What Is It That Walks From The Woods

0:00Tyler Reddick here from 2311 Racing. Victory Lane? Yeah, it's even better with Chamba by my side. Race to chumpacaceno.com. Let's Chamba. No purchase necessary, VTW Group, voidware prohibited by law, CTNCs, 21 Plus, sponsored by Chamba Casino. You're a jamming near a favorite song, and while you aren't missing a beat, you could be missing a signal from your body. It's an SOS from your kidneys, and it doesn't sound like music at all. It's silent. High blood pressure, type two diabetes, and other risk factors can quietly stress the kidneys, leading to negative impacts on the heart. That's what you should ask your doctor about a simple urine test called UACR. Most miss the signal for hidden kidney disease and related heart risk. You shouldn't. Visit, detect thesos.com today to learn more. The old man muttered to himself as he hobbled into the living room. He plopped down in his wife's rocking chair next to the side table on which a

1:03online trolled his shoulder melody. Should have known he'd be calling, the man chided himself. He lifted the phone to his ear. Jolie'd a grouchy man on the other end asked. Yet, Benny, I'm sorry, I should have called. He sent your wife over here. Benny asked. She does what she wants, Benny, you know that good does anyone. But she's supposed to be here. Benny's he must voice what the fainkering from Jolie's face. Yes, sir, she's returning your power sander, he said. I don't see a sander, Jolie. Darryl thought for a moment the nurse did she have her purse on her. Benny said she does. Well, that little sander should fit in there, shouldn't it? Darryl asked. He heard Benny tapping a window on the other end of the line. He must have put his hand over the receiver because his voice sounded muffled when he yelled through the glass. Tick it out and show me. Hey, Benny, calm down. Don't give my poor wife a hard attack. Then he sniffed into the phone and said, she's got it. Sorry about this, Jolie. Sure you understand. Of course I do, Benny.

2:03I'll remember to call ahead next time, all right. I've yourself a good afternoon, and Jolie, Benny said. Sure thing. You treat my wife well now, will you? The cold is connected. Darryl sighed. He slumped down in the chair into a position he wasn't fully sure he could retrieve himself from. Cassie, you don't for all, he muttered. I bet you went through the woods again. All Benny sounded more anxious than usual. As if his wife could hear him, he said, best not do that again, honey. With great effort, he hoisted himself in the rocker and walked into the kitchen to pour himself a glass of sun tea and watch for Cassandra's return. He turned a chair to face the great window in their dining room. The forest filled most of the view, expanding to the other side like a great wolf who which he had no desire to pass. A portion of the forest crept into his property line, yet he did not even enter those trees, not unless he had to. He knew the forest was rich with life, but death also roamed with him. His Sandra did not return through the woods. She must have come back along the road, because Darryl did not see her approach the house. His first indicator of her return was the sound of her unlocking the front door.

3:07At UCASI, he called into the living room. Yes, dear Cassandra replied. I gave him back the sander. Boy was he on edge today. That man can wind himself up tighter than a snake. Did you go through the woods? Darryl asked. Only the short cut around asked his place. I know you don't like it, but it saves time. I don't like it, no, but Benny I'm worried about. He gets nervous when he sees you walking out there. Well, have either of you seen it lately? Cassandra asked. She came into the kitchen, it seemed, just to stare into Darryl's green eyes with her icy blue ones. Darryl shook his head, casting his gaze away into feet. It only makes him more anxious. You know that. It's the spends. Makes you wonder when it's coming back. Have you ever considered it might not be around anymore? Cassandra asked. No, Darryl's golfed as if this was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard. That would be a dangerous assumption to make. Is that what you think? No, do you remember the last time somebody let the guard down?

4:08Cassandra shot him a furious glare. Of course she remembered. Of course it still haunted her. They had once had another neighbor to the north, Esther. She was still alive somewhere, but her house now stood empty at the forest edge, her property so overgrown you couldn't distinguish its border. No one ever went to Esther's house. The pitiful shame of such a beautiful home sitting empty was not lost on the jollies, but the house stood empty for good reason. This emptiness was how Darryl, Cassandra, and Beninu Esther was still alive. As long as she owned and controlled that house, nobody would be moving in. Esther had lived alone after her kid flew the coop. The father had died valiantly fighting forest fires before they even graduated high school. Esther had faced life without her husband, likely in the same manner he had faced his own fate, with stoic bravery and resolve utterly fearless. She had also served as a century of the forest. She would call her neighbor's own either side whenever a suspicious looking animal appeared it had from between the trees. She had helped them build traps and shed books or periodical she found which might relate to their shrouded enemy. Esther had been a true warrior.

