Night Vale Unsolved

15

Carlos had been expecting awkward silence during their drive out to the Whispering Forest. Instead, he was pleasantly surprised by conversation.
It started as idle chatting, like "What are the best places to eat in Night Vale?" (Big Rico's Pizza), "How long have you been making these videos?" (About four years), and the like. But Carlos, being a scientist, was very curious about some of the places that Shane and Ryan had visited. Thus, the conversation turned into Ryan and Shane's experiences.
"Well, London was cool," Ryan offered, mentally going through different locations Unsolved had filmed at.
"Oh, and New Orleans,"
"Yeah we did...lots there." Both of them cracked a grin.
"So you," Carlos indicated Ryan, "Believe in...you're a believer?"
"Yep. Ghosts, demons, even."
"Angels?"
"Uhh...yeah, probably."
"Ryan gets scared at every creaky floorboard and tiny breeze-"
"I do not!"
"-yeah, you kinda do."
"Well I'm not the only one who's gotten jumpy-"
"It was the one time!"
Carlos laughed to himself as the two went back and forth. He could tell that they had fun, both with their job and working with each other. He listened the whole way there, until finally he parked his car. He made sure to stop just as the trees edged into view on the horizon - it wasn't as far off as it seemed, but the farther from the Whispers, the better.
"Here we are," Carlos announced, opening his door. The others joined him outside the car, glancing around.
"Where are we?"
"Those trees over there," Carlos pointed, "That's the Whispering Forest."
"I thought Arby's was first on the list?"
"No, that's something you have to see at night. Well stop by there last."
"Alright. Now, what's so special about these trees?" Shane rubbed his hands together - whether from the slight cool wind or from anticipation, Carlos couldn't tell.
"Well, I'm not sure. What we do know is that people who get too close to the Forest hear voices trying to convince them to stay in the Forest. If you do, you seem to...become a tree yourself."
The two men stared blankly at the scientist.
"Uh...yeah. That's about it, so..."
"Um, ok. Yeah," Shane shook himself and went back to the car. "Ryan, how do you want to do the camera?"
"Oh, yeah, uh..."
As the two of them set up their portable filming stuff, Carlos lost himself in thought. Not tree-induced thought, but human. When he finally snapped out of it, it was because of shouting.
"What are you doing? Come back!"
Shouting, and someone walking towards the Whispering Forest.