Chapter 1: Kenzie
1290 Words
It was freezing that winter Monday when Kenzie Blake stepped outside for some fresh air. She always did this—taking a few moments before school to clear her head.
Wearing only a pair of pajama pants, a tank top, and the slippers her mother had gifted her last Christmas, she wandered further from the back door than usual. Her small, size-four footprints dotted the damp sand as she made her way to where the backyard ended and the woods began.
She hugged herself tighter, shivering as she stared into the trees. This invisible line between her yard and the forest had become a strange ritual for her. Every morning for the past year, she would walk right up to the edge and just stand there, staring into the shadows—absently searching for answers to questions she’d never dare ask aloud.
It had all started the day her dad was killed. Right here. In these woods.
The details surrounding his death never sat right with her. Authorities told her family he’d been mauled by a wild animal—something that didn’t make sense, considering Richwood wasn’t exactly known for wildlife. The most dangerous animals around were the raccoons digging through trash cans.
Whatever had killed her father... it wasn’t from around here. Or it wasn’t natural.
Rumors had always lingered in town. Whispers of beasts in the forest. Monsters that dragged people into the trees, never to be seen again. Most people scoffed at the stories, brushing them off as small-town superstition. Kenzie had, too—until her father’s death.
Something about it felt wrong. Off. But she never spoke up about it. She didn’t want people calling her delusional... like they had her father.
He was one of the few who truly believed in the supernatural. He used to rant about wolf-like creatures hiding in the woods, creatures with glowing eyes and razor-sharp teeth. Kenzie always assumed he was just looking for attention—or that he was drunk again. But after he died, she couldn’t help but wonder if maybe... he’d been telling the truth.
Her family never questioned the official story. They didn’t want to. They grieved quickly and moved on, almost like they were relieved.
Truthfully? Life without her father had been easier.
It sounded awful, and she’d never admit it aloud, but it was the truth. Her father had been loud, angry, and unpredictable. He drank too much, picked fights with strangers and neighbors alike. He was the kind of man you walked on eggshells around. So no, losing him wasn’t exactly heartbreaking. The only real surprise was the way he’d gone. Of all the ways she thought he might die, a wild animal attack was never one of them.
Kenzie let out a breath and turned to head back toward the house—just like always. But then something caught her eye.
A movement in the bushes.
She stopped cold, staring at the spot.
There it was again.
Without thinking, she stepped over the line. Her slippers sank slightly into the cold earth as she moved forward, slow and cautious, toward the place she’d seen the movement. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she wasn’t afraid. Somehow, she knew she wasn’t in danger.
She could see him now—tall, broad-shouldered, shadowed by the trees.
A man.
He hadn't noticed her yet. Her pulse quickened. The cold vanished beneath the strange warmth spreading through her limbs. Every part of her—body, bones, soul—felt drawn to him, like gravity was pulling her forward.
He grunted in frustration, low and rough. Definitely a man.
“Hello?” she called, her voice a little shaky.
He stilled.
“I didn’t mean to startle you,” she said gently, taking another step closer. “I just… thought you might be hurt. You sounded like you were.”
Another grunt, sharper this time. A warning.
“I just want to hel—”
“Don’t.”
His voice was low and firm. It startled her.
She was about to ignore the warning when her mother’s voice cut through the trees.
“Kenzie! You’re gonna miss the bus!”
Kenzie turned toward the house, seeing her mom standing in the doorway, scanning the tree line.
When she turned back, the man was gone.
Vanished without a sound.
Had she imagined him? Had she finally lost it?
She sighed, pushing the thought from her mind, and walked back to the house.
Inside, her mom was ironing shirts on the kitchen counter.
“What were you doing in the woods, Kenzie?” she asked without looking up. “You know how dangerous it is out there.”
“I’m sorry, Mom,” Kenzie replied, brushing the hair from her face. “Something caught my eye, that’s all.”
She opened the fridge, hoping to find something quick to eat, but shut it again after finding nothing.
“Are you not going to work today?” she asked, leaning against the fridge and watching her mom.
“No,” her mother said simply, still focused on her ironing. “There was an incident at work last night. One of the waiters was attacked out back while taking out the trash. Killed. They told us to stay home while the investigation’s underway.”
Kenzie swallowed hard. “Oh.”
She didn’t press further. Her mom clearly didn’t want to talk about it—and she didn’t have to explain why. It hit too close to home.
Kenzie left the kitchen and checked the clock: 6:30. She still had some time to get ready.
She dressed quickly and hauled her bags out to the car. Her mom was waiting by the driver’s side.
“Got everything?” she asked as Kenzie loaded the trunk.
“Yeah. Thanks.”
They drove in silence. Not the awkward kind, but the quiet kind that comes with comfort and routine. The radio played softly, and every so often, her mother hummed along.
When a familiar song came on, they both sang quietly, exchanging a small smile.
Halfway through the song, a news report broke in.
Her mother turned the volume up.
“Last night, a waitress from Lola’s Café was brutally attacked in what authorities are calling a wild animal incident. The scene remains under investigation. Experts believe an influx of deer in the area may have attracted predators migrating into Richwood. Mayor Thomas is urging residents to remain cautious. A temporary 8:00 PM curfew will begin tomorrow. Roads in and out of town will be closed nightly until further notice. Please stay safe, Richwood.”
The air in the car shifted. The silence that followed wasn’t warm anymore.
Kenzie glanced at her mother. She didn’t have to say it—they were both thinking the same thing.
It was happening again.
When they arrived at the bus station, a small group of students were already waiting. Kenzie and her mother got out, pulling her bags from the trunk.
She didn’t pack much—just the essentials. A few clothes, toiletries, her school uniform.
Her mom wrapped her in a tight hug, the kind that almost made it hard to breathe. Kenzie hugged her back, a bit longer than usual.
“Take care of yourself, Kenzie. Okay?” her mother said, voice thick with emotion.
“I will, Mom. You too,” she replied, planting a kiss on her cheek.
Her mom smiled through misty eyes and nodded.
Kenzie grabbed her things and joined the others by the bus. As she boarded and took a seat by the window, she waved to her mom one last time.
She watched as her mother got back in the car and drove away, shrinking into the distance.
- Writer
