Short story: The Guardian of the Forest

In a peaceful town surrounded by dense forests, a strange sign began to appear in the main squares and streets. The image it showed was disturbing: an abstract face reminiscent of an owl, with large, piercing eyes that seemed to watch everyone from the darkness. Although its design was artistic, the atmosphere it generated was one of unease, as if the poster was a harbinger of something sinister.

"Have you seen those strange posters that have been appearing all over town?" asked Ana to Lucas as they walked through the square.

"Yes, they are really disturbing. They seem to be watching us from the shadows," replied Lucas, feeling a chill.

The calm of the town was broken when a group of teenagers, known for their adventurous spirit, decided to explore the forest that bordered the community. Among them were Lucas, the most intrepid of the group; Ana, the voice of reason; and Javier, the joker who always tried to ease the tension with his humor. One night, after a campfire, Lucas disappeared without a trace. His friends, alarmed, organized a search, but days passed without any clues being found. Anguish gripped their families, and concern spread among neighbors.

"Where do you think Lucas might be?" asked Carla, Lucas' younger sister, with tears in her eyes.

"I don't know, but we're not going to rest until we find him," said Ana, hugging Carla tightly.

Soon after, an old diary was discovered in the cabin where the group used to meet. The pages were filled with tales of local legends, including stories of an ancient forest guardian who protected dark secrets. According to the journal, those who wandered too far into his territory could arouse his wrath. The idea that Lucas might have been a victim of this legend began to circulate among the locals, fueling fear and distrust.

"Do you think the legends of the forest have anything to do with Lucas' disappearance?" asked Tomas, the new boy in town, as he flipped through the newspaper.

"I don't know, but I can't stop thinking about it. We need to investigate further," replied Ana, determined to find answers.

The police, led by Officer Martinez, an experienced but skeptical man, made no headway in the investigation. Rumors about the forest guardian intensified, and people began to avoid going out at night. The streets, once a gathering place, became silent deserts. Greetings became scarce and glances furtive. The community, which had always been united, began to fracture under the pressure of fear.

"This is ridiculous. I don't believe in those silly legends," Officer Martinez snorted, crossing his arms skeptically.

"But we can't ignore them, officer. Something is going on in the woods, and we have to find out what it is," Ana insisted, trying to convince him.

Ana, determined to find Lucas and unravel the mystery, gathered her friends. Among them was Carla, Lucas' younger sister, who felt lost without her brother and was willing to do whatever it took to help. Also joining in was Tomas, a boy new to town who had heard the legends and was intrigued by the mystery. Together, armed with flashlights and a tape recorder to document any findings, they went into the woods.

"I'm scared, but I'll do whatever it takes to find Lucas," Carla said, squeezing Ana's hand with determination.

"Together we'll make it. We're not going to give up," Ana replied, giving her an encouraging smile.

As they moved on, they began to hear whispers and strange noises that seemed to lead them toward a hidden clearing. In the center of the clearing, they found an ancient altar covered with moss and adorned with wilted flower offerings. All around them, the trees seemed to whisper secrets, and an uneasy feeling came over them.

At that moment, they understood that they were at the heart of the legend, and that the guardian of the forest was not just a myth.

"Do you hear that? It sounds like the trees are talking," whispered Tomas, looking around in amazement.

"Yeah, and look at that altar. We're definitely in the right place," replied Ana, feeling a knot in her stomach.

As they explored, a loud rustling sound interrupted the silence. They realized they were not alone. A dark figure emerged from the trees, its eyes glowing with an unearthly intensity. The group, paralyzed with fear, realized they had crossed a line they should not have crossed.

"Who are you?" asked Ana, trying to remain calm.

The figure did not answer, but its eyes seemed to penetrate their souls, warning them to stay away.

Bravely, Ana decided to confront the figure, demanding answers about Lucas' whereabouts. What followed was an unexpected encounter, where the figure revealed that he was not an enemy, but a protector of the forest, charged with maintaining the balance between the human world and the natural world. Lucas had been taken to a safe place, away from danger, and would only return when the people learned to respect nature and its mysteries.

"Where is my brother, what have you done to him?" cried Carla, tears of frustration in her eyes.

"Luke is safe, but he cannot return until you learn to respect this place," replied the figure in a deep, resonant voice.

Before they could process her words, however, an icy wind began to blow, blowing leaves and branches away. The figure vanished into the mist, leaving behind an eerie silence. Suddenly, a piercing cry echoed through the air, an echo of despair that seemed to come from the heart of the forest.

"Lucas!" cried Carla, her voice trembling with fear.

"We must leave! It's not safe here," urged Ana, feeling the atmosphere growing more and more oppressive.

As they backed away, the trees began to move, their branches reaching out like claws, as if they wanted to catch them. The whispers intensified, becoming a chorus of wailing that filled the air. Suddenly, a new sign appeared before them, the same abstract face of the owl, but this time with a sinister smile.

"The guardian will not forget you," murmured a voice that seemed to come from everywhere.

Reaching the edge of the forest, they turned around, but the clearing was no longer what they remembered. The altar had disappeared, and in its place was a dense blanket of fog that hid any trace of Luke. The town, which had once been a haven, now seemed distant and alien.

"What are we going to do?" asked Tomas, trembling with fear.

"I don't know, but we have to warn the others," replied Ana, her heart pounding.

As they walked away, a shadow slipped through the trees, and a low, mocking laugh echoed in the air. The forest had come alive, and with it, the secrets that had remained hidden for so long. The figure of the guardian was not only a protector, but also a judge, and the village had been marked forever.

Night fell over the town, and though they returned, a sense of unease lingered in the air. No one could escape what they had discovered, and the echo of the forest's wailing echoed in their minds, reminding them that some mysteries are too dark to be unearthed.





Source of the images.
Image created with Starryai.