Daniel stood rooted to the spot, his eyes locked on the grotesque altar nestled in the oaky depths of the Augustus Estate.

The stone sphere at its center was weathered and cracked, and the statue atop it, was a twisted representation of some sort of humanoid entity.

It showed monster like entity with a curvaceous figure with a goat head and hollow, staring sockets for eyes.

It was quite large, so much so, it loomed over them like a predator poised to strike at any given moment. Its clawed hands were frozen in a ritualistic gesture doing what Daniel can only assume was a hand sign of some sort.

It was surrounded by half-melted red candles, their wicks blackened and curled, clearly old, and unused for years, withered from being wet from rain and dew of the outside world for years.

Meanwhile the ground was etched with jagged symbols, smeared with a dark, sticky substance that looked disturbingly like dried blood of some sort.

"What the hell kind of language is this?!"

"Or rather why do rich people have weird shit like this, and is that human blood, I hope not?"

Daniel asked morbidly suprise at the sight.

And it was Sam who replied to him.

"I don't know, I don't know, and I don't know."

He said, just as confused as him.

Then continued by saying.

"...I have no idea what these symbols are, but given the context of what we are seeing, it's probably native to the religious following of this weird statue."

"Guys, fucked that man, we need to get out of here."

Neil said in blatant fear.

Ruin the mood further, as the air hung heavy, making both Daniel and Sam stomach churn in quiet horror. It was Daniel who tried to speak, but the words caught in his throat, it was clear he had a lot to say, but the shocking revelation made talking hard, after how does one express a shock like this words so easily.

Meanwhile Sam's voice sliced through the silence, low and trembling, his eyes wide as he clutched his phone tightly.

"I am with Neil on this one, I still trying to process what I am even seeing here, like what the hell even is this thing? We need to grab the drone and get out of here, man. This place is straight-up bad news, also I am black, the black guy always die in horror movies, so let's just bail like now."

Neil nodded vigorously, his chubby face pale as moonlight, sweat glistening on his brow despite the crisp morning air.

"No kidding dude... Like why is there even a freaking devil altar in Mr. Augustus's yard? Then and again it's common knowledge the rich and powerful are always weird bunch of people common folk like us can't understand."

Daniel scratched his head, fingers unsteady as he pulled out his phone on instinct. The altar was horrifying enough as is.

But he couldn't shake the urge to document it.

He wanted to show his sister this, she love creepy stuff like this, but maybe it can serve as a form of evidence after all.

There might be a chance that Mr. Augustus is also a Flux as well, then and again Daniel doubt it.

Before he was even born, it was common knowledge that even in his teen years, he was looked at as very quiet and creepy child.

"Hold on, guys. This isn't normal. I am taking a picture. We might need proof of...whatever this is."

He made his statement clear.

As he aimed his phone upwards, the screen flickering as he snapped a shot of the goat statue, its eerie curves and claws catching the faint sunlight filtering through the gnarled oaks.

But then the screen spasmed, static tearing across the image, colors bleeding like spilled ink.

"What the?!...

He muttered, jabbing at the screen, but it only worsened, the altar's image warping and distorting.

Before he could process it, a text flashed in bold red, taking him by suprise.

[Trespassing on my master's land is a grave offense]

Daniel's heart slammed against his ribs, his fingers fumbling as a sudden heat seared through the phone, scorching his palm.

"Owwww, damn!"

He yelped, dropping it to the dirt with a dull thud. He clutched his stinging hand, confusion spiraling into panic.

Sam spun around, his eyes wide.

"Yo, Dan, you good? Why did you drop your phone like that?"

Neil came closer, his voice shaky.

"What's wrong bro? You look like you saw a ghost."

Daniel tried to respond, but before he could, a sharp crackle hissed from the phone, then a burst of orange sparks. The screen flared, and with a loud pop, it erupted into flames, plastic melting as a small explosion sent charred metal and splintered glass shards scattering across the dirt. The boys stumbled back, Daniel's pulse racing so fast he thought he would pass out.

"What the hell?!"

Sam shouted, his voice cracking as he stared at the smoldering wreckage.

"Your phone just exploded, dude! What’s going on?"

Daniel's mouth was dry, his burned hand throbbing.

"It was acting weird, glitching when I took the picture. Then I got this text about trespassing on her master's land, and… a voice came through. I swear, something send me messages through it before it blew up like that."

Neil's eyes bulged, his whisper barely audible.

"A message? Like… what kind?"

Before Daniel could answer, a sharp, sassy voice cut through the air, dripping with smug confidence, echoing from the shadows like it was fuse into the trees itself.

Oh, you naughty little delinquents, thinking you can sneak onto my master's property and play your silly spy games?

"Tsk, tsk... You've waltzed into the Augustus Estate, and let me tell you, darlings, that’s a major mistake. I’d turn those scrawny legs around and scamper before I get really annoyed, and trust me, you won’t like me when I'm annoyed.”

