The first disappearance was blamed on the weather. The second on wildlife. By the third, the camp directors stopped making announcements.
I work summers as a counselor at a remote lakeside camp — no signal, no nearby town, just forest stretching for miles. When the campers started vanishing, we were told to stay calm. “Search parties are handling it.” But the search parties kept coming back short one person.
I started noticing patterns. The woods go silent before it happens. No insects. No wind. Just a pressure in the air — like the forest is holding its breath. And every time someone disappears, the old firewatch tower light flickers… even though it hasn’t had power in years.
Last night, I climbed that tower. I saw what’s been taking them.
It saw me too.
Now the road out is blocked. The forest doesn’t want witnesses. And something is circling my cabin.