Web of lies

A Glimpse of Fear

The car rattled along the narrow dirt road, the headlights piercing the darkness ahead as Zoya navigated through the dense woods. Rhea's heart pounded in sync with the steady rhythm of the tires over gravel and twigs. The trees loomed like ancient guardians, their branches arching overhead, intertwining in a canopy that blotted out the moonlight. An unsettling quiet enveloped them, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant hoot of an owl.

“Are you sure the cabin is up here?” Rhea asked, her voice barely above a whisper. The last thing she wanted was for Zoya to doubt their decision. “What if we’re just driving deeper into danger?”

Zoya cast a quick glance at her, her expression a mix of determination and fear. “Trust me, it’s just a little further. My family used to come here all the time. It’s safe—at least, it used to be.”

The word used echoed in Rhea’s mind, a haunting reminder that safety was often an illusion. She stared out of her window, trying to focus on anything other than the dread swirling inside her. Shadows danced along the path, flickering in and out of view like fleeting thoughts, and every rustle in the underbrush made her jump.

Finally, they reached a clearing, and there stood the cabin, a weathered structure with peeling paint and a sagging roof, nestled among the trees. The headlights illuminated the front porch, casting long shadows that stretched across the ground.

“Here we are,” Zoya said, pulling the car to a stop. She turned off the engine, and an eerie silence fell over them, amplifying Rhea’s apprehension.

“Let’s just get inside,” Rhea urged, unbuckling her seatbelt and stepping out into the cool night air. The scent of damp earth and pine needles filled her lungs, grounding her momentarily. But the weight of uncertainty pressed heavily on her chest.

They hurried up the creaky steps to the porch, Rhea glancing over her shoulder as if expecting the shadowy figure from the motel to emerge from the trees. Zoya fumbled with the keys, her fingers trembling.

“Come on, come on,” she muttered, finally managing to unlock the door and push it open.

Inside, the cabin was dark, the air thick with dust and the scent of old wood. Zoya flipped on a few light switches, and dim yellow light filled the main room, illuminating a small kitchen, a worn-out sofa, and a fireplace that had long since gone cold.

“It’s not much, but it’ll do for now,” Zoya said, stepping inside and letting the door swing shut behind them.

Rhea took a deep breath, trying to quell the rising anxiety. “We need to barricade the door or something,” she suggested, glancing at the single front door that offered no other defense against the outside world.

“Right,” Zoya replied, scanning the room for something to use. “I’ll find something.”

Rhea moved to the window, pulling aside the sheer curtains to peer out into the darkness. The woods surrounded them like a fortress, and the stillness was unnerving. It felt as if the very trees were holding their breath, waiting for something to happen.

“Do you think they followed us?” Rhea asked, her voice a mere whisper.

“I don’t know,” Zoya replied, her tone heavy with worry. “But we need to be prepared. If they did, we can’t let them in.”

Just then, a loud crash echoed from outside, sending Rhea’s heart into her throat. She spun around to look at Zoya, whose face had gone pale.

“What was that?” Rhea asked, her voice shaking.

“I don’t know,” Zoya breathed, her eyes wide with fear. “Stay here.”

Zoya crept toward the door, moving cautiously as if she were approaching a wild animal. Rhea watched, her heart pounding, her instincts screaming at her to call Zoya back, to run away from the door and the unknown lurking just beyond.

“Zoya, wait!” Rhea hissed, but it was too late. Zoya had already opened the door, peering out into the night.

The crash had come from the side of the cabin, a place Rhea couldn’t see. The moonlight filtered through the branches, casting strange shadows that twisted and turned.

“Is anyone there?” Zoya called out, her voice trembling slightly.

Rhea’s stomach knotted as she stepped closer to the door, her eyes scanning the dark outline of the woods. “This isn’t a good idea,” she whispered. “We should just—”

Suddenly, a figure stepped out from behind a tree, just outside the reach of the light. Rhea froze, her breath hitching in her throat. The figure was tall, draped in shadows, and for a split second, she thought it was the same silhouette she had seen at the motel.

“Zoya!” Rhea shouted, grabbing her friend’s arm. “Get inside!”

Before Zoya could react, the figure lunged forward, moving with an unsettling speed. Rhea felt a surge of adrenaline as she yanked Zoya backward, slamming the door shut just as the figure reached them, banging against the wood.

“What the hell is going on?” Zoya yelled, panic flooding her voice.

Rhea pressed her back against the door, heart racing. “We need to barricade it! Now!”

They rushed to push a nearby coffee table against the door, their breaths quickening as the figure continued to pound on the other side. Rhea glanced around the dimly lit room, her mind racing for a plan.

“Is there a back exit?” she asked, scanning the walls for any sign of a second door.

“Just the bathroom window,” Zoya said, her eyes wide with fear. “But it’s too small for both of us to fit through. We’d have to split up.”

The thought made Rhea’s stomach drop. “No, we can’t! I’m not leaving you here!”

“We don’t have a choice!” Zoya shouted, the urgency in her voice cutting through the panic. “If we stay here, we might not get out at all!”

Rhea felt trapped, caught between fear and the need to protect her friend. “What do we do?”

“Listen!” Zoya pressed, her expression serious. “You have to go out the back and run for help. I’ll distract them here. Just make sure you find someone—anyone. Don’t stop until you do.”

Rhea opened her mouth to protest, but Zoya shook her head. “This isn’t up for debate! If I can hold them off, you might have a chance.”

Rhea’s heart raced, the gravity of the situation settling in. “But what if they come after you?”

“I’ll be fine,” Zoya insisted, her voice strong. “You’re the priority. Now go!”

Rhea’s mind raced as she nodded, knowing that Zoya’s decision was final. She grabbed Zoya’s hands, squeezing them tightly. “You better be okay.”

“I will be,” Zoya promised, a fierce determination in her eyes. “Now hurry!”

Rhea backed away from the door, her heart pounding in her ears as she made her way to the back of the cabin. The thudding against the front door echoed in her mind, a constant reminder of the danger closing in. She hesitated for just a moment before pushing through the narrow hallway to the bathroom.

Zoya’s voice carried behind her, a mixture of shouting and angry protest as she tried to keep the figure at bay. Rhea felt a surge of adrenaline as she opened the bathroom window, peering into the darkness beyond.

It was a tight fit, but she could see the ground below. Taking a deep breath, she climbed onto the counter and swung her legs out, wincing as she dropped down to the cold, hard ground.

She landed silently, glancing around to ensure no one was nearby. The air was thick with tension, and every sound felt amplified—the rustling of leaves, the distant call of a night bird, the pounding of her heart.

She couldn’t wait any longer. Rhea took off into the woods, her legs moving swiftly as she ran deeper into the trees. The shadows enveloped her, but she focused on the path ahead, pushing aside the fear that threatened to consume her.

With every step, she could hear the muffled sounds of Zoya’s struggle behind her. Rhea’s chest tightened as guilt gnawed at her. She had left Zoya behind.

But she had to survive. She had to find help.

The moonlight filtered through the branches, illuminating her path just enough to keep her moving. Rhea didn’t know where she was headed, but she couldn’t stop now. The darkness behind her felt like a living thing, closing in, and she could almost hear the whispers of the trees urging her to flee.

Then, just as she thought she might escape, she heard a sound that made her blood run cold—a low growl coming from somewhere in the shadows.

Rhea froze, her breath hitching in her throat as she turned slowly, scanning the darkness for the source of the noise.

And then she saw it—a pair of glowing eyes staring back at her from the depths of the trees.

Fear gripped her, rooting her in place as the creature stepped forward, its outline becoming clearer in the moonlight.