Aaron Miller

They had bolt holes punched through the metal, as though they'd once hung prominently from a fence or post. Cold War era, maybe? John said, his voice low. A testing site or fallout shelter? I've read about weird military installations tucked away up here. I shrugged, but a strange discomfort crawled beneath my skin. Doesn't explain why nobody ever talked about it.

They had bolt holes punched through the metal, as though they'd once hung prominently from a fence or post. Cold War era, maybe? John said, his voice low. A testing site or fallout shelter? I've read about weird military installations tucked away up here. I shrugged, but a strange discomfort crawled beneath my skin. Doesn't explain why nobody ever talked about it.

Folks around here usually gossip about every old cabin or still site. Think we should look further down? John asked, glancing toward a shallow depression ahead of us. I hesitated, then nodded. Curiosity was always my weakness. We slid cautiously into the gully, damp earth slipping beneath our boots.

Folks around here usually gossip about every old cabin or still site. Think we should look further down? John asked, glancing toward a shallow depression ahead of us. I hesitated, then nodded. Curiosity was always my weakness. We slid cautiously into the gully, damp earth slipping beneath our boots.

It wasn't long before we stumbled onto the remnants of an old service road, now fully reclaimed by brush. We followed it downward, branches clawing at our sleeves, until we reached the hollow's floor. Ahead, partially obscured by ivy and moss, loomed a collapsed tunnel mouth. Its concrete archway sagged inward, blocked by debris and twisted lengths of iron grating.

It wasn't long before we stumbled onto the remnants of an old service road, now fully reclaimed by brush. We followed it downward, branches clawing at our sleeves, until we reached the hollow's floor. Ahead, partially obscured by ivy and moss, loomed a collapsed tunnel mouth. Its concrete archway sagged inward, blocked by debris and twisted lengths of iron grating.

Thick iron chains hung from rotting wooden posts nearby, their rusted links ending in sturdy loops, like restraints or anchors. John kneeled, examining the chains. Who the hell locks up a tunnel this thoroughly unless they're trying to keep something inside? I didn't have an answer. Stepping closer, I peered into the darkness beyond the collapsed entrance.

Thick iron chains hung from rotting wooden posts nearby, their rusted links ending in sturdy loops, like restraints or anchors. John kneeled, examining the chains. Who the hell locks up a tunnel this thoroughly unless they're trying to keep something inside? I didn't have an answer. Stepping closer, I peered into the darkness beyond the collapsed entrance.

The air smelled stale, tinged with iron and mildew, heavy enough to make breathing uncomfortable. My gut tightened inexplicably. "'I don't like this,' John said quietly, shining his flashlight into the debris-filled gap. "'Feels wrong.' As if in response, somewhere in the forest behind us, a dog barked sharply. John startled, turning quickly. You hear that? I nodded slowly, straining my ears.

The air smelled stale, tinged with iron and mildew, heavy enough to make breathing uncomfortable. My gut tightened inexplicably. "'I don't like this,' John said quietly, shining his flashlight into the debris-filled gap. "'Feels wrong.' As if in response, somewhere in the forest behind us, a dog barked sharply. John startled, turning quickly. You hear that? I nodded slowly, straining my ears.

The sound echoed faintly through the hollow, a frantic yelping, short bursts, separated by uncomfortable pauses. But the echoes didn't seem natural. They lingered strangely, never fading or shifting position, trapped somewhere between trees and stones. Sounds lost, John whispered. Maybe a coyote, I offered, but we both knew that wasn't quite right. Coyotes howled, whimpered.

The sound echoed faintly through the hollow, a frantic yelping, short bursts, separated by uncomfortable pauses. But the echoes didn't seem natural. They lingered strangely, never fading or shifting position, trapped somewhere between trees and stones. Sounds lost, John whispered. Maybe a coyote, I offered, but we both knew that wasn't quite right. Coyotes howled, whimpered.

This barking felt mechanical, repetitive. John glanced nervously back at the tunnel. We've marked the spot on GPS. Let's head out, maybe come back better prepared tomorrow. I didn't argue. The hollow's unnatural quiet unsettled me more than I wanted to admit. We climbed back up the steep bank, neither speaking much. I could feel John's unease as strongly as my own.

This barking felt mechanical, repetitive. John glanced nervously back at the tunnel. We've marked the spot on GPS. Let's head out, maybe come back better prepared tomorrow. I didn't argue. The hollow's unnatural quiet unsettled me more than I wanted to admit. We climbed back up the steep bank, neither speaking much. I could feel John's unease as strongly as my own.

That night at camp, miles from the hollow, we huddled closer to our small fire. Neither of us felt like talking. The image of those quarantine signs, rusted warnings buried and forgotten, nagged at me like an itch.

That night at camp, miles from the hollow, we huddled closer to our small fire. Neither of us felt like talking. The image of those quarantine signs, rusted warnings buried and forgotten, nagged at me like an itch.

just before midnight as the forest pressed close around our camp the distant barking drifted faintly through the trees once again it was no closer than before yet it was clear and sharp as if we hadn't moved at all john met my eyes his expression haunted neither of us voiced the thought that passed silently between us

just before midnight as the forest pressed close around our camp the distant barking drifted faintly through the trees once again it was no closer than before yet it was clear and sharp as if we hadn't moved at all john met my eyes his expression haunted neither of us voiced the thought that passed silently between us

Whatever had happened in Warden's Hollow in 1962, we'd just stumbled into something that was meant to stay buried. Morning came slowly, gray and heavy. Sleep had avoided me for most of the night, and when I woke to the pale dawn filtering weakly through the canvas tent walls, John was already sitting up, poring over an old forestry map. Shadows ringed his eyes.

Whatever had happened in Warden's Hollow in 1962, we'd just stumbled into something that was meant to stay buried. Morning came slowly, gray and heavy. Sleep had avoided me for most of the night, and when I woke to the pale dawn filtering weakly through the canvas tent walls, John was already sitting up, poring over an old forestry map. Shadows ringed his eyes.