lammed the door shut behind her, leaning against it as her heart thudded like a drum. The events of the forest replayed

at her or Eli watching from the shadows, but the yard was empty. The for

her room. She didn't sleep much that night, the memory of Eli's voice e

swers, but Eli wasn't the kind of guy you could just corner and interrogate. Cla

id into the seat across from he

ied, smiling. "How's the a

ed before continuing. "

's not about algebra

at's the deal wit

re she quickly recovered. "I told you ye

the forest. He told me I shouldn't

entirely. "You wen

ice. "I couldn't sleep, so I decid

"The forest isn't safe, Lyla. People say the

p down her spine. "I s

s widened.

n eyes. It didn't hurt me, tho

Lyla, I don't know how much you've heard about this town, but Silverwood is different. People don't talk

appe

sing two years ago. He was last seen head

ned. "What does this

has lived here for generations. Some people say they... know the fore

, flipping through an old sketchbook. Drawing usually helped her relax, but tonight

h swing outside made her p

ea

ea

thing was sitti

hing, just the faint outline of the swing moving back and forth in the dim light of the porch. But the

hitched.

s he do

and hurried downstairs, ignoring the voice

aint scent of pine. Eli hadn't moved from his spot by the trees. His hands

anded, crossing her arms to hide th

eyes glinting in the faint light. "I

back. "But you didn'

rate and unhurried. Lyla held her groun

istened," he said, his voice calm

," Lyla countered. "Why

iercing hers. Finally, he spoke. "You don't belong in this. Yo

es everyone in this town act like I'm going to break some u

hat simple,

er anger outweighing her f

nd him. Lyla's stomach twisted as the sound echoed in the still ni

e said firmly,

t? W

a, n

rd the house, her heart racing as she slipped inside and locked the door. Peering through the

n, he w

Lyla dream

th. The air was alive with the sound of howls and the rustle of leaves. Shadows darted a

suns. It stared at her, unblinking, before throwing back its head and ho

light. She sat up, her chest heaving, and

ening to me?"

very noise, every movement, seemed amplified. She caught hers

ached her table with

ws?" Clara asked, sliding

creen. The headline m

sing Near Sil

't recognize, likely a hiker or a camper. The article mentioned

said quietly. "This

'd heard the previous night, Eli's cryptic warnings, t

d show up again. Hours passed, and just as she was about

grabbed her jacket and stormed out

she c

his express

"The missing man, the wolves, the

g exasperated. "Lyla, you don't underst

e seen things, Eli. I'm not imagining this. If y

er, as if weighing whether to

. "At the clearing where you saw

now?" L