Narrator

sleep didn't come easily after wildcat hollow every night i tossed restlessly haunted by the memory of that tunnel replaying the sensation of crawling over something that moved something warm fleshy and alien my dreams twisted into vivid nightmares Dark corridors, muffled breathing, and those distorted limbs we had glimpsed in the shadows.

sleep didn't come easily after wildcat hollow every night i tossed restlessly haunted by the memory of that tunnel replaying the sensation of crawling over something that moved something warm fleshy and alien my dreams twisted into vivid nightmares Dark corridors, muffled breathing, and those distorted limbs we had glimpsed in the shadows.

I'd wake soaked in sweat, gasping in panic, convinced that foul odor lingered faintly in my room. Days passed, but the anxiety didn't fade. Then, about a week after the incident, I got a frantic call from Zeke. I'm sick, man, he whispered over the phone, voice shaking. Really sick. Rash all over my body, burning like hell. You went to the doctor, I asked, my stomach tightening uneasily.

I'd wake soaked in sweat, gasping in panic, convinced that foul odor lingered faintly in my room. Days passed, but the anxiety didn't fade. Then, about a week after the incident, I got a frantic call from Zeke. I'm sick, man, he whispered over the phone, voice shaking. Really sick. Rash all over my body, burning like hell. You went to the doctor, I asked, my stomach tightening uneasily.

They're running tests. Some kind of chemical exposure, infection. No one knows yet. Trevor has it too, but not as bad. His voice faltered. Do you have anything? I glanced at my arms and chest reflexively, noticing nothing yet but suddenly feeling itchy, paranoid. Not yet. Maybe it's because you guys touched it first. God, I hope so, Zeke murmured. Stay safe.

They're running tests. Some kind of chemical exposure, infection. No one knows yet. Trevor has it too, but not as bad. His voice faltered. Do you have anything? I glanced at my arms and chest reflexively, noticing nothing yet but suddenly feeling itchy, paranoid. Not yet. Maybe it's because you guys touched it first. God, I hope so, Zeke murmured. Stay safe.

Whatever that thing was, it wasn't right. I hung up, anxiety thickening inside me. The next day, Trevor messaged about nightmares of his own. Visions of crawling through tunnels that narrowed until the walls pressed tight. and something faceless dragged itself toward him through the dark. My own nightmares intensified, filled with whispers and scratching noises I couldn't escape.

Whatever that thing was, it wasn't right. I hung up, anxiety thickening inside me. The next day, Trevor messaged about nightmares of his own. Visions of crawling through tunnels that narrowed until the walls pressed tight. and something faceless dragged itself toward him through the dark. My own nightmares intensified, filled with whispers and scratching noises I couldn't escape.

After days of trying to ignore it, curiosity won out. I decided to dig deeper, desperate for some kind of explanation. My searches turned up vague references to construction projects around Tioga State Forest in the early 1970s.

After days of trying to ignore it, curiosity won out. I decided to dig deeper, desperate for some kind of explanation. My searches turned up vague references to construction projects around Tioga State Forest in the early 1970s.

i found old articles describing abandoned developments housing projects abruptly halted due to unspecified complications contractors had fled the site reports said mentioning underground issues hazards the county quietly buried no specifics only hints of problems beneath wildcat hollow The dread in me deepened. Was this connected to what we'd found?

i found old articles describing abandoned developments housing projects abruptly halted due to unspecified complications contractors had fled the site reports said mentioning underground issues hazards the county quietly buried no specifics only hints of problems beneath wildcat hollow The dread in me deepened. Was this connected to what we'd found?

One evening, unable to shake my obsessive thoughts, I unpacked my gear to clean it properly, determined to erase every last trace of that place. As I scrubbed my knee pads under warm water, something caught my eye. Dark strands tangled in the velcro straps. I carefully plucked them free, holding them up to the light. The strands were thick, coarse, and strangely translucent, like insect hairs.

One evening, unable to shake my obsessive thoughts, I unpacked my gear to clean it properly, determined to erase every last trace of that place. As I scrubbed my knee pads under warm water, something caught my eye. Dark strands tangled in the velcro straps. I carefully plucked them free, holding them up to the light. The strands were thick, coarse, and strangely translucent, like insect hairs.

Nausea churned again in my gut. They didn't belong to any animal I knew. Disturbed, I sealed the strands in a plastic bag, then immediately threw it in the trash, washing my hands until they were raw. A few days later, Zeke texted, "'Out of the hospital. Rash cleared, but doctors have no idea what caused it. Never going underground again.'"

Nausea churned again in my gut. They didn't belong to any animal I knew. Disturbed, I sealed the strands in a plastic bag, then immediately threw it in the trash, washing my hands until they were raw. A few days later, Zeke texted, "'Out of the hospital. Rash cleared, but doctors have no idea what caused it. Never going underground again.'"

Trevor agreed, exhausted by sleepless nights and a lingering dread that neither of us could shake. Yet despite our vows, I felt drawn back to Wildcat Hollow, one last look to reassure myself that nothing had followed us out." I returned alone, anxiety spiking with every step closer to the pipe.

Trevor agreed, exhausted by sleepless nights and a lingering dread that neither of us could shake. Yet despite our vows, I felt drawn back to Wildcat Hollow, one last look to reassure myself that nothing had followed us out." I returned alone, anxiety spiking with every step closer to the pipe.

As I approached, I saw that nature was reclaiming the hillside, vines and roots had partially hidden the entrance. The pipe itself looked like it had partially collapsed inward, twisted by some unseen force. I stood there, heart pounding, scanning the surroundings. Near the entrance, beneath thick moss, something caught my eye, a rusted metal sign partially obscured by vegetation.

As I approached, I saw that nature was reclaiming the hillside, vines and roots had partially hidden the entrance. The pipe itself looked like it had partially collapsed inward, twisted by some unseen force. I stood there, heart pounding, scanning the surroundings. Near the entrance, beneath thick moss, something caught my eye, a rusted metal sign partially obscured by vegetation.