Samantha (Corrections Officer)

we'd heard about this primitive camping spot from a friend of a friend a place so remote you'd swear you were on another planet no designated sites no cell service no company other than the occasional deer wandering past we thought it'd be just the escape we needed

we'd heard about this primitive camping spot from a friend of a friend a place so remote you'd swear you were on another planet no designated sites no cell service no company other than the occasional deer wandering past we thought it'd be just the escape we needed

as the road got narrower and the trees pressed in i began to wonder if we were going too far off grid after what felt like an hour of muddy twists and turns we noticed a truck pulled off by the side its hood was popped but there was no sign of obvious trouble no steam no frantic waving A woman leaned against the driver's door, not trying to flag us down or anything. She just stood there.

as the road got narrower and the trees pressed in i began to wonder if we were going too far off grid after what felt like an hour of muddy twists and turns we noticed a truck pulled off by the side its hood was popped but there was no sign of obvious trouble no steam no frantic waving A woman leaned against the driver's door, not trying to flag us down or anything. She just stood there.

We slowed a little, automatically ready to help, but Dylan gripped the wheel and shook his head. His gaze locked on her. The way she stared made me feel like she'd been expecting us specifically, like we were already part of some plan she had in mind. I tried to get a better look at her face, but Dylan pressed the gas, and suddenly, she was just a figure in the rearview mirror.

We slowed a little, automatically ready to help, but Dylan gripped the wheel and shook his head. His gaze locked on her. The way she stared made me feel like she'd been expecting us specifically, like we were already part of some plan she had in mind. I tried to get a better look at her face, but Dylan pressed the gas, and suddenly, she was just a figure in the rearview mirror.

I caught myself checking the side mirror, half expecting her to jump in her truck and follow. That didn't happen. Or at least not right then. We headed on, but the air inside our car felt heavy. Dylan said it was nothing, but I knew better.

I caught myself checking the side mirror, half expecting her to jump in her truck and follow. That didn't happen. Or at least not right then. We headed on, but the air inside our car felt heavy. Dylan said it was nothing, but I knew better.

it took us another ten or fifteen minutes to find a place to pull off the spot wasn't ideal mud clung to our boots and we had to stomp around a bit to find a decent patch for the tent still it was level enough and we figured we'd be left alone that was the whole point right We set up a small fire, both of us trying to shake off our uneasy start.

it took us another ten or fifteen minutes to find a place to pull off the spot wasn't ideal mud clung to our boots and we had to stomp around a bit to find a decent patch for the tent still it was level enough and we figured we'd be left alone that was the whole point right We set up a small fire, both of us trying to shake off our uneasy start.

I cracked a couple jokes about wanting s'mores, hoping that normal conversation might make everything feel safer. Then a car crawled by, a rusty old sedan with a driver who slowed to stare at us. I tried not to dwell on it. Maybe he was just curious. But when the same car came back a second time, lingering even longer, my pulse pounded.

I cracked a couple jokes about wanting s'mores, hoping that normal conversation might make everything feel safer. Then a car crawled by, a rusty old sedan with a driver who slowed to stare at us. I tried not to dwell on it. Maybe he was just curious. But when the same car came back a second time, lingering even longer, my pulse pounded.

Dylan muttered something about folks trying to find dry land in this swampy mess. I nodded, but secretly I wasn't buying it. He circled back again. This time, I locked eyes with him for a split second. He didn't smile or wave, just kept his gaze fixed on us before he drove off. Dylan and I shared a look. Neither of us voiced what we were thinking. Maybe we should leave.

Dylan muttered something about folks trying to find dry land in this swampy mess. I nodded, but secretly I wasn't buying it. He circled back again. This time, I locked eyes with him for a split second. He didn't smile or wave, just kept his gaze fixed on us before he drove off. Dylan and I shared a look. Neither of us voiced what we were thinking. Maybe we should leave.

But the idea of hauling all our stuff through slippery mud only to have him follow our tracks made that plan seem pointless. Dusk arrived, bringing the kind of silence that feels unnatural.

But the idea of hauling all our stuff through slippery mud only to have him follow our tracks made that plan seem pointless. Dusk arrived, bringing the kind of silence that feels unnatural.

our tiny fire crackled in the clearing but the dark pressed in from every side we ate our hot dogs in tense silence checking the road every few minutes waiting to see headlights creeping by when nothing else happened we tried to call it a night

our tiny fire crackled in the clearing but the dark pressed in from every side we ate our hot dogs in tense silence checking the road every few minutes waiting to see headlights creeping by when nothing else happened we tried to call it a night

the moment we zipped ourselves into the tent though every rustle every snap from the fire's dying embers felt ominous i tried to calm my racing thoughts reminding myself that weird encounters happen sometimes especially far from civilization Dylan seemed tense too, tossing and turning, but we both tried to act like we were fine. Neither of us wanted to be the one to say, let's pack up right now.

the moment we zipped ourselves into the tent though every rustle every snap from the fire's dying embers felt ominous i tried to calm my racing thoughts reminding myself that weird encounters happen sometimes especially far from civilization Dylan seemed tense too, tossing and turning, but we both tried to act like we were fine. Neither of us wanted to be the one to say, let's pack up right now.