CYOA Wednesday 2025 #3 [Beyond the Woods 3]

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.

S’mores was the winning option with 64% of the votes, so let’s continue:

Read the third segment below:

3 – Secrets In the Woods

“Let’s go!” Clara declared. “The sooner we get a move on the faster we’ll be back here.”

“Okay.” Derek nodded.

“Wait!” Jade frowned. “Are you two really leaving me all alone?”

“You’ll be safe, I promise. Just keep the fire burning,” Clara replied, flashlight in hand. “This shouldn’t take long.”

“I sure hope not… Shit Why can’t we have an uneventful camping trip for once?”

Clara stepped into the inky depths of the forest, Derek right behind her, the beam from his flashlight slicing through the suffocating darkness. The woods seemed to swallow their footsteps, thick layers of leaves muffling their movement as they ventured away from the flickering firelight that had kept them safe until then. Clara’s heart raced – part excitement, part trepidation -but Derek’s steadfast presence steadied her resolve.

They moved into the shadows, tall trees looming overhead, their branches weaving a dark tapestry against the starlit sky. Moonlight filtered through the leaves in slivers, casting fleeting patterns on the ground while flickering shadows danced around them like spirits of the forest. Clara swept her flashlight beam back and forth, illuminating patches of vibrant moss and twisted roots that seemed to reach out like gnarled fingers.

“Stay close,” Derek murmured as they maneuvered between the trees. They could both hear the rustle of small creatures scurrying in the underbrush, and every so often a branch would snap, sending a cascade of leaves tumbling to the ground.

The hum grew stronger as they delved deeper, echoing through the stillness, wrapping itself around them like an invisible thread tugging them toward some undiscovered truth.

“Do you see anything?” Clara’s voice was barely above a whisper as she shone her light across the thick trunks of ancient trees that stood like watchful guardians of the earth.

“Not yet, but we’re getting closer,” he said, taking the lead.

The path ahead twisted and turned, and soon they reached a fork, the trees parting to reveal two diverging trails shrouded in shadow and mystery. The hum crescendoed here, pulsating through the very ground beneath their feet.

“I think we should go left,” Clara said. The air felt cooler in that direction, whispering of adventure and excitement.

“Left? Are you sure?” Derek frowned, his brow furrowing with concern. “I think we ought to go right…”

“But the sound is louder over here!” Clara insisted.

“It’s echoing all around us now, so you can’t say that for sure. I don’t know why but I’m convinced this is the way to go.”

“Do you want to split up?”

“No. If I didn’t let you come here on your own, I’m not going to let you out of my sight now. We need to choose a path and stick with it.”

“Then we’re going left, and if I’m wrong, we double back and try the other way.”

“Okay, Clara,” he sighed. “But you’ll see I’m right soon enough.”

They took a deep breath and stepped onto the left path, the air growing denser with each stride they took. Shadows clung to their clothes, and an uneasy stillness enveloped the woods. The hum that had beckoned them forward now morphed into an eerie resonance, vibrating through their bones and making the hair on the back of their necks stand to attention.

As they traversed deeper into the heart of the woods, the atmosphere shifted. The trees seemed to lean in closer, their towering bodies bending forward as though whispering secrets to one another. Clara’s flashlight flickered, casting long shadows that danced with a life of their own, heightening her sense of unease.

“Do you smell that?” Derek asked, his voice low and cautious.

Clara halted, drawing in a deep breath. A putrid scent lingered in the air, sharp and sickly sweet like decay. It clawed at her throat, making her stomach churn as she glanced around. “Yeah, what is it?”

Derek pointed ahead with a shaky hand, his flashlight beam trembling. “Look.”

Panic surged through Clara as her light fell upon a grotesque sight: the lifeless body of a deer lay sprawled on the ground, its once-majestic form marred by dark stains and gaping wounds. Flies danced in the air above it, an insidious cloud against the otherwise still night. The moonlight glinted off the animal’s glassy eyes, giving it an almost spectral appearance.

“We should go back,” Derek urged, swallowing hard as he stepped closer to inspect it. Yet, despite his instincts screaming for retreat, there was something compelling about the scene before them, an unseen force anchoring them in place.

Clara shook her head, her resolve faltering for just a moment, but she still wanted to proceed. She pushed past the dead animal and moved forward, driven by curiosity and an inexplicable pull toward the unknown. Derek hesitated but followed her, every instinct warning him to turn back, yet unable to resist Clara’s fierce determination.

A few paces later, the trees thinned out as they entered a small clearing bathed in the ethereal glow of silvery moonlight. The hum became like a Banshee scream in their ears, ominous yet enchanting.

“Look!” Clara gasped, raising her flashlight towards the center of the clearing. A few meters ahead, there hovered an extraordinary sight – a portal, shimmering as if woven from threads of light and darkness that rippled like fabric caught in a breeze. The edges were jagged and flickered with energy, creating an aura that defied reality as they knew it.

“Holy Mother of God! What is that thing?” Derek asked.

“The source of the sound, for starters. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Me neither. Clara, whatever it is, it’s not natural. We shouldn’t be here. Let’s go back to the campsite before Jade freaks out.”

“You want to leave now? This is an amazing discovery! I’m sorry, but I need to know more.”

Clara inched forward, her heartbeat syncing with the flickering light of the portal. Its undulating surface was mesmerizing. She could feel its energy vibrating up into her legs and quickening her breath. It beckoned her with a siren’s call, promising wonders just beyond its shimmering veil.

“Clara, please!” Derek screamed. She turned toward him, seeing the stark fear etched across his face and the way he shifted on his feet as if ready to bolt. “You don’t know what that thing is! We can’t just walk into it!”

As if sensing his unease, the portal glowed more vividly, a kaleidoscope of colors swirling at its center like a tempestuous sea. Clara stepped forward, enchanted by the dance of light and shadow and…

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.