Story 1223: Eyes in the Forest

The forest surrounding Virex wasn’t marked on any map. No satellites. No name. Just an unnamed green mass swallowing the old roads and fences whole.

They entered at dawn—Lena, Ward, and the girl. Behind them, Virex and its cult-choked corridors lay in smoldering ruin. Ahead, the forest loomed like a cathedral of bone and bark.

LENA:

“We stay quiet. We follow the trail markers. We don’t stop.”

But there were no markers.

No birds. No wind.

Just trees, and watching eyes.

They moved for an hour in silence before the girl stopped cold, eyes wide.

THE GIRL:

“He’s watching us.”

WARD (gripping his rifle):

“Who?”

She pointed toward a massive tree hollow, its bark flaking in streaks of dried blood. Inside, glimmering—something moved.

Ward approached, slow and careful. He peered in—

—and found a human eye.

It blinked.

He recoiled as the “tree” shuddered and retreated, merging into the forest’s shadows like a beast made of moss and bone.