David

The light hit its face and it recoiled, letting out a low hiss. Its movement was jerky, like a puppet pulled by invisible strings. Before I could process what I was seeing, it scrambled back into the shadows, vanishing as quickly as it had appeared. I couldn't breathe. My chest felt like it was caving in. My flashlight trembled in my hands, the beam darting back and forth, but there was nothing.

The light hit its face and it recoiled, letting out a low hiss. Its movement was jerky, like a puppet pulled by invisible strings. Before I could process what I was seeing, it scrambled back into the shadows, vanishing as quickly as it had appeared. I couldn't breathe. My chest felt like it was caving in. My flashlight trembled in my hands, the beam darting back and forth, but there was nothing.

No sign of it. Just the endless, oppressive dark. I had to move. Staying there wasn't an option anymore. Whatever that thing was, it knew where I was. Slowly I stood, my legs shaking so badly I nearly collapsed. I scanned the area one last time, then started walking, trying to keep my steps as quiet as possible.

No sign of it. Just the endless, oppressive dark. I had to move. Staying there wasn't an option anymore. Whatever that thing was, it knew where I was. Slowly I stood, my legs shaking so badly I nearly collapsed. I scanned the area one last time, then started walking, trying to keep my steps as quiet as possible.

The fog had rolled in while I was hiding, blanketing the forest in a thick, suffocating gray. My flashlight barely cut through it. Every tree looked the same, their twisted branches reaching toward me like skeletal hands. The trail was gone. I had no idea where I was. I stumbled through the underbrush, each step crunching louder than I wanted.

The fog had rolled in while I was hiding, blanketing the forest in a thick, suffocating gray. My flashlight barely cut through it. Every tree looked the same, their twisted branches reaching toward me like skeletal hands. The trail was gone. I had no idea where I was. I stumbled through the underbrush, each step crunching louder than I wanted.

The whispers followed me, growing louder, then fading, like they were weaving in and out of the fog. Every so often, I'd hear a footstep, or the faint scrape of something dragging along the ground. I was too scared to look back. Then I found it. A clearing. At first, I thought I'd made it to the shelter, but as I got closer, my stomach dropped.

The whispers followed me, growing louder, then fading, like they were weaving in and out of the fog. Every so often, I'd hear a footstep, or the faint scrape of something dragging along the ground. I was too scared to look back. Then I found it. A clearing. At first, I thought I'd made it to the shelter, but as I got closer, my stomach dropped.

In the center of the clearing was a ring of branches, arranged in a perfect circle. Strange symbols were etched into each one, crude and uneven, as though carved by a shaking hand. In the middle of the circle was a hole, deep, fresh, and wide enough to fit a person. I stumbled back, my flashlight catching on something else. Footprints.

In the center of the clearing was a ring of branches, arranged in a perfect circle. Strange symbols were etched into each one, crude and uneven, as though carved by a shaking hand. In the middle of the circle was a hole, deep, fresh, and wide enough to fit a person. I stumbled back, my flashlight catching on something else. Footprints.

Bare, human footprints, large and staggered, leading from the hole to the tree line. My throat tightened, and I swung the light around, expecting to see those glowing eyes staring back at me. The forest was empty. For now. I turned and ran. I didn't care about the noise anymore. Branches whipped at my face. Roots snagged my boots, but I didn't stop. My only thought was to get back to the car.

Bare, human footprints, large and staggered, leading from the hole to the tree line. My throat tightened, and I swung the light around, expecting to see those glowing eyes staring back at me. The forest was empty. For now. I turned and ran. I didn't care about the noise anymore. Branches whipped at my face. Roots snagged my boots, but I didn't stop. My only thought was to get back to the car.

I didn't know how far I was or if I was even heading in the right direction, but I had to try. When I finally broke through the trees and saw the trailhead, relief hit me like a wave. My car was there, untouched, just as I'd left it. But as I got closer, something caught my eye, a handprint smeared across the driver's side window. It was muddy, the fingers impossibly long, and it was fresh.

I didn't know how far I was or if I was even heading in the right direction, but I had to try. When I finally broke through the trees and saw the trailhead, relief hit me like a wave. My car was there, untouched, just as I'd left it. But as I got closer, something caught my eye, a handprint smeared across the driver's side window. It was muddy, the fingers impossibly long, and it was fresh.

I didn't stop to think. I yanked the door open, threw myself inside, and locked it. My hands shook so badly I could barely get the keys into the ignition. When the engine roared to life, I floored it, gravel spraying beneath the tires as I sped out of there. In my rearview mirror, I saw it. A figure, standing at the edge of the forest, its head tilted, watching me.

I didn't stop to think. I yanked the door open, threw myself inside, and locked it. My hands shook so badly I could barely get the keys into the ignition. When the engine roared to life, I floored it, gravel spraying beneath the tires as I sped out of there. In my rearview mirror, I saw it. A figure, standing at the edge of the forest, its head tilted, watching me.

Its glowing eyes were the last thing I saw before the road curved, taking me away from that place. I didn't stop driving until I was halfway home. Even now, I don't know what I saw out there. I just know I'll never go back. And sometimes, late at night, I still hear those whispers.

Its glowing eyes were the last thing I saw before the road curved, taking me away from that place. I didn't stop driving until I was halfway home. Even now, I don't know what I saw out there. I just know I'll never go back. And sometimes, late at night, I still hear those whispers.

And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. Psalm 19 To the Choir Master A Psalm of David

And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. Psalm 19 To the Choir Master A Psalm of David