5:09However, no amount of bravery, fearlessness or tenacity could prepare her for what would come. Her son and daughter in law were in a life-altering crash with a semi-truck in the highway. Miraculously, Recki was pulled both of the children from the reckons gate. The parents survived their critical injuries after a harrowing night of surgeries, but both had months of recovery ahead. There would be an end out of the hospital constantly, and overseeing their young children was out of the question. Aria was nine at the time, and I was only six. Aria and Ike moved in with Esther until their parents were capable enough to run the home again. That was the plan anyway. When Esther had agreed to take them, she didn't realize Aria's dog, a slian, would be coming along. A slian, named after C. S. Lewis is a conicotlean, was a loyal golden retriever who stuck by Aria's side anywhere she went. He terrified Esther because she didn't know how to read a dog. She couldn't read his eyes well enough to know if he was really in there. The dog, the friendly and sweet, was a vulnerability Esther and not expected nor prepared for. She told young Aria to keep a close eye on a slian and to never let him into the woods.

6:10Why? Aria had asked. Esther told her, for us are dangerous places, this one in particular. If your dog goes in there, he may never come out again. None of you, and that includes a slian, are to go near the forest for any reason. Within the first week of the children's day, Esther's only rule was broken. Aria had tied a slian up in the yard with a tether she had brought. She was sketching him in her notebook, as she often did when he was outside, his golden fur blowing and silky waves down his body. A slian himself patrolled the grounds, sniffing every blade of grass, each downed lion, when suddenly his head shot up and his body aligned like an arrow pointed at the forest. A defensive growl rumbled in his throat, causing Aria to look up from her drawing. No sooner had she asked, what is it, boy? Then she saw the possum. She had never seen such a creature, and in her initial reaction, wondered how a rat and a pig created an offspring together. The possum froze, but did not play dead as they are apt to do. One of its oddly thoughtful lies stood at a slian, then wandered to Aria. His gaze upon her felt disgusting. Aria shivered and sprouted goose bumps as if the thing had laked her rather than simply

7:13ganced her way. Come on, a slian, she said, stand into take him inside. A slian remained focused on the possum like a missile ready to launch. When Aria touched him, he jerked, yanking his tether partially out of the ground. A slian, Aria scolded. She felt under his collar for the tether's clasp, but found it so taught she was afraid to disconnect it, lusse he bolt. She tipped at his collar in an effort to pull him back, but felt utterly helpless against his strength. This was the first time a good dog had ever refused to cooperate with her. It scared her as much as the strange animal at the edge of the woods. The possum hissed aggressively. Aria returned to see its standing on both legs with its front poles raised by its head. Aria, a city girl of only 9 years old, could not have known how bizarre this behavior was. Sons are, by nature, nocturnal creatures, and they are by no means brave. As mentioned, their single defense is to play dead and hope whatever is hunting them leaves them alone. Even unaware of these facts, Aria still desperately wanted to be away from the creature. A slian, come on, she grunted as she leaned all her way against his pulley.

8:14Being tugged in two directions caused a slian's collar to snap. Before Aria realized what had happened, the dog gripped across the yard like a bullet. His shimmering body seemed to float above his pumping legs. The possum dropped and scurred into the underbrush. A slian followed. Aria looked nervously up at the house, wondering if her grandmother had seen a slian go into the woods. She had specifically warned Aria not to let him do that. She was too afraid to call his name, lest her grandmother hear her and learn that she had been disobeyed. It isn't fair Aria thought. I didn't mean to let him go. She sat in the grass and cried as the splashing sounds of a slian crashing through the leaves faded away. But a slian was a good dog. He returned not five minutes later, wearing his giant grin and trotting like a shoeproony. Aria met him halfway across the yard and threw her arms around him, then nourished him into the house to put on his spare collar. When they were inside, a slian cycled up to Aik, who was sitting at the dining room table coloring. Hey boy, he said, patting the dog's head. A slian stayed at excite even after Aria called him to her room.

9:16He wouldn't listen. She chided him as she brought the collar out and put it on. A new collar? Esther asked, walking into the dining room with rubber gloves and a sponge. Aria lied. I like to mix it up sometimes. Tyler Reddick here from 2311 Racing, another checkered flag for the books. Time to celebrate with Chamba. Jump in at chambacacino.com. Let's Chamba. Don't purchase necessary. BTW Group. Boy, we're prohibited by law. CCNC. 21 Plus. Sponsored by Chamba Cacino. You're a jamming near a favorite song. And while you aren't missing a beat, you could be missing a signal from your body. It's an SOS from your kidneys and it doesn't sound like music at all. It's silent. High blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and other risk factors can quietly stress the kidneys, leading to negative impacts on the heart. That's what you should ask your doctor about a simple urine test called UACR. Most miss the signal for hidden kidney disease and related heart risk. You shouldn't. Visit, detect the SOS.com today to learn more. That night, S. Lan Lafer is room to sleep in Ix.

