Unknown Narrator

Nobody else knew about the haunting images stuck in my mind. That night, when everyone turned in, I sat by the window, peeking out at the rows of trees behind my family's home. A small hope flickered. That morning light might erase the fear, but something told me that what I'd encountered wasn't the kind of thing you just leave behind. It stayed with you like a secret only you and it understood.

Nobody else knew about the haunting images stuck in my mind. That night, when everyone turned in, I sat by the window, peeking out at the rows of trees behind my family's home. A small hope flickered. That morning light might erase the fear, but something told me that what I'd encountered wasn't the kind of thing you just leave behind. It stayed with you like a secret only you and it understood.

I've lived in Southern California my entire life. If you know anything about California, you'll know it's very diverse. Up north, it's filled with mountains and trees, while down south it's much more city-like. This summer, I decided to take a trip to Lake Tahoe. It's a beautiful place, and it was my first time being upstate. I'm going to chop this story up into segments to make it an easy read.

I've lived in Southern California my entire life. If you know anything about California, you'll know it's very diverse. Up north, it's filled with mountains and trees, while down south it's much more city-like. This summer, I decided to take a trip to Lake Tahoe. It's a beautiful place, and it was my first time being upstate. I'm going to chop this story up into segments to make it an easy read.

Day 1. I settled into the cabin at around 5pm. After an 8 hour drive, I was very tired. I went and lay down in the bed in the loft. It was quiet, like being in a different world. I was so used to cars zooming by and people talking right outside my house. But here, it was silent. I fell asleep fairly quickly. About 4 hours later, I jerked awake.

Day 1. I settled into the cabin at around 5pm. After an 8 hour drive, I was very tired. I went and lay down in the bed in the loft. It was quiet, like being in a different world. I was so used to cars zooming by and people talking right outside my house. But here, it was silent. I fell asleep fairly quickly. About 4 hours later, I jerked awake.

I looked around for a bit before hearing a strange tapping sound. I tried to figure out where it was coming from, but to no avail. It sounded as if someone was tapping on the window of the back door. I figured I was just paranoid and fell back asleep. Day 2. Nothing happened this day and I slept fine. Day 3. Early morning. I woke up very early, maybe around 4am.

I looked around for a bit before hearing a strange tapping sound. I tried to figure out where it was coming from, but to no avail. It sounded as if someone was tapping on the window of the back door. I figured I was just paranoid and fell back asleep. Day 2. Nothing happened this day and I slept fine. Day 3. Early morning. I woke up very early, maybe around 4am.

I heard a crash coming from the attic ladder, which was conveniently placed right behind the couch I was sleeping on. I didn't move. Then I heard a few footsteps. You know that feeling when you sense someone staring at you. That's exactly how I felt. I was on my side, staring straight ahead. Suddenly I felt somebody, or something, crawl over me.

I heard a crash coming from the attic ladder, which was conveniently placed right behind the couch I was sleeping on. I didn't move. Then I heard a few footsteps. You know that feeling when you sense someone staring at you. That's exactly how I felt. I was on my side, staring straight ahead. Suddenly I felt somebody, or something, crawl over me.

I felt two hands on either side of me, and I could tell their face was just inches away from mine. Like I said, I was facing straight ahead, and I wasn't about to turn my head to see who or what it was. It felt like they stayed there forever before finally crawling backward and off the couch. I heard the dog let out a muffled bark and then someone shushed her with a quiet, good girl.

I felt two hands on either side of me, and I could tell their face was just inches away from mine. Like I said, I was facing straight ahead, and I wasn't about to turn my head to see who or what it was. It felt like they stayed there forever before finally crawling backward and off the couch. I heard the dog let out a muffled bark and then someone shushed her with a quiet, good girl.

The presence lingered for what felt like an eternity until I heard footsteps going out the back door. Still, I didn't move. I was paralyzed with fear. Needless to say, I didn't go back to sleep. Later, when I felt it was safe, I checked on my friends. None of them had left their rooms that night. When I told them what happened, they said I was just being paranoid.

The presence lingered for what felt like an eternity until I heard footsteps going out the back door. Still, I didn't move. I was paralyzed with fear. Needless to say, I didn't go back to sleep. Later, when I felt it was safe, I checked on my friends. None of them had left their rooms that night. When I told them what happened, they said I was just being paranoid.

I half agreed and we went on with our day as planned. Day three, later that day. After a day at the lake with my friends, we returned to a quiet, cozy cabin. The caretakers told us there was a river a bit farther into the woods, about a 15-minute walk. My friends decided to stay behind and rest, so I took some bug spray, a small backpack with snacks, and my phone, and headed out.

I half agreed and we went on with our day as planned. Day three, later that day. After a day at the lake with my friends, we returned to a quiet, cozy cabin. The caretakers told us there was a river a bit farther into the woods, about a 15-minute walk. My friends decided to stay behind and rest, so I took some bug spray, a small backpack with snacks, and my phone, and headed out.

The trail was pretty straightforward. Tall grass flanked either side, and the path itself was thin but easy to follow. I reached the riverbank where there were two picnic tables. I didn't want to get eaten alive by mosquitoes, but I'd stupidly worn sandals. I dropped my bag on one of the tables and started back toward the cabin. For some odd reason, the path suddenly seemed distorted.

The trail was pretty straightforward. Tall grass flanked either side, and the path itself was thin but easy to follow. I reached the riverbank where there were two picnic tables. I didn't want to get eaten alive by mosquitoes, but I'd stupidly worn sandals. I dropped my bag on one of the tables and started back toward the cabin. For some odd reason, the path suddenly seemed distorted.

What was once a smooth trail was now rough and uneven. I noticed the tall grass on the side of the path had been flattened, as if something huge, and I mean gigantic, had passed through it. At first, I suspected a bear, since the locals warned us they could be a problem this time of year, but the sheer size of whatever caused it made me second-guess that.

What was once a smooth trail was now rough and uneven. I noticed the tall grass on the side of the path had been flattened, as if something huge, and I mean gigantic, had passed through it. At first, I suspected a bear, since the locals warned us they could be a problem this time of year, but the sheer size of whatever caused it made me second-guess that.