Samantha (Corrections Officer)

Part of me hated the idea, like if I looked hard enough, I might invite something to stare back, but ignoring it felt worse. Midnight approached, and the wind kicked up, whipping leaves around the yard. In the faint glow of the porch light, I noticed a shape dart between the trees. I nudged Nicole, and she killed the lamp, plunging us into near darkness.

Part of me hated the idea, like if I looked hard enough, I might invite something to stare back, but ignoring it felt worse. Midnight approached, and the wind kicked up, whipping leaves around the yard. In the faint glow of the porch light, I noticed a shape dart between the trees. I nudged Nicole, and she killed the lamp, plunging us into near darkness.

through the window i could make out what seemed to be one of those long-limbed figures head tilted as if listening for us i found myself gripping the window-sill with tense fingers we stood there for what felt like forever until the figure drifted out of sight behind the orchard line Nicole whispered that we needed to follow it, that maybe this was a chance to learn something.

through the window i could make out what seemed to be one of those long-limbed figures head tilted as if listening for us i found myself gripping the window-sill with tense fingers we stood there for what felt like forever until the figure drifted out of sight behind the orchard line Nicole whispered that we needed to follow it, that maybe this was a chance to learn something.

I didn't like it, but a weird sense of determination forced my hand. We grabbed our flashlights, pulled on jackets, and slipped out the back door. The cold night air practically stung my face. I inched forward, scanning the darkness. A glimpse of milky white eyes flickered behind a gnarled trunk, then vanished. The orchard was drawing us in.

I didn't like it, but a weird sense of determination forced my hand. We grabbed our flashlights, pulled on jackets, and slipped out the back door. The cold night air practically stung my face. I inched forward, scanning the darkness. A glimpse of milky white eyes flickered behind a gnarled trunk, then vanished. The orchard was drawing us in.

We crossed the fence again, stepping onto the path where the ground turned spongy from all the recent rain. My pulse hammered as we moved deeper, the flashlight beams picking up nothing but branches and scattered debris.

We crossed the fence again, stepping onto the path where the ground turned spongy from all the recent rain. My pulse hammered as we moved deeper, the flashlight beams picking up nothing but branches and scattered debris.

soon though we found ourselves in a small clearing moonlight seeped through a gap in the canopy illuminating an arrangement of sticks and bones piled around an old tree stump the sight made my stomach churn clumps of fur rotting fruit and bits of cloth were woven into a strange pattern It almost looked like a shrine, or maybe a warning. A rustle broke the tense silence.

soon though we found ourselves in a small clearing moonlight seeped through a gap in the canopy illuminating an arrangement of sticks and bones piled around an old tree stump the sight made my stomach churn clumps of fur rotting fruit and bits of cloth were woven into a strange pattern It almost looked like a shrine, or maybe a warning. A rustle broke the tense silence.

Something tall crouched behind a cluster of shrubs at the clearing's edge. At first, it watched us with that blank, lifeless stare. Then, it pulled back, like it was waiting for our next move. Nicole gently set an apple near the stump, mimicking the offerings we left as children. Her hand shook, but she managed to keep steady long enough to place it down.

Something tall crouched behind a cluster of shrubs at the clearing's edge. At first, it watched us with that blank, lifeless stare. Then, it pulled back, like it was waiting for our next move. Nicole gently set an apple near the stump, mimicking the offerings we left as children. Her hand shook, but she managed to keep steady long enough to place it down.

another shape crept through the trees a creature with broader shoulders half hidden in the gloom its presence felt more assertive like it was the one in charge everything happened in a blur there was a snapping noise from the shadows and we caught sight of a third figure smaller but disturbingly quick crawling on all fours nicole and i backed away

another shape crept through the trees a creature with broader shoulders half hidden in the gloom its presence felt more assertive like it was the one in charge everything happened in a blur there was a snapping noise from the shadows and we caught sight of a third figure smaller but disturbingly quick crawling on all fours nicole and i backed away

a surge of terror roiled in my chest and my flashlight trembled the beam dancing across twisted roots we heard heavy breathing ours maybe theirs and the orchard seemed charged with a restless energy we bolted Branches tore at my jacket, tripping me up as Nicole and I sprinted toward the fence, adrenaline pounding in our ears. Behind us, we caught fleeting movements in the darkness.

a surge of terror roiled in my chest and my flashlight trembled the beam dancing across twisted roots we heard heavy breathing ours maybe theirs and the orchard seemed charged with a restless energy we bolted Branches tore at my jacket, tripping me up as Nicole and I sprinted toward the fence, adrenaline pounding in our ears. Behind us, we caught fleeting movements in the darkness.

Part of me thought they were chasing us, but when we reached the fence line, everything went eerily calm, like the orchard exhaled once we crossed out of its domain. We stumbled into the house, locked the door, and collapsed onto the living room floor.

Part of me thought they were chasing us, but when we reached the fence line, everything went eerily calm, like the orchard exhaled once we crossed out of its domain. We stumbled into the house, locked the door, and collapsed onto the living room floor.

my heart hammered so hard i felt dizzy nicole looked just as rattled tears threatening at the corners of her eyes we sat there both of us struggling to process that clearing those silent watching figures and the feeling that we'd intruded on something ancient and territorial By morning, neither of us could pretend this was just an overblown childhood fantasy anymore.

my heart hammered so hard i felt dizzy nicole looked just as rattled tears threatening at the corners of her eyes we sat there both of us struggling to process that clearing those silent watching figures and the feeling that we'd intruded on something ancient and territorial By morning, neither of us could pretend this was just an overblown childhood fantasy anymore.