Voices in the Dark

The Shadow in the Pines

The air was crisp as Emily and her three friends arrived at the edge of Red Rock Canyon, eager for a weekend of camping under the stars. They had heard rumors about the area—tales of strange lights and whispers in the woods—but none of them believed in such things. To them, the legends were just local folklore, stories told to scare newcomers.

“Relax, Nate,” Emily teased as her friend hesitated by the trailhead, glancing nervously at the dense trees. “It’s just a bunch of tall tales.”

Nate adjusted his backpack and muttered, “I’m just saying, weird stuff happens out here.”

“And we’re here for weird stuff,” Sam chimed in with a grin, slapping Nate on the back. Sam was the thrill-seeker of the group, always pushing for the most remote, unexplored spots. “Let’s get moving before it gets dark.”

The group followed a narrow trail deep into the forest, their laughter and chatter echoing off the tall pines. By the time they reached the clearing where they planned to camp, the sun was dipping below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. They quickly set up their tents and started a fire, the flickering flames casting long shadows on the trees.

Over dinner, the conversation turned to local legends. Nate reluctantly recounted the stories he’d heard: shape-shifting creatures that could mimic human voices, luring their victims into the woods.

“They’re called skinwalkers,” he said, lowering his voice. “Supposedly, they’re witches who can take the form of animals or people they’ve…” He hesitated. “You know, killed.”

Emily rolled her eyes. “Come on, Nate. You’re going to scare yourself more than us.”

“I’m just saying,” Nate replied. “If you hear something calling your name out here, don’t answer.”

The group laughed nervously and changed the subject, but the unease lingered. By the time they crawled into their tents, the forest seemed darker, the trees pressing closer. The usual sounds of the woods—chirping crickets and rustling leaves—felt ominous.

The First Sign

Emily woke in the middle of the night to the sound of rustling outside her tent. She froze, straining to hear over the pounding of her heart. It could’ve been the wind or an animal, but something felt off. The sound was deliberate, like footsteps circling their camp.

She unzipped her tent just enough to peer outside. The fire had burned down to embers, casting faint light across the clearing. She saw nothing unusual, but the sense of being watched was overwhelming.

“Emily…”

Her breath caught in her throat. The voice was faint but unmistakable, coming from the trees. It sounded like Sam, but distorted, like an echo played backward.

“Emily, come here.”

She clutched the zipper, her fingers trembling. “Sam?” she whispered.

A shadow moved between the trees, humanoid but wrong. Its limbs were too long, its movements jerky and unnatural. Emily backed away, her mind racing. She heard the voice again, closer now.

“Emily…”

She scrambled out of her tent and ran to Nate’s. “Wake up,” she hissed, shaking him. “There’s something out there.”

Nate groggily sat up, but before he could respond, they both heard it: heavy footsteps approaching the camp. The others woke as Emily and Nate scrambled to explain. Sam grabbed a flashlight and pointed it toward the sound.

The beam illuminated a figure standing at the edge of the clearing. It looked like a man, but its face was wrong, stretched into a grotesque grin that didn’t reach its dead, black eyes. Its head tilted unnaturally as it stepped closer.

“Who’s there?” Sam demanded, his voice shaking.

The figure didn’t answer. Instead, it let out a low, guttural laugh that sent chills down their spines. Then it spoke, in a perfect imitation of Sam’s voice:

“Come closer.”

A Desperate Escape

Panic erupted. Sam threw the flashlight at the creature and bolted toward the woods, yelling for the others to follow. They grabbed what they could and ran, their footsteps pounding against the forest floor.

The thing—whatever it was—gave chase. Its movements were terrifyingly fast, almost like it was gliding. Emily risked a glance over her shoulder and saw its face again, impossibly close despite the distance they’d covered.

They stumbled upon a narrow, dry creek bed and followed it, hoping it would lead them to safety. The creature’s guttural laughter echoed through the trees, accompanied by the sound of snapping branches. It was toying with them.

“This way!” Nate shouted, veering toward a rocky outcrop. They climbed up, pressing themselves against the cold stone, hoping the height would give them some advantage.

For a moment, there was silence. Then they heard it: a voice, calm and familiar.

“Guys, it’s me, Sam. It’s okay. You can come down.”

They looked at each other in horror. Sam was with them, crouched at the edge of the outcrop, his chest heaving from exertion. The voice below continued, growing more insistent.

“Come on, it’s safe now.”

Sam’s face went pale. “That’s not me.”

The Final Stand

The voice grew angry, shouting their names in rapid succession, each time sounding more distorted. The creature emerged from the shadows, climbing the rocks with inhuman speed. The group scrambled higher, but there was nowhere left to go.

Emily grabbed a branch from the ground and swung it at the creature as it lunged at her. The impact knocked it back, but only for a moment. Its head twisted unnaturally, fixing its soulless eyes on her.

“Stay back!” she screamed, though her voice quivered with fear.

Nate fumbled in his backpack and pulled out a flare gun. Without hesitation, he fired. The flare struck the creature’s chest, and it let out an unearthly scream as flames erupted across its body. It thrashed wildly before retreating into the darkness, its screams fading into the distance.

The group stayed huddled together until the first light of dawn. Exhausted and terrified, they made their way back to the trailhead, constantly looking over their shoulders. When they finally reached their car, they didn’t speak; they simply drove away, leaving the cursed forest behind.

Aftermath

Weeks later, Emily couldn’t shake the feeling that they’d brought something back with them. Shadows seemed to linger longer in the corners of her room, and she often woke to the sound of faint whispers. The others reported similar experiences, though none of them dared to return to Red Rock Canyon.

As for the creature, they could only hope the fire had destroyed it. But deep down, they knew it was still out there, waiting for its next victims, mimicking their voices, and luring the unwary into the shadows.