It might have been the peak of stupidity but there I was again
listening to those horror stories.
I was 12 and had just discovered an endless supply of Horror.
Every day followed the same routine waking up listening to
people read these stories and then being unable to sleep at
night. Now that I'm older I find it
humorous how I would regret it at night and then be filled with
excitement during the day. That's just who I was.
I had loved the idea of Cryptids and skinwalkers roaming in the
thick woods and deep in Mountain caves, but As I Grew Older and
my rational thinking overtook my naivety those thoughts became
just that thoughts. It may come as a surprise, but I
don't believe in the Supernatural.
With the digitalization of the world, how could there not be
video evidence of the supernatural?
Sure, there are videos out there some easier to debunk than
others that claim to have definitive proof of the
supernatural. I never found a video convincing
and as I studied CGI and sfx, well a video could no longer cut
it for me. I had to experience it.
I guess that's what pushed me into solo camping in the first
place experiencing something firsthand would change my entire
life and way of thinking it'd go beyond my thought that all we
were here for is to be just as a leaf blows in the Wind.
But let me reiterate this story. I'm about to tell isn't about
the supernatural know it's about a horror that scarier than any
ghoul ghost or Cryptid. It's about a horror that can
only be produced by one thing another human.
At the tail end of my last year in college.
I had finally decided what I wanted to do with my life.
I moved to Lexington Kentucky while continuing my studies of
CGI and special effects. I'm from New York and found that
Lexington provided the perfect balance of City Life and space
to keep me happy. On Friday nights, I'd go out on
the town and on Saturday nights. I choose to spend them out in
the wilderness. The Appalachian Mountains were
not accounting for the two-hour Drive practically in my
backyard. I was no stranger to the stories
and legends the Appalachian Trail held and the countless
warnings against solo camping. Still many did it and many
returned disappointed that their hopes of an unexplainable
occurrence were crushed. Nothing ever happened, but yet
the reputation of the trails grew darker.
Naturally if I wanted first-hand experience of something
otherworldly, this had to be the place to go.
The first time I went camping, I went with two of my co-workers
who were quickly becoming my best friends, Eric and Nate.
So do you believe all the stories I asked?
We had just gotten out of the city and were making our way
deeper into forested areas. Believe what Eric asked as he
drove us along with Nate in the passenger seat.
The skinwalkers and the urban legends, you know the don't be
out past dark stuff. Eric and Nate looked at each
other and then began laughing. What's so funny?
I asked while cracking a smile. Ah, nothing Nate side.
Just the longer you live here the more you'll get it.
So you don't believe it Eric followed the curve of the road
and up ahead. I could see trees becoming
thicker the seemingly ending Fields had turned into mountains
and small rocky Cliffs. I don't believe in a lot of
things but I tell you what, you will not see me out there alone.
Especially not at night. Nate scoffed there are only two
things to be scared of and they ain't only from these Woods.
Yeah. Yeah.
Okay, if you're so certain then what are they?
Eric asked just then I felt my ears pop. silence and darkness
if you've got those two things suddenly you're in a nightmare.
Sit alone in the dark and in your silent bedroom, you'll
start thinking things that aren't there.
Nate pointed to his Temple your mind is the most terrifying
place you can be. We pulled into a visitor center
deep in the Smoky Mountains and began the hike to our campsite a
couple of hours before noon. When asked where I would like to
Camp I told them the most reclusive and cut off place.
We could go Nate said he knew a spot but that it would take a
couple of hours of hiking I said, that was fine.
Hiking can for most people be very fun.
But there's another side to hike in that isn't known until you've
actually experienced it. It's grueling.
There are bugs sweat Hill's son. And if you aren't wearing the
proper shoes like Eric, there are also blisters.
Nate and I had a better time sure there were moments when I
felt each step, but when I looked up and around at where I
was those steps seemed to fade and then before I knew it we
were at our campsite. To call it a campsite was a
massive understatement. It was more of an open field
nothing more and nothing less. But it did offer one thing that
was unique. There was a shelter a little
over a mile away. After setting up our tent we
ventured to the shelter before it would be too dark.
We were about halfway there according to my estimation when
a sign on a tree caught my attention.
Rusted and Faded as can be at Red believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ, right underneath it were two tall Stones sticking out
from the ground gravestone. Eric said, he must have seen me
staring. I looked at Eric for what Eric
began walking past me and stopped.
I don't know but I have never seen a hidden burial ground this
hidden then Eric continued walking.
I hesitated for a moment taking one last glance.
The tree broke in light from the setting sunbathed the sign in
stones in an orange glow. And suddenly I had second
guesses about staying the night. You coming Eric yelled that
feeling disappeared. Yeah.
And I left the Rusted sign in Stones behind the shelter was
pretty underwhelming. From what I've come to learn
shelters have a sort of negative connotation to them.
The amount of bugs mice and snakes aren't the only
off-putting aspects of a shelter for hikers.
Sometimes shelters can be filled with campers and sleeping next
to someone you don't know in a secluded area is worse than any
mouse or snake. But there is one thing about
shelters that I didn't know about until that night.
There are shelter logs. For those who don't know some
shelters have a notebook for hikers to write in.
Its Nate's favorite part of hiking along the Appalachian
Mountains. He pulled the black notebook out
from a Ziploc bag. You can find good stories in
these things. It's fun to see the changes from
shelter to shelter. I asked what it was and Nate
explained it to me. We began from the beginning
everything from short dated logs to drawing that was until Nate
flipped to the last two pages. Holy crap.
He said Eric who was taking pictures was now intrigued.
What is it? Nate dropped the notebook
showing us. What was inside there from top
to bottom was the same phrase. God helped me.
It was written large and then small.
Sometimes the ink was dark and rips in the paper.
Other times the ink was thin and almost faded.
This is new writing. Nate said well, that's a bit
unsettling Eric nervously chuckled.
I grabbed the notebook for a closer look.
Man, I don't believe in God, but this is pretty creepy.
Nate took the notebook from my hands and put it back in the
ziplock bag. They probably just some kids
messing with everyone we need to get back.
Anyway, it's getting too dark. Nate was right by the time we
got back to Camp. The sun had completed its daily
rotation and plunged us into darkness.
And after starting a fire the night went by without any
complications. We roasted hot dogs burnt
s'mores told childhood stories and eventually tried our best to
sleep. I think I was the last one to
fall asleep. I remember thinking that night
just how vulnerable sleep truly is.
All of our senses are briefly shut down.
And for those who are heavy sleepers their muted senses
don't return until the body allows them to I was a heavy
sleeper and couldn't hear those nighttime forest sounds That
night was normal. And so were the other couple of
times I went camping with those two.
I had learned to appreciate the stiffness of the ground the dirt
the bugs and most importantly the quiet noises at night.
I don't know if it was the overconfidence or me being
naive. But today almost two months
later. I returned this time alone.
Nate gave me the address and the trail map.
This was all after I assured him that I wasn't going alone before
I left work that Friday afternoon.
He got real quiet. You have to be careful.
Of course I said no. He looked at me more seriously
than I had ever seen him. Look, I mean really careful.
What do you mean? He sighed last week.
I went camping just down the trail from where we all went.
Most hikers hike the same direction so logically I checked
the log from the next shelter in line.
There was nothing. Oh I said all right.
You don't get it man. There was nothing like what we
saw. No.
God save us no writing from the top to bottom not even a mention
of God. Wait, so bring your 9
millimeter. He said while walking back
towards his death. I know we told you not to bring
it last time. But this time I would And then
Nate disappeared around the corner.
The next day I arrived at the visitor center around noon.
With it being in the middle of summer the sun would stay out
for just a bit longer and without Eric stops.
I was in no rush. I made it to my campsite within
five hours. It was exactly as I remembered
it a small open field hardly with enough room to fit more
than a tenth and a campfire. The sun was still out but it was
late afternoon and nothing came quicker than Nightfall.
I settled in and then I said out to find that shelter after what
Nate told me the shelter log was the first thing on my mind.
I had no idea where exactly it was.
There were only two things. I knew one the general direction
and two there would be a distinct landmark.
And so I set off. If I could find that graveyard
then I knew I was on the right track.
I pushed through trees and bushes and wasn't too concerned
with stepping in the right spots because the moment I stopped and
looked up I saw it. That same rusted and Faded sign
only this time the G and God was faded almost completely off.
I approached the tree and placed a lantern from my bag on one of
the stones. I would be back here once night
hit. As I imagined the shelter wasn't
hard to get to after finding the hidden grave site.
It was in the same state of under as before.
I wouldn't imagine a hiker staying in this.
This time I noticed something carved into one of the logs.
It was tally marks and after counting.
I determined there were 57 tallies and that's when I
grabbed the shelter log. This time though the notebook
was significantly lighter than last time.
In fact, there were only a couple of sheets of paper in it.
I opened it to see the same. God save us messages.
And then I saw that all the other pages of logs were ripped
out. The next page was different only
slightly this time. God saved me was written from
top to bottom. I kept flipping the pages until
I read what sent chills down my spine.
Your God can't save me. For the previous Pages.
The handwriting was scribbled hard to read and ugly this time.
The handwriting was clean like it had come from a typewriter or
printer. I flipped the page immerse your
soul before your God fails you yet again.
I flip to the last page he's awake.
There was something very wrong. These were preaching of
religion. And if the messages weren't
enough the ink on the last page looked. wet the messages on the
last page had just been written. I suddenly felt as though
someone had been watching me. I threw the log down and looked
through the trees. It was all nothing but silence.
From what I could see there was no one near me.
No one watching me, but I knew I had to get away from that
shelter. I hiked away from that place and
kept looking behind. My nerves didn't calm until I
had made it to the hidden grave site.
To do what I had planned it needed to be night time.
I tied a string to a nearby tree and then made my way back to my
campsite. There I made dinner and when it
was too dark to see more than 20 feet in front of you.
I grabbed my nine millimeter and followed the string.
With a flash light you can hardly see in the dark.
Sure, it helps but it only illuminates the things near us
to you. What a flashlight in the dark
does more effectively is let anything else.
See you. I was thinking about that at the
time. Before long I was back at the
gravesite. I kneeled before the stones and
opened my bag. There I took out an EMF reader.
I had read that this would help me communicate with spirits and
where else would be a better spot than to ghost hunt by a
hidden grave site at night alone and in the middle of the Woods I
turned off my light but before I could turn on the EMF reader I
heard it. I see you.
It was a high pitched playful voice like a man trying to
intimidate a child. My heart dropped and beat out of
my chest all at once regret instantly filled my blood.
I had to be anywhere else but here I didn't respond and put my
hands over the flash light then I turned the flash light on with
my hands letting out a small amount of light.
I grabbed onto the string and Tiptoe Through the leaves.
Every second I prayed I wouldn't hear another Voice or more
leaves rustling other than my own.
Even when I saw my campfire, I didn't feel any relief.
I was a five-hour hike away from my car and at night the hike
would take much longer. I had no other thing to do but
stay the night. There was nothing interesting
for me to stay awake. I poured water on the fire and
then climbed into my tent. I brought everything inside my
tent including my nine millimeter.
In the middle of the woods and without the snoring of your
camping buddies, every sound is Amplified and imagined into
something that it's not. The small Breeze of a wind can
cause sticks to fall sounding like heavy footsteps.
The nightly routine of a raccoon can sound like a person walking
up to your tent. the howling of a coyote can sound like demented
screams of a lost hike or owl screeches crickets chirping,
cicadas buzzing all of these can play tricks on your mind.
Nate was right, your mind can turn nothing into something
horrid. This would already be true.
But with the pressing concern that I was not alone out here.
It wasn't the noises that got to me.
It was the anticipation of a noise.
Sitting in silence. Hoping that you don't hear
something is almost worse than actually hearing it.
And that's the state I laid in for an hour.
Holding my nine millimeter and paranoid.
I rested my head against my pillow praying that I had make
it through. My eyes became heavy my
breathing slowed. My senses started going out
starting with my smell and thankfully my hearing was last
to go out. Because just then I heard the
faintest laugh. My eyes shot open and adrenaline
took the place of melatonin. I gripped the 9-millimeter and
felt my heartbeat through my fingers help me this time the
voice was much louder and closer.
But once again sounded high pitched I didn't get a chance to
think or respond because just then I heard someone running
straight towards me. Leaves and branches flew through
the forest as this man flew towards me.
Get the hell back. I have a gun.
I yelled while raising the gun to the tent door. the man
stopped running For a moment there was a pained silence while
I began to feel tears fall down my eyes.
I want to see you again. Then I shot my gun.
I hadn't actually shot my gun without ear protection on.
I always heard that gunshots were loud and I was prepared for
it. or at least I thought I was a gunshot is louder than you to
imagine. My ears started ringing and I
couldn't tell whether the man left or stayed I couldn't move.
I laid their pointing the gun at the zipper until my body gave
out. Eventually, I fell asleep and
woke at sunrise. I don't imagine I need to
oversell how relieved I was once I had woken up, but I can't
begin to describe the despair. I felt when I slid open the
zipper to the tent. there on the ground in front of me was the
head of a bunny nothing else, but the head I screamed then in
horror being a heavy sleeper didn't just mean I tuned out
Eric and Nate snoring. It tuned out everything.
After grabbing my backpack and leaving my tent behind.
I made the hike back only putting away my nine millimeter
halfway down the mountain. I got home early in the
afternoon. I began to unpack my bag, but
there was something in it. That wasn't mine.
It was the shelter log that man was in my tent.
He saw me sleeping. Besides my cards in my wallet
being out of order. There was nothing else gone or
added. It's hard to remember the exact
way your wallet is but I always keep my debit first now.
It was in the middle. With the knowledge of what it
contained. I stared at the shelter log for
what seemed like forever. Eventually I couldn't take it
anymore. I had to open it.
The first couple of pages were the same religious scripture
what Terror the first pages had had nothing compared to the next
there was only one sentence on the next page.
I will see you again Caleb. And I started crying.
I don't know how he knew my name.
Then it clicked. My cards and my wallet were out
of order. He hadn't just been inside my
tent. He was all in my backpack.
But that was hardly the worst of it because if he had seen my ID,
my name wasn't the only thing on there my address was too.
I've never been much for rules not like some folks seem to be
you know, the type with their meticulous habits and
self-righteous talk about leaving the woods better than
they found them. My old man wasn't cut from that
cloth and neither am I. When we camped, it was about
Freedom the kind that doesn't sweat a trail of empty beer cans
or a crushed styrofoam cooler Left Behind.
The woods are old they'd survive us.
That Friday, I loaded up the back of my pickup a few crates
of beer a pack of hot dogs and my trusty old hammock.
My buddy from work had been running his mouth about some
overlooked an hour outside the city near the Saint Lucia
mountain range. Perfect spot to unwind he'd said
maybe he was right. I needed the kind of weekend
where the world shrunk down to a fire pit and a piece of Sky the
drive out. There was typical California
scenery Rolling Hills giving way to rugged Mountain Vistas.
