The lights of the police station overhead, cold. Lila sat hunched on the hard plastic chair, arms wrapped around herself, still shivering even though the night was long behind them. Maya paced near the front desk, biting at the edge of her thumbnail. Sam stood like a statue, arms crossed, her eyes flicking to every sound, every shadow. The officer behind the desk looked up from his computer with mild concern. “You said… there was someone in the woods?” Lila nodded quickly. “Yes. No. I mean—there was something. It wasn’t just a person, it was… we don’t know what it was. But it said our names. It knew us.” Maya stopped pacing. “It chased us. It moved like it wasn’t even human. You need to send someone out there. Check the trees, the trail—we were on the Hollow Pine path near the old marker.” The officer scribbled something down, then raised an eyebrow. “That area’s fenced off past a certain point. Been closed for years. You girls shouldn’t have been out there.” Sam finally spoke, her voice flat. “You think we wanted to end up there?” A taller, older officer—badge reading Lt. Granger—emerged from the hallway, a mug of coffee in one hand “Let’s talk somewhere private.” The room was small “So,” Granger said, settling in with a sigh. “Start from the beginning.” They told him everything. When they finished, silence stretched between them like a thin thread, ready to snap. Granger leaned back in his chair. “You said it knew your names?” Maya nodded slowly. “Yeah. All three of us. Like it was… calling us.” He didn’t write that part down. “And the ground shook?” he asked instead. “Yes,” Sam answered. Another pause. Then, quietly: “You girls didn’t see anyone else out there? No people? “No,” Lila said. “Just… it. That thing.” He closed his notebook and stood. “Alright. I’ll send someone out to take a look. Probably just some local kids messing around, trying to scare people.” “That wasn’t kids,” Maya snapped. “Did you even listen to what we said?” “I did,” Granger replied calmly. “But there’s only so much we can do without physical evidence. You weren’t hurt. Nothing was stolen. You’re safe now.” He opened the door for them to leave. “That’s it?” Sam asked, her voice sharp. “You’re just brushing it off?” Granger looked at her for a long moment. Then, quietly “This town’s older than the map says, girls. Some things out there… don’t go in reports.” Outside, the early morning sun had started to rise, but it felt cold and pale. Like it wasn’t strong enough to burn away what still lingered in the air. “I hate this town,” Maya muttered. Sam didn’t answer. She was staring back at the station. Granger stood in the window, watching them leave. But the girls have to do something even if the police doesn't .....
me <333 !!