10:18Ari didn't notice he was gone until the next morning. She was surprised when I came out of his bedroom for breakfast with S. Lan and Toe. Your dog wouldn't let me sleep, he said grogally. Why? Ari asked. I don't know. I think he was staring at me all night. Ari shook her head. That doesn't sound like him. Maybe you were dreaming. I wasn't even sleeping, I grubbed it. They left the subject alone as they ate the oatmeal and yogurt ester had prepared for them. A S. Lan's behavior settled to normal over the next two days, with exception being he continued to go to Ix Room at night. His entire life he had slept with area. She wanted to talk to her granny about it, but she was afraid Esther might discover a S. Lan had gone into the woods if she brought it up. His foray into the forest was the only abnormal event took her before the behavioral shift. On the third night, a S. Lan left Ari's room after she had fallen asleep. He nudged Ix door open, then stood in the doorway, perfectly still, watching the boy. Without provocation, the dog issued a box of faint might have been called a whisper. The sound broke enough to wake little like while his sister and granny slept soundly.

11:19A S. Lan? I gasped rubbing his eyes. The dog only waited in the doorway with expectant patience. You need to go out? I gasped. A S. Lan tilted his head. I get Ariya, Ix said. He lifted his small covers and swung his shot legs out from beneath him. His feet couldn't quite touch the floor yet. He slid down the side of the bed clumsily, padded over to the door and slipped past S. Lan. He took no more than three tiptoes steps toward room before S. Lan growled and nipped at his hand. It wasn't a bite, more of a kiss, but it frightened Ix. A S. Lan had never lashed out in any manner before. Is something wrong? I casted you into me to S. Lan's eyes. The dog jerked its head away and sidled toward the dining room. Ix whisper, what are you doing, boy? A S. Lan ran sideways toward the back door, smiling at Ix all the way. Okay, okay, Ix said as he caught up and took hold of a S. Lan's collar. As to had hammered an ale into the wall just outside the back door on which to hang the end of a S. Lan's tether. Since he was normally an obedient dog, they could usually hold him back while they cracked the door open and grabbed the end of the tebber off the wall.

12:22On this night, when Ix slid the door open, a S. Lan bolted. Ix fingers burned as a S. Lan's synthetic collar slid through them. He looked up just in time to see the dog's tail vanish into the black. A S. Lan, he whispered into the dark. A S. Lan. But the usually responsive dog did not return or reply. Ix looked novously back toward the bedrooms. If he lost the dog, even for a single night, his sister would never trust him again. She might not even love him anymore. And his granny, she would just be mad. Some mad that he and a dog, which she openly disliked, had caused trouble and upset his sister. He had to make a S. Lan come back. Ix took his granny's flashlight and stepped onto the back deck. The breath of the forest rushed past as the door closed behind him. Ix swung the flashlight's beam from left to right, but saw no sign of his sister's beloved dog. He leapt over the steps so as not to make them creak and landed like a deflighting bird in the grass and clover. A few steps away from the house, he called a S. Lan's name again, louder. S. Lan's muffled and distant bark resonated through the trees. With immense hesitation and measurable terror, a wait only by the dread of admitting his

13:24mistake to Arya, I cappurched the looming forest. He stumbled over an exposed root of an oak tree and tripped up to the tree line he had been so strictly forbidden to cross. Only his flashlight brought any comfort in the glimmy woods, which blanketed across the sky. S. Lan, he called through the trees. Again, he heard a distant and playful whiff. Come here, boy. The dog responded again, this time in an excited tone which seemed to implore Ike to come. Without a thought to how easily a young child such as himself could become lost in the woods, wasn't that the very moral spirit of the many fairy tales he had been read throughout his short life. Ike journeyed toward the pet. He came to a y-tree on which he leaned both for rest and security. A great horned owl sped by overhead, hooting furiously as it beat its wings. He al-swooped below branches until it was out of sight. With his small, wavering voice I cried for S. Lan once more. The dogs were blackened from behind a very tree on which Ike was resting. I'm here, boy. Ike exclaimed as he ran around the rough trunk. His eyes scanned the ground for protruding roots so as not to trip over another.

