Page 6 of Kat Bethel

Probably nothing good.

With a deep breath to steady myself, the scent of dirt and green, along with a hint of stagnant air, hit my nose. The hair on my arms stood on end, and I stood in place, trying to figure out exactly what was off.

Other than my shadow being rejected at the door. That wasn’t the only thing that had me on edge.

What was I missing?

It took too long to realize what it was: deafening silence.

No locusts, birds, or frogs. No rushing water from a nearby river.

Like the forest was holding its breath.

A few more steps inward, and I couldn’t see more than a couple feet ahead of me. The flickering mica in the soil was the only source of light. The trees were the deepest green I’d ever seen, and I couldn’t argue that there was an eerie beauty to the place.

If I could ignore the humanoid shapes lurking from behind each and every tree, that is.

The energy was oddly familiar.

It was the same brittle tension in the psych ward I left yesterday, like something would snap without warning. A distant scream, that I almost couldn’t hear, bounced off the trees, making it impossible to tell which direction it came from.

They followed me as I ventured deeper and deeper, whispering to each other. Probably wondering what the fuck I was doing here.

I should have spoken my intentions, but since I wasn’t sure which one, or how many, I would have to kill, I decided against it.

Something grabbed my arm, making my throat drop to my stomach.

I gasped and whirled around, ready to take on whatever spirit was ballsy enough to touch me. Only to find branches extended over the road, grabbing me.

I barked out a forced laugh to settle the bile rising in my throat. Maybe I was shakier than I thought.

The whispering stopped, filling me with unease.Stay calm.

I disentangled the bush from my shirt, sighing in relief when the whispering started up again.

I finally pulled out my flashlight, realizing the road was swallowed by the vine growth taking over the path. Hedges on each side grew thicker and closer, like fingers tugging me away from what I knew was hidden here.

The branches tightened their grip to a bruising level that sent my heart lurching in my throat. I pushed forward, fighting the restraining grasp.

The desperation was pungent in the air, and I found myself fighting even harder against them. I yanked free with sweat dripping down my temple.

I aimed the flashlight at my arms to confirm what I already suspected. Finger-shaped bruises littered every visible piece of skin. I counted each bruise and came to an unsettling conclusion.

This place wasn’t just haunted. It was a hotspot.

Heat pierced through the cold I’d grown accustomed to while traversing the deep woods. A familiar sensation, like when someone across the bar has locked you in their sights.

Eyes.

I tilted my flashlight up, looking for the source.

Through the thinning woods, the crumbling ruins of the abandoned settlement hovered at the top of the hill.

The stone entrance slumped, as if it couldn’t handle another day of waiting for someone to enter.

Welcome to Dudleytown.

The large shadows of the entrance shifted, but I couldn’t see any clear shapes inside them.