Chapter 2: Unease
1270 Words
The wind howled through the trees that night, its chill biting at Alyssa’s skin. The storm that had been threatening all afternoon finally arrived, dark clouds rolling in like a wave about to crash. She sat at the kitchen table, the only light in the room coming from the flickering candle in front of her. Her phone sat face-up beside it, the screen still showing that last, cryptic message from the unknown number: "Stay out of the woods. Don't ignore what you felt."
She wanted to dismiss it. Wanted to laugh it off as some sort of weird joke, maybe even prank, but she couldn’t. Not after what happened earlier. Not after meeting him.
Victor.
Her mind kept returning to him, to his eyes, the way they seemed to see right into her. She hadn’t imagined it. There was something… other about him. She felt it, deep down, like a pressure against her ribs.
Shaking off the thoughts, Alyssa stood up and went to the window, peering through the rain-soaked glass. The forest, dark and endless, seemed alive—shifting with every gust of wind, creaking under the weight of the storm. It looked like it was holding its breath. Waiting.
She felt an odd pull, as if something was calling her out there, something she couldn’t quite name. Her hand pressed against the cool glass, her fingers trailing over the surface as she stared into the blackness.
The sound of her phone vibrating on the table snapped her back to reality. She stepped away from the window and grabbed it. A message from Lena this time: “How was the hike today?”
Alyssa stared at the message for a moment. Lena had no idea what had happened. No idea what she’d felt. It was hard to put into words. She didn’t even know what it was herself.
“It was fine. Just a little... strange,” Alyssa typed back, pausing before hitting send. “I don’t know. Something felt off. I can’t shake it.”
She hit send and set the phone back down. She didn’t need to explain everything. Not yet.
The storm outside grew louder, the wind picking up, slamming rain against the windows. A loud c***k of thunder rattled the cabin. Alyssa jumped, her heart skipping a beat.
As if on cue, the sound of something moving outside caught her attention. It was subtle at first, just a slight rustling in the underbrush, but then it grew louder, closer. Footsteps.
Alyssa’s breath caught in her throat. She was about to grab her phone when a knock echoed through the door, sharp and unexpected.
Her stomach twisted.
She wasn’t expecting anyone. Her mind immediately flashed back to Victor. What if it was him? She told herself it couldn’t be. Maybe a neighbor? But the knock was too firm, too deliberate.
“Hello?” she called, her voice barely a whisper, as if speaking too loudly would make things worse.
Another knock. Louder this time.
She took a cautious step toward the door, her hand hovering over the doorknob. Her heart was pounding now, the sound loud in her ears. Who the hell could it be?
She forced herself to take a deep breath before opening it, though she hesitated just a moment longer. The air outside smelled of rain and pine, and the wind howled like a wild animal.
When she opened the door, she wasn’t expecting him. But there he was.
Victor.
His hair was soaked from the rain, his jacket dark and heavy with water, his eyes as intense as ever. He didn’t look surprised to see her. In fact, he looked like he’d been expecting this moment.
“Can I come in?” he asked, his voice as deep and low as before, but there was an edge to it now, like something was holding him back.
Alyssa froze, unsure of what to say. She wasn’t sure what to do with him, with any of this. But there was something about his presence, something that made her step aside without thinking. She wasn’t sure if it was the storm, the darkness, or some part of her that was drawn to him against her will.
Victor stepped inside, water dripping from his jacket and hair, his movements smooth and deliberate. He glanced around, his eyes settling on her with an intensity that made her skin prickle.
“I didn’t think you’d come,” Alyssa finally managed, her voice strained.
“I told you I would,” he said simply, his gaze never leaving hers.
She swallowed hard, trying to ignore the unsettling feeling creeping up her spine. “Why are you here? I didn’t expect—”
“You didn’t expect me to follow through?” He cut her off, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
Alyssa stiffened. “No, I didn’t. And I don’t really know why you’re here, either.”
Victor stepped forward, his presence overwhelming the small space of the cabin. The scent of him—earthy and wild—surrounded her, and for a second, she forgot how to breathe. It wasn’t just the rain-soaked jacket; it was something else. Something about him. Something raw.
“You’re in danger,” he said, his voice soft but urgent.
Alyssa blinked, trying to process his words. “What do you mean? What kind of danger?”
His eyes darkened, the seriousness in his expression deepening. “The kind you can’t run from. The kind that follows you, no matter how far you go.”
Alyssa shook her head, a laugh escaping her lips. It was nervous, strained. “You’ve got to be kidding me. I don’t even know you. And you show up at my door, telling me I’m in danger? This is insane.”
Victor didn’t flinch. His eyes never wavered. “I’m not joking. You felt it, didn’t you? The pull? The way the forest feels different when you’re near it?”
Alyssa felt her heart skip a beat. She didn’t want to admit it, but she had felt it. The strange pull when she walked through the trees, the unsettling tension in the air, the way it felt like something was watching her.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, her voice quieter this time. But the doubt crept in.
Victor stepped even closer, his presence almost suffocating. “You can deny it, but you know it’s real. Something is coming, Alyssa. And if you don’t understand what’s happening to you, you won’t be able to stop it.”
She could feel her pulse in her throat. “What is it? What do you want from me?”
“I need you to understand the truth. And to trust me.”
Alyssa stared at him, feeling the weight of the moment settle in her chest. Trust him? She barely knew him. But there was something about the way he spoke, the certainty in his voice, that made her doubt everything she’d ever known.
“I don’t trust anyone right now,” she said quietly.
Victor didn’t look offended. He simply nodded, his gaze still steady. “I know. But you will. Whether you want to or not.”
The storm outside raged on, the wind howling like it had something to say. But inside the cabin, the air was thick, heavy with the unspoken words hanging between them.
Alyssa wasn’t sure what to do. She wasn’t sure what was real anymore.
But somehow, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning.
- Writer
