The Disappearance in the Woods

"A man's mysterious disappearance leads to a thrilling investigation in the woods."

In response to

What do you see #181

Image credit; Jake Fahad @ Unsplash

As the sun began to set, the police received a report of a missing person in the woods. A man in a bright yellow hoodie had disappeared, leaving no trace behind. The investigation team arrived at the scene and began to search the woods.

As they walked through the dense trees and foliage, they stumbled upon a person sitting next to a tree, wearing a bright yellow hoodie. They approached the person, but he didn't respond. His face was not visible, and he seemed to be in a trance-like state.

Detective Jones and Detective Smith sat down with the scared man. They began to ask him questions about what happened to him in the woods.

Detective Jones: "Can you tell us what is your name and what happened to you in the woods?"

Man in Yellow Hoodie: "My name is Lorence. I was just sitting somewhere in the woods, lost in my thoughts when someone grabbed me from behind. I couldn't see his face, but I knew he was strong."

Detective Smith: "And then what happened?"

Lorence: "He dragged me through the woods, and then suddenly, everything went black. I don't remember anything else until I woke up in a cave."

Detective Jones: "And who was there with you?"

Lorence: "There were a small group of fearful people. I couldn't see their face, but I could hear them. They kept talking about a mass sacrifice to be take placed by the kidnappers to appease their ancestral god." 

Detective Smith: "Did you see anything that could help us identify the location?"

Lorence: "I saw some symbols on the walls of the cave, but I didn't recognize them. They looked like some sort of ancient language."

Detective Jones: "Do you remember anything else about the kidnapper?"

Lorence: "No, I'm sorry. It all happened so fast, and I was blindfolded most of the time. I'm just grateful to be alive." 

Detective Smith: "How did you manage to escape?"

Lorence: "I saw an opportunity to run while returning from defecation. I didn't know where I was or how far I had to go, but I just kept running until I found this place considered safe."

Detective Johes: "We'll send a team to investigate the area and see if they can find any clues. We'll do our best to find out who did this to you and bring them to justice."

Lorence: "Thank you, officers. I hope you can catch them before they hurt anyone else."

As the investigators followed the trail, they found more clues - a broken tree branch, a torn piece of cloth, and a discarded flashlight. It was clear that the missing person had been there.

After hours of searching, they stumbled upon a small cave hidden deep in the woods. Inside, they found the missing man, huddled in a corner, with a look of fear in his eyes.

He told the investigators that he had been searching for something in the woods and had stumbled upon the cave. As he entered, he felt a strange energy, and suddenly, everything went black. When he woke up, he was tied in the corner of the cave with blindfold, and he couldn't remember anything else.

The investigators searched the cave and found a strange symbol etched into the wall as told earlier by Lorence. They didn't know what it meant, but they knew it had something to do with the man's disappearance.

The man was taken to the hospital, and the investigation continued. As the investigators delved deeper into the case, they uncovered a hidden cult in the woods that practiced strange rituals and sacrifices. The symbol in the cave was one of their many sigils, and the man had stumbled upon their secret meeting place.

The investigation team was able to shut down the cult and rescue several people who had been taken as sacrifices. Lorence was one of the lucky ones, and grateful to be alive. He breathed a sigh of relief and thanked the detectives for their help.

From that day on, he never returned to the woods, but he knew that he had stumbled upon something much bigger than himself. Something that he had never imagined existed in the woods he had always considered safe.

Moral of the story: One should always inform someone of their whereabouts, especially when they plan to visit isolated areas. It is essential to let someone know the location and duration of the visit to ensure their safety. In case of any emergency or if they fail to return, the search operation can begin promptly. Additionally, it is crucial to carry a means of communication, such as a cell phone or a walkie-talkie, to stay in touch with the outside world. In isolated areas, the chances of getting help are limited, and communication becomes critical. The story emphasizes the importance of being prepared, responsible, and mindful of one's safety while exploring unknown or isolated areas.