Echoes in the forest | Minsung

Shadows in the Forest

Jisung felt the cool night air biting into his skin as he wandered through the forest, his breath coming out in shaky puffs. His heart was pounding in his chest, each beat reverberating in his ears like a drum. He didn't know how he had ended up so far from the campsite, but now that he was here, he felt a chill creeping up his spine that had nothing to do with the temperature.

The trees loomed tall and menacing around him, their branches twisting like gnarled fingers reaching out for him. The moonlight barely penetrated the thick canopy above, casting everything in shadow. Jisung's steps were tentative, his hands trembling as he pushed through the underbrush, the rustle of leaves sounding unnaturally loud in the silence of the night.

His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, each one more frantic than the last. He tried to remember the way back to the campsite, but everything looked the same in the dark—endless trees, indistinct shapes, and the eerie glow of the moon filtering through the leaves. He was lost, and the realization sent a wave of panic washing over him.

Suddenly, Jisung heard something—a sound that made his blood run cold. It was faint at first, barely discernible over the rustling of the wind in the trees, but it grew louder with each passing second. It was the sound of footsteps—many of them—running through the forest, coming closer and closer.

He froze, his breath catching in his throat. The footsteps were fast, hurried, as if whoever—or whatever—was making them was in a desperate rush. Jisung's heart hammered in his chest, and he looked around frantically for a place to hide.

Before he could move, he caught sight of something—a shadow, flitting between the trees, too fast to make out any details. Then another shadow, and another, until it seemed like the entire forest was alive with movement. Jisung felt a scream building in his throat, but he forced it down, his instincts screaming at him to stay quiet.

Then, through the cacophony of footsteps, he heard it—a scream. A woman's scream, shrill and full of terror, echoing through the trees. It sent a jolt of fear through Jisung, his entire body tensing as he realized the danger he was in.

He darted behind a large tree, pressing his back against the rough bark, his breathing shallow and rapid. The footsteps grew closer, and he could see more shadows moving through the trees, their forms indistinct and terrifying. Jisung's hands shook as he covered his mouth, trying to stifle the sound of his breathing.

The shadows passed by him, their shapes blurring together in the darkness. He could hear more screams in the distance, some fading, others getting closer, and it took everything in him not to run. He knew that if he made any noise, if he moved even a muscle, they would find him.

After what felt like an eternity, the shadows began to fade into the distance, the footsteps growing fainter until they were little more than a whisper in the night. Jisung's heart was still racing, his mind reeling from what he had just witnessed. He didn't know what those shadows were, or who had been screaming, but he knew one thing for certain—this forest was not safe.

Once he was sure the coast was clear, Jisung bolted from his hiding spot, running through the forest as fast as his legs would carry him. The branches clawed at his skin, the underbrush tugging at his clothes, but he didn't stop. He needed to get back to the campsite, to the warmth and safety of his friends.

After what felt like an eternity, he saw the faint glow of the campfire through the trees. Relief flooded his chest, and he stumbled into the clearing, gasping for breath. The sight that greeted him was one of careless abandon—his friends were either passed out or still drunkenly chatting, blissfully unaware of the terror that lurked just beyond the trees.