I approached the cabin. And before I could knock, the door opened, revealing a man.
His eyes were a deep, unnatural green, vivid in the dim light. He was tall, with broad shoulders and an air of quiet strength that commanded attention. His dark hair, falling across his forehead, softened his sharp features. But it was more than his appearance. There was an electric charge in the air around him as if the forest itself had come alive in his presence.
“Can I help you?” His voice was deep and calm, with an undercurrent I couldn’t place.
I blinked, snapping out of my daze. “I’m Laura, a journalist investigating the recent animal attacks. I was hoping you might help me. You’re Mateo, right?”
His expression remained unchanged. But his eyes flickered with recognition or wariness. He didn’t invite me in but didn’t tell me to leave either.
“I don’t know anything about those attacks,” Mateo said politely but distantly, crossing his arms as if to put up a barrier.
“I’ve heard your name around town,” I replied. “People say you know these woods well. If there’s something causing these attacks, I thought you might have some idea.”