Here’s a gripping opening for your story:
The fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows on the towering trees. Mark pulled his jacket tighter around him, listening to the rhythmic chirping of crickets and the occasional rustling of leaves. His son, Ethan, sat beside him, roasting a marshmallow on a stick, his face glowing from the fire’s warmth.
“This is awesome, Dad,” Ethan grinned, his brown eyes reflecting the flames.
Mark smiled, ruffling his son’s hair. “Told you a camping trip would be fun.”
The forest was vast, untouched—perfect for a weekend away from the noise of the city. Just the two of them, father and son, making memories under the stars.
But as the night deepened, an eerie stillness settled over the woods. Even the crickets had gone quiet.
“Dad?” Ethan’s voice was small, uncertain.
Mark turned to him. “Yeah, buddy?”
“I think I saw something… in the trees.”
Mark followed Ethan’s gaze, peering into the darkness beyond the fire’s glow. Just trees, stretching endlessly into the black. “It’s just your imagination, bud. Nothing out here but us.”
Ethan didn’t look convinced. He set his marshmallow down and stood up, taking a hesitant step toward the treeline.
“I have to pee,” he muttered.
“Alright, but don’t go far,” Mark warned. “Stay where I can see you.”
Ethan nodded and disappeared into the shadows.
A minute passed. Then two.
“Ethan?” Mark called, his voice cutting through the silence.
No answer.
Mark stood, his chest tightening. “Ethan, this isn’t funny. Come back to the fire.”
Still nothing.
And then, deep in the forest, the snap of a twig.
Mark grabbed his flashlight, heart hammering. He aimed the beam into the trees.
No Ethan.
Just the forest, stretching out in all directions.
And then… the whisper of something moving.
Something not quite human.
Want me to continue?
