My name is Eli, and I'll never forget the first night in those
Utah woods. The trees were so tall they
blocked out most of the sky. The only light came from the
campfire, crackling softly as it pushed back the cold night air.
I had just started working with this logging crew, and even
though I didn't know anyone very well, I could tell right away
that something felt wrong out here.
Isaac, the foreman, was an older guy, maybe in his 50s, with a
grizzled beard and sharp eyes. He was the type of man who
didn't scare easily, but tonight he seemed off.
The other guys in the crew, Matt, Tyler, and Sam, were
laughing and joking like everything was fine, but Isaac
wasn't joining in. Instead, he kept staring into
the trees, his face tense. The woods were thick and dark,
and there was something about the silence that made the hairs
on the back of my neck stand up. No birds, no animals, just the
fire and the low murmur of the guys talking.
After a while, Isaac spoke up. You ever hear of a skinwalker?
His voice was gravelly, like he didn't even want to ask the
question. The laughter around the fire
died down quickly. The other guys glanced at each
other nervously, but no one said a word.
I didn't know what a skinwalker was, but I could tell from their
faces it wasn't something good. Isaac leaned forward, the flames
reflecting in his eyes. These woods, they're old, older
than you can imagine. People say there are things out
here, things that shouldn't be. I saw one once, when I was a
kid, not far from here. He paused, and I noticed my
palms were starting to sweat. The air felt heavier, like the
forest was pressing in closer, listening.
It was late, almost like tonight.
I heard my dad calling my name from deep in the trees.
Only problem was, my dad had been dead for three years.
Isaac's voice dropped to a whisper.
I didn't go to him. I knew better.
And I'm still here because of that.
A cold shiver ran down my spine, and I glanced over my shoulder
at the thick wall of trees. Suddenly the dark spaces between
the branches felt too big, like something could be hiding there,
just waiting for us to drop our guard.
Matt, the jokester of the group, laughed, but it sounded forced.
Come on, Isaac, you're just trying to scare the new guy.
He slapped me on the back, but his smile didn't reach his eyes.
Isaac didn't smile back. I'm not trying to scare anyone.
I'm telling you to stay close to camp.
If you hear something in the woods, if you think you see
someone you know out there, don't follow.
Don't ever follow. He looked right at me, like he
knew I'd be the one to make that mistake.
The fire crackled loudly, and a gust of wind rustled the leaves
above us. The sound made me jump, and the
guys laughed, but there was still an edge in the air.
The forest was too quiet, too still.
I tried to shake off the feeling, telling myself it was
just an old man's story, but deep down, something told me
Isaac wasn't lying. That night, as I lay in my tent,
I couldn't sleep. Every little sound outside made
my heart race. I kept thinking about Isaac's
warning, about that voice he heard in the woods, and even
though I told myself it was just a story, I couldn't shake the
feeling that something out there was watching me.
The next morning, the camp was a mess.
When I stepped out of my tent, I saw that the tools were
scattered everywhere, like something or someone had gone
through our stuff. Sam was cursing, trying to
gather up the saws while Matt scratched his head.
Tyler was off by the trees, looking around like he was
searching for something. Looks like raccoons or something
got into our gear. Matt joked, but even he didn't
seem to believe it. I noticed deep claw marks on one
of the saws, like something sharp had scratched right across
it, but they weren't the kind of marks a raccoon or any animal I
knew would make. The others shrugged it off, but
it stuck with me. As the day went on, the feeling
of being watched only grew stronger.
The air seemed thicker, heavier. No birds chirped, no squirrels
darted between the trees. It was just silent.
Too silent. By the time the sun started
setting, I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck standing
up. I tried to focus on my work, but
I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
Then, right before dusk, it happened.
I had wandered a little farther than I should have, trying to
find a better spot to cut down a tree.
The shadows between the trees were long, making everything
look twisted and unfamiliar. That's when I heard it.
Eli. My heart stopped.
It was my mom's voice. Soft, gentle, just like she
always called me when she wanted me to come inside.
But it didn't make sense. My mom was back home, hundreds
of miles away. Eli, come here.
I spun around, trying to see where the voice was coming from.
Between 2 trees, maybe 50 feet away, I saw a figure.
It looked like my mom standing there in the shadows.
But something was wrong. She was too still.
And her eyes, her eyes were glowing a faint yellow that sent
a shiver down my spine. Mom.
I whispered, stepping back. My brain was screaming at me to
run, but my feet felt stuck to the ground.
The figure took a step forward, and the light in her eyes
flickered like a flame that wasn't quite right.
That's when I realized it wasn't my mom.
It couldn't be. I turned and ran, not caring
where I was going, just needing to get away.
The trees blurred by as I sprinted back to camp, the sound
of my own breathing filling my ears.
Every few seconds I swore I could hear footsteps behind me,
slow, deliberate, like someone was walking just out of sight.
By the time I made it back to camp, I was out of breath and
shaking. The others were sitting around
the fire, laughing and talking like nothing was wrong.
I wanted to tell them what I saw, but the words wouldn't
come. They'd think I was crazy.
Heck, I thought I was crazy. Instead, I sat down by the fire,
trying to calm my racing heart. But every time I glanced at the
trees, I swore I saw something. Just a flicker of movement, a
shadow too tall to be one of the guys.
I kept hearing that voice in my head, soft and sweet, calling my
name. That night, I barely slept.
Something was out there watching us.
I could feel it, and somehow I knew it was only getting closer.
By the time the sun went down again, everything had changed.
The tension in camp was unbearable.
Sam had been missing for hours and we couldn't find him
anywhere. We had searched the woods,
calling his name, but it was like he'd vanished into thin
air. Isaac was pacing back and forth,
his face pale and sweaty, mumbling to himself.
