The Chosen Prey

The Forest's Secret

Lila lay on the cold forest floor, her breath shallow as she tried to quiet the racing of her heart. The eerie encounter with the vision of her mother left her mind frayed, but the reality of her situation quickly clawed its way back in. She wasn't alone out here. The hunter—no, the monster—was still out there, watching her, maybe even toying with her.

Forcing herself to her feet, she wiped the dirt from her palms, glancing around the silent forest. The darkness was suffocating, the trees tall and menacing, looming over her like silent sentinels. She couldn't just stand here and wait for him to strike again. She needed to get moving, but the moment she took a step, the memory of her mother's voice echoed in her ears. Come with me...

Shaking her head violently, Lila snapped herself out of the trance. That wasn't her mother. Whatever she had seen, whatever had spoken to her, was something else—something cruel, trying to lure her deeper into its trap. She wasn't going to fall for it. She couldn't.

Her mind raced as she walked, each step feeling heavier than the last. Every time a branch snapped under her foot or a leaf rustled, she expected him to appear—tall, cold, and relentless. Her eyes darted left and right, searching for any sign of movement, but all she found was the oppressive darkness of the woods.

There has to be a way out of here, she told herself, though the voice in her head sounded far less certain than before. She had been running for hours, it seemed, and yet every tree, every stone, looked the same. Was she just walking in circles? Was he leading her in circles?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the faintest sound—a low rumble in the distance, like the rush of water. A river. A flicker of hope ignited in her chest. If she could find the river, she could follow it. Rivers led to towns, to people—to safety.

Lila quickened her pace, the exhaustion that weighed her down slowly giving way to determination. The sound of the river grew louder, clearer. She was getting closer. But as she approached, she felt something shift in the air around her. The forest, already ominous, seemed to tighten its grip, the darkness deepening, pressing down on her as if trying to suffocate her resolve.

The trees parted, revealing a narrow, winding river cutting through the dense woods. Lila exhaled shakily, relief flooding her for the first time in what felt like an eternity. She crouched beside the river, splashing cold water onto her face, trying to clear her mind.

But her moment of respite was short-lived.

As Lila stood, she caught sight of something downstream—a small structure, half-hidden by the shadows of the trees. It was old, decrepit, and weathered by years of neglect. A cabin. Her first instinct was to run in the opposite direction, but curiosity—and desperation—held her in place.

It was a risk, but maybe, just maybe, it was shelter. A place to hide.

With her heart in her throat, Lila approached the cabin cautiously. The air around it felt different, heavier, like the very woods were warning her not to go near it. But she ignored the creeping dread that crawled up her spine. She needed to rest. She needed to figure out her next move.

The door creaked loudly as she pushed it open, the sound sending a jolt of fear through her already tense body. The interior of the cabin was as decayed as its exterior, the wooden floorboards creaking under her feet as she stepped inside. Moonlight filtered through cracks in the walls, casting eerie shadows on the floor.

It smelled of damp wood and dust, and the air was thick with neglect. But there was something else. Lila's nose twitched at a faint, metallic scent. She felt a chill creep up her spine. Blood.

Her eyes scanned the room, taking in the broken furniture, the tattered curtains, and the strange, rust-colored stains on the floorboards. The sight made her stomach churn. She backed up slowly, her foot hitting something on the floor. Glancing down, she saw the glint of metal in the dim light. A trap—a bear trap, half-hidden beneath a pile of leaves and debris.

Lila's blood ran cold. This wasn't just some abandoned cabin. Someone had been here. Someone who set traps. And she had walked right into their territory.

A sudden noise from outside made her freeze. Footsteps, slow and deliberate, crunching on the gravel near the cabin's entrance. He was here. Her mind screamed for her to move, but her body locked up in fear, her breath hitching as she listened to him approach.

The door creaked open, ever so slowly, and Lila's heart stopped.

The man stood in the doorway, his face obscured by the shadows, but she could feel his gaze locked onto her. The coldness, the control, radiated from him in waves, chilling her to the bone.

"I told you, Lila," he said, his voice smooth and disturbingly calm. "You can't run from me."

Her muscles tensed, every instinct screaming for her to run, but where would she go? There was nowhere to hide, nowhere to escape. He took a step forward, the floorboards creaking beneath his weight.

"I don't want to hurt you," he whispered, though his eyes told a different story. They gleamed with dark intent, a hunger that sent a fresh wave of terror crashing over her. "But if you keep running, I won't have a choice."

Lila backed up, her foot hitting a chair, sending it toppling to the ground with a loud crash. The noise broke her paralysis, and before she could think, she bolted for the back of the cabin, toward a narrow door that she hadn't noticed before. She slammed into it, her fingers fumbling with the rusted handle, but it wouldn't budge.

Behind her, she heard his slow, steady footsteps approaching. Her heart pounded in her chest, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She yanked at the door, her hands slipping on the rust, but it was stuck—sealed shut by time and neglect.

A cold hand clamped down on her shoulder, pulling her away from the door. Lila screamed, thrashing against him, but his grip was iron. He spun her around, pressing her back against the door, his face inches from hers. His breath was cool against her skin, his eyes dark and consuming.

"You don't need to be afraid," he whispered, his voice low and hypnotic. "I'll take care of you. I've been watching you for so long, Lila. I've waited for you."

His words sent a jolt of disgust and terror through her, and she struggled against him, kicking at his legs, clawing at his arms. But he was impossibly strong.

"Let me go!" she screamed, her voice breaking.

But he just smiled, a slow, unsettling smile that made her skin crawl. "You'll understand soon enough."

He released her, taking a step back, and for a moment, Lila thought she might have a chance to escape. But then he reached into his pocket, pulling out something small and metallic. A syringe.

Panic surged through her, and she bolted for the front door, but before she could make it, he was on her again, his arms wrapping around her, dragging her to the ground. She kicked and screamed, but his weight pinned her down, his cold, calm voice in her ear.

"Shh, Lila. It's going to be okay. You'll see."

The last thing she saw before darkness took her was the glint of the syringe as it plunged into her arm.