David

I don't know, it's like, like we're being watched or something. I rolled my eyes, but his words hit a nerve. i hadn't admitted it to myself yet but the cabin did feel strange the air inside was heavy almost stifling and the silence wasn't peaceful it was an odd energy like the woods were tense that night we sat by the fireplace eating canned soup

I don't know, it's like, like we're being watched or something. I rolled my eyes, but his words hit a nerve. i hadn't admitted it to myself yet but the cabin did feel strange the air inside was heavy almost stifling and the silence wasn't peaceful it was an odd energy like the woods were tense that night we sat by the fireplace eating canned soup

i'd planned a whole itinerary of hikes and scenic drives for the next day but rick barely acknowledged me when i laid it out he just stared at the flames his jaw tight maybe we should head back tomorrow he said suddenly what no we just got here i tried to laugh but it came out forced Come on, it's not that bad. You'll feel better after a good night's sleep. He didn't argue, which wasn't like him.

i'd planned a whole itinerary of hikes and scenic drives for the next day but rick barely acknowledged me when i laid it out he just stared at the flames his jaw tight maybe we should head back tomorrow he said suddenly what no we just got here i tried to laugh but it came out forced Come on, it's not that bad. You'll feel better after a good night's sleep. He didn't argue, which wasn't like him.

Usually Rick was the type to dig his heels in, even over little things. But tonight, he just nodded, staring into the fire like he was afraid to look away. As we were getting ready for bed, he broke the silence again. Hey, what's that thing you mentioned earlier? The legend or whatever? I froze. You mean the forest watchers? "'Yeah, that. What's the deal with that?'

Usually Rick was the type to dig his heels in, even over little things. But tonight, he just nodded, staring into the fire like he was afraid to look away. As we were getting ready for bed, he broke the silence again. Hey, what's that thing you mentioned earlier? The legend or whatever? I froze. You mean the forest watchers? "'Yeah, that. What's the deal with that?'

"'It's just a local story,' I said quickly. "'People say the woods are... protected, I guess. "'You're not supposed to disrespect the land or, you know, call attention to yourself.' "'He raised an eyebrow. "'Call attention how?' There's a name you're not supposed to say. They say if you do, they'll notice you. Rick smirked, and I knew immediately what he was about to do. Don't.

"'It's just a local story,' I said quickly. "'People say the woods are... protected, I guess. "'You're not supposed to disrespect the land or, you know, call attention to yourself.' "'He raised an eyebrow. "'Call attention how?' There's a name you're not supposed to say. They say if you do, they'll notice you. Rick smirked, and I knew immediately what he was about to do. Don't.

I started, but it was too late. He said the name, loud and clear, his voice almost taunting. The room felt colder immediately, like a draft had swept through, but the windows were shut tight. Rick, I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended. That's not funny. Oh, come on, it's just a story, he said, but his smirk was gone. He glanced at the window, his shoulders stiff.

I started, but it was too late. He said the name, loud and clear, his voice almost taunting. The room felt colder immediately, like a draft had swept through, but the windows were shut tight. Rick, I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended. That's not funny. Oh, come on, it's just a story, he said, but his smirk was gone. He glanced at the window, his shoulders stiff.

The rest of the night passed in tense silence. I fell asleep easily enough, exhausted from the long day, but Rick stayed up. I woke once, around midnight, to the sound of him pacing again, but when I asked if he was okay he just muttered, go back to sleep. I did, but not before noticing how he kept glancing at the windows, his face pale in the dim light.

The rest of the night passed in tense silence. I fell asleep easily enough, exhausted from the long day, but Rick stayed up. I woke once, around midnight, to the sound of him pacing again, but when I asked if he was okay he just muttered, go back to sleep. I did, but not before noticing how he kept glancing at the windows, his face pale in the dim light.

When Rick shook me awake, I thought it was time to leave for our hike. My brain was groggy, still tethered to whatever half-formed dream I'd been in. But his voice cut through the fog like a blade. "'Get up,' he hissed, his words trembling. "'We have to go.' "'What time is it?' I mumbled, reaching for my phone, but his hand grabbed mine, stopping me.

When Rick shook me awake, I thought it was time to leave for our hike. My brain was groggy, still tethered to whatever half-formed dream I'd been in. But his voice cut through the fog like a blade. "'Get up,' he hissed, his words trembling. "'We have to go.' "'What time is it?' I mumbled, reaching for my phone, but his hand grabbed mine, stopping me.

"'No, now, Claire, get up,' he said, his voice sharp and urgent." it took me a moment to register his face in the dim glow from the bedside lamp i could see his wide eyes the way his jaw was clenched so tight it looked painful rick was tough sarcastic sometimes annoyingly skeptical but never scared yet here he was pale and shaking like he'd seen something no one should ever see

"'No, now, Claire, get up,' he said, his voice sharp and urgent." it took me a moment to register his face in the dim glow from the bedside lamp i could see his wide eyes the way his jaw was clenched so tight it looked painful rick was tough sarcastic sometimes annoyingly skeptical but never scared yet here he was pale and shaking like he'd seen something no one should ever see

rick i whispered my throat dry what's going on i can't explain it not here just pack your stuff we're leaving i started to argue but something in his expression shut me up my pulse quickened and a cold knot formed in my stomach

rick i whispered my throat dry what's going on i can't explain it not here just pack your stuff we're leaving i started to argue but something in his expression shut me up my pulse quickened and a cold knot formed in my stomach

He grabbed his bag from the corner, tossing clothes into it haphazardly while glancing over his shoulder like he expected someone, or something, to burst through the door at any second. I threw on a hoodie and started stuffing my things into my backpack. Is it an animal? Did you hear something outside? Rick froze mid-step, his back to me.

He grabbed his bag from the corner, tossing clothes into it haphazardly while glancing over his shoulder like he expected someone, or something, to burst through the door at any second. I threw on a hoodie and started stuffing my things into my backpack. Is it an animal? Did you hear something outside? Rick froze mid-step, his back to me.