The Silence Before the Call

Silence Before the Call

July, 2026

It was the height of a blistering summer, a heatwave washing over the continent with a blazing sun and brilliant blue sky, as the morning light rose high above, it filtered through the forests canopy of green, the air was thick, sweltering, the breeze carried a scent of dry grass along its lazy breeze, mixing with the freshness of the nearby lake.
A Light rustling of bushes and a chatter of bird swam together, a picture of peaceful perfection at a time of indifference and struggle.
Though, these sounds would soon be drowned out by the crunching of tyres rolling into the parking zone, with the beeping of horns and the loud chatter of conversations; families unloading cool boxes, couples stretching their legs, and a coach of students spilling out all into a noisy wave on a bright, warm summer day.

Amongst this noisy chatter arrived a group of five in their twenties; a trio of lads and two women intent on escaping the monotony of work and the world of technology, they wouldn’t linger though; with backpacks slung over their shoulders and tents underarms, they moved quickly, to get away from the crowds, moving deeper into the forest where the shade was thickest and air was cooler.

Finding a spot not far from the river; backpacks would hit the ground, peace momentarily shattered as chaos of tent building back; Vinnie, the eldest and bulkiest of the group with short hair shaved at the back with a zig-zag pattern, uttered curses at the tent poles while Zoey tried to coordinate him, her teasing clearly meant to keep him from losing it entirely.

Simon, the more athletic of the group helped James set up the folding tables and chairs, while enjoying the music playing, laughter rose; stones would be arranged into a fire pit, while Jenny; she had drifted off almost immediately with a camera in hand and scanning for birds amongst the trees.

As Jenny followed the trail further, she occasionally found things to take pictures of, though she noticed that there wasn’t all that many birds which did annoy her, but she simply put it down to the noise of the group and kept walking.
Eventually she happened across the lake where families and groups of friends and students were enjoying the cool water; shrieks of delight, the sounds of splashing water, she found herself smiling before deciding to let herself relax at the lakes edge, slipping her shoes off and dipping her feet into the cool water, leaning back with a sigh as she felt the breeze brush across her, her gaze lifting towards the blue sky above.

As Jenny sat there, leaning back with her hands positioned behind her, her arms keeping her raised; her head leaning back with her eyes closed enjoying the gentle breeze; she found herself just…, listening; the shrieks of kids, the splash of water as students jumped or splashed water, the sounds of a couple arguing light-hearted nearby over a forgotten drink bottle, the sound of music from someone’s mobile phone, the noise was just typical human chaos.

No birds skimming the surface, or bugs buzzing past her ear; just people, just pure chaotic noise and excitement.

“Are ye alright there lass” a warm, northernly voice called out; Jenny’s eyes opened immediately, she didn’t move her body, simply leaned her head back a little more, the world appearing upside-down as she looked towards the direction of the voice
She saw two lads, clearly her own age wandering over from the trail, one clearly dripping wet from being in the lake, the one who’d spoke gave a warm, friendly grin

“Yeah” Jenny said brightly with a scouse accent, smiling at them “Just cooling off”

“It is a good spot ja?” the second lad chimed with a thick German voice as he rubbed his wet hair “You are camping ja?”

“Yes, just up the trail” she answered with a smile, twisting over finally to look at the pair properly, then pushing herself up to her feet “How about you two?”

“Aye lass” the northern lad chirped with a warm smile, gesturing down the trail, Jenny noticing that it was the same direction as her own group “We’re jus’ down tha’ way a wee bit”

“We’re near by then eh?” Jenny smiled

“Ye wi’ family or wi’ friends lass?” he smiled warmly, purposely keeping distance to be respectful, his eyes drifting a moment towards the chaos of the lake, then back to Jenny

“I’m with me mates” she answered brightly, bending down to pick her shoes up, and walking towards the pair, her eyes flicking towards the trees a moment, looking for signs of movement; still, she couldn’t spot any birds which did disappoint her

“Cool, cool” the northern lad chirped nodding “If ye an’ ye mates want to ‘ave a barbie, we’ll be settin’ up la’er, feel free to join” he smiled

“I’d love a barbeque” Jenny beamed “But I would need to check with me friends first if they’re up for it”

“The more the merrier” the German lad said brightly

“Aye; tha’ name’s Daniel” the northern speaker told her brightly “This ‘ere is Lucas, if ye and yer mates join us later, I’ll introduce ye to Vikky and Mia” he added with warmly, then gestured
“Hope ta see ye later?” he said as he and Lucas started to move

“We’ll see Jenny said warmly; as the two started to walk off, Jenny’s eyes drifted back to the bushes, she thought for a moment, tilting her head, she could hear the distant thud of a football, the splash of water from the lake, the distinctive beat of music, but, the forest seemed…, quiet, oddly devoid of animals, she suspected it to just be the usual cause of human disruption, but at the same time, she did feel she should at least hear something.

