Chapter 10 – Lost and Found

Dexter and Isabel reached the northern section of the forest in record time, following Martin's GPS coordinates. The sun was lower now, casting long shadows through the trees that seemed to move and shift with malicious intent.Martin was exactly where he'd said he'd be—standing rigid at the edge of a small clearing, phone clutched in his white-knuckled grip. When he saw them, relief flooded his face."Thank God. I didn't want to move but I also didn't want to just stand here doing nothing while Jesse's—" He couldn't finish the sentence."Show us," Dexter said.Martin led them to a spot about twenty yards from where they'd been setting up cameras. The ground was disturbed—scuff marks in the dirt, broken branches at waist height. And there, on a low-hanging leaf, a smear of blood.Not much. Maybe a tablespoon. But bright red. Fresh."Could be animal blood," Isabel suggested, but her voice lacked conviction.Dexter knelt and examined the tracks Martin had mentioned. They were massive—definitely Shadow tracks. But there were also smaller prints. Human. Sneakers with a distinctive tread pattern.Jesse's shoes.The tracks led deeper into the forest, toward an area so dense with undergrowth it was almost impenetrable."We follow them," Dexter said, standing."What if—" Martin's voice cracked. "What if they attacked him? What if he's hurt?""Then we find him and get him help. But Martin, think about yesterday. The contact. They weren't aggressive. They were curious. Gentle, even.""That was in a controlled situation. We were following their protocol. Jesse wouldn't have known—if he got startled, if he ran—""Running triggers chase instinct," Isabel said quietly, repeating the words Martin himself had spoken days ago.They all understood the implication."Call Dr. Marsh," Dexter said to Isabel. "Tell her we have a missing person. We might need search and rescue.""That'll bring Morrison and his people running," Isabel warned."I know. But Jesse's safety comes first."As Isabel made the call, Dexter and Martin began following the tracks. The trail was clear at first—broken undergrowth, disturbed earth, the occasional smear of blood on vegetation. But after about fifty yards, something changed.The tracks split.The Shadow prints continued straight ahead. But Jesse's prints veered sharply to the left, toward a steep ravine."He went a different direction than the Shadow," Martin observed. "So he wasn't being chased?""Maybe. Or maybe there's more than one." Dexter studied the ground. "Martin, when Jesse disappeared, did you hear anything? The humming? That harmonic howl?""No. Nothing. We were just working and then I turned around and he was gone." Martin's hands were shaking. "I should have been paying more attention. Should have kept him in sight.""This isn't your fault.""Then whose fault is it? We came out here, into their territory, disrupting their dens—""To protect them," Dexter said firmly. "We're trying to help. The Shadows know that. They wouldn't hurt Jesse. They wouldn't."He wasn't sure if he was trying to convince Martin or himself.Isabel returned, her face grim. "Dr. Marsh is on her way. ETA twenty minutes. But she said Morrison's people are monitoring emergency channels. They'll hear about this.""Let them come. Right now, I just want to find Jesse."They followed Jesse's tracks toward the ravine. The slope was steep and treacherous, covered in loose rocks and exposed roots. At the bottom, perhaps thirty feet down, was a small stream.And sitting beside the stream, perfectly calm, was Jesse."Jesse!" Martin shouted. "Are you okay?"Jesse looked up, and even from a distance, Dexter could see something was wrong. Jesse's expression was blank, unfocused. His eyes didn't quite track properly."I'm fine," Jesse called back, his voice oddly flat. "I'm just... waiting.""Waiting for what?" Dexter asked."For them to come back."Dexter, Isabel, and Martin exchanged glances."We're coming down," Dexter said. "Don't move."They descended carefully, using roots and rocks as handholds. Up close, Jesse looked uninjured except for a small cut on his forearm—the source of the blood they'd found. But his eyes were distant, unfocused."Jesse," Isabel said gently. "What happened? Where did you go?""I heard it," Jesse said dreamily. "The humming. But different this time. Like it was calling specifically to me. So I followed it.""And then?""And then I was here. I don't remember walking. I just... arrived." Jesse looked around as if seeing the ravine for the first time. "They showed me things. Beautiful things. The forest from their perspective. Every tree connected, every animal part of a pattern. It's so much bigger than I thought. So