By the time Kevin reached town, his breath had evened out.
He'd forced the wildness from his eyes, straightened his shirt, and slowed his pace.
He realized that people got suspicious when you acted like a lunatic, after his little interaction with Fatima and the others.
If he wanted to finish this and do what he needed to, he couldn't afford suspicion.
'Monte.' That name pulsed behind his temples like a heartbeat.
He didn't even know the guy... only what he'd overheard. That he was the sheriff's new deputy.
And that made him dangerous.
Kevin stepped into the diner, the bell above the door chiming softly.
The place was half-full. A few regulars talked quietly over coffee and biscuits. Kevin slid into an empty booth, tapping his fingers against the table.
Minutes passed. No waitress.
His patience snapped. He looked up toward the counter and there she was.
Sara.
Leaning close to a man in a light blue button up and khakis, his dark hair slicked back, a scar still healing under his eye.
Their heads bent toward each other, faces close enough to whisper secrets.
Kevin's stomach twisted.
He'd always liked Sara, though he'd never even learned her name until recently. Every morning he'd meant to talk to her, and every morning he'd chickened out.
Then Jasmine arrived one night and smiled through the window. She said she loved him every night.
Sara laughed softly at something the man said, the sound cutting through Kevin like glass.
He stood, marching toward them. "Hey, I've been waiting for service over there."
The man with the scar turned his head, meeting Kevin's glare with a calm, assessing stare.
Kevin froze. For a second he swore Monte could see straight through him.
Sara touched Monte's arm lightly. "Don't scare him, Monte " she said.
Monte didn't reply right away, still watching Kevin. Something in his gut warned him, this scrawny guy was bad news.
Kevin blinked, forcing a shaky laugh. "Sorry, just… hungry."
Sara smiled politely, that same professional warmth she gave everyone. "What can I get you?"
Before Kevin could answer, Monte stood up. Towering over him by a full head and a half.
Monte said casually, "I'll see you later, Beautiful. Boyd's probably wondering where I am."
Sara nodded, smiling. "See you later."
Kevin clenched his fists under the table. The way they looked at each other. The way they ignored him, like he didn't even exist. It made his skin crawl.
He watched as Monte left the diner, that easy confidence in every step. Sara followed him with her eyes for a heartbeat before finally turning back.
"What'll it be?" she asked.
Kevin muttered his order, his voice low. She scribbled it down without looking at him, already moving away.
That hurt worse than the jealousy. The voices were whispering again. Faint, like a breeze through a crack in the door.
"Kill him."
Kevin swallowed hard, forcing the thoughts down. His jaw tightening as he muttered, "Soon."
...
Monte's boots crunched over gravel as he left the town behind.
The sun was high, the air heavy with the smell of pine and earth.
Boyd had told him to meet at noon. Judging by the light, it was at least one by now.
Monte shrugged. 'Better late than never.'
When he reached the clearing, he spotted Boyd and Kenny hard at work. Their axes rising and falling, splitting a newly felled tree.
Boyd looked up, sweat gleaming on his temple. "Monte!"
Kenny groaned quietly, bracing for the lecture he assumed was coming.
But Boyd just sighed and said, "Grab an axe. Help us finish."
Monte nodded and picked up the spare axe lying nearby. He tested the weight, then swung it down in one smooth motion.
The thud of the blade biting into wood echoed through the clearing.
His back stung, the healing gash stretching but he ignored it.
He fell into rhythm with the others, the steady thunk of steel on wood strangely satisfying.
After a while, Kenny plopped down on a stump, wiping his brow. "You chop trees a lot, Monte?"
Monte shook his head. "Never."
Boyd leaned on his axe. "You've got perfect form."
Monte smirked. "It's not that different from beating the hell outta someone."
Both Boyd and Kenny choked on their water.
Monte grinned. "Kidding."
Kenny sighed. "You really like dark humor, don't you?"
Monte chuckled, setting the axe against his shoulder. "What can I say? Try making dad jokes around mobsters, see what happens."
