The fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows that danced among the trees. I sat alone, the stillness of the forest amplifying the rustling leaves and distant calls of nocturnal creatures. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the darkness, her silhouette weaving through the trees like a phantom.

Ivona appeared, her long hair flowing around her like wisps of smoke. Shadows clung to her, twisting and shifting as if they were alive. The air grew colder, and an unsettling tension filled the space between us.

— "You must be the new face in town," Ivona's voice sliced through the silence, sharp and commanding. Her gaze bore into me, and I felt exposed, as if she could see right through my façade.

I nodded, a chill creeping up my spine, unsure of how to respond to this enigmatic woman who seemed to hold the secrets of the world within her piercing eyes.

Ivona stepped closer, a smirk playing on her lips, and let out a low, haunting hum that echoed through the trees. It was a sound that sent shivers down my spine, resonating with an otherworldly rhythm.

— "You'll find that things are not always what they seem in Ravenswood," she said, her words dripping with foreboding. I could sense the weight of her past in the air, an invisible force that loomed over us like a thundercloud.

Her laughter rang out, melodious yet unsettling, weaving through the shadows like a thread of darkness. I felt an instinctive urge to step back, but my feet remained rooted to the ground.

— "The forest has its own language," Ivona murmured, her eyes flickering with a primal understanding. With each word, the atmosphere thickened, as if the trees themselves were leaning closer to listen.

Suddenly, a rustle in the bushes snapped my attention, my heart racing. Ivona’s expression shifted, her playful demeanor replaced by an intensity that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

— "Not everyone in Ravenswood welcomes strangers," she warned, her voice low and urgent. Her gaze darted into the shadows.