Samantha (Corrections Officer)

It was a mix of wet animal fur and something rotting. around the lean-to lay a scattering of smaller bones maybe raccoon or possum lined up in an almost ceremonial pattern i tried to steady my breathing as we walked farther in the orchard felt massive more like a twisted forest than the neat rows i remembered from childhood

It was a mix of wet animal fur and something rotting. around the lean-to lay a scattering of smaller bones maybe raccoon or possum lined up in an almost ceremonial pattern i tried to steady my breathing as we walked farther in the orchard felt massive more like a twisted forest than the neat rows i remembered from childhood

My ears started picking up on faint rustlings, though I couldn't pinpoint where they came from. Nicole raised the flashlight, even though the afternoon sun was still filtering through the leaves. That pale beam swept across tree trunks marred by scratches. long, deliberate streaks that spiraled around the bark. It reminded me of some kind of cryptic writing.

My ears started picking up on faint rustlings, though I couldn't pinpoint where they came from. Nicole raised the flashlight, even though the afternoon sun was still filtering through the leaves. That pale beam swept across tree trunks marred by scratches. long, deliberate streaks that spiraled around the bark. It reminded me of some kind of cryptic writing.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw something move. I froze. A tall, gangly figure stepped out from behind a trunk, just enough for me to make out its silhouette. It had blotchy patches of hair on its shoulders, and its arms bent in an unnatural angle against its chest. The face was hidden by shadow, but I could sense it watching.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw something move. I froze. A tall, gangly figure stepped out from behind a trunk, just enough for me to make out its silhouette. It had blotchy patches of hair on its shoulders, and its arms bent in an unnatural angle against its chest. The face was hidden by shadow, but I could sense it watching.

I felt an overwhelming tension ripple through me, as if my body was warning me not to get any closer. Suddenly, it fled. Only, fled, is too tame a word for how it moved. It darted away in a burst of blurred speed, limbs contorting as though it wasn't fully bound by joints or bones. Leaves and twigs crunched in its wake. Nicole cursed under her breath, and I stumbled backward,

I felt an overwhelming tension ripple through me, as if my body was warning me not to get any closer. Suddenly, it fled. Only, fled, is too tame a word for how it moved. It darted away in a burst of blurred speed, limbs contorting as though it wasn't fully bound by joints or bones. Leaves and twigs crunched in its wake. Nicole cursed under her breath, and I stumbled backward,

eyes scanning the orchard for any sign of it that's when she pointed out another shape lurking a few yards deeper a broader figure standing completely still its eyes dull and whitish stared our way like a pair of dead orbs we both stood there hearts pounding not sure whether to run or speak or simply stand our ground

eyes scanning the orchard for any sign of it that's when she pointed out another shape lurking a few yards deeper a broader figure standing completely still its eyes dull and whitish stared our way like a pair of dead orbs we both stood there hearts pounding not sure whether to run or speak or simply stand our ground

in the end our instincts chose for us we backed away one step at a time refusing to look away from those glowing eyes the creature stayed rooted as if it was letting us leave on our own once we turned and began speeding up the orchard broke into a frenzy of noise branches snapping leaves rustling

in the end our instincts chose for us we backed away one step at a time refusing to look away from those glowing eyes the creature stayed rooted as if it was letting us leave on our own once we turned and began speeding up the orchard broke into a frenzy of noise branches snapping leaves rustling

i couldn't tell if it was behind us or somewhere off to the side all i knew was that we had to get out by the time we reached the yard my chest felt tight and nicole's face had lost all color we slammed the back door locked it and stared at each other breaths ragged I realized I still had the flashlight death-gripped in my hand.

i couldn't tell if it was behind us or somewhere off to the side all i knew was that we had to get out by the time we reached the yard my chest felt tight and nicole's face had lost all color we slammed the back door locked it and stared at each other breaths ragged I realized I still had the flashlight death-gripped in my hand.

She leaned against the wall, trying to calm down, and finally looked at me with an expression that said it all. This wasn't just our imaginations. Those prints. That lean-to. Those things. They were very real. We dragged ourselves to the living room where the sun shining through the windows felt almost surreal after what we'd just seen. Neither of us spoke for a good few minutes.

She leaned against the wall, trying to calm down, and finally looked at me with an expression that said it all. This wasn't just our imaginations. Those prints. That lean-to. Those things. They were very real. We dragged ourselves to the living room where the sun shining through the windows felt almost surreal after what we'd just seen. Neither of us spoke for a good few minutes.

Then Nicole whispered that she couldn't shake the feeling they knew we were coming, like we'd walked into their domain uninvited. And I had to agree. It was as though the orchard had been anticipating our return, waiting to reveal how it had changed, and to show us that we weren't the only ones prowling those twisted rows of trees.

Then Nicole whispered that she couldn't shake the feeling they knew we were coming, like we'd walked into their domain uninvited. And I had to agree. It was as though the orchard had been anticipating our return, waiting to reveal how it had changed, and to show us that we weren't the only ones prowling those twisted rows of trees.

that evening nicole and i huddled in the living room the only light coming from a single lamp that cast jittery shadows on the walls outside the orchard loomed all dark trunks and twisted branches a storm was brewing gusts rattled the windows making us flinch at every sudden noise Neither of us wanted to head upstairs, so we made a silent pact to stay up and keep an eye on the backyard.

that evening nicole and i huddled in the living room the only light coming from a single lamp that cast jittery shadows on the walls outside the orchard loomed all dark trunks and twisted branches a storm was brewing gusts rattled the windows making us flinch at every sudden noise Neither of us wanted to head upstairs, so we made a silent pact to stay up and keep an eye on the backyard.