Chapter Text
Sierra and Dara strained their eyes, scanning the roadside, desperate not to miss the mysteriously nonexistent turn they kept passing. They’d been driving for what felt like an eternity after taking that left turn inside the town, the silence inside the car broken only by the occasional frustrated sigh. The afternoon sun was now almost completely hidden by clouds, casting long shadows that danced across the asphalt. But instead of an exit, the familiar buildings of the town loomed ahead.
“How?! How are we here again?” Sierra threw her hands up in exasperation before gripping the steering wheel tightly. “This is insane!”
“Maybe… maybe that’s why they were staring at us like that,” Dara said, her voice thoughtful, though laced with unease. “All these weird things have happened ever since we left the highway. We need to talk to someone… ask them what’s going on.”
Sierra pulled the car to a stop directly in front of the diner for a second time. As they unbuckled their seatbelts, the broad-shouldered man they’d seen earlier approached. A sheriff’s badge pinned to his belt, and a holstered gun pressed against his hip.
Sierra stepped out of the car, her gaze locked on his.
“Hey,” she began, her voice tight. “We’re trying to get to Baltimore, but… we keep ending up back here. We asked for directions earlier, from a young man and a woman at the diner, but…”
The man nodded slowly, his expression a mask of calm, though his eyes held a flicker of something Sierra wasn’t able to decipher.
A forced, almost too-warm smile spread across his face. “My name is Boyd. Why don’t you come inside?” His voice was low and steady. “Have something to eat and drink. We were just having dinner. I’ll explain everything.”
Sierra glanced back as Dara stepped out of the car, a silent question passing between them. “Alright. Sure,” she nodded.
Inside the diner, a commotion of voices and clattering cutlery filled the air, a stark contrast to the silence outside. People filled almost every table, yet no one seemed genuinely happy to be here. To their right, a young family — parents and a small child — sat huddled together inside their booth. Sierra recognized the curly-haired man from earlier; he was the one having a passionate discussion with Boyd.
As they stepped fully into the diner, a wave of eyes turned toward them. The young woman with the apron approached the family’s table with a plate of food and spoke to the little boy in a soothing voice.
Boyd clapped his hands together before gesturing toward an empty booth. “Take a seat. I’ve already told Tian-Chen that we’ve got some new visitors.”
How did he know that we’d be back?
The sisters sat down in the booth behind the family’s table. The man and boy behind the younger sister stole curious glances at them — well, the father’s were rather scrutinizing — while Dara nervously fiddled with the silent jukebox that seemed to not be working.
Boyd joined their table, placing two plates of what looked like potato casserole before them. Right behind him, carrying two teacups, was the young deputy they’d asked for directions earlier. Sierra shifted slightly, giving the deputy some space as Boyd settled opposite her, next to Dara.
“Thank you,” the sisters said in unison as the men put down the plates and cups. Dara immediately started eating, while the deputy locked eyes with Sierra, offering a reserved smile as he sat down beside her.
“That tastes delicious!”
Dara looked like she hadn’t eaten in two days, the way she was gulping down forks of the casserole. Sierra rolled her eyes at her sister’s antics. The deputy seemed to enjoy her lack of restraint, his smile growing slightly as he watched Dara devour the food.
“My mom made it. She’s the cook here. I’ll tell her that you loved it,” he remarked with a chuckle, his eyes flicking from Dara to Sierra.
Sierra gave him a tight-lipped smile before she turned her steady gaze to Boyd. “Boyd, was it? You said you’d explain. Let’s talk.”
Boyd raised an eyebrow at her directness, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. “Right to the point. I like it.” He glanced at the deputy before continuing, “So, you saw the tree in the middle of the road.”
It sounded more like a fact instead of a question. Sierra went rigid, whereas Dara looked up from her plate in surprise.
“We all saw the tree,” Mr. Deputy chimed in, his voice soft yet somber. “And now we’re all stuck here… I’m Kenny, by the way. Forgot the introduction.”
“Um, Sierra. And that’s Dara, my little sister.”
At the mention of her name, Dara raised her hand up high as if she were back in school.
Tilting her head slightly, Sierra asked, “I’m sorry, but… what exactly do you mean by ‘stuck’?”
Boyd answered, his voice low and steady, “By ‘stuck,’ we mean just that. Once you see the tree there is no way back. You can drive down the road on the right, the one on the left, even turn around at the town’s edge… it doesn’t matter. We’re surrounded by trees, and we can’t get out of this place.”
