Collin Bishop-Karney

suddenly i realized the forest was too quiet no rustle of leaves no distant calls of birds just an unnatural silence that wrapped around me my eyes darted up and dash was nowhere in sight dash i called my voice sounding too loud in the hushed woods

suddenly i realized the forest was too quiet no rustle of leaves no distant calls of birds just an unnatural silence that wrapped around me my eyes darted up and dash was nowhere in sight dash i called my voice sounding too loud in the hushed woods

a second later i heard it-a crashing sound frantic coming from deeper in the forest my heart skipped the kind of skip that feels like it's suspended in mid-air for just a beat too long it was followed by a bark dashes bark high-pitched and alarmed i ran branches clawing at my clothes and face the underbrush grabbing at my feet the sound of something tearing through the woods filled my ears something moving too fast

a second later i heard it-a crashing sound frantic coming from deeper in the forest my heart skipped the kind of skip that feels like it's suspended in mid-air for just a beat too long it was followed by a bark dashes bark high-pitched and alarmed i ran branches clawing at my clothes and face the underbrush grabbing at my feet the sound of something tearing through the woods filled my ears something moving too fast

i called for dash again and then he appeared bursting out of the underbrush covered in thorns his eyes wide with fear he came barreling towards me skidding to a stop his body tense and his teeth bared growling at something behind us i didn't look back i didn't want to see whatever it was

i called for dash again and then he appeared bursting out of the underbrush covered in thorns his eyes wide with fear he came barreling towards me skidding to a stop his body tense and his teeth bared growling at something behind us i didn't look back i didn't want to see whatever it was

my instincts screamed at me to run and i did with dash at my side when we broke through the edge of the woods into our yard i doubled over catching my breath the air felt lighter less oppressive and i almost convinced myself we were safe but then i looked up towards the neighbouring field and saw it-a shadow

my instincts screamed at me to run and i did with dash at my side when we broke through the edge of the woods into our yard i doubled over catching my breath the air felt lighter less oppressive and i almost convinced myself we were safe but then i looked up towards the neighbouring field and saw it-a shadow

standing at the edge of the grassy runway it wasn't human i knew that even from the distance there were no features just darkness a shifting smoke-like shape that seemed to waver at the edges i wanted to believe my eyes were playing tricks on me that it was just the fading light but then it moved It hunched over, slowly raising its head, and I heard my own voice echoing across the field. "'Dash.'

standing at the edge of the grassy runway it wasn't human i knew that even from the distance there were no features just darkness a shifting smoke-like shape that seemed to waver at the edges i wanted to believe my eyes were playing tricks on me that it was just the fading light but then it moved It hunched over, slowly raising its head, and I heard my own voice echoing across the field. "'Dash.'

It sounded exactly like me, perfect, down to the tone and pitch. But there was something wrong, something strained, like it was trying too hard, forcing itself to sound human.' Dash growled, a low rumble that vibrated through his entire body, and I felt him press against my leg, trembling. The figure called again, weaker this time, as if struggling to keep up the charade.

It sounded exactly like me, perfect, down to the tone and pitch. But there was something wrong, something strained, like it was trying too hard, forcing itself to sound human.' Dash growled, a low rumble that vibrated through his entire body, and I felt him press against my leg, trembling. The figure called again, weaker this time, as if struggling to keep up the charade.

Fear twisted my stomach, a cold, primal fear that made my skin crawl. I wanted to scream, to turn and run, but I couldn't move. My feet felt glued to the ground, my mind grasping for an explanation. Someone trying to steal my dog, someone playing a prank. But nothing made sense. I could feel the malevolence in the air, pressing against me like an invisible weight. It wasn't human.

Fear twisted my stomach, a cold, primal fear that made my skin crawl. I wanted to scream, to turn and run, but I couldn't move. My feet felt glued to the ground, my mind grasping for an explanation. Someone trying to steal my dog, someone playing a prank. But nothing made sense. I could feel the malevolence in the air, pressing against me like an invisible weight. It wasn't human.

I knew that deep down. I turned and ran, dash at my heels, my breath coming in short, panicked bursts. When I reached the door, I slammed it shut behind me, the echo reverberating through the house. I told my parents about it that night, but they dismissed it, said it was just my imagination.

I knew that deep down. I turned and ran, dash at my heels, my breath coming in short, panicked bursts. When I reached the door, I slammed it shut behind me, the echo reverberating through the house. I told my parents about it that night, but they dismissed it, said it was just my imagination.

But my mom's eyes lingered on the window for a moment too long, her face pale, her lips pressed into a tight line. That night I dreamed of the figure. It was closer, standing just outside my window, its head tilted, watching me. My name came from its hollow mouth, repeated over and over, each time more distorted, more wrong.

But my mom's eyes lingered on the window for a moment too long, her face pale, her lips pressed into a tight line. That night I dreamed of the figure. It was closer, standing just outside my window, its head tilted, watching me. My name came from its hollow mouth, repeated over and over, each time more distorted, more wrong.

The darkness outside seemed to pulse, creeping closer, until it pressed against the glass, seeping through the cracks. I woke up drenched in sweat, Dash at my side, whining softly, his eyes fixed on the window. The fear stayed with me, gnawing at the edges of my thoughts.

The darkness outside seemed to pulse, creeping closer, until it pressed against the glass, seeping through the cracks. I woke up drenched in sweat, Dash at my side, whining softly, his eyes fixed on the window. The fear stayed with me, gnawing at the edges of my thoughts.