Samantha (Corrections Officer)

As we retreated, I kept looking over my shoulder, convinced we were being watched, but I caught only faint outlines flickering through the trees. Inside, we locked the doors, drew the blinds, and shoved a heavy table against the main entrance. The logs in the fireplace popped, scattering embers in a sudden burst. Usually that sound is comforting, but this time it felt more like a warning shot.

As we retreated, I kept looking over my shoulder, convinced we were being watched, but I caught only faint outlines flickering through the trees. Inside, we locked the doors, drew the blinds, and shoved a heavy table against the main entrance. The logs in the fireplace popped, scattering embers in a sudden burst. Usually that sound is comforting, but this time it felt more like a warning shot.

No one sat. We hovered near the windows, peeking out through narrow gaps in the blinds. The station smelled of damp clothes and fear, if fear can have a smell. Pat wanted to call for backup, but Dana hesitated. What if they're gone by the time anyone arrives? We'll look paranoid. She had a point.

No one sat. We hovered near the windows, peeking out through narrow gaps in the blinds. The station smelled of damp clothes and fear, if fear can have a smell. Pat wanted to call for backup, but Dana hesitated. What if they're gone by the time anyone arrives? We'll look paranoid. She had a point.

I remembered the story she told us, the unanswered questions left behind after the hooded group trashed the station. If they were the same ones prowling outside, they'd likely vanish as soon as they heard sirens. Time dragged. The wind picked up again, rattling the siding. My eyes burned from staring out the window, half expecting to see faces pressed against the glass.

I remembered the story she told us, the unanswered questions left behind after the hooded group trashed the station. If they were the same ones prowling outside, they'd likely vanish as soon as they heard sirens. Time dragged. The wind picked up again, rattling the siding. My eyes burned from staring out the window, half expecting to see faces pressed against the glass.

The phone lines were spotty this far out. If the lines went down, we'd be stranded without any communication. Marcus joked about how we should have transferred to a beach post, but the humor fell flat. We all knew we were in over our heads. Hours later the forest remained silent, like it was holding its breath for something worse. We agreed to wait for first light before making any bold moves.

The phone lines were spotty this far out. If the lines went down, we'd be stranded without any communication. Marcus joked about how we should have transferred to a beach post, but the humor fell flat. We all knew we were in over our heads. Hours later the forest remained silent, like it was holding its breath for something worse. We agreed to wait for first light before making any bold moves.

Whatever lurked outside, it felt like it was waiting too. The four of us ended up around the fireplace, jumpy at every twig snap or gust of wind. Nobody wanted to say it out loud, but we all knew the night wasn't done testing us. As the clock inched closer to dawn, we heard the faintest scrape against the back wall, like someone running a blade or a rock along the wood.

Whatever lurked outside, it felt like it was waiting too. The four of us ended up around the fireplace, jumpy at every twig snap or gust of wind. Nobody wanted to say it out loud, but we all knew the night wasn't done testing us. As the clock inched closer to dawn, we heard the faintest scrape against the back wall, like someone running a blade or a rock along the wood.

I stood, flashlight trembling in my hand, but the noise stopped. No footsteps, no break-in, but they'd reminded us they were out there. We realized morning might not bring any safety at all, but for now, it was the only hope we had. We took turns peering through the windows, watching for shapes among the trees, each minute feeling like an hour.

I stood, flashlight trembling in my hand, but the noise stopped. No footsteps, no break-in, but they'd reminded us they were out there. We realized morning might not bring any safety at all, but for now, it was the only hope we had. We took turns peering through the windows, watching for shapes among the trees, each minute feeling like an hour.

There was a shared, unspoken sense that whatever happened tonight was just the prelude. And as we huddled by the sputtering fire, none of us felt particularly eager to see what came next. I made my decision before sunrise. We all did. By the time the gray light started filtering through the station's grime-smeared windows, our nerves were shredded.

There was a shared, unspoken sense that whatever happened tonight was just the prelude. And as we huddled by the sputtering fire, none of us felt particularly eager to see what came next. I made my decision before sunrise. We all did. By the time the gray light started filtering through the station's grime-smeared windows, our nerves were shredded.

Every noise from the night before still seemed to echo in the back of my mind. The shifting silhouettes. Those footprints in the mud. That faint scrape against the wall. None of us had slept. We were running on pure adrenaline and dread. Pat asked if anyone wanted breakfast, trying to mask the tension with a sliver of normalcy. But no one had much appetite.

Every noise from the night before still seemed to echo in the back of my mind. The shifting silhouettes. Those footprints in the mud. That faint scrape against the wall. None of us had slept. We were running on pure adrenaline and dread. Pat asked if anyone wanted breakfast, trying to mask the tension with a sliver of normalcy. But no one had much appetite.

marcus simply shook his head staring at the barrier we'd set against the door dana who had always been our rock looked like a stranger her eyes were dark hollow circles she forced a small smile but didn't say anything

marcus simply shook his head staring at the barrier we'd set against the door dana who had always been our rock looked like a stranger her eyes were dark hollow circles she forced a small smile but didn't say anything

i realized we'd each reached the end of our tether we peeled back the blinds to watch the first rays of morning cut through the forest turning the nearest treetops into a dull silhouette though the night had receded it hadn't taken that malevolent feeling with it

i realized we'd each reached the end of our tether we peeled back the blinds to watch the first rays of morning cut through the forest turning the nearest treetops into a dull silhouette though the night had receded it hadn't taken that malevolent feeling with it