“A lot of us have been stuck here for years,” Kenny added, his gaze drifting toward the family at the nearby table. “The Matthews family over there has been here for three days now.”
Sierra’s eyebrows furrowed again, a deep sigh escaping her lips as she tucked a stray braid behind her ear. “How— how is this even possible? Surely there must be a way. There’s always a way.”
“Can’t we just leave through the forest if the roads don’t work?” Dara asked, her voice laced with a desperate hope. Her fork now placed on the almost empty plate.
Boyd looked at her, his eyes dark and serious. “The forest doesn’t end, and you really don’t want to be outside once the sun goes down. That’s when they come out.”
“They?” Dara inquired, her voice barely a whisper. “Are we talking forest cult they or gender-neutral they?”
“The creatures,” Kenny answered, his voice low and grave. “They come out of the forest every night. We don’t know where, but they look like humans. They smile… but only because they enjoy the hunt. If you’re not in an enclosed space with a talisman hanging on the wall, they will… they will tear you apart for fun.”
As he spoke the last words, his gaze dropped to the table, his expression hardening, a flicker of raw grief and rage momentarily breaking through his calm facade.
Sierra took in a breath of air before she exchanged a wide-eyed, horrified glance with Dara, who sat frozen. The somewhat casual mention of being “torn apart” hung in the air.
“Talismans? How did you get them? How did you even find this out? Is this a jo—” Sierra asked when the jukeboxes suddenly turned on, surprising not only the sisters but also the Matthews family.
“Yeah, they do that sometimes. It’s like they’re mocking us,” says Boyd while turning slightly behind him toward the Matthews.
He pointed at a weirdly shaped stone hung next to the door before turning around to the sisters.
“The talismans somehow repel them, so we hung them at the entrance of every building. I found them while being stuck in the forest at night.”
“This is just insane,” Sierra says as she picked up her teacup, hoping it will calm her down. After these news, she wasn’t particularly hungry anymore. Kenny looked at her with empathy, offering a tiny, pained smile.
Boyd turned to Sierra, “I know this is a lot of information, so I’ll leave you alone for a bit. We don’t have that much time until sundown, so I’ll make sure you girls have somewhere to sleep for the night, and tomorrow morning, we’ll figure something out, okay? Eat. Drink.”
As he got up, he looked at Kenny, “Do you have time to talk right now?”
Kenny nodded, sparing the sisters a glance and a soft smile before he joined Boyd who moved next to the counter to talk to him in private.
“Eat something,” Dara looked at her, “we need some food for the night. Might be easier to fall asleep that way.”
“How can you even eat right now after these news? This sounds like the beginning of a horror story you get told while sitting around a fireplace with your friends.”
Sierra looked at her younger sister and ultimately picked up her own fork once her stomach started growling.
Not bad.
“Well, if we’re really stuck here, then I’m guessing food is limited. Also, it’s a gift. We can’t just not eat it. You can’t say no to food!” Dara gave her a bright smile, her slightly spaced front teeth showing.
“Sometimes I wish I had your optimism,” Sierra mumbled, taking another bite. “I gotta say, the casserole really is good. You’re right.”
“I’m always right, aren't I? And what can I say? Not everyone chooses to see the world through a cloud of rain,” Dara replied, flashing a playful grin as she shoveled another forkful into her mouth.
Sierra raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a reluctant smile.
“Yeah, well, I think I’ll pass on your rose-colored glasses for now. Not sure how being caged up in a town with monsters can be turned into a positive… if it’s even true. Maybe this is all some elaborated prank or social experiment. If not, then maybe I’ll try on your glasses tomorrow.”
A moment passed, and Dara gazed out the window, lost in thought.
“Mom and Dad are probably worried… I still haven’t told them that I made it to the dorm.”
Sierra stared at her sister. “To be fair, we never made it to the dorm, so…”
Dara turned from the window, looking at her completely unimpressed.
The older sister’s tone softened, “Look, I know this sucks. They might be freaking out right now but thinking about it won’t help us. We’re here… together. We just need to figure out how to go back… or out, or whatever.”
She reached over and lightly nudged Dara’s shoulder. "You’ve got an emergency pro right here. We’re gonna find the exit. Trust me.”
At the Matthews’ table, the little boy wobbled back to his seat with a crutch under one arm and a plate of food in his other hand. A kind-looking older woman emerged from the back of the kitchen.
That must be Kenny’s mom.
