Her natural curiosity, mixed with professional instinct, pushed Valdis toward the enthusiastic gesturer. From a decent distance, thanks to the bright snow reflecting the moonlight (guess she hadn't forgotten all her school lessons!), she finally recognized the person.
And instantly relaxed.
Well, what a surprise! You could've just come by the station to say hi, no need to stand here waving like that. I would've made tea, we could've caught up like old times.
As she got closer, Valdis opened her arms for a hug- only to be met with a knife plunging into the spot where a man's Adam's apple would be.
Her eyes rolled. She gasped. Hands flew to the hilt in a futile attempt to pull it out. Useless. How could this be happening?!
Her knees buckled. Then the rest of her collapsed to the snowy path. Her weight pressed her deeper into the ground as something- or someone- started dragging her away.
To a place she never would've gone in life.
But no one was asking her anymore. And even if they had, she couldn't say - yes - or - no. Because the dead don't get a say.
Unfortunately...
Revelry and the Castle.
The three figures in the diorama of an entire town might not just be carved from wood or plastic- but real people, flesh and blood. That's what an unknown player sitting in his office might think, and he'd be absolutely right.
Because right now, those very three were boldly heading into that same cursed forest, where all kinds of creepy stuff had happened before. The team was hyped and feeling great. They'd had a solid drinking session the day before to celebrate the start of their expedition, which would soon become a whole series of episodes with flashy titles like: - We're at the Lake That Steals Souls! 18+! - They'd already filmed their arrival in the working - class village, had (a rather awkward) conversation with the mayor, and caught a glimpse of a suspicious local cop.
Long story short, the content hadn't even properly started rolling yet, and already there were enough mysteries to satisfy even the pickiest viewers.
I was replaying all that in my mind as we documented our hike through the forest toward the lake. Laughing and joking with Ada and Odile, I still kept mentally analyzing everything we did. Every move mattered- after all, every action turned into views and money in the end.
And I really did love those inseparable sisters- or brothers (whatever they were- relatives, anyway). Ada asked me:
So, what do you think is waiting for us out there?
I put on my best nonchalant face- our cameraman was always watching, after all- and answered lazily:
Well, most likely, we'll run into… absolutely nothing. I mean, let's be honest with our audience- everyone dreams of seeing ghosts and zombies, but to actually spot them in real life? You need CGI or a good makeup artist.
You wanna see the undead? Too bad. All that crap doesn't exist, no matter what spooky old legends and myths try to tell us. They're just scare stories passed down by superstitious grandpas.
We're not gullible like they think right, guys? It's us who scare people out of their pants!
I gave the camera a dramatic wink and a crooked grin. Odile chuckled, though he quickly suppressed it and said thoughtfully:
Hmmm… Depends on how they scare If they really put their soul into it, maybe our hearts will
give out.
I mockingly objected:
Buddy, cut the doom The weather's great, even if it's clearly not summer. No blizzards, no storms in the forecast. Let's just enjoy this with our viewers.
Then Ada chimed in:
As you always ask, friends, we didn't bring anyone along for backup again- just to really immerse ourselves (and you!) in the experience. We're following directions we got from the villagers. Also, as you can see, we've headed into the forest at night, and our only lighting is the moon and our spotlights. So… prepare for some suspense. - She smiled, and I quickly jumped in:
Or you'll just see a bunch of friends hanging out in nature. Boring and uneventful- but
The crew looked at me, surprised- I was usually the one who cranked up the suspense, even while playing the skeptical role. Ada, with her physics degree, leaned into the scientific angle- rational, but open - minded enough to accept the unknown. Odile brought the mysticism and spooky vibes with his mysterious way of talking. And even though I didn't believe in any of it, I always kept the tension high, to keep the viewers wondering, - What if?
But now I'd blurted this out! Damn… I guess the thoughts I'd had after yesterday's interview really stuck in my subconscious and slipped through. Maybe, for the first time in ages, I actually told the truth. And suddenly, creeping up behind me was something I thought I'd long shaken off: sincerity.
And also- sheer exhaustion from wearing the mask of a showbiz hero.
Ada quickly took the reins, realizing it wasn't worth drawing attention to my careless rambling, and said:
If the compass isn't lying, then we haven't strayed once, and here it is - the sprawling, massive tree that the guy from the local bar mentioned. The one who described the path to us in such Just a bit further and we're there. Where we'll meet the spawns of the darkness within our own And I swear on my Brave Hamster Benny, it's gonna be one hell of a showdown. - Odile added solemnly.
That's how it might've gone (maybe even more epic), if we hadn't shown up to the most boring lake imaginable - or at least that's what I said to the camera. But in my mind, I had a different take: the lake was saved by two things - its mysterious aura and the stunning visuals. A silver basin surrounded by towering mountain ridges, under a sky blazing with a million stars… it looked unreal.
That was my honest - to - God thought. I was genuinely captivated by places like this. In fact, that's partly why I got into this line of work. But as I reached the lapping water and nudged it with the tip of my shoe, I asked:
So what? Where's all the ghosts and monsters? Overslept and missed their night shift?
Ada was already busy messing with the tent, not answering, clearly focused on prepping the site for our overnight stay. I was about to jump in and help, but Odile cut in:
Don't you think it's too quiet here? Like the wind just gave up chasing whatever strange treasures it's always after. Yeah, I get Feels like something's waiting for us. Not a good sign… Wait, look - what's that in the water?! - I yelped, flailing my arms toward the lake, and then jumped back. I clasped my hands to my lips in an exaggerated gasp - like those cringe - worthy ads where people pretend to be shocked.
Where?! What?! - Odile panicked, and I quickly offered:
Gimme the camera, I'll shoot what you're Look over there.
They handed me the clunky thing, and my camera - virgin shoulders shook under the weight. - How the hell do the guys lug this around all day? - I thought. Intrigued, Odile walked up to the water's edge and stared into the glassy surface with the trance - like focus of a philosopher desperate for answers.
That's exactly what he was. Real Person. And that hit me so hard in the chest I could barely breathe
pissed me off, So I went through with it: a harmless prank… or so I thought. I shoved him hard in the back.
He stumbled forward and, before he could stop himself, ended up knee - deep - no, neck - deep - in freezing cold water on a bitter night.