Derek

The forest was thick, the terrain tangled with fallen logs and grasping shrubs. every step forward was slow deliberate punctuated by snapping twigs and crunching leaf litter the air was oppressive heavy with moisture that clung stubbornly to my skin my clothes soon damp with sweat an hour passed then two the sunlight growing weak and watery beneath the dense canopy

The forest was thick, the terrain tangled with fallen logs and grasping shrubs. every step forward was slow deliberate punctuated by snapping twigs and crunching leaf litter the air was oppressive heavy with moisture that clung stubbornly to my skin my clothes soon damp with sweat an hour passed then two the sunlight growing weak and watery beneath the dense canopy

i began to doubt my direction double checking landmarks against the blurred photocopies in my hand eventually a rusted nail hammered into a tree caught my eye another appeared about thirty yards ahead then another they formed a crude forgotten path worn faintly into the earth A shiver ran through my spine as I followed. Deeper into the forest, I noticed something strange.

i began to doubt my direction double checking landmarks against the blurred photocopies in my hand eventually a rusted nail hammered into a tree caught my eye another appeared about thirty yards ahead then another they formed a crude forgotten path worn faintly into the earth A shiver ran through my spine as I followed. Deeper into the forest, I noticed something strange.

Trees stripped clean of bark at chest height, as if something had clawed at them repeatedly, exposing raw pale wood beneath. Unease coiled tighter inside me. The claw marks from the logbook entries flashed through my mind and my pace quickened. Then, abruptly, the forest opened slightly into a small clearing. Nestled there, swallowed by decades of overgrowth, stood a dilapidated wooden structure.

Trees stripped clean of bark at chest height, as if something had clawed at them repeatedly, exposing raw pale wood beneath. Unease coiled tighter inside me. The claw marks from the logbook entries flashed through my mind and my pace quickened. Then, abruptly, the forest opened slightly into a small clearing. Nestled there, swallowed by decades of overgrowth, stood a dilapidated wooden structure.

Sagging roof beams, weathered boards nearly collapsing under their own weight. Cabin 27. My pulse quickened, breath shallow in my chest as I moved cautiously closer, stepping onto the creaking porch. The door hung ajar, hinges rusted and worn. Inside, shadows pooled in every corner. The scent of rot and mold permeated the air, nearly choking me.

Sagging roof beams, weathered boards nearly collapsing under their own weight. Cabin 27. My pulse quickened, breath shallow in my chest as I moved cautiously closer, stepping onto the creaking porch. The door hung ajar, hinges rusted and worn. Inside, shadows pooled in every corner. The scent of rot and mold permeated the air, nearly choking me.

My flashlight beam danced across the wooden walls, revealing deep, jagged claw marks gouged furiously into the timber. Splinters jutted outward at harsh angles, violent in their origin. Fear stirred inside me, mixing with dread and fascination. Something drew my eyes upward. Suspended from the ceiling by a rusted chain hung an ancient lantern, its glass blackened and smeared.

My flashlight beam danced across the wooden walls, revealing deep, jagged claw marks gouged furiously into the timber. Splinters jutted outward at harsh angles, violent in their origin. Fear stirred inside me, mixing with dread and fascination. Something drew my eyes upward. Suspended from the ceiling by a rusted chain hung an ancient lantern, its glass blackened and smeared.

Strangely, it emitted a faint, lingering warmth when my fingertips brushed against it, as though it had only recently been extinguished. A sudden wave of nausea passed over me. I lowered the flashlight beam and saw, on the floor beneath the My hands trembled slightly as I opened it, pages stiff with age. Inside were sketches, frenzied, rough, chaotic.

Strangely, it emitted a faint, lingering warmth when my fingertips brushed against it, as though it had only recently been extinguished. A sudden wave of nausea passed over me. I lowered the flashlight beam and saw, on the floor beneath the My hands trembled slightly as I opened it, pages stiff with age. Inside were sketches, frenzied, rough, chaotic.

Eyes staring from pages, trees twisted and dark, crude antlers sprouting from shadowy heads. Triangles and vertical slashes repeated obsessively, over and over again. It felt like peering into madness. I reached for my phone, quickly snapping photos of the notebook and claw marks. But just as I aimed for another shot, the screen flickered, dimmed, then died completely.

Eyes staring from pages, trees twisted and dark, crude antlers sprouting from shadowy heads. Triangles and vertical slashes repeated obsessively, over and over again. It felt like peering into madness. I reached for my phone, quickly snapping photos of the notebook and claw marks. But just as I aimed for another shot, the screen flickered, dimmed, then died completely.

I pressed the power button desperately, but the phone remained stubbornly dark. Glancing nervously around the cabin once more, the hair on my neck rose as I heard something faint yet distinct outside. A crunching sound, the snapping of twigs beneath weight. I stepped out, scanning rapidly with my flashlight beam. Nothing visible moved.

I pressed the power button desperately, but the phone remained stubbornly dark. Glancing nervously around the cabin once more, the hair on my neck rose as I heard something faint yet distinct outside. A crunching sound, the snapping of twigs beneath weight. I stepped out, scanning rapidly with my flashlight beam. Nothing visible moved.

But on the muddy ground, clearly outlined in the faint light, was a fresh print. It was barefoot, impossibly large, the elongated toes spaced unnaturally far apart. Panic surged through my limbs. My compass spun erratically in my palm, useless. I quickly shoved it back into my pocket, turning away from the cabin and sprinting through the undergrowth.

But on the muddy ground, clearly outlined in the faint light, was a fresh print. It was barefoot, impossibly large, the elongated toes spaced unnaturally far apart. Panic surged through my limbs. My compass spun erratically in my palm, useless. I quickly shoved it back into my pocket, turning away from the cabin and sprinting through the undergrowth.

Branches scraped at my face, thorns snagged my clothing, but adrenaline fueled my escape. Still, no matter how fast I moved, I heard faint footfalls paralleling my route, echoing my every step from the shadowed forest around me. It was dusk by the time I stumbled breathlessly back to cabin 11, heart hammering violently in my chest.

Branches scraped at my face, thorns snagged my clothing, but adrenaline fueled my escape. Still, no matter how fast I moved, I heard faint footfalls paralleling my route, echoing my every step from the shadowed forest around me. It was dusk by the time I stumbled breathlessly back to cabin 11, heart hammering violently in my chest.