He pressed a kiss to my hair, a silent promise of protection. “Open your eyes, baby,” he murmured, his voice a low, steady anchor against the rising tide of my apprehension.
The forest’s pulse seemed to quicken, or perhaps it was just my own, as I slowly opened my eyes to find myself staring at a beautiful deer and her fawn. The doe’s large, liquid eyes met mine, soft and unblinking. She seemed to regard us with a gentle curiosity, her fawn nudging playfully against her flank, utterly unaware of the heightened tension that had gripped me moments before. The forest, which had felt so charged and full of watchful sentience, now seemed to exhale, the oppressive stillness giving way to the familiar murmur of leaves and the distant chirping of unseen birds. My own heart gradually settled, its frantic rhythm slowing as the imagined threat dissolved into the serene reality of the wild.
He released a soft breath, a low, pleased sound. “See, baby?” he whispered, his voice regaining its usual warmth. “The forest speaks, but not always in the way we expect. Sometimes, it shows us its true heart, its quiet beauty.” He stroked my cheek; his touch was gentle, grounding.
The air still held a faint tang of pine and damp earth, but the prickle of unease had vanished, replaced by a profound sense of peace, an intimacy with the natural world that was both humbling and deeply comforting. I leaned back into him, a small smile finally touching my lips.
“It was... a deer,” I breathed, the absurdity of my earlier fear suddenly apparent, yet not entirely dismissed. He chuckled again, a deep, resonant sound that vibrated through me.
“And a beautiful one at that. The forest will tell you everything you need to know, my love. You just have to learn to listen.”
My eyes snapped open; my heart hammered in my chest. Sitting up, I looked around my room but saw nothing out of place, but I knew something was wrong. I felt it. Getting out of bed, I didn’t bother with my robe as I left my room and headeddownstairs. The house was eerily quiet as my brother and his family slept peacefully in their beds, unaware. Heading for the kitchen, I walked over to the back door and opened it. The forest tree line was only a few yards away.
Moonlight spilled across the dewy grass, painting silver paths between the trees. I paused just outside the doorway, the chill of the night brushing my bare arms, and listened for any sign that the world outside was as tranquil as it appeared. Deep somewhere in the woods, an owl called—a single haunting note—reminding me that the forest was always awake. The tension from my dream lingered, but curiosity tugged me forward, compelling me to step barefoot into the cool embrace of the night. Each breath I took mingled with the scent of earth and leaves, grounding me even as I tried to figure out what the forest was trying to tell me.
“Karlyn?”
I yelped, spinning around as my brother grabbed my arms, holding me steady. “Hey, sis, it’s just me. Sorry I scared you.”
Turning back to the forest, I whispered, “Karl, someone’s out there.”
“What?” My brother stiffened as he shoved me behind him. “Did you see who it was? Did you recognize them?”
“No. I didn’t see anyone.”
Facing me, my brother frowned. “Then how do you know someone is out there?”
“I felt it.”
My brother blinked a few times, then stared at me as if he thought I’d lost my mind. Maybe I had, I wouldn’t know, but I knew someone or something was just beyond that tree line.
Sighing, my brother rubbed the back of his neck. “Alright. First thing tomorrow morning, I will check it out, but for right now, it’s late. Let’s get you back inside.”
Knowing he didn’t believe me, I said nothing more as he guided me back into the house. Looking over my shoulder one more time at the tree line, I knew there would be no more sleep for me tonight.
Chapter Four
Karlyn
“What do you mean, you found nothing?” I asked, standing in front of my brother. “You were only out there ten minutes.”
“Don’t know what to tell you, sis.” My brother stepped around me in a huff. “I looked around and saw nothing.”
“What’s going on?” Daphne asked, walking into the kitchen. Standing in front of the kitchen sink, I turned around and looked out the window. I knew someone was out there. I could feel them looking at me right now. Why wouldn’t my brother believe me?
“Karlyn thinks she saw someone in the forest last night. I told her I would go check it out, and I did. There is nothing out there.”
“Ink,” Daphne whispered. “This is the first time your sister’s been out of her room since Ravage left. If she says someone is out there, then you need to listen to her.”
“What more do you want me to do?” my brother groaned. “I went and looked. It’s a big-ass forest back there.”
“Then go get some brothers and go take another look.”
“But, baby,” he whined as I turned to glare at him. “There are bugs back there.”
Daphne rolled her eyes, but her voice was gentle. “Ink, please. Just humor her. I know you hate bugs, but if Karlyn’s this convinced, it’s worth being sure.”
My brother hesitated, glancing from Daphne to me, then finally sighed. “Fine. I’ll grab a couple of the guys, and we’llcheck the edge of the woods again. But if I come back covered in mosquito bites, I’m blaming both of you.”
