The Evil Forest

 

Evil Forest 

Deep in the heart of the ominous Evil Forest, nestled within Forest County, lies an artifact of immense power, guarded by the enigmatic Chief Priest. Chosen at birth, this man wields the unique ability to commune with the forest’s creatures, who alert him to any intruders threatening his sacred shrine. Swift and decisive, he protects the artifact with unrelenting force. No one knows the Chief Priest’s name, a secret shrouded in mystery. His birth is heralded by a rain of blood and a sun that scorches the earth in a fiery blaze, forcing the townsfolk to remain indoors lest they face the wrath of the gods.

The people of Forest County live in fear of the Chief Priest. They would rather endure their troubles in silence than approach him for help, believing that disturbing him risks divine retribution. A strict taboo governs the land: no outsider may take anything from the Evil Forest without facing death within 24 hours. Even natives who steal from the forest have only seven days to confess their sins to the Chief Priest and perform a cleansing ritual to appease the gods, or they too will perish.

Over time, many residents fled Forest County, drawn to the promise of modern life in distant, developed towns. Some sought wealth and opportunity; others grew weary of the constant fear and the gods’ capricious destruction. As generations passed, those who left forgot their ancestral roots, and their descendants grew up ignorant of Forest County’s traditions and taboos.

Our story begins with four friends—descendants of those who abandoned Forest County. Unbound by tradition and driven by a hunger for quick riches, they care little for the old ways. One evening, as they shared drinks in a dimly lit bar, a stranger approached. The friends paused, their glasses halfway to their lips, and sized him up. Short and impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, he wore a diamond-encrusted watch that glinted under the bar’s flickering lights. A wide-brimmed hat shadowed his face, obscuring his features, but his air of wealth was unmistakable.

"Good evening, gentlemen," the man said with a flourish, tipping his hat slightly.

"Good evening to you too, Mr. Man," one of the four friends slurred, his voice thick with alcohol. The others smirked, their vision blurred from too many drinks, dulling their senses.

One friend staggered to his feet, attempting a clumsy bow, but the man in the hat caught his arm, steadying him. "No! Don’t do that—we’re all equal here," he said firmly, preventing a fall.

"If ya say so," the friend mumbled with a lopsided grin, glancing at his companions as if he’d achieved something heroic.

"My name is Jonathan Mikel," the man announced. "May I buy you gentlemen the next round of drinks?"

"That’s little Johnny talking," one friend chimed in, nodding eagerly at the offer.

Jonathan signaled the bartender, who shuffled over with fresh drinks. As the bartender retreated, Jonathan added, "Now that I’ve introduced myself, it would be rude if none of you shared your names."

Emboldened by the free drinks, a thin-framed friend with a permanent scowl tapped his chest. "I’m Ola. That guy with the stupid grin is Rockie," he said, pointing to a tall, lanky figure with dark skin. "Over there is Jaden," he continued, nodding toward the short friend with shoulders that rivaled Dwayne Johnson’s. "And the last one’s Kelvin," he finished, gesturing to a hefty man who loomed like a cow in the dim light.

Jonathan Mikel shook their hands, his beaming smile unwavering. "Now that we’re acquainted, let’s make a toast."

"Yes!" the four shouted in unison, glee lighting their faces as they raised their glasses. "To more free drinks!" Ola bellowed.

"No!" Rockie interjected with a hiccup, swatting Ola’s hand away. "Let the gentleman who bought us drinks propose," he insisted, nodding toward Jonathan.

Jonathan smiled inwardly, sensing his moment. He lifted his glass and declared, "To a fruitful and beneficial partnership that brings in millions."

"Hear, hear, hear!" Jaden slurred, draining his glass and eyeing Jonathan, who promptly signaled the bartender for another round. The friends erupted in cheers, crowning him "a baller among us." Jonathan waved off the praise and leaned in. "I need your help."

"What sort of help?" Kelvin asked, his voice steadying.

"A help that’ll fetch each of you five million dollars," Jonathan replied.

"WHAT!" they exclaimed in unison.

"As in five million dollars?" Ola pressed, needing confirmation.

"Yes," Jonathan nodded. "And what you’ll have to do is simple. Deliver an artifact to me."

The buzz of alcohol seemed to fade as the sum sank in. Jonathan noticed their clearer eyes and pressed on. "This stays between us," he whispered, beckoning them closer. "The artifact is hidden in the Evil Forest of Forest County."

"Why not collect it yourself?" Rockie challenged.

"Because I’m not from there," Jonathan explained. "Only those born in Forest County can take it."

"It’s just an artifact—you could grab it and be done," Ola insisted.

"Anyone not from there who trespasses is done for," Jonathan countered, drawing a thumb across his throat from ear to ear.

"How did you know we’re from there?" Jaden asked, suspicion creeping into his tone.

"Look, guys, I did my research," Jonathan said, glancing around to ensure privacy. "Five million dollars could change your lives forever."

Jonathan could see the calculating looks on their faces, and he pressed on. "Think of what five million dollars could do for you. No stress—just retrieve the artifact and deliver it to me. No strings attached."

Jaden leaned forward, his voice measured. "Can you give us a moment to think about it?"

"Of course," Jonathan replied, standing and signaling the bartender for another round. "I'll be over there." He pointed to the far corner of the bar. "Signal me when you're ready." With that, he walked away.

The four friends sat in silence, nursing their drinks, each lost in thought. Kelvin broke the quiet, nudging Ola. "That forest is full of evil, man. My old man used to tell us terrifying stories about it."

"Yeah," Jaden added, his tone serious. "My dad said the same. He swore those stories about the evil forest were real."

Ola scoffed, waving a hand dismissively. "Forget that old talk. We’re in the modern world now—no such thing as the supernatural."