The boys froze, heads whipping around, scanning the dark tangle of oaks for the source. The voice was female, razor-sharp with a playful, mocking edge, like she was savoring their fear. It sent a chill down Daniel’s spine, like she could see right through them.

Sam's jaw clenched, his voice low but fierce.

"Who are you? Some hacker screwing with us?"

The voice laughed, a cold, tinkling sound that made the hairs on Daniel's neck stand up.

[Hacker how funny. But no... if you know my capabilities you would wish I was that dull. I am Lisa, the Augustus family… Hmmm let's call me their tech assistant]

[I keep this fine estate running smoothly, and I've got eyes everywhere, cameras in the trees, the walls, even that tacky altar you're staring at. For a while now, I have been watching you three boys scurry over the wall like rats. Cute, but so foolish]

Daniel's stomach lurched, his burned hand trembling as he stared at his phone's smoking remains.

"What did you do to my phone? It just blew up!"

Lisa's tone turned sassy, dripping with fake pity.

[Aw, poor bibi, did I break your little toy? Hahah serve you delinquent right. That fireworks show was just me frying your motherboard and wiping your cloud. You were snapping photos of things you shouldn't, putting my beloved master at risk. Consider it a gentle slap for being naughty boys. Next time, I won't be so kind]

Neil's voice cracked, his eyes darting towards Daniel.

Speaker and Cameras where almost everywhere in the estate, even in areas like these it would seem.

"This is insane! What kind of tech assistant does that? And what's with that creepy altar?"

[None of your damn bussnuiess that's what]

Lisa's said as she began to laugh, and continue.

[Oh, you're just adorable when you're scared, chubs. But let us cut the chatter, because I am only saying this once...you need to hide. Right now. Something nasty just slithered onto the property, and it is not here for a friendly chat]

Daniel's blood turned cold.

At that last warning.

[What… are you talking about Ms. Rita by some chance]

Lisa's voice sharpened, still dripping with sass but now full with urgency.

[Bingo superbibi but not quite... My scanners are picking up a Flux signature from that woman...I should behead you all for brining that thing into this yard. Still given you are aware of it existence. That means you fool know damn well why it came here, if I had to guess it here for you three]

Sam's phone suddenly buzzed, a map flashing on the screen, changing from the control interface to walls of zero and ones, that change to the mal app, that showed a glowing path winding through the oak forest.

Lisa's voice crackled through his phone speaker now, as she instantly hacked the device.

[I am sending you coordinates to a safe spot. Follow the map, stick to the shadows and the path I made you bibis, and keep your mouths shut. I am holding that thing off for now, but it won't last long. Move, or you're all are going to be skin suits for the skinwalker]

Suddenly a loud explosion echoed into the distance, followed by a low, guttural growl that seemed to rumble through the earth.

BOOOM!!

[And there goes one my smart mines, get moving little bibis, this thing clearly isn't a normal skin walker]

At these words, they boys began to panic as they start to run.

"Guy's let's go."

Sam said, but not before quickly rush towards the direction of his drone, and that's when he saw it.

It was missing two of it's propellers, and had large slice mark on it for some reason.

But Sam quickly picked it up, and rush back on the intended path.

"Okay guys follow me."

Sam said looking at the map display on his phone.

Daniel nodded, his heart pounding so hard it hurt, glancing at Neil, he was no better, as his face was fill with terror, and sweath as he struggled to keep up with the boys.

"Oh god why did I even agree to this?!"

Lisa's voice chimed back in, smug as ever.

[Smart move, little bibis. Now run, unless you want to get real cozy with Rita's sharp tentacles]

They bolted faster at Lisa teasing words, feet pounding the dirt as they followed the glowing path on Sam's phone, weaving through the gnarled oaks.

BOOOOOM!!

BOOOOOOM!!

Two more explosion's went off, sending even greater fear as Daniel address the elephant in the room.

"We won't be blown up right?!"

Lisa voice echoed through Sam's speaker once more.

[Only if I want to, and given how you bibis break in here, I have all right to, but lucky for you. I am in a good mood today. Now bolt like lightning bibis]

The forest seemed to close in around them, branches clawing at their clothes, shadows twisting as the clouds pass the sun.

The growling grew louder, and closer, but more explosion's went off accompanied by a sickening squelch and screams of pain.

Daniel's lungs burned, his mind racing with images of Ms. Rita's tentacles bursting from her body, her toothy maw snapping open.

Sam led the way, his phone's map guiding them toward a small clearing marked with a blinking dot.

"Almost there!" The most update n0vels are published on Novᴇl_Fire(.)net

He panted, ducking under a low branch.

"Miss you better not be screwing us over."

Neil stumbled behind, gasping.

"If she is, I am haunting her first, before you guys."

The clearing came into view, a small patch of open ground surrounded by towering mangroves, their roots tangling like a nest of snakes.

There a shed came into the distance. And soon after Lisa voice.

[Inside now, and look for the tool shelf, third row, you should we a wrench in a tool box, pull it upwards, and wait for further instructions]