#WritcoStoryPrompt2
A The wet leaf fell on her shoulder, making her jump in fear. Startled, she shifted from her hiding place behind the bush.
The forest was quiet, too quiet for her
liking. She looked around, trying to discern what had caused her sudden unease. The trees loomed over her, their branches reaching out like gnarled claws. The mist that hung in the air was thick and suffocating, obscuring her vision. She took a step forward, her foot sinking into the muddy ground.

Suddenly, she heard a sound. It was a soft, almost imperceptible noise, but it sent shivers down her spine. She strained her ears, trying to catch any further sound, but the forest remained silent. The mist seemed to thicken around her, wrapping her in a cold embrace. She stumbled forward, her heart racing.

That's when she saw it. A shape, looming in the distance. It was indistinct, almost formless, but it filled her with a profound sense of dread. She tried to turn and run, but her feet wouldn't listen. It was as if the forest itself had ensnared her.

The shape grew larger, closer. She could see now that it was a figure, tall and gaunt, with limbs that seemed too long for its body. Its eyes glowed with an otherworldly light, and its mouth twisted into a grin that made her blood run cold. Its breath was hot on her face, and she could smell the stench of decay that emanated from its body.

She screamed, but no sound escaped her lips. The figure reached out and touched her forehead, and everything went dark. She woke up later, lying on the ground, her body covered in bruises. She never spoke of what had happened that day, but the memory would haunt her for the rest of her life.

© c.wright