Samantha (Corrections Officer)

And it wasn't stationary. It was circling, far off the trail. One friend switched off his light, motioning the rest of us to do the same. Darkness swallowed us. The footsteps edged closer, unsteady for a moment.

And it wasn't stationary. It was circling, far off the trail. One friend switched off his light, motioning the rest of us to do the same. Darkness swallowed us. The footsteps edged closer, unsteady for a moment.

then suddenly sped up like a gallop each stride pounded the ground our hearts hammered so loudly i expected them to give us away we snapped the lights on scanning frantically shadows jumped across the tree trunks but we couldn't see anything moving my friends started yelling

then suddenly sped up like a gallop each stride pounded the ground our hearts hammered so loudly i expected them to give us away we snapped the lights on scanning frantically shadows jumped across the tree trunks but we couldn't see anything moving my friends started yelling

who's out there show yourself that's when the sound stopped just froze as if it had never existed in that silence we all stood there listening hard enough to hear our own breathing then came the shriek a single piercing cry that seemed half human and half animal it jolted us so badly that someone pulled the trigger light flashed the gunshot echoed and my ears felt stuffed with static

who's out there show yourself that's when the sound stopped just froze as if it had never existed in that silence we all stood there listening hard enough to hear our own breathing then came the shriek a single piercing cry that seemed half human and half animal it jolted us so badly that someone pulled the trigger light flashed the gunshot echoed and my ears felt stuffed with static

in that burst of brightness i saw something pale and long-limbed dart across my vision hugging a tree as if it had suction cups for hands no normal person could move like that a second shot rang out another flash more ringing in my ears we stood there waiting for a body to drop but nothing hit the ground no cry of pain or rustle of leaves suggested we'd landed a single shot

in that burst of brightness i saw something pale and long-limbed dart across my vision hugging a tree as if it had suction cups for hands no normal person could move like that a second shot rang out another flash more ringing in my ears we stood there waiting for a body to drop but nothing hit the ground no cry of pain or rustle of leaves suggested we'd landed a single shot

Instead, that cackling laughter answered us from a darker spot in the forest. It felt like it was mocking our attempts to catch it off guard. Everything in me screamed to leave. I glanced around at my friends and they all had the same wild look. We couldn't keep shooting blindly, it was too risky and clearly not working. One friend was convinced he'd blasted it.

Instead, that cackling laughter answered us from a darker spot in the forest. It felt like it was mocking our attempts to catch it off guard. Everything in me screamed to leave. I glanced around at my friends and they all had the same wild look. We couldn't keep shooting blindly, it was too risky and clearly not working. One friend was convinced he'd blasted it.

but there was no sign of blood or any body on the ground just a newly shredded patch of bark on the nearest tree that cackle came again but this time it was further out like the thing was leading us even deeper we had two choices follow the noise or backtrack nobody said a word we just started retreating in jerky steps half expecting it to launch itself at us

but there was no sign of blood or any body on the ground just a newly shredded patch of bark on the nearest tree that cackle came again but this time it was further out like the thing was leading us even deeper we had two choices follow the noise or backtrack nobody said a word we just started retreating in jerky steps half expecting it to launch itself at us

Flashlights swung in every direction, revealing nothing but more darkness and twisted branches. The entire time I imagined that shape slithering behind the trunks, waiting. Eventually, the sight of a lone streetlamp beyond the trail entrance filled us with relief. Once we'd reached the road, we realized how fast we'd been going. Sweat clung to our clothes, and we were all gasping for breath.

Flashlights swung in every direction, revealing nothing but more darkness and twisted branches. The entire time I imagined that shape slithering behind the trunks, waiting. Eventually, the sight of a lone streetlamp beyond the trail entrance filled us with relief. Once we'd reached the road, we realized how fast we'd been going. Sweat clung to our clothes, and we were all gasping for breath.

My house wasn't far. We huddled in my living room, each one trying to describe exactly what we'd witnessed. The shotgun guy admitted he'd caught a glimpse of something tall, but he couldn't make out a face, if it even had one. Nerves rattled around the room. We had weapons, we had flashlights, and still we'd been left shaking in our boots. Worst of all, we didn't get a shred of proof.

My house wasn't far. We huddled in my living room, each one trying to describe exactly what we'd witnessed. The shotgun guy admitted he'd caught a glimpse of something tall, but he couldn't make out a face, if it even had one. Nerves rattled around the room. We had weapons, we had flashlights, and still we'd been left shaking in our boots. Worst of all, we didn't get a shred of proof.

Our designated camera guy confessed he forgot to open his phone's camera in the panic, and nobody else thought to do it either. We were kicking ourselves for letting that chance slip. Before the night was over, we made a plan. Next time, we'd be prepared with actual cameras rolling from the start. Someone even suggested grabbing a game camera or two, rigging them to trees at intervals.

Our designated camera guy confessed he forgot to open his phone's camera in the panic, and nobody else thought to do it either. We were kicking ourselves for letting that chance slip. Before the night was over, we made a plan. Next time, we'd be prepared with actual cameras rolling from the start. Someone even suggested grabbing a game camera or two, rigging them to trees at intervals.

Part of me knew how reckless it sounded. And yet, I couldn't ignore that gnawing urge to find closure. Whatever was lurking in those woods was still out there, mocking us. The idea that a point-blank shotgun blast didn't drop it made my blood run cold. We spent hours talking, strategizing, trying to rationalize what we'd seen.

Part of me knew how reckless it sounded. And yet, I couldn't ignore that gnawing urge to find closure. Whatever was lurking in those woods was still out there, mocking us. The idea that a point-blank shotgun blast didn't drop it made my blood run cold. We spent hours talking, strategizing, trying to rationalize what we'd seen.