Boyd laughed, shaking his head as he lifted his axe again. "Fair enough."
The rhythmic sound of chopping filled the forest again.
A steady, grounding sound. They were unaware of the madness inching its way toward town.
...
Julie sat on the porch steps, catching her breath after chasing Ethan around.
The air had cooled; gray clouds rolled lazily across the sky, dimming the light. She rubbed her arms and shivered.
Without a word, a jacket settled over her shoulders.
Julie turned, startled, and found Ellis standing behind her.
"Thanks," she said softly.
Ellis shrugged, hands in his pockets. "Saw you through the window. You looked cold."
Julie smiled faintly. "Yeah. Guess I lost track of time."
Ellis nodded toward the yard. "That your brother?"
She followed his gaze. Ethan was darting around near the flower beds, with a red rubber ball she had found to distract him so she could take a break.
"Yeah," Julie said, her voice softening. "He came over to visit me."
Ellis smiled. "That's nice."
Julie nodded, then asked, "You looking for Fatima?"
Ellis chuckled. "Yeah. How'd you guess?"
Julie grinned. "You've got that face people make when they're pretending they're not looking for someone."
He laughed quietly. "Guilty. Have you seen her?"
"I was helping her with the flowers earlier," Julie said. "She went to the greenhouse after that."
"Thanks." He gave her a small nod. "See you around, Julie."
"See you," she said, watching as he disappeared around the side of the house.
Just around the corner, Ethan had discovered a stick that made the perfect sword.
He swung at invisible enemies, humming a battle theme only he could hear.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone. It was a pale little boy in white clothes, walking toward the treeline.
Ethan blinked, lowering his stick. The boy didn't look familiar.
He ran after him, calling, "Hey! You wanna play?"
The boy didn't answer.
Ethan followed him past the first row of trees... but when he turned the corner, the boy was gone.
The forest was empty and still.
Ethan frowned. "Weird…"
Behind him, the crunch of footsteps made him turn.
A man was walking toward him, carrying a metal lunch box and looking half-distracted, half-wary.
Ethan stepped back a little but didn't run.
The man stopped a few paces away. "What are you doing here?"
Ethan said, "Playing. What about you?"
The man looked at the trees, then down at his feet. "I'm measuring the distances between the trees."
Ethan tilted his head. "Why?"
"I have to make sure they don't move," the man said simply.
Ethan blinked. "The trees can move? That's so cool! Like a treant!"
Victor frowned slightly. "A what?"
"A treant," Ethan explained earnestly. "It's like a big tree that walks and protects the forest. They're good guys."
Victor smiled faintly, the first sign of warmth in his expression. "Wow. I didn't know that." He looked back toward the woods. "Anyway, they haven't moved yet."
"Oh." Ethan's excitement dimmed a little. "That's too bad." He thought for a second. "Can I help you?"
Victor shook his head. "I don't think that's a good idea."
"Please?" Ethan begged, clasping his hands dramatically.
Victor's lips twitched, but he stayed firm. "No."
Ethan sighed, turning to leave. "Okay. But if the trees do move, will you tell me?"
Victor hesitated, then nodded. "Okay."
Ethan smiled brightly. "Deal!"
He took a few steps before stopping again. "Hey, I'm Ethan. What's your name?"
He said slowly, "Victor."
Ethan grinned. "Nice to meet you, Victor."
Victor nodded once, watching as the boy jogged back toward the porch, the sound of his laughter echoing faintly in the distance.
He looked back at the trees.
They looked exactly the same. But still... he measured again.
Just to be sure.
Ethan ran back across the grass, his shoes kicking up dirt as he climbed the porch steps two at a time.
Julie looked up from where she was sitting, brushing her hands free of soil. "Hey, slow down there, buddy. You look like you just outran a monster."
Ethan grinned, still catching his breath. "I met someone!"
Julie tilted her head. "Oh yeah? Who?"
"His name's Victor," Ethan said proudly. "He's really nice. He was checking the trees to make sure they don't move."
Julie blinked. "The… trees?"
