Samantha (Corrections Officer)

This beach is vast and dark. Anything or anyone could be lurking here after midnight. I turned the key in the ignition, thinking about how easily a routine turtle patrol turned into a nightmare scenario. I didn't stick around to find out if that man would wake up and start yelling again.

This beach is vast and dark. Anything or anyone could be lurking here after midnight. I turned the key in the ignition, thinking about how easily a routine turtle patrol turned into a nightmare scenario. I didn't stick around to find out if that man would wake up and start yelling again.

As I pulled away, the headlights briefly illuminated his splayed form, the empty cans glinting in the sand like a twisted trail of breadcrumbs leading back into the dunes.

As I pulled away, the headlights briefly illuminated his splayed form, the empty cans glinting in the sand like a twisted trail of breadcrumbs leading back into the dunes.

that was all i needed to see i left the beach that night with my mind churning over just how close darkness can bring you to the edge of your own fears and driving home i promised myself never again to underestimate how eerie isolation can get when you're out there alone I've been hiking this lonely stretch of Pennsylvania Trail for years.

that was all i needed to see i left the beach that night with my mind churning over just how close darkness can bring you to the edge of your own fears and driving home i promised myself never again to underestimate how eerie isolation can get when you're out there alone I've been hiking this lonely stretch of Pennsylvania Trail for years.

The solitude always felt comforting, like the woods were my own private escape from the noise of everyday life. There's this cabin though, smack dab where you'd least expect it, straight off the trail, about four or five miles from the nearest main road. Normally it's boarded up tight. but I still can't resist peeking inside every time I pass.

The solitude always felt comforting, like the woods were my own private escape from the noise of everyday life. There's this cabin though, smack dab where you'd least expect it, straight off the trail, about four or five miles from the nearest main road. Normally it's boarded up tight. but I still can't resist peeking inside every time I pass.

I'd see dusty furniture, a table with old newspapers, maybe a pair of boots in the corner. Nothing ever stirred inside. One afternoon, I was by myself and decided to tackle my favorite route. After hours on my feet, I rounded a bend and noticed smoke curling above the treetops. My initial thought was that somebody might be doing some controlled burn or cooking s'mores with friends.

I'd see dusty furniture, a table with old newspapers, maybe a pair of boots in the corner. Nothing ever stirred inside. One afternoon, I was by myself and decided to tackle my favorite route. After hours on my feet, I rounded a bend and noticed smoke curling above the treetops. My initial thought was that somebody might be doing some controlled burn or cooking s'mores with friends.

But as I crept closer, I spotted that rickety cabin and a figure standing out front. Not exactly the neighborly camper I'd pictured. This guy was tall, wide-shouldered, wearing a grimy shirt with stains down the front. A handful of beer cans littered the ground around his grill, and there was a haze of smoke mixing with the evening air.

But as I crept closer, I spotted that rickety cabin and a figure standing out front. Not exactly the neighborly camper I'd pictured. This guy was tall, wide-shouldered, wearing a grimy shirt with stains down the front. A handful of beer cans littered the ground around his grill, and there was a haze of smoke mixing with the evening air.

He glanced up and I sort of froze in place, not sure what to say or do. I mean, you don't expect to see many folks way out here, let alone someone hosting their own backyard barbecue. He raised an eyebrow and grunted something like, "'No food here, buddy,' as if I'd come begging for scraps. The whole thing felt awkward, but I gave a quick nod and hurried on.

He glanced up and I sort of froze in place, not sure what to say or do. I mean, you don't expect to see many folks way out here, let alone someone hosting their own backyard barbecue. He raised an eyebrow and grunted something like, "'No food here, buddy,' as if I'd come begging for scraps. The whole thing felt awkward, but I gave a quick nod and hurried on.

I caught him still watching me from the corner of his eye, like he was sizing me up. That night, back in my tent, my thoughts wandered to that porch scene. His attitude was weird, not exactly menacing, but definitely off-putting."

I caught him still watching me from the corner of his eye, like he was sizing me up. That night, back in my tent, my thoughts wandered to that porch scene. His attitude was weird, not exactly menacing, but definitely off-putting."

when i continued my trip i tried to chalk it up to a random encounter with a guy who wanted some seclusion still i remember feeling restless my ears on alert for the crunch of footsteps that never came time passed and i more or less forgot about him then the next summer rolled around and i decided to bring my sister my wife and her best friend on a camping excursion

when i continued my trip i tried to chalk it up to a random encounter with a guy who wanted some seclusion still i remember feeling restless my ears on alert for the crunch of footsteps that never came time passed and i more or less forgot about him then the next summer rolled around and i decided to bring my sister my wife and her best friend on a camping excursion

I wanted to show them the best spots in that region, lush overlooks, hidden streams, the works. Our plan was to take a multi-day loop that just so happened to pass by that same eerie cabin. I figured the probability of seeing that dude again was slim. especially since I'd only seen him once in all my years on the trail. We spent two days trekking, enjoying the scenery and each other's company.

I wanted to show them the best spots in that region, lush overlooks, hidden streams, the works. Our plan was to take a multi-day loop that just so happened to pass by that same eerie cabin. I figured the probability of seeing that dude again was slim. especially since I'd only seen him once in all my years on the trail. We spent two days trekking, enjoying the scenery and each other's company.