Collin Bishop-Karney

my hands shook as i fumbled with the leash my eyes darting from the darkness to the dogs and back again suddenly i felt something brush against my leg i jumped a scream catching in my throat and looked down alfie she was there shivering her eyes wide with fear relief flooded through me but it was short-lived "'If Alfie was here, then what was making that noise in the woods?'

my hands shook as i fumbled with the leash my eyes darting from the darkness to the dogs and back again suddenly i felt something brush against my leg i jumped a scream catching in my throat and looked down alfie she was there shivering her eyes wide with fear relief flooded through me but it was short-lived "'If Alfie was here, then what was making that noise in the woods?'

A chill ran down my back as the realization sunk in. I looked back towards the woods, my eyes straining to see what the pit bulls were staring at. The growls coming from Brutus and Max were low and guttural, the kind of growl that made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. They were warning me, warning me that something was out there, something I couldn't see.'

A chill ran down my back as the realization sunk in. I looked back towards the woods, my eyes straining to see what the pit bulls were staring at. The growls coming from Brutus and Max were low and guttural, the kind of growl that made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. They were warning me, warning me that something was out there, something I couldn't see.'

I held Alfie close, backing up slowly, my eyes never leaving the tree line. The darkness seemed to move, to shift, as if something was out there, just beyond the reach of the light, watching us. The pit bulls took a step forward, their growls growing louder, and I knew I couldn't stay out here any longer. Whatever was out there, it wasn't something I wanted to face.

I held Alfie close, backing up slowly, my eyes never leaving the tree line. The darkness seemed to move, to shift, as if something was out there, just beyond the reach of the light, watching us. The pit bulls took a step forward, their growls growing louder, and I knew I couldn't stay out here any longer. Whatever was out there, it wasn't something I wanted to face.

I turned, pulling the dogs with me, and hurried back towards the porch. My heart was pounding, my breath coming in short, panicked gasps. I could feel the darkness at my back, pressing in, as if it was trying to pull me back. I stumbled up the steps, nearly dropping Alfie in my rush to get inside. I flung the door open, the pitbulls rushing in ahead of me, and slammed it shut behind us.

I turned, pulling the dogs with me, and hurried back towards the porch. My heart was pounding, my breath coming in short, panicked gasps. I could feel the darkness at my back, pressing in, as if it was trying to pull me back. I stumbled up the steps, nearly dropping Alfie in my rush to get inside. I flung the door open, the pitbulls rushing in ahead of me, and slammed it shut behind us.

I stood there, my back against the door, my hands shaking, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The pitbulls were still growling, their eyes fixed on the door, their bodies tense. I listened, straining to hear anything beyond the pounding of my heart. The silence outside was deafening, the kind of silence that seemed to swallow everything, even sound.

I stood there, my back against the door, my hands shaking, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The pitbulls were still growling, their eyes fixed on the door, their bodies tense. I listened, straining to hear anything beyond the pounding of my heart. The silence outside was deafening, the kind of silence that seemed to swallow everything, even sound.

And then, just as I started to relax, I heard it, a voice, drifting through the darkness. Alfie. It was my voice, but wrong, distorted, twisted, as if something was trying to mimic me but couldn't quite get it right. The sound sent a chill down my neck, my blood running cold. I clutched Alfie closer, my eyes wide with fear.

And then, just as I started to relax, I heard it, a voice, drifting through the darkness. Alfie. It was my voice, but wrong, distorted, twisted, as if something was trying to mimic me but couldn't quite get it right. The sound sent a chill down my neck, my blood running cold. I clutched Alfie closer, my eyes wide with fear.

Something was out there, something that knew my name, that wanted me to come back outside, and I knew deep down that if I did, I might not come back.

Something was out there, something that knew my name, that wanted me to come back outside, and I knew deep down that if I did, I might not come back.

the pitbulls were still growling their deep guttural warnings echoing through the room i backed away from the door my heart pounding every instinct screaming at me to get as far away from that voice as possible my hands were trembling as i held alfie close her tiny body shivering against mine the cabin which had always felt like a safe haven suddenly seemed too small, too fragile.

the pitbulls were still growling their deep guttural warnings echoing through the room i backed away from the door my heart pounding every instinct screaming at me to get as far away from that voice as possible my hands were trembling as i held alfie close her tiny body shivering against mine the cabin which had always felt like a safe haven suddenly seemed too small, too fragile.

The walls, once comforting, now felt paper thin, as if they could barely keep out whatever was out there. Brutus, Max, I whispered, my voice barely audible over their growls. They didn't turn, their eyes still fixed on the door, their bodies tense. I took another step back, my legs feeling like they might give out at any moment.

The walls, once comforting, now felt paper thin, as if they could barely keep out whatever was out there. Brutus, Max, I whispered, my voice barely audible over their growls. They didn't turn, their eyes still fixed on the door, their bodies tense. I took another step back, my legs feeling like they might give out at any moment.

I needed to move, to get to a place where I felt safer, but my feet felt rooted to the spot, fear holding me in place. The voice came again, this time louder, more insistent.

I needed to move, to get to a place where I felt safer, but my feet felt rooted to the spot, fear holding me in place. The voice came again, this time louder, more insistent.