Samantha (Corrections Officer)

I should have known something was off when my supervisor called me in for an urgent adjustment to my usual shift. A bunch of people had recently bailed on the night schedule without much of an explanation, so it landed in my lap. At first, I wasn't exactly thrilled, but a small part of me was curious about what it'd be like to watch the park after dark.

I should have known something was off when my supervisor called me in for an urgent adjustment to my usual shift. A bunch of people had recently bailed on the night schedule without much of an explanation, so it landed in my lap. At first, I wasn't exactly thrilled, but a small part of me was curious about what it'd be like to watch the park after dark.

I guess I figured it'd be hours of quiet, broken up by the occasional hoot of an owl or flicker of a flashlight. So there I was, hiking up the tower's endless steps with a backpack full of coffee, energy drinks, and whatever courage I thought I had. The night air tasted cool, almost damp, and my boots crunched on gravel in a way that echoed like I wasn't the only one listening.

I guess I figured it'd be hours of quiet, broken up by the occasional hoot of an owl or flicker of a flashlight. So there I was, hiking up the tower's endless steps with a backpack full of coffee, energy drinks, and whatever courage I thought I had. The night air tasted cool, almost damp, and my boots crunched on gravel in a way that echoed like I wasn't the only one listening.

By the time I made it to the top, my legs felt like jelly, but I forced myself to shrug it off. The tower's narrow wooden platform led me into a cramped room with three walls of glass and a fourth wall hosting a door. There was a rickety bed, a tiny kitchen corner with a mini-fridge and a microwave, plus a desk where the comm station sat blinking. I gave the radio a test.

By the time I made it to the top, my legs felt like jelly, but I forced myself to shrug it off. The tower's narrow wooden platform led me into a cramped room with three walls of glass and a fourth wall hosting a door. There was a rickety bed, a tiny kitchen corner with a mini-fridge and a microwave, plus a desk where the comm station sat blinking. I gave the radio a test.

Static popped and hissed, but Donnie's voice came through eventually, saying something about how I'd better make friends with my flashlight because the moon was barely out. That bit of chatter steadied my nerves a bit, like, okay, at least I wasn't alone in the world. I stepped onto the balcony to get a proper look at my surroundings.

Static popped and hissed, but Donnie's voice came through eventually, saying something about how I'd better make friends with my flashlight because the moon was barely out. That bit of chatter steadied my nerves a bit, like, okay, at least I wasn't alone in the world. I stepped onto the balcony to get a proper look at my surroundings.

Trees stretched in nearly every direction, their tops swaying faintly in the breeze. Off to my right was the lagoon, which looked more like a giant puddle choked with algae, lily pads, and random debris. The water sat way too still for my comfort. Meanwhile, the usual nighttime orchestra kicked up. Frogs, crickets, leaves rustling. It was almost soothing.

Trees stretched in nearly every direction, their tops swaying faintly in the breeze. Off to my right was the lagoon, which looked more like a giant puddle choked with algae, lily pads, and random debris. The water sat way too still for my comfort. Meanwhile, the usual nighttime orchestra kicked up. Frogs, crickets, leaves rustling. It was almost soothing.

I leaned over the balcony rail, scanning the area with binoculars. At first, I spotted nothing except a few moonlit clearings and shadows that I assumed were just logs or rocks. But near one of the ridges, I caught a glimpse of something pale, a shape that stood out against the dark. It looked suspiciously like a person, maybe a kid, wearing a blanket with two big circles where eyes might be.

I leaned over the balcony rail, scanning the area with binoculars. At first, I spotted nothing except a few moonlit clearings and shadows that I assumed were just logs or rocks. But near one of the ridges, I caught a glimpse of something pale, a shape that stood out against the dark. It looked suspiciously like a person, maybe a kid, wearing a blanket with two big circles where eyes might be.

A ghost costume? In the middle of summer on federal land with no one else around. It threw me off so hard I nearly dropped the binoculars. I blinked, steadying the lenses again. This little ghost thing was still staring straight at the tower. Part of me wanted to believe it was just some leftover prank, but my gut churned in protest. I pulled out my handheld radio and called Donnie.

A ghost costume? In the middle of summer on federal land with no one else around. It threw me off so hard I nearly dropped the binoculars. I blinked, steadying the lenses again. This little ghost thing was still staring straight at the tower. Part of me wanted to believe it was just some leftover prank, but my gut churned in protest. I pulled out my handheld radio and called Donnie.

Hey man, you an earshot? There's... I don't even know how to say this. There's a kid dressed like a ghost on the ridge, right below the big dip in the tree line. Donnie sounded as confused as I was. A ghost? You serious? As a heart attack, I muttered.

Hey man, you an earshot? There's... I don't even know how to say this. There's a kid dressed like a ghost on the ridge, right below the big dip in the tree line. Donnie sounded as confused as I was. A ghost? You serious? As a heart attack, I muttered.

could be some lost camper's kid or maybe a runaway want to check it out before it becomes our problem he sighed but agreed fine i'll head that way keep your eyes on em and let me know if they move i caught a flicker of donnie's flashlight weaving through the dark beneath me he wasn't fast but at least he was going in the right direction

could be some lost camper's kid or maybe a runaway want to check it out before it becomes our problem he sighed but agreed fine i'll head that way keep your eyes on em and let me know if they move i caught a flicker of donnie's flashlight weaving through the dark beneath me he wasn't fast but at least he was going in the right direction

I stayed on the balcony, sweeping the binoculars around, glancing back at the ridge every few seconds. The figure didn't move at all, like it was a statue with a bed sheet draped over it. Then, just as Donnie's light got close, his flashlight went out. The beam vanished so abruptly that I thought maybe my eyes tricked me.

I stayed on the balcony, sweeping the binoculars around, glancing back at the ridge every few seconds. The figure didn't move at all, like it was a statue with a bed sheet draped over it. Then, just as Donnie's light got close, his flashlight went out. The beam vanished so abruptly that I thought maybe my eyes tricked me.