Shadows of the Thicket
His straw hat cast a haunting silhouette over his face, emphasizing his gaunt features. The wrinkles etched upon his skin moved with a life of their own, twisting and writhing in the dim light.
The country road stretched out before him, its surface slowly disappearing under the fading light of the late evening dusk. As the darkness encroached, a chilling breeze rustled through the surrounding thicket, sending a shiver down the man's spine. The solitude of the rural landscape was broken by the sudden appearance of a figure emerging from the sha…