By the time I turned off the main road the city noise had
faded replaced by the sound of my tires crunching on gravel and
dirt. I found the Overlook around noon
just as the day was heating up. It was more beautiful than I had
expected a sweeping view of the valley below thick with Greenery
and Silent as a promise. I set up camp with practice D's
slinging my hammock between two sturdy Pines and setting out my
fire logs. I wasn't planning on much maybe
read a bit or just watch the clouds roll by while I let the
calm of the place seep into my bones.
First order of business though was lunch.
I made a sandwich popped open a beer and rolled a joint to take
the edge off the week. It was as I settled into my
hammock the buzz of the high mingling with The Drowsy
afternoon heat that I first noticed them.
Just Silhouettes at first against the bright sky on the
Ridge across from me. My heart kicked up a notch
Rangers cops. I couldn't be sure.
They just stood there wide brimmed hats like something out
of an old cereal box cartoon. Not moving not speaking.
I watched them and they watched me.
My fire was small, but it would be visible from up there.
A chill ran down my spine despite the warmth of the day.
Why were they just standing there?
Did they expect me to pack up and leave or come down and slap
a fine in my hand? But as the sun dipped lower they
vanished as quietly as they had appeared.
I told myself I was being paranoid.
City nerves that didn't know how to handle the Deep Quiet of the
wilderness the rest of the evening passed in a haze of
smoke in the crackle of Fire I roasted my hot dogs as the
sunset. Painting the sky with Strokes of
orange and purple. By the time I crawled into my
hammock, the only sounds were the distant calls of nightbirds
in The Whisper Of The Wind Through the Trees.
But sleep didn't come easy. I twisted and turned the image
of those figures burned into the backs of my eyelids when I
finally drifted off it wasn't to rest but to dream They were
there in my dreams too those Watchers on the Ridge close
enough now that I could almost touch them.
They stood silent and judging their outlines sharp against the
firelight. And me I could only lie there
caught between sleep and waking wondering what they wanted from
me. The Morning Light crept through
the Pines like a slow apology, but it did nothing to ease the
weight of my dreams. I woke with a start half
expecting to find those silhouetted Watchers still
standing around my hammock. But there was only the empty
forest and the remains of last night's fire.
Maybe it had all been just a whiskey dream.
Stirred up by too much Solitude and the Eerie quiet of the
mountains. Still as I fired up the stove
for breakfast the egg sizzling in the pan couldn't drown out
the Whispers of unease that the back of my mind.
I scan the ridge repeatedly half expecting to see the Watchers
return with the morning missed. But the ridge remained empty and
I felt foolish for the fear that nagged at me.
I washed Down breakfast with a cold beer and decided a long
hike might clear my head. I packed up some beers in my
backpack slinging it over a shoulder as I said off deeper
into the woods. The forest was dense here the
sunlight dappling through the thick canopy overhead and every
snap of a twig underfoot echoed like a gunshot.
I tossed empty cans into the underbrush a breadcrumb trail of
aluminum and disregard telling myself.
It was no big deal. But the deeper I wandered the
more I couldn't shake the feeling that I wasn't alone.
It wasn't just the usual of wildlife or The Whisper of the
trees. It was like something was
watching me a presence. I felt in the pit of my stomach
the Shadows seemed to stretch and twist forming shapes that
were almost human almost too real.
I tried to laugh at all blame it on the beer and the isolation
but laughter died in my throat as quick as it came.
When I stumbled upon a stream its water clear and cold.
I plunged my face into it trying to wash away the cobwebs of
fear. My father's words echoed in my
mind running water is fine as I drank deeply but then a branch
snapped nearby sharpened close and I jerked upright water
dripping from my chin every sense suddenly alert.
I scan the trees heart hammering in my chest nothing moved, but
the feeling of being watched grew heavier more oppressive.
I felt it then a primal urge to flee the Instinct of a prey
animal when it knows a predator is near.
I didn't wait. I ran crashing through the
underbrush driven by a fear. I couldn't name.
The forest blurred passed a smear of green and brown until I
tripped over a root and went sprawling.
I lay their chest heaving waiting for the end.
I was sure was coming. But nothing happened only the
forest watching and waiting. When I finally stood it was with
a grim determination. I couldn't spend another night
here not with the shadows and the Watchers and The Whispers.
The walk back to Camp was torturous every Russell a threat
every shadow a watcher. By the time I got back the sun
was low and the fear had settled deep in my bones.
I couldn't bear to look at the ridge, but I couldn't keep my
eyes off at either. And there they were again just
as before Silhouettes against the dying light.
Dinner was a hasty of fair. I burnt the hot dogs my hands
shaking as I turned them over the fire.
The Watchers didn't move didn't speak.
But their silence was louder than any threat.
As Darkness fell I crawled into my hammock every muscle tensed
for flight. That night the forest seemed to
hold its breath. And as I lay there the Watchers
whispered their judgment and I finally understood I was the
Intruder here and it was time to make things right the final
night in the mountains arrived like a verdict.
Despite my attempts to rationalize the days Eerie
happenings a cold dread had settled deep within me one I
could no longer ignore. My hammock swayed gently as the
Shadows lengthened and the sun dipped behind the ridge casting
the forest in to an early Gloom. I lay there two frightened to
close my eyes watching The Ridge where the Watchers had stood.
As Twilight deepened into night. I couldn't shake the feeling
that something was about to change. something final and
terrified the air grew thick the usual sounds of the forest muted
as if nature itself held its breath in anticipation.
I strained my ears hoping for any sound that would break the
silence, but there was nothing only the oppressive thick quiet
of a forest two still. The ridge was a dark outline
against the starless sky, but I knew they were there. the
Watchers I could feel their eyes on me their silent judgment
heavier than the darkness itself.
The fire I had kept small and controlled flickered as if it
too felt the weight of their gaze its light stammering like a
failing heartbeat. Then as the last light of my
fire died down to glowing Embers they appeared.
Not on the ridge this time, but all around my campsite.
Shadows within Shadows darker than the night their forms more
distinct now more threatening. They were no longer merely
watching this time. They approached a slow and
deliberate procession that surrounded me.
There was no Escape. I tried to stand to flee into
the protective Embrace of the forest, but my legs wouldn't
obey. Paralyzed not by the cold, but
by an unearthly fear, I could only watch as they drew closer.
Each step seemed to drain the warmth from the are a creeping
chill that whispered of forgotten things ancient and
vengeful. The leader taller and more
imposing than the others stepped forward.
His silhouette was blurred like a smudge of Darkness.
But his presence was commanding Almost Royal in its disdain.
He carried a staff or perhaps. It was a branch twisted and
gnarled like the trees themselves.
He stopped just at the edge of the firelight.
The Embers casting Eerie Shadows across his formless face.
You have been warned his voice was the rustle of Dead Leaves
the crack of breaking branches. You have seen the signs yet you
persist in your ignorance. I tried to speak to plead for
understanding to explain that I had learned my lesson that I
would change but my voice was gone stolen by the wind that now
rows around us carrying with it the cold of the Deep Woods.
Too late. He whispered and the forest
echoed his verdict the womb of creation does not suffer fools.
With a sweeping motion. He brought the branch down
striking the ground with a force that seemed to shake the Earth
itself. The world spun the ground
beneath me opening up swallowing the light the warmth the very
air I breathed. And then there was nothing but
Darkness a suffocating all in compassing black that filled my
senses. I could no longer see the forest
the Watchers or the sky above. I was alone utterly alone in a
darkness that would never end. As I lay there consumed by the
void. The last thing I heard was the
fading Whisper of the forest a mournful sound that might have
been the wind or perhaps a final chilling farewell.
You will never desecrate these woods again.
You will remain forgotten as a warning to all.
The darkness was complete and I knew no more.
I never thought a small town like Millbrook could feel so
eerie. As soon as I stepped off the bus
I could tell this place was different.
The air felt heavy and even the way people glanced at me made me
shiver a little. I pulled my jacket tighter
around me clutching my bag, which held my camera notebook
and recorder tools of my trade as a freelance journalist who
chases stories about unknown creatures and spooky Legends.
I made my way through the narrow streets of the town to the only
in around called The Sleeping Bear.
It looked quaint and cozy from the outside with its flower
boxes and warm light glowing from the windows.
But the second I mentioned why I was there the mood shifted The
Innkeeper a Burley man named Tom frown deeply.
Your hero about the Whisperer, aren't you?
Tom's voice was rough like gravel and it made me more
nervous than I wanted to admit. I nodded trying to seem braver
than I felt. Yes.
I've heard stories. I want to find out more about
it. Tom glanced around nervously
then leaned closer. Listen Miss.
It's best if you forget all about those tales and head back
where you came from. Nothing good comes from stirring
up old stories, especially not here, but I wasn't about to
leave not when I was this close to discovering something big
over the next couple of days. I talked to as many locals as I
could they were reluctant at first, but my curiosity seemed
to win them over. I learned that the Whisperer was
a creature of the shadows as old as the forest itself.
Some said it was a beast with glowing eyes and sharp claws.
While others whispered that it could look just like a person to
trick you into following it. Each story added to the chilling
picture of what might be lurking in Blackwood Forest.
Despite the warning. I had to go see from myself.
I plan to take a short trip into the forest to gather some photos
and maybe record any strange sounds.
I couldn't shake off the feeling that this might be my biggest
story yet. On the morning of my hike the
air was cool. And Misty.
I packed my backpack with everything.
I might need extra battery is a flash light some snacks and
plenty of water. Just as I was about to head out
Tom stopped me at the door of the Inn. please he said his eyes
filled with genuine fear don't go into that Forest my daughter
she went in and and he couldn't finish but he didn't have to I
could see the pain in his eyes and it made my heart sink.
I'm really sorry about your daughter Tom.
I said softly. I'll be careful.
I promise. With that I stepped outside
feeling the weight of his Gaze on my back.
The forest loomed in the distance tall and foreboding the
trees like dark Sentinels guarding their secrets.
I took a deep breath and walked towards it my boots crunching on
the Gravel Road. The moment I crossed into the
shadow of the trees the world seemed to change.
The sounds of the Town faded away and a deep silence
enveloped me. It was like stepping into
another world one waiting just for me.
I turned on my voice recorder and whispered into the
microphone here goes nothing as I ventured deeper the light
dimmed and the air grew colder. I couldn't shake the feeling
that something was watching me waiting, but I pushed forward
determined to uncover the truth hidden in the shadows of
Blackwood Forest. The deeper I walked into
Blackwood Forest The Stranger Things felt the trees grew so
close together their branches tangled up.
Like they were holding hands blocking out most of the
sunlight. It was like walking into
Twilight, even though it was only midday.
The air was cool and damp and everything was so quiet. too
quiet I kept expecting to hear birds or see squirrels, but
there was nothing. just silence I kept my camera ready and my
ears open hoping to catch any sign of the Whisperer.
With each step. I told myself.
I was just here to take some photos and record sounds nothing
more. But a part of me was both scared
and excited at the chance of actually seeing something.
As evening approached I decided to set up camp.
I found a small clearing and pitched my tent.
Then I gather some sticks and lit a small fire to keep warm
and maybe roast some marshmallows.
I brought along. Sitting there with the fire
crackling the forest around me felt less scary.
I pulled out my notebook and began writing down everything.
I had seen and heard so far. Which wasn't much?
That's when it started at first. I thought I was imagining it the
faintest whisper like someone saying come closer.
I froze my heart thumping hard. I grabbed my voice recorder and
held it out. Hoping to catch The Whispers
again. Hello.
I called out trying to sound braver than I felt is someone
there? The Whisper came again a bit
louder this time closer come closer it felt like the voice
was coming from all around me swirling in the wind.
I shivered not just from the cold I grabbed my flash light
and shined it around the clearing but there was only the
forest dark and Silent beyond the firelight.
Suddenly a twig snapped behind me.
I spun around my flash like cutting through the darkness.
For a split second. I saw two glowing eyes high off
the ground watching me then they disappeared.
My heart raced and I could barely breathe.
Was that the Whisperer? I didn't sleep much that night.
I kept hearing whispers and every little noise made me jump
by the time Dawn broke. I was a bundle of nerves.
I quickly packed up my Camp eager to get back to the end.
But as I tried to find my way back nothing looked familiar.
The trail I had followed into the forest seemed to have
vanished. I walked and walked but
everything just looked the same trees missed and more trees.
It was like the forest had changed overnight Panic started
to set in the Mist grew thicker making it hard to see very far.
I kept hearing those Whispers now saying things like lost.
So lost and stay with us. Then when I thought things
couldn't get worse I stumbled upon a creepy old cabin in the
middle of nowhere the door creaked open as I approached
like it was inviting me in inside.
The cabin was dark and musty drawing's and writing's covered
the walls all of them about the Whisperer.
I barely had time to look around when I heard a loud shriek
outside something slammed against the cabin shaking the
walls. I dropped to the floor covering
my head as the whole place trembled.
The last thing I remember before everything went quiet was
thinking I should have listened to Tom.
When I dare to look up the cabin was still I was too scared to
move, but I knew I couldn't stay there.
I had to get out and find my way back.
But as I peeked out side the forest seemed even denser the
trees closing in around the cabin and on the nearest tree
carved deep into the bark where the words will be waiting.
I knew then that the forest and the Whisperer were not going to
let me go easily. But I also knew I couldn't give
up I had to get back to Millbrook and warn everyone
about the Whisperer before it was too late.
My name is Alex and I was super excited to go camping at Point
Lookout State Park with my boyfriend Dan and another couple
who were our friends. We were all looking forward to
getting away for a weekend in May 2016.
Hoping to relax and have some fun.
When we got there, the park was beautiful sitting right at the
southernmost tip of Maryland surrounded by the Chesapeake
Bay. As soon as we arrived we picked
the best spot to set up our camp.
It was right on the water, but hidden from the main road by a
tall curtain of grass. It felt like our little private
Hideaway where we could hang out without anyone bothering us.
This was perfect because we had brought along some snacks and
stuff to chill out with. Dan and I were not really
experts at camping. In fact, this was my first time
and I was just thrilled to be out there even though our tent
set up was pretty pathetic. It was loose and wobbly but we
didn't mind since we plan to spend most of our time outside
exploring anyway. After setting up the tent we all
decided to walk around and check out the area.
The park was huge with different camping.
Loops. Two of the loops were tucked
away in wooded areas, but we chose the one by the water
because it felt special and had fewer people around there was
also this Old Lighthouse not too far from our Loop.
We made a mental note to visit at the next day since it looked
really neat and mysterious. As we walked I felt a mix of
excitement and a weird kind of feeling I couldn't quite place.
The place was stunning with wide open spaces and a quiet that was
different from the city noise. I was used to It was peaceful
yet. There was something about it
that felt. heavy like when you're happy, but you can't
shake off a slight worry at the back of your mind.
While we were exploring I needed to take a quick break.
So I headed to the bathroom by myself.
On my way something really strange happened.
I saw a huge tortoise crossing the path right in front of me.
It was massive way bigger than any tortoise should be and it
looks straight at me as it passed.
It didn't seem scared or in a hurry.
It just walks slowly watching me as I watched it.
By the time I came out of the bathroom the tortoise was gone.
