Wednesday: The Uneasy Calm
The trio spent the day exploring cautiously, staying close to the rustic Airbnb and the tree. Jas kept a wary distance from the tree trunk, though their curiousity burned.
“I found this,” Roman said, holding up an old weathered compass he’d discovered near the base of the tree.
“It’s pointing west,” Ivy Mae noted, though the needle jittered erratically.
“Whatever this place is, it’s not following the rules,” Jas said, clutching the journal.
As the sun dipped lower, a stillness fell over the area. The wind, the hums, even the faint rustling of leaves seemed to stop.
“I don’t like this,” Ivy Mae whispered, glancing around.
Jas opened the journal to the page with the astronomical drawings. Their heart sank as they noticed faint new markings—scribbled notes and a date: “Prepare: 7 days.”
“I didn’t see this before,” Jas muttered, showing it to the others.
Roman’s jaw tightened. “Seven days for what?”