Catherine

just that drag line veering toward the caves like something had calmly taken what it wanted we argued i told him we needed to head back but he reminded me the path to myers beach was iced over and cracking when we came in even if we tried now it could buckle under us we were trapped So instead, we did something colossally stupid. We went back to the caves.

Danny was obsessed with the shaft we'd found. He said there might be a collapsed lava tube under the lake, or some secret glacial cavern. I didn't want to go back, but the alternative was sitting alone at camp while something circled our tent at night. We brought ropes, headlamps, a handheld flare gun, and what was left of our food in case we didn't make it back by dark.

Danny was obsessed with the shaft we'd found. He said there might be a collapsed lava tube under the lake, or some secret glacial cavern. I didn't want to go back, but the alternative was sitting alone at camp while something circled our tent at night. We brought ropes, headlamps, a handheld flare gun, and what was left of our food in case we didn't make it back by dark.

Inside, it was even worse than I remembered. The smell had intensified. It was no longer just rot. It was sick. Like a freezer full of spoiled meat mixed with mold and sulfur. I had to breathe through my scarf to keep from gagging. When we reached the back chamber, something had changed. There were bones now. Dozens of them, stacked in a loose pile near the shaft. Long bones. Deer, maybe.

Inside, it was even worse than I remembered. The smell had intensified. It was no longer just rot. It was sick. Like a freezer full of spoiled meat mixed with mold and sulfur. I had to breathe through my scarf to keep from gagging. When we reached the back chamber, something had changed. There were bones now. Dozens of them, stacked in a loose pile near the shaft. Long bones. Deer, maybe.

But some were unmistakably human. One femur had what looked like bite marks on it. another still had a tattered pant leg frozen to it danny finally hesitated maybe maybe we shouldn't be down here he said his voice lower than usual no crap i whispered still he pulled out a flare lit it and dropped it into the shaft

But some were unmistakably human. One femur had what looked like bite marks on it. another still had a tattered pant leg frozen to it danny finally hesitated maybe maybe we shouldn't be down here he said his voice lower than usual no crap i whispered still he pulled out a flare lit it and dropped it into the shaft

The red glow fell for what seemed like forever, finally casting light on something below. It moved. Just for a second, I saw it. Something long and pale, crawling across the floor like a spider, with limbs that bent the wrong way. I didn't get a clear look, but it was enough to make every part of my brain scream, run. Danny started muttering, no way, that's gotta be a person, or a bear.

The red glow fell for what seemed like forever, finally casting light on something below. It moved. Just for a second, I saw it. Something long and pale, crawling across the floor like a spider, with limbs that bent the wrong way. I didn't get a clear look, but it was enough to make every part of my brain scream, run. Danny started muttering, no way, that's gotta be a person, or a bear.

Maybe it's just shadow tricks. no no man that's not shadow tricks we backed out slowly i refused to turn my back on the shaft convinced that thing could launch up at any moment back at camp things got worse fast danny went quiet didn't eat curled up in his sleeping bag and wouldn't respond when i talked to him his skin looked gray under the lamplight Not frostbite, just... wrong.

Maybe it's just shadow tricks. no no man that's not shadow tricks we backed out slowly i refused to turn my back on the shaft convinced that thing could launch up at any moment back at camp things got worse fast danny went quiet didn't eat curled up in his sleeping bag and wouldn't respond when i talked to him his skin looked gray under the lamplight Not frostbite, just... wrong.

His lips were cracked, his breathing was shallow. But when I checked our thermometer, it read 42 degrees Fahrenheit inside the tent. Not hypothermic territory. I offered him food. He pushed it away. Then, a few minutes later, I caught him gnawing on a frozen strip of meat like an animal. Mouth open, tearing with his front teeth, barely chewing.

His lips were cracked, his breathing was shallow. But when I checked our thermometer, it read 42 degrees Fahrenheit inside the tent. Not hypothermic territory. I offered him food. He pushed it away. Then, a few minutes later, I caught him gnawing on a frozen strip of meat like an animal. Mouth open, tearing with his front teeth, barely chewing.

When I said his name, he stopped, looked at me like he didn't recognize me, then went back to chewing. Around 2 a.m., I heard something outside again. Footsteps. Crunch. Pause. Crunch. Pause. I reached for the flare gun. The footsteps circled the tent. Then I heard a voice. It was mine. It said my name in my exact tone. Whispered. right outside the nylon wall.

When I said his name, he stopped, looked at me like he didn't recognize me, then went back to chewing. Around 2 a.m., I heard something outside again. Footsteps. Crunch. Pause. Crunch. Pause. I reached for the flare gun. The footsteps circled the tent. Then I heard a voice. It was mine. It said my name in my exact tone. Whispered. right outside the nylon wall.

Then again, louder, more strained, like it was learning. Then silence. When I finally worked up the nerve to peek outside, there was nothing but fresh snow and a trail of bare human footprints. No boots, no animal tracks, circling the tent again and disappearing into the dark. I dragged Danny out the next morning, convinced we couldn't spend another night out there.

Then again, louder, more strained, like it was learning. Then silence. When I finally worked up the nerve to peek outside, there was nothing but fresh snow and a trail of bare human footprints. No boots, no animal tracks, circling the tent again and disappearing into the dark. I dragged Danny out the next morning, convinced we couldn't spend another night out there.

I needed walls, a radio, a signal. The caves, I realized, were at least shelter from the thing stalking us. Whatever it was. So we went back. I set us up inside the wider chamber, away from the shaft, used the sled to block the entry, built a small fire, even though I knew the smoke might draw attention. Danny didn't speak for hours.

I needed walls, a radio, a signal. The caves, I realized, were at least shelter from the thing stalking us. Whatever it was. So we went back. I set us up inside the wider chamber, away from the shaft, used the sled to block the entry, built a small fire, even though I knew the smoke might draw attention. Danny didn't speak for hours.

When he finally did, it was a whisper, soft, like he was remembering something. I can hear it under the ice, he said. I asked him what it sounded like. He smiled, too wide, and said, My voice. When I woke up that evening, Danny was gone. The cave was quiet. Too quiet. Near the back wall, drawn in something that looked like blood mixed with ash, were words I'll never forget. It wants the warm one.