The underbrush rustled ominously around them as Claire and Marco remained hidden in their makeshift hollow. The oppressive silence felt suffocating, broken only by the faint, distant growls of the Tikbalang fading into the shadows.
“What if it comes back?” Claire whispered, her voice barely audible over the thudding of her heart. She could still feel the weight of the creature’s gaze lingering, as if it were testing the air for their scent.
“We’ll just have to be ready,” Marco replied, his grip on the branch tightening as he scanned their surroundings. The dim light of the moon barely penetrated the thick canopy overhead, casting flickering shadows that danced unsettlingly.
After what felt like an eternity, the sounds of the forest began to return to normal. The crickets resumed their symphony, and the distant rustle of leaves indicated that the creature had moved on. Yet, the dread remained, a gnawing fear deep in Claire's gut.
“Do you think Ben and Jessa are okay?” she asked, her mind racing back to their friends. They had split up in panic, but the thought of facing the Tikbalang alone filled her with dread.
Marco’s expression hardened. “They’ll be fine. We have to focus on getting out of here first.” He shifted slightly, trying to ease the tension in his shoulders. “Let’s give it a few more minutes before we move. We need a plan.”
Claire nodded, her breath coming in soft puffs as she tried to calm her racing thoughts. “What kind of plan?”
“We need to find Luis. If we can get to him before that thing does, maybe we can all get out of here together,” Marco said, his voice resolute.
“Right,” Claire replied, feeling a sense of determination wash over her. They had to act. If Luis was lost in this forest, they couldn’t let fear paralyze them.
As they crouched in the hollow, Marco turned to her, his expression softening. “Claire, if we encounter the Tikbalang again, just remember: it’s all about staying calm. We need to work together.”
“Okay,” she said, although the quiver in her voice betrayed her anxiety. “But what if it really is hunting us? What if it wants to keep us here?”
Marco met her gaze, and the gravity of their situation settled between them. “We can’t think like that. If we lose hope, we’re already done for. We need to be smart about this.”
Just then, a sound broke the stillness—a rustle too close for comfort. Claire's heart leapt into her throat. They both froze, holding their breath as the noise grew closer. Marco’s eyes widened, and he motioned for her to stay still.
The Tikbalang's growl returned, a low rumble that echoed ominously through the trees. It was searching again.
Claire felt her pulse quicken as the creature passed by their hiding spot, its shadow casting an imposing silhouette against the faint glow of moonlight. She held her breath, every instinct screaming for her to run. But she knew better; they had to stay hidden.
After what felt like an eternity, the growl faded, and they could hear the distant sounds of the forest once more. Marco exhaled slowly, tension easing from his shoulders. “It’s gone again,” he whispered, glancing at Claire.
“Now what?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
“Now we move,” he said, determination reigniting in his eyes. “We’ll make our way back to the clearing and see if we can find Ben and Jessa. They might have found Luis or at least be safe.”
“Okay,” Claire agreed, adrenaline flooding her veins. They squeezed out of the hollow, cautiously stepping back into the dense foliage.
The moonlight guided their path, but the shadows felt alive, whispering threats as they tread carefully through the underbrush. Every snap of a twig made Claire jump, her senses heightened as they made their way deeper into the heart of the forest.
After a few tense moments, they emerged into a small clearing, and Claire’s heart sank. The campsite was deserted. The fire pit was cold and empty, the logs blackened from the last embers.
“Where are they?” Claire breathed, panic clawing at her throat.
“They should be here,” Marco said, his brow furrowing as he scanned the area. “Let’s look for any signs of them.”
As they moved through the clearing, Claire noticed something odd in the dirt—footprints, but not the kind they’d left behind. These were deeper, larger, and unmistakably animalistic.
“Marco, look!” she pointed. “Do you see these tracks?”
“Yeah,” he said, kneeling to examine them. “They’re fresh. It’s definitely the Tikbalang’s.”
“We need to get out of here,” Claire urged, her anxiety mounting. “If it’s close, we can’t stick around.”
Marco nodded, standing and scanning the treeline. “Let’s head toward the stream. We might find Ben and Jessa there, or at least a way out.”
They hurried toward the sound of running water, moving cautiously as the shadows closed in around them. The closer they got to the stream, the more the sound of water masked the noise of the forest.
“Do you hear that?” Claire asked, halting as she caught the faintest echo of voices carried by the wind.
“Yeah,” Marco replied, straining to listen. “It sounds like… it could be Ben and Jessa!”
Claire felt a rush of hope surge through her. “Let’s go!”
They raced toward the sound, weaving between the trees until they broke through the last barrier of foliage. There, in the moonlit clearing beside the stream, stood Ben and Jessa, their faces a mix of relief and fear.
“Claire! Marco!” Ben shouted, waving them over.
“Thank God you’re okay!” Claire cried as they rushed to join their friends.
“What happened?” Jessa asked, her eyes wide with concern. “We thought we’d lost you!”
“There’s a Tikbalang out here!” Marco exclaimed, urgency lacing his words. “We need to figure out a plan.”
“What do you mean a Tikbalang?” Ben asked, his brows knitting together in disbelief.
“It’s real, Ben,” Claire insisted, her voice shaking. “We saw it.”
“Great. Just great,” Ben muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “What do we do now?”
“We need to stick together and keep moving,” Marco said, his tone brokering no argument. “We can’t let it separate us again.”
Jessa nodded, looking from Marco to Claire, her expression determined. “Then we move as one. We can’t let it pick us off one by one.”
Claire felt a swell of courage at their united front. “Okay. Let’s find Luis and get out of here together.”
They formed a tight circle, the sound of the stream a calming backdrop to their shared anxiety. But as they turned to head back toward the path, a growl echoed through the trees, louder and closer than before, sending a chill down Claire's spine.
The Tikbalang was hunting again.