Underneath the Moon’s Silence

ELARA'S POV I missed the bus by maybe ten seconds. I stood there staring at the empty road like it might feel bad for me and turn around. It did not. The streetlight above the bus stop buzzed once, then stayed steady, like it was judging me. “You’ve got to be joking,” I said out loud. A woman across the road laughed softly and kept walking. I checked my phone. No new messages and a low battery. Of course. I texted my friend; Mira anyway. Me: I missed the last bus. Me: I hate my life. Me: If I disappear tonight, tell my story. No reply. I shoved my phone back into my pocket and looked around. The street was mostly empty now. Shops were closed. The road was quiet in that late-night way that makes even familiar places feel creepy asf. Across the road, the forest was looking really good to take a short cut through, I kept staring way longer than I should have. “Don’t,” I muttered to myself. “You know better.” The longer way home meant walking along the main road for almost an hour. The shortcut through the forest cut that time in half. I had taken it once before, during the day, and well I survived. And that was my entire argument. I crossed the road before I could overthink it any further. The forest air felt cooler the moment I stepped in. The path was kinda narrow but clear enough to see through, lots of packed dirt with leaves pressed into it. My sneakers crunched softly as I walked. I pulled my jacket tighter around myself. “See,” I said quietly. “Fine. Totally fine.” My phone buzzed in my pocket. I jumped being startled and pulled it out quickly. Mira: You’re dramatic. Mira: Walk home. Mira: Or sleep at the bus stop. “Very helpful,” I said. I typed back. Me: I took the shortcut. Me: If I die, I blame you. No reply this time. I walked faster. The forest felt really quiet. No insects. No birds. Not even wind moving through the leaves. I noticed it without wanting to, like when a room goes silent and you realize everyone stopped talking at once. I stopped walking. “Okay,” I said. “Nope.” I listened. Nothing. Just my breathing, which frankly was sounding a little too loud. Or maybe I was just overthinking it. I took another step, then another. “You are not scared,” I told myself. “You are tired.” My foot got caught on a root and I stumbled. I swore under my breath and laughed after. “Graceful as always, Elara.” The path was a little bent ahead. Moonlight filtered through the trees. It felt brighter than usual, as if the sky was moving in closer. I slowed again. And heard a sound this time. A step. “Hello,” I said cautiously. “If you’re a serial killer, I don’t have money.” Wait serial killers don't want money. I smacked my temple and spoke again, this time a little louder. “Uhm, scratch that, I actually don't have any money, but I'm not worth much for a kill, so please don't kill me” No answer. I turned slowly. At first I saw nothing. Then I noticed movement between the trees. Whatever it was wasn't moving or hiding badly either. I took a step back. “Okay,” I said. “I’m just going to leave now.” I turned toward the path behind me and a voice stopped me dead in my tracks. “Don’t move.” I froze. My heart was pounding against my ribs, but my feet stayed rooted right where they were. And I did not even know why I listened. I just did. Stupid choice I tell you. Stupid choice. “I’m sorry,” I said quickly. “I didn’t know this was private land. I can go.” “Stay where you are.” My voice was calm, but it was nowhere compared to the panic in my head. Why do I always fall victim of things like these! “I really don’t want trouble,” I said. “I’m just trying to get home.” But there was no response, only silence. I swallowed. “I missed the bus,” I added, because panic makes you stupid. A shape stepped forward from between the trees. He was handsome, tall and solid. That was the first thing my brain latched onto. Handsome like his face was personally carved by the gods themselves. Tall and solid, like he belonged there in a way I clearly did not. He wore dark clothes that blended well with the forest, and his eyes were fixed on me. Okay maybe he might be a serial killer. At least I get to die in the hands of a handsome hunk. He did not look surprised to see me. Instead he looked annoyed. “You walked in from the road,” he said. “Yes,” I answered. “On purpose. Yes bad choice, but—I see that now.” “This path is not public.” “I didn’t see a sign.” He took another step closer. I could see his face better now. He is handsome I tell you, but his expression was a mix between annoyance and a sort of I have-to-deal-with-this-again look. All I'm saying is, it wasn't friendly. “People don’t come here,” he said. “Well,” I said, forcing a smile, “congratulations. You found one.” He stared at me for a long moment. “You smell odd,” he said. I blinked. “I showered this morning.” That earned me a look. A long one. “Who sent you,” he asked. “No one.” “You expect me to believe that.” “I expect you to believe I’m tired and broke and just trying to get home,” I said. “I don’t even know where here is.” His eyes moved over me, my clothes, my shoes, my hands. Not creepily, just thorough, like he was checking details. “You’re alone,” he said. “Yes.” “You crossed the boundary.” “I crossed a road,” I corrected. “Very legally.” He did not smile. Behind him, I noticed faint movement again. Huge shadows shifting between trees and suddenly I felt very small. “There are others,” I said. “Yes.” My throat went dry. “That’s not comforting.” He looked back at the trees, then at me again. “You need to leave.” “Great,” I said. “I agree.” I turned toward the path behind me. “Not that way.” I looked back at him. “That is literally the way I came in.” “You cannot go back that way.” “That makes no sense.” “Stay here.” “I’m not doing great with being ordered around tonight,” I said, but my voice was shaking despite my effort. “If this is a prank, it’s not funny.” “This is not a prank.” “Then explain.” He hesitated for a second and I noticed because everything felt stretched thin. “You don’t belong here,” he said. “Neither do you, by the looks of it,” I snapped and then regretted it immediately. Silence again. I waited for anger. But it did not come. Instead, he sighed. “What is your name.” “Elara.” He repeated it. “Where do you live,” he asked. “In town. In a small apartment, with bad plumbing.” “You live alone.” “Yes.” “No family.” I frowned. “That’s not your business.” His eyes lifted to the sky briefly, then returned back to me. “You are coming with me,” he said. My stomach dropped. “Absolutely not.” “This is not a choice.” “I don’t know who you think you are,” I said, backing up, “but I’m calling the police.” I pulled my phone out. No signal. Great I'm about to be kidnapped and there's not one signal to save my life. I laughed painfully. “Of course.” He quickly moved forward, standing towards me and the deeper part of the forest. “You’ll be safe if you listened to me,” he said. “I don’t even know you.” “My name is Kael.” “Well, Kael,” I said, “this is the worst night of my life.” He looked at me again, this time locking eyes with me. On a normal day I'd feel like I'm in a dark romance novel. But right now I'm about to either be a captive to a painstakingly hot stranger in the forest or a food for the bears. Either way the odds were against me. “You shouldn’t be here,” he said. I opened my mouth to respond, but I immediately felt the ground move. No I don't mean metaphorically or methodologically. I mean literally move. I gasped. And Kael turned back to me. “Elara move—now!”