The Darkness Lingers

The darkness had barely lifted when Robin woke up, his body aching from the lack of sleep. He felt groggy and disoriented, his mind foggy with exhaustion. As he sat up, he noticed that the camp was quiet, the only sound the distant chirping of birds. Tuck and John were still asleep, their chests rising and falling with each gentle breath. Robin rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the fatigue. He had barely slept at all, his mind racing with thoughts of the shadow he had seen the night before. Had it really been there, or was it just his imagination playing tricks on him? He couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, that something was lurking just beyond the edge of their camp. As he swung his legs over the side of his sleeping bag, Robin noticed that his journal was lying open on his chest. He must have opened it in his sleep, the pages fluttering in the gentle breeze. He quickly closed it, feeling a pang of unease. Who had read it? And what had they made of his innermost thoughts? Tuck stirred, yawning widely as he sat up. "Morning, Robin," he said, his voice gruff from sleep. "How did you sleep?" Robin shook his head, trying to clear the fog. "Not great," he admitted. "I didn't get much rest." John woke up shortly after, his eyes bleary as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "What's for breakfast?" he asked, his voice hopeful. Tuck stood up, stretching his arms over his head. "I think we have some energy bars and dried fruit left," he said. "Not the most appetizing meal, but it'll have to do." As they ate their breakfast, Robin couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. He kept glancing around, expecting to see something lurking in the trees. But there was nothing, just the quiet rustling of leaves and the chirping of birds. After they finished eating, Tuck stood up, brushing off his pants. "We need to get moving," he said. "We can't stay here. We need to find a safer place to set up camp." Robin nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. Maybe they could leave this place behind, and find a new spot to regroup. But as they began to pack up their gear, he couldn't shake the feeling that they were being herded, that something was pushing them towards a destination they didn't know. As they set off into the unknown, Robin felt a sense of trepidation. What lay ahead? And what was waiting for them in the darkness?