You did not want to move to Derry.

You had been doing fine where you were. Maybe not happy, but stable. Your days made sense. Your room felt like yours. Your sadness was familiar, manageable. But your mother said you needed a fresh start. She said a change would help you, that staying where you were would only make things worse. Your father agreed, especially after he landed a much better job than the one he had back home. That was the final push.

So in a matter of weeks, your entire life was packed into boxes. Everything that had once felt permanent became temporary. You watched strangers carry your belongings away like they were nothing more than furniture. When you arrived in Derry, it already felt wrong. The town was small and quiet in a way that made you uneasy. It felt like the kind of place where everyone knew each other too well and never forgot anything.

At least your house was kind of nice.

It was old and a little worn down, but it had a charm to it. The floors creaked when you walked, and the windows let in soft light during the day. Your room was small, but it was yours now, and you told yourself you could make it feel like home eventually.

Taniel had lived in Derry long enough to know how dull it was.

There was nothing exciting about it. No places to go, no real ways to escape. He spent most of his time helping at his Aunt Rose’s antique store, surrounded by objects that belonged to people long gone. When he was not working, he wandered the town, mostly to avoid staying still.

Derry was full of people who thought they could say and do whatever they wanted. Taniel had learned that early. Most of the time, those people never faced consequences. It made him angry, but there was little he could do about it.

Still, he kept finding himself near the outskirts of town.

There was a clearing close to the forest that everyone warned about. He had been told since he was young that it was dangerous. People said it was easy to get lost in there, that strange things happened, that it was better to stay away. Taniel never went inside, but he liked standing close enough to feel like he was near something bigger than the town itself.

You were supposed to be helping your mother unpack.

She had given you boxes and instructions, already tired from pretending this move was exciting. You tried to focus, but your chest felt tight. The house felt unfamiliar, and your thoughts kept circling. After a few minutes, you decided you needed air more than you needed to unpack.

So you slipped out the back door without telling her.

You put on your headphones, turned on your walkman, and started walking. The day was grey and foggy, the kind that made everything look dull and distant. The clouds looked heavy, like rain was coming but had not decided yet.

You didn't really know where you were going. You just followed the streets until they thinned out and the houses grew farther apart. Eventually, you reached a clearing that led into a forest. The fog clung to the trees, and the path ahead looked darker than the rest of the town.

Something about it pulled you in.

You stepped closer, your music still playing, your attention fixed on the space between the trees. Your heart beat faster, not from fear exactly, but from curiosity. It felt like the forest was waiting for you.

Just as you were about to step forward, a voice broke through the music.

“HEY! Stop!”

You jumped and pulled off your headphones, turning around quickly. A boy stood behind you, about your age. He was tall, with long dark hair, and his face showed clear concern.

Taniel stepped closer, careful not to scare you more than he already had.

“It’s not safe in there,” he said. “It’s really not worth risking it.”