Jacob had gone straight to the forest rangers, recounting everything—the broken camera, the carcass, the strange noises. He had expected concern, urgency. Instead, they dismissed him. “Probably just a hunter passing through,” one had said. Another laughed, “You’re spending too much time in the woods, Jacob.”
Now, as he drove past the towering trees, frustration simmered beneath his skin. He knew what he had seen. He knew the signs. If no one else would take it seriously, then he had no choice—he would return to the forest. And this time, he wouldn’t leave without evidence.