The unknown stalker

The following Saturday arrived faster than Susan wished. By six in the morning, the university parking lot buzzed with excitement. Camping bags, tents, coolers, flashlights, sleeping bags, and boxes of food were piled beside Caleb’s black pickup truck and Noah’s SUV. Susan stood with her arms folded. “I can still go home.” Caleb smiled as he loaded a cooler into the truck. “You’ve been saying that for three days.” “I mean it this time.” “No, you don’t.” Mia laughed. “Come on, Susan. It’ll be fun.” Susan sighed. “I have a bad feeling.” Harper adjusted the camera hanging around her neck. “That’s exactly why this place is perfect for photography.” Ethan shook his head. “You’ll probably stop every five minutes to take pictures.” “I absolutely will.” The Supermarket Stop An hour into the journey, they stopped at Pine Creek Supermarket, the last grocery store before Black Hollow Forest. The store looked old, with faded paint and a rusty sign creaking in the wind. Inside, the shelves were packed with canned food, bottled water, batteries, ropes, insect spray, marshmallows, and camping supplies. Susan wandered toward the snack aisle while Caleb grabbed firewood and charcoal. At the checkout counter, an elderly cashier looked over their camping gear. “Heading to Black Hollow?” she asked quietly. Caleb nodded. “Yes, ma’am.” Her smile faded. “You kids should leave before sunset.” Ethan chuckled. “Another scary story?” The woman didn’t laugh. “My husband disappeared there twelve years ago.” Silence fell over the group. She slowly scanned their items before leaning closer. “If you see strange symbols carved into the trees…” “…turn around.” Susan exchanged a nervous glance with Mia. Outside the supermarket, a man wearing a dark hoodie stood beside an old blue pickup truck. His face was hidden beneath a baseball cap. He watched them silently. When Susan looked toward him… He climbed into his truck and drove away. “Who was that?” she asked. Caleb looked over. “Probably another camper.” But Susan wasn’t convinced. Lunch at the Old Town Restaurant Around noon they reached Old Briar Town, a sleepy little town surrounded by mountains and forest. Almost every building looked decades old. Their final stop was the Old Town Restaurant, famous for homemade pies and burgers. The restaurant felt warm compared to the chilly weather outside. A bell rang as they entered. Behind the counter stood an elderly waitress with silver hair tied into a bun. “Welcome,” she smiled. After taking their orders, she noticed the folded map on Caleb’s table. “Camping?” “Yes,” Caleb replied. “Black Hollow.” The waitress froze. The smile disappeared from her face. She slowly placed the coffee pot on the counter. “You shouldn’t stay there after dark.” Susan looked at Caleb. “See?” Caleb forced a smile. “We’ll be careful.” The waitress shook her head. “Being careful isn’t enough.” “There used to be a ranger…” “He spent twenty years protecting those woods.” “One night…” “He radioed for help.” “They found his station.” “But never found him.” Mia swallowed. “What happened?” The waitress looked toward the forest visible through the window. “His last message was…” She spoke softly. “Something is following me… but every time I turn around… nothing’s there.” A cold silence filled the restaurant. Even Ethan couldn’t think of a joke. As they paid the bill, the waitress handed Susan a small silver cross. “For luck,” she whispered. Susan thanked her and slipped it into her pocket. Into the Forest The road became narrower as they drove deeper into Black Hollow Forest. Towering pine trees blocked most of the sunlight. Mist drifted between the trunks. The cheerful conversations slowly faded. No phone signal. No houses. No passing cars. Only endless forest. Harper rolled down her window and raised her camera. Click. Click. Click. “I’ve never seen trees this tall.” Suddenly— A huge gray wolf stepped onto the road. Caleb slammed on the brakes. The wolf stood perfectly still, staring directly at the truck. Its golden eyes never blinked. Nobody moved. Then, without making a sound, it disappeared back into the trees. “That…” Ethan whispered, “was huge.” Noah frowned. “Wolves usually avoid people.” “That one didn’t.” The Camp Late in the afternoon, they reached the campsite. Several other campers were already there. A cheerful family with two children waved from a nearby tent. A middle-aged couple were setting up a barbecue. Three college students were pitching a bright orange tent not far away. Everything looked normal. Almost too normal. The group unpacked their gear and began setting up camp. Caleb and Noah assembled the tents while Mia collected firewood. Susan looked around. She couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching. Deep in the woods… Just beyond the tree line… A figure stood completely still. Hidden behind a thick oak tree. Watching. Waiting. Its gloved hand slowly lifted a pair of old binoculars. The lenses focused on Susan. Then Caleb. Then the entire campsite. The figure reached into a worn backpack and unfolded a faded map. Several names had already been crossed out. Only two remained. Susan Parker Caleb Mason The figure smiled beneath the hood. Far away, a raven suddenly took flight. And from somewhere deep within Black Hollow… A long, eerie howl echoed through the forest. No one at the campsite noticed that the unknown stalker had already arrived.