It had been moving so slowly but there was no sign of it
anywhere. I looked around thinking it
couldn't have gone far, but it was like it vanished Into Thin
Air. That really spooked me but I
Shrugged it off and went back to find my friends.
The first night was the toughest.
Our campsite all the perfect during the day felt different as
the night rolled in the wind picked up and since our tent
wasn't pitched properly. It flapped and rustled all night
long. It felt like it would just lift
off the ground and fly away with us inside.
I barely slept listening to the sounds of the tent and the wind
howling around us. It was an adventurous start to
our camping trip, but little did I know the real Adventure hadn't
even started yet. The next morning after a night
of barely sleeping thanks to the noisy flapping tent we all woke
up a bit grumpy but excited for the day ahead.
We had planned to visit the Old Lighthouse we had seen the day
before it was just a short drive from our campsite and I couldn't
wait to check it out. I've always loved lighthouses.
There's something magical about them like they're from another
time after a quick breakfast of cereal and fruit.
We headed over to the light house.
The weather was perfect sunny and clear.
Not too hot just right for exploring.
When we got there, we joined a small group of tourists for a
guided tour. The tour guide was an older man
who knew lots of stories about the lighthouse and the area
around it. As we climbed the narrow stairs
inside the lighthouse the guide told us about the people who had
lived there long ago. He mentioned something that
stuck with me the man who built the lighthouse and the next two
owners all died not long after moving in.
He said it so casually but it sent chills down my spine.
It made me wonder if there was something mysterious or even
haunted about the lighthouse. The view from the top was
breathtaking. We could see the entire park and
the sparkling water of the Chesapeake Bay.
It was beautiful but standing there looking out I couldn't
shake off the Eerie feeling the guide stories had left in me.
Later that day. We went back to our campsite and
spent the afternoon hiking around the park.
We found a little secluded spot by the shore and hung out there
skipping stones and laughing a lot. it was fun and for a while
I forgot about my uneasy feeling But as night fell everything
changed the wind that it howled the previous night was gone.
Instead there was a deep unsettling silence that settled
over the campground. It was so quiet.
You could hear a pin drop. That silence was creepy and I
felt exposed and vulnerable out there in the open.
We had a campfire going and we roasted marshmallows and told
silly stories to try and lighten the mood.
But I couldn't fully relax. I kept looking over my shoulder
half expecting to see something or someone lurking in the
shadows. We eventually put out the fire
and crawled into our tents. I was exhausted and hoped I'd
sleep better than the night before.
Just as I was drifting off Dan schuch me away.
His face was pale and his eyes were wide with fear.
Babe, did you hear that he whispered?
Hear what I was almost asleep. I whispered back my heart
starting to race. I heard someone yell.
Hey outside our tent he said his voice tense.
I think there's someone out there.
At first I thought he was just trying to scare me, but then we
both heard it footsteps. They were slow and heavy
crunching on the gravel around our tent.
It sounded like someone wearing big heavy boots was walking
around our campsite. The footsteps went around and
around the tent and then they stopped.
Dan and I lay there hardly breathing listening to the
silence that followed. I was terrified and from the
look on Dan's face. He was too.
We didn't know what to do. Just hoping whoever it was would
go away. But the night was far from over
and the real fright had just begun.
The son was just peeking Over the Horizon when Dan and I
decided we couldn't stay another minute at that creepy
Campground. We woke up our friends who were
surprised to see us packing up so early.
They had slept through everything and didn't understand
why we were in such a hurry to leave.
As we packed I told them about the strange noises and the
footsteps. We heard circling our tent.
They looked at each other half and disbelief, but they knew we
were genuinely scared. So without much discussion
everyone agreed it was best to head home.
The drive back was quiet Dan and I kept replaying The Sounds we
heard trying to make sense of it.
All the Eerie silents the heavy footsteps.
It was all too much when we finally got home.
I was released but still felt uneasy I needed answers.
I spent the rest of the day online searching for anything
that could explain what happened.
That's when I stumbled upon the history of Point Lookout State
Park my heart raced as I read about its past during the Civil
War. The park had been a prison camp
where many Confederate soldiers were kept in brutal conditions.
It was Notorious for its overcrowding and the harsh
treatment of prisoners. Many had died there and it was
said that their spirits still haunted the park.
I read stories from other visitors who had experienced
strange occurrences. Just like us.
Some heard voices others saw ghostly figures walking through
the park at night. There was even a tale about a
woman who roamed the beach asking people to help her find
her missing headstone. I called Dan over and we read
the stories together. It was chilling to think we
might have encountered the ghosts of Point Lookout.
Knowing the parks haunted history made our experience feel
even more real. It wasn't just our imagination
others had felt the presence of the past there too.
The more I learned the more I felt a strange poll to go back.
I wanted to see if we could experience these things again
now that we knew what to look out for.
I shared my thoughts with Dan and surprisingly he agreed.
Maybe next time we'd be more prepared to face the ghosts of
Point Lookout. I decided to write about our
experience and share it on a Blog for people who were
interested in haunted places. I asked readers to share their
stories if they had been to Point Lookout.
The response is poured in with many recounting their Eerie
experiences each story was different but they all had a
similar feeling of an unseen presence.
As the days passed my fear turned into Fascination.
I read every book I could find on the Paranormal and started
planning our next trip to Point Lookout this time.
We would go with more friends better equipment and maybe even
a professional Ghost Hunter. The thought of returning to the
park was both terrifying and exciting but no matter what I
knew one thing for sure. Point Lookout had left a mark on
me and I couldn't wait to uncover more of its mysterious
passed. Maybe just maybe we'd come face
to face with the ghosts that still wandered its grounds.
In the fall of 2017 a friend and I decided to go hiking late in
the afternoon in a densely wooded Wilderness Area of a
state park in the mountains near Fayetteville, Arkansas.
My friend Ron close to 60 at the time and recovering from a
triple bypass. He had undergone around 16
months earlier had been hiking this and other Trails for about
a year to strengthen his cardiovascular health.
On that day a weekday. I hiked with a bottle of water
my wallet and my keys, but nothing else nothing to protect
myself. The trail we picked was popular
and usually had a lot of people hiking on the weekend.
We had hiked this spot dozens of times before we were both
comfortable with the hike and had never had any problems on
the path or any other for that matter.
While Ron is older and at the time a little Fiedler after his
health problems, I was in my mid-40s well over six feet tall
and in Fairly good shape, so I was not very worried about our
safety. The trail we were on is in a
state park adjacent to Federal Parkland.
It is an outdoor Enthusiast dream.
Most of our track that day was completely uneventful.
We just enjoyed the autumn leaves in chatted casualty as
the sun dropped lower in the evening sky.
We had seen nobody else that day, which was probably to be
expected given that we chose to hike late afternoon on a
weekday. We had completed about four
miles of the six-mile Loop and up to that point.
It was as uneventful as any other.
On our way back to the car and about two miles away from the
parking area. We spotted someone through an
opening in the trees. I saw a young woman probably a
college student on the trail ahead of us moving in our
Direction. At first I paid her
extraordinarily little attention.
As the distance between us narrowed that change.
I did not know her so I could have been mistaken, but there
was something about her posture and expression that just seemed
off. As she got close closer it
struck me that she had a semi panicked look on her face as she
was moving quite quickly. She was in athletic gear.
So maybe she was just booking it for some cardio.
However, she occasionally turned her head and stared over her
shoulder. I followed her eyes and
eventually noted another human about 50 yards behind her
walking up the path through the trees.
This second woman was not wearing any hiking gear.
In fact her clothing struck me as totally inappropriate.
It was a warm afternoon and we were well inside a wooded State
Park a couple of miles from any homes, but she was wearing
semi-formal office casual attire in a light jacket.
I thought the clothes must have been secondhand because they
were tattered ill-fitting and did not look washed at all.
She was fit and athletic looking who could not have been more
than 25 or 30 years of age. It was so bizarre.
The clothes were wrong for the trail and wrong for someone her
age. Everything was off about her her
shoes struck me as odd being even more peculiar when she got
closer. I noticed she was wearing
scuffed leather flats casual shoes with no ankle support.
I found it completely odd because you do not just see
people on Trails dressed as she was and you never see them
wearing shoes like that. My hiking partner.
Ron had not noticed anything apparently as he was completely
involved in the conversation in just kept on talking the second
woman briefly glanced up and made I contact as she neared us.
Alarm Bells went off in my head like no other.
There was something in her eyes that made me feel uncomfortable.
I do not know what she was thinking if I am being honest,
but I swear she had contempt in her face.
Part of me wondered if I had offended her by staring.
So I diverted my eyes and kept walking.
I tried to tell myself that maybe she was homeless.
Maybe she was just wearing the only thing she had and I was
just being rude but the warning Bells were still going off in my
head like sirens. I am not a paranoid person at
all. So having a sixth sense go off
in my head left me. Very unsettled.
I have fantastic peripheral vision.
So I turned my face toward Ron and acted like I was listening
to him, but I was watching the creepy woman out of the corner
of my eye. The moment we passed she spun
her head around to study us. She slowed her Pace a bit my
internal alarms grew louder. Out of the corner of my eye.
I saw her come to a stop and drop her face toward the ground
her body half turned on the trail.
It was very odd behavior. Ron and I kept walking for about
50 yards further. We made it around a bend in the
path. And I looked back at the woman
before the trees obscured her from View.
She was just standing there her face was down but she was
staring a hole through Us in the corner of her eyes.
That was the first time I realized that I could not see
her hands one was inside her jacket pocket and the other was
hidden from my view on the other side of her body.
It creeped me the hell out the hair on the back of my neck
stood up. For half a mile.
I did not see her again and had begun to wonder whether the
first woman the co-ed had felt danger as well.
Clearly she had I thought and that is why she practically was
running through the woods at dusk.
It also struck me that the creepy woman had stopped and
studied Ron and me like she was deciding whom to follow we were
not moving as fast we were walking as quickly as Ron could
manage and he was clearly feebler than the co-ed.
Those thoughts amped Up My Senses and I still felt uneasy
so I periodically checked behind us.
At certain points through the woods.
I could see more than 100 yards and I never saw anything.
I began to worry about the co-ed.
My hair stood at for a second time as I felt the strangest
sensation of being watched again.
Thinking I was paranoid and half mocking myself for being afraid
of the creepy woman. I turned my head around to
assure myself. She was not there.
I was wrong. She was there following with her
head down and moving briskly about 100 yards behind us.
But with her hands hidden. I turned my head back to the
trail in front of us and we kept walking still trying to convince
myself that there was nothing out of the ordinary happening.
That I was just being rude because she was dressed like a
homeless woman. About 200 yards further along
the path. I turned my head back to Ron and
my heart raced a bit. She closed the Distance by half
or more each time. We would walk around the bend in
the woods. Her location would be obscured
but she would emerge much closer to us on the next opening.
I told myself that I was just being paranoid, but nevertheless
I was trying to get Ron to pick up his speed just a little bit.
By this time he was clearly aware that we were being
followed and he was uncomfortable as well though to
his credit. He did keep talking.
With a half mile to go before we reach the parking area.
I turned my head once again, and she was just 10 feet behind us.
I had not seen or heard her get that close and it freaked me
out. I literally jumped out of my
skin. One of her hands was in her
pocket and the other was behind her back.
I got the distinct feeling that she had a weapon of some kind
and that she had no fear of me. Even though I was considerably
taller albeit several years older.
There was no mistaking her demeanor.
She meant to do us harm or at the very least to intimidate us.
I weaved my car keys between my Knuckles and my right hand
handed my water bottle to Ron and made an obvious fist with my
hand. With a half-mile left in our
hike I thought to myself if this is nothing she'll pass us and
move on as clearly. She was moving a lot faster than
we were. I was accustomed to people
overtaking us when I walked with Ron but she did not pass and
never acted like she were there which was the creepiest part.
I kept my head turned toward her as I walked and tried to get her
to make eye contact, but she did not look me in the eyes.
At first she kept acting like neither Ron nor I were there on
the path just a few feet ahead of her She had slowed to follow
closely behind. I was completely unnerved and
that made me angry. I wanted her to see how upset I
was and to convey with a look that messing with me was a
mistake. When she finally did make eye
contact with me, I glared with a clenched fist.
There was an instant where I could not read her expression.
She was simply blank. But as she studied my face she
appeared to be simultaneously agitated and a little less
confident. I was conveying one thing with
the look on my face back the hell off and at this point I did
not care if it appeared rude. She apparently thought better of
whatever she was doing and slowed her pace so that the
distance between us began to grow to about 20 feet.
But she was tense and kept whatever she had in her hand
very closely hidden by her back. I never saw her hands this
entire time. I know she had to have some kind
of weapon and I believe that she meant to do us harm.
But I also know she recognized that I was ready to fight.
I was mentally preparing to charge at her if I saw a gun or
a knife as I knew Ron could not outrun her.
I thought to myself I might just surprise her.
I also realized that I needed to have her in front of us.
A few hundred feet further about a quarter mile away from where
we were parked. She was still stalking us and I
had had enough. I was in equal measures afraid
and Furious. I told Ron that we were going to
stop and let her pass loud enough for her to hear.
Just as I was getting ready to stop on the trail and make her
walk in front of us. She veered into a small clearing
plowing through the waist high brush crossed a ditch and
scurried through a tree line of trees to erode that ran through
the woods in between the main road and the parking area.
I kept my eyes on her the whole time.
She had a car it was parked alongside this little Service
Road partially hidden by shrubs not in the parking lot.
The last time we made I contact just before she climbed into her
car. It was clear from the expression
on her face that she was incredibly angry.
I glared at her expressing my own anger, but kept walking when
her car started and she drove away.
Ron got quiet before asking me what in the hell she was doing
did she have a gun? I told him I did not know.
I never saw weapon. We walked back to our car
without saying another word. Once the engine was on in the
doors were shut we chatted a bit more about this weird situation
and decided to call the authorities and Report the
incident. Just to make sure that they have
it on record and to maybe have them check on the poor co-ed who
had passed us first. To this day.
I have no idea what that creepy woman was doing and what she was
planning on doing to us. Maybe she was going to rob us
harm us scare us. I have no idea.
I am just thankful. She decided better of it.
I have hiked that trail more than 50 times since then and
have never seen her again. My husband and I are a team of
wildlife biologists specializing in large Predator tracking and
population studies. We often find ourselves camping
in remote areas for days at a time while collecting data and
setting up trail cameras. A few months ago.
We were assigned to a project in Yellowstone National Park.
The goal was to gather information on Wolfpack
movements and their impact on the local ecosystem.
It was supposed to be a routine trip.
We had done this countless times before but what happened during
those three days in Yellowstone still haunts me.
We arrived at our designated campsite on a Tuesday afternoon.
The weather was perfect with clear skies a light Breeze and
the promise of a starry night ahead.
As we set up our tent and equipment.
I remember feeling excited about the work we'd be doing.
My husband whom I'll call Tom here was in High Spirits too
cracking jokes about how we should open up a five-star
Wilderness Resort with our expert tent pitching skills.
After a simple dinner of dehydrated camping meals which
Tom insists are getting better though.
