Alex and Ben were heading back home, then Alex suddenly stopped 'Hey, Ben, let's go home through the forest!'
Ben's jaw dropped. 'Are you crazy? That's dangerous! Who knows what's in there?'
Alex smiled, He nudged Ben with his elbow and teased, "Come on, are you scared?"
The forest loomed ahead, a thick, shadowy barrier of trees. It was more than just any forest, it was a place spoken of in hushed whispers, a place that instilled fear and caution in those who dared to approach.
Ben suddenly heard a voice calling his name."Ben!" the voice echoed through the woods. "Did you hear that, Alex?" Ben asked, wide-eyed."Hear what?" Alex replied, confused.
"It's calling my name!" Ben insisted, heart racing . "Let's go check it out!"
They followed the sound deeper into the forest and soon stumbled upon a small clearing. There, lying on the ground, was a shimmering amulet, glowing softly.
"Wow, it's beautiful!" Alex said, leaning closer.
As Ben reached out to pick it up, the amulet pulsed with energy, and the voice spoke again, this time more urgently. "Ben!" Ben looked back at Alex, still trying to grasp what was happening.
Two shadowy figures stood perfectly still, concealed behind a tree. "It has chosen a human," said one of the figures, Wille. The other figure remained silent.
Clutching the amulet tightly, Ben and Alex were going bck to thier house , But then, a deafening roar echoed in the air, and a giant figure appeared in the sky, landing so violently that the earth shook beneath their feet. It was a giant troll, whose skin was as rough as stone, and whose eyes were glowing bright red.
'Give me the amulet!' the troll boomed, its voice like grinding boulders.
Ben and Alex exchanged a terrified glance, their faces pale. They successfully spun around and tried to fly back to the safety of the town.. But before they could move more than a step or two, something grabbed them. That would be the two figures who had been concealed behind the tree.
'Follow us,' one of them hissed, their voice a dry rustle of leaves.
With a massive troll hot on their heels and these mysterious figures holding them , Alex and Ben knew they had no choice. They stumbled after the shadowy beings, deeper into the heart of the forest.
'What is happening?' Alex said, his voice trembling. 'Who are you?"
One of the figures let out a sound that might have been a sigh. "we can explain everything... but not here.'
the production of an antique, detailed key. They expertly clicked the key into what looked like a part of a tree. To the astonishment of both Alex and Ben, the hidden door creaked inward, and passage revealed.
'Follow us,' the figure commanded. Alex and Ben hesitated, their hearts pounding a frantic rhythm against their ribs. .
'We don't want to,' Alex blurted out.
The second figure stepped forward, 'We promise we will tell you everything,' it assured them, 'But for now, you must come with us. If that troll catches you, it will surely kill you.'
Seeing the undeniable truth in the figures' words, and with the troll's roars echoing faintly from the forest behind them, Ben and Alex exchanged a final, desperate look. They had no other option. They stepped through the hidden doorway, the two figures disappearing in after them, the secret door swinging shut .