Unknown Narrator

we moved slowly feeling an unspoken tension my husband tried to lighten the mood with a half-hearted comment about old camp stories but even his voice sounded too loud too sharp in the hush we poked around the first floor examining cracked doorways leading into damp corridors

we moved slowly feeling an unspoken tension my husband tried to lighten the mood with a half-hearted comment about old camp stories but even his voice sounded too loud too sharp in the hush we poked around the first floor examining cracked doorways leading into damp corridors

an array of footprints criss-crossed in the dust some looked recent like boots that alone sent a warning signal through my mind but i kept telling myself it could be from hikers or curious locals As we moved deeper, the place took on an oppressive quality, as though the walls themselves wanted us gone. Suddenly, I heard heavy thumps above. Steady, deliberate steps on the second floor.

an array of footprints criss-crossed in the dust some looked recent like boots that alone sent a warning signal through my mind but i kept telling myself it could be from hikers or curious locals As we moved deeper, the place took on an oppressive quality, as though the walls themselves wanted us gone. Suddenly, I heard heavy thumps above. Steady, deliberate steps on the second floor.

My chest went tight. My husband paused, eyes locked on the dark stairwell at the far end of the hall. The steps grew louder, and I realized that whoever was up there was moving faster, crossing the floor with force. My pulse hammered. We both froze for a split second, not sure what to do next. In a surge of panic, we bolted back the way we came. The front door was our only target.

My chest went tight. My husband paused, eyes locked on the dark stairwell at the far end of the hall. The steps grew louder, and I realized that whoever was up there was moving faster, crossing the floor with force. My pulse hammered. We both froze for a split second, not sure what to do next. In a surge of panic, we bolted back the way we came. The front door was our only target.

Behind us, those footsteps thundered in our direction, as though determined to catch us. I yanked the door open, practically throwing myself outside. We sprinted around the side of the building, hoping to stay out of sight if the person, or whoever it was, came bounding out. My lungs burned, and all I could think was that we'd trespassed into something we shouldn't have.

Behind us, those footsteps thundered in our direction, as though determined to catch us. I yanked the door open, practically throwing myself outside. We sprinted around the side of the building, hoping to stay out of sight if the person, or whoever it was, came bounding out. My lungs burned, and all I could think was that we'd trespassed into something we shouldn't have.

Just then, the porch boards groaned again, louder, heavier. We scurried into the tree line, ducking behind thick branches. The undergrowth snagged our clothes, but we pushed forward, hearing someone stomping just beyond the corner of the house. I couldn't see a face, just heard an aggravated movement, like they were hunting for intruders.

Just then, the porch boards groaned again, louder, heavier. We scurried into the tree line, ducking behind thick branches. The undergrowth snagged our clothes, but we pushed forward, hearing someone stomping just beyond the corner of the house. I couldn't see a face, just heard an aggravated movement, like they were hunting for intruders.

I nudged my husband to keep going neither of us daring to speak. We stuck to the outskirts making a wide loop around the lake. Our canoe bobbed innocently where we'd left it but we couldn't risk drawing attention to ourselves. We took a path through brush and mossy ground nearly tripping over roots and fallen logs. Every rustle in the woods made me flinch.

I nudged my husband to keep going neither of us daring to speak. We stuck to the outskirts making a wide loop around the lake. Our canoe bobbed innocently where we'd left it but we couldn't risk drawing attention to ourselves. We took a path through brush and mossy ground nearly tripping over roots and fallen logs. Every rustle in the woods made me flinch.

It felt like we were being followed even though I couldn't pinpoint any new footsteps.

It felt like we were being followed even though I couldn't pinpoint any new footsteps.

the crackling of leaves came in irregular bursts could have been an animal could have been something else by the time we stumbled back to our own dock the sun hung low over the water i leaned against a post breathing hard and staring at the far shore the old camp looked like a dark silhouette silent and menacing my husband slumped beside me both of us drenched in sweat

the crackling of leaves came in irregular bursts could have been an animal could have been something else by the time we stumbled back to our own dock the sun hung low over the water i leaned against a post breathing hard and staring at the far shore the old camp looked like a dark silhouette silent and menacing my husband slumped beside me both of us drenched in sweat

We didn't bother with explanations at first. The panic on our faces said plenty. My family hurried outside, alarmed by our condition, but all we managed to do was stammer about heavy footsteps and a chase we never wanted. We left the canoe behind that day. In our minds, it wasn't worth risking another encounter.

We didn't bother with explanations at first. The panic on our faces said plenty. My family hurried outside, alarmed by our condition, but all we managed to do was stammer about heavy footsteps and a chase we never wanted. We left the canoe behind that day. In our minds, it wasn't worth risking another encounter.

I kept thinking about those stomping steps overhead, how quickly they transitioned from a slow tread to a charged run. Maybe it was just a squatter, but I can't shake the uneasy feeling that there's more to that place than we'll ever understand.

I kept thinking about those stomping steps overhead, how quickly they transitioned from a slow tread to a charged run. Maybe it was just a squatter, but I can't shake the uneasy feeling that there's more to that place than we'll ever understand.