Cat sat stiffly on the couch, her eyes moving between the three strangers.
The white-masked figure sat near the fireplace.
The person in the yellow hoodie leaned against the wall with their arms crossed.
And the silent stranger remained in the corner, watching everything.
Nobody spoke for several moments.
The silence was unbearable.
The white-masked figure looked toward the yellow-hooded one.
The yellow-hooded one sighed.
Then the white mask finally spoke.
“It means we answer to somebody else.”
A knot formed in Cat’s stomach.
The room became noticeably tense.
Even the silent stranger seemed to straighten slightly.
The white-masked figure glanced toward the window.
The name sounded ridiculous.
Like something from a horror movie.
Instead, the atmosphere grew heavier.
“Who is that?” Cat asked.
The yellow-hooded figure looked down at the floor.
A chill ran through her body.
Neither answered immediately.
Finally, the white mask leaned forward.
“The Operator has been watching Willow Creek.”
This time nobody answered.
The silence itself felt like an answer.
She glanced toward the silent stranger in the corner.
His head twitched suddenly.
His eyes remained fixed on the floor.
Almost like he wasn’t supposed to be listening.
Or maybe he simply didn’t care.
“The Operator has plans,” the white mask finally said.
The words sent a cold feeling through Cat’s chest.
The figure tilted their head.
The smile immediately disappeared from her face.
The room suddenly felt smaller.
How could someone have plans for her?
Just a photographer from a small town.
The yellow-hooded figure suddenly pushed away from the wall.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Have you been seeing things?”
The question caught her off guard.
“Things other people don’t see.”
The figure remained silent.
Almost like he didn’t believe her.
Then he asked another question.
“Have you been hearing things?”
Her stomach dropped slightly.
Cat immediately remembered the strange sounds she’d heard over the past few days.
The feeling of being watched.
But those weren’t voices.
The yellow-hooded figure exchanged a glance with the white mask.
“Have you been getting headaches?”
Cat immediately remembered the dream.
The smiling figure outside her window.
The way it had felt so real.
A chill ran down her spine.
Instead, the yellow-hooded figure asked one final question.
“Have you ever felt like someone was watching you?”
The constant feeling that eyes were following her.
“What’s going on?” she whispered.
The white mask leaned back.
“The Operator usually notices people before they notice him.”
Her heartbeat pounded in her ears.
“It means,” the yellow-hooded figure said quietly, “that he may have already found you.”
The words hit like a punch to the stomach.
A cold wave of fear washed over her.
“We’re not saying it for fun.”
She grabbed the arm of the couch for support.
Immediately the yellow-hooded figure noticed.
But deep down, she hated the fact that he’d noticed.
The dizziness was getting worse.
And for the first time since arriving at the cabin, she began wondering if the headaches, nightmares, and strange sightings weren’t just stress.
What if they were connected?
What if there really was something watching her?
Across the room, the silent stranger’s head twitched again.
Slowly, he lifted his gaze.
For the briefest moment, his eyes met hers.
And somehow, that scared her more than everything else they’d told her.
Because unlike the others…
The cabin was even more silent.
Cat looked between the three strangers, still trying to process everything.
The silent guy with the hatchets.
She felt like she’d been dropped into someone else’s nightmare.
The white-masked figure looked her over.
“No offense, but with that pink hair, you look like a unicorn.”
“Unicorn. That’s your name now.”
The yellow-hooded figure sighed.
“You seriously gave the kidnapped girl a nickname?”
“Whatever. Unicorn it is.”
“And I’ve already named you. See? We’re making progress.”
The yellow-hooded figure shook his head.
“Can we get back on track?”
The white mask looked at Cat again.
His expression became serious.
“Listen, Unicorn. You’re here because you’ve been chosen.”
“I think you hit your head harder than I did.”
The white mask crossed his arms.
“The headaches, dizziness, nightmares? That’s all part of it.”
Cat looked at the yellow-hooded figure.
Then looked back at the white mask.
“No, seriously. This is crazy.”
“I don’t know what a proxy even is!”
“I don’t want to figure it out!”
“Not really your choice.”
“I didn’t ask to be chosen!”
“He didn’t ask your opinion.”
Then at the yellow-hooded figure.
Then at the silent stranger.
Nobody looked like they were joking.
Her foot caught on something.
The floor suddenly rushed toward her.
She landed on her hands and knees.
Pain shot through her leg.
The silent stranger was staring at her.
His head twitched sharply.
Cat looked back at the hatchets.
Then back at the hatchets.
“Seriously?!” she snapped.
The white-masked figure snorted.
“You tripped over stationary objects.”
“I know what I tripped over!”
The yellow-hooded figure rubbed his forehead.
The white mask crossed his arms.
“Run into the woods. See how far you get.”
The yellow-hooded figure looked at her.
Then, almost under his breath, he muttered,
“I can hear you!” Cat snapped.
“Look, Unicorn, whether you like it or not, things changed the second you started getting symptoms.”
“You literally told us you did.”
“Yeah,” the white mask said. “Most people do.”
