Samantha (Corrections Officer)

It moved like it belonged there, on all fours, smooth and unnerving. I only saw it for a second or two, but it was enough to send my pulse skyrocketing. Nobody crawls that way. Nobody is that quiet, that fast. I shouted again, nonsense words tumbling out of my mouth, half threat, half plea. Instead of running toward me, it darted away with a terrifying speed that made me feel rooted in place.

It moved like it belonged there, on all fours, smooth and unnerving. I only saw it for a second or two, but it was enough to send my pulse skyrocketing. Nobody crawls that way. Nobody is that quiet, that fast. I shouted again, nonsense words tumbling out of my mouth, half threat, half plea. Instead of running toward me, it darted away with a terrifying speed that made me feel rooted in place.

A laugh echoed, not a normal, human laugh. It had a high-pitched, mocking edge, almost giddy. That shattered my last ounce of self-control. I took off, stumbling over rocks and kicking up dirt. Everything else blurred into a single purpose. Get out. The faint light of neighborhood houses eventually appeared beyond the edge of the woods. My legs burned, lungs felt ready to burst, but I didn't care.

A laugh echoed, not a normal, human laugh. It had a high-pitched, mocking edge, almost giddy. That shattered my last ounce of self-control. I took off, stumbling over rocks and kicking up dirt. Everything else blurred into a single purpose. Get out. The faint light of neighborhood houses eventually appeared beyond the edge of the woods. My legs burned, lungs felt ready to burst, but I didn't care.

I just needed the safety of streetlights and the thought of other people nearby. I fumbled for my phone and called the police, barely able to form coherent sentences. A man. Something. Following me. The trail. I left out anything that sounded too outrageous. As soon as the call ended, I locked myself in my room. It didn't feel like home, though. Even inside my own walls, I was on edge.

I just needed the safety of streetlights and the thought of other people nearby. I fumbled for my phone and called the police, barely able to form coherent sentences. A man. Something. Following me. The trail. I left out anything that sounded too outrageous. As soon as the call ended, I locked myself in my room. It didn't feel like home, though. Even inside my own walls, I was on edge.

i kept replaying that strange shape darting on all fours and that warped laugh ringing in my head the next morning they told me they found no one out there just disturbed leaves and footprints leading off trail which eventually disappeared No sign of trespassers, no obvious clues. They didn't exactly call me crazy, but their shrugs and nods said enough.

i kept replaying that strange shape darting on all fours and that warped laugh ringing in my head the next morning they told me they found no one out there just disturbed leaves and footprints leading off trail which eventually disappeared No sign of trespassers, no obvious clues. They didn't exactly call me crazy, but their shrugs and nods said enough.

Once they left, I stayed by my window, staring into the night. I knew I couldn't let it end like that. Whatever I encountered wasn't gone, and I sensed I'd go back. Despite common sense, curiosity and fear were already dragging me toward another walk in that dark stretch of forest. It took me a couple of days to work up the nerve, but I couldn't bear feeling powerless.

Once they left, I stayed by my window, staring into the night. I knew I couldn't let it end like that. Whatever I encountered wasn't gone, and I sensed I'd go back. Despite common sense, curiosity and fear were already dragging me toward another walk in that dark stretch of forest. It took me a couple of days to work up the nerve, but I couldn't bear feeling powerless.

I described everything to my three friends. Every eerie footstep, every glimpse of that pale shape crouching in the trees. Naturally, they were skeptical. They called me dramatic. But I saw a spark of interest in their eyes. The more I told them, the more they got hooked on the idea of investigating. A little adventure never scared them, or so they claimed.

I described everything to my three friends. Every eerie footstep, every glimpse of that pale shape crouching in the trees. Naturally, they were skeptical. They called me dramatic. But I saw a spark of interest in their eyes. The more I told them, the more they got hooked on the idea of investigating. A little adventure never scared them, or so they claimed.

We agreed to meet at my place around 9.30 at night. Two buddies came armed with pistols, another showed up with a shotgun, and I had my own sidearm tucked under my jacket. Let's be real, none of us were serious hunters." We just felt safer holding something that might give us a fighting chance if things turned ugly.

We agreed to meet at my place around 9.30 at night. Two buddies came armed with pistols, another showed up with a shotgun, and I had my own sidearm tucked under my jacket. Let's be real, none of us were serious hunters." We just felt safer holding something that might give us a fighting chance if things turned ugly.

One friend held the flashlights, plus his phone to record if we got lucky enough to capture footage. Stepping onto the trail again felt surreal. In the dim glow of our flashlights, we retraced my path, each of us unusually quiet. Even the jokesters of the group had run out of wisecracks.

One friend held the flashlights, plus his phone to record if we got lucky enough to capture footage. Stepping onto the trail again felt surreal. In the dim glow of our flashlights, we retraced my path, each of us unusually quiet. Even the jokesters of the group had run out of wisecracks.

every so often someone would crack a branch underfoot and all of us would jump it was ridiculous but we were on edge i knew they were all thinking about how i'd described that thing in the woods we marched past my usual stopping point somewhere close to a mile and a half in without any sign of trouble

every so often someone would crack a branch underfoot and all of us would jump it was ridiculous but we were on edge i knew they were all thinking about how i'd described that thing in the woods we marched past my usual stopping point somewhere close to a mile and a half in without any sign of trouble

that brought me zero comfort though a hush seemed to follow us like the forest had decided to keep its secrets locked away the canopy overhead blocked most of the moonlight making the beams from our flashlights look puny the further we went the more claustrophobic it felt Eventually, a distant rustling reached our ears. It sounded like someone trudging through deep leaves.

that brought me zero comfort though a hush seemed to follow us like the forest had decided to keep its secrets locked away the canopy overhead blocked most of the moonlight making the beams from our flashlights look puny the further we went the more claustrophobic it felt Eventually, a distant rustling reached our ears. It sounded like someone trudging through deep leaves.