WOODS OF DREAD

Why do you keep staring into the woods like that, Kevin?

Kevin turned to his neighbor, Mrs. Hopkins, who had been raking leaves in her yard. Her voice always carried a touch of concern, but today it was edged with something else—fear, perhaps.

I thought I saw something moving, Kevin replied, trying to keep his voice steady.

Mrs. Hopkins’ eyes narrowed as she looked past him to the dense strip of forest that bordered their suburban cul-de-sac. It was late afternoon, and the shadows were growing longer, distorting the shapes of the trees and the undergrowth.

Probably just a deer, she said, but there was a tremor in her voice.

Kevin nodded, but he didn’t believe it for a second. He had heard the stories—the whispered conversations at neighborhood gatherings, the reports of missing pets, the strange noises at night. There was something out there, something that defied the mundane explanation of a deer or a coyote.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Kevin felt a chill crawl up his spine. He reluctantly turned to head back inside.

Later that evening, Kevin sat in his living room, staring at the TV without absorbing anything. His wife, Emily, was in the kitchen, humming softly as she prepared dinner. The smell of roasting chicken filled the air, but Kevin’s mind was elsewhere.

Suddenly, there was a soft knock at the door. It was almost imperceptible, as if whoever—or whatever—was on the other side was hesitant.

Kevin got up, his heart pounding. He opened the door to find a young girl standing there. She was no older than ten, with tangled hair and a look of sheer terror in her eyes.

Help me, she whispered. Her voice was barely audible, but the desperation in it was unmistakable.

Kevin ushered her inside, calling out to Emily.

Emily, come here! Quickly!

Emily rushed in, her eyes widening in surprise and concern when she saw the girl.

What happened? Emily asked gently, kneeling down to the girl’s level.

They’re coming, the girl whispered, her eyes darting to the windows and the door.

Who’s coming? Kevin asked, trying to keep his voice calm.

The girl looked at him, tears streaming down her face.

The monsters.

Kevin and Emily exchanged a glance. It sounded like the wild imagination of a frightened child, but there was something about her eyes—something that made Kevin believe her.

Where are your parents? Emily asked softly.

Gone, the girl replied, her voice breaking. They took them.

Kevin felt a surge of anger and protectiveness. He didn’t know what was happening, but he wasn’t going to let anything happen to this girl.

We’ll keep you safe, he promised.

The girl nodded, but there was no relief in her eyes.

As darkness fell, the tension in the house grew palpable. Every creak and groan of the old wooden floors seemed amplified, every rustling of leaves outside a potential threat.

Kevin peered out the window, scanning the edge of the woods. For a moment, he thought he saw movement—shadows slipping between the trees. He shook his head, trying to dismiss it as a trick of the light, but the uneasy feeling in his gut refused to go away.

Emily busied herself with comforting the girl, wrapping her in a warm blanket and offering her some hot chocolate. The girl sipped it slowly, her hands trembling.

Do you have a name? Emily asked gently.

The girl looked up, her eyes wide and haunted.

Lila, she replied.

Kevin felt a cold draft and turned to see that the front door was slightly ajar. He was certain he had closed it.

Stay here, he said, his voice low and urgent. Emily, lock the doors and windows.

Emily nodded, her face pale but determined. Kevin grabbed a flashlight and stepped out onto the porch. The night was eerily silent, the only sound the distant hum of crickets.

He shone the flashlight towards the woods, the beam cutting through the darkness. His heart pounded in his chest as he took a few cautious steps forward.

Is anyone out there? he called, his voice echoing in the stillness.

There was no reply, but he could sense something watching him, something lurking just beyond the reach of the light.

He took another step, and that’s when he felt it—a presence, cold and menacing, pressing in around him. The hair on the back of his neck stood up, and he felt an overwhelming urge to run back inside.

But he couldn’t. Not yet.

He had to know.

He took a deep breath and moved closer to the trees, his flashlight flickering as if the battery was dying. He heard a rustling sound, and his pulse quickened.

Show yourself, he demanded, his voice trembling.

For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Then, out of the darkness, a figure emerged.

Kevin’s heart nearly stopped. The figure was tall and gaunt, with glowing eyes that pierced through the night. It moved silently, almost gliding, and Kevin felt a wave of pure, unadulterated terror wash over him.

He stumbled backward, his flashlight falling from his hand and clattering to the ground. The figure advanced, its eyes never leaving Kevin’s.

He turned and ran, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He flung the door open and slammed it shut behind him, locking it with trembling hands.

What is it? Emily asked, her voice a mixture of fear and urgency.

Kevin couldn’t speak. He could only point towards the window, where the figure now stood, watching them with those unblinking, malevolent eyes.

We’re not safe, he finally managed to say.

