Jonas
👤 SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
They curved around the back of the cabin and then just stopped.
I followed them a few steps, hot-thotting, trying to see if I missed something.
But there was no return trail.
No scuffed leaves.
Just a sudden dead stop.
Like the person who made them had stepped into the earth or been lifted out.
That's when the hair on my arms went up.
Not like fear, more like something warning me to move.
I didn't argue with it.
I went back in, grabbed my pack, and stuffed the key into my coat pocket.
Didn't bother trying to wedge the door again.
Just pulled it shut and locked the front, even though I knew that latch wasn't keeping anything out.
The trail back fell longer.
About ten minutes in, I heard movement to my right.
At first, it was soft branches shifting, underbrush crunching just enough to notice.
I slowed down.
It slowed down too.
I stopped walking.
It stopped.
I waited, turning slowly, trying to catch a glimpse.