Samantha (Corrections Officer)

After a few minutes of testing the locks and listening for anything unusual, I stepped back inside, my jacket dripping with cold dew. Pat gave me this look that said, all good out there? And I nodded, but I didn't really feel certain. Before I could settle at the desk, Dana spoke up. She's usually the practical one, never letting gossip or superstitions rattle her, but her expression was guarded.

After a few minutes of testing the locks and listening for anything unusual, I stepped back inside, my jacket dripping with cold dew. Pat gave me this look that said, all good out there? And I nodded, but I didn't really feel certain. Before I could settle at the desk, Dana spoke up. She's usually the practical one, never letting gossip or superstitions rattle her, but her expression was guarded.

She asked if we'd ever heard rumors about the Phantom of Hollow Grove. Marcus let out a nervous laugh, but Pat's face turned serious. Dana explained how this old local legend had been passed around since before any of us were hired, a name tied to unexplained vanishings, especially when the moon was at its fullest.

She asked if we'd ever heard rumors about the Phantom of Hollow Grove. Marcus let out a nervous laugh, but Pat's face turned serious. Dana explained how this old local legend had been passed around since before any of us were hired, a name tied to unexplained vanishings, especially when the moon was at its fullest.

she didn't sound like she was spinning a campfire story her voice was calm too calm like she was remembering something unsettling the station lights flickered just then it might have been a hiccup in the power but it made every single nerve in me go on alert even the fireplace which usually made the room cozy seemed to cast weird shadows across the walls.

she didn't sound like she was spinning a campfire story her voice was calm too calm like she was remembering something unsettling the station lights flickered just then it might have been a hiccup in the power but it made every single nerve in me go on alert even the fireplace which usually made the room cozy seemed to cast weird shadows across the walls.

Pat ventured to the window and peered out. The glass was flecked with condensation, making it tough to see anything but vague outlines of trees shifting in the wind. Marcus, normally the easy-going one, was already double-checking the radio, as if he expected to need backup at any second. I felt this nagging urge to go outside again, to scan the perimeter and be absolutely sure we were alone.

Pat ventured to the window and peered out. The glass was flecked with condensation, making it tough to see anything but vague outlines of trees shifting in the wind. Marcus, normally the easy-going one, was already double-checking the radio, as if he expected to need backup at any second. I felt this nagging urge to go outside again, to scan the perimeter and be absolutely sure we were alone.

Yet the idea of venturing past the door gave me pause, i remembered all the times i'd teased guests about being nervous in the dark and suddenly i wondered if i'd been a fool to brush off what the woods might conceal something about the night put a knot in my chest i kept seeing movement in the corners of my eyes just enough to unsettle me

Yet the idea of venturing past the door gave me pause, i remembered all the times i'd teased guests about being nervous in the dark and suddenly i wondered if i'd been a fool to brush off what the woods might conceal something about the night put a knot in my chest i kept seeing movement in the corners of my eyes just enough to unsettle me

Every time I turned, there was nothing but old walls and dusty corners. Dana cleared her throat and said we should try to keep it together, that sometimes these shifts set our imaginations on overdrive. She kept talking about how the stories of Hollow Grove weren't just for spooking tourists.

Every time I turned, there was nothing but old walls and dusty corners. Dana cleared her throat and said we should try to keep it together, that sometimes these shifts set our imaginations on overdrive. She kept talking about how the stories of Hollow Grove weren't just for spooking tourists.

There was a grain of truth buried in them, enough to make even skeptics look over their shoulders now and then. I wanted to brush it off, but I couldn't.

There was a grain of truth buried in them, enough to make even skeptics look over their shoulders now and then. I wanted to brush it off, but I couldn't.

not with the wind howling outside like it had a purpose not with the odd quiet in the station even though the four of us were there and definitely not with the sense that something or someone was beyond our beam of light standing just out of sight waiting

not with the wind howling outside like it had a purpose not with the odd quiet in the station even though the four of us were there and definitely not with the sense that something or someone was beyond our beam of light standing just out of sight waiting

we didn't speak for a while after that we just sat there each lost in our own thoughts half expecting a knock on the door or a flicker of movement in the dark when we finally did say anything it was barely above a whisper as if we were afraid of who else might be listening

we didn't speak for a while after that we just sat there each lost in our own thoughts half expecting a knock on the door or a flicker of movement in the dark when we finally did say anything it was barely above a whisper as if we were afraid of who else might be listening

dana had a far-away look that practically begged us to lean in i could see she wasn't sure if she really wanted to rehash whatever was sitting on her mind but she let out a shaky sigh and began couple years back she said quietly i was finishing up a shift here the weather had been horrible for days relentless rain all the trails basically sludge nobody was bothering to visit which meant i had to keep an eye out by myself

dana had a far-away look that practically begged us to lean in i could see she wasn't sure if she really wanted to rehash whatever was sitting on her mind but she let out a shaky sigh and began couple years back she said quietly i was finishing up a shift here the weather had been horrible for days relentless rain all the trails basically sludge nobody was bothering to visit which meant i had to keep an eye out by myself