Daniel froze. Leaves rustled. A twig snapped. His pulse quickened—he wasn’t alone. Clutching a nearby sturdy stick, he strained his ears, scanning the darkened forest. Whatever was out there, he had to find it before it found him.
He moved cautiously, pushing aside thick foliage, his breath slow and controlled. Shadows flickered, shifting with the wind
His grip tightened as he followed the eerie noise, his boots crunching against damp earth. The underbrush thickened, swallowing the light. Then he saw it. His breath caught, his heart hammering against his ribs. The sight before him made his blood run cold.