14:25When he had traced a semicircle around the great tree, his light revealed a terrible creature. At the first glimpse of its bendy fingers in the flashlight's aperture, Ike stopped cold and shirked on his own breath, wanting to scream but finding himself unable to, as if in a nightmare. And perhaps he was. Or rather, he had discovered one of the evils from which our nightmares attempt to warn us. The monster shared a similar size and stature to the golden retriever's land, but bore no further resemblance. Its head was like a human's, only where the eye should have been, there were only bulbous foids of blackness which glowed when Ike's beam shone directly into them, but swallowed all of their light. Its nose was that of eroded corpse, hollowed out and bisected by thin, dangling cartilage. It had no lips and wore Chelsea Grin, a toothy smile running from ear to ear. Mangy black hair dangled and thin strands from its pale scalp. The rest of the creature's form was sunken and emissated. The general structure of its bones was human, but it appeared content to walk on four legs instead of two. Ike broke from his momentary stupor and backed away, turning side with simultaneously in preparation to run in the direction in which he assumed he had come.

15:25But he forgot in his terror. The roots. Once more, his small foot caught on one and he fell painfully to the earth. As he scrambled to his hands and knees, a powerful hand, ice cold, impacted his back and forced him into the dirt. Ike screamed for a slan, desperately beating the dog to come save him, but the remains of a slan's body lay somewhere deeper in the forest, already as cold as the hand which now held Ike down. Iso cold the deputy's the next morning when she and I were failed to locate either Icoors slan. Iso feared the worst, the very worst. A possibility so grim, yet impossible to share with the deputy's due to its fantastically macabre nature. She sent Aria with the deputy to be delivered back to her parents until another arrangement could be made and not an eye too soon. Aria had not even reached her destination when Ike's party was discovered in the woods. Something had consumed his eyes tongue and heart. It had cracked open his skull and eaten his brain. It had taken his organs which defined Ike's being, his very essence, and left the restaurant. Esther abandoned her long time home after that. She maintained ownership of the house in land, forbidding anyone else to go there with

16:27the exception of her neighbors, sterile and Cassandra Jolly and Benny McCaffrey. To them she left keys and granted permission to visit her property if doing so was necessary for the protection and preservation of their own. She understood that her absence left a hole in the god, the watches of the wood. Benny called Darrell again two days later. Jolly he growled upon Darrell's answer. Benny, what's new? Darrell asked. I've got something to show you. How'd a minute to stop over? Darrell said, let me check my schedule and laugh. Benny did not share in the humor. Come quick and for God's sake, do not follow your wife's path. Stay out of those damn woods on your way. Darrell said, of course, dropping all guys of humor. I'll be there in 20 minutes. Benny repeated 20 minutes. Stay out of the woods. Darrell told Cassandra he was going to Benny's and she asked to come with. Darrell told her she hadn't been invited and with Benny's sire disposition toward her recent behavior, it might be unwise for her to show up and announce. Sandra pointed out that Benny might be put more at ease by the two of them coming together.

17:29It can pretend to be one of us, but not both, she said. Darrell told her to get her shoes. Benny was waiting for them on his porch when they circled the forest, steering well clear of the tree's grasping branches. Darrell immediately sold a consternation Cassandra's presence had set upon their neighbor. I thought it'd be just you, he called across his yard as they approached. Cassie made a good point, Darrell said. He allowed Cassandra to explain her reasoning and to both of their surprise, Benny smiled. Come in, both of you. Cassandra, it's probably good that you're here, now that I think of it. What I've got inside might convince you to stay away from that damn short could you love so much. Benny led them into his den where he had an old but functional laptop pop open on a writing desk. You remember those cameras, wind stalls, don't you? He asked Darrell. The couple nodded. Darrell had risked a foray into the forest with Benny to help him install Fortreya cameras about a year ago. They had strategically placed them at complimentary angles within the first hundred feet of trees. Cassandra had aided Benny in setting up the wireless connection to his laptop so he could download and review the camera's footage without having to return to the woods.

18:31I've been checking them daily since we put them in, Benny said. Most days they get triggered by birds and squirrels, but last night, Benny trailed off as he queued up a video file with a generic date stunt name. The video opened in a new window and Benny pressed the space button to play it. Immediately, a dear coloured lime green by the night vision lens lapt on to the screen. He pounced from somewhere off camera then stood stutuous, facing slightly away. It appeared to be listening intently. Benny's camera did not record audio so it was impossible to tell what the animal might be hearing. Then he batted the video up and paused it after the first second. Do you see it? He asked. Darrell and Cassandra leaned in until their faces were nearly touching. Neither of them saw anything strange though. Benny said, no. Look at the angle again. He replayed the handful of frames in which the deer came into the camera's view. It looked like perhaps it had jumped over something, a bush or a fallen tree in order to land where it had. When its front legs connected with the ground, its hind legs were still higher than its head. It jumped out of a tree, Benny said with mild consternation.

