CHAPTER 3: Nighttime Shadows

Silence filled the air, strange and oppressive. With a persistent tightness pressing down on my chest, I gingerly exited the cabin. Every sound, including the subtle creak of a limb bending in the wind, the distant cry of an owl, and the rustling of leaves, appeared to be enhanced by the moonlight's long, unsettling shadows thrown over the forest.

Someone was observing.

My heart was racing as I walked closer to the forest's edge, and I clenched my fists. I was still troubled by the experience from the night before. I had the impression that those eyes, those golden eyes, were burned into my mind. The apprehension had now extended beyond my cabin. I had the impression that something was hiding just beyond the woods, something I could feel but not quite see.

I whispered to myself, "Enough." The luxury of being paranoid was not available to me. The woods were always hazardous, untamed, and unpredictable, but this seemed different.

I noticed a sudden rustle in the undergrowth. Every muscle in my body tensed as my head snapped toward the sound. I looked around the trees, hoping that something, anything, would show itself. A deer? A bird?

However, no.

A low grumble. It echoed through the air, deep and guttural, causing the ground beneath me to tremble. The hairs stood on end on the back of my neck. With my heart pounding and my eyes darting around in the dark, I stepped back.

Another growl, closer this time, clear and sharp.

“Stay back,” I whispered, the flashlight shaking in my hand. But deep down, I knew it was futile. The sound wasn’t coming from just one direction; it was surrounding me.

And then I saw it—a figure, black and gloomy, blending into the darkness like it was part of it. Its eyes shone faintly in the moonlight, tiny embers that shimmered against the forest’s inky gloom.

A wolf.

But not just any wolf. Its fur shimmered silver, blending with the night. Its eyes—those same glowing, otherworldly eyes I had seen before. This wasn’t a normal predator. It was something… more.

The thing drew closer, its motions flowing, even mesmerizing. Although it didn't appear hostile, it also didn't appear to be willing to give up. It cocked its head slightly, observing and analyzing me as if it could read my mind.

I slowly retreated, gripping the torch more tightly. I said, my voice trembling, "Go away." “Please.”

The wolf didn’t react. It merely kept watching, quiet and intrigued. Then, to my horror, it started to slowly and deliberately circle me, as if it were trying to determine whether I was prey or a danger.

A low growl rumbled from deep within its chest.

“No,” I whispered, raising the flashlight as if it could protect me. But I knew in my heart that it wouldn't make a difference. Its eyes were fixed on me as if I were the only thing that mattered, and it moved with an unnatural grace.

Suddenly, from the shadows, another person emerged—tall, dominating, with a presence that seemed to move the very air about him.

“Stay back!” I yelled, directing the lamp toward the visitor. But suddenly, something about the way he moved… ANYTHING about him…

The dude wasn’t human.

He approached with calm assurance, as if he weren’t the least bit afraid about the wolf. His eyes flitted to the animal, and the wolf froze, stopping its charge with a little shake of his head.

Something unsaid electrified the air, making it heavier. The guy moved in closer, his voice silky and powerful, forceful yet somehow comforting.

He said, "Go," while keeping his eyes on the beast. The animal tensed its muscles and gave a low growl, but it complied. With one final lingering gaze at me, it turned and faded into the darkness, leaving behind just stillness.

The guy turned to face me. His intense, piercing dark eyes examined me closely as though he could see right through my flesh.

"Who are you?" Despite feeling small and vulnerable on the inside, I made a firm demand. "What's happening?"

He didn't respond right away. Rather, his mouth twisted into a smirk, an expression that made my skin crawl. "Selene, you don't belong here."

I squinted. "How are you aware of my name?"

His black hair glinted in the moonlight as he took a step closer. His presence was undeniable—powerful, almost magnetic. “It doesn’t matter. What important is that you escape this location. You're not safe doing that.

"What makes you worthy of my trust?" With my fists clenched, I snapped. “You don’t exactly look friendly.”

His smile widened ever so slightly. “Because you don’t have a choice.”

Suddenly uncomfortably conscious of the increasing distance between us and the protection of my cabin, I stepped back. "I am capable of caring for myself. I don’t need some stranger—”

“You need more than you think,” he interrupted smoothly. “These woods are not what they seem. There are things here—things that shouldn’t be here—and they’ve taken an interest in you.”

