Chapter 1: Into the Unknown
Robert trudged through the damp underbrush of the woods off Seawall Road in Old Town, Maine. The crisp autumn air was heavy with the scent of fallen leaves, their golden and amber hues scattered across the forest floor. He adjusted the straps of his weathered backpack, filled with supplies for his latest camping trip. The solitude of the woods had always offered him a respite from the complications of life. He loved these walks; they were his time to think, to dream, to escape. The sun filtered weakly through the trees, its light waning as the day wore on. Robert was searching for a good spot to set up camp when he spotted something unusual. It caught the corner of his eye, a faint glimmer amidst the earth tones of the forest. Curious, he veered off his path, stepping over roots and crunching leaves, until he reached the source of the glimmer. Half-buried in the dirt was a metallic object, about the size of a grapefruit. It was smooth and black, its surface etched with unfamil...