our little angel

the Whispering Woods

Age:12
Words: 271
Summary: Raven was in the back yard with her 2 year old sister playing until she heard something in the woods.

Raven sat in the backyard, watching her two-year-old sister, Abigail, waddle around, giggling as she chased a butterfly.

It was peaceful. Too peaceful.

The winter air was crisp, and the sky was a dull gray, signaling snow might fall soon.

Abigail clapped her tiny hands, laughing as the butterfly escaped her reach. Raven chuckled, keeping a close eye on her little sister.

Then she heard it.

A sound from the woods.

Her smile faded.

It wasn’t just the rustling of trees in the wind. It wasn’t an animal scurrying through the underbrush.

It was… a whisper.

Low, almost too quiet to hear.

Raven stood up, her heart beating faster. Her hand instinctively went to her wand, tucked safely in her coat.

Abigail kept playing, oblivious.

Another whisper.

Then a twig snapped.

Raven’s eyes snapped toward the tree line.

Something—or someone—was in the woods. Watching them.

“Abby,” Raven said, her voice calm but firm. “Come here, love.”

Abigail looked up, confused, but toddled toward her big sister. Raven scooped her up, holding her close.

She stared at the woods, her grip tightening on her wand.

The whispers stopped.

The trees stood still.

For a long moment, there was silence.

Then, just as Raven was about to turn back toward the house—

A shadow moved.

Raven's breath hitched. She turned on her heel and ran toward the house, holding Abigail close to her chest.

Whoever—or whatever—was in those woods…

It wasn’t done watching.