She looked at the newcomers and offered a warm smile. Sierra smiled back, nodding gratefully as if to silently say, thank you.
Suddenly, Kenny’s voice called out, “Sara!” as the young woman in the apron collapsed, her body convulsing on the floor behind the counter while Boyd rushed to help.
Dara froze in her seat, wide-eyed, but Sierra was already moving. She shot out of the booth and bolted toward the young woman. She dropped to her knees beside her, her voice steady as she quickly assessed the situation.
“Boyd, do you have a nurse or doctor here? Call for help! Now!” she commanded, glancing up for a moment.
She didn’t wait for an answer, but heard the door of the diner open as footsteps rushed out. Her hands hovered near Sara.
She took a deep breath, trying to keep herself steady.
Focus, you’re trained for this. Just think like you would on the phone.
“Sierra?” Dara’s voice was tight with worry.
Sierra kept her gaze on the young woman, fingers hovering just above her body as she mentally ran through emergency protocols.
“Stay back, D. Let me handle this.” Her voice appeared calm, but her mind raced.
Sara’s breathing was erratic — she was in obvious distress, but there was no immediate sign of anything life-threatening. At least not yet.
Focus on the breathing. If she seizes longer than five minutes, I need to act fast.
She quickly tried to clear the area around her, gently guiding Tian-Chen out of the way.
“We need to keep her safe from hitting anything and keep her airways clear.”
Sierra took off her purple hoodie and placed it flat under Sara’s head to protect it from the hard ground. As she carefully turned Sara on her side into recovery position to prevent her from choking on saliva or vomit, a couple of braids fell into her face, momentarily obstructing her view.
With a frustrated sigh, she grabbed two strands from either side of her face and wrapped them around the remaining braids, securing them as best as she could.
Airway's open. Breathing is labored but present.
With Sara’s head now resting on the soft cushion of her hoodie, Sierra’s focus shifted back to the task at hand. She scanned the area, taking in the surroundings for any sign of Boyd, but he wasn’t back yet.
Sara slowly stopped seizing. Once it subsided, Sierra kept one hand on her back to make sure that she remained steady and didn’t roll onto her stomach. Sierra’s heart raced, but she forced herself to stay calm. She needed to make sure Sara was breathing, her mind ticking through the steps she’d learned over the years.
After a moment, Sara’s breathing became more regular, though still shallow and uneven. Sierra kept a close eye on her, speaking softly, trying to reassure her even if she couldn’t hear.
“It’s okay, you’re safe,” Sierra whispered, her voice steady.
The entrance of the diner finally opened as Boyd and a woman, probably around her own age, hurried in.
That must be the doctor.
Her eyes quickly scanned the room until they landed on Sara, still laying on her side.
The young woman’s movements were calm despite the urgency of the situation.
“How long was she out?” she asked, her voice low and focused as she kneeled beside Sara.
“A few minutes,” Sierra replied, her own voice fake steady. “One moment she was fine, then just… collapsed.”
The nurse’s fingers moved swiftly, checking Sara’s pulse, her pupils, her breathing.
“We need to get her back to the clinic,” she said, her brows furrowed. “Boyd, can you help me get her up?”
Boyd nodded, his expression grim. The little boy’s father jumped up from his seat. “Let me help you.”
Together, they carefully lifted the limp body of Sara. As they moved toward the door, the diner fell into a hushed silence, all eyes following their progress.
Sierra watched them go, her heart still pounding in her chest. The image of Sara’s seizure, the sudden, violent shaking, was burned into her mind. She glanced at Dara, who stood beside her, her face slightly pale.
“Does… does she often have seizures?” Dara whispered, her voice trembling as she turned to Kenny, who still stood next to his mom.
“No. This has never happened to her. I— I don’t know why…” Kenny muttered in shock, his voice distant. “But I’m glad that you were there. Kristi might’ve been here too late otherwise.”
Sierra didn’t respond immediately, still processing everything that had happened. Her hands shook, but she clenched them into fists.
“It’s… it’s part of my job,” she finally said, her voice quieter than usual. “I’ve talked people through situations like that before, but… seeing it in person is something else though.”
Kenny gave a small nod, his face still clouded with worry. He glanced back at his mom, who still looked distraught, then back at Sierra. “Thank you.”
Sierra gave a tight smile, her mind still racing as she tried to push the image of Sara’s shaking body from her thoughts. “Just doing what I could.”
