Samantha (Corrections Officer)

I'll do the paperwork, whatever it takes, but I'm not coming back here. Dana stayed silent, but her eyes darted around the station one final time, almost as if she was memorizing every crack and splinter. I could only imagine what she was feeling, given her past run-ins with whatever lurked out there. Then she swallowed hard and whispered, Let's go.

I'll do the paperwork, whatever it takes, but I'm not coming back here. Dana stayed silent, but her eyes darted around the station one final time, almost as if she was memorizing every crack and splinter. I could only imagine what she was feeling, given her past run-ins with whatever lurked out there. Then she swallowed hard and whispered, Let's go.

We stepped outside, the morning air chilling our lungs. Instead of the usual dawn chorus of birds, there was near complete silence. It was as if the entire forest held its breath, waiting to see if we'd actually leave. A low haze lingered around the tree roots, and the wind hissed through damp leaves. That creeping unease wouldn't let up.

We stepped outside, the morning air chilling our lungs. Instead of the usual dawn chorus of birds, there was near complete silence. It was as if the entire forest held its breath, waiting to see if we'd actually leave. A low haze lingered around the tree roots, and the wind hissed through damp leaves. That creeping unease wouldn't let up.

I felt like eyes were drilling holes in the back of my head. At the trucks, we didn't even try to pretend we'd come back. Normally there'd be talk of the next shift or a reminder to lock up carefully. This time we just piled in, turned keys, and drove away. No glances in the rearview mirror. We knew what we were leaving behind. It wasn't just the station.

I felt like eyes were drilling holes in the back of my head. At the trucks, we didn't even try to pretend we'd come back. Normally there'd be talk of the next shift or a reminder to lock up carefully. This time we just piled in, turned keys, and drove away. No glances in the rearview mirror. We knew what we were leaving behind. It wasn't just the station.

It was the memory of that horrific night, the footprints in the mud, the indecipherable murmurs among the trees, and the strange totems that hinted we were in over our heads.

It was the memory of that horrific night, the footprints in the mud, the indecipherable murmurs among the trees, and the strange totems that hinted we were in over our heads.

as we hit the main road i felt a glimmer of relief mixed with guilt part of me worried about the next person who'd fill our roles but i knew i couldn't stay there the forest had become too loaded with shadows and unanswered questions we pulled up to the central ranger office later that morning the woman at the front desk looked startled as we handed over our resignations in near unison pat's words tumbled out shaky but resolute

as we hit the main road i felt a glimmer of relief mixed with guilt part of me worried about the next person who'd fill our roles but i knew i couldn't stay there the forest had become too loaded with shadows and unanswered questions we pulled up to the central ranger office later that morning the woman at the front desk looked startled as we handed over our resignations in near unison pat's words tumbled out shaky but resolute

we're done no more nights out there no more of whatever's in those woods nobody asked a single follow-up question maybe they'd heard rumors maybe they saw our pale faces and realized we'd seen enough All I know is we gathered our belongings from our lockers without a glance back.

we're done no more nights out there no more of whatever's in those woods nobody asked a single follow-up question maybe they'd heard rumors maybe they saw our pale faces and realized we'd seen enough All I know is we gathered our belongings from our lockers without a glance back.

I heard Dana quietly mutter that if anyone tried to make her go back, she'd drive three states away before she set foot in another forest. Marcus just nodded and patted her shoulder. We left that day, each in our own car, driving away from the ranger service and the job we'd once loved. Even though I was relieved, there was a tiny voice in my head warning me those woods wouldn't forget us.

I heard Dana quietly mutter that if anyone tried to make her go back, she'd drive three states away before she set foot in another forest. Marcus just nodded and patted her shoulder. We left that day, each in our own car, driving away from the ranger service and the job we'd once loved. Even though I was relieved, there was a tiny voice in my head warning me those woods wouldn't forget us.

Sometimes, when I'm alone and thinking too much, I picture the bare footprints and those hooded shapes slipping back beneath the branches. There's a sense of finality to it, but also a lingering question mark. Did we escape, or just postpone the inevitable? Either way, I've got no intention of going back to find out. And if anyone were to ask, I'd tell them the same thing.

Sometimes, when I'm alone and thinking too much, I picture the bare footprints and those hooded shapes slipping back beneath the branches. There's a sense of finality to it, but also a lingering question mark. Did we escape, or just postpone the inevitable? Either way, I've got no intention of going back to find out. And if anyone were to ask, I'd tell them the same thing.

Some places aren't meant to be understood or conquered. Some forests can keep their secrets and I'll keep my distance forever. I could sense the isolation the instant our tires left the main road and hit that patchy excuse for gravel. Every bump felt magnified, like even the dirt wanted us to turn back.

Some places aren't meant to be understood or conquered. Some forests can keep their secrets and I'll keep my distance forever. I could sense the isolation the instant our tires left the main road and hit that patchy excuse for gravel. Every bump felt magnified, like even the dirt wanted us to turn back.

My boyfriend, who I'll call Dylan, tried to act like all this was part of the adventure, but I caught him glancing in the rearview mirror more than once, scanning the empty stretch behind us.

My boyfriend, who I'll call Dylan, tried to act like all this was part of the adventure, but I caught him glancing in the rearview mirror more than once, scanning the empty stretch behind us.