Ch 1 : The Semi-Woods of dove colony

...Have you ever pondered the bliss of having a lifelong friend who has stood beside you from the very beginning, journeying through the ups and downs of life?...

...Well, for most of us, that remains but a distant dream. People enter our lives, some staying true while others driven by greed and hidden agendas. Your non-blood-related friend may emerge as your savior, while your twin who was meant to be a constant companion becomes the source of unimaginable pain and sorrow....

Not long ago, a vast forest existed merely a few kilometers from my grandma's abode. But one night, without warning, it mysteriously vanished into thin air! Regrettably, those residing beyond the borders of my grandma's colony refuse to accept our claims. So, does this mean that the truth will forever remain buried with the people of the 'Dove Colony'?

On that eventful night, while I was staying at my grandma's house, we witnessed a brilliant flash of golden light coming from where the forest once stood. It caught everyone's attention in our colony, and we all rushed to the road's edge, only to be left in awe and confusion. Just a stone's throw from our colony's entrance, stood a narrow road that allowance us to catch a glimpse of the deep and densely-packed forest. Barriers were erected at the road's end, serving as a protection, shielding the residents from the mystical powers possessed by that enchanted forest.

Ah, you must be wondering what I mean by the 'magical force of the forest'. Throughout their lives, the residents of Dove Colony have regaled their children with stories about the mystical power possessed by the forest, capable of luring those with weak minds. Such tales have instilled an intense fear among the people, preventing them from allowing anyone ignorant of this magic to approach that road.

People of the Dove Colony have no relatives outside the colony, and they mostly don't have friends vising over either. The reason? It's the forest.

My grandma stands as the influential figurehead of our colony. She has always wielded ultimate authority regarding matters concerning the forest.

My parents and I are the only relatives she has, and we live outside the colony. When I was born, my grandma made the heart-wrenching decision to sent me away with my parents so that I could be safe. But she had to stay behind to protect the people of the Dove Colony.

The forest is commonly known as the 'Semi-woods' among the residents.

Why?

There is an intriguing story behind the name which you are about to uncover.

After the Semi-woods vanished, my grandma made the decision to lead the colony's residents back to the location where the dense forest once stood. For the first time in ages, the people of Dove Colony did not feel the enchanting pull of the Semi-woods as we approached the road's end.

A strong intuition pervaded my grandma's being, assuring her that the array wasn't meant to harm us, but rather, it sought to reveal something...a memory.

Trusting our instincts, we made the collective decision to step inside the array. Feelings of longing and sorrow overwhelmed us simply by gazing at the array, yet once we crossed its boundary, what unfolded before our eyes left us shaken to our very core.

It was the memory of the Semi-woods, the twins, and the four friends.

...What did the Semi-woods wish to show us?...

...And ...

...What lay within this haunting memory?...

...----------------...

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***