I tensed. “Taken an interest?”

The man’s stare darkened slightly, the intensity in his eyes altering. “You’ve made enemies in places you don’t understand. You’re being watched… and not by anything human.”

A chill ran through me. “Watched? By what?”

“You need to leave before it’s too late.” I hesitated because his voice was suddenly hard and heavy. This place is not safe for you. No longer.

With growing frustration, I shook my head. "I've spent years living here. This is where I call home.

"And yet," he stated plainly, "something has changed." “You can’t ignore it. You feel it, don’t you? They have become restless, and the forests are alive. They will come for you again since they have already seen you.

I felt a knot in my gut. I couldn't shake the sensation that someone or something had been pursuing me. I wasn't prepared to go, however. Not quite yet.

"What makes you worthy of my trust?" I made another demand, raising my voice more forcefully. "What are you looking for from me?"

The man's knowing, somewhat pleased smile reappeared. "Selene, I don't need anything from you. But you don’t have much time to decide. These powers don’t take well to trespassers.”

I swallowed, my pulse quickening. His words were too serious, too calculated to ignore. He wasn’t lying, I could tell. Something was there. Something lurking in the woods outside my cabin, something much darker than anything I had ever seen.

And immediately, I felt it—the presence again. That similar chilly sense from previously. The murmur of something invisible.

The man's face hardened as he followed my eyes. "It's here already."

I heard it—soft footsteps behind me—before I could respond. There was a faint shadow in the distance, just over the tree line. And suddenly the eyes—sharp and threatening, shining dimly in the darkness.

I hadn't observed the figure until it moved forward. Tall and black, they exuded an air of primordiality and antiquity. Every action I made was being watched by them.

The guy next to me tensed up. "Go now," he said again in a chilly tone. "Prior to it being too late."

I tightened my fists, defiance mingling with fear. “I’m not going anywhere.”

The stranger beside me moaned, his jaw clenching. “Then you’ll have to learn the hard way.”

Suddenly, the scene began to distort, the shadows stretching and contorting. I could sense them—shadows drawing nearer, whispers in the wind, eyes watching me from every angle.

The man said in an urgent whisper, "Selene." "You're not welcome here... and you have now drawn something beyond your control.

Something changed just behind me, something darker, more sinister, before I could fully comprehend what he had said.

Once again, a low growl rumbled through the air.

The figure then came into sight.

With my pulse racing, I carefully turned to confront the shadowy object. Its eyes shone brighter than anything I had ever seen, like molten gold. With an intensity that made my body tingle, they stared at me.

It was something completely different from a wolf.

The guy next to me tensed up. "Run," he said in a whisper. "Now."

However, I was immobile. The figure—this creature—was too powerful, too commanding. I was frozen in place, caught in its gaze, paralyzed by its presence.

And then, it spoke.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Selene.”

And just like that, the world tilted.

I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. Fear gripped me, paralyzing and overwhelming. The creature moved closer, and I felt my vision blur, the air heavy with something ancient and malevolent.

The man beside me stepped forward, placing himself between me and the creature. His voice was low, a menacing growl. “You’ve made a mistake by coming here.”

But the creature—whoever—or whatever it was—paid him no regard. Its gaze latched upon me, the brightness increasing.

“I won’t let you leave,” it murmured, its voice silky and black. “Not until you understand what you’ve unleashed.”

I gulped hard, terror increasing as I felt the weight of its stare land on me. “What do you mean? What’s going on?”

The monster didn’t respond. Rather, it moved forward and held out a hand to me. Like two forces tugging at one another, the energy between us crackled and the air rippled with power.

Then suddenly I felt it—something dark, something cold—snatch me by the hand.

“No!” I gasped, trying to pull away, but the creature’s grip tightened.

The man’s eyes flared with anger, his voice a command. “Leave her alone!”

But it was too late.

The darkness crept around me, drawing me into the unknown. And as I was pulled into the vacuum, I heard t

he creature’s parting words resonate in my memory.

"I'll track you down, Selene. Regardless of where you go...

And suddenly it was all black.