That night in the Jungle

 

The sun was setting as Emily drove down the deserted highway, the only car for miles. She had just left her small hometown behind and was heading to the city to start a new life. Excitement and nerves battled inside her chest, but she tried to focus on the road ahead. Suddenly, a deer darted out from the trees and onto the road. Emily swerved, her car spinning out of control and careening off the road. She hit her head on the steering wheel and everything went black.

When she came to, it was dark outside. Her car was upside down, and she was hanging from her seatbelt. She tried to unbuckle herself but her head was spinning and she couldn't focus. After what felt like hours, she managed to free herself and crawled out of the car.

Emily was in the middle of nowhere. The trees loomed over her, casting deep shadows across the forest floor. She could feel the chill in the air and her breath came out in visible puffs. She didn't have a phone signal and had no idea how to get back on the road. She started walking, hoping to find help.

As she walked, she heard strange noises in the woods. Rustling and creaking sounds that seemed to follow her every step. She tried to ignore it and kept moving, but the noises got louder and more persistent. Emily started to panic. What if there was something out there watching her? Waiting to pounce?

She picked up her pace and soon broke into a jog. But the noises kept getting closer, and she was sure she could hear something breathing heavily behind her. Emily turned to look but saw nothing. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she was gasping for air. She stumbled and fell to the ground, her hands scraping against the rough forest floor.

As she lay there, a cold hand touched her shoulder. Emily screamed and scrambled to her feet. She turned around and saw a figure standing in front of her. It was a man, but he was dressed in tattered clothes and his face was twisted in a grotesque smile.

"Who are you?" Emily shouted, trying to back away.

The man didn't answer, but he started to move towards her. Emily turned and ran, her feet pounding against the ground. She heard the man's laughter behind her and the rustling of his clothes as he chased her through the woods.

Emily ran faster than she ever had before, but the man was gaining on her. She could hear his ragged breathing and the sound of his feet pounding against the ground. Just as she thought he would grab her, Emily saw a light in the distance. She ran towards it and burst out of the woods, collapsing onto the side of the road.

A car was coming towards her, its headlights illuminating her face. The driver slammed on the brakes and got out, rushing over to her.

"Are you okay?" he asked, helping her to her feet.

Emily looked back at the woods, but the man was nowhere to be seen.

"I don't know," she said, her voice shaking. "I don't know what just happened."

The driver took her to the nearest hospital and Emily got checked out. The doctors told her she had a concussion and that she needed to rest for a few days. Emily was grateful to be alive, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was still watching her.

Days turned into weeks, and Emily moved on with her life. But she never forgot that night in the woods. The man with the twisted smile haunted her dreams and she couldn't shake the feeling that he was still out there, waiting for her.

One night, Emily was lying in bed, trying to sleep. Suddenly, she heard a tapping at her window. She