A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop.

Finally, he was able to let out a sigh as the doors closed shut behind the two investigators. Oliver stretched his legs and arms and rolled his shoulders until he heard a satisfying pop. He moved onto his knees and peeked over the back seat of the car. Chris and Ren were on their way inside of the small convenience store by the gas station. Both of their expressions displayed worry, but they relaxed them into neutral ones as they entered the shop.

When Ren had seen the accident, he had woken up Chris, only for her to swear loudly. They had mentioned that they hoped that the creature wouldn't be able to connect pieces back to them and that they needed to inform Nick of the development. From their concern, however, it sounded like the creature was in the area, which was immensely beneficial. He could bypass speaking to Nick and (f/n) to find the creature even if the two investigators briefly had mentioned the two's location: Faller's Grove.

A smirk greeted his lips. The team would be so proud of him if he discovered the creature's location already. Lowering himself, he turned around so that he could lean his back against the backseat. In process of doing so, however, he paused in a squatting position. Directly ahead, he saw movement.

Staying completely still, his brown optics focused more on where he had seen the figure. His eyes scanned over the dense population of trees on the other side of the road. He couldn't find what he had observed, but he had been certain that he had seen a flash of nearly white locks and deathly pale skin. Even if the creature was supposed to prefer the dark and be sensitive to the light, it was possible that the creature had managed to tolerate the light over the time away from the tunnels.

Steadily, he lowered himself more and crawled over to the back window. Peeking out of it, he searched the area more. Towards his right, he noticed something black move. He peered closer and realized that it was a figure wearing a black hoodie and jeans; the figure was up against one of the trees, and Oliver barely could spot him in the darkness surrounding the base of the pines. Moving his gaze from the top of the figure to the bottom, Oliver sighted the deathly pale and bare feet. The figure's hands were in the hoodie's pockets. Unfortunately, the hood covered the figure's head completely, but how many people walked through a forest with bare feet? With any luck, that was the creature.

As a car passed by, Oliver observed the figure move slightly before the figure seemingly vanished from that spot. Sitting up straight, he positioned himself next to the window to his right and surveyed the trees in that direction. Just in time, he caught the figure remove a deathly pale hand from one of the pockets. Quickly, the hand pulled the hood over a head of nearly white hair and a deathly pale face with sunglasses over the figure's eyes. In that short time, Oliver was certain he was watching the creature.

Hurriedly, he sent a text to the team. Found the creature. Following it now. He put his phone away into his jacket and went to sneak out the back of the car. There was no lock on it, though, so he couldn't open it from the inside. Annoyed, he checked out all of the windows. No one could see him. Speedily, he climbed over the backseat and towards the backdoor on the driver's side. Oliver unlocked it and quietly opened the door before he locked it again. As gently as he could, he closed it and sneaked over to the right side of the store before anyone could sight him.

Focusing back on where he had sighted the creature, he almost panicked when he didn't see it anymore. Nearly, he cursed before he saw movement again. The creature was walking between the trees and deeper into the forest. Oliver gulped a little bit. He had no flashlight or any means of defense really. And, he doubted that the convenience store had a flashlight. Even if it did, he would draw suspicion to himself, especially since the locals probably would recognize that he wasn't from the town. They might ask him where his parents were.

Honestly, he was surprised that his parents hadn't tried calling him yet. Perhaps, his tactic of leaving pillows under his bed really was working. He wondered if his parents even had bothered to check his room or if they figured that he would stay in there for the day out of anger. Whatever the case, things seemed to be in his favor for the moment.

Breaking out of his thoughts, Oliver diverted his attention back onto the creature, who was farther in the forest. Its hands were in its hoodie's pockets once more, and its shoulders were slouched. A pit formed in his stomach. What he was doing was clearly stupid, but he didn't want to lose the creature. If he did, the team would ban him from the group, and all of the trouble so far would be for nothing.

Carefully, he stepped forward and used the trees as cover. When the creature paused, he did too. Thankfully, the creature never stared back. There was a chilling atmosphere in the air, and it wasn't just from the cold. It was almost as if he could see a dense, murderous aura around the creature.