Dara placed a hand on her shoulder after she crouched down to pick up Sierra’s hoodie, her voice soft but firm. “You did more than enough, Sisi.”
Sierra took a deep breath and nodded, trying to shake off the lingering tension in her chest. But even as the room grew quieter, the image of Sara’s seizure stayed with her. They weren’t even in town for half a day, and she’s already stressed the fuck out.
“Oh,” Kenny said, eyebrows lifting slightly in realization. “About the sleeping arrangements for the night… Boyd and I were thinking of putting you two in Sara and Nathan’s house. But with everything going on, it might be better if you stay with my mom, Jade, and me instead.”
“Jade?” Dara asked.
“Jade got here the same day as the Matthews. His friend died here, unfortunately…” Kenny grimaced.
“Anyway, let me grab some blankets from the back, and I’ll show you your room for the night. Hopefully, we can find a permanent place for you after your Choosing Ceremony.”
“Choosing Ceremony? What’s that? Is this a cult?” Dara raised an eyebrow.
Kenny chuckled as he disappeared into the back of the kitchen, returning quickly with a couple of blankets and an old pillow.
“The Choosing Ceremony… Father Khatri holds it for new arrivals. It’s where you decide if you want to stay in Town or at Colony House. Take the Matthews, for example. Their daughter, Julie, decided to stay at Colony House with the other free spirits, while the rest of the family stays here in Town.”
“Is Colony House the mansion we passed when we took that right turn?” Sierra asked as they headed out the door that Kenny held open for them, earning a small smile from Sierra.
Kenny followed them outside. “Yep. It’s basically a commune. Everyone shares responsibilities, possessions, and they even grow their own food and weed. Donna is kind of like their Boyd. Town’s more about privacy and individually following rules so that things don’t get out of hand.”
Sierra glanced at Kenny in confusion. “Seems like a terrible idea to have a big group of people living together in one house if there really are monsters roaming the streets at night…”
“Which is exactly why Town exists,” Kenny nodded with a smile. “Sounds like you’ll fit in here just fine.”
They stopped in front of a yellow two-story house with a white porch.
“Welcome to the Liu home,” Kenny said, leading the way up the stairs and holding the door open for the sisters.
Dara flashed him a bright smile, while Sierra muttered a quick, “Thanks.”
They followed him up to the second floor, where there were four bedrooms. Kenny led them into the room and set the blankets and pillows down at the foot of the queen-sized bed.
“This is your bed for the night. I hope it’s okay. If you need anything, just ask. Once Boyd starts walking around Town ringing the bell, that’s our signal to lock up doors, windows, and close the blinds.”
“O-Okay, got it. Thanks so much for letting us stay here,” Sierra said, her voice softer now. She turned to Dara. “You still have your luggage in the car, right? Let’s go grab it. I might have some stuff left in the car, too.”
After Dara threw Sierra’s purple hoodie on the bed, the two made their way downstairs. The sisters stepped back outside, the chill of the air creeping into their bones. They made their way to the back of the car and opened the trunk. Sierra slightly pulled on her sister’s way-too-big suitcase while Dara grabbed her backpack. The sound of gravel crunching under their shoes was the only noise between them.
Dara stood off to the side for a moment, her eyes scanning the street. “I can’t believe we’re really stuck here…” she muttered.
Sierra heaved the black suitcase out of the trunk with a groan.
“Me neither. You know that I have terrible sleeping habits…if I’ll sleep at all, that is. Surviving while sleep-deprived. Yay, fun.”
Dara pulled out Sierra’s sports jacket and a black cap from the car, then closed the trunk with a soft thud.
“At least we’re together. And the people in town seem nice, especially Kenny.”
“Mhm…” Sierra nodded, her eyes lingering on the street ahead. “We should definitely check out Colony House tomorrow morning. It’s not my scene, but it’s good to get the bigger picture. I’m a little concerned about dividing the people, though. Shouldn’t we all be working together to get out of here? It sounds more like a ‘them versus us’ type of thing.”
“Hmm,” Dara mused. “Aren’t humans always divided in some way? Maybe that’s just how it is.”
“I guess… we’ll see.”
They both headed inside to put their things into the room. Sierra glanced out the window, the sun might hang on for another hour before dipping below the horizon.
“I’m gonna take a walk outside,” Sierra said, stretching her arms. “Check out the area a bit. Maybe it’ll make falling asleep easier later.”
“Alright, be careful. I’ll be waiting downstairs. Love you.” Dara smiled softly.
“Love you too.”
