I turn on my phone’s flashlight as I begin to step into the forest.

It’s awfully dark here. At least I was somewhat prepared. I just hope I’ll be in one piece by the time I get out of here.



And so, I continue walking.

And I keep on walking.



And walking.







And so on.















...































It feels like this forest has no end.

















































How long has it been?












I take a glance at my phone’s screen. The time reads “3:27AM.”

It’s... been like, 37 minutes since I left?? Christ, it feels like I’ve been out here for hours.

...It’s so dark.
Even more than I’d thought at first glance.
Darker than dark.

It’s cold too.
Very cold.

Why am I doing this?
Just plunging myself deeper into this damned forest, just to quell my mind on something that doesn’t even exist?
As if there’s a light at the end of this tunnel.

That noise I’ve been hearing.
It sounds like it’s just out of reach.
No matter how much I try to head towards the source, it always sounds like it’s anywhere but where I’m walking towards.

...This is stupid. I should’ve known this was a stupid thing to do.

I hate this.

I hate that I’m doing this.
I hate that I’m potentially endangering myself just to find an answer.
I hate how dark it is.
I hate it.

I hate it.
I hate it.
I hate it.
I hate it.
I hate it.
I hate—

Out of nowhere, I trip on something. A dull pain begins to radiate from my chest. The feeling elicits a groan out of me.

Shit...

Figured I’d trip sometime.

I try to lift my body up, but my leg is caught in something. Shining my flashlight on it, it’s revealed to be caught in some vines.

I try to free my leg.
To no effect.

I struggle as hard as I can to move my leg out of the tangled foliage.

...

No effect.

Shit.

I take a look at where I’m at. I’m in a small clearing of trees, a few tree stumps riddle the ground. The clouds from earlier have cleared up a bit, making the full moon more visible than before. Its light gleams onto the ground.

What was that.

Don’t tell me-

I’M NOT ALONE OUT HERE.

I pull out my pocket knife in a hurried attempt to hack the vines off, the approaching noises serving as an intense motivator to get the hell out of here.


HURRY UP HURRY UP HURRY UP HURRY UP HURRY UP HURRY UP HURRY UP HURRY UP HURRY UP HURRY UP HURRY UP HURRY UP HURRY UP HURRY UP HURRY UP.

I barely manage to slash the vines off in time, jolting up onto my feet and brandishing my knife immediately afterwards.

“Who’s there?!” I yell out.

...

Nothing but silence.
That noise I’ve been hearing just before I went in is gone too.

I shine my light around the vicinity; searching for even a semblance of some sort of sign.
It’s a fruitless search.

“What was that?” I ask myself, putting my blade away. “well, whatever it was, it seems to be gone now. Hopefully I scared whatever it was off or some—”

Suddenly, a voice echoes from behind me. A calm voice.
“Well met.”

Someone is behind me. SOMEONE IS BEHIND ME.
“H... hello,” I barely manage to squeak out.

“I know why you are here. I have been... anticipating you.”