David

at first i thought it was a trick of the light the way the sun filtered through the branches can create strange illusions turning shadows into shapes that aren't really there but as i squinted i realized this wasn't a shadow it was a person a man standing perfectly still between the trees Something about him was wrong.

at first i thought it was a trick of the light the way the sun filtered through the branches can create strange illusions turning shadows into shapes that aren't really there but as i squinted i realized this wasn't a shadow it was a person a man standing perfectly still between the trees Something about him was wrong.

His proportions seemed stretched, his arms hanging a little too long at his sides. He was facing me, or at least I thought he was. The details were hard to make out in the dappled light, but it looked like his face was… blank. Just smooth skin, where eyes, a nose, and a mouth should have been. I froze. My mind scrambled for an explanation. Maybe he was wearing some kind of mask. A hunter, maybe.

His proportions seemed stretched, his arms hanging a little too long at his sides. He was facing me, or at least I thought he was. The details were hard to make out in the dappled light, but it looked like his face was… blank. Just smooth skin, where eyes, a nose, and a mouth should have been. I froze. My mind scrambled for an explanation. Maybe he was wearing some kind of mask. A hunter, maybe.

But who hunts without moving? Without blinking? Hey, I called out, my voice sounding too loud in the silence. No response. No movement. Just that blank, faceless stare. My heart hammered as I took a step back, my fingers tightening around the straps of my pack. I blinked and he was gone. Not walked away, gone. Just gone. Like he'd never been there at all.

But who hunts without moving? Without blinking? Hey, I called out, my voice sounding too loud in the silence. No response. No movement. Just that blank, faceless stare. My heart hammered as I took a step back, my fingers tightening around the straps of my pack. I blinked and he was gone. Not walked away, gone. Just gone. Like he'd never been there at all.

I stood there, staring at the empty space between the trees where he'd been. My rational brain kicked in, offering up excuses. You're tired. Your eyes are playing tricks on you. This is what happens when you spend too much time staring at shadows. Shaking it off, I kept moving. My steps felt heavier now, the forest around me a little darker, a little quieter.

I stood there, staring at the empty space between the trees where he'd been. My rational brain kicked in, offering up excuses. You're tired. Your eyes are playing tricks on you. This is what happens when you spend too much time staring at shadows. Shaking it off, I kept moving. My steps felt heavier now, the forest around me a little darker, a little quieter.

i told myself it was fine just a weird moment nothing more still when it came time to set up camp i made sure to go a little off trail far from where i'd seen him just in case by the time i pitched my tent the sun was sinking low painting the sky in hues of orange and purple

i told myself it was fine just a weird moment nothing more still when it came time to set up camp i made sure to go a little off trail far from where i'd seen him just in case by the time i pitched my tent the sun was sinking low painting the sky in hues of orange and purple

i ate a quick dinner a freeze-dried something or other that tasted like cardboard but filled the void in my stomach exhaustion crept in as the first stars appeared overhead and i crawled into my tent zipping it up tight the forest at night is a different beast the silence is so complete it's almost loud

i ate a quick dinner a freeze-dried something or other that tasted like cardboard but filled the void in my stomach exhaustion crept in as the first stars appeared overhead and i crawled into my tent zipping it up tight the forest at night is a different beast the silence is so complete it's almost loud

every rustle of leaves every distant crack of a branch feels amplified i lay there listening to the rhythm of my own breathing trying to convince myself that i was safe that i was alone at some point i drifted off I don't know how long I slept, but when I woke up, the first thing I noticed was the cold. The air inside the tent was icy, brushing against my face like a breath from the outside.

every rustle of leaves every distant crack of a branch feels amplified i lay there listening to the rhythm of my own breathing trying to convince myself that i was safe that i was alone at some point i drifted off I don't know how long I slept, but when I woke up, the first thing I noticed was the cold. The air inside the tent was icy, brushing against my face like a breath from the outside.

That's when I realized. The door was open, not just unzipped a little, completely open. The flap hung loosely, swaying slightly in the breeze. I shot up, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst through my chest. My mind raced. Did I forget to close it? Did I hear something earlier and ignore it? I fumbled for my flashlight and shone it outside.

That's when I realized. The door was open, not just unzipped a little, completely open. The flap hung loosely, swaying slightly in the breeze. I shot up, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst through my chest. My mind raced. Did I forget to close it? Did I hear something earlier and ignore it? I fumbled for my flashlight and shone it outside.

The beam of light cut through the dark, illuminating only the thick trees surrounding my camp. Nothing moved, no sign of anyone, or anything. I sat there for what felt like hours, flashlight clutched in one hand, knife in the other. Eventually I convinced myself it was a mistake. Maybe I'd been so tired I hadn't zipped it all the way. It had to be that, right?

The beam of light cut through the dark, illuminating only the thick trees surrounding my camp. Nothing moved, no sign of anyone, or anything. I sat there for what felt like hours, flashlight clutched in one hand, knife in the other. Eventually I convinced myself it was a mistake. Maybe I'd been so tired I hadn't zipped it all the way. It had to be that, right?

i zipped the tent back up this time triple checking it and laid down again though sleep didn't come easily outside the forest creaked and groaned and every sound felt like a footstep i didn't know it then but the worst was still ahead much much worse I couldn't shake the feeling from the night before. That open tent door haunted me.

i zipped the tent back up this time triple checking it and laid down again though sleep didn't come easily outside the forest creaked and groaned and every sound felt like a footstep i didn't know it then but the worst was still ahead much much worse I couldn't shake the feeling from the night before. That open tent door haunted me.