Samantha (Corrections Officer)

My heart thundered like an engine in my chest, and out stepped a little ghost, the same ragged sheet I'd seen on the ridge. That was enough to make me want to scream, but then the figure lifted it off, revealing Marvin, Donnie's son, sporting a grin so wide you'd think he'd scored the prank of the century. He also had a walkie in his hand, the green LED winking mockingly at me.

My heart thundered like an engine in my chest, and out stepped a little ghost, the same ragged sheet I'd seen on the ridge. That was enough to make me want to scream, but then the figure lifted it off, revealing Marvin, Donnie's son, sporting a grin so wide you'd think he'd scored the prank of the century. He also had a walkie in his hand, the green LED winking mockingly at me.

I felt heat flush my face. Marvin, what the hell? Before the kid could answer, another voice crackled over the main radio on the desk. There he is. How'd he do, Marv? He freak out? Recognizing Donnie's voice, I stomped across the room and grabbed that radio. You set me up, I yelled, so furious my voice went ragged. Hiding your kid in my tower? Dressing him like some cheap little ghost?

I felt heat flush my face. Marvin, what the hell? Before the kid could answer, another voice crackled over the main radio on the desk. There he is. How'd he do, Marv? He freak out? Recognizing Donnie's voice, I stomped across the room and grabbed that radio. You set me up, I yelled, so furious my voice went ragged. Hiding your kid in my tower? Dressing him like some cheap little ghost?

Donnie, and a second voice, had to be his other son, Joey, started howling with laughter. Apparently, they'd been planning this for days. Snuck Marvin in here before my shift, made a show of him standing on the ridge, cut the power to Donnie's flashlight at the perfect moment. I'm sure they expected me to lose it. Mission accomplished. Relax, Donnie cackled over the line.

Donnie, and a second voice, had to be his other son, Joey, started howling with laughter. Apparently, they'd been planning this for days. Snuck Marvin in here before my shift, made a show of him standing on the ridge, cut the power to Donnie's flashlight at the perfect moment. I'm sure they expected me to lose it. Mission accomplished. Relax, Donnie cackled over the line.

It was just some harmless fun, man. Thought we'd welcome you to the graveyard shift in style. More snickers in the background. How's your blood pressure? I felt relief and anger crash together like thunderclouds in my gut. You have no idea how close I was to stabbing. I stopped short, eyeing Marvin. He gave me a playful shrug, like he hadn't just watched me panic in genuine terror.

It was just some harmless fun, man. Thought we'd welcome you to the graveyard shift in style. More snickers in the background. How's your blood pressure? I felt relief and anger crash together like thunderclouds in my gut. You have no idea how close I was to stabbing. I stopped short, eyeing Marvin. He gave me a playful shrug, like he hadn't just watched me panic in genuine terror.

I wanted to tear into Donnie, but there was still one problem overshadowing everything. What about that... thing outside? My words choked in my throat. Some waterlogged woman, or I don't know what. You can't tell me that was part of the plan, too. For a second, the radio went silent. Then Donnie let out a short laugh, one that sounded less certain. Wait, slow down.

I wanted to tear into Donnie, but there was still one problem overshadowing everything. What about that... thing outside? My words choked in my throat. Some waterlogged woman, or I don't know what. You can't tell me that was part of the plan, too. For a second, the radio went silent. Then Donnie let out a short laugh, one that sounded less certain. Wait, slow down.

You think I hired an extra for your personal horror movie or something? More awkward chuckles. We only planned the ghost kid, that's it. No ladies in sight. His words hit me like a punch to the ribs. Even if they'd orchestrated a bunch of details to fool me, the shrieking creature I'd seen was way beyond a backyard prank. I couldn't shake the memory of that sallow, stretched skin.

You think I hired an extra for your personal horror movie or something? More awkward chuckles. We only planned the ghost kid, that's it. No ladies in sight. His words hit me like a punch to the ribs. Even if they'd orchestrated a bunch of details to fool me, the shrieking creature I'd seen was way beyond a backyard prank. I couldn't shake the memory of that sallow, stretched skin.

I had the insane urge to fling open the tower door just to see if she was still out there, but the possibility kept me rooted in place. Marvin must have seen the alarm still etched on my face because his grin faltered. Uh, Dad? He said softly into his own walkie. What if someone else is out here? The question hung in the air, heavy as lead. After a moment, Donnie tried to keep it light.

I had the insane urge to fling open the tower door just to see if she was still out there, but the possibility kept me rooted in place. Marvin must have seen the alarm still etched on my face because his grin faltered. Uh, Dad? He said softly into his own walkie. What if someone else is out here? The question hung in the air, heavy as lead. After a moment, Donnie tried to keep it light.

look maybe you saw a deer or your eyes played tricks on you it's late and you're wound up we'll swing by once we finish up sound good i clicked off the radio without answering my anger was draining replaced by an old deep fear that stuck to my thoughts like tar

look maybe you saw a deer or your eyes played tricks on you it's late and you're wound up we'll swing by once we finish up sound good i clicked off the radio without answering my anger was draining replaced by an old deep fear that stuck to my thoughts like tar

part of me wanted to chase marvin out with a scolding but a stronger part maybe the protective side wouldn't risk letting him leave alone until this thing was explained or gone i had zero trust in that black stretch of forest i paced the tower double checking windows and fiddling with the lock on the door it felt so thin like a stiff wind could knock it down meanwhile the night outside remained too quiet for comfort

part of me wanted to chase marvin out with a scolding but a stronger part maybe the protective side wouldn't risk letting him leave alone until this thing was explained or gone i had zero trust in that black stretch of forest i paced the tower double checking windows and fiddling with the lock on the door it felt so thin like a stiff wind could knock it down meanwhile the night outside remained too quiet for comfort

Marvin looked just as jumpy as me now, hugging his arms close to his body like the joke wasn't so funny anymore. Time crawled. Every so often, I'd catch a glimpse of movement outside, a branch shifting, or a swirl of mist over the lagoon. But I never saw that gaunt figure again. It was almost worse not knowing if it was still lurking beneath the tower.

Marvin looked just as jumpy as me now, hugging his arms close to his body like the joke wasn't so funny anymore. Time crawled. Every so often, I'd catch a glimpse of movement outside, a branch shifting, or a swirl of mist over the lagoon. But I never saw that gaunt figure again. It was almost worse not knowing if it was still lurking beneath the tower.