Circles in the Dark

"Are you sure this is the right way?"

"Yes, for the hundredth time. I memorized the map."

"Memorized? Like, in your head?"

"Where else would I memorize it?"

"Fair point. Still, it feels... wrong."

"It's a trail, not a science experiment. Trust me."

"That's exactly what someone who doesn’t know would say."

"Do you want to lead?"

"No! I mean... you seem confident."

"Then stop doubting me every five minutes."

"I’m just saying, it’s kind of creepy out here."

"It’s a forest. It’s supposed to be."

"Supposed to be creepy?"

"No, supposed to be quiet and... I don’t know, natural."

"Natural like how? Like bugs and bears and--"

"Stop. There are no bears here."

"How do you know? Did you memorize a bear map too?"

"Oh my god. Just walk."

"Fine. But if we see a bear, I’m blaming you."

"Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"That rustling."

"It’s probably the wind."

"The wind doesn’t make footsteps."

"Maybe it’s a squirrel."

"A squirrel? Those sounded huge."

"What do you want me to say? That it’s Bigfoot?"

"Don’t joke like that."

"Why not?"

"Because what if it’s true?"

"Bigfoot is not true."

"You can’t prove that."

"And you can’t prove he’s real."

"Exactly. So we’re at an impasse."

"No, we’re not. Bigfoot doesn’t exist. End of story."

"You’re no fun."

"Is it me, or is it getting darker?"

"It’s the trees. They’re thicker here."

"Right. Totally not ominous at all."

"You’re overthinking this."

"Am I? Because I’m pretty sure that’s a bad omen."

"That’s a crow."

"Exactly. Bad omen."

"You’ve been watching too many horror movies."

"Can you blame me? This is literally how they all start."

"Oh, so now I’m the clueless character who gets everyone lost?"

"If the shoe fits..."

"You’re hilarious."

"Thanks, I try."

"Wait, stop."

"What now?"

"Look at that tree. Doesn’t it look... off?"

"It looks like a tree."

"No, seriously. Look at the markings."

"Okay, fine. What markings?"

"There! Those scratches."

"Probably an animal."

"Or a warning."

"A warning? Who carves warnings into trees?"

"I don’t know. Creepy forest people?"

"Creepy forest people. Really."

"You’ve got a better explanation?"

"Yes. Squirrels."

"Squirrels don’t carve claw marks!"

"How do you know? Have you met one?"

"We’re going in circles."

"No, we’re not."

"Yes, we are. That’s the same tree."

"It’s just a similar-looking tree."

"It’s not similar. It’s identical."

"Trees can’t be identical."

"This one is. Look, there’s the scratch mark."

"That... Okay, maybe we took a wrong turn."

"Maybe?"

"Fine. Definitely. Happy?"

"Not particularly."

"Do you have any signals or flares?"

"Nope. You?"

"Nothing. Figures."

"Don’t panic."

"Who said I’m panicking?"

"Your face."

"You can’t even see my face."

"I can feel it."

"That’s not a thing."

"It is now."

"Great. So what’s the plan, genius?"

"We backtrack."

"Backtrack to where? We’re lost, remember?"

"Not lost. Just... misplaced."

"That’s the same thing!"

"Do you think anyone will notice we’re missing?"

"Eventually."

"Eventually isn’t comforting."

"That's all I’ve got."

"What about food?"

"You brought snacks, didn’t you?"

"I ate them an hour ago."

"All of them?"

"I was stress-eating!"

"You’re unbelievable."

"Thanks."

"Okay, new plan."

"I’m listening."

"We follow the sun."

"The sun is setting."

"Exactly. It sets in the west."

"And?"

"We head west."

"And walk straight into the night?"

"Do you have a better idea?"

"No."

"Then west it is."

"It’s getting colder."

"I noticed."

"Do you think we’ll have to camp out here?"

"Let’s not jump to conclusions."

"I didn’t bring a tent."

"Why would you? It was a day hike."

"Because now we might die out here."

"We’re not going to die."

"You can’t guarantee that."

"No, but I can guarantee you’re overreacting."

"Says the one who got us lost."

"Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"That humming."

"I don’t hear anything."

"It’s faint, but it’s there."

"You’re imagining things."

"I’m not! Listen harder."

"Fine. Wait... okay, I hear it."

"See? What did I tell you?"

"Great. Now what is it?"

"I don’t know."

"Awesome. Super helpful."

"We’re not alone out here."

"What makes you say that?"

"The humming. The scratches. The footsteps."

"You’re piecing together a horror story."

"And you’re ignoring all the signs."

"Because they’re not signs!"

"They’re something."

"They’re nothing."

"Denial won’t save us."

"And paranoia won’t either."

"I think it’s getting louder."

"The humming?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, I’ll admit, that’s weird."

"Finally!"

"Don’t get smug about it."

"Why not? I’ve been right all along."

"You don’t know that."

"Oh, I do."

"Fine. What now, genius?"

"We follow it."

"The humming?"

"Yep."

"That sounds like a terrible idea."

"Are we closer?"

"Definitely."

"I don’t like this."

"You don’t have to."

"That’s reassuring."

"You wanted a plan, and now we have one."

"Right. Follow the creepy sound. Great plan."

"Sarcasm noted."

"There! Do you see it?"

"What is that?"

"A light, I think."

"It’s moving."

"Maybe it’s someone else."

"Or something else."

"Do you want to find out or not?"

"Not really."

"Too bad. We’re going."

"It stopped."

"The light?"

"Yeah."

"Maybe they saw us."

"Or heard us."

"Now who’s paranoid?"

"I’m just saying, we’re not exactly quiet."

"Okay, so what do we do?"

"I don’t know. Approach slowly?"

"You first."

"Coward."

"Hello? Is anyone there?"

"Great. Just announce us to the whole forest."

"Do you have a better idea?"

"No. But still."

"Shh. Did you hear that?"

"Yeah. Like... whispering."

"Where’s it coming from?"

"Everywhere."

"That’s not possible."

"Tell that to the whispers."

"We should go back."

"To where?"

"Anywhere but here."

"It’s too late for that."

"What do you mean, too late?"

"Look around."

"I... Oh no."

"Yeah. No trail. No trees. Just... fog."

"What did we walk into?"

"Something we shouldn’t have."

"Do you still hear it?"

"The humming?"

"Yeah. It’s... inside my head now."

"Me too."

"What do we do?"

"I don’t think we can do anything."

"Don’t say that."

"I’m just being honest."

"Well, stop. Be hopeful instead."

"Okay. I hope this ends soon."

"Do you feel that?"

"Feel what?"

"The ground. It’s vibrating."

"Yeah. Like it’s alive."

"Don’t say that."

"Why not?"

"Because it might be true."

"And that’s worse than Bigfoot?"

"Way worse."

"Look! Over there!"

"Another light?"

"No. A door."

"A door? In the middle of the fog?"

"Do you see anything else?"

"No, but... it doesn’t make sense."

"None of this does. Come on."

"Wait! You’re just going to open it?"

"Do you have a better idea?"

"...No."

"It’s unlocked."

"What’s behind it?"

"I can’t tell. It’s too dark."

"So don’t go in."

"And stay here with the whispers and fog?"

"Fair point."

"Ready?"

"No."

"Too bad. Let’s go."

"What is this place?"

"I... don’t know."

"It feels... different."

"Yeah. Like the air’s heavier."

"Do you think we’re safe?"

"I doubt it."

"That’s comforting."

"Just stay close, okay?"

"Don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere."