Her light caught on something, and she stopped mid-step. Atop the old shed, a massive nest sprawled across the sagging roof—an untidy fortress of branches, straw, and snapped twigs. It looked ancient, as though the wood itself had given rise to it. Samantha’s voice cracked. “Alex,” she whispered, pointing. “There.”
They approached together, eyes locked on the roof. The shed groaned under the weight, but held. Without hesitation, Alex stepped forward, scanning the walls for anything that could be used to climb. Samantha stood back, barely breathing, her pulse roaring in her ears as anticipation coiled tight inside her.
They found it—an old wooden ladder, weathered but intact, resting against the wall. Alex grabbed it, tested its stability, then brought it over. He leaned it carefully against the shed. Everything was so still that even the trees around them seemed to have held their breath. Once he was confident, Alex started climbing the ladder.
The ladder groaned beneath Alex’s weight, each step echoing with tension. Samantha held her breath, fingers clenched tight. Slowly, he reached the top and leaned over the edge of the roof, disappearing from view. Samantha stood there with bated breath, her heart hammering inside her chest.