As they made their way downstairs, Tian-Chen — Kenny’s mom — entered the house. The two exchanged polite smiles. As Sierra stepped out the door, she could hear her sister thanking Tian-Chen for letting them stay and mentioning something about the potato casserole. Sierra chuckled and shook her head as she left the porch, the evening air cool against her skin.
Standing outside the Lius’ home, Sierra pondered where to go. On her right was a big, empty swimming pool with an overturned truck stuck in it.
“I wonder how that got in there…” Sierra mumbled to herself.
She went left, remembering the old barn with animals in it. She passed the gas station they drove by earlier as two people entered her view — a handsome, bearded man with a white-blue striped button-down shirt and an equally well-dressed woman with a jet black shoulder-length bob.
“Oh, you’re new,” the woman stated with a surprised look, a thin scar covering the left side of her face, from her temple to her cheekbone. She looked youthful, yet a bit older than Sierra, maybe in her early or mid 30s.
“Nice to meet you. My name is Rosalie, but you can call me Rosa.”
Her smile was genuine and warm as she stretched out her hand, her perfectly painted nails reflecting the light.
Shaking her hand, Sierra greeted her with a small smile. The man beside Rosa was looking around impatiently, tapping his foot, with no specific focus. Rosa glanced at him, slightly elbowing his side. The man glared at her before sparing Sierra a quick, dismissive glance.
“Jade. Hi.”
Sierra forced another smile. Not much of a talker, I guess. Same.
Rosa, however, seemed content with his reply as she smiled at him. “Sorry, we have somewhere to be, but I’m sure we’ll see each other tomorrow, Sierra. Have a safe night.”
Sierra smiled at her as the two walked away, Jade practically dragging Rosalie with him.
Sierra watched the odd pair disappear down the street. With a small head shake, she turned around and headed toward the barn, the sound of animal noises a comforting presence in the otherwise eerie quiet.
As Sierra neared the barn, the scent of hay and earth filled the air. A young man with messy blond hair stood inside the fenced area, his hands busy feeding the animals — chickens pecked eagerly at the ground, goats bleated softly, and a couple of sheep lazily grazed nearby. A cow stood by the fence, its dark eyes fixed on the scene.
“Hi, I’m Sierra. Do you need any help?” she called out, her voice carrying over the soft noises of the farm.
The man slightly jumped, clearly startled, before turning around. His eyes widened in surprise, and he wiped his hands on his jeans. “Oh, hi. I’m Nathan. Are you new here?”
Nathan. Sierra nodded, stepping closer to the fence. The weight of the day’s events still sat heavily on her shoulders, but she pushed the thoughts aside.
“Um, yes, I am. Are you Sara’s brother, by any chance?”
Nathan gave a quick nod, though his expression was tight.
“Yeah, that’s me. I take care of the barn while she’s at the diner.”
He gestured behind him at the scattered animals, his eyes lingering on them before flicking back to her. “It’s a lot to manage alone, but someone has to do it.”
Sierra could hear the fatigue in his voice. “I can imagine. It must be tough, especially with everything going on,” she said, her voice softening as she recalled the chaos earlier.
Nathan sighed, his shoulders slumping a bit. “Yeah. She’s been having a rough time. Been a lot of… things happening that we can’t quite figure out.”
Sierra studied him for a moment, picking up on the hesitation in his words, but chose not to push.
Instead, she offered, “If you ever need a hand, just let me know. I’m happy to help with the barn or whatever else you need. I love animals… and helping.”
Nathan looked grateful, but the weariness didn’t leave his eyes. “I appreciate that.”
A silence settled between them as Nathan kept feeding the animals and Sierra crouched down to pet one of the goats, its fur comfortingly soft.
“How did these animals get here? Boyd and Kenny said that monsters come out at night, so wouldn’t they be in danger without one of those talismans?” Sierra glanced up at Nathan, her eyebrows raised in question.
“From what I know, Boyd found some chickens and a goat about two years before we arrived. He also found the talismans in a cave and noticed that it repelled the creatures. They never hurt the animals for some reason.”
Only humans? Sierra raised an eyebrow, “Damn. No wonder he’s the boss in town.”
“Yeah, he’s got a knack for finding things. Things people need.” He paused, a somberness settling over his features, his gaze drifting into the distance. “But it comes at a cost.”
“A cost?” Sierra asked, her voice low.
