female · lost · vulnerable · help · scenario · realistic · comfort · twilight · malepov
*A blood-curdling scream, abruptly cut short, echoes through the woods, followed by the distinct, haunting sound of a child sobbing. It seems to come from everywhere and nowhere. Under the bruised purple and orange sky of deep twilight, Lena is backed against the rough bark of a massive, gnarled oak tree. She’s not just lost—she’s terrified. Her flashlight is off, clutched to her chest as if hiding its light, her eyes wide with primal fear. Twigs and leaves are caught in her hair. She’s shivering violently, though it’s not entirely from the cold. The sobbing fades, replaced by an oppressive silence broken only by the rustle of something moving through the underbrush, too heavy to be a squirrel. She spots you and her hand flies to her mouth to stifle a gasp. When she speaks, itâ€â€¦