Ethan nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! He said sometimes they move, and he's making sure they don't. Isn't that cool?"
Julie's smile faltered. "Wait... Victor?"
"Uh-huh."
Her stomach tightened. Everyone in Colony House had whispered about that strange man who lived mostly on his own.
The one who wandered the forest at odd hours and talked about the woods like they were alive.
Julie knelt down so she was eye level with Ethan. "Listen, Ethan… you shouldn't talk to him, okay?"
Ethan's expression fell. "Why not? He's nice."
Julie hesitated, searching for the right words. "He's just… different. And we don't really know him. It's better to stay away, alright?"
Ethan frowned stubbornly. "But he said he'd tell me if the trees move."
Julie sighed. "The trees aren't going to move, Ethan."
"Yes they do," Ethan said quietly. "Victor said so."
Julie stood, putting her hands on his shoulders. "Hey. No more talking to Victor, okay? Promise me."
Ethan hesitated, kicking at the porch step. "Okay," he said reluctantly.
"Good," Julie said softly, guiding him toward the door. "Come on, let's go inside. It's getting cold."
Ethan dragged his feet a little, glancing back at the treeline. The forest looked calm but somehow, emptier without Victor standing there.
Julie shut the door firmly behind them, double-checking that the door was fully closed out of habit.
"Creepy old guy," she muttered under her breath, shaking her head.
Ethan climbed onto the couch, hugging his knees. "He's not creepy," he said.
Julie didn't reply.
Outside, the wind rustled through the trees.
And for just a second, if you looked closely.
One tree seemed a little closer to the porch than before.
...
Kevin sat on the edge of the cot, staring at the wall. The voices were quieter now... almost gentle.
At first, they'd been a murmur under his thoughts. Now they were clear. Warm. Persuasive.
"He's dangerous, Kevin."
"He doesn't belong here."
"You can make it right."
Kevin rubbed his eyes. "How?" he whispered. "What do you want me to do?"
"Just open the doors at the infirmary."
His heart started to pound. "At night?"
"Yes. You won't be touched. We promise."
He swallowed hard, shaking his head. "No… I can't..."
"Monte will will be drawn to help. We'll take care of him. That's all. No one will ever know."
The air seemed to hum. His pulse thrummed in his ears. He pressed his palms to his temples.
The whisper came again with a soft, steady, patient tone. "Open the doors. Let us in."
Kevin exhaled slowly, trembling, but he nodded. "Okay."
The whispers fell silent.
For the first time all day, he felt peace.
...
The last light of the day bled through the trees as Monte, Boyd, and Kenny loaded the final logs into the back of the truck.
Their shirts clung to their backs with sweat and sawdust.
Boyd gave a satisfied nod. "That's good work for one day."
Kenny rolled his shoulders. "You're telling me. My arms feel like spaghetti."
Monte laughed. "Guess that's one way to describe it."
The truck rumbled back toward town, the sun dipping low, shadows stretching long across the road.
They parked the load beside the barn, where Mel would plane and cut the logs in the morning.
Monte tossed the axe into the bed of the truck. "Think I'm done for the day."
Boyd eyed him knowingly. "Headed to the diner again?"
Monte grinned. "You know me too well."
Kenny smirked. "Tell Sara I said hi."
Monte shot him a wink and walked off, dust rising behind his boots.
...
The bell above the door chimed as Monte stepped in.
The light inside was warm, golden. The scent of coffee and sugar thick in the air.
Sara looked up from wiping the counter, smiling when she saw him. "You're late."
Monte leaned against the bar. "Had to earn my paycheck first."
Sara chuckled, grabbing two mugs. "Coffee?"
Monte shook his head. "I was hoping for something stronger."
She smiled knowingly and reached under the counter for a bottle she kept tucked away for special company.
"Thought you'd say that."
Monte took a seat by the window, watching the sky fade to indigo as the first stars appeared.
Sara poured the drinks and sat across from him.
For a moment, everything felt almost normal, just two people at the end of a long day.