Samantha (Corrections Officer)

And that's when I realized her story had changed the air in the room. We weren't just rangers killing time on another routine shift. We were four uneasy souls perched in a remote station, with something out there in the darkness. A presence that might help us, or harm us. And we had no way of knowing which.

And that's when I realized her story had changed the air in the room. We weren't just rangers killing time on another routine shift. We were four uneasy souls perched in a remote station, with something out there in the darkness. A presence that might help us, or harm us. And we had no way of knowing which.

We all fell silent after Dana finished her story, like we were waiting for the shadows outside to respond. Pat broke the tension first, clearing his throat and suggesting a perimeter check. It should have been routine, but every step felt heavy.

We all fell silent after Dana finished her story, like we were waiting for the shadows outside to respond. Pat broke the tension first, clearing his throat and suggesting a perimeter check. It should have been routine, but every step felt heavy.

i volunteered to team up with dana while pat and marcus swept the back outside the air was colder than before the station's floodlight didn't reach far so most of the yard was barely visible i noticed how the wind had died down it made every noise echo like the forest was an empty stage waiting for an actor to appear

i volunteered to team up with dana while pat and marcus swept the back outside the air was colder than before the station's floodlight didn't reach far so most of the yard was barely visible i noticed how the wind had died down it made every noise echo like the forest was an empty stage waiting for an actor to appear

Dana and I started circling around the side, flashlights bouncing off twisted branches and soggy undergrowth. I tried to calm my breathing, telling myself we were just being thorough. Yet it felt like we were trespassing on something's territory. A few yards from the storage shed, our beams picked up footprints, barefoot, pressed into the mud.

Dana and I started circling around the side, flashlights bouncing off twisted branches and soggy undergrowth. I tried to calm my breathing, telling myself we were just being thorough. Yet it felt like we were trespassing on something's territory. A few yards from the storage shed, our beams picked up footprints, barefoot, pressed into the mud.

They veered in a weird, meandering path toward the tree line. I glanced at Dana, who knelt and prodded one of the prints with her fingers. They were fresh enough to still glisten with moisture. Goosebumps prickled along my arms. Nobody sane would walk around barefoot at this hour. Suddenly, a branch snapped in the distance, louder than it should have been.

They veered in a weird, meandering path toward the tree line. I glanced at Dana, who knelt and prodded one of the prints with her fingers. They were fresh enough to still glisten with moisture. Goosebumps prickled along my arms. Nobody sane would walk around barefoot at this hour. Suddenly, a branch snapped in the distance, louder than it should have been.

My flashlight swung toward the tree line, finding nothing but dark shapes. Then I spotted a tiny wooden figure perched on a fallen log, a crude stick person tied with a thread the color of dried blood. For a moment, I could have sworn it tilted its head at me.

My flashlight swung toward the tree line, finding nothing but dark shapes. Then I spotted a tiny wooden figure perched on a fallen log, a crude stick person tied with a thread the color of dried blood. For a moment, I could have sworn it tilted its head at me.

i knew that was impossible but it felt real dana approached slowly her steps careful she reached out and lifted the figure up close it was damp and smelled faintly of rotting leaves some kind of totem or warning we heard murmurs then hushed voices carrying through the hush of the night I flicked off my flashlight signaling Dana to do the same.

i knew that was impossible but it felt real dana approached slowly her steps careful she reached out and lifted the figure up close it was damp and smelled faintly of rotting leaves some kind of totem or warning we heard murmurs then hushed voices carrying through the hush of the night I flicked off my flashlight signaling Dana to do the same.

Through the gloom, we made out movement, silhouettes shifting among the trees, maybe four or five. They moved in a rhythmic way, as if following a practiced formation. No flashlights, no phones, just bodies and shadows. We crouched, our hearts pounding, thoughts racing about what we'd do if they headed our way. Pat and Marcus stumbled upon us, nearly causing me to jump.

Through the gloom, we made out movement, silhouettes shifting among the trees, maybe four or five. They moved in a rhythmic way, as if following a practiced formation. No flashlights, no phones, just bodies and shadows. We crouched, our hearts pounding, thoughts racing about what we'd do if they headed our way. Pat and Marcus stumbled upon us, nearly causing me to jump.

Marcus mouthed, we saw them too, pointing toward another patch of darkness. We decided in silent agreement to back up to the station. As we retreated, I kept looking over my shoulder, convinced we were being watched, but I caught only faint outlines flickering through the trees. Inside we locked the doors, drew the blinds, and shoved a heavy table against the main entrance.

Marcus mouthed, we saw them too, pointing toward another patch of darkness. We decided in silent agreement to back up to the station. As we retreated, I kept looking over my shoulder, convinced we were being watched, but I caught only faint outlines flickering through the trees. Inside we locked the doors, drew the blinds, and shoved a heavy table against the main entrance.

The logs in the fireplace popped, scattering embers in a sudden burst. Usually that sound is comforting, but this time it felt more like a warning shot. No one sat. We hovered near the windows, peeking out through narrow gaps in the blinds. The station smelled of damp clothes and fear, if fear can have a smell. Pat wanted to call for backup, but Dana hesitated.

The logs in the fireplace popped, scattering embers in a sudden burst. Usually that sound is comforting, but this time it felt more like a warning shot. No one sat. We hovered near the windows, peeking out through narrow gaps in the blinds. The station smelled of damp clothes and fear, if fear can have a smell. Pat wanted to call for backup, but Dana hesitated.