Samantha (Corrections Officer)

I shot off the couch and scrambled to the window, but by the time I yanked the curtain aside, there was nothing but a dark stretch of pavement. Eventually, I found myself on the back porch at two in the morning, armed with a flashlight and a kitchen knife. My grandmother was asleep, and I wasn't about to tell her I planned on standing guard until sunrise.

I shot off the couch and scrambled to the window, but by the time I yanked the curtain aside, there was nothing but a dark stretch of pavement. Eventually, I found myself on the back porch at two in the morning, armed with a flashlight and a kitchen knife. My grandmother was asleep, and I wasn't about to tell her I planned on standing guard until sunrise.

I settled into a rickety wooden chair, with the porch light off so I could see into the yard better, heart pounding in my ears, scanning every shape for that familiar silhouette. Hours dragged by. At some point, I nearly dozed off, only to be startled awake by the clang of the wind chimes. My hand went straight to the knife.

I settled into a rickety wooden chair, with the porch light off so I could see into the yard better, heart pounding in my ears, scanning every shape for that familiar silhouette. Hours dragged by. At some point, I nearly dozed off, only to be startled awake by the clang of the wind chimes. My hand went straight to the knife.

I crept down the steps, searching the perimeter of the fence with the flashlight's beam. Was the wind chime rattling because of a breeze, or had something triggered it? The silent yard offered no clues, just a faint smell of damp grass. The tension in my chest refused to settle.

I crept down the steps, searching the perimeter of the fence with the flashlight's beam. Was the wind chime rattling because of a breeze, or had something triggered it? The silent yard offered no clues, just a faint smell of damp grass. The tension in my chest refused to settle.

It seemed logical to go inside, lock up and attempt to sleep, but I stayed out there, convinced that whatever lurked in the shadows was biding its time. Sunlight eventually stained the horizon and birds started chirping in the distance. My eyes stung from sleeplessness, but I'd made it through the night unscathed. Still, there was no comfort in that.

It seemed logical to go inside, lock up and attempt to sleep, but I stayed out there, convinced that whatever lurked in the shadows was biding its time. Sunlight eventually stained the horizon and birds started chirping in the distance. My eyes stung from sleeplessness, but I'd made it through the night unscathed. Still, there was no comfort in that.

If anything, it felt like the calm before a bigger storm. I was certain that the same creature, scarred and monstrous, the one that nearly took me out all those years ago, had found me again. And the worst part? It didn't seem in any hurry to leave. I'd been cooped up for days, juggling late shifts and barely finding time to breathe, let alone unwind. That night, I finally snapped.

If anything, it felt like the calm before a bigger storm. I was certain that the same creature, scarred and monstrous, the one that nearly took me out all those years ago, had found me again. And the worst part? It didn't seem in any hurry to leave. I'd been cooped up for days, juggling late shifts and barely finding time to breathe, let alone unwind. That night, I finally snapped.

I needed a break, something, anything, to clear my mind. So I pulled on my sneakers, grabbed my headlamp, and headed out to a trail I used to walk all the time. It was past midnight, but I convinced myself a bit of fresh air would do me good. From the start, the trail was darker than I remembered.

I needed a break, something, anything, to clear my mind. So I pulled on my sneakers, grabbed my headlamp, and headed out to a trail I used to walk all the time. It was past midnight, but I convinced myself a bit of fresh air would do me good. From the start, the trail was darker than I remembered.

The trees stood like silent watchers on all sides, and the crunch of leaves under my feet was almost too loud. I clicked on my headlamp, illuminating a narrow path that curved ahead. Usually this place felt calming, but something was off. I shrugged it away, attributing it to my own nerves. Overthinking, right? I continued further until my fitness watch chimed around the mile mark.

The trees stood like silent watchers on all sides, and the crunch of leaves under my feet was almost too loud. I clicked on my headlamp, illuminating a narrow path that curved ahead. Usually this place felt calming, but something was off. I shrugged it away, attributing it to my own nerves. Overthinking, right? I continued further until my fitness watch chimed around the mile mark.

That's when I caught a hint of motion in the underbrush off to the side. Could have been a rabbit or some other small animal, but it felt heavier. I paused, switched off my headlamp, and listened for any sound. Each second crept by. Nothing. Eventually I flicked the light back on and started walking again, quickening my pace now, just in case.

That's when I caught a hint of motion in the underbrush off to the side. Could have been a rabbit or some other small animal, but it felt heavier. I paused, switched off my headlamp, and listened for any sound. Each second crept by. Nothing. Eventually I flicked the light back on and started walking again, quickening my pace now, just in case.

A few minutes down the trail, I heard leaves shifting again, but this time it came from behind me. My mind raced. Another walker? A stray dog? Maybe a deer? Except it wasn't that casual rustling noise wildlife usually makes. It had a pattern, like footfalls trying to match mine. I whipped around, pointed my headlamp into the darkness, but only caught glimpses of branches and tangled roots.

A few minutes down the trail, I heard leaves shifting again, but this time it came from behind me. My mind raced. Another walker? A stray dog? Maybe a deer? Except it wasn't that casual rustling noise wildlife usually makes. It had a pattern, like footfalls trying to match mine. I whipped around, pointed my headlamp into the darkness, but only caught glimpses of branches and tangled roots.

No person, no animal. silence again i tried to reassure myself maybe my imagination was in overdrive still i couldn't ignore how the night felt heavier i yelled out something about calling the cops if anyone was messing with me no response The trail just stretched on under the weak glow of my lamp. That's when my beam caught a shape off to the right, a blur of pale skin low to the ground.

No person, no animal. silence again i tried to reassure myself maybe my imagination was in overdrive still i couldn't ignore how the night felt heavier i yelled out something about calling the cops if anyone was messing with me no response The trail just stretched on under the weak glow of my lamp. That's when my beam caught a shape off to the right, a blur of pale skin low to the ground.