarks.”
“We’re still on course.”
John nodded, satisfied.
Aurora peered through the trees.
The deeper they went—the more it felt like something was close.
Not bad. Not dangerous.
Just… waiting.
Finn hopped over a fallen log, hands behind his head.
FINN (grinning, confident)
“Y’know, this whole thing is kinda perfect, if you think about it.”
SALLY (raising an eyebrow, smirking)
“Oh? And why’s that?”
Finn gestured broadly to the dark woods around them.
FINN (cheerful, matter-of-fact)
“One: We find the cave.”
“Two: We take a look around.”
“Three: We’re back home before dawn, and nobody knows we were ever gone.”
Silence.
Jake snorted.
JAKE (dry, unimpressed)
“Oh yeah, flawless plan.”
“Except for the part where you get lost and die in the woods.”
FINN (grinning, nudging him)
“Yeah, good one jakey.”
Jake rolled his eyes, smirking.
JOHN (calm, reasonable)
“Finn’s right about one thing—we’re not moving in.”
“This is just a look. Nothing more.”
HARRY (nodding)
“As long as we keep track of our path, we’ll be fine.”
SALLY (mocking, grinning)
“See? Fine. Totally nothing to worry about.”
King glanced at her.
KING (deadpan, muttering)
“That’s usually when things go wrong.”
Finn nudged him, still smiling.
FINN (mockingly serious, hand over his heart)
“Have a little faith, King.”
KING (flat, unimpressed)
“I don’t do faith.”
Sally smirked.
Jake sighed.
John shook his head.
It was just an adventure.
A few hours of fun.
Then—home.
That was the plan.
---
But then—
The wind shifted.
Soft at first.
Barely noticeable.
But the torch flames flickered—
Not backward,
Not forward.
Like,
Like something was breathing from behind them.
John frowned.
Aurora paused mid-step.
AURORA (soft, uncertain)
“Did you see that?”
Jake glanced at her.
Harry narrowed his eyes.
He turned, scanning the path behind them.
Something about the trees—felt off.
Like they weren’t standing where they should be.
Like the path had changed.
But that was impossible.
Right?
HARRY (low, focused, to himself)
“That’s… odd.”
John kept looking back.
His gut twisted. Something wasn’t right.
But still—
They kept walking.
---
The torches flickered again,
Only this time, more violently.
Finn paused mid-step, watching the flame on his lantern shudder.
Like the air wasn’t pushing—but pulling.
Not backward.
Not side to side.
But towards them.
FINN (blinking, tilting his head)
“Huh, again?”
Aurora glanced at him.
AURORA (curious, raising an eyebrow)
“Not again.”
They all notice it now.
FINN (amused, waving his hand through the air)
“Is it just me, or does it feel like the forest is breathing?”
He exhaled.
And the moment his breath touched the flame—
It snapped back to normal.
The pulling force was gone.
Like whatever had shifted—had settled.
For now.
Finn tilted his head.
FINN (muttering, smirking slightly)
“Weird.”
John exhaled through his nose, adjusting his pack.
JOHN (calm, moving forward)
“Come on. We’re wasting time.”
They kept moving.
But the forest did not feel the same.
Not anymore.
---
As they kept walking, the air became more still.
The dirt path beneath them more untouched.
They all felt it—
They were stepping somewhere forgotten.
Aurora slowed her steps first.
She ran a hand along the bark of a tree.
The grooves were deep—more than they should be.
Like they had been left undisturbed for decades.
Jake noticed it too.
He nudged a fallen branch with his boot—
And, Instead of snapping,
It crumbled.
Like it had been rotting here for a long long time.
JAKE (muttering, thoughtful)
“No one’s been through here in years.”
Finn tilted his head, intrigued.
FINN (grinning, nudging Harry)
“So, does that make us explorers? Or grave robbers?”
Harry gave him a look.
HARRY (flat, unimpressed)
“That depends—are you planning on stealing something?”
FINN (grinning, shrugging)
“Not unless we find treasure!”
Sally rolled her eyes.
SALLY (dry, arms crossed)
“Oh sure, that’ll end well.”
“Nothing bad ever happens to people who steal from ancient places.”
She said, sarcastic.
FINN (grinning, patting her shoulder)
“That’s the spirit!”
Up ahead,
The ground sloped downward.
The trees thinned.
