The Village of Wrenwood.

In the heart of Wrenwood, nestled among the ancient oaks and shadowy pines, lived the family of Oliver Reddington. Oliver, a young boy with raven-black hair and eyes that sparkled like emeralds, was the embodiment of curiosity and wonder. His world revolved around his family, and the love they shared was a beacon of light in the darkness of the forest.

His parents, John and Eliza, were pillars of the community, known for their kindness and unwavering dedication to their neighbours. They taught Oliver the values of compassion and hard work, instilling in him a deep sense of responsibility. John, a sturdy man with hands that could mend anything, passed on his knowledge of farming and carpentry to his son. Eliza, with her soothing voice and gentle demeanour, nurtured Oliver's love for nature and storytelling.

Oliver had two siblings, Lily and Samuel, who were his constant companions in the enchanting world of Wrenwood. Lily, the elder of the two, possessed a wild imagination that led them on countless adventures through the forest. Her laughter was like the melody of a brook, and her eyes sparkled with the promise of endless possibilities. Samuel, the younger sibling, was a bundle of boundless energy, always ready to explore and discover new wonders. With his impish grin and tousled hair, he added a sense of mischief to their escapades.

Life in Wrenwood was simple and peaceful, an existence that seemed to exist outside the constraints of time itself. The villagers lived in harmony with the forest, their days filled with tending to their farms and gardens, their evenings spent gathered around the hearth, sharing stories and laughter. It was a place where the bonds of friendship ran deep, and the sense of community was unbreakable.

But beneath the tranquil surface of their existence, a malevolent storm was gathering, a darkness that would soon descend upon Wrenwood like a shroud, forever altering the lives of its inhabitants.

As the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, a sense of unease began to settle over Wrenwood. The forest, once a source of solace and wonder, seemed to hold its breath, as if waiting for something to unfold.

Oliver, ever the observant child, noticed the subtle changes in the forest. The leaves, which had once whispered secrets to him in hushed tones, now seemed to murmur anxiously. The animals in the farm, his closest confidants, grew skittish and restless, their eyes filled with an unease that mirrored his own.

One evening, as the Reddington family gathered around the hearth, John spoke of the changes he had observed in the forest. "There's something wrong," he said, his brow furrowed with concern. “The air feels colder than it usually is, and today the animals on the farm are all restless.”

Eliza nodded in agreement. "I've heard whispers from the other villagers," she confessed. "They keep talking about mysterious lights and sounds. They also say they feel like their being watched."

Lily and Samuel exchanged nervous glances, their youthful innocence momentarily overshadowed by the weight of their parents' words.

Oliver, however, felt a different sensation, a dangerous sensation— curiosity.

Time flew bye as the Reddington family enjoyed the fire and stories they had. Jokes, mysteries, adventures and all.

That night, was like any other night for them. After dinner, and a bath, the next step was a good night sleep. But Oliver didn’t seem to get the memo. He ran into the woods, his hair flowing through the wind as as gracefully as he could run.

He had to meet his friends in their special tree-house tonight. And no, he couldn’t just not come. He had promised Jackob and the others that he would definitely be there. After many failed promises and scolding from mom and dad about going out at night, he didn’t want to let them down again. So, he left when he knew they were all asleep. As he ran, He thought of all the things they could do. Like practising a water spell they've been learning for a couple of months now. Though he was going to be late, he couldn’t wait. His excitement created some positive light in the cold dark forest.

a few moment later, he was in front of the large willow tree where their hideout was. But the lights were all off. “Guys? Are you there.” He called out as he walked closer to the door.

“Is this a prank?”

“...”

“Are you mad cause I’m late?”

“...” Still no reply.

His hand shivers as he slowly opened the door, ‘They must be playing some stupid game’ He thought. His first mistake. As soon as he walked in, he saw his friends all over the floor covered in blood. All of them... speechless that’s all he could do. Stand and be speechless his second mistake. “Th-this isn’t funny!” Oliver yelled as he looked around him. Then, one of the bodies spoke trying to communicate.

“Jac!!!”He yells as he runs to Jackob. “Jac?!! W-What happened?!!” Oliver’s voice shook. ‘How is this...?’He thought to himself as he held Jackob in his arms.

“R-ru- n...” Jackob whispered his final words as the light finally left his eyes.

Oliver however, wasn’t so lucky. He still had warm blood, he was still breathing, He was alive... His third mistake. Oliver’s body tingled, his eyes widened, and his legs shook uncontrollably. He turned to see a figure, what it was he couldn’t make of it before he lost one of his eyes to the knife in its hand. His screams were loud, loud enough to create attention.

For the shadowy figure, that wasn’t good for business. It tried to slash his neck. But one of the barely breathing children used the last of their energy, and spewed water at the shadow, the shot was hard enough to make it lose balance for a moment, Oliver took that moment and ran out of the tree house still holding his slashed eye, unable to process what happened. ‘this is a dream right?, this has to be a dream... They... They cant be...’ He thought as he kept on running.

He wanted to stop, but everywhere he looked, he saw the figure, the massive willow trees, the vines, the animals. he didn’t think he was safe enough, if it was worth stopping. He couldn’t stop himself, he was too scared to try. But IT had different plans. Out of the dark cover of the woods, it kicked Oscar so hard that even a tree couldn’t stop him from flying off the edge into the deep river below.