I'm not convinced. We sat by the fire going over
our plans for the next few days. By then the sun had set and the
forest around us came alive with the sounds of owls hooting and
small animals moving in the underbrush.
It was very peaceful very familiar.
But that didn't last long. We were sleeping in the tent
when suddenly around midnight Tom sat up alert causing me to
wake up to Did you hear that he whispered?
I hadn't but the look on his face made me strain my ears.
There it was the unmistakable sound of footsteps slow and
deliberate moving through the trees near our campsite.
Tom grabbed his flash light and stepped out of the tent.
I watched as his beam of light cut through the darkness
sweeping through the tree line nothing and the footsteps at
stopped. Probably just a deer Tom said as
he crawled back into the tent, but I could tell he wasn't
convinced. This scene repeated itself three
more times throughout the night. Each time Tom would hear the
footsteps go out to investigate and find nothing.
By the time Dawn broke, he was exhausted and on edge.
I swear he said over his third cup of coffee in the morning.
Those were not animals footsteps.
They sounded human. I tried to reassure him
suggesting. It could have been another
camper maybe even a park ranger doing nightly rounds, but deep
down. I agreed something fell off.
Why would they respond when Tom called out to them?
Why did the sounds always stopped just as he went to
investigate? Despite his lack of sleep we had
worked to do. We spent the next day hiking to
our research site setting up cameras and collecting samples.
Tom was quieter than usual his eyes constantly scanning the
trees around us. I caught myself doing the same
that vague sense of unease growing stronger every hour that
passed. It was mid-afternoon when things
took a turn from unsettling to downright terrifying.
We were checking a trail camera. We'd set up a while back when
Tom froze his hand gripping my arm.
Look, he whispered pointing to a clearing about 50 yards away at
first I didn't see anything but then a figure stepped out from
behind a large pine tree. It was tall impossibly tall and
thin too with limbs. That seemed too long for its
body. For a split second.
I thought it was just a trick of the Light Shadows playing on a
tree trunk of some sort, but then I saw it move.
The figures movements were jerky and unnatural.
They reminded me of a marionette being pulled by strings.
It took three long strides into the clearing its head swiveling
in a way that made my stomach churned then as suddenly as it
appeared. It was gone melting back into
the Shadows of the forest. Tom and I stood there rooted to
the spot when I finally found my voice it came out as a horse
whisperer. What was that?
I don't know Tom replied his face pale, but I think we should
head back to camp now. The walk back was tense to say
the least. We moved quickly constantly
looking over our shoulders every snapping twig or rustle of
leaves made us jump. By the time we made it back to
our campsite the sun was setting casting Long Shadows across the
ground. Neither of us had much of an
appetite, but we forced down some food.
Anyway knowing we needed the energy.
We didn't talk much not much to say I guess.
We knew that we'd both seen something something that
shouldn't exist or some sort of Illusion that really freaked us
out. As Darkness fell we retreated to
our tent Tom insisted on staying up to keep watch but I could see
he was running on fumes eventually sheer exhaustion won
out and we both drifted into an uneasy sleep.
I'm not sure what woke me up. A sound maybe or maybe that
prickling sense of wrongness that had been following us all
day. What I do know is that when I
open my eyes Tom was gone. Panic seized me I fumbled for my
phone activating the flash Lite app with shaking fingers.
The tent was empty Tom sleeping bag pushed to the side.
Tom I called out my voice trembling there was no response
heart pounding I unzip the tent and stepped outside the night
was cool and still all I could hear was my own breathing.
I swept the flash light beam across our campsite seeing
nothing out of place so far. Tom I called again louder this
time still nothing memories of the strange figure we'd seen
flooded my mind. What if it had taken Tom what if
he was out there somewhere hurt or worse?
I started towards the tree line my legs feeling like lead the
beam of my flashlight seemed pathetically small against the
vast Forest. I had only gone a few steps when
I heard it. Footsteps behind me coming from
the direction of our tent I Whirled around relief washing
over me as I saw a silhouette and enter the tent Tom, he must
have gone to use the bathroom or check on something in the truck
feeling a bit foolish for my panic.
I hurried back to the tent Tom. You scared me half to death.
I said as I climbed inside, where'd you go off to?
There was no answer, but I felt movement as Tom settled into his
sleeping bag. I got back into mine still a bit
shaken up, but mostly relieved. I felt Tom's arm drape over me.
It made me feel so much better and despite the strange of the
past few days. I found myself drifting back to
sleep. I woke up to bright sunlight
filtering through the 10th walls.
Tom's arm was no longer around me and his sleeping bag was
empty. Figuring he must have gotten an
early start. I got dressed and stepped
outside. I spotted Tom by our truck
closing the driver's side door. The man looked awful dark
circles under his eyes his movements slow and clumsy.
Rough night. I asked walking over to him.
He nodded stifling a yawn. Yeah, couldn't sleep in the tent
again kept hearing those darn footsteps and ended up sleeping
in the truck. I frowned confused the truck.
Wait. When did you leave the tent last
night? Tom gave me an odd look around
midnight. I guess I tried to wake you up
to see if you wanted to join me, but you were out cold a chill
ran down my spine. my mind raced Tom I said slowly what time did
you come back to the 10th this morning?
He shook his head I didn't this is the first time I've been out
of the truck since midnight. I felt the blood drained from my
face as the full implication of his words.
Hit me. If Tom had been in the truck all
night, then who or what had been with me in the tent?
Whose arm had held me as I slept.
I opened my mouth trying to find the words to explain what
happened, but nothing came out Tom must have seen the horror on
my face because he stepped closer and asked hun.
Are you? Okay?
What's wrong? I took a deep breath my voice
barely above a whisper as I replied.
There was someone else in our tent last night.
We left Yellowstone that day abandoning our research project.
We requested a transfer to a different area citing personal
reasons. Tom and I keep the story to
ourselves afraid of what other people might think.
But knowing that our experience is were very real.
And we know that that thing wasn't exactly human.
Even when I write this now, I feel the Phantom weight of that
arm on me. It makes me feel so violated and
unsafe. I try not to wonder but still I
do what would have happened if I had to look at that thing lying
next to me in the dark. When we first drove up the
gravel road leading to our new home in the Appalachian
Mountains. I remember feeling a mix of
excitement and a little fear. It was like one of those
Adventures you'd read about in books where families find hidden
treasures in old houses. Only.
Our treasure was supposed to be the farm itself sprawling across
50 acres of land. Dad was the happiest I'd ever
seen him. He kept saying things like this.
Is it kids our own piece of paradise?
He had Big Dreams of fixing up the place the farm had been
abandoned for a long time and nature had pretty much taken
over. But to Dad it was perfect.
Our first day there was like a scene from a movie.
We all got out of the car and stretched breathing in the fresh
Mountain Air. Dad started filming with his old
camera capturing every laugh and every step.
We took exploring our new home. Mom was smiling her eyes bright
with hopes of a fresh start my youngest siblings ran around
their laughter echoing off the trees.
The house itself was a bit creepy though.
It was at the base of the mountain tucked away in a Halo
like it was hiding. The woods around us were thick
and dense making our house feel even more secluded.
Sometimes the way the Shadows moved made me uneasy as if the
trees were Whispering secrets to each other.
Strange things started happening a few weeks after we moved in.
Small accidents at first tools going missing Windows that we
had fixed suddenly found cracked again weird noises at night that
none of us could explain dad said it was all part of living
in an old place, but I wasn't so sure.
As time went on Dad began to change.
The Joy he felt when we first arrived started to fade he spent
more and more time alone often just staring out into the woods
with a worried look on his face he stopped filming our
adventures and sometimes he didn't even seem to hear us when
we talked to him. One night.
I woke up to the sound of him talking in the living room.
I crept down the stairs and saw him sitting in the dark the only
light coming from the moon shining through the window.
He was talking to someone but no one was there.
I called out to him and he jumped like I had startled him
from a deep thought he just shook his head and said he was
fine, but I knew he wasn't. Though shadows in his eyes were
not just from the lack of sleep things kept getting worse.
Dad started for getting things like picking us up from school
or locking the doors at night. Mom tried to help him, but
whatever was happening to him seemed to be pulling him further
and further away from us. I started feeling scared not
just of the dark or the strange sounds in the woods, but of what
was happening to Dad. It was like the farm with all
its whispered promises was swallowing him whole and I
didn't know how to help him. All I could do was watch as the
dad. I knew was slowly disappearing
replaced by someone or something that seemed Lost In the Shadows
of the old Appalachian Farm. After that summer things went
from bad to worse our trailer felt more like a haunted house
than a home the walls and Floors were falling apart and sometimes
when the wind blew it felt like the whole place might just blow
away with it. Dad said we just needed to tough
it out a bit longer, but I could see the worry in his eyes every
time he looked around at the crumbling walls.
The Whispers that I once thought were just wine through the
leaves had turned into voices by then At night I could hear them
and they were not friendly. They said mean things filling
the air with coal and fear. I knew dad heard them too
because sometimes I'd catch him arguing back Whispering fiercely
into the darkness. Ben came that awful night.
It was so hot that the air felt heavy like it was pressing down
on us. Mom and dad were fighting again
their voices were loud and angry and I could feel that something
terrible was about to happen. I was in the living room with my
siblings trying to keep them calm, but we all were scared.
Suddenly everything went quiet. too quiet the kind of Silence
that feels like it's screaming. Dad walked into the room and his
face was different. It was like all the shadows in
the house had settled on him making him look darker scarier.
He had a gun in his hand. I'd never seen it before and it
made my heart stop. The Whispers were there too
louder than ever swirling around him like dark smoke they were
saying Terrible Things pushing him telling him we'd be better
off without him. I wanted to scream to tell them
to stop but I was frozen. Dad just stood there for what
felt like forever. Then slowly he walked over to
his chair across the room and sat down.
He looked so tired and so sad. Tears were running down his
cheeks as he looked at us and said I'm so sorry for
everything. His voice broke and it was the
most heartbreaking sound I'd ever heard.
He lifted the gun and I felt my sister's hands cover my eyes.
I heard a loud bang louder than anything I'd ever heard.
I screamed and when my sister finally let go I saw Dad slumped
in the chair, but he was still breathing still alive.
That night changed everything dad survived and something about
that night made him want to fight the Shadows.
We left the farm not long after seeking help and hoping to
escape the darkness that had taken over our lives.
Even though we moved away the memory of that night followed
us. Dad got better, but he was never
the same the farm stayed with us too like a bad dream.
That wouldn't end. We never went back.
But sometimes I'd catch dad staring out the window a distant
look in his eyes as if he was still listening to The Whispers
of that old haunted Farm. My Friends Andrea Mario and I
had always been up for an adventure especially when it
involved The Great Outdoors. That's why when we decided to
explore the Tahoe National Forest.
I was super excited. I knew it was going to be an
adventure. We'd never forget.
I'm the kind of person who loves hiking and camping and I was
thrilled to share this trip with my friends.
We packed up my old Jeep Grand Cherokee with everything.
We thought we'd need a couple of sleeping bags a tent just in
case plenty of snacks. And of course Mario's camera
equipment. Mario is a photographer and he
was especially eager to take some cool shots of the
Wilderness and the stars at night.
As for me all I brought was my trusty fishing rod and a couple
of knives after all I felt at home in the woods and like to
keep things simple. The drive to Tahoe was filled
with our favorite tunes and lots of laughter. we talked about the
places we might explore and the kind of photos Mario wanted to
take The further we drove from the city the more the scenery
changed. Tall buildings and busy streets
gave way to open Skies and towering trees.
It was like entering another world one.
That was quieter and Wilder. As we drove deeper into the
forest our cell phone's lost service.
I wasn't worrying though. I had been in situations like
this many times before. But I could tell Andrea was a
bit nervous. I reassured her that everything
was going to be fine that it was part of the adventure.
Finally, we found the perfect spot to park the Jeep and set up
camp for the night. It was a small clearing off a
bumpy dirt road. We weren't going to set up the
tent yet since we decided to sleep in the Jeep it might sound
weird sleeping all crammed in a car, but it was actually pretty
cozy and fun. Plus it felt like a little
Adventure on its own. We spent the evening chilling
out Mario took some pictures of the sunset while Andrea and I
prepared our sleeping area in the back of the Jeep.
As night fell the forest came alive with sounds the distant
hoot of an owl the rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze and
the occasional snap of a twig. It was both exciting and a tiny
bit spooky. We had our dinner sandwiches and
chips nothing fancy and then spent some time stargazing.
Mario tried to capture some of the Beauty with his camera,
although it was really dark. We talked and joked around until
our eyelids began to droop by then the forest felt like a
second home or maybe a mysterious new planet.
We had just landed on. I remember thinking how lucky I
was to have friends who were up for this kind of thing.
As we settled into our sleeping bags.
The last thing I said was this is the best we should do this
more often. And with that we drifted off to
sleep not knowing that the real Adventure was just about to
begin. It was the perfect start to our
trip. But as I would soon learn the
Wilderness had surprises waiting for us that would test our
courage and show us how unpredictable nature could be.
That night after we all tried to sleep for a bit in the cramped
back of the Jeep something weird happened.
It was like the whole Forest decided to wake up.
I could hear Twigs snapping out side.
And even though it was a hot night and we had the windows
cracked open a bit The Sounds made the hairs on the back of my
neck stand up. Did you guys hear that I
whispered to Andrea and marrio they were both awake too looking
a bit scared. What was that sound?
Andria asked her voice barely a whisper.
I didn't want to freak them out, but I was pretty curious about
what was out there. Maybe it was just a deer or some
small animal I thought. But part of me wanted to check
it out. After all, isn't that part of
the adventure? Let's go see what it is.
I suggested trying to sound braver than I felt Mario was
always up for taking photos. So he grabbed his camera and I
took my crossbow just in case. We carefully opened the Jeep
door trying not to make too much noise.
Andrea decided to stay behind you guys are crazy.
She said but she handed me the car keys just in case.
With only our headlamps to light the way Mario and I walked into
the forest. The night was super dark and
every little sound seemed louder.
We didn't talk much. We just listened to the owls and
the rustle of leaves under our feet.
We walked like that for about 15 minutes looking for a good spot
where Mario could take a photo of the sky?
That's when we found a little creek its water flowing quietly
in the dark. I was about to say something
when Mario suddenly stopped. He put a hand up to Signal me to
be quiet. Listen, he whispered.
I stood really still and listened but it was the
strangest thing. There were no sounds No
crickets. No frogs.
Nothing. It was like the forest had gone
completely silent. I had never heard such silence
before it was eerie. Then out of nowhere there.
It was a pair of glowing eyes watching us from about 40 feet
away. They were reflecting light from
our headlamps staring at us from behind a tree.
I felt a chill run down my spine.
Whatever. It was it wasn't just any forest
animal. This thing was big and it was
standing on two legs almost as if it was trying to hide and
watch us at the same time. I quickly turned off my headlamp
and loaded an arrow into my crossbow turn off your light
Mario I whispered but he was frozen just staring at the
creature. for a moment nothing happened Then the creature moved
it stepped out from behind the tree and we could see it more
clearly two large yellow eyes and a huge dark figure.
It had no fur and its head was oddly shaped almost round.