Matt and Tyler weren't much better, their eyes darting
nervously toward the trees. As the darkness settled around
us, I couldn't stop thinking about the thing I'd seen the
night before, the figure that looked like my mom, the way her
eyes glowed that unnatural yellow.
Something was out there, and it had taken Sam.
I knew it, even if I couldn't say it out loud.
The others wouldn't believe me, and I was starting to question
whether I'd imagined it myself. But I knew what I saw that
night. We all sat close to the fire,
not talking much. The fire crackled softly, the
only sound breaking the eerie silence of the woods.
Every few minutes, one of us would glance at the trees, like
we were expecting something to come charging out at any moment.
Isaac, sitting across from me, suddenly looked up.
Stay close to the fire. He muttered, his voice low and
shaky. Don't wander off.
Matt tried to lighten the mood, forcing a laugh.
Come on, Isaac, it's probably just Sam playing some dumb
prank. He's probably watching us right
now, laughing his head off. Isaac didn't laugh.
Sam's gone, and it's not a prank.
His eyes flicked toward the woods.
It's out there, waiting. I felt a chill run down my
spine. The fire light flickered,
casting long shadows across the clearing.
The trees usually so still seemed to shift and sway, like
something was moving between them.
That's when we heard it. Matt.
It was Sam's voice, calling softly from the darkness.
We all froze, listening. The voice came again, closer
this time. Matt, help me.
Matt jumped to his feet, looking toward the trees.
Sam, is that you? He grabbed a flashlight and took
a step forward, but Isaac shot up and grabbed his arm.
Don't. Isaac hissed, his grip tight.
That's not Sam. But Matt pulled free, shaking
his head. I'm not leaving him out there,
he needs help. Without another word, Matt
disappeared into the trees, his flashlight beam bouncing wildly
as he ran toward the voice. Matt, I called after him, but he
was already gone. Isaac cursed under his breath
and turned to me and Tyler. Stay by the fire, don't move.
For a moment it was dead silent. Then the scream came.
It was high pitched, full of terror, Matt's voice echoing
through the trees. The sound made my blood turn
cold. We all stood there, staring at
the dark woods, but none of us moved.
I wanted to run after him, to help him, but my legs wouldn't
move. Isaac was right.
Whatever was out there, it wasn't Sam.
And now it had Matt. As we stood there, frozen in
fear, I heard it again. Footsteps, slow and deliberate,
circling the edge of the clearing.
Something was watching us, stalking us just out of sight.
I felt the weight of its gaze, and a voice whispered in the
back of my mind. You're next.
I had never been so scared in my life.
Matt was gone, taken by whatever was out there in the woods.
And now it was just me, Isaac, and Tyler.
We sat huddled by the fire, barely speaking.
The only sound was the crackling of the flames and the occasional
gust of wind rustling the trees. But the worst part wasn't the
silence. It was the feeling that
something was watching us, stalking us, waiting for the
right moment to strike. Isaac was the first to break the
silence. We need to get out of here now.
Tyler shook his head, his face pale in the dark.
We'll never make it. Isaac's eyes were wild.
If we stay here, we're dead. It's already taken.
Sam and Matt, we're next. I glanced toward the trees, my
stomach churning with fear. I wanted to run, to get as far
away from this place as possible, but the woods were so
dark, so thick, it felt like they were closing in on us, like
the trees themselves were alive. But Isaac was right.
We couldn't stay here. Whatever was out there, it
wasn't going to stop. Isaac grabbed a flashlight and
pointed toward the old logging Rd.
The trucks. That way we can make it if we
stick together. I nodded, my heart pounding.
Tyler, still shaking, reluctantly got to his feet.
We started walking, our flashlights barely cutting
through the darkness. Every snap of a twig, every
rustle of leaves made my heart race.
The shadows seem to move around us, twisting and shifting as we
stumbled through the forest. Keep moving.
Isaac whispered, his voice barely audible.
Don't stop. We hadn't gone far when I heard
it again, a voice calling my name.
Eli. It was my mom's voice, My real
mom back home. Soft, comforting, the way she
used to call me for dinner when I was a kid.
But I knew it couldn't be her. She was miles away, safe at
home. I felt a cold sweat drip down my
back. Isaac stopped and turned to me,
his eyes wide. Ignore it, he said.
That's how it tricks you. But the voice came again, closer
this time. Eli, come here.
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block it out, but the voice
was so real. My feet felt heavy, like they
wanted to move on their own, like something was pulling me
toward the sound. I fought the urge to run into
the woods. I knew that whatever was calling
me wasn't my mom. It was the thing that had taken
Sam and Matt. Suddenly, a loud crash came from
the trees to our left. Tyler screamed and bolted,
running blindly into the darkness.
Isaac and I shouted after him, but it was too late, he was
gone. We have to go.
Isaac grabbed my arm, dragging me forward.
We ran, the forest closing in around us, the footsteps behind
us getting louder. I didn't dare look back.
I knew it was right behind me, breathing down my neck, but I
couldn't stop. Finally, we burst out onto the
logging Rd. the truck just ahead.
Isaac fumble with the keys, his hands shaking.
The footsteps stopped. For a moment, everything was
quiet, too quiet. Then I saw it.
In the distance, standing just at the edge of the trees, was a
figure. Its skin was stretched too tight
over its bones, its eyes glowing yellow.
It smiled, but its mouth was too wide, too sharp.
Isaac got the truck started, and we speed off down the road.
But as we drove, I looked into the rear view mirror.
The figure was still there, standing in the middle of the
road, watching us leave. And then it smiled again, its
glowing eyes burning into me. I'll never go back to those
woods, not after what I saw, what I lived through.
