Where the Trees Watch – Chapter 12 The Recording in the Woods The shaky footage continued playing across the tiny screen while the four of them stood motionless beside the hidden trail. Wind brushed softly through the towering pines overhead, but beneath that sound Ryan could only hear the terrified breathing from the damaged camera … Read more
Where the Trees Watch – Chapter 11 The Footprints Leading Downhill The four of them stood silently at the split in the trail while cold fog drifted between the trees around the downhill path. Ryan kept staring at the footprints disappearing into the mist beneath the leaning black pines. There were at least five or … Read more
Where the Trees Watch – Chapter 10 The Trail That Wasn’t There Before The whistles continued moving through the forest for several minutes after the station lights failed, sometimes close enough to sound just outside the walls, sometimes distant enough to vanish beneath the wind moving through Blackwood. No one inside the ranger station slept. … Read more
Where the Trees Watch – Chapter 9 The Hand on the Doorknob The metal doorknob turned slowly beneath the station lantern light. Not violently. Not desperately. Carefully. Like whoever stood outside already expected the door to open eventually. Ryan Mercer felt every muscle in his body tighten while Walter raised the shotgun directly toward the … Read more
Where the Trees Watch – Chapter 8 The Voice That Knew His Name The voice outside the station sounded identical to Walter’s. Not similar. Not close. Exact. The same roughness in the throat, the same exhausted tone, even the same slight pause before certain words. Hearing it made something deep inside Ryan twist uncomfortably because … Read more
Where the Trees Watch – Chapter 7 The Tapping on the Window The tapping came softly against the station window beside Claire. Three slow knocks. Tap. Tap. Tap. Nobody moved. The lantern light flickered weakly across the cramped ranger station while rainwater slid down the glass outside in long silver streaks. Beyond the window, thick … Read more
Where the Trees Watch – Chapter 6 The Firewatch Tower in the Northern Ridge The station remained silent after Walter finished speaking. Wind brushed softly against the wooden walls while the lantern flame flickered across the old maps hanging around the room. Outside, Blackwood stood hidden beneath thick fog and darkness, though every now and … Read more
Where the Trees Watch – Chapter 5 The Smiling Figure Between the Trees The figure stood perfectly still at the edge of the fog beyond the checkpoint, half-hidden between the towering black pines. Rainwater dripped softly from the branches overhead while the weak yellow station light barely reached the tree line, leaving most of the … Read more
Where the Trees Watch – Chapter 4 The Voice Beyond the Fog The voice came from somewhere beyond the trees. Weak. Distant. Human. Every person outside the ranger station froze instantly while the fog drifted silently between the dark pines surrounding the checkpoint. “Help me…” The words sounded strained, like someone exhausted after hours wandering … Read more
Where the Trees Watch – Chapter 3 The First Whistle The third whistle drifted through the forest slowly. Closer than before. Not loud. That was the worst part. The sound barely rose above the wind moving through the trees, yet every person standing outside the ranger station felt it immediately. Something about the whistle carried … Read more
