Story Branch
I
looked
at
the
pristine
wooden
house
in
front
of
me
and
then
looked
back
at
the
dense
forest
behind
me.
The
narrow
path
I
had
just
walked
seemed
to
disappear
into
the
shadows
of
the
towering
trees,
as
if
the
woods
were
trying
to
swallow
it
whole.
It
was
an
eerie
contrast
to
the
welcoming
sight
of
the
house,
with
its
charming,
hand-carved
shutters
and
a
small
garden
blooming
with
vibrant
flowers.
[p]
I
took
a
deep
breath
and
approached
the
front
door,
the
sound
of
my
footsteps
muted
by
the
soft
moss
underfoot.
As
I
reached
for
the
brass
knocker,