much more complex.""Jesse, focus," Dexter said, kneeling beside him. "Did they hurt you?""Hurt me?" Jesse seemed genuinely confused by the question. "No. They were gentle. One of them—the smaller one, I think—it touched my hand. And then I could see what it sees. Feel what it feels." His eyes welled with tears. "Dexter, they're so lonely. They used to have more. A whole pack. But humans killed them. Hunters, decades ago. Now there are only three left. Three, out of dozens.""The 1947 hunting party," Martin breathed. "Bill told us only three men came back. We assumed the Shadows killed the others. But what if it was the other way around? What if the humans killed most of the pack?"It made horrible sense. The survivors—traumatized, guilty, unable to process what they'd done—had spent the rest of their lives in institutions. Not because the Shadows had broken them, but because they'd broken themselves. The weight of genocide proving too heavy to bear."We need to get you out of here," Isabel said to Jesse. "Dr. Marsh is coming. We should—"A sound echoed through the ravine. The harmonic howl they'd heard before, but closer. Much closer.And answering it, from multiple directions—more howls."That's more than three," Martin whispered.Shadows began appearing at the top of the ravine. Not three. Not five.At least eight. Maybe more, partially hidden in the dense foliage.Dexter's mind reeled. Eight? How were there eight?Then understanding hit him like a physical blow."They called for help," he said quietly. "The three we've been seeing—they're not the only ones left. They're just the ones guarding this territory. There are more. The species isn't as endangered as we thought.""That's good news, right?" Martin asked hopefully."Only if Morrison doesn't find out. Eight targets instead of three? He'll call in more hunters. Turn this into a full-scale operation."The Shadows began descending the ravine walls—moving with impossible grace despite the steep angle and loose rocks. They surrounded the group but didn't approach. Defensive posture. Protecting something.Protecting Jesse.The smallest Shadow—the one that had interacted with Martin yesterday—moved closer. It looked at Jesse with those too-intelligent eyes, then at Dexter.And Dexter understood.Jesse hadn't been attacked or kidnapped. He'd been invited. Chosen. The same way Dexter had been marked, Jesse had been called."They want him to stay," Dexter said quietly."What?" Isabel looked alarmed. "Dexter, no. We're not leaving Jesse with—""Not forever. Just... they want to show him more. Teach him. They're trying to make him understand." Dexter moved slowly toward Jesse, keeping his movements non-threatening. "Jesse, do you want to stay?"Jesse looked torn. "I... I don't know. Part of me does. Part of me feels like I need to. Like there's more they want to show me. But I'm also terrified and confused and I don't know what's real anymore.""That's the forgetting," Martin said. "It's affecting his perception. We need to get him out of here before it gets worse."But Dexter wasn't sure. Yesterday, the forgetting had felt defensive—a weapon to disorient potential threats. This felt different. More like... communion. Like the Shadows were trying to share something profound and human brains simply weren't wired to process it correctly."Jesse," Dexter said carefully. "If you want to leave, we'll leave right now. All of us. The Shadows won't stop us—I don't think they want to force anything. But if part of you wants to stay, wants to understand what they're showing you—""You're seriously suggesting we leave him alone with them?" Isabel interrupted."I'm suggesting we let Jesse decide. He's not a prisoner. He's a guest."Jesse stood on shaky legs, looking at the Shadows surrounding them. The smallest one—barely larger than a horse but still massive by human standards—approached him slowly. It lowered its head, and Jesse reached out to touch it.The moment contact was made, Jesse's eyes went distant again."Oh," he breathed. "Oh, I see it now. They're not trying to hurt anyone. They're trying to warn us. There's something coming. Something worse than hunters.""What do you mean?" Dexter asked urgently."The drilling. It's not just going to destroy their dens. It's going to crack something. Release something." Jesse's voice took on an odd, echoing quality, as if he were speaking words given to him. "Deep underground, there's a barrier. Natural gas, but also something else. Something that's been sealed away for thousands of years. If humans break that seal—"Jesse's eyes rolled back and he collapsed.The Shadow caught him before he hit the ground, lowering him gently to the earth with shocking