Solstice's heart raced as she sprinted through the long forest path. The trees loomed over her, shadows dancing in the moonlight. She felt a chill in the air, but it wasn't just the cold. She could still hear her grandmother's voice echoing in her mind, "Run, Solstice! Run!" The image of her grandmother being engulfed in darkness haunted her, and she pushed herself harder.
After what felt like ages, she finally reached the roadside where her car was parked. Her hands trembled as she fumbled with the keys, but after a couple of tries, she got the door open and leaped inside. She turned the key in the ignition, and the engine roared to life. In blinding speed, she drove onto the main road, white-knuckled on the steering wheel.
As she sped away, Solstice started to calm down, but the memories of what happened didn't leave her. The shadow that took her grandmother felt so real. Was it her imagination? She was filled with doubt. Her grandmother had always told her stories of magical creatures living deep in the woods. But could they really exist? Solstice shook her head, trying to get rid of the thoughts that clouded her mind.
She thought of the promise she made to herself — to always return to her grandmother, to follow the stories she had heard since childhood. But now, here she was, escaping from a fear she couldn't ignore. She banished the thought for now. Instead, she concentrated on the road ahead.
After a long drive, she finally arrived at her parents' home. The familiar sight of the small, blue house brought a sense of comfort, but the joy was overshadowed by the anxiety bubbling in her chest. She parked the car in the driveway and sat there, tears streaming down her face. The suddenness of it all hit her hard. Her grandmother was gone, and she didn't know if she would ever see her again.
For two hours, Solstice cried. She let the emotions wash over her, thinking about how unfair it was that she lost her grandmother in such a strange way. Time stood still as the minutes passed. Her parents, inside, were probably unaware of her absence. Finally, she took a deep breath and wiped her tears. She wanted to make sure she looked okay before going inside.
Solstice took one last look in the rearview mirror and saw a glimpse of herself — her red eyes and messy hair. "It's okay," she whispered to herself, gathering her strength. She stepped out of the car and took a moment to collect her thoughts before walking to the front door.
As she entered, her parents looked up. They were sitting in the living room, watching television. Her mother noticed her first and jumped up, rushing to her. "Solstice! We were worried! Where were you?"
"I was… I was in the woods," Solstice replied softly. Her mother hugged her tight, sensing something was wrong. "What happened?" her father asked, his brows knit with concern.
Solstice paused. How could she explain what she had faced? "It's… hard to explain. Just something weird happened." They didn't push her for details, noticing her pale face. Instead, they made her a warm cup of tea, and they all sat together, talking about everything and nothing at all. But her mind was elsewhere.
After spending some time with her parents, Solstice excused herself. She needed to be alone. As she lay in her old bedroom, memories flooded back. The stories her grandmother told her filled her heart with both warmth and fear. She could feel a strong pull towards the attic in her grandmother's house. Perhaps there, she could find answers.
The next morning, Solstice woke up with a resolute heart. She decided then that she would go back to the attic. There had to be something there, something that could explain everything. She had seen the books before, dusty and forgotten in the corner.
After breakfast, she told her parents she needed to run some errands. With a quick hug, she left, her heart pounding with both excitement and fear as she drove back to her grandmother's house. The familiar road to the forest felt different this time. It was as if she were stepping into an adventure filled with uncertainty.
When she reached the house, everything appeared quiet. Solstice approached the front door, and a wave of nostalgia washed over her. She remembered the happy moments she shared with her grandmother inside these walls. The attic loomed above, waiting for her.
Climbing the stairs to the attic felt like stepping into another world. The dust danced in the sunlight peeking through the wooden beams. She glanced around, her eyes falling on the stack of old books. They looked ancient, their leather covers cracked and worn. This was where her grandmother had kept all her stories.
Solstice carefully opened the first book. Inside, the pages were filled with tales of strange creatures and tales of adventure. But there was something more, something that looked like her grandmother's writing. Her heart raced as she read stories about the shadows that roamed the forest, disguised as safety but ready to trick those who stumbled into their domain.
Suddenly, she felt a cold breeze sweep through the attic. The air thickened, and a feeling of dread filled her. Solstice stood up, her heart racing. The adventure was only beginning, and now she knew she had to face whatever was out there. With determination, she reached for the next book, as she opened it, a piece of paper with her grandmother's writing fell out and caught her eye. On the piece of paper was a message written to her saying "Read the golden book" in bold letters.