Lila looked up at him, her eyes filled with a hopelessness that chilled Kevin to the bone.

They’re already here, she whispered..

Lila's words hung in the air, a chilling confirmation of Kevin's deepest fears. Emily clutched Lila tighter, her eyes darting towards the window where the figure stood, its gaze unrelenting.

Kevin paced the room, his mind racing. The locks and the walls felt like meaningless barriers against the malevolent presence outside. He glanced at Emily and Lila, their wide-eyed stares reflecting his own terror.

We need to stay together, he said, his voice trembling yet resolute. We'll figure something out.

Emily nodded, though her face betrayed her uncertainty. She held Lila closer, who in turn seemed to draw strength from Emily's embrace, even as the shadows outside seemed to pulse with an unseen life.

Suddenly, a loud bang erupted from the back door, followed by a series of thuds, as if something—or someone—was trying to force its way in. Kevin's heart pounded in his chest as he grabbed a kitchen knife, the only weapon he had within reach.

Stay here, he whispered, his voice a tenuous thread of courage. Emily, keep her safe.

With trembling hands, he approached the back door. Each step felt like an eternity, the sound of his own breathing echoing in his ears. He reached the door and pressed his ear against it, listening.

The silence was deafening, a void that seemed to swallow all sound. Then, a whisper, so faint it was almost indistinguishable from the wind.

Kevin, it called, a voice that was both familiar and alien. He felt a shiver run down his spine.

Who are you? he demanded, his voice barely more than a whisper. What do you want?

The voice responded, a soft, mocking laugh that seemed to resonate from within the very walls of the house.

To see, it replied. To know.

Kevin's grip on the knife tightened, his knuckles white. He slowly backed away from the door, feeling the oppressive weight of the presence pressing against him from all sides.

Emily, he called out, his voice barely steady. We need to get out of here.

Emily nodded, her eyes wide with fear but filled with determination. She gathered Lila in her arms and moved towards the front door. Kevin followed, his fingers brushing against his wife's for a brief moment, a silent promise of protection.

As they stepped outside, the cold night air hit them, carrying with it the scent of decay and something older, something ancient. Kevin shone his flashlight towards the woods, the beam cutting through the darkness.

There, at the edge of the light, the tall, gaunt figure stood, its glowing eyes watching them with an unsettling intensity. Kevin felt a primal fear take hold, a fear that transcended rational thought.

We have to move, he urged, his voice a strained whisper. Now.

They started to run, the crunch of leaves and twigs underfoot the only sound in the eerie silence. Lila clung to Emily, her eyes wide and haunted, as if she could see things that the adults couldn't.

Kevin glanced back, his breath catching in his throat as he saw more figures emerging from the woods, their forms shifting and blending with the shadows. The night seemed to close in around them, pressing in with a malevolent intent.

As they ran, the world around them seemed to distort, the trees twisting into grotesque shapes, the ground beneath their feet feeling unstable. Kevin's mind raced, trying to make sense of the surreal nightmare they were trapped in.

Suddenly, Lila spoke, her voice eerily calm amidst the chaos.

There's a place we can go, she said, her eyes locking onto Kevin's. A place where they can't follow.

Kevin felt a flicker of hope, a desperate need to believe in the possibility of escape. He nodded, his hand reaching out to clasp Lila's. Lead the way, he said, his voice filled with urgency.

They followed Lila through the darkened woods, her steps sure and swift, as if guided by some unseen force. The figures behind them moved with a predatory grace, their glowing eyes piercing through the darkness.

Finally, they reached a clearing, an ancient stone circle standing in the center, bathed in an otherworldly light. Lila stopped, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and determination.

This is it, she whispered. This is the place.

Kevin and Emily exchanged a glance, their breaths mingling in the cold night air. They stepped into the circle, the air within feeling different, charged with a strange energy.

The figures halted at the edge of the clearing, their glowing eyes watching with an intensity that sent shivers down Kevin's spine. They couldn't cross the boundary, held back by some invisible force.

Kevin felt a momentary relief, but it was quickly replaced by a gnawing unease. They were safe for now, but the presence of the malevolent entities lingered, a dark shadow over their temporary sanctuary.

What now? Emily asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Kevin looked at Lila, whose eyes seemed to hold a wisdom far beyond her years.

We wait, she said simply. And hope.

As the night stretched on, the stone circle offered a fragile refuge, a small island of safety in a sea of darkness. Kevin, Emily, and Lila huddled together, their eyes never straying far from the edge of the clearing, where the malevolent figures stood, watching, waiting.

Their fate remained uncertain, the horror still lurking just beyond the light. And in that chilling ambiguity, the true terror lay, a reminder that some nightmares never truly end.

Victor Hal

Venture into the depths of darkness and fear with Victor Hal, your storyteller of haunting secrets and supernatural dread.