Chapter 6: The Cabin In The Woods
The cabin sat alone among the trees.
No neighbors.
No cameras.
No witnesses.
Just a small wooden building surrounded by darkness.
James hated places like this.
Places designed to hide things.
The officers surrounded the property before anyone moved.
Maria stood beside him.
“You ready?””
James nodded.
Then he looked back at the vehicle.
Ethan was inside with a trained officer.
Safe.
At least for now.
The front door of the cabin was unlocked.
That bothered James more than a locked door would have.
People who wanted to hide something usually locked it.
People who wanted someone to find something left it open.
James entered first.
The cabin was empty.
A table.
Two chairs.
An old fireplace.
Nothing unusual.
Until Maria opened a closet.
Behind the hanging coats was another door.
James stared at it.
“Another hidden room.””
They opened it slowly.
Inside were shelves.
Boxes.
Files.
Names.
Years of records.
Maria picked up a folder.
“James…”
He turned.
Her face had changed.
“What?””
She handed him the folder.
Inside was a list.
Not missing children.
Not victims.
Candidates.
Children Caleb had watched.
James looked through the pages.
“He was choosing.””
Maria nodded.
“And Ethan was one of them.””
James closed the folder.
A noise came from the back of the cabin.
Everyone stopped.
A small sound.
Like someone moving.
James raised his flashlight.
“Police department. If someone is here, come out slowly.””
Nothing.
Then a voice answered.
A child’s voice.
“Don’t let him find me.””
James moved toward the sound.
Behind a hidden wall was a small space.
And inside was a little boy.
Maybe eight years old.
Terrified.
Holding a backpack.
James crouched.
“You’re safe now.””
The boy shook his head.
“No.””
James frowned.
“What’s wrong?””
The boy looked behind him.
“Because Caleb always comes back.””
Maria stepped closer.
“Where is he?””
The boy’s eyes filled with tears.
“He went to the house.””
James’s heart stopped.
“What house?””
The boy looked at him.
“The Miller house.””
A terrible silence followed.
James immediately grabbed his radio.
“Unit one, return to Ethan now.””
Static answered.
Then a voice.
“Detective…”
The officer sounded frightened.
“We have a problem.””
James gripped the radio.
“What happened?””
A pause.
Then:
“The station lights just went out.””
James looked toward Maria.
The boy in the hidden room whispered one final thing.
“He didn’t come here to run.””
James turned back.
“What did he come here for?””
May you like
The boy stared at him.
“To make sure nobody could tell the truth.”” ```