19:32They'll be silly, scolded Cassandra. I've seen those things jump fences before. It probably jumped over A. Listen to me, Benny cut in. I know where this camera is. Darrell, do you remember? You helped me install it. It's mounted to a trunk of a tree and nothing jumped straight over it. Oh, Benny, I don't know. Oh, you too. Benny slammed the laptop shut and stood up faster than he had in a decade, fueled by frustrated rage. I'm not surprised that you doubt Cassandra. You wouldn't go gallivanting through the woods if you truly believed in what's looking there. Darrell hovered a hand in front of Cassandra and said, Benny, that's not fair. But nope. Benny shoved an authentic finger into Darrell's sunken chest. If I show you some evidence that it's coming near our homes again, I expect you to react appropriately. Where are your guns, Dolly? You locked up in your safe? What? You got kids running about that I haven't seen. Who are you predicting? Because it certainly ain't yourselves. Get those damn things out, oil them up and keep them loaded, because this thing's coming back if it ain't here already.

20:33Could be sitting outside listening to us right now. The jolly stood silent with steady blank expressions. Outside a single raven called Roxley from the woods. No one said it, but all three of them wondered if only for a moment, if that which made the sound was truly a raven or any kind of bird at all. The guns are ready, Darrell said calmly, and I appreciate you trying to warn us, Benny, I do. I don't know what I did jump from, but you're right, it's good to be on alert these days. It jumped out of a treat because it's not really a deer, Benny doubled down. Now can I get you two coffers, or do you have somewhere important to be? After a considerate befriendly conversation over mugs of steaming coffee, the jolly's parted ways with Benny to return home. The subject of the torment were always sired the mood, but with that aside, they were all friends. Much like the effects of politics and religion on a conversation, the subject of a shapeshifter had a tendency to drive a wedge between them when it should tie them together. Before the jolly's left Benny for the evening, Darrell suggested he email any further videos of the deer to him. He said that, even though he wasn't convinced yet, it would be smart to keep an eye on the animal. The jolly's ate a small dinner when they got home from Benny's house.

21:36They retreated to the den to read until dark. Without provocation, Darrell suddenly slammed the biography of some more general shot. Cassandra's eyes instinctively raised from the pages of her novel to meet her husbands. He looked at her with such great sadness as to instill the same feeling in her. Prompted by nothing but the willing ardor and Darrell's glimmering eyes, she felt her throat swelling as too's pressed delicately from within. Please talk to me, she whisper. What's bothering you? Why do you do it Cassie? Darrell asks solemnly. I'm not upset at you, not in the angry way. I just want to know why. Why do you go into the forest? Cassandra immediately became defensive, saying, it's only a little way, but Darrell cut her off. Before you would have gone within a hundred feet of the forsaken place, but now you say, it's only a little way in, as if taking your shock it doesn't risk all of our lives. Yours, mine, Benny's. Cassie, if I ever hear your voice calling to me from those woods, even if I was standing over your cold, dead body, I would still follow your voice. I die. And then he did cry. Cassandra tried to hold back, but found the swelling river of tears too turbulent for

22:39her damn. If I let myself be afraid, she said, sniffling, then I'm admitting to myself what might be out there. Damn it, Cassie, we know what's out there, a Daryl cried. Not an anger, but a passionate longing for his wife to understand how she tormented him. This outburst sent Cassandra into fitful solbs. Darrell made to speak to offer some small comfort, but she waived a hand to silence him and raised a finger, sickening him to wait. Once she could control her voice, she spoke again. If I'd admit what's in the forest, and yes, love, I do know a deep down, then I have to accept what happened to, what happened to that poor child. And Darrell account. Darrell's tears, large and rare, trip from his stoic faces he watched a beloved face across from him right in bitter anguish. Cassandra said, all these years we've waited and watched, and for what? When it really mattered, we weren't there to save him. And ever since I've just felt so hopeless and lonely Darrell, I felt so alone. Darrell swallowed and said, but I'm here. I've always been here. Cassandra looked away, unsure of how to make her husband understand. He was right.