The forest might seem peaceful from the outside, but I know the
truth now. It hides something dark,
something ancient and hungry. The memory of those glowing
yellow eyes and that twisted smile haunts my every thought.
No matter how far I run, Isaac never talks about it, and I
won't either. But one thing's for sure, I'll
never set foot near that place again.
The forest can keep its secrets, and I'll keep mine.
I always hated long drives, especially through places like
the Rocky Mountains. The roads were narrow, winding
around cliffs, and the trees felt like they were closing in
on us the further we went. Greg, on the other hand, seemed
to love every minute of it. His hands were steady on the
wheel, a grin plastered on his face as he talked about all the
hikes and camping trips he'd been on recently.
I hadn't been out in the woods for years, not since we were
kids. Man, it's going to be just like
old times. Greg said, his voice full of
excitement. I nodded, trying to act like I
wasn't nervous, but truth was, I didn't feel great about this
trip. It wasn't just the long drive or
the isolation, it was the idea of being so far from everything.
No cell signal, no other people, just us and miles of wilderness.
I liked the city, Greg was more of an outdoors guy, but I
couldn't shake this feeling in my gut that something was off.
The sun was starting to dip behind the mountains when we
finally pulled up to the spot Greg had talked about all week.
The clearing was bigger than I expected, surrounded by thick,
towering pine trees. The air smelled fresh, almost
too clean. It was so quiet.
No cars, no people, just the rustling of leaves in the
breeze. I got out of the car, stretching
my legs and taking in the view. The rocky peaks loomed in the
distance, jagged and sharp, casting long shadows over the
forest. Perfect, right?
Greg asked, already pulling gear out of the car.
Yeah, I muttered, not really convinced.
I felt exposed, like something was watching us from the tree
line. I shook the thought away,
telling myself I was just being paranoid.
We set up the tents, gathered some firewood, and soon had a
campfire crackling in the middle of the clearing.
Gregg popped open a couple of beers, tossing one to me.
We sat by the fire, the warmth pushing away the cool evening
air, and started talking about old times.
You remember the last time we camped out here?
Gregg asked, poking at the fire with a stick.
Yeah, when we were like, 15, right?
He laughed. You freaked out when that
raccoon got into the food? I chuckled, feeling a little
more relaxed. But then I heard it.
A rustling sound coming from the woods.
It was faint at first, like something brushing against the
branches. I froze, my eyes darting toward
the trees, but I couldn't see anything.
Greg kept talking, not noticing. The sound stopped, and I shook
my head, thinking it was probably just an animal.
But a few minutes later, I heard it again.
This time it was louder, closer. I glanced at Greg, but he hadn't
heard it yet. The rustling turned into a low
growl, like something big moving through the underbrush.
My heart started to race, and I leaned forward, staring into the
dark woods. Greg.
I whispered, my voice shaking a little.
Do you hear that? He stopped mid sentence, turning
toward the trees. For a moment, the woods were
silent again, but then there was another noise, something that
made my skin crawl. It wasn't just the growl this
time, it was something heavier, like footsteps.
Greg and I sat frozen by the fire, straining to hear any more
sounds from the woods. The growling and footsteps had
stopped, but the silence that followed felt even worse.
My heart was pounding, and I could feel the hairs on the back
of my neck standing up. I turned to Greg, hoping he'd
laugh it off, but his face was serious now, his eyes scanning
the trees. You heard that right?
I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Yeah. Gregg said, standing up slowly.
He grabbed his flashlight and knife from his pack and handed
me a second flashlight. Stay close.
We stood up, shining our lights toward the edge of the clearing.
The beams cut through the darkness, but the shadows
between the trees were thick and deep.
For a moment, everything was still.
Then I saw it. Just beyond the light, something
moved. It was quick, a flash of a
figure darting behind a tree. My breath caught in my throat.
Did you see that? I gasped, gripping my flashlight
tighter. Greg nodded, his jaw clenched.
Yeah, I saw it. We both stepped closer to the
fire, trying to see whatever was out there.
The forest was so quiet now, too quiet.
My heart was beating so loudly in my chest, I was sure whatever
was out there could hear it. Then we heard the growl again.
Low, guttural, and way too close.
I swung my flashlight in the direction of the sound, and
that's when I saw it. Standing just beyond the fire
light, half hidden behind a tree, was the most horrifying
thing I'd ever seen. It was tall, much taller than a
person, and hunched over like it didn't quite fit into its own
skin. Its body was twisted with
patches of fur and skin stretched too tightly over its
bones. The face, if you could even call
it a face, looked like a warped version of a human, but wrong in
every way. The eyes glowed in the light,
reflecting back at us in a way that made my stomach turn.
What the, what is that? I whispered, my mouth dry with
fear. Greg didn't answer right away,
he just stared at it, his face pale in the glow of the fire.
Finally, he spoke, his voice shaking a little.
I think it's a skinwalker. A what?
I asked, my mind spinning. I had heard of them before, old
Native American legends about creatures that could take on the
shape of animals or even humans. But that was just folklore,
wasn't it? Before I could say anything
else, the thing let out a sound, a screech like nails on a
chalkboard mixed with the growl of a wild animal.
It was so loud it felt like it went straight through my chest.
Greg and I stumbled back, our lights shaking as we tried to
keep the creature in our sights. Back to the fire.
Greg muttered, his voice tight with fear.
Stay near the fire. We move closer to the flames,
our flashlights trained on the spot where the creature had
been, but it was gone. The woods were quiet again, but
I knew it was still out there, lurking just beyond the light,
watching us. Greg, what do we do?
I asked, my voice barely steady. We wait.
Greg said, eyes fixed on the darkness.
And we hope it doesn't get any closer.
But I had a sinking feeling that it was just beginning.
