THE HOWLING DARK

nced between the two men, both now avoiding her gaze, as though the topic itself was something dangerous. She couldn't shake

her hands on a rag. She cast Emma a sharp look, then nodded toward the b

when she didn't want certain conversations to continue. Emma hesitated but followed Ru

t a couple of glasses and began polishing them slowly, her hands tremblin

't you?" Ruth finally

ing on in the woods? Wh

. "It's not just people disappearing," she muttered. "Some things happen out there. Th

ase. "But why? Why does it happ

ent, Emma wondered if Ruth would just shut down, not answering. But th

ust me. The forest is a part of Greywood, but not in the way you think. It's not just trees and animals out ther

trying to piece together the scattered bits of information she had, but

ked, her voice quiet, almos

the last one, just last week," she said, almost to herself. "He went out for a walk, same as always. People thought it was just him losing his way in the dark,

he howling creatures in the forest

en they spoke, it was like their voices were someone else's. There's something in those woods, something old and twisted. People think it's a curse, or worse. But the ones who went out there..."

an incantation: *They either disappear or come back wrong.* She had to k

woods?" Emma asked again, her vo

she wanted to say more, but then, as quickly as the moment passed, she closed off. "Some things are better left unknown, Emma

a cold fear was crawling up her spine. Whatever it was, whatever haunted the woods, Ruth cle

for now. The thought of returning to the woods didn't seem like an option anymore, but t

mth in it. "Just remember what I said," she warne

e last thing," Ruth called after her. "If you're going to ask around, ask about the old familie

ire didn't quite reach her anymore. The shadows seemed darker, deeper, and the conversations in the room now felt like whispers from ano

of the woods, of the disappearances, of the people who came back wrong. She couldn't shake the image of Josh, the man who'd gone out for

eywood had a pull on her-a dark, invisible thread that she couldn't se

e had in Greywood, but she was starting