THE DARKEST EVENING

The sun was already setting by the time Olivia arrived at her family’s cottage in the woods. She had decided to take a break from her hectic city life and spend a few weeks in the serene surroundings of the forest. The last time she had been here was almost a year ago, and it felt good to be back.

As she walked towards the cottage, she noticed that something was off. The air was heavy with a sense of foreboding, and the once-familiar surroundings seemed to be shrouded in darkness. She quickened her pace, eager to get inside and start a fire in the fireplace.

When she finally reached the cottage, she found the door unlocked, which was unusual since her family always made sure to lock up when they left. She pushed the door open and stepped inside, only to be greeted by a scene straight out of a horror movie. The furniture was overturned, and there were signs of struggle everywhere. It looked like a tornado had swept through the room, leaving nothing but destruction in its wake.

Olivia’s heart was pounding as she called out for her family, but there was no answer. She searched the entire cottage but found no trace of her parents or her little sister. The only thing she found was a note lying on the kitchen counter.

The note was written in her father’s handwriting, and it read: “Olivia, if you’re reading this, we’re already gone. We don’t know what’s happening, but something is not right. We’ve gone to seek help, but we don’t know if we’ll make it back. Be careful, and don’t trust anyone.”

Olivia’s hands were shaking as she read the note. She didn’t know what to do or who to turn to. She was alone in the middle of nowhere, and her family was missing. Her phone had no signal, and she couldn’t call for help. She was completely and utterly helpless.

As the darkness of the evening enveloped the forest, Olivia sat huddled in a corner, trying to keep warm. She had managed to start a fire, but the warmth did little to ease the fear that was gnawing at her insides. She couldn’t shake off the feeling that someone was watching her, and every little sound made her jump.

Hours passed, and Olivia sat there in the darkness, waiting for something, anything to happen. She tried to think of a way out of this situation, but her mind was blank. She was trapped in a nightmare from which there seemed to be no escape.

As the night wore on, the wind outside picked up, and the trees began to sway. The howling of the wind was almost deafening, and Olivia felt like she was in the middle of a hurricane. The fire in the fireplace flickered and died, leaving her in complete darkness.

Suddenly, she heard a sound coming from outside. It was a faint whisper, but she could make out the words. “Olivia, come outside. We’re here to help you.”

Olivia froze. She knew better than to trust anyone, especially when her family was missing. She tried to stay calm and listen carefully, but the wind was making it hard to hear anything.

The whisper came again, louder this time. “Olivia, we’re your friends. We’ve come to help you. Just come outside, and we’ll take care of you.”

Olivia felt a chill run down her spine. These were not her friends. She didn’t know who they were, but she knew they were not there to help her. She tried to gather her thoughts and come up with a plan, but it was too late.

The door burst open, and a group of masked men barg.