Samantha (Corrections Officer)

No one believed the garbled story Sam and I tried to spill about a moose-faced figure and a bizarre clearing that tried to trap us. At that moment, I almost wished I could block it all out too. But as the sun sank lower, my mind refused to let go of the image of that tall, ragged shape. It was somewhere out there, in those depths of the forest, and I was certain it remembered us.

No one believed the garbled story Sam and I tried to spill about a moose-faced figure and a bizarre clearing that tried to trap us. At that moment, I almost wished I could block it all out too. But as the sun sank lower, my mind refused to let go of the image of that tall, ragged shape. It was somewhere out there, in those depths of the forest, and I was certain it remembered us.

dinner that evening was supposed to be the high point of our holiday everyone crammed around grandma's table swapping stories and passing turkey like it was a relay race but i couldn't focus on anything except what i had witnessed a few hours earlier with sam

dinner that evening was supposed to be the high point of our holiday everyone crammed around grandma's table swapping stories and passing turkey like it was a relay race but i couldn't focus on anything except what i had witnessed a few hours earlier with sam

While everyone else bantered about football or joked about old family tales, my thoughts kept wandering to the figure with the moose-like head lurking out there in the darkening woods. The swirl of voices and the glow of candles couldn't blot out that creeping sense of unease. I glanced at Sam. He was barely touching his food.

While everyone else bantered about football or joked about old family tales, my thoughts kept wandering to the figure with the moose-like head lurking out there in the darkening woods. The swirl of voices and the glow of candles couldn't blot out that creeping sense of unease. I glanced at Sam. He was barely touching his food.

Every now and then he'd dart his eyes toward the window, as if expecting a tall silhouette to slip past. The grown-ups shot us odd looks for being so quiet.

Every now and then he'd dart his eyes toward the window, as if expecting a tall silhouette to slip past. The grown-ups shot us odd looks for being so quiet.

i knew they chalked it up to silly childhood fears some rumored ghost story or a product of too much imagination but i noticed a few uneasy glances at the walls where grandma's native masks seemed to watch us their carved eyes lit by flickering candlelight if they had known what we actually saw out there maybe they'd have believed us or maybe it was easier to pretend nothing was wrong

i knew they chalked it up to silly childhood fears some rumored ghost story or a product of too much imagination but i noticed a few uneasy glances at the walls where grandma's native masks seemed to watch us their carved eyes lit by flickering candlelight if they had known what we actually saw out there maybe they'd have believed us or maybe it was easier to pretend nothing was wrong

After dessert, some of the older cousins suggested a round of manhunt to break the tedium. Normally, the idea of running around at night, flashlights dancing in the dark, brought a spark of excitement. This time my stomach twisted. Still, it seemed safer to be with a big group than wandering alone.

After dessert, some of the older cousins suggested a round of manhunt to break the tedium. Normally, the idea of running around at night, flashlights dancing in the dark, brought a spark of excitement. This time my stomach twisted. Still, it seemed safer to be with a big group than wandering alone.

I figured I'd stick close to everyone else, and not stray more than a few yards from the back porch. The cousins burst outside in a flurry of jackets and laughter. The yard sat under a thick canopy of stars, and the line of trees loomed like a fortress. Aunt Sandy switched on a big floodlight near the tool shed, which cast just enough glow for us to see the game's boundary.

I figured I'd stick close to everyone else, and not stray more than a few yards from the back porch. The cousins burst outside in a flurry of jackets and laughter. The yard sat under a thick canopy of stars, and the line of trees loomed like a fortress. Aunt Sandy switched on a big floodlight near the tool shed, which cast just enough glow for us to see the game's boundary.

At first it felt almost normal, people sprinting between tree trunks, calling out in mock bravado. I teamed up with Sam, and we prowled the perimeter with flashlights. Leaves rustled as some cousins snuck by, trying to avoid being tagged. Occasionally, we found ourselves scanning the darkness, searching for a shape that didn't belong.

At first it felt almost normal, people sprinting between tree trunks, calling out in mock bravado. I teamed up with Sam, and we prowled the perimeter with flashlights. Leaves rustled as some cousins snuck by, trying to avoid being tagged. Occasionally, we found ourselves scanning the darkness, searching for a shape that didn't belong.

Each time, a cousin would pop up instead, shrieking or laughing, which felt like relief and disappointment at the same time. Deep down, I worried I'd spot an antlered silhouette among the branches. We were about to give up on the last hidden cousin when someone shouted from across the yard, ''Over here!'' We rushed toward the sound, flashlights bobbing.

Each time, a cousin would pop up instead, shrieking or laughing, which felt like relief and disappointment at the same time. Deep down, I worried I'd spot an antlered silhouette among the branches. We were about to give up on the last hidden cousin when someone shouted from across the yard, ''Over here!'' We rushed toward the sound, flashlights bobbing.

A group of us converged on a dense cluster of bushes close to the trees. The beams swept over leaves, revealing a crouched figure, that missing cousin, trying not to breathe too loud. But behind him stood something else, a shape so tall it nearly blended with the shadows of the branches overhead.

A group of us converged on a dense cluster of bushes close to the trees. The beams swept over leaves, revealing a crouched figure, that missing cousin, trying not to breathe too loud. But behind him stood something else, a shape so tall it nearly blended with the shadows of the branches overhead.