Pack of Shadows

it navigated the winding path, the dense forest on either side casting long shadows across the pavement. The sun had begun its slow descent behind the mountains, painting the sky with str

ght her comfort, but the weight of loss had become too heavy to bear. The bustling streets and bright lights that had once felt like home now only served as a constant reminder of what she had lost. So

ountains, far removed from the chaos of the city. It sounded like exactly what Ava needed. She hadn't questioned why her mot

ver the road, their branches whispering secrets to one another in the twilight. Ava felt a strange sense of unease, as if the forest itself was watching her, it

e had been warned about the spotty service in the area, but now, with the sun dipping lower and the forest growing darker, the reality of her iso

one likely knew everyone else. The buildings were old, their wooden facades worn but well-maintained, giving the town a rustic charm. A single main street ran through the center, line

tskirts of town, set back from the road and partially obscured by a line of trees. The house was old, its white paint peeling in places, but it ha

it, the start of a new life. With a deep breath, she turned off the engine and stepped out into the cool evening air. The forest was quiet

if the house had absorbed the essence of the forest around it. Ava stepped inside, the floorboards creaking softly under her feet. The interior was simpl

ly. She wandered through the small house, flipping on lights and uncovering furniture as she went. The living room opened into a small kitchen, its app

he sight of it-such a simple thing, yet it represented so much more. A place to rest, to heal, to start ag

t. It was faint, barely audible through the thick walls of the house, but it sent a chill down her spine. She stood up, movi

n the city, far from any wilderness, and the sounds of the forest were foreign and unsettling to her. Sh

y too large, too empty. She hurried back to the living room and checked the locks on the doors, makin

erself to sit down on the couch, pulling a blanket around her for comfort. The howl

llow Creek for peace, for a fresh start, but as the shadows outside grew longer, she couldn'

nsed something lurking just beneath the surface, something that wat