Samantha (Corrections Officer)

When it looked at us, I knew it was smarter and faster than we were. If we hadn't seen it first, it could have easily taken one of us. I think it only hesitated because all of us saw it at the same time, and we stayed together. Once we got back to where we were staying, we each took out our phones and wrote down what we'd seen.

When it looked at us, I knew it was smarter and faster than we were. If we hadn't seen it first, it could have easily taken one of us. I think it only hesitated because all of us saw it at the same time, and we stayed together. Once we got back to where we were staying, we each took out our phones and wrote down what we'd seen.

We didn't talk about it until after we compared our notes, and they all matched. Without a doubt, we had all seen something real. I pulled up to my parents' old place just as the sun dipped behind the orchard. The house looked smaller than I remembered, like time had pressed in on its walls, warping the roof and giving the windows a tired stare.

We didn't talk about it until after we compared our notes, and they all matched. Without a doubt, we had all seen something real. I pulled up to my parents' old place just as the sun dipped behind the orchard. The house looked smaller than I remembered, like time had pressed in on its walls, warping the roof and giving the windows a tired stare.

A crooked fence half hid what used to be my childhood playground, the tangled grove of fruit trees that felt more like a wild forest.

A crooked fence half hid what used to be my childhood playground, the tangled grove of fruit trees that felt more like a wild forest.

on the drive over i tried telling myself it was all kid stuff the strange shapes i used to imagine darting between the trunks the nervous rush in my veins whenever i stepped onto the property but creeping back onto this land memories came flooding in whether i wanted them or not

on the drive over i tried telling myself it was all kid stuff the strange shapes i used to imagine darting between the trunks the nervous rush in my veins whenever i stepped onto the property but creeping back onto this land memories came flooding in whether i wanted them or not

i stood in the driveway bag in hand trying to keep my breathing steady the orchard was silent no rustling leaves no distant snapping of twigs just a weird hush like the place was sizing me up I'd barely set foot inside when my sister, Nicole, nearly tackled me with a hug. She got here before me, which made sense. She was always the early bird of the family.

i stood in the driveway bag in hand trying to keep my breathing steady the orchard was silent no rustling leaves no distant snapping of twigs just a weird hush like the place was sizing me up I'd barely set foot inside when my sister, Nicole, nearly tackled me with a hug. She got here before me, which made sense. She was always the early bird of the family.

She forced a smile, though her eyes gave her away. She was on edge too, probably remembering those same unexplainable things we never talked about once we moved away. Mom offered to make us both tea, which was basically her polite way of giving Nicole and me space to catch up privately.

She forced a smile, though her eyes gave her away. She was on edge too, probably remembering those same unexplainable things we never talked about once we moved away. Mom offered to make us both tea, which was basically her polite way of giving Nicole and me space to catch up privately.

the house smelled like old floorboards and dust stirring that sense of being a kid again freaking out over every bump in the night later when mom and dad turned in early nicole and i ended up in the living room yellow light from an antique lamp cast long shadows across the walls She asked me what I'd seen so far. I shrugged and pretended everything was fine.

the house smelled like old floorboards and dust stirring that sense of being a kid again freaking out over every bump in the night later when mom and dad turned in early nicole and i ended up in the living room yellow light from an antique lamp cast long shadows across the walls She asked me what I'd seen so far. I shrugged and pretended everything was fine.

The orchard was the last thing I wanted to discuss, but somehow we circled right back to it. We both kept glancing out the window, half expecting something to loom near the fence. Eventually, we went upstairs to check out our old rooms. Mine felt frozen in time. Same faded posters, same creaky bed, same curtains fluttering in the draft.

The orchard was the last thing I wanted to discuss, but somehow we circled right back to it. We both kept glancing out the window, half expecting something to loom near the fence. Eventually, we went upstairs to check out our old rooms. Mine felt frozen in time. Same faded posters, same creaky bed, same curtains fluttering in the draft.

I dropped my suitcase on the floor and looked out the window at the thick cluster of fruit trees. Rain clouds had rolled in, so the orchard was just a dark blur. Instinct told me not to stare too long, but I couldn't help it. My chest felt tight, like I'd swallowed a stone. Something about that place always set me on edge.

I dropped my suitcase on the floor and looked out the window at the thick cluster of fruit trees. Rain clouds had rolled in, so the orchard was just a dark blur. Instinct told me not to stare too long, but I couldn't help it. My chest felt tight, like I'd swallowed a stone. Something about that place always set me on edge.

When I finally peeled myself from the window, I heard Nicole in the hallway. She asked if I remembered how we used to sneak out there during the afternoons, leaving behind random trinkets, books, leftovers, even shiny rocks we thought looked cool. We used to laugh about forest friends. I kind of froze. It wasn't so funny now, not after the things that happened in that orchard.

When I finally peeled myself from the window, I heard Nicole in the hallway. She asked if I remembered how we used to sneak out there during the afternoons, leaving behind random trinkets, books, leftovers, even shiny rocks we thought looked cool. We used to laugh about forest friends. I kind of froze. It wasn't so funny now, not after the things that happened in that orchard.