And past the last row of tangled roots lied what looked like—
A dark opening carved into the earth.
It was,
A cave.
Half-hidden beneath overgrown roots and jagged stone.
In a state where it looked like the world itself had tried to swallow it.
They stopped.
No one said anything at first.
Then,
Finn let out a low whistle.
“Well,” he said quietly.
“Well, well, well.”
“Would you look at that.”
Aurora stepped forward a little, her eyes scanning the entrance.
It was massive.
Larger than she’d expected.
Not just a hollowed-out space in the rock—
But a gaping mouth.
Like something had cut it into the mountain itself.
“…So,” she muttered, shifting her weight.
“We actually found it.”
Harry didn’t move.
He kept staring at the cave with narrowed eyes, expression unreadable.
“Or,” Jake said slowly,
“we found a perfectly normal cave.”
“A regular, non-magical hole in the ground that people have been avoiding because it’s… damp and creepy.”
SALLY (folding her arms)
“That would be very on brand for us.”
Finn snorted.
“Even so, I’d still count this as a win.”
John hadn’t spoken yet.
He took a step, ran a hand along the stone.
It was smooth in some places, rough in others.
“No.”
“…Feels too wrong for it to be just that,” he said at last.
Aurora nodded faintly.
Harry finally walked forward.
He slowly knelt near the entrance, brushing away the dirt.
Beneath the dust—there were markings.
Symbols, too worn to read.
HARRY (quiet, focused)
“This is way older than I thought.”
“Much much older.”
Jake glanced back toward the trees.
Then the path they’d come from.
Then the cave again.
“So… what now?”
“Assuming this is actually it.”
He swallowed, eyes flicking to the dark beyond the entrance.
“…Do we just—walk in?”
No one answered right away.
They all looked at one another—
At the dirt on their boots, the lantern in their hands,
The dark shape waiting patiently in front of them.
Sally was looking at John.
She didn’t say anything at first.
Just watched him.
She nudged his arm—light, deliberate.
Enough to pull him out of his thoughts.
“You’re the leader, John.”
She tilted her head toward the cave.
“Make the call.”
John looked at her,
then forward.
The cave loomed larger now—
its entrance a clean cut of black against the earth,
As if the ground itself had opened its mouth.
Cool air drifted from inside,
carrying the faint lingering scent of stone and time.
He lifted the lantern.
The light pushed forward—
And was swallowed almost immediately.
John tightened his grip.
When he spoke, his voice was calm.
Steadier than he felt.
“We came this far,”
A beat.
“We can’t turn back now.”
Another breath.
Then—
“We should go in.”
For half a second, no one moved.
Then Finn clapped his hands once, sharp in the quiet.
“Ooooh,” he said, grinning.
“Cheesy. I love it.”
JAKE (dry, adjusting his pack)
“Please don’t hype the cave.”
Aurora took one last look at the forest behind them.
“…Guess this is it.”
Harry nodded,
King adjusted his grip on his pack.
“Don’t chicken out now.”
Sally stepped forward.
Right beside John.
And, together…
They crossed the threshold.
---
(A Final Look Back)
No one had noticed.
The air remained still.
The only sound was their steady footsteps against stone.
But slowly—
the light behind them dimmed.
The entrance, once wide and open—began to vanish.
Not all at once.
Not with a sound.
Just gradually—like it had never been there at all.
Jake was the first to feel it.
A flicker of something in his gut—a sudden awareness.
He turned.
And his stomach dropped.
JAKE (sharp, uneasy)
“Uh—guys?”
John paused.
He followed Jake’s gaze—
The cave entrance—the last sliver of moonlight—
It was disappearing.
The walls were slowly pressing in.
The cave was swallowing them whole.
Aurora spun around.
Her breath hitched.
AURORA (low, tense)
“What—”
“It was right there.”
Finn took a step back, eyes widening.
“Okay, what’s going on here.”
Harry furrowed his brows, stepping closer.
He ran a hand along the stone where the entrance should have been.
But it was solid. Cold. Unmoving.
Like it had always been this way.
Like the outside world had never existed at all.
A silence fell over the group.
For the first time tonight—the weight of what they had done settled in.
They were trapped.
King exhaled, crossing his arms.
He wasn’t panicking.
But his voice was low. Unreadable.
“Well, guess we’re not leaving the way we came.”
JAKE (muttering, flat)
“Let’s just hope we can leave at all.”
