The Thing In The Forest
2545 Words
Lena
“Because whatever followed you to Mooncrest…”
Another growl came from outside.
Closer.
Adrian's eyes flashed.
“…has come back.”
I stared at him.
My heart pounded so loudly that I could barely hear anything else.
“What does that mean?”
Adrian didn't answer.
He moved toward the window.
“Stay there.”
I frowned.
“Adrian—”
“Lena.”
His voice was different.
Not irritated.
Not sarcastic.
A warning.
I stopped.
He reached the window and slowly pulled the curtain aside.
The darkness outside stared back at us.
I couldn't see anything.
Nothing moved.
No glowing eyes.
No shadow.
Nothing.
“Is it gone?” I whispered.
Adrian didn't respond.
He opened the window slightly.
Cold air rushed into the room.
I immediately shivered.
“Are you insane?”
He ignored me.
He leaned forward and looked down.
Then his expression changed.
“What?”
I stepped closer.
Adrian immediately turned.
“I said stay there.”
“You're not my father.”
“No.”
“Then stop ordering me around.”
His jaw tightened.
“Lena.”
I ignored him and walked closer.
He moved in front of me.
I stopped.
“What are you hiding?”
“Nothing.”
I stared at him.
“You really need to learn another word.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Go back.”
“No.”
He sighed.
Then looked outside again.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
The forest was completely silent.
Too silent.
Then—
Scratch.
I jumped.
The sound came from the glass.
Right beside Adrian.
He immediately turned.
I looked too.
Two glowing eyes appeared between the trees.
My breath caught.
It was back.
The creature stood at the edge of the forest.
Large.
Motionless.
Watching us.
I instinctively stepped closer to Adrian.
He noticed.
But he didn't say anything.
The creature took one slow step forward.
Then another.
I swallowed.
“Adrian…”
“Don't move.”
It stopped.
Its eyes remained fixed on me.
Not Adrian.
Me.
I could feel it.
It was looking directly at me.
Why?
A strange sensation crawled across my skin.
Almost like recognition.
As if I'd seen those eyes before.
But that was impossible.
I'd never seen anything like this in my life.
The creature slowly raised one enormous paw.
I held my breath.
It touched the glass.
Not hard.
Almost gently.
My eyes widened.
“What is it doing?”
Adrian didn't answer.
The creature tilted its head.
Then I saw something hanging around its neck.
A small silver pendant.
I squinted.
There was a symbol carved into it.
A crescent shape surrounded by something that looked like—
My heart skipped.
“I know that.”
Adrian turned sharply.
“What?”
“That symbol.”
His expression changed.
“What about it?”
“I've seen it before.”
“Where?”
I looked at the pendant.
Then suddenly remembered.
A small wooden box.
My father's belongings.
My mother had kept it locked away for years.
There had been a silver pendant inside.
I had only seen it once when I was younger.
The same symbol.
My stomach tightened.
“That belonged to my father.”
Adrian went completely still.
The creature suddenly growled.
I flinched.
Adrian stepped in front of me.
“Don't look at it.”
I blinked.
“What?”
“Don't look directly into its eyes.”
“Why?”
His jaw tightened.
“Because it might recognize you.”
My heart stopped.
“Recognize me?”
Adrian didn't answer.
I looked around him.
“Adrian.”
“Stay behind me.”
“You said it might recognize me.”
“I know what I said.”
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing.”
I groaned.
“Seriously?”
The creature moved again.
Its claws dragged lightly against the glass.
Scratch.
Scratch.
I swallowed.
“It isn't trying to get inside.”
Adrian stared at it.
“No.”
“Then what does it want?”
His eyes moved toward me.
“I don't know.”
I stared at him.
“You're lying.”
“I said I don't know.”
“You know something.”
“I don't.”
“Then why are you acting like this?”
He didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
“Adrian.”
His eyes met mine.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then the creature lowered its head.
Its eyes remained fixed on me.
And suddenly—
It disappeared.
I blinked.
“What?”
Adrian rushed toward the window.
He looked outside.
Nothing.
The forest was empty.
The creature was gone.
I ran toward him.
“Where did it go?”
“Stay inside.”
“Where did it go?”
“I don't know.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Because I don't know!”
His voice echoed through the room.
I froze.
Adrian rarely raised his voice.
He looked away.
