For several seconds, nobody moved.
We simply stood there, staring at the patch of flattened grass where Emily had been sitting only moments ago.
She was gone.
Completely gone.
No footsteps.
No rustling leaves.
Nothing.
Just… gone.
"Where did she go?"
Parker's voice trembled as she looked around the clearing.
Jeffrey turned in a slow circle.
"She couldn't have just disappeared."
"She had to have run," Kennedy said.
"Then where are her footprints?" Parker asked.
Nobody answered.
I couldn't take my eyes off the tree.
SHE LOOKED ANYWAY.
The words seemed darker than they had a few seconds ago.
Almost as though the bark around them had changed.
I swallowed hard.
"Mr. Martin…"
He didn't respond.
He was staring at the same words.
"Mr. Martin?"
He finally blinked.
"Everyone stay together."
His voice was unusually quiet.
"Nobody goes anywhere alone."
Jeffrey looked toward the forest.
"But Emily—"
"We're not going after her."
"What?"
Jeffrey frowned.
