Aaron Miller

I turned slowly, dread pooling in my stomach. Far back among the trees, a shape moved briefly, large, quick, but utterly silent. No sound of snapping twigs or brushing leaves accompanied it. I squinted, trying to track it through the fading light. But whatever it was had vanished as swiftly as it appeared. I stepped closer, peering into the dimness.

I turned slowly, dread pooling in my stomach. Far back among the trees, a shape moved briefly, large, quick, but utterly silent. No sound of snapping twigs or brushing leaves accompanied it. I squinted, trying to track it through the fading light. But whatever it was had vanished as swiftly as it appeared. I stepped closer, peering into the dimness.

Something deep in my bones warned me to turn away, to retreat, to hide in my tent. Instead, I pressed forward, desperate for answers. About twenty yards from camp, I froze. A fallen log lay gouged by massive claw marks, fresh, deep, and disturbingly spaced. No bear or mountain lion I knew could have left something like this. Instinctively, I backed away, returning quickly to my campsite.

Something deep in my bones warned me to turn away, to retreat, to hide in my tent. Instead, I pressed forward, desperate for answers. About twenty yards from camp, I froze. A fallen log lay gouged by massive claw marks, fresh, deep, and disturbingly spaced. No bear or mountain lion I knew could have left something like this. Instinctively, I backed away, returning quickly to my campsite.

I grabbed the radio, fumbling the controls as panic took hold. This is Aaron Miller. Can anyone hear me? My voice shook uncontrollably. I'm trapped out here. Something's wrong with the trail. I keep looping. I... I'm being tracked by something.

I grabbed the radio, fumbling the controls as panic took hold. This is Aaron Miller. Can anyone hear me? My voice shook uncontrollably. I'm trapped out here. Something's wrong with the trail. I keep looping. I... I'm being tracked by something.

static crackled sharply then silence aaron miller repeat your coordinates a distant voice finally broke through distorted by static we're trying the radio died abruptly leaving nothing but the heavy silence around me my breathing came in ragged gasps as darkness enveloped the forest completely

static crackled sharply then silence aaron miller repeat your coordinates a distant voice finally broke through distorted by static we're trying the radio died abruptly leaving nothing but the heavy silence around me my breathing came in ragged gasps as darkness enveloped the forest completely

I built another fire hurriedly, piling branches until flames flickered high, casting shifting shadows across the campsite. I took comfort in the illusion of safety it provided, though deep down, I knew it offered none. Before crawling into my tent, I whispered into my trail camera, desperation evident in my voice, ''If someone finds this, something isn't right out here. I'm not alone.

I built another fire hurriedly, piling branches until flames flickered high, casting shifting shadows across the campsite. I took comfort in the illusion of safety it provided, though deep down, I knew it offered none. Before crawling into my tent, I whispered into my trail camera, desperation evident in my voice, ''If someone finds this, something isn't right out here. I'm not alone.

I don't know what it is, but it knows I'm here.'' I zipped my tent shut, clutching a knife tightly. Sleep came reluctantly, plagued by strange half-dreams of being watched, hunted, and trapped in an endless loop. When I awoke again it was pitch black, and I knew instantly something was standing just outside the tent.

I don't know what it is, but it knows I'm here.'' I zipped my tent shut, clutching a knife tightly. Sleep came reluctantly, plagued by strange half-dreams of being watched, hunted, and trapped in an endless loop. When I awoke again it was pitch black, and I knew instantly something was standing just outside the tent.

My eyes snapped open in total darkness, heart hammering as adrenaline surged through me. Outside the thin nylon walls of my tent, something shifted slowly, weight pressing softly against the ground, audible but unidentifiable. I remained utterly still, barely breathing, every muscle rigid. The cold grip of dread coiled around my spine as I strained to pinpoint the location of the sound.

My eyes snapped open in total darkness, heart hammering as adrenaline surged through me. Outside the thin nylon walls of my tent, something shifted slowly, weight pressing softly against the ground, audible but unidentifiable. I remained utterly still, barely breathing, every muscle rigid. The cold grip of dread coiled around my spine as I strained to pinpoint the location of the sound.

A faint scraping noise began, low, rhythmic, like stone dragged slowly against stone. My pulse thundered in my ears. Carefully, inch by inch, I reached toward the zipper of my tent, my knife clutched so tightly my knuckles burned. A thin slice of moonlight leaked through the opening, illuminating the quiet forest beyond. I edged closer, peering through the narrow slit.

A faint scraping noise began, low, rhythmic, like stone dragged slowly against stone. My pulse thundered in my ears. Carefully, inch by inch, I reached toward the zipper of my tent, my knife clutched so tightly my knuckles burned. A thin slice of moonlight leaked through the opening, illuminating the quiet forest beyond. I edged closer, peering through the narrow slit.

Shadows played oddly across the familiar campsite, distorted by faint moonlight. The fire I'd built earlier had burned down to smoldering coals, but the sound, the scraping, continued steadily, just beyond my line of sight. Forcing myself to move, I unzipped the tent slowly, silently, and leaned forward just enough to look out. At first, the darkness revealed nothing unusual.

Shadows played oddly across the familiar campsite, distorted by faint moonlight. The fire I'd built earlier had burned down to smoldering coals, but the sound, the scraping, continued steadily, just beyond my line of sight. Forcing myself to move, I unzipped the tent slowly, silently, and leaned forward just enough to look out. At first, the darkness revealed nothing unusual.

Then my eyes adjusted, and I saw it. Something large crouched low near the edge of my camp, barely distinguishable from the night around it. My breath caught sharply in my throat. It wasn't shaped like any animal I knew. Even crouched, it appeared unnaturally tall, long-limbed, and emaciated.

Then my eyes adjusted, and I saw it. Something large crouched low near the edge of my camp, barely distinguishable from the night around it. My breath caught sharply in my throat. It wasn't shaped like any animal I knew. Even crouched, it appeared unnaturally tall, long-limbed, and emaciated.