Sarah woke up in a cold sweat, gasping She was lying in her bed, safe and sound. It had all been a nightmare. But as she sat up and rubbed her eyes, she realized that something about the dream had felt all too real.
She couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled over her. It was like a dark cloud hanging over her, threatening to swallow her whole.
Sarah knew she had to do something. She couldn't just sit around and wait for the darkness to consume her. She needed to take action, to find out what was going on and how to stop it.
She spent the next few days researching everything she could about the forest and its history. She read about ancient legends of dark forces that lived within the trees, and how they could be summoned by those who knew the right spells and rituals.
As she dug deeper, she found stories of people who had gone into the forest and never returned, their bodies never found. Some said that they had been taken by the servants of darkness, sacrificed to feed their insatiable hunger for power.
Sarah shuddered at the thought. She knew she had to be careful, but she also knew that she couldn't do this alone. She needed help.
One day, as she was walking through town, she saw a flyer advertising a group of people who practiced magic and were looking for new members. Sarah knew that this was her chance.
She went to the address on the flyer and found a group of people gathered in a small, dimly lit room. They were all dressed in black, their faces obscured by hooded robes.
Sarah introduced herself and explained her situation. The group listened intently, and then one of them stepped forward. He was an older man with a stern, yet kind face.
"We may be able to help you," he said. "But you must understand that what we do is not to be taken lightly. We make pacts with powerful entities, and there are risks involved."
Sarah nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew she had no other choice.
The man led her to a small, cramped room at the back of the building. There, he drew a circle on the ground with chalk and lit candles at each corner.
He handed Sarah a piece of parchment and a quill.
"Write down your desires," he said. "What do you want in exchange for your pact?"
Sarah thought for a moment, and then she wrote down the words that had been echoing in her mind since the nightmare began.
"I want to be free from the darkness," she wrote. "I want to be able to live my life without fear."
She handed the parchment back to the man, who placed it in the center of the circle.
And then he began to chant, his voice low and sonorous. The candles flickered, and the air grew thick with a sense of power.
Sarah watched, her eyes wide with wonder and fear. She knew that she was making a deal with forces far beyond her understanding.
And then it was done. The man extinguished the candles and wiped the chalk from the floor.
"You have made your pact," he said. "Now you must abide by its terms. The darkness will not harm you, but you must always be mindful of its presence. And remember, there is always a price to be paid."
Sarah nodded, her mind buzzing with the weight of what she had just done. She knew that she had just made a deal with the devil. But for better or for worse, it was done.
As Sarah left the building, she felt a sense of relief and dread wash over her. She had made a pact with a mysterious group of people who practiced magic, but she wasn't entirely sure what she had agreed to in exchange for their help.
She tried to put her doubts aside and focus on her newfound sense of security. The darkness no longer felt as suffocating as it had before. She could breathe easier, knowing that she had some sort of protection.
Over the next few days, Sarah felt herself growing more confident. She no longer felt the need to constantly check over her shoulder, and she was able to sleep peacefully through the night.
But as time passed, she began to notice something strange. Every time she passed a mirror, she caught a glimpse of a shadowy figure lurking behind her. It was always just out of sight, but she could feel its presence, following her wherever she went.
Sarah tried to brush it off as her imagination, but the feeling only grew stronger. She started to feel like she was being watched, like there was someone or something waiting for her around every corner.
One night, as she was walking home from the library, she heard a rustling in the bushes. She froze, her heart racing in her chest. She could feel the darkness closing in around her.
And then she heard a voice, low and gravelly. "Do not be afraid," it said. "I am here to fulfill the terms of our pact."
Sarah turned, and saw a tall, shadowy figure emerge from the bushes. It was like nothing she had ever seen before. Its body was made of darkness, its eyes glowing like red-hot embers.
"You have called upon the powers of the darkness," the figure said. "And now, you must pay the price."
Sarah felt a chill run down her spine. She had known that there would be a price to pay, but she had never imagined it would be like this.
"What do you want from me?" she asked, her voice trembling.
The figure stepped closer, and Sarah could feel its icy breath on her skin. "Your soul," it said. "In exchange for the darkness to be banished from your life, you must give me your soul."
Sarah's heart sank. She had made a deal with the devil, and now she was paying the price. She knew there was no going back.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I accept," she said.
And then, everything went black.