Lily’s heart raced as the dirt road twisted deeper into the forest. Towering trees loomed over the car, their gnarled branches clawing at the sky like skeletal fingers. “I don’t like it here,” she whispered, glancing out the window at the dense shadows that seemed to swallow the light.
“Come on, kiddo, it’s just a vacation,” John said, his voice bright with forced cheer. He glanced at Lily in the rearview mirror, attempting a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
Emily, sitting next to him, sighed as she brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Let’s make the best of it. It’s time to unwind, remember?” But her voice trembled slightly, and Lily could see the tension in her mother’s shoulders. The weight of work and responsibility clung to her like a heavy cloak.
As they pulled up to the decaying forest house, a chill settled in the air. The structure loomed before them, a shadow of what it once had been. Paint peeled from the walls, and the porch sagged under the weight of neglect. Vines snaked up the sides, twisting around the windows like grasping hands.
“Looks cozy,” James muttered sarcastically, rolling his eyes as he unbuckled his seatbelt. Olivia, sitting quietly next to him, shrugged, her expression unreadable. She was already scrolling through her phone, seemingly unfazed by their surroundings.
Lily hesitated, feeling a strange pull toward the woods. The trees whispered to each other, their voices barely audible. Something about them felt alive, as if they were watching, waiting.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“Let’s get settled in!” John said, attempting to break the eerie silence. He climbed out of the car, stretching his arms as he surveyed their new home. Emily followed, a tight smile plastered on her face as she stepped onto the creaking porch.
“Come on, Lily,” James called, already heading for the front door. Reluctantly, she got out and followed her brother, glancing back at the forest. The shadows seemed to shift, darker and more ominous.
Inside, the air was musty and stale, filled with the scent of damp wood and mold. Dust motes danced in the beams of sunlight that struggled through grimy windows. “Wow, it’s… rustic,” Olivia said, raising an eyebrow as she stepped inside.
“More like haunted,” Lily muttered under her breath. She felt a knot of fear tighten in her stomach as she wandered through the dimly lit rooms. Each space felt too quiet, too empty. The walls seemed to absorb sound, swallowing their whispers.
“Let’s unpack and explore!” John suggested, his enthusiasm contrasting sharply with the oppressive atmosphere. As the family busied themselves, Lily found herself drawn to a window. She peered outside, the forest pressing in close, its shadows flickering just beyond the glass.
As evening approached, the woods darkened, the once-familiar sounds of nature replaced by an unsettling silence. Lily sat on her bed, the old mattress creaking beneath her. She listened to the wind rustling through the trees, a sound that sent shivers down her spine.
Just as she began to doze off, a scratching noise jolted her awake. Her heart raced as she glanced toward the window. A dark shape moved just outside, barely visible in the dim light. “Mom! Dad!” she called, her voice shaky.
“What is it, honey?” Emily’s voice floated from the other room, calm but distant.
“There's something outside!” Lily pressed her forehead against the cool glass, trying to see better. The shadow lingered, flickering like a flame in the dark.
“Just your imagination,” John replied, his footsteps approaching. “It’s just the trees moving.”
But Lily knew. She felt it deep in her bones—something was out there, watching.
As sleep began to reclaim her, the last thing she heard was a whisper, soft and insistent, echoing through the night. “Help us…”