A tense, suffocating silence hung between them. No one dared to breathe too loudly, afraid that whatever lurked in the forest would hear them.
The distant, inhuman sound still echoed in their minds, an eerie reminder that they were no longer alone. Athena’s heart pounded, her fingers clenched into fists.
Lisa, Darren, and Marco exchanged uncertain glances, their expressions shifting from confusion to fear. Their survival instincts screamed at them to move.
Then, in a barely audible whisper, Athena spoke. "Run."
No one hesitated. They bolted through the trees, their footsteps light but swift. The wind rushed past them, carrying the scent of damp earth and rotting leaves.
The world around them blurred as they ran, every rustling branch, every shifting shadow setting off their paranoia. None of them looked back. They didn’t need to.
The weight of unseen eyes pressed heavily upon their backs, an invisible presence urging them to move faster.
By the time they reached the camp, their chests were heaving, lungs burning from the sprint. But they forced themselves to slow down, to steady their breathing. They had to act normal.
If they returned in a panic, the others would know something was terribly wrong. And the last thing they needed was fear spreading through the camp.
Athena wiped the sweat from her brow and forced a casual nod to those who glanced their way. "We’re back," she said, her voice steadier than she expected.
Marco set down the handful of roots he had collected. "Found some food. Not much, but it’ll help."
Darren did the same, dropping a bundle of berries and a few edible leaves onto a tarp. Lisa forced a smile, but her hands trembled slightly as she adjusted the supplies.
The others in the camp accepted the food with gratitude, too exhausted to question the uneasy expressions on their faces.
They were hungry, weak from the cold and sickness, and desperate for any form of nourishment. But Athena’s mind wasn’t on the food. They needed weapons.
Without a word, she grabbed Darren by the arm and led him toward the edge of the camp, where a pile of discarded branches and fallen logs remained from the storm.
"We need to sharpen these," she muttered, grabbing the longest, sturdiest stick she could find. "If those things come near us, we need to be ready."
Darren, still catching his breath, gave a tight nod and picked up a branch of his own. They worked quickly, using knives to carve the wood into deadly points.
The others noticed but didn’t question it. Fear made them trust Athena’s instincts without hesitation.
By the time night fell, the camp was armed with a collection of sharpened spears, makeshift clubs, and whatever else they could use to defend themselves.
The fire burned low, its dim glow barely enough to illuminate the exhausted faces huddled close together. No one spoke much. Everyone was on edge, listening to the night.
Athena sat near the entrance of her shelter, gripping a spear tightly. Her muscles were tense, coiled like a spring ready to snap at the first sign of danger. Then, she stood.
Darren noticed immediately. "What are you doing?" he asked, keeping his voice low.
"I’m going to check the perimeter," she replied, slipping into the shadows before he could protest.
Lisa frowned but didn’t stop her. They all knew better than to question Athena’s instincts.
Moving with silent steps, Athena slipped out of the camp and into the darkness. The wind had died down, leaving the night eerily still.
The only sounds were the occasional rustling of leaves and the distant chirp of insects. But she knew better. The jungle was never truly silent.
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She moved deeper into the trees, her grip on her spear firm. Her breath came out slow and steady as she scanned the area, searching for any sign of movement.
Then, she spotted a sturdy tree about fifty meters from the camp. Without hesitation, she climbed.
Her limbs moved with ease, muscle memory guiding her despite the damp bark. She reached a thick branch and perched herself there, staring out into the darkness beyond.
For a while, there was nothing. Just the endless sea of trees, shrouded in mist. Then she saw them. Emerging from the shadows, moving between the trees with unnatural grace.
Her blood ran cold. They looked human, almost. Their skin was pale, stretched too tightly over their bones, giving them a corpse-like appearance.
Their eyes were sunken, glowing faintly in the dark like those of a predator. Their movements were eerily silent, swift, calculated. Like hunters.
They crept through the jungle with disturbing fluidity, their heads twitching occasionally as if sniffing the air. Their mouths, slightly open, revealed sharp, jagged teeth.
Athena gripped the branch tightly, barely daring to breathe. These weren’t just some lost survivors. These things, these monsters, were something else entirely.
Then, one of them stopped. Its head snapped upward, its glowing eyes locking onto the exact spot where she was hiding. Athena’s pulse slammed against her ribs.
It saw her.
For a moment, neither of them moved. The creature stood there, its chest rising and falling in slow, steady breaths. Then, without a sound, it took a step closer.
Athena remained perfectly still, her fingers tightening around her spear. She could feel her heartbeat in her throat, her body poised to move the second it lunged. But it didn’t.
Instead, it tilted its head slightly, almost as if studying her. Then, slowly, a grin stretched across its thin lips, revealing more of those jagged teeth.
Athena’s stomach twisted. It was taunting her. She had to get back to camp. Now.
With careful, calculated movements, she eased her way down the tree, never breaking eye contact with the creature.
The moment her feet touched the ground, she turned and sprinted.
The jungle blurred past her as she ran, her breath sharp and ragged. She didn’t dare look back. She could feel it behind her, hear the barely-there rustle of movement.
It was following her.
The camp came into view, the faint glow of the fire a beacon in the darkness. Athena pushed herself harder, closing the distance in seconds.
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She burst into the clearing, her sudden arrival startling the others.
Darren was the first to his feet. "Athena?"
"They’re here," she gasped. "We need to get ready."
Fear flashed across their faces, but no one hesitated. Weapons were gripped tighter. The fire was stoked higher.
Those who were too weak to fight were moved toward the center of the camp. Then, from beyond the tree line, the first pair of glowing eyes appeared.
And another.
And another.
Athena swallowed hard, raising her spear. The monsters had come. And this time, they weren’t just watching.
They were hunting.