The Moth Effect

Chapter 3

        I never felt so nervous. I didn't know what I was going to see, or if I was ready to see it. I sat down at my desk with Ethan's hands pressed up against it, he looked perturbed...can i blame him? I started my computer and moved the mouse until it was hovering over the security camera app. My hand started to shake and I hesitated to click it, I suddenly felt a rather cold hand on my shoulder, I slowly turned my head towards Ethan who gave me a warm, comforting smile. I smiled back and sighed, I looked back at my computer, right clicking the application two times. 

        Ethan and I sat here for a while looking through the footage. Nothing much except for squirrels scurrying up trees and rabbits hopping around, "wait who was that? Go back a bit..." Seems like Ethan has found someone in the footage, so I nod and go back a couple minutes. We watched the footage and since it was somewhere around 11:00 pm, night vision was turned on making it hard to see what color their hair, eyes, and clothes were. There was a teen walking down the sidewalk—the boy had very short hair, he was wearing a sweater and jeans...I gasped, my eyes widen as I moved closer to the screen, "he looks like Meghan's brother.."

"Meghan's brother? Meghan has a brother?" Ethan asked, completely dismissing the fact that her BROTHER is the teen that went missing last night. "Yes Ethan, she does! But look," I furrowed my eyebrows in vexation. Ryan, Meg's brother, walked down the sidewalk, he halted and turned his attention to the dirt path. I squinted hard trying to figure out why he looked familiar....as if I saw him recently....

"You okay?"

"Uh, y-yeah! What happened?" 

"Well you randomly got attracted to what could have been someone or the forest itself. Did you see anybody in there?" 

"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."

It couldn't be....I couldn't wrap my head around the fact of why the hell is he back over there!?...Ryan stepped onto the path, he dragged his feet across the dirt path and his arms at his side, he swayed side to side as he stepped further and further into the darkness. "I can't watch this anymore," I said and shut my computer off, "huh? Why?"

"I j-just can't! Alright," I snapped at him, he frowned and shook his head. I grabbed my stuff and walked off. I need to know what's attracting people to this forest! I have to! 

"all I remember is hearing some weird bell sound and a figure in some blue cloak—"

"A bell and a blue cloak?" Mumbling to myself, I slightly tilted my head in confusion. Bell and blue cloak? Hm, maybe I can get more info at the library. I proceeded to make my way to a library that shouldn't be too far away from where I am, my bag and papers felt like they were going to slip from my arms at any moment, so my grip tightened as I sped up when I saw the library in the distance. My hair flowing behind and my eyes lit up as I ran as fast as I could, I rapidly swung the library door open and found some of the computers in the corner. I easily could've used my office computer but I needed some privacy and a quiet space. 

Putting my bag and papers next to the first computer I saw, I slid myself into the blue chair and got to work. I leaned into my hand, as I searched up, 'blue cloak and bell'. I found a couple articles on teens and young adults who were found after going missing and they all said the same exact thing....saying that it was creepy would be an understatement.....it was spine-chilling.

"Follow the light....he is the light....follow the light....he is the light...."

"Who the hell is he?"

A teen by the name of Sam Carson was found after going missing 6 months ago. 

A teen by the name of Sam Carson was found after going missing, we decided to question her on why and how she went missing...what she said was honestly shocking and surprising...

"Follow the light..HE is the light.." she said, we didn't know who he was-

A group of three young adults around the ages of 18 and 21 were found 2 days ago running out of the haunted forest. 

Three young adults were found running out of the haunted forest, two looking petrified and the third...looked rather chill? It also seemed as if he was mumbling something like, "Follow the light..HE is the light.."-

As I read through multiple articles, I didn't know what to say. I was horrified at the fact that there clearly was something more sinister behind the scenes...my mind couldn't think straight and my breathing sped up, I closed all the tabs and stood up looking at the time, 8:20 pm alright, I need to go home now. I shakily grabbed my papers and sloppily stuffed them into my satchel, slinging the strap over my head, resting it on my shoulder. I lifted my right leg, taking a step forward. I'm completely disturbed but I couldn't let that bother me now, I inhaled and exhaled trudging out of the library. 

        My feet lazily dragged along the concrete sidewalk as I yawned tiredly, I just got off the bus and walked myself home, I turned the corner onto my street, spotting my house and walked up the stairs, slowly but surely unlocking my door. I entered, closing and locking my door behind me, I groaned and slid my back along the door, I sat down and yawned once more. I was so exhausted I couldn't stand up, a huge frown tugged at my lips and my eyebrows furrowed in anger as the thought of that forest popped into my mind. My eyelids closed and my body relaxed, I drifted off to sleep. I just wanted to sleep and never wake up again.