Unknown Narrator

dad's flashlight flicked over the floor revealing footprints in the dust that didn't seem recent but definitely weren't ours we found no signs of the heavy tread that had spooked my sister yet the idea that someone had roamed this hall remained my stomach twisted imagining that person sprinting in these cramped corridors After we finished scanning the second floor, we hurried back downstairs.

dad's flashlight flicked over the floor revealing footprints in the dust that didn't seem recent but definitely weren't ours we found no signs of the heavy tread that had spooked my sister yet the idea that someone had roamed this hall remained my stomach twisted imagining that person sprinting in these cramped corridors After we finished scanning the second floor, we hurried back downstairs.

A faint echo reached our ears from somewhere outside. A metallic clang, or maybe just a piece of loose siding flapping against the wind. Dad muttered it was probably nothing, but neither of us believed that. We were too on edge. Once we stepped onto the porch again, relief washed over me momentarily. At least we were out of that stale darkness.

A faint echo reached our ears from somewhere outside. A metallic clang, or maybe just a piece of loose siding flapping against the wind. Dad muttered it was probably nothing, but neither of us believed that. We were too on edge. Once we stepped onto the porch again, relief washed over me momentarily. At least we were out of that stale darkness.

We made our way across the weed-choked lot toward the canoe. My sister had tied it off to a small tree, but it looked like the rope had been shifted around. Possibly the wind or changing water levels did that. At least that's what we told ourselves. Dad gave me a quick nod, and we wasted no time lifting the canoe, tossing in our life vests, and dragging it toward the water.

We made our way across the weed-choked lot toward the canoe. My sister had tied it off to a small tree, but it looked like the rope had been shifted around. Possibly the wind or changing water levels did that. At least that's what we told ourselves. Dad gave me a quick nod, and we wasted no time lifting the canoe, tossing in our life vests, and dragging it toward the water.

That's when a branch snapped somewhere behind us. We both whipped around. The yard was full of tangled growth and crumbling structures, casting odd shadows as the sun dipped lower. No movement, no immediate silhouette. Dad motioned for us to keep going, so we lowered the canoe into the shallows and shoved off. My breath felt tight, like I couldn't get enough air.

That's when a branch snapped somewhere behind us. We both whipped around. The yard was full of tangled growth and crumbling structures, casting odd shadows as the sun dipped lower. No movement, no immediate silhouette. Dad motioned for us to keep going, so we lowered the canoe into the shallows and shoved off. My breath felt tight, like I couldn't get enough air.

I refused to turn around until we were several yards out, but curiosity made me glance back eventually. That lonely main house stared at us with broken windows, its porch sagging. Nothing moved among the trees. As soon as we paddled into deeper water, the tension eased a fraction. Dad and I spoke in hushed tones about how the camp looked even more decrepit than before.

I refused to turn around until we were several yards out, but curiosity made me glance back eventually. That lonely main house stared at us with broken windows, its porch sagging. Nothing moved among the trees. As soon as we paddled into deeper water, the tension eased a fraction. Dad and I spoke in hushed tones about how the camp looked even more decrepit than before.

He said it was best if we stayed away, maybe alerted the local authorities if we got the chance. Honestly, I was too rattled to argue.

He said it was best if we stayed away, maybe alerted the local authorities if we got the chance. Honestly, I was too rattled to argue.

the last thing any of us wanted was another run-in with whoever or whatever had roamed those halls by the time we reached our cabin's shore the sun was slipping behind the tree line painting the lake in bronze and purple streaks my family was waiting on the dock anxious expressions confirming they'd been worried

the last thing any of us wanted was another run-in with whoever or whatever had roamed those halls by the time we reached our cabin's shore the sun was slipping behind the tree line painting the lake in bronze and purple streaks my family was waiting on the dock anxious expressions confirming they'd been worried

we hauled the canoe up onto our grass forcing shaky smiles while recounting what happened we told them we hadn't seen anyone just heard odd noises and found things slightly out of place deep down i knew the uncertainty would keep me on edge for the rest of the trip Something about that camp felt like a locked door we'd opened, inviting a question of what, or who, lived inside.

we hauled the canoe up onto our grass forcing shaky smiles while recounting what happened we told them we hadn't seen anyone just heard odd noises and found things slightly out of place deep down i knew the uncertainty would keep me on edge for the rest of the trip Something about that camp felt like a locked door we'd opened, inviting a question of what, or who, lived inside.

We'd taken back our canoe, but a sense of dread clung to me all evening. When night finally fell, I couldn't help glancing at the black silhouette of that abandoned structure across the water, half certain I might spot a shape moving, watching, or waiting for another chance to chase intruders through its ruins.

We'd taken back our canoe, but a sense of dread clung to me all evening. When night finally fell, I couldn't help glancing at the black silhouette of that abandoned structure across the water, half certain I might spot a shape moving, watching, or waiting for another chance to chase intruders through its ruins.

I'll be honest, it started out as the kind of night you'd brag about to your buddies, carefree, a little impulsive, exactly what we both needed. After dinner and a movie, we decided we wanted something that went beyond the usual routine. So we hopped in my truck with this shaky plan to escape the city lights and find a hideaway under the sky.

I'll be honest, it started out as the kind of night you'd brag about to your buddies, carefree, a little impulsive, exactly what we both needed. After dinner and a movie, we decided we wanted something that went beyond the usual routine. So we hopped in my truck with this shaky plan to escape the city lights and find a hideaway under the sky.