Samantha (Corrections Officer)

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.

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. 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.

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. 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.

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. 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.

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. 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.

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.

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.

My radio let out a burst of static, and Donnie's voice cut off mid-sentence. In that exact same instant, the forest dropped every sound it had. Not one chirp. Not one rustle. The hush felt alive, like I'd stepped into some bubble of silence. My pulse hammered in my ears, and I stumbled back into the tower, practically yanking the door off its hinges to close it.

My radio let out a burst of static, and Donnie's voice cut off mid-sentence. In that exact same instant, the forest dropped every sound it had. Not one chirp. Not one rustle. The hush felt alive, like I'd stepped into some bubble of silence. My pulse hammered in my ears, and I stumbled back into the tower, practically yanking the door off its hinges to close it.

I tried calling Donnie again, nothing but static. My flashlight spotlighted the corners of the tower's room, and everything looked normal, but my nerves were lit up. I decided to go back outside, maybe yell into the darkness a few times. That was when I noticed a shape below, next to the first flight of steps.

I tried calling Donnie again, nothing but static. My flashlight spotlighted the corners of the tower's room, and everything looked normal, but my nerves were lit up. I decided to go back outside, maybe yell into the darkness a few times. That was when I noticed a shape below, next to the first flight of steps.