Derek

By mid-morning, maps and notes spread across the cabin desk. I pieced together clues from the cryptic log entries.

By mid-morning, maps and notes spread across the cabin desk. I pieced together clues from the cryptic log entries.

above the river split ridge near blighted hemlocks i cross-referenced these hints obsessively with my official topographic charts finally an isolated unmapped area near chandler brook trail revealed itself a dense patch of wilderness closed off years ago after a massive rock slide it wasn't far a short drive by atv then i'd have to bushwhack the rest of the way on foot

above the river split ridge near blighted hemlocks i cross-referenced these hints obsessively with my official topographic charts finally an isolated unmapped area near chandler brook trail revealed itself a dense patch of wilderness closed off years ago after a massive rock slide it wasn't far a short drive by atv then i'd have to bushwhack the rest of the way on foot

Before I left, I radioed again to the ranger station, offering vague details of my route, deliberately omitting my true destination. Something about yesterday's hesitation unsettled me, and the less they knew about my intentions, the better. Twenty minutes later, I parked the ATV and moved into dense underbrush, compass and map in hand.

Before I left, I radioed again to the ranger station, offering vague details of my route, deliberately omitting my true destination. Something about yesterday's hesitation unsettled me, and the less they knew about my intentions, the better. Twenty minutes later, I parked the ATV and moved into dense underbrush, compass and map in hand.

The forest was thick, the terrain tangled with fallen logs and grasping shrubs. every step forward was slow deliberate punctuated by snapping twigs and crunching leaf litter the air was oppressive heavy with moisture that clung stubbornly to my skin my clothes soon damp with sweat an hour passed then two the sunlight growing weak and watery beneath the dense canopy

The forest was thick, the terrain tangled with fallen logs and grasping shrubs. every step forward was slow deliberate punctuated by snapping twigs and crunching leaf litter the air was oppressive heavy with moisture that clung stubbornly to my skin my clothes soon damp with sweat an hour passed then two the sunlight growing weak and watery beneath the dense canopy

i began to doubt my direction double checking landmarks against the blurred photocopies in my hand eventually a rusted nail hammered into a tree caught my eye another appeared about thirty yards ahead then another they formed a crude forgotten path worn faintly into the earth A shiver ran through my spine as I followed. Deeper into the forest, I noticed something strange.

i began to doubt my direction double checking landmarks against the blurred photocopies in my hand eventually a rusted nail hammered into a tree caught my eye another appeared about thirty yards ahead then another they formed a crude forgotten path worn faintly into the earth A shiver ran through my spine as I followed. Deeper into the forest, I noticed something strange.

Trees stripped clean of bark at chest height, as if something had clawed at them repeatedly, exposing raw pale wood beneath. Unease coiled tighter inside me. The claw marks from the logbook entries flashed through my mind and my pace quickened. Then, abruptly, the forest opened slightly into a small clearing. Nestled there, swallowed by decades of overgrowth, stood a dilapidated wooden structure.

Trees stripped clean of bark at chest height, as if something had clawed at them repeatedly, exposing raw pale wood beneath. Unease coiled tighter inside me. The claw marks from the logbook entries flashed through my mind and my pace quickened. Then, abruptly, the forest opened slightly into a small clearing. Nestled there, swallowed by decades of overgrowth, stood a dilapidated wooden structure.

Sagging roof beams, weathered boards nearly collapsing under their own weight. Cabin 27. My pulse quickened, breath shallow in my chest as I moved cautiously closer, stepping onto the creaking porch. The door hung ajar, hinges rusted and worn. Inside, shadows pooled in every corner. The scent of rot and mold permeated the air, nearly choking me.

Sagging roof beams, weathered boards nearly collapsing under their own weight. Cabin 27. My pulse quickened, breath shallow in my chest as I moved cautiously closer, stepping onto the creaking porch. The door hung ajar, hinges rusted and worn. Inside, shadows pooled in every corner. The scent of rot and mold permeated the air, nearly choking me.

My flashlight beam danced across the wooden walls, revealing deep, jagged claw marks gouged furiously into the timber. Splinters jutted outward at harsh angles, violent in their origin. Fear stirred inside me, mixing with dread and fascination. Something drew my eyes upward. Suspended from the ceiling by a rusted chain hung an ancient lantern, its glass blackened and smeared.

My flashlight beam danced across the wooden walls, revealing deep, jagged claw marks gouged furiously into the timber. Splinters jutted outward at harsh angles, violent in their origin. Fear stirred inside me, mixing with dread and fascination. Something drew my eyes upward. Suspended from the ceiling by a rusted chain hung an ancient lantern, its glass blackened and smeared.

Strangely, it emitted a faint, lingering warmth when my fingertips brushed against it, as though it had only recently been extinguished. A sudden wave of nausea passed over me. I lowered the flashlight beam and saw, on the floor beneath the My hands trembled slightly as I opened it, pages stiff with age. Inside were sketches, frenzied, rough, chaotic.

Strangely, it emitted a faint, lingering warmth when my fingertips brushed against it, as though it had only recently been extinguished. A sudden wave of nausea passed over me. I lowered the flashlight beam and saw, on the floor beneath the My hands trembled slightly as I opened it, pages stiff with age. Inside were sketches, frenzied, rough, chaotic.

Eyes staring from pages, trees twisted and dark, crude antlers sprouting from shadowy heads. Triangles and vertical slashes repeated obsessively, over and over again. It felt like peering into madness. I reached for my phone, quickly snapping photos of the notebook and claw marks. But just as I aimed for another shot, the screen flickered, dimmed, then died completely.

Eyes staring from pages, trees twisted and dark, crude antlers sprouting from shadowy heads. Triangles and vertical slashes repeated obsessively, over and over again. It felt like peering into madness. I reached for my phone, quickly snapping photos of the notebook and claw marks. But just as I aimed for another shot, the screen flickered, dimmed, then died completely.