Samantha (Corrections Officer)

There's a certain calm to being by yourself in the cold. But something about that night felt off, as if the world was waiting for something to happen.

There's a certain calm to being by yourself in the cold. But something about that night felt off, as if the world was waiting for something to happen.

i started trudging through the snow aiming for the small patch of woods at the edge of the property my boots made these loud crunching sounds that seemed to echo even though i was still feeling the alcohol my senses were on high alert each snow-laden branch each flicker of moonlight seemed sharper than usual I tried to laugh off my uneasiness.

i started trudging through the snow aiming for the small patch of woods at the edge of the property my boots made these loud crunching sounds that seemed to echo even though i was still feeling the alcohol my senses were on high alert each snow-laden branch each flicker of moonlight seemed sharper than usual I tried to laugh off my uneasiness.

"'Dude,' I muttered under my breath, "'you're literally freaking yourself out.' But the quiet out there had a presence of its own, like it was pressing in on me. After a couple of minutes, I reached the tree line. Lean, bare trunks stood like dark silhouettes all around. There wasn't much undergrowth, just drifts of snow piled against roots and stumps."

"'Dude,' I muttered under my breath, "'you're literally freaking yourself out.' But the quiet out there had a presence of its own, like it was pressing in on me. After a couple of minutes, I reached the tree line. Lean, bare trunks stood like dark silhouettes all around. There wasn't much undergrowth, just drifts of snow piled against roots and stumps."

My phone flashlight barely cut through the gloom, so I mostly relied on the pale shine of the moon to guide me. Somewhere off in the distance, branches snapped, or maybe ice broke. It was hard to tell. I stopped, straining to see if anything moved. It was probably a deer or something, but I couldn't shake the feeling that someone might be out there.

My phone flashlight barely cut through the gloom, so I mostly relied on the pale shine of the moon to guide me. Somewhere off in the distance, branches snapped, or maybe ice broke. It was hard to tell. I stopped, straining to see if anything moved. It was probably a deer or something, but I couldn't shake the feeling that someone might be out there.

I held still for a few seconds, waiting for another sound, but everything went back to being hushed. Part of me wanted to sprint like a maniac till I got home, but I tried to keep it together. I forced myself to keep walking at a normal pace, even though the adrenaline in my system begged me to hurry. My breath was ragged, sending faint clouds of vapor swirling in front of me.

I held still for a few seconds, waiting for another sound, but everything went back to being hushed. Part of me wanted to sprint like a maniac till I got home, but I tried to keep it together. I forced myself to keep walking at a normal pace, even though the adrenaline in my system begged me to hurry. My breath was ragged, sending faint clouds of vapor swirling in front of me.

Eventually the trees thinned, revealing open land. My cousin's place sat a little past that stretch, warm lights probably shining through the windows, though from where I stood, I couldn't see them yet. For a moment I felt some relief. Just a straightforward snowy field, then home. No big deal, right? I paused and let myself take it in, like I could breathe easier in that open space.

Eventually the trees thinned, revealing open land. My cousin's place sat a little past that stretch, warm lights probably shining through the windows, though from where I stood, I couldn't see them yet. For a moment I felt some relief. Just a straightforward snowy field, then home. No big deal, right? I paused and let myself take it in, like I could breathe easier in that open space.

The moon was bright enough to throw silver edges on everything, and the snow seemed to glow. But that same brightness also left me completely exposed. No shrubs or fences to hide behind if I needed to.

The moon was bright enough to throw silver edges on everything, and the snow seemed to glow. But that same brightness also left me completely exposed. No shrubs or fences to hide behind if I needed to.

i found myself glancing behind me more often than i'd like to admit scoping out every dark shape in the trees nothing moved yet my nerves were jacked up you'll be fine i muttered trying to sound like i believed it just walk and so i did i shifted my bag on my shoulder dug my hands deeper into my coat pockets and stepped out of the tree line into the yard of white

i found myself glancing behind me more often than i'd like to admit scoping out every dark shape in the trees nothing moved yet my nerves were jacked up you'll be fine i muttered trying to sound like i believed it just walk and so i did i shifted my bag on my shoulder dug my hands deeper into my coat pockets and stepped out of the tree line into the yard of white

Each footstep broke the surface of the snow and made a soft crunch that somehow echoed. The kind of sound you can't hide, even if you tried. I couldn't help thinking that if anyone was lurking around, they'd have no problem zeroing in on me. As I made my way across that field, the wind shifted, whistling across the open space. Little gusts of snow blew sideways, nipping at my face.

Each footstep broke the surface of the snow and made a soft crunch that somehow echoed. The kind of sound you can't hide, even if you tried. I couldn't help thinking that if anyone was lurking around, they'd have no problem zeroing in on me. As I made my way across that field, the wind shifted, whistling across the open space. Little gusts of snow blew sideways, nipping at my face.

I quickened my steps, determined to reach my cousin's home sooner than later. I wanted to believe I was overreacting, that it was just the booze, the darkness, and the rural quiet messing with my head. Yet something at the back of my mind kept bugging me, like a little alarm that refused to shut off. I tried focusing on how great it would be once I got inside.

I quickened my steps, determined to reach my cousin's home sooner than later. I wanted to believe I was overreacting, that it was just the booze, the darkness, and the rural quiet messing with my head. Yet something at the back of my mind kept bugging me, like a little alarm that refused to shut off. I tried focusing on how great it would be once I got inside.