I didn't sleep at all that night, neither did Greg.
We stayed huddled close to the fire, our flashlights pointed
toward the dark woods, waiting for any sign of that thing.
Every rustle, every shift in the wind made my heart race, but the
creature never showed itself again.
By morning, the fire was just glowing embers, and my eyes
stung from exhaustion. I glanced at Gregg, his face
pale and tired. Neither of us had spoken much
after what happened. We didn't need to.
We both knew what we saw, and whatever it was, we weren't
sticking around to find out more.
We need to go. Greg finally said, breaking the
silence. His voice was shaky, not like
the confident guy I knew. Pack everything up, we'll take
the short trail back. I didn't argue.
My hands were shaking as I stuffed my sleeping bag into my
pack, my eyes darting around, afraid the thing would come back
any second. The air felt thick, heavy, like
the woods were watching us. The sky was overcast, casting a
Gray, eerie light over everything.
We packed quickly, barely speaking, and started moving.
Greg led the way, his eyes constantly scanning the trees.
I followed close behind, gripping my flashlight.
Even though the sun was up, I didn't trust the daylight to
keep us safe. The trail wasn't an official
one, just a path Greg knew from years of camping here.
It was narrow, winding through thick trees and brush.
After a few minutes, the campfire clearing was long
behind us, and all I could see were endless trees.
The farther we went, the more uneasy I felt.
It was like the forest was closing in on us, the trees
crowding together, blocking out the light.
We walked in silence for a while, the only sounds our
footsteps crunching on the forest floor and the occasional
snap of a twig. Every now and then I'd glance
over my shoulder, sure I saw movement in the shadows, but
nothing was there, at least not that I could see.
We should be getting close to the car.
Gregg muttered after what felt like hours, but there was a
strange tone in his voice, Uncertainty.
He kept looking around, like something wasn't right.
That's when I heard it again, that low, familiar growl.
My blood ran cold. Gregg.
I whispered, stopping dead in my tracks.
It's here. Gregg froze, his eyes going
wide. The growl came again, louder
this time, from somewhere off to our right.
It was followed by heavy footsteps, slow and deliberate,
like it wanted us to hear it coming.
We need to keep moving. Gregg hissed, But as soon as we
started walking again, the sound followed us.
The growling, the footsteps, They stayed just out of sight,
but always close, too close. Suddenly, Gregg stopped, cursing
under his breath. This isn't right.
He muttered, spinning in a circle.
We should have hit the car by now.
What are you talking about? I asked, panic rising in my
chest. We've been walking for hours.
Gregg's face was pale. We're going in circles.
I don't know how, but we're trapped.
The realization hit me like a punch to the gut.
No matter how far we walked, we weren't getting out of the woods
and that thing, whatever it was, was still following us, waiting
for the perfect moment. We were trapped, and there was
no escape. We were lost, completely,
utterly lost. The trees all looked the same,
and no matter which way we turned, it felt like we were
walking in circles. Greg was breathing hard, his
face pale as he kept looking around.
I could tell he was trying to stay calm, but I knew the truth.
He was just as scared as I was. The thing in the woods was still
there, tracking us. I could hear it, those slow,
heavy footsteps, always just behind us.
It never showed itself, but it made sure we knew it was there.
It was playing with us like a predator, waiting for the right
moment to strike. We have to keep moving.
Greg said, his voice tense. He grabbed my arm and pulled me
along. If we stop, it'll catch up.
I didn't argue. I could feel the panic rising in
my chest, my heart pounding in my ears.
Every time we turned a corner, I expected to see that twisted
creature standing there, waiting, but it never did.
It stayed hidden, just out of sight, taunting us.
As we walked, the sun started to go down again.
The light filtering through the trees grew dimmer, and the
shadows stretched longer across the ground.
The woods felt even more suffocating now, the air heavy
and thick. We couldn't be stuck out here
another night. I didn't think we'd survive.
We can't do this, Greg. I said, my voice shaking.
We need to stop, make another fire or something.
Greg shook his head, his eyes wild.
No, if we stop, it'll get us. We have to keep moving.
But I could tell he didn't know where to go.
We were just wandering deeper into the woods, getting more
lost with every step. Suddenly, we heard a voice.
Help me. It was faint, coming from
somewhere ahead of us, but the voice, it sounded exactly like
Greg. My stomach dropped.
Greg and I looked at each other, both of us frozen in fear.
That's not me. Greg whispered, his face pale.
Help me, please. The voice called again, more
desperate this time. I knew what it was.
It was the skinwalker, mimicking Greg's voice, trying to lure us
deeper into the forest. My skin crawled as the voice
grew louder, closer. We can't follow it.
I said, my voice barely a whisper.
I know. Greg replied, his eyes wide with
terror. But what do we do?
Before I could answer, the voice changed.
Now it sounded like me. Greg, over here.
I'm hurt. I felt sick to my stomach.
The creature wasn't just following us, it was inside our
heads, using our own voices to trick us.
Suddenly, the footsteps stopped. Everything went silent.
The air was so still it felt like the forest was holding its
breath. Then, from behind a tree, it
appeared. The skinwalker stepped into the
fading light. Its body twisted and deformed,
barely human. Its face shifted, warping
between Greg's face and mine, as if it was trying to decide which
one of us to become. Its eyes gleamed in the dark,
and it let out a low, growling laugh.
I couldn't move, I couldn't breathe.
We're going to die here. I whispered, barely able to form
the words. Greg grabbed my arm, pulling me
back. Run.
We bolted, sprinting through the trees, not looking back.
The Skinwalker let out a screech, its footsteps pounding
behind us. Faster, closer.
My legs burned and my lungs felt like they were on fire, but I
didn't stop. I couldn't.