Aurora swallowed, tightening her grip on her lantern.
AURORA (low, tense)
“Guys… I don’t think we can pretend this is just sightseeing anymore.”
Finn ran a hand through his hair, shaking his head.
FINN (muttering, glancing around)
“So, uh… new plan?”
SALLY (thoughtful, glancing)
“…John, what should we do?”
John turned back toward the path ahead.
There was only one way to go now.
Forward.
His grip on his lantern tightened.
“Let’s.. keep moving.”
No one argued.
There was no other choice.
They stepped deeper.
---
The tunnel stretched onward, curving just slightly as it widened again.
Their lanterns cast flickering light against the stone walls, revealing more of the strange markings.
Not words.
Not symbols they recognized.
Just faded remnants of something long lost.
They had been walking for a while.
Without any clue as to where they were going.
Aurora slowed first.
Her eyes narrowed,
scanning the walls.
AURORA (thoughtful, frowning slightly)
“How far down does this go?”
Harry checked his notebook.
Ran his fingers lightly along the stone.
He paused.
“strange…”
“We should have hit a natural dead end by now.”
“Or at least,
have reached a chamber of some kind.”
JAKE (grumbling, shifting his bag)
“So, basically what you’re saying is, we’re lost.”
“Likely. Yes.”
Jake exhaled sharply.
SALLY (calm, muttering)
“Welp. If we’re gonna die, at least we’ll die together.”
Jake shot her a look.
JAKE (flat)
“Seriously? At least pretend to be hopeful.”
FINN (huffing a laugh, grinning)
“Hey, Sal came willingly. Nobody dragged her here.”
So…”
SALLY (deadpan)
“So what?”
FINN (shrugging, mock-serene)
“So I get to die with a clear conscience.”
AURORA (smirking, shaking her head)
“Honestly, I’m just impressed we lasted this long.”
King gave a look to all of them.
KING (flat, deeply drained)
“..Are we really having this conversation right now?”
KING (ignoring them, glancing at John)
“John.
What do you think?”
“We’ve gone deep, but if this just keeps going…
maybe we should turn back.”
John was silent.
Not because he had nothing to say.
Opposite. He had plenty to say,
Maybe a little too much.
Witnessing his friends give up on life in front of him in record time.
But because,
Something… wasn’t sitting right about it.
This cave had been untouched for years.
That much was obvious.
But, why was it so open?
So deliberate?
Like it had been carved for a purpose.
Just then—
A sound.
Distant.
Low.
Like water lapping against stone.
John turned his head slightly.
Aurora and Finn heard it too.
FINN (blinking, tilting his head)
“Was that—water?”
Aurora nodded slowly.
AURORA (soft, focused)
“I think so.”
HARRY (murmuring, thoughtful)
“That would explain the air down here. It’s not damp, but it’s not dry either.”
JAKE (grumbling, unimpressed)
“Great. So we’re trapped and near an underground lake.”
“What’s next, cave monsters?”
FINN (grinning, wiggling his fingers)
“Ooooh. Maybe it’s ghosts.”
Jake shot him a glare.
JAKE (deadpan, flat)
“And soon they’ll be your friends.”
Sally snorted.
John tried to figure out the sound.
He wasn’t sure that was just water.
He turned toward the tunnel ahead.
That’s when—
They heard it again.
But this time—
Not just water.
They heard voices too.
A pause.
Aurora’s breath hitched.
Jake froze.
Harry’s brows furrowed sharply.
Because that wasn’t possible.
They were alone.
Right?
John slowly moved towards the sound.
He signaled them to follow.
The ground sloped downward.
The tunnel widened.
---
[The Edge of the Drop]
Following the voices and the faint sounds of water,
They had reached the end.
End of the path,
as it vanished beneath them.
Stone that had guided them forward for so long now fell away beneath their feet.
And,
What lied beyond them… was,
Not a sudden fall—
But in a massive, gaping drop.
Darkness swallowed it so completely that it refused to show where it ended.
Or if it ended at all.
Aurora’s eyes widened.
Finn let out a low whistle.
“Whoa.”
Harry moved closer to the edge.
Lifted his lantern.
The light flickered, stretching down, down, down.
But didn’t touch the bottom.
Aurora leaned over slightly.
And then—
She heard it again.
The sound. Water.
Slow, steady ripples.