I didn't think I just acted I aimed and shot an arrow towards
it. The creature was fast, though.
It dodged the arrow and took off running on all fours towards the
creek. Mario finally snapped out of it
and we both ran back to the Jeep as fast as we could.
My heart was pounding so hard I could barely hear anything else.
When we got back Andrea was waiting worried.
You guys look like you've seen a ghost.
She said as we climb back inside locking the doors behind us.
We need to leave now. I told her still trying to catch
my breath. We didn't sleep much after that
two shaken by what we had seen. What was that thing?
And were we safe? These questions kept us wide
awake until the first light of dawn.
After what we saw in the woods, none of us could sleep.
We were too scared and had too many questions.
As soon as the sun started to light up the sky a little we
decided it was safe enough to leave our camping spot.
We drove back to town still trying to make sense of
everything. I kept replaying the sight of
these glowing eyes and the Eerie silence that had fallen over the
forest. When we got back to
civilization, we went straight to a diner to grab some
breakfast. We were all hungry but more than
that. We needed to be around other
people. As we sat at our table Andrea
and Mario talked about the creature trying to guess what it
could have been I mostly listened still feeling a bit
shaken. While we were eating I noticed
some people at the next table glancing over at us.
I must have mentioned the creature a little too loudly
because soon one of them walked over to our table.
He was an older man and he had a look of concern on his face.
I couldn't help but overhear you folks talking about seeing
something strange in the woods. He said in a low voice you're
not the only ones there have been stories about that place
for years. He pulled up a chair and told us
about a few encounters locals had experienced similar to ours.
Some said it was a ghost others thought it was a creature that
lived deep in the forest. Listening to him.
I felt a little better knowing we weren't the only ones who had
seen something weird. We talked with the man for a
while and then the waitress came over.
She had heard a bit of our conversation and mentioned that
her cousin had seen something similar last year.
It seemed like everyone in town had a story or knew someone who
did after breakfast we decided to try and enjoy the rest of our
day. We rented some kayaks and spent
the afternoon paddling around Lake Tahoe.
The water was calm and being out there helped us relax.
Mario took some beautiful photos and Andrea seemed to be in
better spirits laughing and splashing water at us.
As the day went on we talked less and less about the
creature. It felt like a distant memory
something from a dream. We were just three friends
enjoying a day out on the lake and for a while we could almost
forget about the night before. But as we packed up The Kayaks,
I looked back at the forest lining the shore.
It was beautiful and peaceful from a distance.
But I knew that somewhere in there was something unexplained.
Something mysterious that evening.
We found a Vista Point overlooking the lake and decided
to Camp there for the night. It was a clear night and the
stars were incredible. We set up our sleeping area
again and finally managed to fall asleep the next morning.
We woke up feeling refreshed the Sun was shining and after the
scare, we had it good to see the daylight.
We packed up and drove home talking about when we might come
back. Even though we had been scared
we had experience something extraordinary and somehow I
think it made us closer as friends.
We had shared something that we would probably never fully
understand, but we had faced it together and that meant
something I'd always felt at home in the wild the rougher the
terrain the better. The gnarled Paths of the Cascade
Mountains were as familiar to me as the streets of my own
neighborhood. This time though as I parked my
old Subaru at the trailhead. There was a subtle Whisper In
The Wind that seemed to speak of caution.
Perhaps it was the overcast sky or the slight drizzle that
started as I gathered my gear but something felt off.
The trail to Green Mountain Lookout was a favorite of mine
one eyed tackled numerous times in all seasons.
But on this damp November morning the remoteness of the
trail seemed more pronounced. The parking area a generous term
for the gravel patch capable of holding.
Maybe half a dozen cars was nearly empty.
Just one other vehicle. Was there a beat up truck that
looked like it had seen better days.
It was unusual to see anyone else out here, especially with
the weather turning sour in the promise of snow and higher
elevations. I slung my pack over my
shoulders feeling the familiar weights settled against my back.
The Solitude of these hikes was something I relished.
It wasn't just about testing my limits, but also about finding
that rare piece. That only comes from being
completely alone in nature. Today, however, the Silence of
the woods seemed more pronounced.
There was a Stillness and absence of the usual of wildlife
that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
I chalked it up to the season. Most of the birds had migrated
and the smaller Critters were likely hold up away from The
Damp chill. The trail started with a gentle
incline weaving through towering Douglas Firs and Western
hemlocks whose branches dripped with moisture.
My boots pressed into the soft Earth each steps sinking
slightly into the mud. I always kept my gaze mostly
downward when I hiked alone not just to watch my footing but to
keep an eye out for tracks. It wasn't just out of habit from
my search and rescue days tracking was like a puzzle part
of the thrill of being out here. a mile in the forest gave way to
the edge of an Alpine Meadow the transition from the dark dense
Woods to the open grassy field felt abrupt the meadow usually
alive with color in the summer months lace subdued under a
blanket of dying Browns and the last stubborn greens of late
fall. It was there I met them two
hikers a man and a woman coming down the trail.
Their light Trail Runners and the sheen of sweat on their
faces spoke of a quicker Pace than my own.
We exchanged nods a brief Connection in the mutual
acknowledgment of the trails condition.
They warned of the snow further up and mentioned.
They had enjoyed having the trail to the themselves.
I watched them disappear around a bend in the path before
continuing on. The further I hiked the deeper
the silence seemed to grow it was as if the mountain itself
was holding its breath. By the time I reached the first
dusting of snow marking the beginning of the higher
elevations. The sense of isolation was
complete. I couldn't shake the feeling of
being watched a prickling sensation that made me glance
over my shoulder more than once. But every time I looked back all
I saw were the empty winding Paths of the Cascade Mountains
shrouded in mist and mystery. The trail steep in and the tree
line thin as I pushed higher into the mountains.
I was deep into the heart of the Cascades now a place that
usually filled me with a sense of exhilaration.
But today each step seemed to Echo against the silence a stark
reminder of my isolation. As I moved through the
transition zone where the forests dense Embrace gave way
to the more open Alpine Meadows. My eyes were automatically drawn
to the ground. Tracking was second nature to me
a skill honed through years of necessity and passion.
It was then I noticed them tracks that didn't match the
typical Wildlife or hiker Prince one would expect one set
appeared to belong to a large dog.
Perhaps a Mastiff given the size and depth.
Beside them partially obscured by a thin dusting of fresh snow
or boot prints much larger than any standard size.
These were no ordinary tracks. I paused considering the
possibilities. No one in their right mind would
be out here with a dog that size not in these conditions and
certainly not without proper gear.
And the boot prints they were unusually large two large for
even the most robust hiker a chill ran down my spine as I
scan the surrounding woods and Meadows half expecting to see
their owner watching me from the tree line the meadow lay opened
before me a broad expanse that in summer would be a wash with
color Blooms of Indian Paintbrush Lupine and Glacier
lilies. Now it was a muted tapestry of
greens and Browns beautiful, but desolate in its wintry
transition. It was just passed this point as
the land began to rise again that I saw it.
At first I thought it was a trick of the light or perhaps a
leftover patch of snow that hadn't yet melted.
But as I squinted against the gray light the outline of the
shape became clearer. It was white and roughly
humanoid standing out starkly against the dull colors of the
meadow. The figure seemed to be looking
right at me. It's posture unnaturally
straight for something created by Nature.
My heart pounded in my chest as I stood frozen trying to make
sense of what I was seeing. Could it be a hunter in some
kind of gear? No, that didn't make sense.
The figure was too Stark to eerily still.
A scarecrow perhaps left by someone with a strange sense of
humor. But out here.
I took a tentative step forward my eyes never leaving the shape.
It was then in the shifting light and the Silence of the
High Meadow that I saw it move. Or thought I saw it move.
A subtle shift like a man adjusting his stance.
I stopped every Instinct screaming at me to turn and run,
but I was rooted to the spot. As I watched paralyzed with a
mix of fear and Fascination. I realized the figure was indeed
facing me. Where there should have been
nothing I could now discern the dark spots of eyes and a slit
that might have been a mouth. It was as if the mountain itself
had conjured a guardian and now it stood Sentinel over its
domain watching me with an intensity that felt almost
personal. With a deep steadying breath.
I made the only decision I could I turned back the way I had come
my steps quick and uneven as the figure watched me retreat.
The Silence of the mountain pressed in on me heavy with
unspoken threats as I hurried away from the unsettling
Sentinel in the meadow I've always believed in listening to
my gut. A lesson that's kept me alive
more times than I can count out here in the wild.
As I turn my back on that strange white figure standing
alone in the Alpine Meadow. Every Instinct was telling me
that I needed to get out of there fast.
My heart was pounding against my ribs, like a hammer and the
Stillness of the mountain are felt oppressive as if it were
pushing me forward with a sense of urgency.
I couldn't ignore. As I retraced my steps the
Landscapes seemed transformed. The Familiar path now loomed
ominous and foreboding and the overhanging branches felt like
fingers reaching out to snag at my jacket.
I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.
I glanced back over my shoulder repeatedly half expecting to see
that white figure gliding silently after me, but the trail
behind was empty every time I checked.
The silence was unnerving. Not a bird stirred in the cold
air and even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
All I could hear was the crunch of my boots on the sparse snow
and the thought of my own heartbeat.
It was the kind of quiet that screamed danger.
I picked up the pace my strides growing longer and more urgent
every shadow between the trees seemed darker every natural
noise made me jump. I knew better than to run
running would only invite Chase from whatever might be lurking
on scene. But damn it was hard to keep
that walk from breaking into a Sprint.
The tracks I had seen early acrossed my mind again.
They hadn't made sense then and now thinking back they seemed
like a warning. I had foolishly ignored.
Could they have belonged to the owner of that white figure?
The thought was chilling and it spurred me on faster.
About a mile down from where I had turned around.
I realized just how isolated I was.
My only life line was the trail beneath my feet leading me back
to my car. I found myself regretting not
bringing my heavier gear specifically the 0.357 Magnum
that I had debated over it weighed six pounds a hefty
addition to my pack that I had opted against now the decisions
seemed foolhardy. As the trail curved back into
the thicker tree cover the forest denser darker.
I unholster bear spray holding it ready as I moved.
The Primal part of my brain was on high alert treating every
brush of wind against Leaf as a Potential Threat.
I tried to stay calm to keep my breathing even but my lungs
didn't seem to get the message. The last stretch of the trail
was the worst the trees closed in tight the path narrowed and
every step seemed to echo through the woods.
I was close to the parking area now.
I could almost smell the cold metal of my car the safety of
enclosed space when I finally burst out of the tree line and
saw my Subaru sitting alone in the parking lot.
The relief was palpable. I practically threw my gear into
the backseat and didn't relax until the doors were locked and
I was speeding Down the Mountain Road away from whatever Secrets
lay hidden in the silent watching Woods I didn't look
back whatever mystery the mountain held it could keep it I
had no intention of finding out. I was 20 years old and a
sophomore at a college in Southern California when this
happened. It was a Thursday night, and I
had just worked the closing shift at my campus's coffee
shop. That particular night my
co-workers and I headed over to the taco place next door for a
few beers and some food. For context most of my
co-workers were students either at the University or one of the
local community colleges. Everyone was cool for the most
part. So it was pretty typical for us
to go for drinks or smoke in the parking lot after closing up the
cafe to chat joke around and decompress at the end of a long
busy shift. Despite our late closing our we
usually had a constant stream of customers right up until we
locked up at midnight. College students and their late
night caffeine needs after all. This night was a little
different though, because one of the usual closers had called out
sick. My manager had called around to
see if someone could cover for him.
That's how we ended up closing with Eric.
On the one hand, I was grateful because every time I had to
close while we were short of worker we would leave the cafe
nearly an hour later than usual. On the other hand, I really wish
that it had been anyone but Eric who had agreed to come in while
most of my male co-workers were great and treated me like a
sister Eric was the one co-worker who had always
unsettled me slightly. He was older probably in his
early 30s and usually worked the midday shift.
Because of my classes I almost always worked the closing shift
so we would often overlap by a few hours.
At first I thought nothing of him and assumed he was a
graduate student or maybe just a random local.
I was friendly and cordial with him.
Like I am with all my co-workers, but the more we work
together the more he made odd comments and jokes around me.
I remember he once offered me a sausage breakfast sandwich that
had been left uncollected on the pickup counter.
When I declined he smiled weirdly at me and said are you
sure I thought you'd want it? Then he winked at me.
I told him that I was sure before turning and walking away.
I thought that was weird. Being a young bunch of mostly
students we messed around a lot at work.
So I thought maybe he was trying to make a joke that fell flat or
maybe he'd made some sort of reference that I wasn't
understanding. I didn't think more of it until
a couple of weeks later. We had just gotten the first
shipments of cookie straws. Yes actual cookies in the shape
of straws, which we'd be selling all summer.
My coworker broke a few into pieces so we could all try them.
After sampling the cookie. I got back to my closing duties
of preparing bottles of caramel drizzle and whipped cream for
the next day. Eric Was preparing drinks at the
Espresso Bar when he came closer to where I was working to use
the blender. He said to me.
Hey, I bet if we had a cookie straw eating contest you'd be
able to fit the most in your mouth.
I don't remember exactly how I reacted.
I was somewhat taken aback. I probably just awkwardly
laughed at all. I thought about his strange
words for the rest of my shift the joke didn't really make
sense. And an eating contest is
obviously different from a stick as many in your mouth as you can
test. But despite my naivety.
I understood what he was trying to get across.
Like I said, my co-workers would joke around a lot and sexual
jokes were not uncommon. I tried to brush it off
thinking. I had no other choice because it
wasn't a big deal. These strange encounters were
not over though. A few weeks later when I was
eating a banana in the back scrolling on my phone.
He joked that I could probably fit the whole thing in before
grabbing a sleeve of Cups and heading back to the front.
Later that same night over drinks after Eric was gone.
I asked my other co-workers what they thought of him.
None of them said they had any issues with him just that he was
a quiet guy who didn't interact with them much.
I thought about repeating his idiotic jokes to them but
decided against it. I didn't want to seem like I was
blowing anything out of proportion.
All that background happened to couple of months ago shortly
after the banana incident. We hired a new Barista and Eric
was moved to the opening shift. So we no longer overlapped much
to my relief. That brings us back to this
Thursday night my co-workers and I had already been planning to
get drinks after work. So one of them cordially invited
Eric and he agreed. I tried to interact normally
with him throughout the shift but something about the way he
kept looking at me unsettled me. While I change the trash bins in
the lobby, I would turn around in time to see him staring right
at me before he turned back to whichever drink he was making
behind the counter. We even made brief eye contact a
few times. When I began sweeping the lobby,
I noticed him staring again. When I came behind the counter
to sweep, he suddenly turned to me and asked.
Need a ride home tonight. No, thanks.
I responded reflexively I would often accept rides from my
co-workers home as I lived a couple of Miles off campus, but
the thought of taking a ride with this guy sent a shiver down
my spine. He didn't respond to this and
continued to stare as I quickly finished up sweeping.
