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“Oh no,” I whisper, realizing what that could mean. Either Lynx is right and these woods are haunted … or the cubs have found me. I don’t know whether that’s a good thing or not. Lynx’s entire life is about protecting them, and after what he told me about his own siblings, I completely understand why. If they’re here—even just one of them—then they’re in danger. Because of me.

“Don’t go out there,” I beg.

“The kid needs help. He’s probably lost.”

He? “How old?” I don’t want to ask the question, but I have a bad feeling I know exactly which of the cubs it is.

“Dunno. Four or six or something. I don’t exactly study kids’ ages.”

Leo.

Holy shit. My already hazy head feels light.

“Don’t open that door.”

“Or what?”

Or Leo might get hurt, and I’ll never, ever forgive myself. “Haven’t you heard the old stories?” I ask, trying to keep talking for long enough that Leo gives up and goes away. “Ignore if you hear a child crying. Don’t step into a fairy ring. Never whistle back.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“We’re not alone out here.”

Antonio grunts and grabs his gun. “Shut the fuck up.”

Then he walks to the door and throws it open.

The crying has stopped.

“No one there.”

Relief sweeps over me.

Then I freeze as the crying comes again. From behind the cabin this time.

The two of them look toward the back wall, and then Antonio gestures at Jeffrey with his gun. “Well, what are you waiting for? Go get the kid.”

“I’m not going out there.”

Antonio lifts his gun. “I wasn’t asking.”

There’s a beat where I wonder if Jeffrey will argue back, but he pushes away from the table, grabs his own gun, and heads outside. Antonio walks back in and closes the door behind himself.

I don’t miss the way his gaze darts toward the window and back toward the crying sound.

“You’re getting us this footage, and then we’re getting the fuck out of here.”

The crying stops.

There’s a knock at the door.

I watch as Antonio freezes. “Jeff?”

No answer.

He crosses to the window again and this time swears under his breath. “It’s a little girl.”

He hurries to open the front door, and Sammy stumbles inside. “Help me, please. Please help. There are monsters out there.” She drops to her knees, sobbing into her hands, and Antonio stares at her like he doesn’t know what to do.