Beneath the shadow of the undergrowth, where the trees had grown thickest, the ground at its coolest; like a gentle, cool breath; something waited; still, low hidden beneath the layers of fern and shade; it had been watching in silence, it had noticed the vibrations of Jenny’s footsteps through the very soil, the soft displacement of the air when she moved, the irregular rhythm of her voice when she’d spoken with the two males, the way the heat of her body interacted with the cool air.

When Jenny walked away, shoes in hand; steps light on the path, the forest continued to remain still…., quiet, but…, certainly not empty; an unnoticeable tremor travelled through the ground as Jenny shifted her weight; while remaining perfectly still, it tracked her direction; with a slow exhale, barely audible; a low, resonant breath stirred the leaves but nothing more – a sound that Jenny couldn’t pick up on, not properly, but she did pause for a brief moment; it felt her change in posture, the subtle tightening of muscle – that momentary alertness.
Jenny though, as she looked at the treeline drifted her gaze slowly before simply shrugging off the feeling, and continued along the trail.

The Watcher remained motionless long after Jenny had gone, listening to the fading thuds of her footsteps, the distant laughter from the lake; whilst around it, nothing else dared to move.

At the camp, Vinnie hammered the last peg into the ground with the heel of his boot, muttering irritated under his breath as it finally went in straight “Finally” he mumbled, sweat clinging to his forehead, the heat of the air making even the shade feel as though they were in a sauna
As he straightened up with a grunt, he rolled his shoulders “Sorted” he announced to no one in particular

Nearby, Zoey was fussing over the guy-ropes, while Simon and James argued over where to put the chairs while also arguing over the best place to position a speaker playing the upbeat music of a summer-soundtrack that really did not match the forest at all.
And despite the distant sounds of people, what felt like it should have been a lively moment, caused Vinnie to pause as he wiped his forehead, something tugged at the back of his mind, his eyes flicked around a moment; the music was there, the lads were bickering and Zoey was humming…, yet the forest….
The forest wasn’t; there wasn’t anything there that he could hear beyond human sounds, yet, when they’d first arrived, he could have sworn there had been; but now, now there was nothing; no birds chirps, no subtle sounds of insects, no rustling of rabbits or squirrels…, just the light rustle of leaves from the breeze.

Vinnie frowned as he glanced towards the treeline, the shade looked deeper than it should have, like the sun wasn’t quite reaching that deep into the woods; listening, he was expecting at least the sound of a pigeon, perhaps a blackbird; something to flap about – but there wasn’t

“Oi” came Zoey’s scouse pitch “You alreet?” she asked, noticing him just standing there like a brooding statue, staring into the woods

“Aye” Vinnie grunted automatically, but kept his eyes fixed forwards, not looking away from the trees “Jus’…., thought I ‘eard summat” he said with a Lancaster drawl

“What; a squirrel?” James laughed – though Vinnie didn’t answer, he wasn’t really listening to the group, he was focused on the absence that he had noticed, the strange stillness, a subtle prickle at the back of his neck, he was sure he could feel a rather distinctive voice at the back of his head that was suggesting to seek higher ground, a suggestion that seemed primitive; he simply shook it off, forcing himself back into the moment “Probably t‘eat gettin’ t’me” he muttered before walking towards the cool box to grab a bottle; but even as he bent down towards it, his eyes flicked back to the treeline again, he felt that strange sensation to move…, to hide, and he just couldn’t work out why

It was at this moment Jenny finally stepped back into the camp, shoes dangling from one hand, hair a little skewed to the left by the gentle breeze; the moment she appeared, Zoey perked up “There she is” Zoey called out brightly “Thought ye’d fallen in t’lake”

Jenny giggled in response “Nah; just met a couple of lads down there, Daniel and Lucas” she said, dropping down into the nearest chair, dropping her shoes beside her on the floor “They’re settin’ up a barbeque la’er, said we can join if we want”

James immediately perked up “Free food!” he grinned “Oh, count me in” he beamed happily

Simon elbowed him “You’re always in if it involves food” he chirped, shaking his head softly

Jenny just rolled her eyes fondly, eyes flicking around “They were reet proper friendly; said they’ve got a couple girls with ‘em too”

Zoey grinned “Oh, socialising; look at us bein’ all normal like”

The group chuckled, the mood easily drifting into something more,light…, more normal; except for Vinnie, he hadn’t joined the banter, didn’t even acknowledge Jenny’s return; he’d kept his eyes on the treeline, his jaw clenched tight, bottle gripped between his fingers

Jenny’s eyes flicked towards him “You alright there Vin?” she asked, concern flickering in her eyes

For a moment he didn’t say anything, just kept staring out; like he was trying to comprehend something that was there, but yet, his brain simply couldn’t place it “Aye” he finally answered, quick, a flat tone as he forced a shrug “Jus’ ‘ot tha’s all”

Jenny’s gaze drifted following Vinnie’s gaze into the trees; she couldn’t see anything, but, she couldn’t deny that feeling she felt back at the lake; that stillness, that there should be something moving, something making noise.
For now though, she pushed it to the back of her mind; the heatwave she told herself, that it was just typical human activity, that was all – getting to her feet, she walked over, nudging Vinnie’s arm “Come on” she said softly “We’ll go later yeah?; grab some food, meet new people”

Vinnie gave a stiff nod, his eyes still fixed forwards, but, he finally forced himself to look at Jenny as he gave another, less stiff nod.

