The Skinwalker's Echo

Background: Two friends, Robin and Jordan, are texting late at night. Robin is at a remote cabin in the woods, while Jordan is in the city, miles away. The story unfolds over a series of increasingly sinister text messages.

Robin: Hey, you up?

Jordan: Always. What's up?

Robin: Weird stuff happening around the cabin. Heard someone calling my name outside.

Jordan: Probably just the wind. You're out there alone, right?

Robin: Yeah, but it sounded like my sister. She's not here, though.

Jordan: Creepy. Stay inside, lock the doors.

Robin hears tapping on the window and sends Jordan a panicked message.

Robin: Something's tapping on the glass. I swear I saw a shadow.

Jordan: Could be an animal. Don't go outside.

Robin sends a photo of a distorted shadow outside the window.

Robin: Look at this. Tell me I'm not crazy.

Jordan: That's... not normal. Call the local ranger station?

Robin: Already did. They said they'd send someone in the morning.

Jordan tries to keep Robin calm by changing the subject, asking about their day, but Robin is too scared to talk about anything else.

Robin: It's back. The voice. It's singing now. Like a lullaby my mom used to sing.

Jordan: That's impossible. Skinwalkers, though, they mimic voices, right? To lure people.

Robin: Don't joke about that.

The situation escalates with Robin describing how the door handle is slowly turning. Jordan tells Robin to barricade the door.

Robin: It stopped. Silence. Why would it stop?

Jordan: Maybe it's gone? Stay vigilant.

Robin decides to look through the peephole and describes seeing a figure resembling a loved one, but with horrifying, inhuman eyes.

Robin: It looks like my sister, but... wrong. Her eyes, Jordan. They're not human.

Jordan: Remember what you said about skinwalkers. Don't open the door.

Jordan suggests Robin use salt lines or symbols of protection, referencing folklore and urban legends.

Robin: Did it. I've salted the windows and doors. Feels silly.

Jordan: Anything helps. Stay safe until morning.

They exchange messages about folklore, trying to find a solution. Robin feels increasingly isolated as the entity outside mimics voices of more family members.

Robin: It's using Mom and Dad's voices now. Saying I should come out.

Jordan: Resist it. You know it's not them.

Jordan decides to drive to Robin despite the distance, promising to call every hour.

Robin: It's circling the cabin. I can hear it moving, whispering my name from all sides.

Jordan: I'm on my way. Keep the line open.

As Jordan drives, they exchange messages. Robin describes feeling a cold draft, as if the cabin itself is changing.

Robin: It's so cold here. Like the warmth is being sucked out.

Jordan: Hang in there. I'm speeding to get to you.

Robin, in a moment of desperation, thinks they've figured out a way to banish the entity. They attempt an old ritual found in a book left in the cabin.

Robin: Found this old book. Going to try something. If I don't text back, call the cops.

Jordan: Wait, Robin, let's think this through.

Silence. Jordan keeps texting, getting no response. They call, but it goes straight to voicemail.

Jordan: Robin, please. Answer me.

After an agonizing period of silence, Jordan receives a message from Robin's phone.

Unknown: So cold outside. Let me in.

Jordan: Robin? Is that you?

Unknown: So cold. Please.

Jordan arrives at the cabin to find the door ajar, the phone on the ground just inside. The cabin is empty, no sign of Robin.

Jordan: I'm here. Where are you?

Jordan receives a final message from Robin's phone, now clearly not from Robin.

Unknown: Thank you for coming. We've been waiting for someone to let us in.