Somehow. We burst into a small clearing,
and in the distance I could see the road, our car sitting on the
side of it like a lifeline. I gasped in relief, pushing
myself harder, my legs screaming in pain.
We were almost there, but then Greg screamed.
I turned just in time to see him pulled back into the trees.
His voice cut off. The skinwalker had him, and I
knew I was next. The road twisted like a black
ribbon through the dense Pines, the occasional flicker of
sunlight breaking through the canopy overhead.
Beside me, Sarah sat quietly, her fingers nervously tapping
the map spread across her lap. She was always cautious, always
worried about details. I loved her for that.
But sometimes, like today, it set me on edge.
We should have stuck to the main trails.
She said, her voice barely rising above the hum of the
tires on the dirt Rd. Relax.
I replied, glancing over with what I hoped was a reassuring
smile. It's going to be fun.
Ben's got a good feeling about this spot.
Ben always has a good feeling about everything.
She muttered, her eyes shifting to the rear view mirror.
I followed her gaze. Ben and Lisa were in the car
behind us, the dust from our tires trailing back to them like
a signal flare. Ben had talked me into this
hike, a weekend away from the world, deep into the Uintas.
We'd both needed it. Truth be told, things at work
had been stressful, and Sarah and I, well, we could use a
little adventure to break the routine.
But as we left the last sign of civilization, a small one street
town that barely warranted A dot on the map, I could feel the air
between us shifting. I just don't see why we had to
go this far. Sarah pressed.
The guy at the gas station, did you see the way he looked at us?
I shrugged, keeping my eyes on the road.
Locals always get weird when out of towners roll through.
Small towns are like that. No, Mike, he didn't just look at
us weird, he warned us. I chuckled, though it sounded
forced even to me. Yeah, I heard him.
There are places here no one should walk after dark.
It's just local superstition trying to scare the city folk.
Yeah, well, it worked. Sarah's voice had a sharp edge
now. She folded the map and stuffed
it into her bag, staring out the window as the forest grew
thicker around us. It wasn't just her.
I could feel the weight in the air, too.
Maybe it was the isolation. Maybe it was just the way the
light barely touched the forest floor, leaving long, deep
shadows that seemed to stretch with every mile.
Finally, the road ended in a small, overgrown clearing.
I pulled up next to a towering pine, killed the engine, and
stepped out into the stillness. Behind us, Ben and Lisa's car
rolled to a stop, the sound of their doors slamming breaking
the silence like a gunshot. Nice spot.
Ben called out, his voice too loud for the place.
Lisa followed behind him, quiet as ever.
She didn't seem too thrilled about the deep woods, either,
but Ben had a way of bulldozing over other people's concerns.
Yeah, I said, stretching my arms.
It's something. Sarah was already unloading her
pack from the trunk, her movements jerky and too fast,
like she wanted to be prepared before something happened.
I shot Ben a look, but he just shrugged.
We'll be fine, man. You worry too much.
Maybe, but something about this place felt off.
The air was too still, the woods too quiet, and as we move deeper
into the forest, I couldn't shake the feeling that something
was watching us from just beyond the trees.
Something patient. The fire crackled in front of
us, but it did little to chase away the dark.
Sarah sat across from me, chewing on the edge of her
sleeve, eyes darting to the tree line every few seconds.
Lisa sat next to her, quiet as always, hands gripping her
knees. Ben, of course, was trying to
lighten the mood with another one of his damn stories, but
even his voice sounded forced, hollow.
So there I was, knee deep in the river, and this trout, swear to
God, at least three feet long, comes out of nowhere.
I grabbed the rod, set the hook, and a sharp crack from the woods
cut him off. All of us froze, staring into
the blackness beyond the firelight.
My heart jumped into my throat. It wasn't the first time we'd
heard something, but this time it was closer, too close.
The kind of sound that made you realize how little the fire
protected you. It was just an island of light
in a sea of dark. Probably a deer.
Ben said after a pause, but even he didn't believe it.
His eyes flickered to me, looking for reassurance, but I
had none to give. Sarah leaned forward, her face
lit by the flames, shadows making her look drawn and
scared. Mike, I swear I heard voices
earlier, just faint, like, like someone whispering, but not in
English. I forced a laugh.
Wind in the trees, SAR, that's all it is.
But she shook her head, her eyes wide and shiny.
No, it wasn't the wind, it sounded human.
Ben snorted. Come on, Sarah, we're miles from
anything. Probably just some animal making
weird noises. Animals don't sound like people,
Ben. She snapped, the fear breaking
through her usual calm. You heard the old man in town.
There are things out here. Maybe we should have listened.
Ben raised his hands in mock surrender.
Oh, right, the creepy local guy. Yeah, sure, Probably just trying
to scare the tourists. Before anyone could say anything
else, a faint voice echoed from the trees.
All of us whipped around, staring into the darkness.
The voice was soft, almost too soft to hear, but it was there.
It sounded like Sarah, but she was sitting right in front of
me. Did you hear that?
Lisa whispered, barely audible. I did.
Sarah said, her voice tight. And it was me, it was my voice.
I swallowed hard, my mouth dry. The firelight felt weaker now,
like the darkness was creeping in closer, smothering it.
OK, no one panic. I said, trying to keep my voice
steady. It's got to be an echo or
something. But my heart wasn't in it.
Deep down I knew this wasn't some natural phenomenon.
My gut told me this was wrong, all wrong.
The forest wasn't just quiet anymore, it was holding its
breath like it was waiting. Another snap, this time closer.
The same voice again, Clear as day now.
Mike. It was Sarah's voice, but
distorted, drawn out, mocking. I stood, my legs shaky, staring
into the dark, trying to see where the sound was coming from,
but all I could see were shadows and something just at the edge
of the fire, light moving between the trees, Too tall, too
thin. Ben stood beside me, his face
pale. What the hell is that?