tenderness."Jesse!" Martin rushed forward, but the Shadows moved to block him.Not aggressively. Protectively.Guarding Jesse while he recovered from whatever had just happened."Stand down," Dexter said quietly to Martin and Isabel. "They're not going to hurt him. Look at their body language. They're concerned."It was true. The Shadows were displaying clear distress—pawing the ground, making soft sounds that were almost like whimpers. The smallest one was curled around Jesse's unconscious form like a mother protecting her young.Minutes passed. The sun continued its descent, shadows lengthening.Finally, Jesse stirred. His eyes opened—clear now, focused."I'm okay," he said hoarsely. "I'm okay. They showed me too much too fast. My brain couldn't handle it.""What did you see?" Isabel asked, her camera out now, documenting everything."The underground. Miles of tunnels and caverns, all natural. The Shadows have lived down there for generations—it's how they've stayed hidden so long. But in the deepest parts, there are sealed chambers. Places where the rock formations create natural containment. And inside..." Jesse struggled to find words. "They don't have a name for it. But it's toxic. Poisonous. If the drilling cracks those chambers, it'll contaminate the water table. The whole region's water supply.""They're trying to protect us," Martin said wonderingly. "Not just their territory. Us. They're warning us about an environmental catastrophe.""Can we prove this?" Isabel asked. "Can we get evidence?""Geological surveys might show the rock formations, the chambers," Dexter said. "But connecting them to gas drilling hazards, proving there's something sealed down there—that would take time and resources we don't have.""Then we make people listen anyway," Isabel said firmly. "We tell everyone what Jesse experienced, what the Shadows showed him. Environmental groups, scientists, the EPA—someone will investigate if we make enough noise.""Or Morrison will use it as proof that we're delusional," Martin countered. "Guy has visions of underground poison chambers after getting lost in the woods? That's not going to convince skeptics."A new sound cut through their debate—helicopters. Multiple helicopters, approaching fast.The Shadows reacted immediately, melting back into the forest with impossible speed. Within seconds, they'd vanished completely."Search and rescue," Isabel said, checking her phone. "But that's too many helicopters. That's—""News crews," Martin finished, looking at his Reddit notifications. "Someone leaked that we were searching for Jesse. It's all over social media. This is going to be a circus."Dexter helped Jesse to his feet. "Can you walk?""Yeah. I'm okay. Weak, but okay.""Then we need to get our story straight. We tell them you got disoriented and lost. Wandered down here by accident. We found you, end of story. We don't mention the Shadows, the visions, any of it. Agreed?""Why not?" Jesse asked. "This is important. People need to know—""They need to know when we have proof. Right now, without evidence, we're just four people with a story that sounds like mass hallucination. We need to be strategic." Dexter looked at each of them. "Trust me. Please."Reluctantly, they nodded.Dr. Marsh arrived first, scrambling down the ravine with a medical kit. Behind her, paramedics in rescue gear. And behind them, cameras.So many cameras.Dale Morrison appeared at the top of the ravine, looking concerned for the cameras but triumphant when he thought no one was watching."This is exactly what I warned about," he announced loudly enough for the microphones to catch. "Untrained civilians, playing with forces they don't understand. This young man is lucky to be alive.""He was never in danger," Dexter said firmly. "He got disoriented. We found him. That's all.""Disoriented? In the middle of the afternoon? In familiar woods?" Morrison's smile was sharp. "Or was he attacked by the creatures you claim are so harmless?""He wasn't attacked. There's no evidence of—""There's blood," Morrison pointed out. "The cameras saw it. You reported finding blood.""From a fall. He has a minor cut on his arm.""Or from something with claws.""You're reaching," Isabel said coldly, her own camera recording. "You want this to be an attack because it supports your narrative. But the facts don't match.""The facts," Morrison said, "are that a young man went missing in woods where a dangerous animal is known to roam. Whether he was attacked or just scared—either way, it proves these creatures are a threat."The paramedics were checking Jesse's vital signs, shining lights in his eyes, asking questions. Jesse answered calmly, sticking to the story: got disoriented, wandered