David

A massive stag stood in the middle of the road, its antlers stretching impossibly high, its eyes reflecting the light in an unnatural way. "'Rick, stop!' I screamed. He slammed the brakes and the car skidded to a halt just feet from the animal. The stag didn't flinch. It just stood there, its dark eyes fixed on us. Its sheer size was otherworldly, like it didn't belong here or anywhere."

A massive stag stood in the middle of the road, its antlers stretching impossibly high, its eyes reflecting the light in an unnatural way. "'Rick, stop!' I screamed. He slammed the brakes and the car skidded to a halt just feet from the animal. The stag didn't flinch. It just stood there, its dark eyes fixed on us. Its sheer size was otherworldly, like it didn't belong here or anywhere."

Rick and I sat frozen, too afraid to move. And then I heard it again. The whispers, soft, faint, but unmistakable, carried on the cold night air. They were back. And they were closer now. The stag didn't move. It just stood there, a dark silhouette against the faint beam of our headlights, its massive antlers like twisted branches reaching into the sky. My breath caught in my throat.

Rick and I sat frozen, too afraid to move. And then I heard it again. The whispers, soft, faint, but unmistakable, carried on the cold night air. They were back. And they were closer now. The stag didn't move. It just stood there, a dark silhouette against the faint beam of our headlights, its massive antlers like twisted branches reaching into the sky. My breath caught in my throat.

The whispers were back, low, faint murmurs that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. I gripped Rick's arm, my nails digging into his skin. Drive, I whispered, barely able to form the word. Rick didn't respond. His hands were glued to the steering wheel, his knuckles white, his whole body rigid. He was staring at the stag, his chest rising and falling in short, shallow breaths.

The whispers were back, low, faint murmurs that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. I gripped Rick's arm, my nails digging into his skin. Drive, I whispered, barely able to form the word. Rick didn't respond. His hands were glued to the steering wheel, his knuckles white, his whole body rigid. He was staring at the stag, his chest rising and falling in short, shallow breaths.

I shook him. ''Rick, we have to go.'' The stag turned its head slightly, its eyes glinting like black mirrors. And then, it stepped aside. Not hurriedly, not startled, but deliberately, like it was allowing us to pass. Rick slammed on the gas, the car lurching forward as we sped past the animal.

I shook him. ''Rick, we have to go.'' The stag turned its head slightly, its eyes glinting like black mirrors. And then, it stepped aside. Not hurriedly, not startled, but deliberately, like it was allowing us to pass. Rick slammed on the gas, the car lurching forward as we sped past the animal.

I couldn't help but glance back, and for one horrifying moment, I thought I saw it watching us, its head turned unnaturally far to follow our escape. We didn't speak for a long time after that. The road ahead was shrouded in darkness, the trees crowding closer with every mile. The whispers ebbed and flowed, sometimes so faint I thought I imagined them, other times growing louder, almost insistent.

I couldn't help but glance back, and for one horrifying moment, I thought I saw it watching us, its head turned unnaturally far to follow our escape. We didn't speak for a long time after that. The road ahead was shrouded in darkness, the trees crowding closer with every mile. The whispers ebbed and flowed, sometimes so faint I thought I imagined them, other times growing louder, almost insistent.

I kept checking the rearview mirror, half expecting those headlights to reappear. Or worse, something else. The gas gauge dipped closer to empty. I swore under my breath, my voice breaking the fragile silence. We're not going to make it to the airport if we don't find a station soon. Rick didn't respond, just pressed his foot harder on the accelerator.

I kept checking the rearview mirror, half expecting those headlights to reappear. Or worse, something else. The gas gauge dipped closer to empty. I swore under my breath, my voice breaking the fragile silence. We're not going to make it to the airport if we don't find a station soon. Rick didn't respond, just pressed his foot harder on the accelerator.

His eyes stayed fixed on the road, but I could see the tension in his jaw, the way his fingers twitched against the steering wheel. The whispers were louder now, and I realized they weren't just murmurs, they were words. I couldn't understand them, but they were there, layered and overlapping, coming from the trees, the road, the air itself. Finally, a faint glow appeared ahead.

His eyes stayed fixed on the road, but I could see the tension in his jaw, the way his fingers twitched against the steering wheel. The whispers were louder now, and I realized they weren't just murmurs, they were words. I couldn't understand them, but they were there, layered and overlapping, coming from the trees, the road, the air itself. Finally, a faint glow appeared ahead.

A gas station, its flickering neon sign like a beacon in the oppressive night. relief washed over me but it was short-lived as we pulled into the lot i noticed how deserted it was no cars no noise just the hum of the old lights and the wind rustling the trees rick jumped out to pump the gas while i headed inside to grab coffee

A gas station, its flickering neon sign like a beacon in the oppressive night. relief washed over me but it was short-lived as we pulled into the lot i noticed how deserted it was no cars no noise just the hum of the old lights and the wind rustling the trees rick jumped out to pump the gas while i headed inside to grab coffee

the moment i stepped through the door the atmosphere hit me like a wall it was warm and still but not in a comforting way the air felt too heavy too quiet like the whole place was holding its breath the woman behind the counter didn't greet me she didn't even look up her hands shook slightly as she rearranged a display of gum her eyes darting to the windows every few seconds i moved to the coffee station fumbling with the lid as i tried to shake the unease that had settled over me

the moment i stepped through the door the atmosphere hit me like a wall it was warm and still but not in a comforting way the air felt too heavy too quiet like the whole place was holding its breath the woman behind the counter didn't greet me she didn't even look up her hands shook slightly as she rearranged a display of gum her eyes darting to the windows every few seconds i moved to the coffee station fumbling with the lid as i tried to shake the unease that had settled over me

That's when I noticed her watching me, not openly, but from the corner of her eye. Every time I moved, her gaze shifted, her body tensing as though I might do something unpredictable. I tried to ignore it, but her discomfort was contagious, and I couldn't help but glance out the window behind me. The trees seemed closer than before, their dark silhouettes pressing against the glass.

That's when I noticed her watching me, not openly, but from the corner of her eye. Every time I moved, her gaze shifted, her body tensing as though I might do something unpredictable. I tried to ignore it, but her discomfort was contagious, and I couldn't help but glance out the window behind me. The trees seemed closer than before, their dark silhouettes pressing against the glass.