I stared at him.
Then noticed something near the window.
“What is that?”
Adrian followed my gaze.
A thin strand of silver-gray fur rested against the glass.
He reached for it.
The moment his fingers touched it, his expression changed.
“What?”
He closed his hand around it.
“Nothing.”
I stared at him.
“Show me.”
“No.”
“Adrian.”
“Go to sleep.”
I crossed my arms.
“No.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Lena.”
“Who was my father?”
He froze.
The question had hit him harder than I expected.
I stepped closer.
“You know something.”
“I don't.”
“You do.”
“I've heard his name.”
“From where?”
“Mooncrest.”
I shook my head.
“That isn't enough.”
He looked away.
“Then what do you want me to say?”
“The truth.”
Silence.
I could feel my frustration building.
“Everyone here knows something.”
Adrian looked at me.
“Mia knows something.”
He said nothing.
“Sophie knows something.”
Nothing.
“Evan knows something.”
His expression darkened at Evan's name.
“And you…”
I swallowed.
“You definitely know something.”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“Lena.”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“I'm done with everyone telling me to stay away, stop asking questions, or forget what I heard.”
He stared at me.
“I deserve to know what's happening to me.”
His expression softened slightly.
“I know.”
“Then tell me.”
Silence.
“Who was my father?”
Adrian looked toward the window.
Then back at me.
“Your father wasn't killed in an accident.”
Everything inside me stopped.
I stared at him.
“What?”
He didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
“My mother said it was an accident.”
“She lied.”
My chest tightened.
“You're lying.”
“No.”
“You weren't there.”
“I didn't say I was.”
“Then how do you know?”
His eyes darkened.
“I know enough.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
My voice became quieter.
“No, you don't get to do this.”
“Do what?”
“Give me half an answer and expect me to accept it.”
“I can't tell you everything.”
“Why?”
“Because you're not ready.”
I laughed bitterly.
“That's what adults always say when they want to keep children ignorant.”
His expression hardened.
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain it.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
He looked toward the forest.
“Because some truths are dangerous.”
I stared at him.
“You said that already.”
“I meant it.”
“Then tell me what happened.”
He remained silent.
I waited.
Finally, he said:
“I know where your father died.”
My breath caught.
“Where?”
Adrian looked at me.
His eyes were unreadable.
“Here.”
I froze.
“Here?”
He nodded.
“Near Mooncrest.”
I felt the room spin.
“My father died here?”
“Not inside the academy.”
“Then where?”
“The forest.”
I stared at him.
The forest outside my window suddenly looked completely different.
Darker.
Older.
Like it had been hiding something from me.
I swallowed.
“How?”
Adrian didn't answer.
“How did he die?”
“I don't know.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“You're lying again.”
He looked at me.
“I don't know everything.”
“But you know something.”
“Yes.”
“What?”
His jaw tightened.
“Your father wasn't alone.”
My stomach dropped.
“What does that mean?”
“He wasn't supposed to be in the forest.”
“Why was he there?”
“I don't know.”
“Adrian.”
“I don't know.”
“Who was with him?”
Silence.
Then—
“Someone from Mooncrest.”
I stared at him.
“Who?”
Adrian looked away.
“I don't know.”
I almost laughed.
“You really love that answer.”
He didn't smile.
“This isn't a joke.”
“I know.”
I stepped back.
My mind raced.
My father.
Mooncrest.
The forest.
The creature.
The symbol.
Adrian.
Evan.
None of it made sense.
Then something occurred to me.
“The pendant.”
Adrian looked at me.
“The creature was wearing my father's symbol.”
His expression changed.
“I saw it.”
“You did.”
“So what does that mean?”
He didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
“Adrian.”
His eyes met mine.
“Maybe it means the creature knew my father.”
He remained silent.
“Or maybe…”
I swallowed.
“…my father knew it.”
Adrian's face went completely still.
That was all the answer I needed.
“You've thought about this before.”
He didn't deny it.
My heart started beating faster.
“You knew.”
“I suspected.”
“Suspected what?”
“That the creature wasn't hunting you.”
I stared at him.
“What?”
His voice lowered.
“I think it's protecting you.”
I blinked.
“Protecting me?”
He nodded slightly.
“But why?”
“I don't know.”
I stared at him.
“You're impossible.”
“So I've been told.”
