Chapter 1: The Legend of Blackthorn Woods

The trees of Blackthorn Woods loomed like skeletal fingers, reaching for the moon as I stepped out of my creaky old car and onto the crumbling asphalt of Raven's Peak's main street. The sign that hung crookedly above the diner across the street read "Welcome to Raven's Peak, Population 217" in faded letters. It was a place where time seemed to stand still, and the air was thick with an eerie, unsettling energy. I had always been drawn to such places, and as a photographer, I had made a career out of capturing the strange and unknown. As I breathed in the cool night air, I couldn't help but feel a shiver run down my spine. The locals had warned me about Blackthorn Woods, telling tales of strange occurrences and unexplained sightings. They spoke in hushed tones of a figure known only as "The Operator," a tall, imposing figure with no face and an unnerving presence. Some said he was a creature from the woods, while others claimed he was a harbinger of doom. I had always been skeptical of such stories, but as I walked into the diner to grab a cup of coffee before heading into the woods, I noticed a peculiar atmosphere. The patrons seemed nervous, glancing over their shoulders as if they expected something to be lurking in the shadows. The waitress, a friendly woman named Darla, took my order and leaned in close. "You shouldn't be going into those woods, honey," she whispered, her eyes darting towards the door as if she feared being overheard. "There's something...off about that place. Folks have gone in and never come back. They say The Operator is watching, waiting for his next victim." I smiled and thanked her for the concern, but my mind was already made up. I had to see Blackthorn Woods for myself, to capture its essence on film. As I sipped my coffee and prepared to leave, I noticed a peculiar symbol etched into the wall near the door. It looked like a crude drawing of a tree with a face, or rather, a blank space where a face should be. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized that this must be the symbol of The Operator. With my camera slung over my shoulder and a sense of trepidation growing in my chest, I stepped out into the darkness, ready to face whatever lay within the depths of Blackthorn Woods. The trees seemed to loom closer, casting long, ominous shadows on the ground. I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the unknown pressing down upon me. And then, I began to walk.