Collin Bishop-Karney

Somewhere outside, a coyote howled, a long, mournful cry that made my skin crawl. I took a deep breath, trying to convince myself that it was nothing, just an animal calling into the night. But there was something in that howl, something that felt wrong.

Somewhere outside, a coyote howled, a long, mournful cry that made my skin crawl. I took a deep breath, trying to convince myself that it was nothing, just an animal calling into the night. But there was something in that howl, something that felt wrong.

I lay there, staring at the ceiling, the uneasy feeling growing stronger, as if something unseen was moving closer, slipping through the shadows, inching toward the old trailer. I pulled the blanket tighter around me, wishing desperately for sleep, for the comfort of daylight.

I lay there, staring at the ceiling, the uneasy feeling growing stronger, as if something unseen was moving closer, slipping through the shadows, inching toward the old trailer. I pulled the blanket tighter around me, wishing desperately for sleep, for the comfort of daylight.

The desert outside was silent, and I couldn't shake the sense that something was watching, something ancient, something malevolent.

The desert outside was silent, and I couldn't shake the sense that something was watching, something ancient, something malevolent.

just waiting for me to make the wrong move the night seemed endless every moment dragging by in a slow excruciating crawl the trailer was suffocatingly quiet with only the occasional creak of the old structure breaking the silence i kept my eyes shut willing myself to sleep but the uneasy feeling only grew stronger The stillness was suddenly broken by a sound that made my blood run cold.

just waiting for me to make the wrong move the night seemed endless every moment dragging by in a slow excruciating crawl the trailer was suffocatingly quiet with only the occasional creak of the old structure breaking the silence i kept my eyes shut willing myself to sleep but the uneasy feeling only grew stronger The stillness was suddenly broken by a sound that made my blood run cold.

A soft rustling, like something brushing against the side of the trailer. My heart pounded as I opened my eyes, straining to hear. The rustling grew louder, moving along the wall. And then came the unmistakable sound of footsteps, slow, deliberate, crunching across the dusty ground outside. Panic rose in my chest. I wanted to believe it was just an animal, but deep down, I knew better.

A soft rustling, like something brushing against the side of the trailer. My heart pounded as I opened my eyes, straining to hear. The rustling grew louder, moving along the wall. And then came the unmistakable sound of footsteps, slow, deliberate, crunching across the dusty ground outside. Panic rose in my chest. I wanted to believe it was just an animal, but deep down, I knew better.

There was something different about these sounds, something that spoke of intent. I forced myself off the couch, moving as quietly as I could toward the kitchen window. My legs felt weak, my body trembling as I reached the window and carefully pulled the curtain aside just enough to see outside.

There was something different about these sounds, something that spoke of intent. I forced myself off the couch, moving as quietly as I could toward the kitchen window. My legs felt weak, my body trembling as I reached the window and carefully pulled the curtain aside just enough to see outside.

the porch light cast a dim glow over the yard and for a moment i saw nothing just the empty dusty landscape the vehicles parked in the driveway and the old metal trash cans but then my eyes caught movement a dark gaunt figure standing just beyond the reach of the light It was coyote-like, but wrong in every conceivable way.

the porch light cast a dim glow over the yard and for a moment i saw nothing just the empty dusty landscape the vehicles parked in the driveway and the old metal trash cans but then my eyes caught movement a dark gaunt figure standing just beyond the reach of the light It was coyote-like, but wrong in every conceivable way.

Its fur was matted, hanging in clumps from its bony frame, and its legs seemed twisted, as if they had been broken and never healed properly. The creature's head turned slowly, and I saw its eyes, glowing a sickly orange-red, staring directly at me. A wave of nausea hit me. The malevolence in those eyes was palpable, like it was staring straight into my soul.

Its fur was matted, hanging in clumps from its bony frame, and its legs seemed twisted, as if they had been broken and never healed properly. The creature's head turned slowly, and I saw its eyes, glowing a sickly orange-red, staring directly at me. A wave of nausea hit me. The malevolence in those eyes was palpable, like it was staring straight into my soul.

I stumbled backward, my breath caught in my throat. I had to tell someone. I had to warn them. I rushed to my mother's room, shaking her awake. She groaned, annoyed, until she saw the look on my face. What is it? She whispered. Her voice filled with sleep. There's something outside, I managed to say, my voice trembling. She sat up, her expression shifting from irritation to concern.

I stumbled backward, my breath caught in my throat. I had to tell someone. I had to warn them. I rushed to my mother's room, shaking her awake. She groaned, annoyed, until she saw the look on my face. What is it? She whispered. Her voice filled with sleep. There's something outside, I managed to say, my voice trembling. She sat up, her expression shifting from irritation to concern.

It's probably just an animal, she said, but before she could say anything else, we both heard it, a distorted, unnatural scream that pierced the silence of the night. The sound was like nothing I had ever heard. Half human, half animal, filled with pain and rage. My mother's eyes widened, and I could see the fear settle in. She quickly got up, rushing to wake my father.

It's probably just an animal, she said, but before she could say anything else, we both heard it, a distorted, unnatural scream that pierced the silence of the night. The sound was like nothing I had ever heard. Half human, half animal, filled with pain and rage. My mother's eyes widened, and I could see the fear settle in. She quickly got up, rushing to wake my father.