As the evening began to settle in, a slow shift as the heat began to ease, beginning to cool, the harsh amber of the lowering sun washed across the forest; the group had settled into their usual rhythms, getting themselves ready to go and join Daniel and Lucas’s barbeque.

While Zoey busied herself reorganising things that didn’t even need to be reorganised, James rummaged through the snack supply, Simon fiddled with the speaker; Vinnie sat by the cool box, guarding it like a guard dog, but he wasn’t actually guarding the drinks, he was actually guarding the camp, he still felt the strangeness of being watched, that voice that was telling him to seek higher ground.

Jenny, she stepped out from her tent, tying the bottom of her vest; she too felt the shift in the air, her eyes lifting towards Vinnie, then towards the treeline.

The absence of the birds had also finally been noticed by Zoey, who, as she busied herself, forced herself to look up ”Feels a bit weird, dun’t it?” she murmured, her eyes flicking towards Jenny

Jenny gave a slow, automatic nod “Yeah” she murmured “Let’s…, just go shall we?”

James and Simon exchanged confused looks as they looked about, before just shrugging at the strangeness of; Jenny, Vinnie and Zoey “Come on” James beamed “I wanna get some food” he chirped happily

Trekking from their camp, along the trail; it opened up into a wider clearing near to the lake; the smell of charcoal and sizzling meat drifted through the warm air; a portable grill crackled away, flames licking at the edges of the skewers and burgers; a table was set up with covered bowls; crisps, and others finger-foods, bottles and cans cooling in the cool box, with music playing from the nearby speaker.

Daniel spotted the group first “There ye are!” he called out happily, waving them over with that same, easy grin Jenny encountered earlier that day

Lucas lifted a hand in greeting before returning his attention back to the grill, using a pair of tongs “Good timing” he said with that thick German accent “Food is almost ready”

Two girls sat nearby on a blanket; one with bright ginger hair tied in a messy bun, the other awkwardly sat in a denim jacket despite the heat; both looked up as the group approached; Daniel quickly gestured towards them “This ‘ere is Vikky” he said, nodding to the ginger-haired girl – the woman smiling brightly towards the group “And this ‘ere is Mia”

Vikky waved happily as she looked over “Hi!” she chirped happily, Mia gave a soft, restrained smile, almost shy of the new arrivals, offering just a quiet wave

“Mia tends to be a wee bit shy” Daniel said with a warm smile

Jenny gave a warm nod, gesturing to her friends “This is James, Simon, Zoey and…., Vinnie” she said, gesturing to each in turn

James gave a dramatic bow “Where’s the food; I am here to invade your camp for food” he beamed happily

Simon immediately elbow him “Ignore him; he’s always like this”

Zoey gave a happy grin “Nice setup ye’ve got ‘ere”

Vinnie though, he gave a polite, but distracted nod, his eyes flicking back to the treeline; as the warm of the introductions settled, the laughter died down and talking stopped; but not because they were settling in, instead, it was because something seemed to rise beneath them; a pressure…., a weight that caused a shift in the air, at first it was subtle, almost like the world around them simply exhaled.

Vinnie and Jenny immediately looked at each other; he felt a prickle along his spine, a tightening in his chest, that voice, that primitive voice urging him to move.
Jenny’s smile faltered; while Zoey’s hand froze near a bottle, Lucas found himself looking up from the grill again, towards the treeline, his brow furrowing, Daniel turned towards the trees; the forest didn’t go quiet, it went still.

Then it came…, a deep, resonant pulse that rolled through the ground, vibrating through their feet, their legs, their very bones; plates rattled, bottles seemed to tremble and the grill hissed – the air thickened, humming with a frequency that living creature recognised, at least, no modern living creature had evolved to recognise.
Another pulse followed, longer, deeper…, something just ancient a sound that the Earth recognised; it was no roar, no bellow or loud chirp – it was an echoing boom of a subsonic call, something that rippled through like a shockwave bending the air.

Vikky’s eyes widened as her hands lifted to cover her ears, not because the sound was loud, it wasn’t, not really, but it felt wrong – Mia immediately moved to get to her feet, James went rigid, Zoey had also frozen, Simon swore under his breath; Jenny and Vinnie stood staring towards the treeline, every instinct in the body screaming one thing; a Predator they had never evolved to face was near.

The forest seemed to bow under the weight; the lake rippled, and the birds, those few that dared to return exploded from the treetops in a frantic, chaotic burst.

And, as the last vibration faded into the soil, the world seemed to fall into complete silence, a silence that just simply felt wrong; the senses screaming instantly warnings that no human had ever experienced before; no one dared to move – every instinct was firing off at once.

Somewhere, maybe deep in the forest, or perhaps even close by, had just made its presence known, that it was awake.