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The rustling grew louder, the sound of soft footsteps cutting through the heavy rain. He held his breath, straining to listen. Whatever it was, it was close—too close. His heart raced as he pressed himself deeper against the rough bark of the tree, hoping it would shield him from whatever stalked the night.
He glanced around frantically, searching for another way to hide, but there was only the twisted trunk and the branches overhead. Then he spotted it—a gnarled hole in the tree, just large enough for him to squeeze into. It was dark, but it looked like a possible refuge.
Without a second thought, he dropped to his knees and crawled toward the opening, his wet clothes snagging on the rough edges of the bark. The hole was tight, but adrenaline fueled him, and he pushed himself inside, pulling his bags in after him. The darkness enveloped him, and he stifled the urge to panic.
Inside, it was cramped and musty, the scent of damp earth surrounding him. He could barely move, but at least he felt hidden. The rain drummed relentlessly on the ground outside, a steady rhythm that drowned out his thoughts, as well as the sounds of whatever was out there.
He strained to hear through the pouring rain, his heart hammering as he waited, tense. The rustling had stopped, but the howls continued, echoing in the distance. He couldn't tell if the creature had passed him by or if it was lurking just outside, waiting for him to make a sound.
Minutes felt like hours as he sat in the darkness, the dampness of the tree's interior seeping into his clothes. He focused on his breathing, trying to quiet his racing heart. You can do this, he told himself. Just stay calm.
Outside, the howls grew closer, punctuated by a series of soft thuds—something was moving through the wet grass, prowling. He pressed his back against the tree's wall, willing himself to be silent. The growling was low, deep, vibrating through the ground, sending shivers up his spine. It was close. He could almost feel the heat of its breath.
But then he recalled something he had read once—rain could mask scents. It was difficult for creatures with keen noses to track scents when the ground was soaked. The thought brought him a flicker of hope. Perhaps the rain was working in his favor, obscuring his scent.
Please don't find me, he thought desperately.
The growling shifted, replaced by the sound of sniffing, and he realized with a jolt that whatever was out there was searching for him. His breath quickened, and he squeezed his eyes shut, wishing he could will the creature away.
Suddenly, the growling stopped, replaced by an eerie silence. He held his breath, heart pounding in his ears. Was it gone? The rain continued to fall, but the sounds of the night had quieted.
He sat there, wrapped in darkness, the rain becoming his only companion. Just when he thought he could breathe again, he heard a splash, followed by a sharp yelp. The creature must have stepped into a puddle, and then he felt a rush of air, a shadow passing by the tree.
The minutes stretched on, each second feeling like an eternity. He didn't dare move, clinging tightly to his bags, feeling the weight of his panic pressing down on him. He couldn't risk making a sound, not now.
As time slipped away, he felt the cold seep into his bones. He was alone, in a strange world, hiding in a tree. And all he could think about was how he wanted to wake up back in his apartment, with the mundane safety of his life.
The rain fell heavier, masking the sounds outside, and he continued to wait, trapped in the tight space, desperate for a sign that it was safe to come out.
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