Samantha (Corrections Officer)

It looked man-made, perfectly round, as if someone had been maintaining it. There wasn't a single tree, bush, or even a weed. I was so focused on the lack of vegetation that I almost didn't notice the huge, unmistakable ladder standing right in the center. It was upright and leaning against absolutely nothing like some unknown force was holding it.

It looked man-made, perfectly round, as if someone had been maintaining it. There wasn't a single tree, bush, or even a weed. I was so focused on the lack of vegetation that I almost didn't notice the huge, unmistakable ladder standing right in the center. It was upright and leaning against absolutely nothing like some unknown force was holding it.

I looked up and saw a man at the top, wearing a business suit. It almost seemed comical, like he'd walked straight out of a corporate office. His head was tilted back, staring up at the sky, and his mouth was wide open. I couldn't get a clear view, so I called to him a few times. No response.

I looked up and saw a man at the top, wearing a business suit. It almost seemed comical, like he'd walked straight out of a corporate office. His head was tilted back, staring up at the sky, and his mouth was wide open. I couldn't get a clear view, so I called to him a few times. No response.

I circled the ladder looking for wires or strings, hoping it was some sort of prank or art installation, but I found nothing. He looked like he was on display for some bizarre exhibition. I didn't know what else to do, and I couldn't see my partner, so I radioed him to come over. While waiting, I made the stupid decision to touch the ladder. I know, terrible idea.

I circled the ladder looking for wires or strings, hoping it was some sort of prank or art installation, but I found nothing. He looked like he was on display for some bizarre exhibition. I didn't know what else to do, and I couldn't see my partner, so I radioed him to come over. While waiting, I made the stupid decision to touch the ladder. I know, terrible idea.

Don't touch weird crap you find in the woods. I got a weird feeling just before my hand reached it, but I brushed it off and touched it anyway. The moment I did, the man at the top snapped his neck in this horrifically contorted way to look at me and let out an ungodly gasp, like he was drawing his last breath. His face was still warped in this gaping expression.

Don't touch weird crap you find in the woods. I got a weird feeling just before my hand reached it, but I brushed it off and touched it anyway. The moment I did, the man at the top snapped his neck in this horrifically contorted way to look at me and let out an ungodly gasp, like he was drawing his last breath. His face was still warped in this gaping expression.

Eyelids and lips pulled back as though he were in perpetual shock. I stumbled back and grabbed my taser. Just then, I heard someone behind me and I spun around, taser raised. It was my partner, hands in the air to avoid getting tased. When I looked back, the ladder was flat on the ground and the man was gone.

Eyelids and lips pulled back as though he were in perpetual shock. I stumbled back and grabbed my taser. Just then, I heard someone behind me and I spun around, taser raised. It was my partner, hands in the air to avoid getting tased. When I looked back, the ladder was flat on the ground and the man was gone.

My partner asked what was going on, so I explained and begged him not to think I was crazy. Of course he didn't. He knew as well as I did that weird stuff like this happens more often than you'd think. We had to do a quick search for the guy, Protocol, which I hated. I was praying we wouldn't find him. We didn't. I never saw anything like that again, and neither has anyone I've talked to.

My partner asked what was going on, so I explained and begged him not to think I was crazy. Of course he didn't. He knew as well as I did that weird stuff like this happens more often than you'd think. We had to do a quick search for the guy, Protocol, which I hated. I was praying we wouldn't find him. We didn't. I never saw anything like that again, and neither has anyone I've talked to.

That guy was balancing on top of a ladder that wasn't leaning against anything. Maybe I met Houdini. When you see stuff like that, you make jokes or you'll never move on. I'm really glad people are enjoying what I have to say. I'm not sure when I'll write more. Don't expect too much because this is both tiring and cathartic.

That guy was balancing on top of a ladder that wasn't leaning against anything. Maybe I met Houdini. When you see stuff like that, you make jokes or you'll never move on. I'm really glad people are enjoying what I have to say. I'm not sure when I'll write more. Don't expect too much because this is both tiring and cathartic.

I'm thinking of sharing some of the less spooky stories and the ones that are just about humans being weird. We'll see. 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.

I'm thinking of sharing some of the less spooky stories and the ones that are just about humans being weird. We'll see. 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.

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. 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.

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.