Collin Bishop-Karney

Though they remained close to the door, their ears perked and alerted. I took a deep breath, the cold air filling my lungs. The sunlight brought a sense of relief, but it was a fragile one. I knew the danger wasn't over. The memory of that voice, calling my name in the dark, haunted me. Whatever it was, it knew me. It knew Alfie. And it wasn't going to stop.

Though they remained close to the door, their ears perked and alerted. I took a deep breath, the cold air filling my lungs. The sunlight brought a sense of relief, but it was a fragile one. I knew the danger wasn't over. The memory of that voice, calling my name in the dark, haunted me. Whatever it was, it knew me. It knew Alfie. And it wasn't going to stop.

i needed to see the woods in the daylight to convince myself that whatever was out there had truly gone slowly i stood placing alfie gently on the bed she whimpered softly her eyes following me as i moved towards the window I pulled the curtain aside, my eyes scanning the tree line. The woods looked so different in the morning, calm, quiet, as if nothing had happened. But I knew better.

i needed to see the woods in the daylight to convince myself that whatever was out there had truly gone slowly i stood placing alfie gently on the bed she whimpered softly her eyes following me as i moved towards the window I pulled the curtain aside, my eyes scanning the tree line. The woods looked so different in the morning, calm, quiet, as if nothing had happened. But I knew better.

I could still feel it, a sense of unease lingering in the air, like the woods were hiding something just out of sight. The pit bulls had followed me, their eyes fixed on the window as well. They could sense it too. I swallowed hard, trying to push down the fear that threatened to rise again. Come on, guys, I whispered, my voice hoarse from the night before.

I could still feel it, a sense of unease lingering in the air, like the woods were hiding something just out of sight. The pit bulls had followed me, their eyes fixed on the window as well. They could sense it too. I swallowed hard, trying to push down the fear that threatened to rise again. Come on, guys, I whispered, my voice hoarse from the night before.

I needed to get out of the cabin, to breathe, to feel the sun on my skin. I opened the door slowly, the pit bulls rushing out ahead of me, their noses to the ground, sniffing for any sign of what had been there. Alfie stayed close to my feet, her small body pressed against my leg as we stepped out onto the porch. The morning air was crisp, the sky a pale blue, but the woods felt different.

I needed to get out of the cabin, to breathe, to feel the sun on my skin. I opened the door slowly, the pit bulls rushing out ahead of me, their noses to the ground, sniffing for any sign of what had been there. Alfie stayed close to my feet, her small body pressed against my leg as we stepped out onto the porch. The morning air was crisp, the sky a pale blue, but the woods felt different.

There was no birdsong, no rustle of small animals in the underbrush. The forest was silent, waiting. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I needed to be strong, for Alfie, for the dogs. We had made it through the night, and I wasn't going to let fear take that away from us. I walked slowly to the edge of the yard, the pit bulls flanking me on either side.

There was no birdsong, no rustle of small animals in the underbrush. The forest was silent, waiting. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I needed to be strong, for Alfie, for the dogs. We had made it through the night, and I wasn't going to let fear take that away from us. I walked slowly to the edge of the yard, the pit bulls flanking me on either side.

The tree line loomed ahead, the shadows still deep beneath the canopy of trees. I stopped, staring into the darkness, my heart pounding. Whatever had been there was gone. It had to be. But as I stood there, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was still watching, still waiting. A rustle came from the woods, and I tensed, my breath catching in my throat.

The tree line loomed ahead, the shadows still deep beneath the canopy of trees. I stopped, staring into the darkness, my heart pounding. Whatever had been there was gone. It had to be. But as I stood there, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was still watching, still waiting. A rustle came from the woods, and I tensed, my breath catching in my throat.

The pit bulls growled softly, their eyes locked on the source of the sound. For a moment, everything was still, the world holding its breath. And then, a deer stepped out from the shadows, its eyes wide and startled. I let out a shaky breath, relief flooding through me. It was just an animal, just a deer.

The pit bulls growled softly, their eyes locked on the source of the sound. For a moment, everything was still, the world holding its breath. And then, a deer stepped out from the shadows, its eyes wide and startled. I let out a shaky breath, relief flooding through me. It was just an animal, just a deer.

But even as I watched it disappear into the woods, I couldn't shake the feeling that we weren't alone. The fear lingered, a heavy weight in my chest, and I knew that whatever had called my name in the darkness was still out there, somewhere. I turned back to the cabin, the pit bulls following close behind, Alfie at my heels. We had survived the night, but I knew this wasn't over.

But even as I watched it disappear into the woods, I couldn't shake the feeling that we weren't alone. The fear lingered, a heavy weight in my chest, and I knew that whatever had called my name in the darkness was still out there, somewhere. I turned back to the cabin, the pit bulls following close behind, Alfie at my heels. We had survived the night, but I knew this wasn't over.

The woods weren't safe, not anymore. And as I closed the door behind us, locking it tight, I couldn't help but wonder if they ever had been. Stay safe out there. You never know what you may encounter in the woods.

The woods weren't safe, not anymore. And as I closed the door behind us, locking it tight, I couldn't help but wonder if they ever had been. Stay safe out there. You never know what you may encounter in the woods.