By the time we were locking up and heading next door for
drinks. I was contemplating just going
straight home. I simply didn't like being
around Eric. His presence gave me a knot in
my stomach. But when I floated the idea of
bailing to my other two co-workers They begged me to
stay for at least one round on them.
As an underage and broke college students.
I rarely looked a gift horse in the mouth.
So I agreed plus I again figured that I was probably overreacting
to some degree. Sure.
Eric was a little off but he was probably just a socially awkward
harmless guy, right? That night we opted for a bottle
of white wine to go with our usual huge basket of chips and
salsa. One of my other co-workers named
Chris tried to make friendly conversation with Eric.
That's when Eric first mentioned his fiancee and I felt the knot
in my stomach lift partially. Thinking back now.
It was naive of me to think this new information was evidence
that I really had been reading too deeply into his comments and
looks from before regardless in the moment.
I was more at ease figuring he just had an unfortunate and
immature sense of humor. So I stuck around when someone
ordered a second bottle of wine this time pink.
I was feeling pretty warm and loose by the time the taco place
closed and we had to leave. We all said goodbye and Chris
and I walked over to the bus stop and waited together.
We both lived off campus and I always took the bus most nights.
Chris's girlfriend would come to pick him up after work, but she
was out of town that week. For some reason even at this
hour there were usually still a few college students Milling
about so close to campus. But Chris is presents put me
even more at ease. We boarded the city bus a few
minutes later. The bus was less than half full.
So Chris and I sat in two seats beside each other and continued
to chat. I lived further out from campus
than Chris. So when we got to his stop we
said goodbye and I watched as he climbed off the bus and into the
night. I popped my earbuds in resuming
the audiobook. I'd been listening to on my way
to work. I should let you know here that
when I was younger. I had a bad habit of not paying
much attention to my surroundings when I was out.
So I sat there and looked out the window for the remainder of
my ride. I rang the bell when my stop was
next and stood to get off the bus as it came to a familiar
curve as I exited from the front door.
I noticed someone in a dark hoodie getting off the bus from
the side exit. My stop wasn't a busy one at
this hour more often than not I would be the only one getting
off the bus here. But still I didn't think much of
it as I began my 20 minute walk home.
At the time I lived in a residential area with lots of
houses and apartment complexes. It was much cheaper to live out
here than closer to campus. I was just enjoying my audiobook
when the chapter came to an end and I paused it.
Then I heard it footsteps behind me.
I glanced over my shoulder fainting to look at a sign as I
passed it. I glimpsed a dark figure a few
hundred feet from me walking in the same direction on the same
side of the street. The figure seemed to keep a
steady distance, but I could feel my heart rate Quicken.
It was probably just another person heading home.
I told myself yet, unease settled in my gut reminiscent of
the feeling I had around Eric. I tried to Shake it Off telling
myself. I was being paranoid.
I picked up my Pace slightly hoping to create some more
distance. I took out one earbud listening
for the sound of footsteps. They quick and too matching my
speed. My mind raced with thoughts of
the strange comments and the unsettling stare from my
co-worker earlier. I turned at the next Corner
hoping to lose whoever it was but the footsteps turned with
me. My apartment complex was only a
few blocks away. Now, I glanced back again and
the figure was closer. I could make out the shape of
the hooded person their face still obscured by the Shadows my
pulse pounded in my ears my mind screaming at me to move faster,
and I obeyed no longer caring about appearing paranoid.
Suddenly I Heard a Voice Gruff Gravely and deep as it called
out need a ride home. Stephanie my blood ran cold.
Then this person knew my name the voice sounded strange as
though A man was trying to disguise his normal voice.
I knew in my gut it was Eric. My breath came in ragged gasps
as I broke into a full Sprint towards my building.
I desperately fumbled with my keys.
My hands shaking uncontrollably. The footsteps grew louder closer
and I managed to unlock the door and slam.
It shut behind me locking it with trembling fingers.
I backed away from the door heart racing grabbing my phone
to call the police in a trembling voice.
I told the woman on the phone that someone had followed me
home. Suddenly there was a loud
knocking at the door and I nearly screamed into the
receiver. He's at my door.
Please send someone. The woman assured me that help
was on the way. I was so scared that I begged
her to stay on the line with me. She promised she would then when
the knocking at my door turned into full on pounding.
I was convinced. This person was actually about
to break in. Busting my thin wooden door down
as I sobbed incoherently. The woman directed me to lock
myself in the bathroom until help arrived.
As I waited for the police, I cowered in my own bathtub
listening to the banging at the door after the longest wait, the
banging stopped abruptly. At first I was relieved but then
I was even more scared because what was he doing now?
Was he going to try the windows? God had I even remembered to
lock all the windows? As I strained to listen, I
thought I heard footsteps pacing on my front porch until even
that sound went away. When the police finally showed
up they found no one. They took my statement and
assured me they would Patrol the area.
But even after they left I could not shake the feeling of being
watched. I called in sick from my classes
and from work the next day. I contemplated what to do.
I didn't have proof per se that it was Eric who chased me home,
but I knew deep down in my gut. It had to be him.
Who else knew my name? Who else would have offered me a
ride home in that creepy way? The next day at work.
I finally decided to report Eric to my manager and told her about
all these strange comments over the past few months and my
terrifying walk home the other night.
I expected her to say I was overreacting but instead she
said that he would be fired immediately.
I remember him dropping by that Friday afternoon to pick up his
last check and tips. I tried to busy myself with
random tasks behind the bar. I didn't want to interact with
him or even look at him. Out of the corner of my eye.
I watched him approached the register.
None of my other co-workers knew what had happened yet.
So my coworker at the register cheerfully asked him if he
wanted a drink before he headed out Eric proceeded to order a
cappuccino. I begrudgingly dumped milk into
the milk frother and started pulling shots of espresso before
my co-worker handed me the cup. I made the drink and quickly put
it on the pickup counter before heading to the back to restock
the mill. I hope by the time I came back
out front. He would be gone.
I was wrong. In fact, he stood at the pickup
counter looking angrily at me. This is too heavy.
I want this dry. I tried to keep my expression
neutral as I said out to remake his drink.
For those who don't know a cappuccino is supposed to be
espresso shots with even parts of milk and foam a dry
cappuccino means the customer wants more foam than milk.
This is obviously the kind of thing that is most helpful to be
told before making the drink but I swallowed my attitude down and
set the second lighter cappuccino in front of him
wordlessly. I just wanted him out of the
store at this point. He picked it up.
Still too heavy. I wanted bone dry. my jaw
tightened I was irritated and it was obvious what he was doing a
bone dry cappuccino means the person essentially wants only
foam with their espresso. I said nothing as I dumped the
prior to drinks in the sink and set about pouring even more
milk. I steamed two pitchers full and
painstakingly separated the foam from the milk with a spoon.
I nearly threw the drink down on the counter at him and told him
to have a good day in a tone that suggested I would not be
remaking his stupid drink again. I turned away to tidy up the bar
and noticed him lingering there at the pickup counter for a few
more seconds before leaving. For a while.
I feared that he would come to the cafe while I worked or
follow me home again. But weak after week passed and
he didn't show back up. After a while I assumed it was
over until around four months later.
I found a note tucked into my front door frame.
I figured it was my least renewal from the landlord.
I grabbed it on my way in locking the door behind me.
After settling in I absent-mindedly remembered the
notice at the door and unfolded it.
I swear my heart stopped in a neat almost childlike script the
paper read. Why did you tell on me?
I was genuinely terrified. I knew getting the police
involved would be unlikely to be helpful for me as I had no way
of proving who this note was from.
Or that Eric had even followed me home in the first place.
I started to spend most of my nights at friends houses until I
saved up enough to move closer to campus.
A few months after that. I found a new job on campus.
I was sad to leave my co-workers at the cafe many of whom I was
close with at that point, but I couldn't stand the anxiety and
paranoia that Eric would show up again or appear behind me on one
of my walks home. Thankfully, I never saw Eric
again. Even now years later.
I still get that unshakeable feeling that someone is watching
me or following me when I walk home alone.
I find myself constantly checking over my shoulder.
My heart quickening at the slightest sound behind me.
Looking back. I wish I had trusted my
instincts and reported Eric's Behavior to my manager and the
authorities sooner instead of brushing off my unease and
convincing myself that it was simply nothing. maybe then I
could have spared myself from the nightmares I've had since
The air had that crispness about it the kind that signaled summer
was making its last grandstand before giving way to the colors
of fall. As the pickup truck rattled
along the gravel road toward Beaver Minds I couldn't shake
the feeling that this trip was going to be one for the books.
Tim was at the wheel his eyes fixed on the winding path ahead
while Caleb fiddled with the radio trying to find a signal
amidst the static. We're really doing this, huh?
Caleb grinned finally giving up on the radio and settling back
into his seat. Yeah, and it's going to be epic
Tim replied his voice filled with the kind of easy confidence
that comes from being the de facto leader of our little Trio.
The truck crested a hill and the forest stretched out before us
like a vast unexplored wilderness.
I felt a twinge of excitement mixed with a whisper of
apprehension as I thought about the stories we'd heard around
campfires and in the dimly lit corners of our favorite Diner.
Stories of the Wilds of Alberta of creatures that roam the dense
forests legends that were always dismissed by the light of day.
We arrived at our campsite by late afternoon.
The sun was beginning to dip behind the trees casting Long
Shadows on the ground as we unloaded our gear.
Our camp was a simple Affair a tent a fire pit and a few logs
pulled up around it for seats as we set up the laughter and
banter flowed freely easing the lingering nerves about being so
far from everything familiar. By Nightfall our campfire was
crackling sending Sparks up to compete with the Stars.
Tim pulled out a bag of marshmallows and soon.
We were roasting them over the Flames the sticky sweetness
perfect against the Chill in the air.
You guys remember the story of the wendigo Tim asked a
mischievous glint in his eyes as he leaned closer to the fire
making Shadows danced wildly behind him.
Caleb rolled his eyes not that again.
It's just a story to scare kids. I wasn't so sure there was
something about being out here surrounded by the ancient trees
in the deepening dark that made those old Tales feel a little
too real. As the night deepened we settled
into our tent the fabric walls are only barrier against the
vast Dark Forest outside. I lay there listening to the
Symphony of the Night the distant call of an owl the
rustle of leaves in a gentle breeze.
It was peaceful. It was perfect.
Until it wasn't it started as a faint rustling like the wind
picking up. Only there was no wind. the
night had grown eerily still Tim and Caleb heard it too.
I saw their Shadows shift as they sat up.
What was that Caleb whispered his voice tight with tension?
Probably just a deer Tim murmured, but even he didn't
sound convinced curiosity overcame us and we grabbed our
flash lights unzipping the tent with hands that trembled just
slightly. The beam of light cut through
the darkness landing on the trees that surrounded our camp.
There was nothing out of place nothing moving and then we saw
them two glowing eyes. Unnaturally high off the ground
staring back at us from the darkness.
The figure was tall gone almost Ghostly.
None of us moved none of us breathed.
We were caught in its gaze trapped in a moment of primal
fear that seemed to stretch into eternity.
We backed away slowly retreating to the supposed safety of our
tent we told ourselves. It was nothing just a trick of
the light or our imagination fueled by the ghost stories.
But as we lay back down listening to the silence that
had once seemed so peaceful. We knew something was out there.
And it had seen us. The Morning Light filtered
softly through the canvas of our tent a stark contrast to the
darkness of the previous night. I was the first to stir my mind
a whirl of unsettling dreams and The Haunting image of those
glowing eyes. As I nudged him and Caleb away
wake the Silence of the forest felt oppressive as if it were
waiting for something. We should go for a hike I
suggested more for the sake of doing something to shake off the
remnants of fear, then for any real enthusiasm for the
activity. Tim nodded pulling on his boots
Yeah, let's check out the area. Maybe we'll see that deer
everyone keeps talking about around here.
The forest was dense the underbrush thick with late
summer growth making our hike less leisurely and more of a
struggle. The sounds of our passage seemed
overly loud in the quiet the snapping of Twigs Under Foot
like gunshots in the still air. I couldn't shake the feeling of
being watched and I caught Caleb looking over his shoulder more
than once his eyes wide and searching.
We had been walking for about an hour when Tim stopped.
So abruptly that I nearly ran into him.
Look he whispered pointing at the ground ahead.
It was a deer or what was left of it.
The carcass was torn open its entrails spread grotesquely
across the forest floor fly flies buzzed.
Loudly the only sound in a suffocating silence.
This wasn't just any predator. Caleb said his voice low.
Look at the marks two brutal for a bear.
We stood there the gravity of our situation settling in like a
heavy cloth. The forest didn't feel like ours
to explore anymore. It felt like we had intruded
into something ancient something wild and unforgiving.
As we turn to head back to Camp a crackling in the bushes froze
us in our tracks there not 20 feet from where we stood was the
creature from last night. It was hunched over another deer
its movements jerky and Savage as it fed.
Its skin was pulled tight over its bones making it look
skeletal and its eyes those same glowing eyes were Hollow yet
burning with a ravenous hunger. We backed away slowly not daring
to take our eyes off it. The creature paused its head
snapping up to fix its Gaze on us.
It let out a sound a chilling mix of a growl in a scream that
echoed through the trees and chilled my blood.
We didn't wait to see what it would do.
Next. We turned and ran branches
whipping against our faces Roots threatening to trip us at every
step. The camp had never seen so far
away. Back at the safety of our site
the fire from last night now nothing but smoldering ashes we
packed our things with shaking hands.
The decision was unspoken, but unanimous.
We couldn't stay here not with that thing out there.
But as we hurried to break Camp the woods around us seemed to
close in the once welcoming trees now looming like silent
Sentinels. Every rustle of the leaves every
snap of a twig had us jumpy and tense.
We'll leave it dusk. Tim said his voice firm.
Despite the fear I saw in his eyes.
Will use the remaining daylight to get ready?
But as the Shadows grew longer and the forest around us seemed
to whisper. I wondered if we would even make
it until dusk. The sky was painted with streaks
of crimson as the sun began its descent the light fading from
the forest around us. We had decided to wait until the
cover of Darkness to make our Escape hoping the night would
Shield us from whatever stalked these woods every minute that
ticked by was a minute spent in agonizing anticipation the air
thick with the center of our fear.
We Gather our belongings The normality of the action at odds
with the Tremor in our hands and the titaness in our chests.
Caleb kept glancing at the trees his flash light flicking on at
every slight sound. Tim was quiet his eyes focused a
hard Edge to his jaw. Let's do this.
Tim finally said his voice a low Rumble in the growing Darkness.
Stick clothes and whatever happens don't run off alone.
We turned our flashlights on the beam slicing through the
darkness as we stepped into the woods.
The path back to the truck was a familiar one, but tonight it
felt entirely alien as if the trail had shifted reshaped by
our fears into something sinister.
We hadn't gone far when the unmistakable crack of a branch
had a freezing in place. The sounds of the forest had
ceased a heavy silence falling over everything then a low growl
rolled through the trees the sound visceral and chilling.
It was close too close. Without a word we broke into a
run the beams of our flash lights jerky and wild as we
navigated the uneven ground the growls grew louder closer joined
by the heavy thudding steps of something large moving swiftly
through the underbrush. We need to hide I gasped out my
lungs burning with the effort of our panicked flight.
