What you think does matter

  The Hidden Monster War Descent into Shadows Chapter Nine The air at the top of the tower hit me like a splash of cold water. It was thin and crisp, carrying a faint earthy smell of damp leaves and pine drifting from the forest far below. My breath misted in the chill, curling white as it faded into the night. The wind whistled softly past the stone walls, a strange contrast to the chaos we had just escaped. Evelyn dropped her bag with a heavy thud, pulling out a tightly coiled rope. “We don’t have much time.” The group spread out to survey the space. The top of the tower was smaller than I’d hoped—a jagged platform with crumbling edges and a steep, deadly drop on all sides. Beyond the ledge, the forest stretched like a black ocean, its towering trees whispering secrets in the wind. Shadows rippled where the moonlight barely touched, promising safety if we could just reach them. “It’s too high,” Mia muttered, hugging herself as she peered over the side. Her voice was tight with di...

Read Chapter:   One   Two   Three   Four   Five    Six   Seven The Hidden Monster War Battle in The Tower Chapter Eight It roared, the sound reverberating through the outpost like a physical force. It turned with terrifying speed, its claws swiping through the air and catching Brady mid-movement. He was sent flying, his body slamming into the wall with a sickening thud. The crack of the impact echoed in the confined space, and my chest tightened as I gasped, fear clawing at my throat. Mia’s scream cut through the chaos, shrill and trembling with raw panic. She scrambled to her feet, her movements frantic and uncoordinated. Tears streaked her face, catching the flickering firelight as she lurched toward him. Her hands trembled as she reached out, but the chaos wasn’t over. “We need to move,” Brady said, his voice rough but steady despite the sweat beading on his forehead. His hands were still bleeding from the earlier fight, the cuts staining his s...

The Hidden Monster War The Wild Breaks In Chapter Seven The first slam against the outpost door was deafening, reverberating through the stone walls and shaking loose a small cloud of dust from the ceiling beams. It was followed by an eerie silence, broken only by the crackling of the fire and the rapid thudding of my own heartbeat. Evelyn spun toward the door, her daggers glinting in the dim firelight. Her jaw was clenched tight, and the muscles in her neck stood out like cables under strain. She wasn’t scared—that wasn’t the right word. She was ready, coiled like a spring about to snap. “What was that?” Brady’s voice was barely above a whisper, but the panic in it was unmistakable. “Werewolves,” Evelyn said simply. She didn’t even look at him, her focus fixed on the door. My mouth went dry. The thought of those creatures—hulking, feral, and unstoppable—on the other side of that fragile wooden door made my stomach churn. I could almost see their glowing eyes in my mind, smell the wet ...

 The Hidden Monster War The Howling Shadow Chapter Six The howl sent shivers racing down my spine, sharp as ice and impossible to ignore. It wasn’t just a sound—it was a warning, a promise of the nightmare closing in. It echoed through the trees, each long note vibrating through the ground beneath my feet. The air around us seemed to thicken, heavy with an unspoken threat, as if the forest itself was holding its breath. Mia clutched her knees to her chest, her wide eyes reflecting the firelight. Her lips parted, but no words came out, just a shallow gasp. Beside her, Brady’s hand hovered near the small hatchet he had found earlier in the camp. His knuckles turned white, and though he tried to look brave, the way his shoulders hunched betrayed his unease. “They’re closer than I thought,” Evelyn murmured, her voice low but steady. She stood, her hand resting on the hilt of her dagger. Her calm demeanor was both reassuring and terrifying, like a storm brewing on the horizon. “What...w...