23:40He had been there. He had been so present and strong, a steadfast support. A pillar, but like one of the sturdy pillars surrounding the crumbling poffinon. His personal strength could do nothing to save the ruin of their shared life. Cassandra did not hold this against him. How could she? Yet, she sometimes resented his strength and how it had kept them from running far away from their plot of land and the woods which boarded it. Why did he have to take it on himself to guard against the evil in the forest and by a association, charge her with the same burden? Darrell, she said, still not looking at him. Do you ever think it might be time to pass the torch to someone else? Maybe someone with the energy to end this instead of constantly living in this. Hell, Darrell finished for her. I know it's Hell Cassie. She finally looked back to him, saw the resolve which had replaced the sorrow in his eyes, and pressed no further. Well, what's up, booze? Man of the J.U. Saw her from the WWE. When it's just me between matches, it's day one-ish. No purchase necessary, VGW Group Void were prohibited by law, CTs and Cs, 21 Plus, sponsored

24:54by Chumba Casino. The phone rang shortly after sunrise. Darrell answered, any? He asked. He didn't know who else it would be. Charlie, I hope I'm not waking you, but this can't wait. It's out there, and it's close. Do you see it? Darrell asked, dropping his voice lowers if the monster might hear him. Not with my own eyes, no, Benny said, but I'm checking the cameras right now. The same one I showed you yesterday cut something again. What is it this time? Darrell asked. I do again, but I've never seen it do this before. I don't want you going out, so I'll try to email this to you. I'm sure I shouldn't just come by, Benny. No. No, stay inside. You'll get the video soon. I'll check the rest and see if any other camera's caught it. Maybe we can get an idea for where it went. The men discussed the respective fortifications while Darrell awaited the email video, his own computer dinged in a den, interrupting their conversation with Benny still in the line. Darrell opened the video file. It started similarly to the previous one, with the deer jumping into the picture. This time it jumped from in front of the camera, though. And Darrell could clearly see it, it had leapt over an angled lock. Okay. I see it today, he said, into the phone.

25:55Just keep watching. Many ordered the deer's head jerked toward the camera, it turned its eyes to the lens. Locking on, the animal crept toward the camera, keeping its eyes trained directly into the lens. They weren't looking at the camera in general, but the lens specifically. Darrell felt, as if somehow it was looking through time and seeing him sitting in front of his computer in the present. Well, it's a little creepy, he admitted, Benny didn't respond. The deer's nose came with an afoot of the camera, and yet still his eyes were focused. They didn't have the vacant innocence of a normal deer's eyes, but a furious gravity. They were the asafrite. The deer tilted its head, dumb, and sorted, was no longer looking down its nose to see the lens. I suppose, it remained puffed at the still until the video ended, the solid caught Darrell at the camera's recommotion. Benny answered, it stayed still so long the camera stopped detecting it, the camera turned back on VR was later. And what did it at the time, after an extensive pause? Benny said, the so-called deer turning around and walking away, was the camera at exactly the one it stared at. Darrell laughed, about 200 yards from my place. Maybe 100 from esters, that puts it at. What? A quarter mile from us, Darrell laughed. Benny thought, then said, I'd say so, I'll give you another cold if I see it again. I'd appreciate that, and we'll call you if we see anything here.

26:55The man hung up, Cassandra startled Darrell as he placed the phone back on the hook. She had been lingering just behind him, listening, someone should be stationed at esters place, she said. That's where it would last time. What if it remembers and goes there again? But no one's living there now. Benny replied, so what if it goes there? Well, something must have drawn it back after Solon, Cassandra argued. What if someone from Master's family decided to move in without telling her? I mean, it must all think she's insane. Darrell tried to protest, but Cassandra cut him off, I'm going, Darrell, I won't go in the house. I won't even go near the yard. I'll only get close enough to see if anyone's rot caught there. Darrell wanted to tell Cassandra to stay, but years of experience told him there was nothing he could do to keep her from going. He resigned and told her to use caution and trust no one. Even if it's just old Benny, you think he's seen? Run straight home. He's afraid he won't be leaving the house. I don't think Cassandra set out to check on S's property with a 22 rifle from the small arsenal. The light gun was all she could shoot with any accuracy. She had once been a match better shot after years of practice alongside Darrell, but the same years had taken such a toll on her body as to make it easily rattled by the boom and kick of a more powerful gun, halfway between the property and S's abandoned one.

