Samantha (Corrections Officer)

I tried to listen for my parents in the next room, focusing on the soft murmur of their voices, hoping that normal, everyday sounds would pull me back to reality. Maybe I'd wake up and find out none of this had happened, that the woman, the figures, the cold, it was all some kind of twisted dream. But deep down, I knew better.

I tried to listen for my parents in the next room, focusing on the soft murmur of their voices, hoping that normal, everyday sounds would pull me back to reality. Maybe I'd wake up and find out none of this had happened, that the woman, the figures, the cold, it was all some kind of twisted dream. But deep down, I knew better.

Just as I was starting to relax, or maybe just too exhausted to care, I heard it. A sudden shout. It came from my parents' room, loud enough to snap me upright in the bunk. My heart was already racing, but now it felt like it was trying to claw its way out of my chest. For a second, I thought maybe my dad was having a nightmare, but then I heard him screaming.

Just as I was starting to relax, or maybe just too exhausted to care, I heard it. A sudden shout. It came from my parents' room, loud enough to snap me upright in the bunk. My heart was already racing, but now it felt like it was trying to claw its way out of my chest. For a second, I thought maybe my dad was having a nightmare, but then I heard him screaming.

Not just yelling, but panicking, like something was attacking him. get it off me get it off he bellowed his voice ragged with terror i was on my feet before i knew it fumbling with the bunk railing the dogs started barking loud and frantic their claws scraping against the wooden floor as they lunged at their crates trying to get out

Not just yelling, but panicking, like something was attacking him. get it off me get it off he bellowed his voice ragged with terror i was on my feet before i knew it fumbling with the bunk railing the dogs started barking loud and frantic their claws scraping against the wooden floor as they lunged at their crates trying to get out

My mom's voice followed, frantic but trying to stay calm like she didn't want to believe what was happening. It's okay, it's okay, she kept saying. But her voice was shaking too. There's nothing there, there's nothing there. But there was, I knew it, I could feel it. I rushed to their door but I froze just outside, my hand hovering over the knob. What if it wasn't done yet?

My mom's voice followed, frantic but trying to stay calm like she didn't want to believe what was happening. It's okay, it's okay, she kept saying. But her voice was shaking too. There's nothing there, there's nothing there. But there was, I knew it, I could feel it. I rushed to their door but I froze just outside, my hand hovering over the knob. What if it wasn't done yet?

What if whatever was in there turned on me next? The thought rooted me to the spot, my body trembling so bad I could barely breathe. Eventually, the noise settled. My dad's yelling faded into heavy, ragged breathing, and my mom's voice softened, turning into low murmurs I couldn't make out.

What if whatever was in there turned on me next? The thought rooted me to the spot, my body trembling so bad I could barely breathe. Eventually, the noise settled. My dad's yelling faded into heavy, ragged breathing, and my mom's voice softened, turning into low murmurs I couldn't make out.

i stood there for a few more minutes heart still racing before i forced myself back to the bunk though sleep was out of the question now morning couldn't come fast enough when five thirty a m finally rolled around i felt like i hadn't slept at all my head was pounding and my muscles were sore from how tense i'd been all night I sat up in the bunk, groaning when I heard it. Bang!

i stood there for a few more minutes heart still racing before i forced myself back to the bunk though sleep was out of the question now morning couldn't come fast enough when five thirty a m finally rolled around i felt like i hadn't slept at all my head was pounding and my muscles were sore from how tense i'd been all night I sat up in the bunk, groaning when I heard it. Bang!

It was loud, too loud. It sounded like someone was hitting the wooden walls of the cabin from the inside. I froze. The dogs started growling low in their throats, hackles raised, their bodies stiff as they stared into the shadows. Three distinct knocks, each one deep and deliberate, echoed through the room. I waited, holding my breath. The sound stopped.

It was loud, too loud. It sounded like someone was hitting the wooden walls of the cabin from the inside. I froze. The dogs started growling low in their throats, hackles raised, their bodies stiff as they stared into the shadows. Three distinct knocks, each one deep and deliberate, echoed through the room. I waited, holding my breath. The sound stopped.

i thought maybe it was just the wood settling or the wind outside but then three minutes later it happened again bang bang bang this time it felt closer like it wasn't just random noise but something moving through the cabin looking for me i jumped up and ran to my parents room practically kicking the door open my mom was already awake sitting on the edge of the bed while my dad sat there pale and silent staring at the blanket bunched around his waist

i thought maybe it was just the wood settling or the wind outside but then three minutes later it happened again bang bang bang this time it felt closer like it wasn't just random noise but something moving through the cabin looking for me i jumped up and ran to my parents room practically kicking the door open my mom was already awake sitting on the edge of the bed while my dad sat there pale and silent staring at the blanket bunched around his waist

i blurted out what i'd heard my voice barely holding steady my mom nodded slowly her face tight with worry but it was my dad who spoke first something tried to pull the blanket off me last night he whispered his voice rough like it hurt to talk it wasn't a dream i felt hands cold hands yanking at me He pulled the blanket back, showing long, ragged tears in the fabric.

i blurted out what i'd heard my voice barely holding steady my mom nodded slowly her face tight with worry but it was my dad who spoke first something tried to pull the blanket off me last night he whispered his voice rough like it hurt to talk it wasn't a dream i felt hands cold hands yanking at me He pulled the blanket back, showing long, ragged tears in the fabric.

It looked like someone or something with claws had shredded it. My stomach twisted. We sat there in silence for a few minutes, the only sound the faint creaking of the cabin as the sun started to rise outside. But even the daylight didn't make me feel any safer. Later that morning, as we prepared for the hunt, the atmosphere was thick with tension.

It looked like someone or something with claws had shredded it. My stomach twisted. We sat there in silence for a few minutes, the only sound the faint creaking of the cabin as the sun started to rise outside. But even the daylight didn't make me feel any safer. Later that morning, as we prepared for the hunt, the atmosphere was thick with tension.