According to legend, deep within the Black Forest (one of the darkest and oldest forests in Russia), there exists a hidden place — The Gates. These Gates are not visible to an ordinary person, but they exist in a space where time and reality become blurry and unstable. Those who accidentally stumble upon them disappear without a trace, and those who return claim to have been in a place where the past and future intertwine.
There is a theory that the Black Forest was "cursed" by ancient forces, possibly even before the first Slavic settlements. These forces were perhaps connected to a cult that worshiped unknown beings or spirits that came from another world. At one time, they made a deal with the people, but for some reason, this deal was broken. Now the forest serves as a doorway to other worlds — parallel and distorted realms. At night, when darkness envelops the land, time within the Black Forest becomes increasingly unstable. Hunters, travelers, and even locals who get lost there may pass through these Gates.
Each time a person enters the Gates, they lose a part of their soul, and their identity begins to slowly unravel. Over time, the person becomes something else — something that no longer belongs to this world but cannot return to the other either. These creatures roam the forest, hunting those who wander into it once more.
It is said that at night, one can hear faint, barely distinguishable voices calling travelers deeper into the forest, offering them “gifts” or “fates” they cannot escape. But anyone who accepts these offers vanishes, leaving behind only empty footprints and madness.
The theory suggests that the Black Forest is not just a place, but a living organism that consumes everything that approaches it, gradually devouring people to become darker and stronger. The Gates are the only way someone might return, but each time the path becomes more dangerous and less comprehensible.
Thus, the Black Forest is not merely a mysterious place; it is a trap for souls. Those who find themselves within lose their humanity and become part of the forest itself, which demands sacrifices.