27:55Cassandra saw the last thing she had expected. Despite what she told Darrell, she did not expect to see anyone at S's house. It had simply been an excuse to go out and do something, anything but sit around and wait. She had certainly not expected to see Esther herself at the house, but yet, there she was. Leaning over the banister of her small roodeck, staring into the forest. And there was her car. The roof barely showing over the top of the uncut grass around the driveway, as a look more pallet and frail than Cassandra remembered, but she supposed that aligned. The grief alone must have been enough to strip half a decade from S's already considerable life. And sure, if her long-time friend was even capable of seeing her, Cassandra weighed Esther wave back immediately, Esther turned toward the dick stairs and gingerly made her way down them, Cassandra quickened her step. Ego agreed to her lost friend and asked what had brought her back. She forgot her worry that someone moving into S's may have provoked the monster to return. Esther waited through her backyard with a slight limp. The girls from this Cassandra remembered and her friends gated gone, replaced by an uneven and sure saw out of how blunt the act of taking a single step appeared to cause her great pain. Esther, Cassandra called brightly, that so good to see you, Esther made no replies, she continued forward, she appeared to soften all of her energy into each step. She slowed, still a few yards away from Cassandra, then stopped, way there, alcantiy

28:58Cassandra yelled, she cooking to her own step, Esther waved to her and replies she hunched over to catch her breath, she didn't look up, even as Cassandra finally reached her, she stood beside her panting friend and placed her hand on her back, on the thin dress, which did little to disguise the frigid skin beneath Cassandra yanked her hand back. Esther's back felt waxy, like hard packed clay, on a riverbank it fell sickly or dead, SS suddenly snatched Cassandra's wrist and began to straighten up Cassandra yanked her hand away from the zombie grip of the thing she had mistaken for her friend, when their eyes met. She wondered how she ever could have mistaken this hideous pretend of a sweet Esther, it bore a vague resemblance in body and face, but his eyes were hollow, his subpoetrant livelands, they looked hungry, hungry, and insatiable as if hunger was their returtal coast. Back, Cassandra screamed, she herself took an obtuse step backward and slid the gun off her shoulder. The shapeshift and nimble across the gout, Cassandra gripped her rifle firmly in both hands and gave the creature a shelf that wrapped it fingers around the weapon and held tight, as they played a grave yet brief game of tug of war, Cassandra's fur was quickly replaced by vital tear. The monster she realised was toying with her, it could at any point strip her of the weapon she had so foolishly thought might provide her any protection, it pulled. She stumbled, it yanked, she recovered and tried to regain control, again and again,

30:00this pattern continued as the women, one pretend, and one real physically argued over the gun Cassandra realised with sudden dread that she had inadvertently been drugged to the edge of the forest, she looked into the face of her adversary and so it had begun to change. The skin atop its head appeared to arrive like a horde of tiny insects as his house which resembled S.O.'s crawled back into its head, its nose retreated and its mouth. Sinister grin expanded outward toward the holes which had a moment before resembled human ears there, at the edge of the forest, Cassandra finally surrendered the rifle, hoping the creature couldn't or wouldn't use the gun. She released it to turn to her back, and fled, her own house was much too far for her to run to on her creaking knees and it can hit, she ran instead toward Estas, she had a key to the front door still, Esther had left one for the jolly's and one for banion case of emergency, Cassandra didn't look back while she ran harder than she had run in over a decade, she couldn't run any faster, if it was going to catch her, and do whatever it did to people, she would rather be caught by surprise than suffer doing anxiety before the inevitable end, the creature did not use the gun, nor had Cassandra really expected it to, but she was surprised it allowed her to reach Esther's front door and say she knew the thing could have got her easily, but it had let her escape, while she unlocked the door and went and say, a malignant stench infected her son's asses immediately

31:01upon entering the house, there was no time to check, but Cassandra knew the smell was her last friend. Estas' friend was still hanging in the wall, Cassandra went to it, hoping Esther had somehow had it reconnected, Darryl waited for 20, then 30 minutes for Cassandra to return, when she had been gunned for nearly three quarters of an hour, he called Benny, he asked if his wife had turned up a Benny's after checking on Esther's house, but Benny said he hadn't seen her, he let her out of the house with the thing lurking around, Benny queues, what was I supposed to do, Darryl asked, she's her own person, Benny, not a child, I can order around, well, her behavior says otherwise, said Benny, he said, I'll keep an eye out and call if she stops over, if she before Benny could finish, there was a knock on Darryl's door, he asked Benny to hold and went to the window, he saw Cassandra, standing on the front porch, holding the 22 and looking sweaty and exhausted, picking the phone back up, he told Benny Cassandra was back in that he had to go, then hung up, he stood behind the door and asked Cassie, oh Darryl, thank god, she exclaimed, down in the window, it was there, at Estas, I saw it, they tried to trick me, but I realized what it was and I ran, Darryl was about to open the door to fold his wife into safety, but posed with the lock half return, he asked, why didn't you just come inside when you got here, instantly,

