CHAPTER NINE--The Shadow Of The Forest
874 Words
The following evening, Camilla spent more time than usual getting ready for dinner.
Mason was coming over.
She had invited him days ago after discovering that he was the young man who had helped her father when his car broke down. Somehow, the invitation had turned into something she had been looking forward to.
She walked downstairs just as the doorbell rang.
"That must be him," she said.
Idris looked up from the living room.
"Mason?"
"Yes."
Camilla opened the door.
Mason stood outside wearing a simple dark shirt and jeans. He smiled when he saw her.
"Hey."
"Hi. Come in."
"Thanks."
Mason stepped inside.
Idris stood from the couch and walked toward them.
"You must be Mason."
"Yes, sir."
Idris smiled and extended his hand.
"Idris Wilson."
Mason shook his hand.
"It's nice to meet you properly, sir."
"So you're the young man who helped me with my car."
Mason smiled.
"Yes, sir. It wasn't really a big deal."
Idris laughed.
"You say that now. I was already thinking I would have to walk all the way back to the station."
Camilla laughed.
"I told you he was helpful."
Mason glanced at her.
"You've been talking about me?"
"Only good things."
"That's a relief."
They all laughed.
Dinner was surprisingly comfortable.
Mason and Idris talked about school, Raven Hollow, and the strange things happening around town. Idris asked him about his studies, and Mason explained that he was an art student.
"Art?" Idris asked.
"Yes, sir."
"That's interesting. What kind?"
"Mostly drawing and design. I'm also interested in architecture."
Idris nodded approvingly.
"That's a useful skill."
Camilla smiled.
"I told you he's one of the interesting people at school."
Mason looked at her.
"Interesting?"
"Don't let it get to your head."
"I won't."
The conversation continued throughout dinner.
Mason was easy to talk to, and Idris seemed to like him. Camilla found herself laughing more than she had expected.
For a while, everything felt normal.
After dinner, Mason helped carry the plates into the kitchen despite Camilla insisting that he didn't have to.
"You came here as a guest," she said.
"And?"
"And guests don't wash dishes."
"Maybe I'm not a normal guest."
Camilla laughed.
"You're definitely not."
Eventually, the evening came to an end.
Mason checked the time on his phone.
"I should probably head home."
Camilla nodded.
"I'll walk you out."
They walked through the living room and toward the front door.
Outside, the evening air had become colder.
The sky above Raven Hollow was dark, and the trees surrounding the neighborhood moved gently in the wind.
Mason stepped onto the walkway.
"Thanks for inviting me."
"Thanks for coming."
"I had a good time."
"So did I."
He smiled.
"I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Of course."
Mason took a few steps away before turning around.
"Goodnight, Camilla."
"Goodnight, Mason."
She stood at the doorway and watched him walk down the driveway.
Mason eventually disappeared around the bend in the road.
Camilla was about to close the door when something caught her attention.
The forest.
She looked toward the trees behind the house.
At first, everything seemed normal.
Then she noticed a shadow.
It moved between the trees.
Camilla froze.
She leaned slightly forward, trying to see more clearly.
The shadow disappeared.
"Probably just the trees," she whispered.
She was about to turn away when another movement caught her eye.
This time, it was deeper inside the forest.
Something was moving.
Slowly.
Camilla stepped onto the porch.
"Hello?"
There was no answer.
The wind passed through the branches, making them sway against one another.
She stared into the darkness.
Then she heard it.
A faint crack.
A branch breaking somewhere among the trees.
Her heart skipped.
She looked toward the sound.
Nothing.
"Is someone there?"
Silence.
Camilla's uneasiness grew.
She couldn't explain it, but she felt as though someone—or something—was watching her.
She took another step toward the edge of the porch.
For a brief second, she thought she saw a figure standing between the trees.
Tall.
Still.
Watching.
Camilla blinked.
The figure was gone.
She immediately stepped backward.
"Okay..."
She looked around the dark yard before quickly returning inside.
She closed and locked the door.
Idris looked up from the living room.
"Everything okay?"
Camilla turned toward him.
"Yeah."
He studied her face.
"You sure?"
She hesitated.
"I thought I saw someone in the forest."
Idris's expression changed.
"Someone?"
"I don't know. Maybe it was just a shadow."
He stood up.
"Don't go near the forest at night."
"I wasn't going to."
"I'm serious, Camilla."
She nodded.
"I know."
Idris walked toward the window and looked outside.
The forest stood silently in the distance.
Nothing moved.
"Probably an animal," he said.
Camilla wasn't convinced.
Later that night, she stood beside her bedroom window.
She looked out at the forest again.
The moon hung above the trees, casting a pale glow over the rooftops.
Everything was quiet.
Too quiet.
She slowly pulled the curtains closed.
She didn't know what she had seen.
She didn't know whether the figure had been real.
But somewhere beyond the trees, hidden in the darkness, a pair of eyes watched the Wilson house.
And whoever was watching...
had been there long before Mason left.
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