They continued upstream, picking their way carefully across the rocky terrain. Blake stole frequent glances over his shoulder, unable to shake the prickling feeling of unseen eyes tracking their progress. Jacqueline too seemed unnerved, her typical graceful stride replaced by tense, clipped steps.
When the narrow gulch opened upon another small clearing, she paused and squeezed Blake’s hand. “We’re being followed. I’m sure of it now.”
Blake nodded grimly, shoulders bunched. His hands tightened on his camera as his eyes raked the shadowy tree line.
“I feel it too. Like we’ve disturbed something...woken a presence in these woods.”
Gooseflesh rippled across his skin as the breeze picked up, carrying upon it muted voices interwoven with the creak of branches and rustle of leaves. They seemed to emanate from the very air around them.