David

I'd spent the morning convincing myself it was nothing, a slip of my tired mind. But deep down, the unease lingered. As I packed up camp, the forest seemed heavier somehow, like the trees themselves were leaning in, listening.

I'd spent the morning convincing myself it was nothing, a slip of my tired mind. But deep down, the unease lingered. As I packed up camp, the forest seemed heavier somehow, like the trees themselves were leaning in, listening.

i forced myself back onto the trail trying to focus on the rhythmic crunch of my boots against the dirt the sky was overcast now the sun only peeking through in small bursts casting fleeting shadows that danced unnervingly across the path

i forced myself back onto the trail trying to focus on the rhythmic crunch of my boots against the dirt the sky was overcast now the sun only peeking through in small bursts casting fleeting shadows that danced unnervingly across the path

every so often i'd catch myself glancing back over my shoulder expecting i don't know what but the trail behind me was always empty that's when i noticed it a bundle of sticks bound tightly with rope lying dead center on the trail it wasn't large maybe the size of my forearm but it was intricately tied with the sticks twisted and bent into a shape that vaguely resembled a human figure

every so often i'd catch myself glancing back over my shoulder expecting i don't know what but the trail behind me was always empty that's when i noticed it a bundle of sticks bound tightly with rope lying dead center on the trail it wasn't large maybe the size of my forearm but it was intricately tied with the sticks twisted and bent into a shape that vaguely resembled a human figure

I stared at it, heart thudding in my chest. Someone had to have made this, and recently too. It hadn't been there the day before. I nudged it with my boot, half expecting it to crumble, but it held firm, the bindings taut. Some kind of prank, I muttered, my voice sounding hollow in the stillness. But who would be out here in the middle of nowhere pulling stunts like this? And why?

I stared at it, heart thudding in my chest. Someone had to have made this, and recently too. It hadn't been there the day before. I nudged it with my boot, half expecting it to crumble, but it held firm, the bindings taut. Some kind of prank, I muttered, my voice sounding hollow in the stillness. But who would be out here in the middle of nowhere pulling stunts like this? And why?

I kicked the bundle into the underbrush and kept moving. The air felt colder now, and the once soothing silence of the forest was starting to feel oppressive. Every snap of a twig made me flinch. Every rustle of leaves had me scanning the trees, searching for movement. I couldn't shake the feeling I was being watched. By late afternoon, the unease had grown unbearable.

I kicked the bundle into the underbrush and kept moving. The air felt colder now, and the once soothing silence of the forest was starting to feel oppressive. Every snap of a twig made me flinch. Every rustle of leaves had me scanning the trees, searching for movement. I couldn't shake the feeling I was being watched. By late afternoon, the unease had grown unbearable.

i decided to camp in an even more secluded spot that night far from the trail i found a small clearing surrounded by thick trees and set up my tent quickly my hands trembling slightly as i drove the stakes into the ground the sun was sinking fast and i didn't want to be caught fumbling in the dark as night fell i lit a small fire hoping its warmth would settle my nerves it didn't

i decided to camp in an even more secluded spot that night far from the trail i found a small clearing surrounded by thick trees and set up my tent quickly my hands trembling slightly as i drove the stakes into the ground the sun was sinking fast and i didn't want to be caught fumbling in the dark as night fell i lit a small fire hoping its warmth would settle my nerves it didn't

Every crackle of the flame seemed to echo too loudly, and the shadows they cast seemed to shift in ways that didn't make sense. I tried to focus on my meal, but my appetite had vanished. Movement, just at the edge of the firelight. A shadow slipping between the trees. My breath caught, and I froze. My eyes locked on the spot where I'd seen it. "'Hello?' I called out, my voice shaking. Nothing.

Every crackle of the flame seemed to echo too loudly, and the shadows they cast seemed to shift in ways that didn't make sense. I tried to focus on my meal, but my appetite had vanished. Movement, just at the edge of the firelight. A shadow slipping between the trees. My breath caught, and I froze. My eyes locked on the spot where I'd seen it. "'Hello?' I called out, my voice shaking. Nothing.

No response. Just the faint whisper of the wind through the branches. I grabbed my flashlight and swept it across the trees, the beam slicing through the darkness. It caught nothing but bark and leaves. Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that something, someone, was out there, watching.'

No response. Just the faint whisper of the wind through the branches. I grabbed my flashlight and swept it across the trees, the beam slicing through the darkness. It caught nothing but bark and leaves. Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that something, someone, was out there, watching.'

i doused the fire and retreated into my tent zipping it up tightly and double checking every seam the knife i'd packed for emergencies felt inadequate as i clutched it in my hand but it was better than nothing hours passed my heart refused to slow every noise outside amplified by the thin walls of the tent then i saw them two faint glowing points of light high in the branches of a tree directly ahead of me

i doused the fire and retreated into my tent zipping it up tightly and double checking every seam the knife i'd packed for emergencies felt inadequate as i clutched it in my hand but it was better than nothing hours passed my heart refused to slow every noise outside amplified by the thin walls of the tent then i saw them two faint glowing points of light high in the branches of a tree directly ahead of me

eyes they didn't blink didn't move they just stared down at me unflinching i wanted to tell myself it was a reflection a trick of the light but there was no mistaking it those were eyes i gripped the knife tighter my palms slick with sweat and stayed perfectly still barely breathing minutes stretched into hours and the eyes never wavered

eyes they didn't blink didn't move they just stared down at me unflinching i wanted to tell myself it was a reflection a trick of the light but there was no mistaking it those were eyes i gripped the knife tighter my palms slick with sweat and stayed perfectly still barely breathing minutes stretched into hours and the eyes never wavered