Rockie shook his head, his voice sharp. "Don’t be a blockhead, Ola. Tradition never dies."

"You’re the blockhead," Ola fired back. "Plenty of traditions have gone extinct."

"Guys, I don’t care about traditions," Rockie said, his eyes gleaming with ambition. "Five million dollars could change my life."

Kelvin glanced around nervously. "I don’t know, man. My old man said if you try stealing that artifact, the gods will strike you down from afar."

"Damn you and your old man," Rockie snapped. "I could use a few million to turn my life around. If you’re scared, sit it out. More for me."

Jaden placed a calming hand on Rockie’s shoulder. "Easy, man. We need to do this. Besides, it’s a chance to visit our ancestral land, see where our fathers lived."

"Yeah," Ola agreed, nodding slowly. "There might even be relatives still living there. We should start preparing."

Jaden glanced at Jonathan across the bar and gave a subtle nod. Kelvin shifted uncomfortably. "I’m scared, guys. I don’t know."

"Jonathan’s coming back," Ola said urgently. "Make up your mind, Kelvin. Are you in or sitting this out?"

Kelvin sighed, his shoulders slumping. "I guess I’m in."

Jonathan reached the table just then, his eyes scanning their faces. "What’s the answer?"

"We’re all in," Ola said firmly. "But we’ll need cash for logistics and preparations. As you can see, we’re broke."

Jonathan sat down, lowering his voice to a dangerous whisper. "That’s not a problem. I’ll provide five hundred thousand for expenses. But don’t think you can run off with my money." His lips curled into a snarl. "You’d regret it."

The friends exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of his words settling over them.

"That won't be a problem," Ola said, glancing at his friends, who nodded in agreement.

"Then it's settled," Jonathan said with a wide grin. "Now, each of you needs to give me your account details. I'll transfer one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars to each of you to make up the five hundred thousand dollars. I promise."

They scrambled to share their account numbers, and right there, Jonathan sent the funds. Their phones pinged with alerts, and their faces lit up with shock. Never had their accounts seen such sums before.

"I could buy a small car and a house now!" Kelvin exclaimed, his earlier fear of the evil forest forgotten. They all shared a grin.

"Don't get too comfortable," Jonathan warned. "This is just the tip of the iceberg. Imagine having five million dollars in your accounts, earned without breaking a sweat."

They nodded eagerly. Jaden pictured his uncle’s face—the one who’d said he’d amount to nothing—as he imagined buying the latest car and a house. "I’m in," Jaden said firmly.

"Now, if you boys will excuse me, I’ll let you start planning," Jonathan said, taking a few steps away. He paused and turned back. "Oh, I almost forgot." He tossed a card with a phone number to Ola. "When you find the artifact, call that number. I’ll get to you in no time. Good hunting, guys." With that, he left.

"Everyone needs to get their gear now," Rockie said, standing up. "No excuses about money, and don’t be stingy. We’ve got five million dollars waiting to be claimed and spent."

"Absolutely," Ola agreed, rising to his feet. "We need to reach the evil forest within the week so we can wrap this up and be smiling at the bank."

A WEEK LATER.

A few weeks later, the four friends—Ola, Rockie, Kelvin, and Jaden—set off for the infamous Evil Forest. The mood was light as they cruised in a rented Toyota Highlander, laughter filling the cabin.

“How’d you convince your old man to let you borrow this beauty, Rockie?” Ola asked, leaning forward from the back seat.

“Didn’t borrow it,” Rockie grinned, gripping the wheel. “Rented it for two grand. Told him the guys and I needed it for a trip.”

“Two grand?” Kelvin chuckled from the passenger seat. “Your dad’s gonna blow it all on liquor, isn’t he?”

Rockie shrugged. “Probably. But it’s worth it for this ride.”

“So, how do we get to Idaho County?” Jaden piped up, sprawled across the back seat.

“Let me check,” Kelvin said, pulling out his smartphone. “Google says it’s a 34–36-hour drive from Tunkhannock, about 2,250 miles. If we split it over three days, that’s 12 hours of driving a day.”

Ola let out a low whistle. “That’s a haul.”

“For a five-million-dollar job?” Jaden smirked. “That’s nothing.”

“Here’s the route,” Kelvin said, scrolling through his phone. “We start in Tunkhannock, Wyoming County. Take US-6 West or PA-309 South to I-81 South near Scranton, about 15–20 miles. Then hit I-80 West near Wilkes-Barre. We’ll cross Pennsylvania and Ohio—around 400 miles—through places like State College and Akron. Flat roads, easy driving.”

He continued, “Then it’s 350 miles through Indiana and Illinois. Watch for traffic near Chicago; we might take I-90 West to avoid it. After that, 700 miles across Iowa and Nebraska—Des Moines, Omaha, North Platte. Long but fast. In Wyoming, we stay on I-80 West through Cheyenne and Laramie, about 400 miles, but it gets rugged. Near Evanston, we switch to I-84 West into Utah, then Idaho—Twin Falls, Boise. From Boise, it’s 200 miles to Idaho County. We can take US-20 West to ID-75 North through the Sawtooth Forest, then US-93 North and ID-28 to Grangeville. Or, simpler, ID-55 North to US-95 North, straight to Grangeville.”

“Man, that’s a trek,” Rockie said, laughing. “But five million bucks? I’ll drive to the moon for that.”

“Told you it was a lot,” Ola said, shaking his head. He swapped seats with Rockie to take the first shift at the wheel.

“No whining,” Jaden said, tossing a chip from a bag he’d cracked open. “We’ll have fun along the way. Music, snacks, maybe a detour or two. Let’s make this epic.”

Part 2..........Loading.