The only cover in sight were a couple of old porta potties left
by some long forgotten construction crew.
It was a desperate plan, but it was all we had we darted inside
squeezing into the cramped spaces.
The smell was overpowering but the fear of what was outside was
greater. We barely breathed listening as
the steps approached then circled around our flimsy hiding
spots. The wendigo was searching for
us. It's breathing ragged and
hungry. It scratched at the plastic the
sound making my heart stop each time.
I closed my eyes praying it would move on.
And then as suddenly as it had appeared The Sounds began to
fade. We waited counting endless
heartbeats before we dare to emerge.
The forest was dark the path uncertain under the moon's scant
light. We moved quickly now no longer
trying to avoid making noise. Our only thought to put as much
distance as possible between us and that creature.
When the parking lot finally came into view it was like
seeing the Gates of Heaven. We threw our gear into the back
of the truck and didn't stop to secure it jumping into the cab.
Tim hit the gas the moment the doors were shut the tires
crunching over the gravel as we sped away.
I looked back once my breath catching in my throat.
There at the edge of the trees stood the Wendigo.
Its eyes glowed faintly in the headlights before it turned and
disappeared into the darkness. We drove in Silence the weight
of what we had experienced settling over us like a cold
shroud Beaver Minds had changed us shown us a world beyond our
understanding a world. We were lucky to escape.
I knew then as the forest faded into the distance that the wild
had Secrets best left undiscovered.
Greetings all my granddaughter led me here told me it's a place
where people who enjoy the spooky and the Supernatural come
to get their fix. She is helping me share my own
story. Thought you folks might be
tickled by it. These events came back to me at
a recent family reunion. For fun The Last of Us awake
that night when in a circle and swapped our scariest moments
stories. It was a good time and his
family members shared UFOs and creaky addicts and near death
experiences a trick floorboard in my mind popped up exposing
something. My subconscious had long kept
hidden perhaps for my own good. So when their eyes all turned to
Graeme K likely expecting Tales of Pastaria poverty or teenagers
with tattoos or the trials of childbirth.
I leaned in and recounted to them the time I found a lost man
in the woods It caused quite a stir with the family and at the
insistence of my darling granddaughter I share it with
you now. This is something that happened
when I was in my twenties. I won't embarrass myself by
telling you how long ago that was but suffice to say I am
quite a bit grayer above the ears these days.
My first husband Ronald was a ranger and for five years.
We lived together on BLM land. Our regular Backcountry
excursions instilled in me a passion for the out of doors.
That was uncommon for a lady back then.
Women might be found on a long walk or at a national park with
their husband and children in tow Shore.
But I was partial to take a nap sack and charging into pure
isolating Wilderness often spending two or three days at a
time following Trails or inventing my own.
Those excursions were often migrated piece, especially after
Ronald passed in our sixth year to gather.
It was about a year after Ronald's passing and I was
setting out for a two-day Trek in the Pacific Northwest.
Washington or Oregon? I think though that details
Still Remains beneath the floorboards.
The trail looked attractive on the map as it followed a river
through a vast Mountain Valley that separated two small towns.
I believe it had once served as a Supply route between the towns
before the road system came after which it was merely a
recreation Trail though. Not one to be taken lightly.
The locals would warn all but the most Avid Outdoorsman to
avoid the root as there was a point in the valley that
required a difficult River forwarding.
This Ford occasionally took the lives of the cocky or the
unprepared sending their bodies bobbing Downstream to be
recovered by the town at the other end.
But I reckoned I was Ovid enough.
A friend dropped me off at the trailhead as I had left my car
parked in the town at the other end of the valley.
I was immediately put to task by a steep hike up to a mountain
saddle and a precarious descent down the other side.
It was passed midday before I was rewarded with even Terrain
in the valley below. I managed the infamous River
Crossing cautiously and without incident then resume the Trek on
the opposite Bank. the trail followed the river a few more
miles before it leaned away sending me from high grass and
wildflowers into a forest of evergreen's The sun was
beginning to angle towards the Western Range as the trees
closed in behind me shrouding my world in a gentle Emerald dim.
I made my way over the soft Earth beneath the trees grateful
for the shade after a day exposed beneath the Summer sun.
The air was muted by a Mossy quiet and the limbs of the
Evergreen sliced the light into haphazard bars of gold.
It was a dense verdant old growth forest the kind that
feels like a cathedral proud and reverent and secretive.
I have always loved and sought such places.
The trail took me downhill and the shade grew darker still.
There came a point where the pine needles underfoot fully
obscured the path and I paused carefully peeking around
Evergreens to spot where it might pick up again trying not
to lose my place. I had my compass and map but
only food enough for a day and a half and didn't want to be lost
in the Boondocks if I could help it.
This was all before the age of the satellite phone mind you
after a few moments of unsuccessful scanning.
I decided to backtrack to see if there was perhaps a why in the
trail I had missed. I turned 180 degrees to find
myself looking into the eyes of a man some ten or 12 feet behind
me. I had no clue how long he had
been there my brain in the Panic of the moment skipped right past
surprise and landed directly on bewilderment.
Oh goodness. Hello.
I spit out mostly on impulse. I am sure he could see the shock
in my face, but he gave no sign of it.
Sure, easy to get lost out here, isn't it?
He replied in simple even tones. His appearance was the perfect
Outdoorsman practically out of a Sportsman's magazine of the day.
Work boots and canvas pants held up with suspenders that ran over
a Navy double-breasted shirt The Plaid cuffs of his sleeves were
rolled up above the elbow and the sleeping bag strap to top
his rucksack poked up from behind his head.
Yet despite his textbook appearance.
He didn't feel like a Woodsman to me.
His bearded face was middle-aged, but the skin was
deeply creased and drooping at the neck and jowls as if much
older. Beneath wild black eyebrows were
grayish eyes that seemed unable to focus on any spot in
particular. Splotches of sweat dark in the
pits and neckline of his shirt and he gave off a rank odor that
disgust me even in memory. He offered me a strained toothy
Smile as if he had heard descriptions of smiles, but was
trying it out for the first time.
It certainly could be I replied with exaggerated recentering
myself internally. Sorry for my surprise.
I didn't hear you come up behind me. the man ignored the comment
Are you lost out here too? He asked his expression remained
polite Earnest but behind the foggy gray eyes.
I detected something else something.
I couldn't put a word to instinctively.
I began to take a mental inventory of what weapons I had
at my disposal the best I could come up with was my Swiss army
knife, which was unfortunately tucked into the bottom of my
knapsack. I could hear Ronald's deep Stern
voice echo in the back of my head somewhere saying you should
be packing a gun Christy. You never know what you'll run
into. I shoot Ronald's ghost.
And it's I Told You So away and turned my focus back to the man.
Certainly not lost know. I responded carefully not
wishing to make myself any more vulnerable than I already was.
But you said too. Are you lost out here?
The man rocked on his feet his eyes scanning vacantly in my
direction. Yes, lost people wander out here
get lost. He replied his voice was Gravely
delivered in flat dead tones. But sometimes I find them find
them wandering through the forest stepping and breaking
trying to find their way. So I helped them take them back
to the river so they can follow it out.
I can help you, too. Help you find the river.
At that, he said his empty Eyes Upon me truly locking his with
mine his expression transformed into something equal parts
pained and Furious as if I had betrayed him in some horrible
intimate way. A primordial part of me awoke
and a wave of adrenaline scream to Sprint into the Maze of
Evergreen surrounding us. But of clear voice of instinct
told me to stand still so like a mouse being fixed upon by a
house cat still I stood well, I'm not lost though.
I am sure this Trail can be a bit of trouble for some I
certainly appreciate the offer though.
I said in the most friendly tone I could muster.
Few sunbeams were making it through the trees overhead and
knew I needed to move things along but I think I better get
moving while I still have some light.
I have some friends hiking in from the other end expecting to
meet me at camp tonight, so I can't afford to get to off of
schedule. This was a lie, of course, but I
wanted him to think others would be coming along soon that I was
expected. But inside I wished more than
ever that Ronald was with me again.
The man practiced his disconcerting smile once more
and his eyes blissfully unfocused.
Yes, still have some light he echoed in his staccato.
The Walkers get lost making little circles in the forest.
If you lose the way I'll lead you to the river.
In the tension of the moment, I didn't process his words, but it
was clear that something Insidious glared out from behind
them at me. Oh, of course.
Thanks. I'll keep that in mind.
Happy Trails, I practically shouted eager to detach and
commenced a rigorous power walk in the direction.
I had left off at unsure if I was continuing on the true Trail
or not after a few dozen Paces. I began blessedly to see
indications of the path and took back to it.
A few minutes of concerted near jogging later my heart thumping
in my ears and my pack thumping against my back.
I slowed to a walk and watched over my shoulder to see if the
strange man was following me. I had put in some considerable
distance and in the greenish dark of the forest.
I saw nothing but Ferns and evergreen's then coming around
far back on the trail there he was Not necessarily following I
suppose but walking in my same direction staggering down the
path about 60 yards behind me. He moved awkwardly almost
drunken like someone learning to walk on a prosthetic.
In the moment my eye caught him his head snapped up.
And even from that distance, I could feel cold gray eyes locked
to mine. And I knew then it wasn't a
coincidence. I was being followed.
I whipped my face forward and picked my pace.
The last mile of that day were hiked briskly and stressed no
matter how much speed I put into my Pace the man would always
somehow catch up behind me down the trail despite his disjointed
walk. I would lose him for five or 10
minutes then catch some sight or sound of him persisting ever
forward. And so I had no.
Peace. Never breaking often run jogging
but never able to get more than a few minutes of isolation
before I would hear his feet cracking branches along the path
or see his dark silhouette come around a bend in the trail far
behind me. The last Tangerine of son had
faded from the forest floor when I realized I would have to stop.
I was losing the last of my visibility and all though.
I was tempted. I knew that hiking in the pitch
was foolish. Using my torch to find my way
around would make me a beacon to the man in the night.
But on the other hand hiking blindly would mean almost
certainly losing the trail. Getting me no closer to escape
and could mean injury or death if I was unlucky.
And I was not feeling lucky. In Stead, I resolved to make my
way as far off Trail as I dared quietly set up camp and wait for
the first light of Daybreak to serve as a starter pistol for a
Mad Dash to the end of the valley.
I didn't love the plan but no better ideas came to me.
So I crept past the tree line quiet as a fox and gingerly set
up my one-man pup tent behind a couple interlocked Evergreens
that stood Vanguard between my camp and the direction of the
trail the spot was in circled by Ferns and brambles the best
cover I could find from Amber Dusk to pale Moonlight.
I had just enough light to see what I was doing as I moved
quietly on sore legs and blistered feet.
I didn't bother with dinner or coffee or any of my rituals
typical of a trip to the Back Country.
I scarcely remember drinking water.
What I do remember is laying a top my sleeping bag unwilling to
constrict myself within it fully dressed with my Swiss.
Army knife clutched in my fist the blade out and ready.
I spent my time breathing evenly staying silent and listening.
After a couple hours, I began to calm the man had never been more
than about 15 minutes behind me down the trail.
So if he was a Tracker, he would have long since traced me to
Camp. If not a Tracker.
I suspected he had already overshot my Camp making a
successful backtrack to my location near impossible.
I was just beginning to form an estimate as to how long before
Daybreak when I heard movement in the woods.
It was the snapping cracking of something moving ponderously
over the forest floor. Probably 20 to 40 yards away.
I prayed for the first and only time that it was a bear.
The only other thing in those woods heavy enough to make that
much noise would be ungulate which ten not to move.
So sporadically or loudly my every muscle froze as the
intermittent creaking and snapping move towards my camp.
I held my knife to my chest like a cross watching the Moonlight
side of my tent wall for a shape to take form.
Then after a light snaps some ten yards to my left.
The woods went silent. I laid their tents as a plank of
wood terrified to so much as breathe.
I stared at the Shadows of the ferns and tree bows that the
moon cast against my tent wall waiting for one of them to
transform into the shape of the man and lunge.
But no phantom assailant came. The Shadows slowly lengthened
and dissipated as the moon moved through the heavens up above.
But I remained fixated on the bluish wall of my pup tent
counted breaths and waited. It must have been hours before I
dared to turn my head away from the direction of the snapping in
the forest. The Moon by that time had angled
in the sky towards the other side of camp and as I write it
myself I saw on the opposite wall of my tent the shadow of
the man. He loomed above the can of
canopy perfectly still perhaps just an Arm's Reach away.
I was taken with panic and in the wand late evening light the
Silhouettes head turned ever so slightly so as to look directly
down at me. Little Walker.
I knew you'd get lost. Let me help you find the river.
The man's voice had changed. It was no longer the masculine
voice. I had heard delivered in Gravely
staccato on the trail early. It was vaguely feminine.
Sweet and melodic every word dripping with acid.
It was the voice that would come from a spider if a spider could
speak. And when I heard it, I knew I
was going to die. I'm not lost.
I thought or perhaps I whispered it either way.
I remember it took all I had to make the words come I know where
I'm going. At that the man reached out and
pressed his palm against the upper wall of the tent
imprinting a black handprint against the fabric.
If you are here, then you are lost replied The Voice from
inside the man. And the lost belonged to me.
The handprint against my tent spasmed and I watched as the
head of the silhouette convulsed and rolled back.
Black shapes emerged from where the man's mouth was.
Slender tendrils that twisted and unfurled upward from the
man's throat coiling and riding in the air around his head
making a grotesque shadow puppet show out of the moonlit wall of
my tent. In the terror of the moment my
impulse was to scream but somehow in the hot foam of Fury
and indignation that I should die at the will of this
incomprehensible thing the scream choked out in the form of
words. I am not lost.
I surged up and in a miraculously cleaned cut slice
the tents fabric from the canopy to the floor in the direction of
the man's shadow the hand pulled away and I sprang outward
blindly prepared to sink the Swiss army knife into anything.
It might find purchase. But before I could clear my exit
I heard a man's hey yo from the trees not far off Camp.
It was a deep Soulful Bellow that rattled me and carried like
wind around the Evergreens and brambles.
I knew the sound in my heart. It was Ronald's voice the call
he would make when we would hike together in the wilderness to
ward off bears. Only now it came with such force
that I felt it in and around me a wave of feeling and a fog horn
of sound. In that same moment.
I heard the garbled vicious words of the things speak.
I know not what and by the time I was right to my feet outside
the tent ready to attack. There was only silence.
I scan the Shifty darkness of the woods watching the trees and
shadows around me like a hair watches The Skys.
My heart was pounding my body still ready for the fight, but I
was alone. No man.
No silhouette no creature. No Ronald.
Just a woman alone in nature panting through the adrenaline
and fear. After some time, I shook off my
dread stuffed my ruined tent back into my knapsack retrieved
my torch and carefully picked my way back to the trail in the
dark. From there.
I began the root again holding my torch out like a night
Watchman eyeing the tree line while being careful not to lose
the beaten path. Occasionally, I thought I heard
movement far back behind me on the trail, but the light of my
torch never caught anything in the shadows of the forest.
