David

I hesitated, every instinct screaming at me to turn around, to run back into the woods even if that meant certain death. But I couldn't leave. I had to see. Slowly, I approached the car, my hands shaking so badly I nearly dropped my knife. Pressed against the window was one of my shirts, ripped and shredded, with dark stains along the fabric.

I hesitated, every instinct screaming at me to turn around, to run back into the woods even if that meant certain death. But I couldn't leave. I had to see. Slowly, I approached the car, my hands shaking so badly I nearly dropped my knife. Pressed against the window was one of my shirts, ripped and shredded, with dark stains along the fabric.

And next to it, perfectly centered on the seat, was another X made of sticks and rope. I reached for the door handle, praying it was still locked. It was. My knees almost buckled. Whatever had left that thing in my car had the keys at some point. They'd been close enough to take them, close enough to lock the door again. close enough to have been inside my tent too.

And next to it, perfectly centered on the seat, was another X made of sticks and rope. I reached for the door handle, praying it was still locked. It was. My knees almost buckled. Whatever had left that thing in my car had the keys at some point. They'd been close enough to take them, close enough to lock the door again. close enough to have been inside my tent too.

My fingers fumbled for the key in my pocket. I unlocked the door, threw my pack into the back seat, and climbed in, slamming the door shut behind me. My chest was heaving, my breath coming in short, ragged gasps. I started the car and threw it into reverse, my eyes darting to the rearview mirror as I backed out of the lot.

My fingers fumbled for the key in my pocket. I unlocked the door, threw my pack into the back seat, and climbed in, slamming the door shut behind me. My chest was heaving, my breath coming in short, ragged gasps. I started the car and threw it into reverse, my eyes darting to the rearview mirror as I backed out of the lot.

i was so focused on getting out of there that i almost didn't see him standing at the edge of the lot just where the trees began was the faceless man he didn't move didn't step forward or retreat he just stood there his long arms hanging at his sides his featureless face tilted ever so slightly as if he were watching me I couldn't look away, even as the car lurched backward onto the road.

i was so focused on getting out of there that i almost didn't see him standing at the edge of the lot just where the trees began was the faceless man he didn't move didn't step forward or retreat he just stood there his long arms hanging at his sides his featureless face tilted ever so slightly as if he were watching me I couldn't look away, even as the car lurched backward onto the road.

My hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly they hurt. The man didn't chase me. He didn't make a sound. He just stood there, unmoving, as I sped away down the winding road. My heart didn't slow until I reached the outskirts of the nearest town. Even then, I kept glancing in the rearview mirror, half expecting to see him standing in the middle of the road, waiting for me.

My hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly they hurt. The man didn't chase me. He didn't make a sound. He just stood there, unmoving, as I sped away down the winding road. My heart didn't slow until I reached the outskirts of the nearest town. Even then, I kept glancing in the rearview mirror, half expecting to see him standing in the middle of the road, waiting for me.

I don't know what he was, what he wanted, or why he let me go. All I know is that I'll never go back to those woods. I don't think I could survive another encounter. And the worst part, as I sit here now, writing this, I can't get rid of the feeling that I'm still not alone. It was Eric's idea, of course. It always was.

I don't know what he was, what he wanted, or why he let me go. All I know is that I'll never go back to those woods. I don't think I could survive another encounter. And the worst part, as I sit here now, writing this, I can't get rid of the feeling that I'm still not alone. It was Eric's idea, of course. It always was.

One last adventure before school starts, he'd said, grinning like the woods were calling him personally. I didn't have the heart, or the guts, to say no. That's how we ended up on Dagger Ridge Trail, two backpacks full of gear, and me, dragging my feet behind him like I knew something he didn't.

One last adventure before school starts, he'd said, grinning like the woods were calling him personally. I didn't have the heart, or the guts, to say no. That's how we ended up on Dagger Ridge Trail, two backpacks full of gear, and me, dragging my feet behind him like I knew something he didn't.

the day was perfect cloudless skies warm sun the kind of summer day that makes you think nothing bad could ever happen but the closer we got to the trailhead the quieter everything became even the cicadas which had been screaming earlier faded into silence as we stepped under the cover of trees Come on, Ryan, keep up, Eric called, already a few paces ahead.

the day was perfect cloudless skies warm sun the kind of summer day that makes you think nothing bad could ever happen but the closer we got to the trailhead the quieter everything became even the cicadas which had been screaming earlier faded into silence as we stepped under the cover of trees Come on, Ryan, keep up, Eric called, already a few paces ahead.

His backpack swung with every step, his excitement almost tangible. I adjusted the straps on mine, wishing I hadn't packed so much, and followed. The trail started wide, an easy climb over loose gravel and roots, but it quickly narrowed, hemmed in by trees so thick their branches tangled overhead. The sunlight filtered through in broken patches, casting long, fractured shadows on the ground.

His backpack swung with every step, his excitement almost tangible. I adjusted the straps on mine, wishing I hadn't packed so much, and followed. The trail started wide, an easy climb over loose gravel and roots, but it quickly narrowed, hemmed in by trees so thick their branches tangled overhead. The sunlight filtered through in broken patches, casting long, fractured shadows on the ground.

I kept my eyes on Eric's back, trying to ignore how the air had cooled, how the faint breeze smelled faintly sour like rotting leaves. "'Why does it smell like that?' I asked, my voice too loud in the silence."

I kept my eyes on Eric's back, trying to ignore how the air had cooled, how the faint breeze smelled faintly sour like rotting leaves. "'Why does it smell like that?' I asked, my voice too loud in the silence."