It was a warm summer day, about two years ago,

It was a warm summer day, about two years ago, when I decided to embark on one of my usual long walks through the woods.

Walking in nature was something I loved, especially during the summer months when everything was lush and green.

On this particular day, I set out early, prepared for a day of exploration.

Armed with a book, food, water, and a first aid kit, I felt ready for whatever the day had in store.

The woodland I frequented was vast, with numerous winding paths that led deeper into the forest.

But this time, I decided to veer off my

usual route and walk alongside a river. The path was less traveled, more remote, and the sound

of the rushing water added a soothing backdrop to my journey. As hours passed, I delved deeper into the

woods, following the meandering riverbank.

Despite the beauty surrounding me, an unsettling feeling began to gnaw at me.

It was a sensation I couldn't shake off, an instinctual unease that grew stronger with every step.

The loneliness of the remote path only amplified my discomfort.

Normally at ease in the outdoors, I found myself constantly glancing over my shoulder, scanning the dense foliage behind me.

I brushed off my growing apprehension, chiding myself for letting my imagination run wild.

But the feeling persisted, a nagging presence at the back of my mind.

Then, suddenly, as if materializing from the shadows, a cloaked figure emerged from the underbrush.

My heart leaped into my throat and a wave of alarm washed over me. The figure wore a mask,

reminiscent of a plague doctor, its features obscured by the

grotesque visage. I wanted to flee, to run as far and as fast as my legs would carry me,

but some stubborn part of me refused to give in to fear. Instead, I forced myself to maintain

composure, to act unfazed by the eerie encounter.

...