David

the earth around the base of the tree was disturbed churned up like something had been buried or dug out my stomach churned the sour smell stronger now stinging the back of my throat eric I called, my voice barely above a whisper. The tree didn't answer, but the shadows around it seemed to shift, converging toward the base. I stepped closer, my feet feeling like they weighed a ton.

the earth around the base of the tree was disturbed churned up like something had been buried or dug out my stomach churned the sour smell stronger now stinging the back of my throat eric I called, my voice barely above a whisper. The tree didn't answer, but the shadows around it seemed to shift, converging toward the base. I stepped closer, my feet feeling like they weighed a ton.

My flashlight caught something near the roots, a piece of fabric, torn and dirty. Eric's shirt. My breath hitched. The whisper came again, loud and clear, wrapping around me like cold hands. Ryan! I spun around the flashlight's beam slicing through the darkness. There was nothing, no one. But the whisper didn't stop.

My flashlight caught something near the roots, a piece of fabric, torn and dirty. Eric's shirt. My breath hitched. The whisper came again, loud and clear, wrapping around me like cold hands. Ryan! I spun around the flashlight's beam slicing through the darkness. There was nothing, no one. But the whisper didn't stop.

It grew louder, joined by others, overlapping voices that came from everywhere and nowhere. Ryan, Ryan, Ryan. They weren't just calling my name, they were laughing. I backed away, my heart hammering in my chest and tripped over a root. The flashlight flew out of my hand, clattering to the ground, its beam flickering wildly. I scrambled for it, my fingers brushing cold earth when I saw it.

It grew louder, joined by others, overlapping voices that came from everywhere and nowhere. Ryan, Ryan, Ryan. They weren't just calling my name, they were laughing. I backed away, my heart hammering in my chest and tripped over a root. The flashlight flew out of my hand, clattering to the ground, its beam flickering wildly. I scrambled for it, my fingers brushing cold earth when I saw it.

A figure, tall and impossibly thin, stepped out from behind the tree. Its face, or what should have been its face, was nothing but a void, a black emptiness that seemed to swallow the light. Its limbs were too long, its movements jerky, like a marionette controlled by invisible strings. I froze, unable to breathe, unable to move.

A figure, tall and impossibly thin, stepped out from behind the tree. Its face, or what should have been its face, was nothing but a void, a black emptiness that seemed to swallow the light. Its limbs were too long, its movements jerky, like a marionette controlled by invisible strings. I froze, unable to breathe, unable to move.

The thing tilted its head, as if studying me, before taking a slow, deliberate step forward. My body finally obeyed. I grabbed the flashlight and bolted, tearing through the forest as the whispers turned into a deafening roar. The trees seemed to close in, their branches clawing at me, their roots grabbing at my feet.

The thing tilted its head, as if studying me, before taking a slow, deliberate step forward. My body finally obeyed. I grabbed the flashlight and bolted, tearing through the forest as the whispers turned into a deafening roar. The trees seemed to close in, their branches clawing at me, their roots grabbing at my feet.

When I finally stumbled into the clearing where our camp had been, the fire was out. the tent was gone and scratched into the dirt glowing faintly in the moonlight were the same spiraling symbols i'd seen on the tree i fell to my knees gasping for breath the whispers fading into silence but the feeling of being watched didn't leave it would never leave

When I finally stumbled into the clearing where our camp had been, the fire was out. the tent was gone and scratched into the dirt glowing faintly in the moonlight were the same spiraling symbols i'd seen on the tree i fell to my knees gasping for breath the whispers fading into silence but the feeling of being watched didn't leave it would never leave

I don't remember much about how I got back to town. The trees seemed to stretch on forever, their shadows clinging to me like they didn't want to let go. By the time I stumbled out of the woods, my legs were shaking so badly I could barely stay upright.

I don't remember much about how I got back to town. The trees seemed to stretch on forever, their shadows clinging to me like they didn't want to let go. By the time I stumbled out of the woods, my legs were shaking so badly I could barely stay upright.

I collapsed onto the dirt road, clutching Eric's shredded backpack, the straps still frayed and damp with... something I didn't want to think about.

I collapsed onto the dirt road, clutching Eric's shredded backpack, the straps still frayed and damp with... something I didn't want to think about.

when i reached town it was already morning the sunlight didn't feel warm though it felt harsh too bright like it was trying to erase the nightmare of the night before but it couldn't that cold heavy feeling followed me clinging to my skin like the forest itself had seeped into my veins The words tumbled out of me when I saw Eric's parents. He's gone, I croaked, barely able to meet their eyes.

when i reached town it was already morning the sunlight didn't feel warm though it felt harsh too bright like it was trying to erase the nightmare of the night before but it couldn't that cold heavy feeling followed me clinging to my skin like the forest itself had seeped into my veins The words tumbled out of me when I saw Eric's parents. He's gone, I croaked, barely able to meet their eyes.

Something, something took him. The search party was organized faster than I expected. Maybe it was the look on my face. Maybe it was the way I couldn't stop shaking, or how I gripped Eric's backpack like a lifeline. I told them about Dagger Ridge, about the symbols, about the whispers, but no one believed me. Not really.

Something, something took him. The search party was organized faster than I expected. Maybe it was the look on my face. Maybe it was the way I couldn't stop shaking, or how I gripped Eric's backpack like a lifeline. I told them about Dagger Ridge, about the symbols, about the whispers, but no one believed me. Not really.