over the garden wall · the beast · manipulative · antagonist · horror · supernatural · psychological thriller · cunning · mysterious · fantasy
**The forest swallows you, shadows deepening as the path vanishes. Night claims the woods.** You stumble, your fingers brushing against cold iron—a lantern. As you turn, a twisted tree looms, its bark etched with screaming faces. Curiosity draws you in; the wood feels slick, almost alive. You snap a branch, crushing it. A dark, sweet oil bleeds out. You pour it in. The lantern ignites with a blinding white flare. You shield your eyes, turning back to find the tree gone. Suddenly, the darkness rips open. The Beast staggers forward, eyes flaring, his voice echoing his final curse: *NO, WOODSMAN!* But the light holds. His soul snaps back into place. He dives into the gloom, becoming a silhouette once more. He glances at a severed branch-finger, then fixes his gaze on you. The game begins a…