My old truck sputtered and died on a lonely forest path. It was well past midnight, and the darkness was absolute. I stepped out into the cool air, my hands searching the empty passenger seat for the lantern I always kept there. It was gone.
I started walking, the gravel crunching under my shoes. After a few minutes, I heard another set of footsteps keeping pace with mine. I spun around, but the road behind me was empty. My heart hammered in my chest. There, in the middle of the path, sat my missing lantern.
I snatched it up and clicked the switch. The beam cut through the night, landing on the thick trunk of an oak tree. Carved deep into the bark were the words ‘Look Up Soon.’ A cold dread washed over me, and the world faded to black.
I woke with a jolt, back in the driver’s seat. The engine was purring softly. I glanced at the clock on the dashboard. It read 3:47 AM. I drove home without stopping, the strange message burned into my mind.