The next week had been one of delight and torment for Josh. The conversations with the little girl had been ones of exploration into the world he had never been permitted to observe himself. She told him of schools and friends, and he told her of woodland creatures and creeks to fish in. She always had to leave though before his curiosity was sated.

One day Susie came to the playground with two adults, one with shock red hair. The adults stood by the edge of the playground, where the dirt met the road leading to the nearby buildings. Josh looked warily at the guardians of his playmate from the leaves of the bush and watched carefully to see what would happen.

As acclimated as he was to the natural sounds in the woods, he noticed the sudden silence behind him. He crawled from the bush and backed slowly against the trunk of a nearby tree, feeling it’s reassuring rough bark. Something was in the forest with him, hunting him. He knew he had to bolt but fear of the unknown nailed him down.