Despite everything, a tiny laugh escaped me.
Adrian looked at me.
Then his expression softened.
Only slightly.
“You need to sleep.”
I shook my head.
“I don't think I can.”
“You can.”
“How?”
“Stop thinking.”
I stared at him.
“That's your advice?”
“Yes.”
“Terrible advice.”
“I know.”
I smiled faintly.
Then my eyes moved toward the window.
The forest was silent again.
Too silent.
“Adrian?”
“What?”
“Do you think it'll come back?”
He looked toward the darkness.
“Yes.”
My stomach tightened.
“When?”
His eyes returned to mine.
“Soon.”
I swallowed.
“And if it does?”
His voice became quiet.
“Call me.”
I blinked.
“You'll come?”
“Yes.”
The answer came without hesitation.
For some reason, that made my chest feel strangely warm.
“Okay.”
Adrian moved toward the door.
I watched him.
“Wait.”
He stopped.
“What?”
I hesitated.
“Thank you.”
He looked at me.
“For what?”
“For telling me.”
His expression changed.
“Don't thank me yet.”
“Why?”
“Because I haven't told you the worst part.”
My smile disappeared.
“What worst part?”
He stared at me.
Then looked toward the forest.
“The creature isn't the only thing you need to worry about.”
A chill ran down my spine.
“What else is there?”
Adrian didn't answer.
He opened the door.
“Go to sleep, Lena.”
Then he walked out.
I stared after him.
The door slowly closed.
I stood alone in my room.
My mind wouldn't stop racing.
My father hadn't died in an ordinary accident.
He had died near Mooncrest.
In the forest.
And something wearing his symbol had come to my window.
I walked slowly toward the glass.
The silver-gray strand of fur was still there.
I touched it.
It was warm.
I immediately pulled my hand back.
My heart pounded.
Whatever that creature was...
It wasn't just watching me.
It knew me.
And somehow...
It knew my father.
---
Evan
The forest was almost completely dark.
Evan stood between the trees.
His phone vibrated.
He looked down.
One message.
She saw it.
His jaw tightened.
He typed a reply.
I know.
Another message appeared.
Did Adrian tell her about her father?
Evan stared at the screen.
For a moment, he didn't respond.
Then—
No.
The reply came almost immediately.
Good.
Evan looked toward the distant lights of Mooncrest.
His expression darkened.
Another message appeared.
Keep her away from the forest.
Evan's fingers tightened around the phone.
He looked toward the direction of the academy.
“I tried.”
He lowered the phone.
Then something moved behind him.
Evan turned.
Nothing.
His eyes narrowed.
A low growl echoed through the trees.
His expression changed.
“Not tonight.”
He stepped backward.
The forest went silent.
Then a shadow moved between the trees.
Evan stared at it.
His voice dropped to a whisper.
“She wasn't supposed to see you.”
The shadow disappeared.
Evan looked back toward Mooncrest.
His face was no longer calm.
Because he knew something Adrian didn't.
The creature wasn't the real danger.
It was only a warning.
And if Lena discovered the truth about Daniel Whitmore...
Nothing at Mooncrest would remain hidden.
---
Adrian
I stood outside Lena's room.
I could hear nothing.
Good.
She was probably asleep.
I turned toward the window at the end of the hallway.
The moon was beginning to rise.
My wolf stirred beneath my skin.
Something wasn't right.
The creature had come closer tonight.
Much closer.
And it had reacted to Lena.
Not with hunger.
Not with aggression.
Recognition.
I pulled the strand of silver-gray fur from my pocket.
I stared at it.
Then my phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
I opened the message.
You shouldn't have told her about Daniel.
My blood ran cold.
Another message appeared.
Now she will start looking.
I clenched my jaw.
A third message arrived.
And when she finds the truth, she'll remember what her father died protecting.
I stared at the screen.
My wolf growled.
I whispered:
“What did Daniel protect?”
The phone vibrated again.
One final message.
Ask Evan Vale.
My eyes narrowed.
Evan.
Of course.
I looked toward the mansion entrance.
Something had followed Lena to Mooncrest.
Something knew her father.
Something was waiting for the moon to rise.
And now I knew one thing for certain.
Evan Vale wasn't simply hiding a secret.
He was protecting one.
And whatever that secret was...
It had something to do with Lena.
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