Lilly whispered, “This is not normal.”
Mason stepped closer to Lillie. “We should go back.”
Bear suddenly barked — loud, sharp, panicked.
Everyone froze.
Something moved behind them.
A branch snapped. Leaves crunched. A shadow darted between the trees.
Madison spun around. “Who’s there?!”
No answer.
Another snap — closer this time.
Lilly grabbed Lillie’s hand. “Lillie… something’s following us.”
Theo’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Don’t run. If you run, it’ll chase.”
Madison glared at him. “How do you know that?”
“I don’t,” Theo said. “But everything in my gut says running is a bad idea.”
Bear growled again — louder, deeper — staring into the darkness between the trees.
Lillie’s heart pounded.
“Everyone,” she whispered, “back up. Slowly.”
They stepped backward, inch by inch, keeping their eyes on the shifting shadows.
Another branch snapped.
Closer.
Then — a shape stepped out from behind a tree.
ns216.73.217.85da2
and then Add to home screen.