Samantha (Corrections Officer)

My flashlight was useless beyond a few steps, which meant the dune area was a black void. I found myself leaning forward, straining to see any outline or shape that could explain the racket. My eyes played tricks on me, forming faint silhouettes that vanished as soon as I focused. The turtle I'd been waiting for wasn't coming back, not with that disturbance in the background.

My flashlight was useless beyond a few steps, which meant the dune area was a black void. I found myself leaning forward, straining to see any outline or shape that could explain the racket. My eyes played tricks on me, forming faint silhouettes that vanished as soon as I focused. The turtle I'd been waiting for wasn't coming back, not with that disturbance in the background.

so I decided to move farther down the beach in hopes of finding another spot. That's my usual move in these situations. If something spooks the wildlife, just relocate. But each time I walked a few steps I heard more rustling, like I had a shadow in the dunes mirroring my every motion.

so I decided to move farther down the beach in hopes of finding another spot. That's my usual move in these situations. If something spooks the wildlife, just relocate. But each time I walked a few steps I heard more rustling, like I had a shadow in the dunes mirroring my every motion.

I glanced back, scanning with my tiny beam of light, but it felt like the darkness devoured everything outside arm's reach. My nerves were on high alert. With each passing second, it became harder to ignore the tiny pricks of anxiety needling at my chest. The sky was impossible to read. Clouds layered over each other, creating a gloom so thick you could almost taste it.

I glanced back, scanning with my tiny beam of light, but it felt like the darkness devoured everything outside arm's reach. My nerves were on high alert. With each passing second, it became harder to ignore the tiny pricks of anxiety needling at my chest. The sky was impossible to read. Clouds layered over each other, creating a gloom so thick you could almost taste it.

The smell of wet seaweed clung to the air, and the breeze had picked up just enough to carry a low whisper across the sand.

The smell of wet seaweed clung to the air, and the breeze had picked up just enough to carry a low whisper across the sand.

i kept telling myself it was just the wind just the normal hum of a deserted beach but that persistent rustle said otherwise i needed a plan my vehicle was parked in the direction of the noise figures right staying put wasn't an option i still had work to do and no turtle to watch here

i kept telling myself it was just the wind just the normal hum of a deserted beach but that persistent rustle said otherwise i needed a plan my vehicle was parked in the direction of the noise figures right staying put wasn't an option i still had work to do and no turtle to watch here

I exhaled slowly, steeled my nerves, and decided to walk farther down to see if the unsettling presence would leave. Part of me hoped whatever was out there would get bored and slip away before I had to make my return trip. But the night had other ideas, and I was about to find out just how unnerving total darkness can be when you're not quite alone.

I exhaled slowly, steeled my nerves, and decided to walk farther down to see if the unsettling presence would leave. Part of me hoped whatever was out there would get bored and slip away before I had to make my return trip. But the night had other ideas, and I was about to find out just how unnerving total darkness can be when you're not quite alone.

i couldn't just hide out on the far end of the beach all night so eventually i worked up the nerve to head back my gut was telling me i'd have to pass that shadowy dune area again and i really didn't want to but the alternative was staying in that lonely stretch of sand until sunrise and even that felt riskier the more i thought about it

i couldn't just hide out on the far end of the beach all night so eventually i worked up the nerve to head back my gut was telling me i'd have to pass that shadowy dune area again and i really didn't want to but the alternative was staying in that lonely stretch of sand until sunrise and even that felt riskier the more i thought about it

the thought of crossing paths with whatever or whoever was out there made me uneasy yet i had to make a choice as i started my trek the wind decided to pick up each gust blasted me with a damp chill ruffling my jacket and drowning out the usual gentle rhythm of the waves

the thought of crossing paths with whatever or whoever was out there made me uneasy yet i had to make a choice as i started my trek the wind decided to pick up each gust blasted me with a damp chill ruffling my jacket and drowning out the usual gentle rhythm of the waves

it sounded like an entire orchestra of whispers blowing through the dunes i tried to keep my pace steady but with the wind in my ears every shift in the dark felt amplified my flashlight was on its last legs barely pushing through the darkness i kept shining it ahead hoping i wouldn't stumble across anything worse than a tangle of seaweed

it sounded like an entire orchestra of whispers blowing through the dunes i tried to keep my pace steady but with the wind in my ears every shift in the dark felt amplified my flashlight was on its last legs barely pushing through the darkness i kept shining it ahead hoping i wouldn't stumble across anything worse than a tangle of seaweed

I was maybe halfway back when I heard something more than just rustling. There was an outright shout in the distance. The voice sounded slurred, distorted by the gusts. My feet paused for a split second. The impulse to run the other way was overwhelming. But my vehicle was past that dune area, and I was determined to reach it.

I was maybe halfway back when I heard something more than just rustling. There was an outright shout in the distance. The voice sounded slurred, distorted by the gusts. My feet paused for a split second. The impulse to run the other way was overwhelming. But my vehicle was past that dune area, and I was determined to reach it.