off, sat down to wait for help.But one of the paramedics frowned. "Your pupils are dilated. Significantly. And your heart rate is elevated. Are you sure you weren't injured? Any blows to the head?""I'm fine," Jesse insisted. "Just tired and stressed."Dr. Marsh pulled Dexter aside while the paramedics worked. "What really happened?""Exactly what we said.""Dexter." Her voice was quiet but firm. "I saw the tracks. All of them. I know the Shadows were here. Multiple Shadows. What happened?"Dexter hesitated. Dr. Marsh had been their ally, their connection to official resources. But she was also a government employee, bound by regulations and protocols."They were here," he admitted quietly. "At least eight of them. But they didn't attack. They were protective. Almost... gentle. Jesse made contact, real contact, and they showed him things. Warned him about the drilling.""Warned him? Dexter, what are you saying?""I'm saying these creatures are trying to prevent an environmental disaster. The drilling is going to crack underground chambers that are naturally sealed. Release something toxic. The Shadows know this. They're trying to stop it."Dr. Marsh was quiet for a long moment. "Can you prove any of this?""Not yet. But—""Then it's a story. And stories don't stop drilling operations." She looked toward the cameras, the news crews, Morrison preening for his audience. "I believe you. I believe something extraordinary is happening here. But without proof, without evidence I can submit to regulatory agencies, there's nothing I can do officially.""What about unofficially?"Dr. Marsh smiled slightly. "Unofficially, I can make some calls. Get some scientists interested in doing geological surveys of the area. Flag potential environmental concerns. It won't stop the drilling immediately, but it might slow it down. Buy you time.""How much time?""Days. Maybe a week if we're lucky. But Dexter—Morrison has momentum. Public opinion. And now he has this." She gestured to the scene around them. "Young man goes missing in the woods, has to be rescued. It doesn't matter that he wasn't hurt. People will see what they want to see."As if to prove her point, Dexter overheard Morrison giving an interview to a news crew:"—clearly traumatized. These creatures are a danger, not just to their physical safety but to their psychological wellbeing. We can't allow this to continue. The Trophy Trackers will be conducting our controlled hunt tomorrow morning. For the safety of this community, these animals must be removed.""Tomorrow?" Dexter turned to Dr. Marsh. "He said forty-eight hours.""He's moving up the timeline. Using this incident as justification." Dr. Marsh's expression was grim. "I can try to delay it, but—""But he has the law on his side," Dexter finished bitterly.The sun was setting now, painting the sky in shades of orange and red that looked too much like blood. The rescue team helped Jesse up the ravine, reporters shouting questions, cameras flashing.And somewhere in the darkening forest, eight Shadows were watching.Knowing that tomorrow, the humans would come with guns.Knowing they'd trusted the wrong species to protect them.Dexter felt the weight of that betrayal like a physical thing."We have to stop this," he said to Isabel and Martin as they climbed out of the ravine."How?" Martin asked. "We're out of time. Out of options.""Then we make new options," Isabel said firmly. "We've been playing by Morrison's rules, trying to win through evidence and public opinion. That's not working.""What are you suggesting?"Isabel's eyes were hard. "I'm suggesting we stop asking permission and start taking action. Whatever it takes.""Isabel—""No. These creatures trusted us, Dexter. They showed us their dens, their young, their secrets. They warned us about a disaster we're too stupid to see coming. And we're going to let them be slaughtered because we can't fill out the right paperwork fast enough?"She was right. Dexter knew she was right."What did you have in mind?" he asked quietly."I have some ideas. None of them are legal. Most of them are probably stupid. But we have until tomorrow morning to stop a massacre." Isabel looked at the forest, at the cameras, at Morrison's satisfied face. "So let's get creative."As they loaded into Dr. Marsh's vehicle—the paramedics had taken Jesse to the hospital for observation despite his protests—Dexter's phone buzzed.An unknown number. A text message:"Meet me at the old ranger station. Midnight. Come alone. I have information you need. -T.W."T.W.Thomas Whitmore?But Whitmore was dead. Had been for years.Unless..."Guys," Dexter said slowly. "I think we're about to find out there's more going on here than we realized."