Samantha (Corrections Officer)

It was quick, gone almost before I registered it. Could have been a bear, maybe a large deer that was spooked by my presence. Except the movement felt off. Swift and upright in a way most forest animals aren't. I fought the urge to call out, telling myself it was a bad idea. No need to announce my presence to something I wasn't prepared to deal with. My main concern was Yuri.

It was quick, gone almost before I registered it. Could have been a bear, maybe a large deer that was spooked by my presence. Except the movement felt off. Swift and upright in a way most forest animals aren't. I fought the urge to call out, telling myself it was a bad idea. No need to announce my presence to something I wasn't prepared to deal with. My main concern was Yuri.

If whatever that was decided to come closer, I didn't want her dashing into the trees after it. Edging the car forward again, I noticed the air had this stale heaviness to it, like the forest was holding its breath.

If whatever that was decided to come closer, I didn't want her dashing into the trees after it. Edging the car forward again, I noticed the air had this stale heaviness to it, like the forest was holding its breath.

i made a point of checking my phone hoping for even a single bar of reception but the screen just showed no service typical for these backcountry areas but that helpless feeling of isolation only amplified the sense of being cornered by unseen watchers The next turn opened onto a narrow plateau, a clearing with a partial view of the valley below.

i made a point of checking my phone hoping for even a single bar of reception but the screen just showed no service typical for these backcountry areas but that helpless feeling of isolation only amplified the sense of being cornered by unseen watchers The next turn opened onto a narrow plateau, a clearing with a partial view of the valley below.

It looked like an ideal spot to set up camp if anyone were insane enough to do so in these conditions. I parked and tried to see if there were footprints or any sign that other people had been around. That's when I discovered a pile of bones off to one side, half hidden under a tangle of branches. They appeared bleached, stripped of flesh, and left in a disturbingly neat stack."

It looked like an ideal spot to set up camp if anyone were insane enough to do so in these conditions. I parked and tried to see if there were footprints or any sign that other people had been around. That's when I discovered a pile of bones off to one side, half hidden under a tangle of branches. They appeared bleached, stripped of flesh, and left in a disturbingly neat stack."

I could make out a small skull, likely a deer. The weirdest part was how deliberate it looked, like it was placed rather than left by scavengers. I backed away, feeling a surge of dread. Yuri must have sensed it because she started pacing in and out of the car, muzzle low, tail rigid.

I could make out a small skull, likely a deer. The weirdest part was how deliberate it looked, like it was placed rather than left by scavengers. I backed away, feeling a surge of dread. Yuri must have sensed it because she started pacing in and out of the car, muzzle low, tail rigid.

In that moment, it felt like the entire forest was a trap that I'd driven right back into something that didn't want me there. Suddenly, I heard voices. This time they were clearer. At least two men, maybe three, arguing in hushed tones that rose and fell too quickly for me to catch their words. My heart was practically thudding out of my chest as I tried to locate the source.

In that moment, it felt like the entire forest was a trap that I'd driven right back into something that didn't want me there. Suddenly, I heard voices. This time they were clearer. At least two men, maybe three, arguing in hushed tones that rose and fell too quickly for me to catch their words. My heart was practically thudding out of my chest as I tried to locate the source.

It sounded so close, but there was nobody visible in the clearing. Just those bizarre bones, the thick tree line, and the breeze that had begun stirring the branches ever so slightly.

It sounded so close, but there was nobody visible in the clearing. Just those bizarre bones, the thick tree line, and the breeze that had begun stirring the branches ever so slightly.

i climbed halfway back into the driver's seat door still open trying to decide whether to shout a greeting before i could work up the courage the voices cut off as if someone had flipped a switch that abrupt silence had me trembling no normal conversation ends that abruptly especially in the middle of an argument It felt like they'd noticed me.

i climbed halfway back into the driver's seat door still open trying to decide whether to shout a greeting before i could work up the courage the voices cut off as if someone had flipped a switch that abrupt silence had me trembling no normal conversation ends that abruptly especially in the middle of an argument It felt like they'd noticed me.

A shape flashed between two tall pines at the edge of the clearing. For a moment, I saw a pale face, or maybe just the suggestion of one, peering from behind the bark. It vanished the second my gaze landed on it. My breath caught in my throat. Yuri fixed her stare on the same spot, emitting a guttural snarl that I'd never heard from her before. It was enough.

A shape flashed between two tall pines at the edge of the clearing. For a moment, I saw a pale face, or maybe just the suggestion of one, peering from behind the bark. It vanished the second my gaze landed on it. My breath caught in my throat. Yuri fixed her stare on the same spot, emitting a guttural snarl that I'd never heard from her before. It was enough.

i jumped into the car slammed the door and gripped the wheel tight my tires spun in the loose dirt as i whipped around practically fishtailing as i aimed back the way i came i didn't even bother with the brake at the washboard turns which made the descent feel reckless and dangerous but I had to get out of there. The forest itself felt hostile, like it was compressing, funneling me out.

i jumped into the car slammed the door and gripped the wheel tight my tires spun in the loose dirt as i whipped around practically fishtailing as i aimed back the way i came i didn't even bother with the brake at the washboard turns which made the descent feel reckless and dangerous but I had to get out of there. The forest itself felt hostile, like it was compressing, funneling me out.