David

I kept running, desperate to put as much distance as I could between me and whatever was in those woods. When I finally couldn't run anymore, I stumbled off the trail, collapsing behind a massive fallen tree. My chest heaved, my throat raw from sucking in cold air. I switched off the flashlight and crouched low, clutching it like a weapon. The darkness was absolute.

I kept running, desperate to put as much distance as I could between me and whatever was in those woods. When I finally couldn't run anymore, I stumbled off the trail, collapsing behind a massive fallen tree. My chest heaved, my throat raw from sucking in cold air. I switched off the flashlight and crouched low, clutching it like a weapon. The darkness was absolute.

My hands were shaking, my ears straining for any sound. I waited, and waited, and then I heard it again. Soft, deliberate footsteps, this time circling the tree I was hiding behind. I clenched my jaw, holding my breath. The footsteps stopped just on the other side of the trunk. Something heavy scraped against the bark.

My hands were shaking, my ears straining for any sound. I waited, and waited, and then I heard it again. Soft, deliberate footsteps, this time circling the tree I was hiding behind. I clenched my jaw, holding my breath. The footsteps stopped just on the other side of the trunk. Something heavy scraped against the bark.

I closed my eyes, praying that whatever it was couldn't see me, couldn't hear the pounding of my heart. And then, silence. Nothing but the faint hum of insects. I stayed there for what felt like hours, too terrified to move. Whatever was out there was waiting, watching. I knew it wasn't over, not yet.

I closed my eyes, praying that whatever it was couldn't see me, couldn't hear the pounding of my heart. And then, silence. Nothing but the faint hum of insects. I stayed there for what felt like hours, too terrified to move. Whatever was out there was waiting, watching. I knew it wasn't over, not yet.

I don't know how long I stayed curled beneath that fallen tree, but every second felt like an eternity. My muscles ached from crouching, my breaths came shallow and uneven, and my flashlight sat dark and cold in my trembling hands. I couldn't bring myself to turn it back on. Not yet. Whatever was out there would see me first. The footsteps had stopped, but the forest wasn't quiet.

I don't know how long I stayed curled beneath that fallen tree, but every second felt like an eternity. My muscles ached from crouching, my breaths came shallow and uneven, and my flashlight sat dark and cold in my trembling hands. I couldn't bring myself to turn it back on. Not yet. Whatever was out there would see me first. The footsteps had stopped, but the forest wasn't quiet.

Far off, the crickets chirped steadily, their drone oddly soothing. Closer, though, the sounds were sharper. Small snaps of twigs, the rustling of leaves. Sometimes they were near, other times farther off. Whatever it was, it hadn't left. It was circling me. I thought about running, but where would I go?

Far off, the crickets chirped steadily, their drone oddly soothing. Closer, though, the sounds were sharper. Small snaps of twigs, the rustling of leaves. Sometimes they were near, other times farther off. Whatever it was, it hadn't left. It was circling me. I thought about running, but where would I go?

The trail was barely visible even with the flashlight, and I had no idea how far I'd wandered off it. And then there was that scream. The memory of it froze me in place.

The trail was barely visible even with the flashlight, and I had no idea how far I'd wandered off it. And then there was that scream. The memory of it froze me in place.

i didn't want to hear it again and i definitely didn't want to find out what had made it hours passed or maybe minutes it was impossible to tell the forest felt like it had swallowed time my mind kept jumping to the worst possibilities What if this thing was leading me somewhere? What if there were more of them? What if it didn't need to see me to know where I was?

i didn't want to hear it again and i definitely didn't want to find out what had made it hours passed or maybe minutes it was impossible to tell the forest felt like it had swallowed time my mind kept jumping to the worst possibilities What if this thing was leading me somewhere? What if there were more of them? What if it didn't need to see me to know where I was?

Then, from the silence, came the first whisper. Low, guttural, and just barely audible. My heart stopped. I couldn't make out the words, if they were even words at all, but the sound was unmistakably human. It rose and fell like someone muttering to themselves, each syllable jagged and harsh, like it hurt to say them. The whisper came again, closer this time.

Then, from the silence, came the first whisper. Low, guttural, and just barely audible. My heart stopped. I couldn't make out the words, if they were even words at all, but the sound was unmistakably human. It rose and fell like someone muttering to themselves, each syllable jagged and harsh, like it hurt to say them. The whisper came again, closer this time.

My breath hitched, and I pressed myself tighter against the tree trunk. I couldn't see anything in the darkness, but I could feel it. Something was there, just on the other side. I fumbled for the flashlight. every instinct screaming at me not to turn it on. But I couldn't just sit there blind. My fingers found the switch, slick with sweat.

My breath hitched, and I pressed myself tighter against the tree trunk. I couldn't see anything in the darkness, but I could feel it. Something was there, just on the other side. I fumbled for the flashlight. every instinct screaming at me not to turn it on. But I couldn't just sit there blind. My fingers found the switch, slick with sweat.

I took a deep breath, counted to three, and flicked it on. The beam cut through the blackness, and for a split second, I wished I hadn't done it. The light landed on a figure crouched low, maybe ten feet away. Its face was obscured, hidden beneath a hood or hair, I couldn't tell, but its body was twisted at an unnatural angle, one arm bracing the ground, the other stretched toward me.

I took a deep breath, counted to three, and flicked it on. The beam cut through the blackness, and for a split second, I wished I hadn't done it. The light landed on a figure crouched low, maybe ten feet away. Its face was obscured, hidden beneath a hood or hair, I couldn't tell, but its body was twisted at an unnatural angle, one arm bracing the ground, the other stretched toward me.