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 fog swallowed almost everything past a few feet from the building, leaving only darkness pressed against the station walls.
Ryan Mercer felt his pulse hammering painfully in his chest as the tapping came again.
Softer this time.
Almost polite.
Walter slowly raised the shotgun toward the window without making a sound. Mason stood near the back wall gripping one of the heavy flashlight tripods like a weapon while Claire remained frozen beside the map table staring toward the glass.
Then the whistle returned.
Not from the forest anymore.
Right outside the station.
The sound drifted slowly along the walls as though something walked around the building while whistling under its breath. Ryan physically felt cold crawl along his arms listening to it. The tune still sounded almost human, yet the rhythm felt slightly wrong every time it paused between breaths.
Like something pretending.
The footsteps outside shifted through wet gravel again.
Crunch.
Crunch.
Crunch.
Then they stopped directly beneath the window.
Claire whispered shakily, “Tell me that’s a person.”
No one answered.
Because deep down, all of them already knew it wasn’t.
Walter carefully moved closer toward the curtain-covered glass while keeping the shotgun aimed steadily forward. The old wooden floor creaked softly beneath his boots. Ryan noticed the ranger breathing harder now, though he tried hiding it.
The tapping returned.
Louder.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Something stood inches from the glass.
Watching them through the curtain.
Walter reached slowly toward the edge of the fabric and pulled it aside just enough to look outside.
For one second, Ryan saw the ranger’s face completely drain of color.
Then Walter slammed the curtain shut immediately and stepped backward.
“It moved closer.”
The words barely rose above a whisper.
Ryan stared at him. “What did you see?”
Walter swallowed hard before answering.
“It wasn’t there a second ago.”
Silence crushed the room afterward.
Then came another sound outside.
A voice.
Soft.
Barely above the wind.
“Walter…”
Every person inside the station froze instantly.
The ranger physically stiffened near the window.
The voice came again.
This time sounding eerily familiar.
“Walter… let me in…”
Ryan watched genuine fear spread across the old ranger’s face.
“Who is that?” Claire whispered.
Walter didn’t answer immediately. His eyes remained locked on the dark window while his grip around the shotgun slowly tightened.
Finally he spoke quietly.
“That’s impossible.”
The voice outside laughed softly.
Not loud.
Not threatening.
Just enough to make Ryan’s stomach twist painfully.
Then it spoke again.
And this time—
it sounded exactly like Walter.
“Please… it’s cold out here.”