Five hours later, I stirred awake, groggy and disoriented, as a faint but insistent pressure at my legs pulled me from the warm cocoon of sleep. My mind hazily registered the sensation, a subtle urge pressing against my consciousness, urging me to get up. I shifted, feeling the stiffness in my body from the night spent on the thin tent floor. Stretching my arms forward, I pushed my hands down, gradually inching my way out of the snug confines of my sleeping bag. I can't see jack. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, I sighed, realizing I needed to go to the bathroom.

Carefully, I crab-walked my way toward the tent entrance, mindful not to disturb the stillness of Jay's sleep. I fumbled for the zipper, the metallic sound slicing through the quiet as I peeled the tent flap open. A yawn escaped my lips, and I stretched my arms over my head, rubbing my eyes with the backs of my hands. The night enveloped me in a thick, inky darkness, and I squinted, struggling to adjust. Shadows loomed around me, trees swaying gently as if alive under the moonlight. I took a few cautious steps, each one a careful placement to avoid tripping over branches or unseen rocks.

Slowly, I shuffled to the edge of the camp, pausing as I reached a spot that felt comfortably distant but close enough not to get lost. I weighed the idea of going further in, but the thought of wandering through the dark, unfamiliar woods alone made my skin prickle. I shrugged to myself, deciding it was safe enough here. I figured the smell wouldn’t linger or bother us anyway—plus, not to sound strange, but I took good care of my digestive health.

"Jack, come over here for a second." Jay's voice called out, sharp and distinct, slicing through my ears. My breath caught in my throat as I froze. What? Jay? The voice had come from my right side, just out of view. But the thing was... I was sure Jay was back in the tent, sound asleep. My heart began to pound. This isn't right. Panic clawed its way up my chest, and my mind raced, grasping for an explanation. And then, like a sudden flash of clarity, I remembered something—a tale I’d brushed off as just a spooky campfire story. This was what Neuman went through. The forest played tricks on the mind, conjuring voices and shadows from thin air. But as far as Neuman’s story went, that was the extent of it—just illusions, unsettling but harmless.

"Jack! Damn it, come here! I found some gold!" Jay's voice rang out again, sharper and more insistent this time. And then, in an impossible twist, something small and metallic gleamed near my foot. I glanced down, and there, unmistakable in the dim light, lay a small pile of gold coins glinting as if they’d been freshly minted. My mouth went dry. This forest… it makes you see things, too? Not just voices… but objects? I nudged the coins tentatively with the toe of my socks, half-expecting my foot to pass straight through them like they were smoke. But they didn’t waver or flicker—they felt real, tangible, solid. They even clinked slightly as I kicked them. It's real! Squinting in the darkness, I scanned the area where the gold had supposedly come from, my gaze searching for any movement, any hint of a figure.

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Just then, I heard a shuffling sound from the tent. The flap rustled, and I whipped my head back in time to see Jay poking his head out, his face drowsy and half-hidden in shadows. "Jack? What are you doing out there?" he mumbled, rubbing his eyes. His voice was groggy, familiar, and uncharacteristically clueless. My blood ran cold as I stared at him. That’s the real Jay. I was sure of it. My eyes darted back to the coins, and then toward the spot in the woods from which the fake Jay's voice had echoed. If Jay’s right here… then who… threw me that gold?

In the unviewable distance, the distant sound of leaves rustled. I whirled around, heart racing, and yelled into the darkness, "Go away, bastard!" My voice echoed, fierce and unwavering, as I hastily zipped up my pants, every muscle in my body tensing, ready for a fight. The tent flap rustled again, and Jay stepped out, his face set in a hard line. "Are you talking to me?!" he snapped, his voice carrying an edge of anger. He squinted in my direction. His tone caught me off guard for a second, and I quickly shook my head, waving a hand to dispel his rising frustration. "No, you idiot!" I shot back, keeping my voice firm. "There was somebody out here!"

Jay’s eyes widened as he processed my words. His hand instinctively hovered over the holster on his hip, fingers flexing over the grip of his pistol. "What? Where did they go?!" His voice dropped to a tense whisper as he moved closer, positioning himself beside me, his body rigid and alert, scanning the surrounding trees.

I gestured ahead, toward the direction I’d heard the noise. "Back into the forest." I muttered. "It’s not worth it chasing him now. Whoever it was… they tried to bait me with gold." I bent down and picked up the heavy coin lying in the dirt, turning it over in my hand, feeling its cold, metallic weight. "Look at this," I murmured, holding it up to the moonlight, which glinted off its surface. "this is a huge piece. It has to be a pound." Jay’s stance relaxed a little, though his eyes remained watchful as he eyed the coin in my hand. "Go back to sleep." he said finally, his voice low but steady. "I'll stay on watch for the night."

I hesitated, glancing back into the shadowy woods. Should we just leave now? Whoever’s out there, whoever’s playing these games—they could be the same person responsible for those murders. I swallowed, then looked back at Jay, who was already scanning the perimeter. "We’ll leave after panning for one day." I explained, my voice quiet but resolute. "We should be able to recuperate our losses with that." There was a moment of silence before Jay nodded, his jaw set with understanding. "Fine." he agreed, "I’m getting the fire started. I’ll stay on watch, and we’ll switch off in three hours."