I got lost during a hiking trip and ended up spending the night alone in the forest.
My phone had no signal.
My flashlight was dying.
By midnight, I gave up trying to find the trail and sat beneath a tree.
That’s when I heard it.
A whistle.
Three short notes.
Far away.
I thought it was another hiker.
So I whistled back.
A few seconds later, the same whistle came again.
Closer.
Three short notes.
I stood up and called out.
No answer.
Just silence.
Then my flashlight flickered.
And the whistle came again.
Much closer this time.
Three short notes.
Right behind me.
I turned around.
No one was there.
But hanging from a branch was a wooden sign.
It wasn’t there a moment earlier.
Carved into it were six words:
“DO NOT WHISTLE BACK A FOURTH TIME.”
Part 2 in the comments.
My heart started pounding.
Then I heard it again.
Three short notes.
Closer than ever.
I remembered the warning and stayed silent.
Minutes passed.
Nothing happened.
At sunrise, I found the trail and made it back safely.
Later, I showed the sign’s photo to a local ranger.
The color drained from his face.
He asked one question.
“How many times did you whistle back?”
“Three.”
He nodded slowly.
Then said something I’ll never forget.
“Good.”
“What happens on the fourth?”
The ranger stared into the forest.
“You don’t come back alone.”
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