I don't know. I whispered, heart pounding.
But we need to go now. We didn't waste any time.
The moment that thing appeared, standing too tall, its limbs too
long, we packed up fast. The fire was still burning when
I yanked my pack over my shoulders, and Sarah was right
behind me. Ben kept talking, muttering
under his breath about how he wasn't scared, but I could see
the fear in his eyes. Hell, I could feel it in my
bones. We'll head back to the cars.
I said, trying to take control. It's only a couple of miles.
We stick together, no one goes off alone.
Sarah nodded, her eyes wide, reflecting the fire light like a
deer caught in headlights. Just go, Mike, let's just go.
Ben threw a look over his shoulder, still acting tough.
It's probably some kind of animal, maybe a bear.
Or that wasn't a bear, Ben. I snapped.
I don't know what it was, but it wasn't any animal I've ever
seen. Let's just move.
We started down the trail, but it didn't feel like the same
path we had come up on earlier. The trees loomed over us, their
branches twisting together to block out the moonlight.
The further we walked, the quieter it became.
No wind, no rustling leaves, just our footsteps crunching
against the forest floor and the occasional crack of a branch
behind us, too close for comfort.
Every now and then I heard it, that voice, my name drifting
through the woods like it was floating on the breeze.
But it wasn't my voice anymore. Sometimes it sounded like Sarah,
other times Ben. Every time it called, I
flinched. I could feel Sarah tense beside
me, her hand gripping my arm like a vice.
We're being followed. She whispered, her breath hot
against my ear. I know.
I said, keeping my voice low. Don't look back.
It wasn't long before Ben cracked.
He was trying to keep his cool, but the longer we walked, the
more he muttered under his breath.
This is stupid. We should stop.
We're lost. I don't even recognize this
trail anymore. We're not stopping, I said, not
slowing down. We're almost there, but I wasn't
sure. The trees had started closing
in, the trail narrowing, twisting in ways it hadn't
before. I kept thinking we were making
progress, but every time I glanced around, everything
looked the same, like we were going in circles.
And that's when I realized maybe we were.
Ben suddenly stopped, turning to face me, his eyes wild.
We're never getting out of here, are we?
We're just going in circles. Keep it together, Ben.
I warned, stepping toward him. We'll get out.
But his eyes darted around, like he was seeing things I couldn't.
You don't hear that? He asked, his voice rising.
It's it's us. I hear our voices out there.
I tried to grab him, to keep him from running, but he was gone
before I could stop him, crashing into the trees.
Ben, wait. Sarah screamed, and then
silence. No rustling, no footsteps, just
stillness. We waited one minute, then two.
Then came the scream. High pitched, raw and full of
terror. It ripped through the forest
like a gunshot. Ben's voice, but as quickly as
it started, it was gone. I stared into the darkness, my
heart hammering. We have to go after him, I said,
though every part of me wanted to turn and run.
No, Sarah said, pulling me back. Mike, that wasn't him.
At the end, it sounded like him, but it wasn't.
I didn't argue, because I knew deep down she was right.
I don't know how long we stood there, frozen, waiting for
something to happen. Maybe a minute, maybe 10, but
nothing came out of the woods after Ben, and no more screams
followed the first. Just silence.
A heavy, suffocating silence that clung to the air like fog.
We can't stay here. Sarah said, her voice trembling.
Whatever that thing is, it's hunting us.
She was right, I felt it too. The air had changed.
It was colder now, like the life had been sucked out of the
forest. I glanced at Lisa.
She hadn't spoken in a while, her eyes wide, staring at the
darkness, like she was trying to see something beyond the trees,
something she hoped wasn't there.
Lisa. I said softly, trying to snap
her out of it. We need to keep moving.
Ben's gone, but we have to get back to the car.
She blinked, then slowly nodded, but her movements were
mechanical, like her mind was somewhere else entirely.
I wasn't sure how much longer any of us could keep it
together. Hell, I wasn't sure how much
longer I could keep it together. I glanced at the trail, or what
I thought was the trail. The path seemed to shift,
twisting in ways that didn't make sense.
We had to be close to where we started, but everything looked
the same, too much the same, Like the woods were playing a
trick on us, looping us back over and over.
And then there were the voices. Mike.
The whisper came again, Sarah's voice this time, soft and
pleading from somewhere deeper in the forest.
But Sarah was standing right next to me, gripping my arm
tight enough to hurt. Don't listen, I whispered to
her. It's trying to mess with us.
We started walking again, slower this time, every snap of a twig
setting me on edge. The trail seemed to stretch out
forever, and with each step I felt the weight of the trees
pressing in, suffocating us. I kept thinking about Ben, about
the way he'd run off, the way his scream had been cut short.
What if it had him now? What if it was wearing his face?
I didn't want to think about it, but the thought crept in anyway.
Then the clearing appeared. I don't know how we stumbled
into it, but suddenly the trees opened up, revealing a strange
circle of stones, old, covered in Moss and carvings I couldn't
make out in the dim light. The air was different here,
thicker, like we'd stepped into a place where the rules didn't
quite apply. What is this?
Sarah asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
I don't know, I said, but I could feel it, the wrongness of
it. This was where it wanted us.
We'd been LED here. That's when I saw it.
Just beyond the stones, a figure, tall and gaunt, stepping
out from behind a tree. Only it wasn't just a figure, it
was Ben, or at least it looked like him.
But his eyes, his eyes were hollow, glowing faintly in the
dim light. He smiled, too wide, too
unnatural. Mike.
He said, but his voice wasn't right.
It was too smooth, too perfect. It mimicked him.
But I knew deep down that wasn't Ben, not anymore.
