They Are Watching

Ellie didn't sleep for the rest of the night. She sat in Joey's room, leaning against the wall with a blanket draped around her shoulders, her eyes locked on the window. The mist outside hadn't moved—it was still there, thick and unyielding, pressing against the glass like it wanted to seep through.

She kept telling herself it was just her imagination. That she hadn't really seen glowing eyes staring back at her from the fog. But no matter how hard she tried to convince herself, the image wouldn't leave her mind.

Joey had fallen asleep in her lap, his small body curled against her like he had when he was a toddler. He didn't stir, even when the floor creaked beneath Ellie as she shifted her weight. She glanced down at him, brushing a strand of hair from his face.

I have to get him out of here, she thought.

But where would they go? She had sunk everything into this move, desperate to escape the wreckage of her old life. The house in Graven had been her last chance to start over, to give Joey the stable home he deserved. Leaving now felt like admitting defeat.

And yet, the longer she stayed here, the more certain she became that something in this town wanted them gone—or worse, wanted them to stay.

The first light of dawn crept through the window, pale and weak against the fog. Ellie's muscles ached as she carefully shifted Joey off her lap and onto his bed. He stirred slightly but didn't wake. She tucked the blanket around him and kissed his forehead before slipping out of the room.

In the kitchen, she poured herself a cup of coffee and stared out the window above the sink. The mist was still there, clinging to the trees and the edges of the yard like a living thing. Her eyes drifted to the scratches on the counter: More will come.

The words had seemed ominous at first, but now they felt like a warning.

Ellie's thoughts were interrupted by a sharp knock at the front door.

She froze, her heart leaping into her throat. The knock came again, louder this time.

Ellie set her coffee down and grabbed the nearest thing she could find—a heavy flashlight from the counter—before heading to the door. Her pulse quickened as she peered through the peephole.

A man stood on the porch, his face partially obscured by the hood of his jacket. He looked ordinary enough, but something about him set Ellie on edge.

She cracked the door open, keeping the flashlight hidden behind her back. "Can I help you?"

The man smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Morning," he said, his voice low and gravelly. "You must be Ellie."

Ellie's grip on the flashlight tightened. "Who are you?"

"Name's Garrett," he said. "I live a few houses down. Thought I'd stop by and welcome you to the neighborhood."

Ellie forced a polite smile, though her instincts screamed at her to shut the door. "That's… nice of you."

Garrett leaned against the doorframe, his smile fading slightly. "I heard you went into town yesterday. Talked to Mabel."

Ellie's stomach twisted. "Yeah. Why?"

"You ask her about the lake?" Garrett asked, his tone casual, but there was something sharp in his eyes.

Ellie hesitated. "She mentioned it."

Garrett nodded slowly. "You should stay away from it. People around here don't like it when newcomers start asking questions."

Ellie's pulse quickened. "Why not?"

Garrett's smile returned, but it was colder this time. "Because some things are better left alone."

Before Ellie could respond, Garrett straightened and tipped his head toward the yard. "Looks like you've got company."

Ellie turned, her breath catching when she saw two more figures standing at the edge of the yard. They were partially obscured by the mist, but their silhouettes were unmistakable. They weren't moving, just standing there, watching.

She turned back to Garrett, her voice trembling. "Who are they?"

Garrett's smile widened. "Neighbors."

Ellie's grip on the flashlight tightened. "What do they want?"

Garrett shrugged. "Same thing the lake wants. To see if you'll stay."

Ellie's chest tightened. She glanced back at the figures, and for a moment, she thought she saw one of them take a single step forward.

She slammed the door and locked it, her hands shaking.

Garrett's voice came from the other side. "It's not gonna help, you know," he said. "They're not here for the house. They're here for you."

Ellie backed away from the door, her heart pounding. She heard Garrett's footsteps retreating, the sound fading into the fog.

When she finally looked through the peephole again, he was gone.

But the figures in the yard were still there.

Later That Day

Ellie spent the afternoon packing a bag. She didn't care about the money she'd spent on the house or the fact that she had nowhere else to go. She just wanted to get Joey out of Graven before whatever was happening here got worse.

But as she packed, she couldn't shake the feeling that it was already too late.

Joey was unusually quiet, sitting on the floor of the living room with his stuffed dinosaur clutched to his chest. He hadn't said much since that morning, but Ellie could see the fear in his eyes.

"Mom?" he said finally, his voice small.

Ellie knelt down in front of him. "What is it, sweetheart?"

"Do we have to leave?" he asked, his gaze drifting toward the window.

Ellie hesitated. "Yes," she said softly. "It's not safe here."

Joey frowned. "But the lake doesn't want us to leave."

Ellie's blood ran cold. "What do you mean?"

Joey looked up at her, his eyes wide and unblinking. "It told me."

And then, before Ellie could respond, the lights in the house flickered and went out.