David

I felt trapped, like an animal caught in a snare, unable to run, unable to fight. When the first faint light of dawn began to creep into the tent, the eyes vanished as silently as they'd appeared. I didn't move until the sun was fully up, the golden light spilling over the clearing. When I finally unzipped the tent and stepped outside, I stopped cold.

I felt trapped, like an animal caught in a snare, unable to run, unable to fight. When the first faint light of dawn began to creep into the tent, the eyes vanished as silently as they'd appeared. I didn't move until the sun was fully up, the golden light spilling over the clearing. When I finally unzipped the tent and stepped outside, I stopped cold.

An axe made of sticks and rope was lying just in front of the tent flap. It wasn't like the figure I'd seen before. This was deliberate, precise, like a warning. I stared at it, my mind racing. Someone or something had been here while I was inside, too paralyzed with fear to notice. This wasn't a prank. This wasn't my imagination. I didn't bother eating breakfast.

An axe made of sticks and rope was lying just in front of the tent flap. It wasn't like the figure I'd seen before. This was deliberate, precise, like a warning. I stared at it, my mind racing. Someone or something had been here while I was inside, too paralyzed with fear to notice. This wasn't a prank. This wasn't my imagination. I didn't bother eating breakfast.

I packed up my gear as fast as I could, my hands trembling, and hit the trail again, my eyes darting to every shadow, every tree. I'd decided this trip was over. Whatever I'd come here to escape was nothing compared to what I might be running toward. The forest was suffocating me. Every step I took felt heavier, like the ground itself was trying to pull me down, keep me here.

I packed up my gear as fast as I could, my hands trembling, and hit the trail again, my eyes darting to every shadow, every tree. I'd decided this trip was over. Whatever I'd come here to escape was nothing compared to what I might be running toward. The forest was suffocating me. Every step I took felt heavier, like the ground itself was trying to pull me down, keep me here.

My pack bounced against my back as I trudged toward the trailhead, every muscle in my body aching from the tension I'd carried all night. I couldn't stop thinking about the X outside my tent. Someone had been there, close enough to touch the fabric, close enough to take me if they wanted. I kept my knife in my hand as I walked, my knuckles white around the handle.

My pack bounced against my back as I trudged toward the trailhead, every muscle in my body aching from the tension I'd carried all night. I couldn't stop thinking about the X outside my tent. Someone had been there, close enough to touch the fabric, close enough to take me if they wanted. I kept my knife in my hand as I walked, my knuckles white around the handle.

The trail was empty, as it had been since I started this trip. No hikers, no animals, just me and the endless forest. But I knew I wasn't alone. I could feel it, like an itch just beneath the skin.

The trail was empty, as it had been since I started this trip. No hikers, no animals, just me and the endless forest. But I knew I wasn't alone. I could feel it, like an itch just beneath the skin.

an hour passed maybe two i wasn't sure any more time felt warped out here every shadow stretching longer than it should every sound echoing too long then i heard it the faint crunch of leaves behind me i stopped dead in my tracks the sound of my heartbeat loud in my ears slowly i turned scanning the trail there was nothing there just trees and underbrush the path winding back into the distance

an hour passed maybe two i wasn't sure any more time felt warped out here every shadow stretching longer than it should every sound echoing too long then i heard it the faint crunch of leaves behind me i stopped dead in my tracks the sound of my heartbeat loud in my ears slowly i turned scanning the trail there was nothing there just trees and underbrush the path winding back into the distance

I waited, straining to hear, to catch a glimpse of movement. Silence. I shook my head and started walking again, forcing myself to focus on the dirt path ahead. My car wasn't far. I could make it. I just had to keep moving. Then came the rocks. The first one was small, barely larger than a pebble, and it landed on the path a few feet behind me with a soft thunk.

I waited, straining to hear, to catch a glimpse of movement. Silence. I shook my head and started walking again, forcing myself to focus on the dirt path ahead. My car wasn't far. I could make it. I just had to keep moving. Then came the rocks. The first one was small, barely larger than a pebble, and it landed on the path a few feet behind me with a soft thunk.

I spun around, my breath catching in my throat. Again, nothing. I stared into the woods, the trees twisting together like dark veins. "'Who's there?' I called out, my voice cracking." No response. I backed away slowly. My knife held out in front of me like it could actually protect me from whatever was out there. Another rock landed, closer this time. Then another. It wasn't random.

I spun around, my breath catching in my throat. Again, nothing. I stared into the woods, the trees twisting together like dark veins. "'Who's there?' I called out, my voice cracking." No response. I backed away slowly. My knife held out in front of me like it could actually protect me from whatever was out there. Another rock landed, closer this time. Then another. It wasn't random.

It was deliberate, like something was hurting me, forcing me to keep moving. The path opened up slightly, giving me a sliver of hope as I caught sight of the parking lot in the distance. My car was there, a beacon of safety in the oppressive wilderness. Relief surged through me, and I broke into a run, my boots pounding against the dirt.

It was deliberate, like something was hurting me, forcing me to keep moving. The path opened up slightly, giving me a sliver of hope as I caught sight of the parking lot in the distance. My car was there, a beacon of safety in the oppressive wilderness. Relief surged through me, and I broke into a run, my boots pounding against the dirt.

I didn't care about the weight of my pack or the pain in my legs. I just had to get out. As I reached the edge of the parking lot, I stumbled to a stop. The sight of my car, my safe haven, nearly made me collapse in relief. But then I saw it. Through the driver's window, something was lying on the seat.

I didn't care about the weight of my pack or the pain in my legs. I just had to get out. As I reached the edge of the parking lot, I stumbled to a stop. The sight of my car, my safe haven, nearly made me collapse in relief. But then I saw it. Through the driver's window, something was lying on the seat.