32:03Cassandra replied, I had Mackie's out at Estas, but when I saw the monster, I accidentally dropped them, he said you weren't going inside, Estas, Darryl growled suspiciously, I know, I know, but once I got there, Darryl, you have to let me in, please, that's still out here somewhere, Darryl was still suspicious, but he wouldn't be able to live with himself, if his wife was taken by the monster right outside the door while he listened, her flimsy story would not have been enough to convince him to open the door if she didn't also have the gun she had left with, he had never seen the shade should have recreated an object before, without another word, he turned over the lock and opened the door, the thing wearing Cassandra's face pounced inside, Darryl barely had time to realize his mistake before his life came to a sudden, blood washed and, Benny, it was Darryl's force coming through the door, Benny grunted and went to the window, he looked out and saw his neighbor standing on the door met outside, what are you doing here, why didn't you call, he asked aggressively through the glass, I'm sorry Darryl replied, I couldn't wait for Cassie any longer and decided to look for her, I didn't expect to end up here or I would have called first, well, she's not here, so move on, Benny said, Benny please, they've been out here looking for her for almost an hour, can I just use your phone to call my house and see if she's back there, maybe I missed her, you stay right there, jolly, I'll call for you, Benny said, a moment later, he was listening to

33:07the jolly's phone ring while he kept his eye on Darryl through the window, as the phone ran and knocked him at his back door, he thought he heard Cassandra's voice accompany it, jolly, Benny called through the window, there was no answer on the phone, this that you're wife around back, I'm not sure if Darryl answered, I didn't see her come up here unless, unless she came from the woods Benny, usually comment rational, now started to lose his grip, now you listen jolly, I've got you here, and your wife back there, and I can't be sure either of your who you say you are, do you understand my decision, maybe you're both who you say, or maybe one of you wants to come in here and rip me apart, why don't you both go on home, I'll be keeping my doors locked, thank you, don't make me get my gun, good lord, Benny, no need for that, there's a way you could know if it's Cassie back there, Darryl said, Benny aft, how she took a gun with her, a Winchester, 22, co-look a run back and see if she's got it, if she does, this Cassie, Benny didn't answer, but went instead to the back door, it had a window in the top half-reach Benny had boarded up years ago, there was still a slip between the boards through which he could see through the window, he saw Cassandra jolly's downing out there, she looked tacky and pale like she had just run for her life, and he might have believed she had if she'd been holding a Winchester 22, but Cassandra jolly's hands were empty, Benny went straight to the front door and opened it

34:09as quietly as he could, he could tell Darryl was going to say something, probably thank him, but he raised a finger to his lips to silence the other man, he gestured for him to come and close the door, once the door was closed, Benny whispered for Darryl to have a seat and say out of sight he'd return to the back door, be gone, beast, he shouted through the boards, he'll receive no invitation here, no, Benny, it's me, Cassandra pledged she was, in truth, the real Cassandra, please, you have to let me in, I just fought the creature, offered I'm afraid it's after me now, I hid in S's house until it left, then came here, you're much closer to S's than we are, I won't believe you lies, Cassandra jolly always takes the path through the woods, I guess you finally got her, no, Benny, go away, he shouted definitively, I will not open any doors to you, he heard Cassandra break into solbs as she turned away and run from the door, he watched through the slid until she was gone, then returned to where he had left Darryl in the living room, though any Darryl wasn't there, jolly, Benny called out, she's gone, I sent her packing, good, a hideous voice, nothing like Darryl, jolly's came from behind and slightly above Benny, he turned in its direction and saw it as door did, pale beast clinging to the ceiling in a corner of the room, before a scream could escape his lungs, the monster lipped from above and

35:11tore out Benny's throat, Cassandra was horrified to find the house empty when she returned, Darryl hadn't left any sort of no, but she guessed he had gone looking for her, this realization left her feeling sick with guilt, what if something terrible happened to her husband because she had been too stubborn and hard headed to listen to him, what if that thing had tricked him as it had tricked her, what had he said to her the night before, that he would follow her voice even if he was standing over her cold dead body, it had sounded so stupid and unreasonable to her then, but now it made her heartache, what if that thing had lured him into the woods disguised as her, have fears were abated when she glanced through the window and saw her lumbering husband crossing the yard, he looked beaten and worried, eager to put him at ease Cassandra ran outside, she ran directly into Doros arms, as she approached he grinned, at he wrapped his arms around her she felt how naturally cold they were, Darryl's grin continued to spread up to his ears, the white grin and the hollow parallelizing eyes above it, with the less thin Cassandra Jolly ever saw.

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