Samantha (Corrections Officer)

I wanted to show I was brave, that I could handle remote camping, but some intangible danger clung to these woods. I turned the car around as quickly as I could, feeling a mixture of relief and disappointment in myself. The voices went quiet again, the oppressive hush settling over the forest like a cloak. Yet I swore I could feel unseen eyes tracking my departure.

I wanted to show I was brave, that I could handle remote camping, but some intangible danger clung to these woods. I turned the car around as quickly as I could, feeling a mixture of relief and disappointment in myself. The voices went quiet again, the oppressive hush settling over the forest like a cloak. Yet I swore I could feel unseen eyes tracking my departure.

Nerves buzzing, I maneuvered back down the mountain at a careful but urgent pace. Part of me hated feeling spooked, but every mile away from that eerie stretch of forest lifted a weight off my chest. Even if I ended up second-guessing my decision later, I knew I was making the safer call for me and my dog.

Nerves buzzing, I maneuvered back down the mountain at a careful but urgent pace. Part of me hated feeling spooked, but every mile away from that eerie stretch of forest lifted a weight off my chest. Even if I ended up second-guessing my decision later, I knew I was making the safer call for me and my dog.

I wasn't sure what, if anything, was hidden up there beyond the twisting trees, but the leftover tension told me it was nothing good. I came back down that mountain road with Yuri at my side, but even as we were leaving, I couldn't shake the nagging sense that I should have stuck around to investigate more.

I wasn't sure what, if anything, was hidden up there beyond the twisting trees, but the leftover tension told me it was nothing good. I came back down that mountain road with Yuri at my side, but even as we were leaving, I couldn't shake the nagging sense that I should have stuck around to investigate more.

Part of me felt like a coward, like maybe I was turning my back on something I needed to understand. In the end, my curiosity got the best of me. I checked into a cheap motel for the night, slept fitfully, then made a rash decision at first light. I'd head back up there. I told myself I'd just do a quick scouting trip, figure out what had me so rattled, then leave for good.

Part of me felt like a coward, like maybe I was turning my back on something I needed to understand. In the end, my curiosity got the best of me. I checked into a cheap motel for the night, slept fitfully, then made a rash decision at first light. I'd head back up there. I told myself I'd just do a quick scouting trip, figure out what had me so rattled, then leave for good.

The next morning, I followed the same winding road, my stomach knotted up every time I recognized a stretch of it from the previous day. Yuri stayed quiet in the passenger seat this time, her eyes fixed on the passing scenery. She'd occasionally sniff at the air in short bursts, as though trying to pick up a scent I couldn't detect. We covered the same ground in about half the time.

The next morning, I followed the same winding road, my stomach knotted up every time I recognized a stretch of it from the previous day. Yuri stayed quiet in the passenger seat this time, her eyes fixed on the passing scenery. She'd occasionally sniff at the air in short bursts, as though trying to pick up a scent I couldn't detect. We covered the same ground in about half the time.

I seemed more determined, more prepared for what I'd find. When I pulled onto that first clearing, I noticed the broken glass and the little squirrel carcass were still there, untouched. The forest floor looked about the same, still covered in thick layers of debris and pine needles. There was no wind, no rustle of wildlife, nothing.

I seemed more determined, more prepared for what I'd find. When I pulled onto that first clearing, I noticed the broken glass and the little squirrel carcass were still there, untouched. The forest floor looked about the same, still covered in thick layers of debris and pine needles. There was no wind, no rustle of wildlife, nothing.

That distinct hush pressed in on me, and once again, it made the place feel vaguely guarded. Like it had secrets it wasn't in a hurry to share. As I moved deeper along the dirt track, I spotted more dead animals, birds, smaller rodents, just like before. This time, though, I dared to stop and inspect one.

That distinct hush pressed in on me, and once again, it made the place feel vaguely guarded. Like it had secrets it wasn't in a hurry to share. As I moved deeper along the dirt track, I spotted more dead animals, birds, smaller rodents, just like before. This time, though, I dared to stop and inspect one.

It was a small rabbit, its fur matted and its body strangely intact, no sign of predation or typical scavenging. It creeped me out to the point that I practically sprinted back to the car. Yuri whined as I slid into the driver's seat, and I caught myself mumbling that I was okay, even though my hands were shaking.

It was a small rabbit, its fur matted and its body strangely intact, no sign of predation or typical scavenging. It creeped me out to the point that I practically sprinted back to the car. Yuri whined as I slid into the driver's seat, and I caught myself mumbling that I was okay, even though my hands were shaking.

Farther up, the road curled around a thick stand of trees, branches so dense that sunlight barely reached the ground. I slowed almost to a crawl, scanning the woods on both sides. The voices I'd heard the day before were nowhere to be found, just a crackling silence. Yet the more I advanced, the more certain I became that something was lurking in those shadows.

Farther up, the road curled around a thick stand of trees, branches so dense that sunlight barely reached the ground. I slowed almost to a crawl, scanning the woods on both sides. The voices I'd heard the day before were nowhere to be found, just a crackling silence. Yet the more I advanced, the more certain I became that something was lurking in those shadows.

following me in that subtle, menacing way you sense before you actually see it. Yuri perked up and started a low, throaty sound. Not a full growl, but more like a warning. My pulse jumped. I didn't see anything at first, but then came a flicker of movement. Through the cluster of trunks, I made out what looked like a hunched shape skirting behind a fallen log.

following me in that subtle, menacing way you sense before you actually see it. Yuri perked up and started a low, throaty sound. Not a full growl, but more like a warning. My pulse jumped. I didn't see anything at first, but then came a flicker of movement. Through the cluster of trunks, I made out what looked like a hunched shape skirting behind a fallen log.