This moderately creepy story was vaguely requested by Firestone Piper. Thanks for all the amazing support on this collection of stories! I had no idea it would be so popular!
Espionage
Watching, always watching. Never a change, just…watching. Years of espionage from the forest clearings proved futile, a waste of time to say the least. And now only three know for certain, the chosen ones: the eyed star, the pine tree, the claw. Symbolism set in stone, I watched for them to appear. First the claw, then the all-seeing star. It was finally coming full circle as section by section, the humans filled the voids.
For years the symbols had existed, mocking me with their uncertainty, but now the time had come. The time when everything they knew could—and would—change. My time. The pine tree uncovered the secrets. The shooting star helped him along in his endeavor, as did the question mark. Foolish boy, dragging others into your secrets will only make things more treacherous when what I have in store unfolds before your feeble eyes. You know nothing. Your supposed allies are not what they seem. The information you know changes you with each passing day, the addiction to the conspiracies breaks you to the core if they are not seen. In short, you are playing with fire. And fire does not fare well for pines.
The secrets corrupted the smallest one, the one who hides behind his perfectly-assembled mask so no one can see the lies, the secrets, he holds. They have forced him into desperation, insanity, rage. Pity. He used to be so innocent and childlike, but that sort of knowledge comes with a price. His family crumbled around him due to the mysteries he's come to know, leaving only a withered shell behind. Strange how his name now reflects his sole remaining purpose: the feller of pines, and yet he so masterfully hides behind a thick veil of happiness. He is looking for something in vain, for there are still many more secrets for him to uncover. Many more.
The claw, the one consumed by greed and obsession, is not what he seems. He masquerades his true goals day and night, telling the others that the secrets of this unusual town are a hoax. An urban myth. Lies. Little do they know, hiding right under their misguided noses is the greatest secret of all; hidden in plain sight, exactly where no one would expect. But not for long. My plan is already unfolding. Your reality is a game to me, and I like games.