It was a cold evening early in October. Gloomy clouds choked the sky, and a light drizzle was falling on an empty highway. Along the side of the road stood big trees, the twigs swaying lazily in the wind as if something unseen was running through them. Then a black car drove slowly down the lonely road. Sitting in the car was Ethan Carter. After many years, he was finally returning to town—the Blackwood Township of Oregon. All the way, Ethan s eyes were fixed firmly on the road, but his mind was filled with old memories. As a child, he had heard many strange tales about this town.There were stories about the forest... rumours during the night... And something hidden deep in the woods. Something that nobody wanted to talk about. In a few minutes, Ethan saw the fog-obscured, weather-worn old town sign. "Welcome to Blackwood Township, Oregon." The sign was rough and covered with rust. It did not look as if anyone had cared for it in years. Slowly, Ethan stopped the car beside the sign. For a moment, he sat without moving. "Back home..." he suddenly told himself in a low voice. The moment he opened the car, a cold gust of wind swept past him. The air seemed different--almost heavy. Then... For an instant... He felt he heard something. Wandering in the wind. "Ethan... I came back..." Ethan looked around suddenly. The road was deserted. No cars. No people. Only the wind moving through the branches of the trees. He creased his light brow. "It's probably just the wind." He said it almost to himself. However, a strange feeling settled in his chest. He got back in the car and continued driving toward town.
It looked different from what Blackwood remembered.
Most of the homes appeared old and run-down. Some windows were broken, others completely dark. The streetlights glimmered feebly, illuminating the silent streets bare of passers-by.
It was as though the town itself was quietly passing away.
After a few minutes Ethan turned asides and saw the street he had grown up on.
At the end of the road his old house.
The selfsame wooden house.
It was now, however, subtly altered. Darker. Older. Practically deserted.
Ethan got out of the car and looked at it.
Memories of his childhood started to come back to him.
He remembered how his mother had always warned him against going near one place in particular.
Blackwood Forest.
Nestled deep in that forest...
An ancient well.
People in town used to say that strange sounds issued from that well at night.
Whispering.
Arguing.
Sometimes even joyful yells.
Ethan shook his head and grunted, ``Just old stories.''
He grabbed his luggage and entered the house.
Layers of dust covered the furniture. It appeared as though no living being had set foot in here for years.
Ethan flipped the lights on.
The bulb flickered out weakly once and suddenly was dark.
Qia All at once that sound…
Ethan at his window—án sin While the matter was still a little uneven with mere hints of scolding or reproach, the ring fingers didn't stop- came up from its one done tap.
Ethan grew rigid with an icy fear.
Ever so slowly he made his way over to the window.
The thudding of his heart grew louder with each step he took.
He drew back the curtain.
Nobody was there.
Just blackness.
And way, way off to the back…
From whence Blackwood Forest lay hidden, a thick mist made its way up.
Ethan was about to close the window when suddenly there was a loud gust of wind.
This time...
He heard the whisper.
Very quiet.
Very cold.
``Ethan... Come to the well. ''
Goose pimples rose on the nape of his neck.
He banged the window shut.
But that very instant…
From some- where deep within the woods…
A strange echoing noise rose until the night.
Just like something calling from deep down below.
Ethan stood silently back.
He was not sure if this was real or just some dozy fancy that had struck into him now since waking thus from sleep; whatever had come over him was an undefined terror which nonetheless looked distinctly like deep blue and as its upper edge seemed about to rise up a jagged bolt of lightning came crashing in upon the forest canopy.
But one thing was for sure.
The ancient well in Blackwood Forest was now no longer silent.
Something there had awoken.
And it was waiting.
Waiting for Ethan Carter.
But this was just the beginning.
Before long, Ethan would uncover the frightening truth concealed within Blackwood Forest.
And once that truth came out...
Blackwood Town would never again be the same.