Emily

I kept thinking that he was out there, that he knew where we were. I kept thinking that he might come back. My uncle stayed up all night, sitting by the front door with his shotgun. I could hear him moving around, checking the locks on the doors and windows. My aunt stayed with Jen and me in my room. She tried to calm us down, tried to make us feel safe, but I couldn't.

I just kept thinking about the nature reserve, about how different it looked now. It wasn't a place to relax anymore. It was a place where danger was hiding, waiting for us. The next day, my uncle drove us past the nature reserve on the way to town. I looked out the window, and everything seemed normal. The sun was shining, the trees were green, and the path was empty. But I knew better now.

I just kept thinking about the nature reserve, about how different it looked now. It wasn't a place to relax anymore. It was a place where danger was hiding, waiting for us. The next day, my uncle drove us past the nature reserve on the way to town. I looked out the window, and everything seemed normal. The sun was shining, the trees were green, and the path was empty. But I knew better now.

I knew what could be hiding in those woods. I knew that I wouldn't be going back there again. Not ever. And as we drove away, I whispered under my breath, Let's not meet again. The rain pattered hard on the roof that afternoon. Dad and Emma had gone into town for groceries, leaving me behind. It was just Rusty, our dog, and I left in the old creaky farmhouse.

I knew what could be hiding in those woods. I knew that I wouldn't be going back there again. Not ever. And as we drove away, I whispered under my breath, Let's not meet again. The rain pattered hard on the roof that afternoon. Dad and Emma had gone into town for groceries, leaving me behind. It was just Rusty, our dog, and I left in the old creaky farmhouse.

I was in my room reading a book when, through the window, headlights came pulling up our long, muddy driveway. It wasn't our car. The vehicle came closer, and I realized it was Mr. Whitaker's truck. He never really came over unless he had some reason to talk to my dad, always unannounced. The thought of him being here made me feel uneasy, especially since I was alone.

I was in my room reading a book when, through the window, headlights came pulling up our long, muddy driveway. It wasn't our car. The vehicle came closer, and I realized it was Mr. Whitaker's truck. He never really came over unless he had some reason to talk to my dad, always unannounced. The thought of him being here made me feel uneasy, especially since I was alone.

Quickly, I got up and drew the curtains shut, making sure to close every one in the house. The house did seem darker now, and I could hear the wind pressing against the walls, mingling with the sound of the rain. I rushed to check all the doors, the front, the side, the back. I locked them all.

Quickly, I got up and drew the curtains shut, making sure to close every one in the house. The house did seem darker now, and I could hear the wind pressing against the walls, mingling with the sound of the rain. I rushed to check all the doors, the front, the side, the back. I locked them all.

The old locks clicked loudly, and I kept looking out the windows, hoping maybe Mr. Whitaker would just drive away. I saw his truck stop right outside, and I heard the door slam as he got out. His boots were heavy and crunched on the gravel. I could hear Rusty barking from outside in the yard. I could hear Mr. Whitaker yelling at Rusty, telling him to be quiet.

The old locks clicked loudly, and I kept looking out the windows, hoping maybe Mr. Whitaker would just drive away. I saw his truck stop right outside, and I heard the door slam as he got out. His boots were heavy and crunched on the gravel. I could hear Rusty barking from outside in the yard. I could hear Mr. Whitaker yelling at Rusty, telling him to be quiet.

His voice was sharp and my chest felt tight. I didn't know what he wanted, but I didn't want him to know I was here. I grabbed a kitchen knife and ducked under the pantry table. The small dark space felt stifling, the pounding of the rain making everything seem louder. I tried to keep my breathing quiet. The floorboards creaked as he stepped onto the porch.

His voice was sharp and my chest felt tight. I didn't know what he wanted, but I didn't want him to know I was here. I grabbed a kitchen knife and ducked under the pantry table. The small dark space felt stifling, the pounding of the rain making everything seem louder. I tried to keep my breathing quiet. The floorboards creaked as he stepped onto the porch.

I heard him try the handle of the front door, rattling it, like he was testing if it was locked. He moved on to the side door, then the back door, trying each one before walking around the house. His footsteps thudded on the wooden porch and then the gravel path. I again heard his voice. He was saying my name, repeating it over and over like he knew I was in there.

I heard him try the handle of the front door, rattling it, like he was testing if it was locked. He moved on to the side door, then the back door, trying each one before walking around the house. His footsteps thudded on the wooden porch and then the gravel path. I again heard his voice. He was saying my name, repeating it over and over like he knew I was in there.

He kept moving, trying to see through the windows, tapping on the glass, calling for me to come out. I didn't move, the knife held tight in my hand. The rain outside kept coming down in sheets, and the house was dark except for the flashes of lightning that lit up the rooms for a split second.

He kept moving, trying to see through the windows, tapping on the glass, calling for me to come out. I didn't move, the knife held tight in my hand. The rain outside kept coming down in sheets, and the house was dark except for the flashes of lightning that lit up the rooms for a split second.

one of those flashes lit up mr whittaker's face in the back window his eyes were wide and he was smiling in a way that made my stomach turn he continued to circle around his voice sometimes soft and coaxing and other times angry and loud then he said something that made me freeze completely I'm going to burn this place down, he yelled, but I'll let you out first.

one of those flashes lit up mr whittaker's face in the back window his eyes were wide and he was smiling in a way that made my stomach turn he continued to circle around his voice sometimes soft and coaxing and other times angry and loud then he said something that made me freeze completely I'm going to burn this place down, he yelled, but I'll let you out first.

I couldn't make out if he was serious or if he was trying to scare me. Either way, I knew he wanted me to come out. He wanted to make me scared enough to do what he wanted. He stood there for what felt like forever, but finally, I heard him walk back over to his truck. The door shut, and then the engine cranked. I remained under the table until I could no longer hear his truck driving.