Run. I whispered to Sarah, my voice
barely working. Run.
But it was too late. The thing, whatever it was, was
moving toward us, and as it stepped into the clearing, its
face began to change, twisting and shifting, becoming something
else, something worse. And in that moment, I realized
we were never going to make it out.
The last thing I heard before the world went black was my own
voice calling Sarah's name from the shadows.
I could feel the chill in the air as we set out, the crisp
morning mist clinging to the trees.
It was our first day of the hunting trip, and I was excited,
but something felt off. The forest was quiet, too quiet.
Usually you could hear birds rustling leaves or the distant
crack of branches, but today it felt like the whole place was
holding its breath. Come on, Matt.
Jake said, nudging me with his elbow.
Lighten up man, you're acting like something's watching us.
I forced to laugh. I'm fine, just focused on
tracking. Brian.
My cousin wasn't talking much. He was always a bit jumpy in the
woods, especially after hearing old stories from his
grandfather. He believed in all that stuff,
Spirits, curses, and skinwalkers.
Jake and I, we didn't buy into it, at least not until that day.
We move deeper into the forest, following the trails we'd
scouted the night before. The sun was climbing higher, but
the light barely made it through the thick canopy of trees.
My boots crunched against the ground, but the sounds seemed
too loud in the eerie silence. I could feel the hairs on the
back of my neck standing up, like something was just off.
Look. Brian said, his voice low.
I followed his gaze and froze. In the clearing ahead was the
body of an elk, but not like anything I'd ever seen.
The thing was torn apart, its belly ripped open, guts spilling
out like someone had sliced it with a knife.
Its eyes were wide, staring at nothing.
What the hell did this? Jake whispered, kneeling next to
the carcass. He poked at it with the barrel
of his rifle, but I could tell he was as freaked out as I was.
Bear. No way, I said, shaking my head.
Bears don't do this. They don't leave their kills
this clean. The cuts were too perfect, too
precise. It looked like something out of
a horror movie. Brian stepped back, his face
pale. We need to go now.
I tried to laugh it off. Come on, Brian, don't start with
the Skinwalker stuff. I'm serious, Matt, he said, his
voice trembling. I've heard stories about things
like this. We're not supposed to be here.
Jake snorted, but even he wasn't cracking jokes anymore.
Man, you're really starting to freak me out.
I wanted to tell them both to calm down, that there was a
logical explanation, but deep down I felt it too.
The sense that we weren't alone. The trees around us seem to
close in the shadows, longer, darker.
We'll head back. I said, forcing a grin.
I didn't feel no need to freak out.
As we turned to leave, I caught movement out of the corner of my
eye, something slipping between the trees, just out of sight.
I spun around, heart racing, but there was nothing there, just
the silent woods and the cold still air.
We're being watched. Brian whispered.
I didn't argue, we were, I could feel it.
Something was out there, something that wasn't going to
let us leave easily. We started walking faster, but
the forest felt different now, and whatever was out there, it
was following us. By the time we made it back to
the cabin, the sun had almost set and a thick fog had rolled
in, making everything look blurry and strange.
The small wooden cabin sat on the edge of the forest, its old
boards creaking in the evening wind.
We hurried inside, locking the door behind us like it could
somehow keep whatever was out there from getting in.
Man, what was that? Jake asked, his voice shaking.
He threw his gear down by the fireplace and started pacing.
You both saw something, right? It wasn't just me.
I nodded. My heart's still pounding.
I saw it. Something big moving through the
trees. I didn't want to admit how
scared I was, but I knew Jake and Brian felt the same.
You could see it in their faces. Brian was standing near the
window, peeking out through the small gap in the curtains.
His face was pale, and he was gripping his rifle like it was
his only lifeline. It followed us, he whispered.
I know it did. The cabin felt too small, too
fragile. Every Creek in the wood, every
gust of wind made me jump. I kept telling myself we were
safe inside, but I couldn't shake the feeling that we
weren't alone. Night fell quickly, and with it,
the noises started. At first, it was just the sound
of leaves crunching outside, like footsteps creeping around
the cabin. We all froze, staring at the
door, hoping it was just an animal.
But the footsteps didn't stop. They circled the cabin slowly,
pausing near the windows, then starting up again.
What do you think it is? Jake whispered, his voice barely
audible. I don't know.
I replied, not wanting to say what was really on my mind.
Brian's stories about skinwalkers kept echoing in my
head. Then the footsteps stopped.
Complete silence. We didn't move, didn't breathe,
straining to hear anything in the thick quiet.
I glanced at the others, their eyes wide with fear, when
suddenly thump. Something hit the roof hard.
We all jumped, and Jake cursed under his breath.
The sound came again, a heavy, deliberate thud, like something
or someone was walking on top of the cabin.
Ryan gripped his rifle tighter. It's trying to find a way in.
I grabbed my flashlight and pointed it at the ceiling, but
of course I couldn't see anything through the wooden
beams. The scraping started next, like
claws or nails dragging across the roof, slowly, methodically.
Whatever was up there wanted us to know it was close.
Then, from outside the door, we heard it.
My voice let me in. The words were calm, but they
were my voice, no doubt about it.
But I was inside with the others, staring at the door in
horror. That's not you, Jake said,
backing away. That's not you.
I know, I whispered, my hands trembling.
We all stood frozen, terrified, as the thing on the roof moved
again, making its way to the edge.
And then silence. No footsteps, no scratching,
nothing. We can't stay here, Brian
whispered. It's playing with us.
It's waiting. And deep down, I knew he was
right. Whatever was out there, it
wasn't done with us yet. The next morning came too
slowly, and none of us had slept.
Every noise outside the cabin kept us on edge, but by dawn it
seemed like whatever had stalked us through the night had gone.
