THE MOONLIT FURY
AKPORIEN KEHINDE@akporienkehinde866986
2 months ago
EPISODE 7: THE CIRCLE OF STONES
As Lucas emerged from the forest, the village felt almost too quiet, as if it was holding its breath. The contrast between the dark, whispering woods and the stillness of the village was stark, and it heightened Lucas’s sense of urgency. He knew that the stones in the forest were not merely ancient relics—they were active, pulsing with a malevolent force that was somehow connected to the recent disappearances.
Lucas headed straight for the village square, where he found Harold and a few other villagers gathered near the well. Their conversation died down as they noticed his approach, their eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and unease.
"Harold," Lucas said, his voice firm, "I found something in the forest. A circle of stones—like the ones in Moonlit Ridge. There’s a powerful force there, something dark and dangerous. We need to act quickly."
Harold’s face paled. "The stones," he muttered, his gaze drifting toward the forest. "My grandfather used to talk about them. Said they were cursed. We always thought it was just old stories to keep kids from wandering too far. But if you’re saying it’s real..."
"It’s real," Lucas confirmed. "And it’s tied to the disappearances. The stones and the tree at the center—they’re part of some ritual, one that demands blood. The missing villagers... they might have been sacrifices."
A murmur of fear rippled through the small crowd that had gathered around them. Lucas could see the terror in their eyes, but he also saw something else—resolve. These people were frightened, yes, but they were also survivors, hardened by years of living in the shadow of the forest.
"We can’t just sit here and wait for it to happen again," a woman from the crowd said, her voice trembling. "What do we do?"
"We need to destroy the stones," Lucas said, his voice carrying the weight of his decision. "Break the circle and end the ritual. But we’ll need everyone’s help. This isn’t something one person can do alone."
Harold nodded, stepping forward. "We’ll do whatever it takes. This village has suffered enough."
It didn’t take long for the villagers to gather what tools they had—axes, hammers, anything that could be used to break the stones. Lucas led the way back to the clearing, his mind focused on the task ahead. As they entered the forest, the atmosphere grew heavier, the air thick with anticipation. It was as if the forest itself knew what they were planning and was trying to stop them.
When they reached the clearing, the villagers hesitated, staring at the stone circle and the twisted tree with a mix of awe and fear. The stones seemed to glow brighter in the presence of so many people, the symbols etched into them pulsing with an eerie light.
"We need to do this together," Lucas said, breaking the silence. "Focus on the stones. We’ll start with the ones closest to the tree and work our way out. Whatever happens, stay together."
The villagers nodded, and with a collective breath, they moved forward, swinging their tools at the stones. The first strike sent a shockwave through the clearing, a low rumble echoing beneath their feet. The ground trembled as the stones cracked, but the villagers didn’t stop. They continued their assault, each blow driving fissures deeper into the ancient monoliths.
As the stones began to crumble, the whispers in the air grew louder, more frantic. The light from the symbols flickered and dimmed, as if the force behind them was weakening. But the tree at the center remained untouched, its twisted form looming over the scene, dark and malevolent.
Lucas focused on the tree, feeling a strange pull toward it. He knew that it was the heart of whatever power was controlling the stones. If they could destroy the tree, the ritual would be broken for good.
"Harold, with me!" Lucas called out, and Harold joined him, hefting his axe. Together, they approached the tree, the whispers around them reaching a fever pitch.
As they raised their axes to strike, the tree seemed to shudder, as if it was alive, aware of the threat they posed. But Lucas and Harold didn’t hesitate. They brought their axes down with all their strength, the wood splintering under the force of their blows.
The tree groaned, a sound that seemed to echo deep within the earth. It wasn’t just a tree—they could feel it now. It was a vessel, a conduit for the dark energy that had plagued the village for generations.
With each strike, the tree weakened, its bark peeling away to reveal a core of blackened, rotten wood. The ground beneath their feet began to shake violently, but the villagers kept going, driven by a determination to end the nightmare once and for all.
Finally, with one last, mighty swing, the tree gave way. It collapsed inward, crumbling into dust as a powerful surge of energy burst from its core. The force of the explosion knocked Lucas and Harold back, the villagers stumbling as the ground heaved beneath them.
For a moment, everything was silent. The air was thick with dust and the remnants of the tree, swirling around them like a spectral fog. But as the dust began to settle, a sense of profound stillness descended over the clearing. The oppressive weight that had hung over the forest was gone, replaced by a quiet peace.
Lucas slowly got to his feet, his heart pounding. The stones were nothing more than rubble now, and the tree—once the dark heart of the ritual—was reduced to ashes. The whispers had ceased, the malevolent force that had controlled the forest vanquished.
The villagers stood in stunned silence, the reality of what they had just accomplished sinking in. The forest no longer felt threatening; it was just a forest, the ancient curse that had haunted it finally lifted.
Harold turned to Lucas, his face a mixture of exhaustion and gratitude. "We did it," he said, his voice hoarse. "It’s over."
Lucas nodded, though his mind was already racing ahead. The ritual had been broken, and the villagers were safe—for now. But he knew that evil like this never truly disappeared. It had roots that ran deep, connections to places and times far beyond what they could see. It was a cycle, one that he had only just begun to understand.
"We should go back," Lucas said, his voice firm. "There’s more work to be done. But for tonight, let’s rest."
The villagers followed him out of the forest, their steps lighter, their spirits lifted. The village that had once been shrouded in fear was now free, the darkness that had claimed so many lives finally banished.
But as Lucas walked back to the village, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. The world was full of places like this, where old evils lay dormant, waiting for the right moment to awaken. He had found his calling—his purpose. And he knew that the road ahead would be long and dangerous.
But Lucas Thorn was ready. The stories were out there, waiting to be told, and he was determined to uncover them all.
As the village of Moonlit Ridge faded into the past, a new chapter of his journey began. And wherever the road led, Lucas knew that he would face it head-on, unafraid of the darkness that lay ahead.
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