a painting of a cabin in a snowy forest

The Watcher in the WoodsIt was a bitterly cold autumn evening when Mia first noticed something off about the woods behind her new house. The small town of Ashbrook had seemed like a perfect escape from the bustle of the city. Nestled among towering trees and whispering pines, the house felt like a sanctuary. But that feeling faded quickly.Every night, without fail, Mia would hear the sound of crunching leaves outside her window. At first, she thought it might be deer or some nocturnal animal. But the footsteps… they were too deliberate. Too human.