The Moth Effect

Chapter 1

                                                     May 20th 2013

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"—A small group of teens, around the ages of 15 and 17, were found missing tonight in the same forest that—"I decided to change the channel, my face scrunched up in frustration as it was clear that this situation has gone too far. Most of the missing reports are about groups of teens exploring this 'haunted' forest, they should've known that many before them have gone missing stepping into that creepy place, right? The numbers of missing people have increased up to 100 a year, after the 'Camping Incident' back in 2006. My head tilted to the side as my eyes grew heavier and heavier, then my phone vibrated on my wooden table making me jump in surprise. Who could possibly be calling me at this time? I rubbed my eyes, reaching for the vibrating phone and answered the call, quickly putting it up to my ear.

"Hello?" I said, the person on the other end cleared their throat, "Hey Ashley! Did you hear that they are just NOW starting to investigate the major, huge missing situation!? Like, that's insane!"

"No I didn't hear about that. Where'd you hear this from?" I responded, knowing exactly who that energetic voice belonged to, my best friend, Meghan. "I overheard some guys that claimed to know a Police Investigator talking about it at a café!"

"Huh? Really— Why'd they decide to start investigating this issue so late?" I asked.

"That's what I was saying! Oh yeah, Ash?" Meghan optimistically responded, "What's up, Meg?" 

"Aren't you assigned to take the case?" She questioned me, with a very serious tone. Meghan didn't have that energy in her voice anymore and she sounded worried. I shrugged and replied, "I don't know, I haven't heard from the chief yet about investigating anything related to the major missing incidents." 

Meghan hummed in response and sighed, "Well, see you tomorrow! I have papers to fill out, peace!"

"Heh, alright! See you tomorrow." I said my goodbye and hung up, stretching out my legs, I laid down on my couch and turned to my TV as it played a random show I haven't seen and/or heard of. I, again, started to drift off to sleep, my eyes got heavier and heavier, shutting closed and my body relaxed,  I shuffled around a bit before I got comfortable and finally fell asleep.

                                                  May 21st 2013

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I sat in my car, sweating because of how hot it was but I couldn't whine or complain. I was on a stakeout by the 'haunted' forest, the forest that has people going missing like crazy, once they step near that place it's like they are so attracted to it. It's really weird, in my opinion. There were security cameras set up around this area to catch some things that some of us couldn't ourselves, they were hidden pretty well. I watched as a teen that looked about 16 years old walking along the sidewalk, as he was about to cross the street, something caught his attention and he looked behind him, straight into the dark forest. 

I tilted my head a bit worried and got my hand ready on the door handle, just in case I needed to grab the kid. The boy suddenly stepped on the dirt path, walking rather oddly, his arms stayed at his side and his feet dragged on the dirt path. I didn't want this kid to end up in the next missing report, I swung my car door open and ran down the concrete sidewalk and to the entrance that led into a dark, shadowy abyss. 

To my surprise, the teen was still there, walking along the path with his feet still dragging through the dirt, I looked down at the dirt road and gulped, I shook my head and ran for it, sprinting towards the boy and gripping his wrist. He looked startled and turned his attention to me, I didn't give him the chance to speak and ran out of the scary forest, with the boy behind me. "You okay?" I asked, kind of out of breath after the running I just did.

"Uh, y-yeah! What happened?" He replied with a confused expression.

I argued with myself about if I should tell him what just happened. Making my decision, I sighed, "Well you randomly got attracted to what could have been someone or the forest itself. Did you see anybody in there?" He stood there, trying to remember if he did, "all I remember is hearing some weird bell sound and a figure in some blue cloak. I'm not sure if that was a person."

"Alright," I already had my voice recorder out, but it felt pointless recording because nobody is going to believe him. I don't even believe him myself! "Well, go ahead and get on your way. You don't want to be around here any longer." I said, trying to get him away from this area before he gets trapped in a weird trance again. He nodded and walked across the street like he planned to do 5 minutes ago.

"That was strange..."

I rode the bus home and decided to go straight to sleep since I have to do an interview tomorrow with some of the family's of the teens and young adults that went missing. I yawned and stepped off the city bus when it was my stop, I lazily walked home, so tired, I locked my door behind me and flopped on my couch. I stretched and drifted off to sleep.