Samantha (Corrections Officer)

Maybe I'd make some hot chocolate, wrap myself in a blanket, and watch dumb videos until I passed out. Almost there, just a few more yards and I'd be in sight of the back porch. But as I drew closer to the far edge of that field, my pulse picked up for reasons I couldn't explain. That sense of being utterly alone, yet not alone at all, washed over me again. Like the night itself was watching.

Maybe I'd make some hot chocolate, wrap myself in a blanket, and watch dumb videos until I passed out. Almost there, just a few more yards and I'd be in sight of the back porch. But as I drew closer to the far edge of that field, my pulse picked up for reasons I couldn't explain. That sense of being utterly alone, yet not alone at all, washed over me again. Like the night itself was watching.

I told myself not to look back at the woods, not to imagine silhouettes standing there. Just keep moving, keep breathing, keep going. Little did I know this was only the start of a far more disturbing walk than I'd ever signed up for. I'd made it maybe halfway across that moonlit field, when something at my left caught my attention, way off at about my ten o'clock.

I told myself not to look back at the woods, not to imagine silhouettes standing there. Just keep moving, keep breathing, keep going. Little did I know this was only the start of a far more disturbing walk than I'd ever signed up for. I'd made it maybe halfway across that moonlit field, when something at my left caught my attention, way off at about my ten o'clock.

At first, I thought it was just a trick of the light, or my buzz playing tricks on me, but there was definitely a figure out there. My body jerked to a stop, like I'd stumbled into an invisible wall. Whoever it was had paused too, almost mirroring my reaction. The distance between us was probably 70, maybe 80 yards, yet I could tell they were tall and dressed in dark clothing.

At first, I thought it was just a trick of the light, or my buzz playing tricks on me, but there was definitely a figure out there. My body jerked to a stop, like I'd stumbled into an invisible wall. Whoever it was had paused too, almost mirroring my reaction. The distance between us was probably 70, maybe 80 yards, yet I could tell they were tall and dressed in dark clothing.

And something about the shape of their face, no, not their face, more like the lack of one, made me realize they had a ski mask on. My brain tried to rationalize it.

And something about the shape of their face, no, not their face, more like the lack of one, made me realize they had a ski mask on. My brain tried to rationalize it.

some random night hiker a farm hand checking on livestock at this ungodly hour except there were no farms this close and nobody i knew would be wandering around a field alone at three in the morning with their face fully covered my heart thrummed hard enough to make me feel light-headed He just stood there, staring right at me. Or at least, that's what it looked like.

some random night hiker a farm hand checking on livestock at this ungodly hour except there were no farms this close and nobody i knew would be wandering around a field alone at three in the morning with their face fully covered my heart thrummed hard enough to make me feel light-headed He just stood there, staring right at me. Or at least, that's what it looked like.

With the mask, I had no way of knowing for sure, couldn't see any hint of an expression. The utter lack of response locked me in a weird state of disbelief. Was he about to say something? Was he sizing me up? The wind stirred another gust of snow between us, momentarily obscuring his figure. My stomach lurched in panic.

With the mask, I had no way of knowing for sure, couldn't see any hint of an expression. The utter lack of response locked me in a weird state of disbelief. Was he about to say something? Was he sizing me up? The wind stirred another gust of snow between us, momentarily obscuring his figure. My stomach lurched in panic.

When the flurry cleared, I could still see him, exactly where he'd been, like a statue.

When the flurry cleared, I could still see him, exactly where he'd been, like a statue.

i started to realize in a very real sense i might be in trouble every instinct was screaming that something was terribly off my little wave felt ridiculous now i considered calling out asking if he needed help or directions but my throat was too tight to form words a searing cold sweat broke out across my body any lingering effects of the booze vanished in a snap replaced by a jolt of adrenaline the silence felt heavier than ever

i started to realize in a very real sense i might be in trouble every instinct was screaming that something was terribly off my little wave felt ridiculous now i considered calling out asking if he needed help or directions but my throat was too tight to form words a searing cold sweat broke out across my body any lingering effects of the booze vanished in a snap replaced by a jolt of adrenaline the silence felt heavier than ever

i heard the wind and the crunch of snow under my boots but no sound from him finally common sense told me to move so i did i turned away and aimed myself toward the house forcing my legs to pump as fast as the slippery ground would let me each step felt like a risk like i was giving him an opportunity to rush me if he wanted

i heard the wind and the crunch of snow under my boots but no sound from him finally common sense told me to move so i did i turned away and aimed myself toward the house forcing my legs to pump as fast as the slippery ground would let me each step felt like a risk like i was giving him an opportunity to rush me if he wanted

If I'd had the nerve, I might have thrown a glance over my shoulder, but fear told me that was a horrible idea. In my head I pictured him lurching forward the instant I looked back, lunging through drifts of snow with unnatural speed. It was enough to keep me going in a half-run, half-stumble.

If I'd had the nerve, I might have thrown a glance over my shoulder, but fear told me that was a horrible idea. In my head I pictured him lurching forward the instant I looked back, lunging through drifts of snow with unnatural speed. It was enough to keep me going in a half-run, half-stumble.