The sun peeked through the thick trees, casting an eerie pale
light. We were still scared, but we had
no choice. We had to leave, we're getting
out of here now. I said, slinging my rifle over
my shoulder. My voice was steadier than I
felt. Brian didn't argue, he was
already packing his gear, his hands shaking as he zipped his
bag. Jake, usually the jokester,
wasn't saying a word. He just kept glancing at the
door like he expected something to breakthrough any second.
We packed quickly, too quickly, fumbling with our gear as if we
couldn't leave fast enough. The whole time, the cabin felt
like a trap, its wooden walls too thin to protect us from what
we had seen or heard the night before.
Once outside, the cold morning air hit my face, but it didn't
feel like a relief. It felt heavy, like the forest
itself was watching us. We didn't say much as we started
the hike back to the truck, keeping our eyes on the ground,
our senses on high alert. But as we walked, I couldn't
shake the feeling that creeping sensation in my gut, the same
one from yesterday, was back. We were being watched again.
The deeper we went into the woods, the more I noticed it.
The forest was too quiet. No birds, no wind rustling the
leaves, nothing. Just our footsteps crunching
against the ground. And then I saw it again, out of
the corner of my eye, a shadow darting between the trees.
Did you see that? Jake whispered, his voice
hoarse. I didn't want to scare him more,
but I nodded. Yeah, it's still out there.
Brian turned, his face pale, his eyes wide.
We need to hurry, it's hurting us.
Hurting us? I asked, confused.
It's leading us off course. Brian said, his voice shaking.
Making sure we don't get back to the truck.
That's when I realized it. We should have hit the Dirt Rd.
by now, the one that led to the truck, but all around us was
nothing but trees, Thick, dark trees that seemed to go on
forever. We're lost.
Jake said, panic creeping into his voice.
How are we lost? We need to calm down.
I said, trying to sound confident, but I could feel fear
crawling up my spine. I checked my compass, but the
needle spun wildly. Useless.
We're going to figure it out. But the forest had other plans.
A sudden rustling from the trees made us all stop in our tracks.
Something was moving fast, coming right at us.
Before I could react, the thing was gone, vanishing into the
shadows. I couldn't see it, but I felt
it. It was playing with us.
We have to run, Brian said, his voice tight with fear now.
Without another word, we took off, running through the trees
as fast as we could. My legs burned.
My breath came in gasps, but I couldn't stop.
I could hear it behind us, the sound of something crashing
through the forest, something faster than us.
We were running for our lives, and I wasn't sure we'd make it
out alive. We ran until our lungs burned
and our legs ached, but no matter how fast we moved, it
felt like the thing chasing us was always right behind.
Its presence was everywhere, the crashing of branches, the sound
of heavy footsteps that seemed to come from all directions.
I glanced back once and saw a shadow dart between the trees,
long and misshapen. It wasn't like anything I'd ever
seen before. Not human, not animal, something
in between. The fear was like ice in my
veins. We can't outrun it.
Brian gasped, stumbling as we made it into a small clearing.
It's too fast. He was right.
I could feel the thing closing in, its mocking whispers carried
on the wind. It sounded like us, like it was
mimicking our voices. Again I heard my own voice
calling from the trees. Come back, you can't escape, we
have to make a stand. I said, trying to sound braver
than I felt here now. Jake looked at me wide eyed, his
face pale. Are you crazy?
That thing, whatever it is, will tear us apart.
We don't have a choice. Brian said, his voice trembling
but steady. It's either fight or keep
running until it catches us. He was holding his rifle so
tightly his knuckles were white. The clearing wasn't much of a
safe spot, but it was all we had.
We quickly gathered what little we could find.
Branches, rocks, anything that could serve as a barrier or a
weapon. I wasn't sure what we were up
against, but I knew we couldn't keep running, not anymore.
We lit a small fire in the center, hoping it would at least
keep the thing at Bay. The flickering flames cast long
shadows, making the trees around us look like they were alive,
twisting and swaying. Every noise felt louder, every
breath felt heavier. Then it came.
At first we saw nothing, just the silence pressing down on us.
But soon the shape of the creature appeared at the edge of
the clearing, half hidden in the shadows.
It was tall, its body shifting, almost melting in and out of
different forms. 1 moment it looked like a wolf, the next
like a twisted, distorted human. Its eyes glowed red and its lips
curled into a sneer, like it was enjoying the fear it caused.
We can't let it get close. I whispered, raising my rifle.
My hands shook, but I aimed straight at the creature.
I fired once. Bang, but the thing barely
flinched. It was like the bullet passed
right through it, like it wasn't fully real.
It's not working. Jake cried, firing his own shot.
Panic surged through me. How could we fight something
that didn't follow the rules of this world?
Brian, though, was digging through his bag.
Wait. He yelled, pulling something
out. A small, ancient looking bone,
smooth and worn. This.
It fears the bones of its ancestors.
It's the only thing that can stop it.
Without thinking, Brian held the bone high in the air.
The creature hesitated, its form flickering like a bad TV signal.
It snarled, but didn't move closer.
For a moment, the world seemed to stop, the thing frozen in
place. Go.
I shouted. Now's our chance.
We didn't need to be told twice. We ran, the creature howling
behind us as we broke through the tree line and spotted the
road. Our truck was just ahead.
Salvation Insight. I could still feel it watching,
its hateful eyes burning into us, but we didn't look back.
We reached the truck, slammed the doors and floored it down
the dirt Rd. the engine roaring to life behind us.
The thing screamed, a sound so terrible, so inhuman, it echoed
in my head long after we speed away.
We had escaped, but I knew one thing for sure.
That creature, that skinwalker, would always be out there,
waiting in the shadows.