And voices.
But not clearly.
Like they were being carried from somewhere else.
Somewhere deep below.
John narrowed his eyes.
Sally frowned, stepping forward.
SALLY (thoughtful, tilting her head)
“You think that’s… people?”
JAKE (grumbling, shaking his head)
“How? No one comes down here.”
FINN (shrugging)
“Not that we know off.”
They all looked at him.
FINN (shrugging)
“Just saying.”
HARRY (calm, certain)
“No one SHOULD be here but us.”
“It’s a cave in the middle of nowhere.”
SALLY (deadpan, dry)
“Remind me why we even came here in the first place.”
They all looked at him again.
FINN (blinking, innocent)
“It was.. uhh. Jakeys fault.
Jake made an expression that vaguely resembled giving up on life.
JAKE (giving up on life)
“…We’re soo dead.”
John sighed,
The only one trying to keep his sanity alive,
They had two choices now.
Turn back. Look for another way out.
Or,
Find out what was down below.
Jake looked at John.
Tried to understand what he was thinking.
Then followed his gaze.
He let out a slow, painfully resigned breath.
JAKE (deadpan, muttering)
“John, trust me. There are better ways.”
Sally snorted.
Finn laughed.
Aurora exhaled, steadying herself.
Because they all knew.
There was only one way forward.
And there was no going back now.
But jumping into the unknown—that wasn’t something they could possibly take lightly.
He slowly stepped back from the edge.
His voice was steady.
“We need to think about this.”
“Whatever’s down there… we have to be sure.”
The group nodded.
They have to make a choice.
One they couldn’t undo.
And as they stood at the edge of the drop—
The voices below did not stop.
They only waited.
---
The group stood at the edge.
Looking down. Listening.
The voices below had gotten louder.
The sound of water—still heard below.
Slow. Steady.
Waiting for them to make the choice.
Finn picked up a small rock.
Tossed it in his palm.
Then—he flicked his wrist.
The stone sailed over the edge.
And then—
Nothing.
No impact.
No splash.
Not even a sound.
Jake blinked.
JAKE (frowning, uneasy)
“Did… did that just keep falling?”
Aurora tilted her head, watching the darkness.
AURORA (low, curious)
“It should’ve hit something by now.”
HARRY (thinking aloud, focused)
“Either it’s deeper than we thought…”
“Or something about this place is… off.”
Jake ran a hand through his hair.
“Stocks on that second option.”
Finn grinned.
“You mean the better option.”
Jake shot him a glare.
John was still silent,
The only thing going through his mind— was the choice they have to make.
A choice of life and death.
A choice,
that will determine not just his own—
But all of his friends future. Their fate.
And, a choice, in his mind..
That had already been made.
Sally glanced at John.
Because he hadn’t said anything yet.
“John.. what’re you thinking?”
He took a breath.
He stepped forward.
Turned to face the group.
His voice was calm.
Certain.
JOHN (steady, looking at them all)
“I’ll go first.”
A pause.
FINN (blinking, surprised)
“Wait, what—”
JOHN (calm, reassuring)
“If there’s a way down, we’ll know.”
“If not…
We’ll know it’s not safe.”
Jake frowned.
“Great. My brother, the only rational guy in this group just volunteered as tribute.”
Aurora tensed slightly.
But she understood.
Sally crossed her arms.
She looked at him for a long moment.
Then—
She smirked.
SALLY (grinning, shaking her head)
“Well. No one ever said you weren’t dramatic.”
John gave her a small smirk.
He turned back to the edge.
The others watched.
And without another word—
He jumped.
For a second—there was nothing.
No weight.
No air.
Just—falling.
The lantern in his hand flickered—but didn’t go out.
The sound of water grew louder.
And then—
John was gone.
The others stared.
Aurora gripped her lantern tightly.
Jake ran a hand down his face.
Finn gave a small shrug.
FINN (grinning, stepping up beside the edge)
“Well. Guess that’s our cue.”
Sally nodded.
Then—
She jumped.
Aurora followed.
Finn went next, laughing as he fell.
Jake cursed under his breath—then leapt.
King didn’t hesitate.
And finally—
Harry closed his notebook.
Tucked it away.
And stepped forward.
And let go.
The moment they hit the air—they were gone.
The world above them—
Vanished.
_____
[TO BE CONTINUED IN EPISODE 2]
