Samantha (Corrections Officer)

That night I was still new enough to think every single bump outside could be a stray animal, except the sounds I heard weren't from an animal. She paused, gazing at the table. None of us moved. Even Pat, who usually tries to crack a joke and break tension, just watched her in silence. Dana went on about how she'd spent the whole evening hauling fallen branches off the paths.

That night I was still new enough to think every single bump outside could be a stray animal, except the sounds I heard weren't from an animal. She paused, gazing at the table. None of us moved. Even Pat, who usually tries to crack a joke and break tension, just watched her in silence. Dana went on about how she'd spent the whole evening hauling fallen branches off the paths.

When the sun set, she ducked inside, thinking she'd wait out the storm and call it a night. the wind was raging so hard the station windows rattled every few seconds finally her stomach growled so she ordered from the nearest diner old henry a delivery guy everyone in town knew pulled up half an hour later She stepped out onto the porch to grab her food.

When the sun set, she ducked inside, thinking she'd wait out the storm and call it a night. the wind was raging so hard the station windows rattled every few seconds finally her stomach growled so she ordered from the nearest diner old henry a delivery guy everyone in town knew pulled up half an hour later She stepped out onto the porch to grab her food.

I remember how dark it felt, she said, rubbing her hands together like she could still feel the chill. There was this dampness that wouldn't let go. The diner's headlights cut across the station's walls, but everything else was swallowed by black sky. She tried to keep it casual, chatting with Henry about the rain, how he managed to drive in such miserable conditions.

I remember how dark it felt, she said, rubbing her hands together like she could still feel the chill. There was this dampness that wouldn't let go. The diner's headlights cut across the station's walls, but everything else was swallowed by black sky. She tried to keep it casual, chatting with Henry about the rain, how he managed to drive in such miserable conditions.

But he kept glancing over her shoulder. Finally, he blurted that somebody was standing among the twisted oaks near the fence. Dana saw nothing at first, just the silhouette of trees shifting in the wind. Then she made out a shape, thin, ragged, like it was half-crouched behind a trunk. That's when they both heard something like a hushed voice telling them to go.

But he kept glancing over her shoulder. Finally, he blurted that somebody was standing among the twisted oaks near the fence. Dana saw nothing at first, just the silhouette of trees shifting in the wind. Then she made out a shape, thin, ragged, like it was half-crouched behind a trunk. That's when they both heard something like a hushed voice telling them to go.

It didn't feel like a threat, Dana admitted, tapping her fingers on the table. It was more like someone warning us, but I couldn't begin to guess who, or what, was trying to help. she said the fear ramped up quick she and henry jumped into his car without saying a word not caring about anything but getting down that mud-slick road the tires spun kicking up gravel and water and they raced off

It didn't feel like a threat, Dana admitted, tapping her fingers on the table. It was more like someone warning us, but I couldn't begin to guess who, or what, was trying to help. she said the fear ramped up quick she and henry jumped into his car without saying a word not caring about anything but getting down that mud-slick road the tires spun kicking up gravel and water and they raced off

after a couple of miles henry pulled over and they just sat there shaking from adrenaline neither one could fully believe what they'd seen dana spent the next minutes debating how to explain taking off mid-shift but it turned out she didn't have to by that time she said the station's security system had already caught a group dressed in dark hooded coats smashing the door in they roamed inside for about five minutes rummaging around with this eerie calm

after a couple of miles henry pulled over and they just sat there shaking from adrenaline neither one could fully believe what they'd seen dana spent the next minutes debating how to explain taking off mid-shift but it turned out she didn't have to by that time she said the station's security system had already caught a group dressed in dark hooded coats smashing the door in they roamed inside for about five minutes rummaging around with this eerie calm

They didn't steal a thing. It was more like they were inspecting the place, as if searching for something. Then they walked out into the storm like none of it mattered, leaving behind a few soaked footprints and a lot of unanswered questions. The cops called me in, Dana said, lowering her voice, and all they could figure was a botched robbery. But who breaks down a door just to poke around?

They didn't steal a thing. It was more like they were inspecting the place, as if searching for something. Then they walked out into the storm like none of it mattered, leaving behind a few soaked footprints and a lot of unanswered questions. The cops called me in, Dana said, lowering her voice, and all they could figure was a botched robbery. But who breaks down a door just to poke around?

They never left a single fingerprint. We all glanced around, half expecting to see those hooded figures lurking right outside our windows. Dana's story was unnerving enough, but she wasn't done. She mentioned the little wooden bundle she discovered later, lying in the corner near the supply closet.

They never left a single fingerprint. We all glanced around, half expecting to see those hooded figures lurking right outside our windows. Dana's story was unnerving enough, but she wasn't done. She mentioned the little wooden bundle she discovered later, lying in the corner near the supply closet.

a pile of twigs bound with a strip of ribbon so tightly knotted that she had to use a knife to cut it no one in the department could explain it and eventually someone just tossed it in a box to be forgotten that was the same day the break-in happened she said so call me paranoid if you want but i've spent every day since wondering why those people came in and who they really were maybe it has something to do with all the old stories about this place

a pile of twigs bound with a strip of ribbon so tightly knotted that she had to use a knife to cut it no one in the department could explain it and eventually someone just tossed it in a box to be forgotten that was the same day the break-in happened she said so call me paranoid if you want but i've spent every day since wondering why those people came in and who they really were maybe it has something to do with all the old stories about this place

Or maybe we just got unlucky, but either way, I still can't shake the feeling it's not over. She finished talking, and the little hum of our electrical devices was the only noise left. I was imagining Henry's headlights reflecting on a figure half-hidden by trunk and branch, waving them away like it was granting mercy. Dana blinked a few times, as if waking from a bad dream.

Or maybe we just got unlucky, but either way, I still can't shake the feeling it's not over. She finished talking, and the little hum of our electrical devices was the only noise left. I was imagining Henry's headlights reflecting on a figure half-hidden by trunk and branch, waving them away like it was granting mercy. Dana blinked a few times, as if waking from a bad dream.