CYOA Wednesday 2025 #10 [Beyond the Woods 10]

This fantasy CYOA story continues today. Synopsis below:

When Derek, Jade, and Clara go camping, they stumble upon a portal to another dimension filled with strange creatures and sexy seductresses.

Our trio learns that their best chance of escaping is enlisting the help of a powerful creature who lives underground. Now what? You decide.

https://www.patreon.com/posts/123732520

Read the tenth segment below:

10 – Underground Hope

Sofia’s voice was soft but steady, cutting through the heavy silence that had settled over the sanctuary. “There is something you must understand,” she began, her eyes reflecting the dim glow of the rocks around them. “This prison has many layers. The Guardians you saw… they are but the first line of defense in a system far more intricate and dangerous than you can imagine.”

Jade’s breath caught in her throat, her hands still trembling. Derek held her steady while Clara’s,

with eyes wide open and unblinking, gazed at Sofia, silently urging her to go on. The atmosphere in the sanctuary felt heavy, as if Sofia’s words were bearing down on everyone present.

“But there is hope,” Sofia said, her voice carrying a quiet strength. “Deep beneath us, buried in the heart of this world, there is an ancient creature. It is old—older than the Guardians, older than this prison itself. It knows their secrets, their weaknesses, and the paths that lead out of this place. If we can find it, if we can speak to it… it may be willing to help us escape.”

Derek frowned, confusion apparent in his furrowed brow. “Why would it help us? And If it’s been down there all this time, why hasn’t it just left?”

Sofia’s gaze drifted downward, her expression somber. “The creature… it is bound to this place, just as we are. Its homeworld was destroyed a long time ago. It cannot leave, but it knows the ways of the prison. It knows how to navigate the currents of The Ripple and how to avoid the Guardians. But reaching it will not be easy. It resides in the Undercroft, a labyrinth of tunnels and caverns that stretch far beneath our feet. The path is treacherous and full of danger. Other forces patrol the depths as fiercely as the Guardians patrol the edges of the void.”

Clara’s voice trembled. “And if we make it past tall these dangers… What then? What if this creature doesn’t want to help us?”

Sofia’s form flickered, a brief, shimmering lapse in her control before she stabilized once more. “The creature is… different. It has seen countless souls come and go, trapped in this endless cycle. I believe It may be willing to share its knowledge—for a price.”

“A price?” Jade repeated, uneasiness on her lips. “What could we possibly have to offer it?”

Sofia’s expression was unreadable. “The ancient ones do not barter in simple terms. What it may ask of us… we cannot know. But we have no other choice. This is the only way.”

The trio exchanged worried glances. They had seen the Guardians, felt the horror of the void, and yet… they had no choice but to press forward. To survive, they would have to delve into the unknown, to confront a creature so ancient and enigmatic that even their new “friend” seemed wary of it.

“Do you mind giving us a minute?” Jade said to the shapeshifter. “We need to talk among ourselves.”

“Sure. I’ll wait outside,” the shapeshifter said. “Try not to take too long, though. The sooner we get going the better.”

The sanctuary fell into a heavy silence, the weight of Sofia’s words as the creature left them. Jade, Derek, and Clara sat in a tight circle, their faces bathed by the dim glow of the luminescent rocks.

“Do we even know if we can trust her?” Derek broke the silence, his voice. He crossed his arms, his expression a mask of skepticism. “She’s a shapeshifter, for crying out loud! What’s stopping her from leading us straight into a trap?”

Clara’s gaze dropped, her fingers twisting nervously. “We don’t have much of a choice, do we? If there’s even a chance she’s telling the truth… we have to try.”

“I don’t know, Clara,” Jade muttered. “This is all happening too fast. I know she looks like Sophia and all, but Derek may be onto something here. This could all be just a major setup.

“Those things out there are real!” Clara retorted. “We’ve all see the Guardians, the void… Do you really think we can survive this place on our own? I wouldn’t bet on it. We can’t linger here. If she’s telling the truth, this could be our only way out.”

“You’ve said it yourself: if she’s telling the truth…” Derek sighed, running a hand through his hair. “But what if she isn’t?”

“Then we’ll worry about that when the time comes. I don’t want to stay here, Derek. Not after what I’ve seen,” Clara replied. “Besides, how will we know for sure unless we try? I’d rather take a risk that might lead somewhere than sit here and do nothing. I’m going with her and since you came all the way here to save me, I hope you’ll join me.”

“Are you sure that’s what you want to do?” Derek scratched his chin.

“Yes, I am.”

Jade looked at Clara and saw the determination in her eyes. She knew she wouldn’t budge no matter what, and she couldn’t let her go alone. “Okay,” she said. “I’m with you, but I still have my doubts, and if this turns out to be a mistake, you’ll never hear the end of it.”

“Fair enough,” Clara smiled. “Derek, are you in as well?”

“Majority rules, I guess…” he shrugged. “I’m in.”

They sat in silence for a moment longer, pondering on what lay ahead. Finally, Jade stood, brushing the dirt from her hands. “Let’s go tell Sofia we’re in. But if she’s playing us, I swear—”

“She’s not,” Clara interrupted, her voice soft but certain. “I think she’s trying to help. She could have left us to fend for ourselves, but she didn’t. That has to count for something.”

Jade raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Instead, she turned and led the way back to the entrance of the sanctuary, where Sofia waited. The shapeshifter stood motionless, her form perfectly still, as if she had been carved from the stone itself.

“Well?” she asked, her voice as calm as ever.

Derek stepped forward, his jaw set. “We’re in. But if you’re lying to us, you’ll regret it.”

Sofia inclined her head slightly, a small, enigmatic smile playing on her lips. “I am not lying. But I warned you—the path ahead will not be easy. Are you prepared for what we will face?”

Jade took a deep breath, steeling herself. “We were born ready.”

Sofia’s smile widened, though it did little to ease the tension in the air. “Then let us begin. The Undercroft awaits.”

And with that, the four of them set off into the unknown, bound for the heart of the prison and the ancient creature that lay within.

To decide what happens next, head over to my Patreon (you can join for free), and vote on the poll there until next Sunday. 

If you’re new to these CYOA stories, here are the basic rules:

1) You can only choose one option;

2) If there’s a tie at the end of the poll, and the competing options can be combined somehow, I’ll do that. If not, I get the deciding vote to keep the tale going.

3) The process continues every Wednesday until the story runs its natural course.

Have fun.