The next morning, Lily awoke to the sound of birds chirping, but the sunlight streaming through her window did little to chase away the dread lingering in her chest. She sat up, glancing around the room, her heart still racing from the events of the previous night. The scratching and whispers felt like a shadow over her thoughts.

After a quick breakfast, the family prepared for another hike, this time with a more determined attitude. “We’ll find a nice clearing and have a picnic,” John said, enthusiasm returning to his voice. Emily smiled, though Lily could see the worry etched on her face.

As they hiked deeper into the forest, the path narrowed, and the trees loomed taller, their branches intertwining overhead like a thick web. Each step felt heavier, the air growing thick with anticipation. Lily lagged behind, glancing around at the shadows that danced just out of reach.

“Come on, slowpoke!” James called, his laughter ringing through the woods. “You’re not scared, are you?”

“No,” Lily lied, quickening her pace to catch up. But as she looked at her brother, a sudden chill ran down her spine. He was laughing, but there was something in his eyes—an emptiness that unsettled her.

They continued until they reached a small clearing, sunlight pouring down and illuminating the space. A fallen log served as a makeshift bench, and they settled down to eat their packed lunches. The atmosphere lightened as they shared jokes and stories, the weight of the house momentarily forgotten.

After lunch, Olivia suggested they explore a nearby trail. “Let’s see where it leads!” she urged, a glint of excitement in her eyes.

“Okay, but let’s stick together,” Emily insisted, looking at each of her children.

As they walked, the path grew narrower, flanked by dense underbrush. The deeper they went, the quieter it became, the only sounds their footsteps crunching on leaves and twigs.

Then, suddenly, James darted ahead, curiosity evident in his movements. “Wait up!” Lily called, but he was already disappearing around a bend.

“James! Don’t wander off!” Emily shouted, her voice laced with concern.

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But the woods swallowed his response, and Lily’s heart raced again. “We should go after him,” she said, anxiety bubbling in her chest.

“I’ll go,” Olivia replied, her tone more assertive. “You stay here with Mom and Dad.”

Lily watched as Olivia hurried down the path, her figure disappearing into the thicket. A few moments passed, and the silence felt heavy, almost suffocating.

“Let’s just give him a minute,” John said, though his tone was strained. He exchanged a glance with Emily, who looked increasingly worried.

Time stretched, and Lily shifted nervously from foot to foot. “Something doesn’t feel right,” she whispered.

Then, just as Lily was about to suggest they look for James and Olivia, a rustling in the bushes caught her attention. She squinted, heart pounding, as she peered into the thicket. A dark shape moved just beyond the trees, and a chill raced down her spine.

“Mom, did you see that?” she asked, her voice trembling.

But before Emily could respond, a panicked shout echoed through the woods. “James!” Olivia’s voice rang out, filled with urgency.

“Olivia!” Emily called back, her voice rising with concern.

Lily felt her stomach drop as she turned, rushing toward the sound. They ran through the brush, branches scraping at their arms, the world around them blurring in a panic-fueled haze.

Finally, they reached a small clearing, where Olivia stood, her face pale and eyes wide. “He was right here!” she exclaimed, pointing to the ground where James had just been. “He was right here, and then he just—disappeared!”

“Disappeared?” Lily echoed, dread pooling in her stomach. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know! One moment he was here, and then…” Olivia trailed off, her voice shaking.

“James!” John shouted, calling into the trees. “Where are you?”

Silence.

Lily’s heart raced. “We have to find him!” she cried, but deep down, she felt an unsettling sense that they weren’t alone in the woods.

“Stay together!” Emily instructed, her voice firm. “We can’t split up.”

The family began to search the area, calling James’s name over and over. But with each passing moment, panic began to seep in, and the forest felt increasingly oppressive, the shadows stretching and darkening around them.

After what felt like hours, John finally pulled out his phone. “No signal,” he muttered, frustration evident on his face. “We need to get back to the house and call for help.”

“Maybe he went back,” Olivia suggested, her voice shaky.

“Then let’s go,” Emily said, urgency in her tone.

They hurried back along the path, Lily’s heart racing. Each rustle in the underbrush made her jump, and every shadow seemed to loom larger than before. She felt a growing fear that they would never find James—that he had become a part of the forest itself.

When they arrived back at the house, they rushed inside, the front door slamming behind them. “James!” Lily called, her voice echoing in the empty rooms.

“James!” Emily echoed, desperation creeping into her voice.

But the silence was suffocating. Lily felt a knot in her stomach as she recalled James’s face, the strange emptiness she had seen in his eyes earlier.

As they searched through the house, Lily caught sight of something in the corner of the living room—a piece of paper lying on the floor. She bent down to pick it up, her hands trembling. It was a drawing, but not like any James had made before.

It depicted a figure, tall and shadowy, looming over a small house surrounded by dark trees. Red eyes glared from the figure, and beneath it, in jagged writing, it read: “They took him.”

“Mom! Dad!” Lily shouted, holding up the drawing. “Look at this!”

Emily and John hurried over, and their faces paled as they studied the artwork. “Where did you find this?” John asked, his voice low.

“I think it’s James’s,” Lily replied, panic rising. “He has to be out there! We have to find him!”

But as they stood there, the weight of the drawing sank in, and the whispers from the woods returned, echoing in Lily’s mind: “Help us…”