Chapter 5 - Unwelcome Visitors
Noah spun around, raising his firearm into the darkness.
Two tall figures stepped out from behind the ironwood trunks, moving with unnatural synchronization.
They wore dark, heavy coats that seemed to absorb the beam of his flashlight rather than reflect it.
Their faces were pale and completely featureless, devoid of eyes, noses, or mouths, yet they moved with terrifying purpose.
"Detective Carter," a voice sounded directly inside Noah’s head, vibrating against his skull.
"You are carrying items that do not belong to this iteration of time."
Noah pulled the trigger twice, the gunshots deafening in the enclosed forest.
The bullets struck the lead figure in the chest, but instead of blood, a stream of glowing silver dust poured from the wounds.
The figure didn't fall; it simply absorbed the impact and took another step forward.
Noah tossed a flashbang grenade at their feet and bolted deeper into the woods as the blinded entity shrieked.
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He ran blindly through the briars, his heart hammering against his ribs like a trapped bird.
Behind him, he could hear the steady, relentless crunch of boots on dry twigs coming closer.
