Samantha (Corrections Officer)

My pulse hammered as the flashlight beams caught slivers of torn fabric and what looked like fur along its neck. The antlers, jagged, decaying in places, stretched above the creature's head. It towered in silence, and the part of me that had been trying to forget the earlier encounter shattered in an instant.

My pulse hammered as the flashlight beams caught slivers of torn fabric and what looked like fur along its neck. The antlers, jagged, decaying in places, stretched above the creature's head. It towered in silence, and the part of me that had been trying to forget the earlier encounter shattered in an instant.

there was no mistaking the slender twisted limbs or the elongated snout of a moose-like face its eyes reflected the flashlight glow forming two pinpoints of malevolence all of us froze not a single joke not a single breath wasted the cousin in the bush turned around and a split second passed before he realized what loomed just behind him

there was no mistaking the slender twisted limbs or the elongated snout of a moose-like face its eyes reflected the flashlight glow forming two pinpoints of malevolence all of us froze not a single joke not a single breath wasted the cousin in the bush turned around and a split second passed before he realized what loomed just behind him

His face contorted into horror, and he scrambled out so fast he nearly collided with two others. The entire group screamed at once. Someone dropped their flashlight. I stumbled in the rush to get back toward the house. Every instinct hollered that the creature could yank one of us off our feet at any moment. Footsteps pounded across the lawn, breath ragged, hearts hammering like frantic drums.

His face contorted into horror, and he scrambled out so fast he nearly collided with two others. The entire group screamed at once. Someone dropped their flashlight. I stumbled in the rush to get back toward the house. Every instinct hollered that the creature could yank one of us off our feet at any moment. Footsteps pounded across the lawn, breath ragged, hearts hammering like frantic drums.

We crashed through the back door in a jumbled swarm, shrieking for the adults. Aunt Sandy nearly dropped the stack of dishes she was washing when she saw us all sweaty, shaking and yelling about something in the yard. The rest of the family quickly gathered. At first they were skeptical. Some asked if we were pulling a prank, but the collective panic changed their minds.

We crashed through the back door in a jumbled swarm, shrieking for the adults. Aunt Sandy nearly dropped the stack of dishes she was washing when she saw us all sweaty, shaking and yelling about something in the yard. The rest of the family quickly gathered. At first they were skeptical. Some asked if we were pulling a prank, but the collective panic changed their minds.

We all babbled over each other, describing the antlers, the face, the towering silhouette. That was when I realized nobody was laughing anymore. a hush fell heavy with dread as if acknowledging something beyond our comprehension had taken root in these woods the house suddenly felt too small windows too large the backyard a yawning black hole ready to devour any of us who ventured out again

We all babbled over each other, describing the antlers, the face, the towering silhouette. That was when I realized nobody was laughing anymore. a hush fell heavy with dread as if acknowledging something beyond our comprehension had taken root in these woods the house suddenly felt too small windows too large the backyard a yawning black hole ready to devour any of us who ventured out again

A few uncles locked the doors and flipped off lights to reduce visibility from outside. Grandma stood in the corner, her eyes shut like she was recalling stories she'd heard long ago. Maybe warnings from the same people who once lived on this land. I retreated to the living room with Sam, pressing myself to the wall beneath those old masks.

A few uncles locked the doors and flipped off lights to reduce visibility from outside. Grandma stood in the corner, her eyes shut like she was recalling stories she'd heard long ago. Maybe warnings from the same people who once lived on this land. I retreated to the living room with Sam, pressing myself to the wall beneath those old masks.

The hum of shaken voices and muffled sobs filled the house. It was the first time we'd ever considered not being safe in Grandma's home. Part of me wanted to believe it was a nightmare, but I couldn't deny the memory of those hollow eyes scanning us under the flashlight's glare. We were no longer just telling ghost stories.

The hum of shaken voices and muffled sobs filled the house. It was the first time we'd ever considered not being safe in Grandma's home. Part of me wanted to believe it was a nightmare, but I couldn't deny the memory of those hollow eyes scanning us under the flashlight's glare. We were no longer just telling ghost stories.

We were living one, and outside something monstrous knew exactly who we were. I remember the headlights cutting across the sand like twin blades slicing through the dark. My friends and I had gathered under the stars at our usual spot, a desert trailhead just outside El Paso. It was late, but we'd done this so many times that none of us were phased by the hour.

We were living one, and outside something monstrous knew exactly who we were. I remember the headlights cutting across the sand like twin blades slicing through the dark. My friends and I had gathered under the stars at our usual spot, a desert trailhead just outside El Paso. It was late, but we'd done this so many times that none of us were phased by the hour.

We joked about who'd eat dust on the first big dune and swapped stories of past rides while the wind rattled the truck doors. The desert air seemed to hum with energy, enough to stoke our excitement for the ride ahead. We were just about to set off when a lone four-wheeler appeared in the distance. At first I could barely make out the shape, just a hazy glow bobbing over uneven ground.

We joked about who'd eat dust on the first big dune and swapped stories of past rides while the wind rattled the truck doors. The desert air seemed to hum with energy, enough to stoke our excitement for the ride ahead. We were just about to set off when a lone four-wheeler appeared in the distance. At first I could barely make out the shape, just a hazy glow bobbing over uneven ground.

As it approached, the figure on the ATV offered a quick nod, more of a gesture than a greeting. His gear looked battered by the elements and a layer of grime covered his bike. No introductions came. He didn't ask where we were headed, didn't say much of anything. He just lingered near our group, helmet visor down, waiting. I glanced around at my buddies. We were all thinking the same thing.

As it approached, the figure on the ATV offered a quick nod, more of a gesture than a greeting. His gear looked battered by the elements and a layer of grime covered his bike. No introductions came. He didn't ask where we were headed, didn't say much of anything. He just lingered near our group, helmet visor down, waiting. I glanced around at my buddies. We were all thinking the same thing.