“You know… sometimes I wonder if we’re here for a reason. Did we do something bad? Is this a lesson? What if… if we die here, do our fears become reality? Are we already living inside somebody’s nightmare?”
Nathan didn’t elaborate further. Instead, he shifted his attention to the animals.
“I should get home,” he said, his voice clipped. “It’ll be dark soon.”
As Sierra opened her mouth to reply, she heard the ringing of a bell. A sharp gust of wind rattled the barn doors, sending a shiver through Sierra. Nathan looked at Sierra, his eyes wide with urgency.
“Don’t be out here alone after dark.” He closed the gate and hurried toward his house, his movements almost frantic.
“Why the rush?” Sierra mumbled. She turned to the animals with a soft smile. “Goodnight. See you tomorrow.”
As Sierra jogged toward the Lius’ house, Boyd approached, his bell ringing softly in the evening air.
“Don’t forget to lock the windows and close the blinds,” he said, his voice steady. “It’s almost nighttime.”
Sierra slowed down and nodded. “Yes, sir.”
Boyd gave her a small, reassuring smile. He continued his rounds, the gentle ringing of the bell fading into the quiet of the approaching night.
As Sierra entered the yellow house, she saw Dara, Kenny, and Tian-Chen chatting at the kitchen table. It was cluttered with half-finished cups of tea.
Kenny stood up and confidently walked toward Sierra. She slightly stepped to the side in confusion as he got closer to her. He reached out a hand and Sierra went rigid. Kenny locked the door next to her and glanced at her with a puzzled expression.
Oh. Stupid.
“Make sure the blinds in your room are completely closed. I’ve already checked the windows,” he said, his voice soft but firm, his eyes lingering on hers for a moment as she awkwardly nodded.
“We should all go to bed. The sooner we’re asleep, the better.”
He gave Dara a small, reassuring smile before turning back to the table and saying something to his mother, a soft phrase that Sierra didn’t catch.
“你應該去瞓覺喇.”
Tian-Chen nodded, her expression accepting as she stood up and went upstairs.
Ah, he must’ve told her to go to bed, Sierra realized, piecing together the tone and gesture.
The soft ticking of the clock suddenly amplified in the stillness. No bell to be heard. Dara’s gaze was fixed on the darkening window as she closed the curtain, her expression tight. “Sisi, let’s go upstairs.”
All three went upstairs, Kenny moving toward his room to their left. Jade’s door was open and empty. Kenny turned around and followed Sierra’s gaze.
“Ah… he doesn’t sleep in his room that often. He’s probably with Rosa. She's making sure he doesn’t do anything stupid. No need to worry though. Goodnight, you two.”
“Goodnight,” the two replied, their voices echoing slightly in the quiet hallway.
Sierra watched Kenny disappear into his room and the sisters entered their own room for the night, the silence of the house pressing in on them.
Dara went to the other side of the room and closed the blinds. The sisters put on some comfortable clothing from Dara’s luggage and got under the blankets of the queen-sized bed.
Dara turned toward her older sister, bonnet on her curly head, “Love you, Sisi. Maybe tomorro—” Dara stopped, her eyes widening.
A distant, loud screech ripped through the silence, almost vibrating through the walls of the house. It was a sound that no person could ever imitate, a sound that seemed to claw at their very souls. Sierra’s heart hammered against her ribs, and her breath hitched in her throat. Dara clutched the blanket.
“Was that them?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, as though speaking louder might summon whatever had made that horrible sound.
Sierra threw her arm around Dara and hugged her close. “Whatever it is, we’re safe here. Try to sleep. It’ll be okay.”
Sierra’s mind raced, but she didn’t let her fear show. She could feel Dara’s pulse quicken under her arm, and it was only making her own heart beat faster. She couldn’t explain the sound, and she didn’t want to. Not yet.
But sleep seemed impossible now. Sierra could feel the weight of the silence pressing in around them, thicker than before. Her eyes flickered to the window, blinds shut.
Another noise shattered the stillness. A soft scrape, like nails dragging across wood, followed by the unmistakable sound of something moving in the grass outside the house. Sierra held her breath, listening intently. The sound grew closer to the exterior wall as if the creature was right below their window.
After a long moment, the footsteps retreated, moving slowly away from the house. The growling sound faded into the distance, and the scratching stopped.
They lay there, frozen, listening until the house was completely silent. Only then, with trembling hands, did Sierra reach out to turn off the lamp, plunging the room into darkness. They lay there, holding each other, listening to the sounds of the night, and waiting for the sun to rise.