Back when he had been caught by the creature at the funeral home, it had been terrifying, but it had seemed ... cheerier. Now, all happiness seemed gone from it. With its present mood, Oliver only imagined how more difficult capturing it would be, but its guard appeared down. It didn't even check its surroundings. All it did was pause and lean its head down before it continued on its way again.

Stuffing his hands more in his jacket's pockets, Oliver proceeded to head deeper into the forest. The creature remained ahead of him and held the same posture; however, Oliver soon heard running water. Soon enough, the creature switched directions and headed north instead of east. No doubt, it was walking towards the water.

Its bare feet crunched in the snow, but it wasn't bothered in the slightest. Watching the creature's movements made Oliver happy that he had thick grey boots and heavy black socks on. When they neared the water, Oliver sighted the rushing stream. Droplets of water splashed onto the snow-covered shores before they disappeared into the snow. The creature paused by the edge of the one side and stared down as Oliver observed from behind a nearby tree.

"(F/n)." The creature hung its head more and crouched by the water. It reached its right hand into the water, which caused Oliver to shiver. That water must be freezing, yet the creature didn't even flinch. Pulling out a rock, it rolled the item between its fingers before it clenched its fist. "Why couldn't you have come back?" it mumbled. "I would've been gentler on you."

Opening its right hand, the creature let the dust of the rock fall from its hand and into the stream. Oliver held back a gulp, and he momentarily wished to hide in his jacket from the thing, but he might have a chance to convince the creature not to harm him once he confronted it. He knew where (f/n) was, and he could use that information as a bargaining chip since it appeared that the creature wanted her back. A slight smirk formed on his lips, though; he dropped it when the creature stood back up. "Why couldn't it have been you?"

Up his spine, a dreadful chill traveled. What did it mean by that? Was the creature actually aware that it was being followed? Had the creature been messing with him the entire time? Oliver gripped the inner fabric of his jacket's pockets and remained completely still.

Rolling its head, it made a few popping sounds before it stepped through the stream with ease. A wave of cold washed over Oliver. It didn't help that he would have to cross the stream too, but he wouldn't just walk through it. If he did, he'd be shivering and have to follow the creature with wet shoes and socks, which probably wouldn't dry anytime soon in the cold.

Once the creature was a fair distance away, Oliver moved out from behind the tree after he sent a quick text. Head east into the woods from the gas station, turn north when you hear water running. You'll need to cross a stream. He put his phone away again and continued onward. Noting how wide the stream was, it would be best to jump. The creature was far away by that point, so it hopefully wouldn't hear his movement.

Backing up some, Oliver took a deep breath before he exhaled and raced forward. He leaped into the air and landed on the other side, though; his footing was poor. To his displeasure and concern, he landed face first in the snow. Scared that the creature had heard him, he picked himself up as quickly as he could and searched his surroundings. Immensely relieved, he watched the creature continued on its way north.

Utilizing the trees as cover again, Oliver trailed behind it and noted that it faced east again. Once it did, however, Oliver's heart rate quickened. He gulped out of fear and felt nervousness increase tenfold in his veins. The creature was ... was gone. Trepidation high, Oliver took careful steps forward to where he last saw the creature.

Passing by some more trees eastward, he spotted a cave entrance at the base of a small mountain. The pines had stretched so far up that he hadn't even noticed the mountain beforehand. He took out his phone to type the last directions. Go east again shortly after the stream until you see a cave entrance. Enter inside. After he slipped his phone back into his jacket, Oliver took hesitant steps towards the entrance.

Light from outside shone into the cave a little, but it looked pitch black beyond that. With no flashlight, that would be a deathtrap. There was his phone, but he didn't want to use the battery up in case he needed to contact someone later. Maybe, he could wait in the entrance until the rest of the group showed up. It would be a long six hours, especially since he had no food, but he could wait it out. Things would get better once they captured the creature. Much to his irritation, though, his stomach grumbled. Oliver spun his body around in case the creature heard him, but it wasn't anywhere in sight. "Funny." Oliver felt paralyzed as he heard the frightening and amused voice. "I'm hungry too."