A few miles later daylight began to trickle through the canopy of
the Evergreens. An hour or so after that, I
noticed the trees becoming smaller farther apart and the
rush of the river in the distance became the soundtrack
to my walk. By the time the trail rejoined
the river the woods were well behind me and I soldiered on
through open Valley in a stupor. At some point.
I reached the meager town where I had left my car parked by the
time I realized I was walking on pavement.
I was practically a town center. I am sure I drew disconcerted
looks from the locals at the top house when I staggered in a mess
of matted hair and sunken eyes with my knapsack bulging and
half zip-t. But I took no notice.
It had always been my and Ronald's tradition after coming
back out of the back country to celebrate with a bourbon and a
beer. I ordered two of each as I knew
he had joined me for a final hike but that it was on me to
drink on his behalf. The barmaid took my order with
the pouty and difference of someone who had served stranger
orders to stranger patrons and went to task.
I had finished both bourbons and most of the second beer when a
commotion broke me from the Solitude of my thoughts.
The excitement was directed at a tiny television mounted in a
corner behind the bar and the pouty bar made turned up the
volume at a request. It was the County news station
where a pallid man and a sports jacket was breaking a press
release from the Sheriff's Office. the news ticker red
Sheriff recovers body of drowned hiker the camera cut to the
sheriff explaining that the man was a hiker from Canada who
likely drowned while attempting to for the river in the valley
pass. He had been dead for three days
before washing into town on the high river later that morning.
Several bar patrons issued touch and low whistles the dirt of the
cynical and unsympathetic. While the sheriff issued a tired
warning that the river fording was dangerous and not be
attempted by those without proper training and experience.
My thoughts went to the man. To The Confident Pilgrim of
nature. He must have been perhaps two
confident even until a few days ago when he got himself lost in
some very old Woods where he weaved and wandered through the
evergreen's hunting for a trail. Until something found him
something that took him to the river where it takes all its
lost Travelers. But I was never lost.
On the night of November 14 2015 two Welsh brothers named Andrew
and Mark middle were out camping in the cloak forest in Northern
Wales. They were there to watch the
2015 whales rally and annual off-road car racing event about
which both brothers were extremely enthusiastic.
So enthusiastic in fact that they opted to camp out in almost
Sub-Zero temperatures to maintain the perfect vantage
point to watch the powerful Vehicles hurdle passed them.
Giving the cold the brothers naturally needed to maintain a
campfire to keep warm. And as anyone who has had to
keep a campfire going overnight nose, it requires a lot of
firewood. The brothers had collected an
apple stack of dry kindling that after noon but as the night set
in and a Brisk November chill set in they found their supplies
of firewood dwindling. Apparently it was Mark's turn to
go out and collect some so he grabbed his flashlight through
on his woolly gloves and hat and set off into the pitch black
forest to gather firewood. It's more than likely that given
the time of year. The forest floor was very cold
and damped during the night. And we can quite safely assume
that Mark middles search for sufficiently dry kindling took
him much further from his campsite than he would have
liked. Then before he knew it all the
trees started to look the same and among the dense verdant
foliage. He realized he'd lost sight of
the Warm Glow of his campfire. Realizing he was lost Mark
called out to his brother who immediately responded.
Then all Mark had to do was follow the sound of his
brother's voice and he'd soon be back at camp.
Yet the cloak Forest is so dense and wild in places that a few
blind footsteps might send him crashing into the dirt below.
So to ensure this didn't happen Mark Chao his flash light on the
ground beneath him to make sure that he was clear of trip
hazards. Back at Camp Andrew middle was
only mildly concerned about his brother calling out to him.
Although it was very dark mark hadn't walked far and he would
most definitely be able to find his way back to Camp from the
sound of his voice. What followed was a variation on
the famous pool game Marco Polo Mark would call out to Andrew
and Andrew would call back until suddenly Mark went quiet.
Then through the pitch Darkness Andrew quite clearly heard his
brother in a voice that sounded both astounded and horrified say
oh my God. Andrew recognized the fear and
marks voice immediately and asked his brother what the
problem was. Mark stayed quiet for a second
staring in disbelief at the object at his feet then called
out to his brother. I think you better come and see
this. Andrew grabbed his own flash
light and rushed out to find his brother white as a sheet and
staring at the ground and Andrew then looked down to see what he
was looking at. Then muttered his own
exclamation of Jesus Christ half buried in the earthquake in Moss
and filth was a human skull Mark and Andrew quickly made their
way back to their campsite and immediately contacted the
police. Emergency Services received the
call at approximately 8:35 p.m. And by 9 that night a local
police officer had arrived at the scene to confirm the
discovery. The officer was quickly followed
by a forensic team who sequestered the area off before
searching for additional human remains hidden just beneath the
Earth. The team discovered a complete
human skeleton that they believed had been deposited
there between the years of 1995 and 2005.
It was only then that the middle brothers were informed of
something truly horrifying that the ground they'd been camping
on had once been used by notorious serial killer Peter
Moore as a Dumping Ground for men he had murdered.
They hadn't just pitched their tent on any old patch of forest.
They'd made a camp on a veritable graveyard.
What followed was a five week long investigation that involved
combing missing persons databases pathological
examinations and intensive DNA profiling.
It was determined that the man died from blunt trauma to the
head and that he had been murdered in an unknown location
between 2000 and 4 and 2010. The victim was said to have been
a well-built man in his 60s at the time of his death.
Standing between 5 foot 8 and 5 foot 10 some items of clothing
were found near the body consisting of a dark green
Pringle jumper and some dark red decomposed marks and Spencer
underwear. But it could not be confirmed
that they were associated with the victim.
Numerous attempts to identify the man via his DNA and teeth
were unsuccessful and in March of 2017 police confirmed that
they had approached Peter Moore with questions regarding the
man's identity. More claimed that the body did
indeed belong to one of his victims a 46 year old mature
student at a barista with University who had disappeared
in 1996. More refused to reveal the
victim's name, but journalists identified a Roger Evans of
Bradley near Stoke on Trent as a mature student who had indeed
gone missing in 1996. However, police later announced
that this Theory had been discounted due to conflicting
dates and to this day the identities of both the victim
and his murderer remain a complete mystery.
However, the prevailing theory is that Peter Moore is indeed.
The man's killer and simply fed the police a string of false
information in order to throw them off the scent.
More was famous for claiming that his murderers had actually
been committed by a fictitious homosexual Lover.
He nicknamed Jason after the killer in the Friday the 13th
movie series. He might have found a great deal
of satisfaction in finally having to see those that sent
him to prison on a whole life order.
The identity of Moors apparently murderous lover was never
uncovered and despite jurors having decided that his claims
were a complete fiction. They might have been very very
wrong. More was not only aware of
someone who had gone missing in the year following his string of
killings, but the victim was found mere yards away from where
Moore's other victims had been found.
There's a very good chance that Moore was indeed involved in the
murder in some capacity. But if he didn't personally
murder the victim who did Is it possible that more wasn't lying
when he spoke of this Jason character?
Is it possible that he'd been part of some kind of kill team
back in 1995 when he committed his crime?
Did the body simply belong to Moors on credited 5th victim
one? His record will forever remain
untainted by thanks to a well thought out deception.
As frustrating as it may be these are questions that might
never be answered and with more rapidly approaching his 76th
birthday. The time to get concrete answers
is quickly running out. So next time your camping and
you're out collecting firewood. Be careful where you tread.
Of finding something to warm your bones.
You might find something that will make your blood run cold.
Up on April 5th 2017 22 year old Californian cyclist Jacob gray
set off from Washington State's Port Townsend intent on cycling
through the Olympic National Park the bike he was riding was
a specialized Hard Rock that some believed was slightly too
small for Jacob. He was just an inch below six
feet yet the bike had sentimental value as it was a
promotional model that his father had won at a contractor's
show raffle attached to the rear of the bike was a used red and
yellow Child trailer one that Jacob had loaded with camping
gear before setting off into the wilderness.
Jacob was later cited in Indian Valley and along Crescent Lake
on April 5th. On the morning of April 6th a
woman drove past him as he rode down the sole Duke Hot Springs
Road. Later that afternoon.
She noticed his distinctive red and yellow trailer on the side
of the road. If it wasn't a good place to
Camp or stash a bike for long as it was highly visible among the
foliage. Jacob was nowhere to be seen.
But little did the woman know Jacob would never be seen again.
A few hours later. His abandoned gear was found by
Park Rangers who noted something odd about the setup.
A bow was lying on the ground next to the abandoned bike and
trailer and not only were arrows jammed into the dirt near the
bike itself, but arrows seemed to have struck the red and
yellow trailer, which held Jacobs possessions.
The ranger in question a man named John Bowie then proceeded
to search the immediate area believing the bikes owner may
have stopped in the nearby spring to collect water.
But again Jacob was nowhere to be seen.
But we then contacted a fellow park ranger and asked him to
reach the area. The following morning.
He expected the bike's owner to have returned to remove his
gear. But the frame and trailer were
still there on the morning of April 7th.
A park ranger then searched Jacobs abandoned gear and found
a list of phone numbers which identified the gears owner as
Jacob. He then contacted one of the
people on the list who turned out to be Jacob's sister
Mallory. Once Jacob's parents were
informed of his abandoned gear the grave nature of the
situation became clear at that point.
Jacob gray officially became a missing person.
The next day the Clallam County Sheriff's Department combed over
the area using around 30 different deputies and sniffer
dogs to try to track down the missing cyclists.
Even with all the Manpower they failed to locate him.
A few days later the sheriff's department Enlisted the help of
volunteer trackers from the Olympic Mountain Rescue.
This team of dedicated Specialists was much more Adept
at tracking the movements of missing people.
As they searched they made a series of Curious discoveries.
They found compelling evidence that someone most likely Jacob
had swapped a pair of hiking boots for running shoes before
walking to the edge of a nearby River.
There they appeared to have slipped and Fallen leaving a
distinct mark on a Mossy Rock. About 30 yards Downstream.
There were signs that this person had managed to pull
themselves out of the river eliminating the prospect that
Jacob had drowned before being carried down river.
They doubled down on this Theory by having team members search
the log jams further down the river.
But no trace of any body was found and the search continued.
Yet despite the ongoing efforts on April 14th.
The status of the search for Jacob gray was changed to that
of a limited continuous search. This meant that Rangers were no
longer looking for a living person as it was believed to be
impossible for Jacob to have survived almost two weeks
without protection from the elements.
Search and rescue teams moved on to other tasks leaving the
search for Jacob to be headed up by volunteers only.
This was extremely demoralizing for Jacob's family, but they
refused to give up and over the coming months.
They personally organized at least a dozen searches of the
Olympic National Park. Flyers were posted on Park
kiosks and gas stations in the Port Angeles area and a team
consisting of Jacob's friends and relatives handed out
leaflets to people hiking through the park this culminated
in a huge 100 man search along the soul Duke River in July of
2017. But only a pair of Burnside
brand shorts in Jacob's size were recovered a pair that
matched an item. He'd been given as a Christmas
gift the previous year. This briefly renewed the
families. Hope of finding Jacob alive.
But over the years that followed the lack of any additional
findings meant that the searches had to be scaled back and a grim
acceptance set in that they'd never see their beloved Jacob
alive again. More than a year later on
Friday, August 10th, 2018 a team of biologists ventured into the
Olympic National Park to study marmots.
They found themselves a top a ridge above whole lake and it
was there that they made a horrifying discovery.
Along with his clothing some of his gear and his wallet the team
of scientists found what remained of Jacob Gray's
lifeless body. This spot was more than 15 miles
from where Jacob had abandoned his bicycle.
So what exactly prompted the young man to abandon his things
before climbing up so far into the mountains despite the
discovery of a bow and arrows near his abandoned bicycle and
after identifying Jacob via his dental records a corner argued
that there was very little evidence of Foul Play.
He had a cigarette lighter insulated clothing and plenty of
food with him at the scene where the body was found.
Yet it was soon determined that the only rational explanation
was that Jacob had somehow succumbed to hypothermia.
As during the April he went missing the terrain had been
covered in a thick blanket of snow.
However, this completely ignores the fact that Jacobs remains
were little more than skeletal by the time they were found.
There could have been any number of fatal wounds to Jacobs
biodegradable tissues. That would have been impossible
to identify. It's also worth noting that when
lost in the wilderness most people know well enough to head
downhill instead of climbing them.
The last thing you want to do is end up stranded on a mountain
when you could hike down to more temperate climates.
But a person being pursued by someone or something might well
climb up a Mountainside in order to escape something chasing
them. Especially if that thing had
previously fired at them with a bow and arrow.
There's something else worth noting too and that involves the
items found in the vicinity of Jacob's skeletal remains.
He was carrying a Bible with him.
It seems when he abandoned his bicycle.
He grabbed only what was completely essential for his
survival the lighter the food and the warm clothing.
What would possess him to bring the Bible along?
Its possible that he wished to use the pages as kindling yet.
Despite how badly degraded they were by the elements.
The Bible's Pages showed no signs of being ripped or torn.
Just what was it about a Bible that Jacob saw as being
essential to his survival. What was chasing him that he
believed a holy text might be a Salvation?
There have been many that argued that Jacobs intention was to
take his own life and that carrying the Bible with him was
an attempt to counterbalance the mortal sin that he perceived
himself to be doing but this raises the question if Jacob
intended on taking his own life, why bother bringing so much
survival gear on a trip that would ultimately end in his
death. Its entirely likely that Jacob
wanted one last biking trip before going through with the
ACT. But that theory completely
ignores the fact that a bow and arrow were found at the site of
his abandoned vehicle. It's not out of the question
that Jacob brought these items along with him and intended to
use them as part of a survivalist style exercise.
Yet if that was the case, why were arrows shot into the ground
at an angle which would suggest they were being fired at Jacob?
And if he was being attacked, he could have at least tried using
the boat to defend himself only he didn't which leads us to
believe that an attacker was wielding the bow.
But what kind of cycle paths stalks through the forest of
Washington hunting for human game who could have terrified
Jacob so much that he'd have preferred to risk the freezing
Mountainside rather than risk walking back down into the
woods. Did Jacob really get lost in the
woods as some people contend or rather was he stalked attacked
and then chased up the mountain by someone who still walks among
us today? From the very start.
I was not a child of the city of the concrete or of the
predictable Paths of Lima's bustling streets.
My first breath was drawn in the humid air of the Peruvian
Capital. Yes, but my soul my very essence
was carved out in the vast Untamed expanse of the Amazon
jungle. My parents both dedicated German
biologists had traded the sterility of lab work for the
Wilds of panguana a research station.
They established deep within the hearts shadow of the rainforest.
Even as a toddler, I was more familiar with the calls of
macaws and the chattering of tamarinds than the sounds of
cars and chatter of crowded marketplaces.
My playground was the dense undergrowth my Playmates the
creatures and plants my parents studied.
My father Hanceville taught me the language of the earth soil
under our feet the intricate ecosystem.
We were part of My mother Maria an ornithologist taught me to
look up. To observe the life that thrived
in the canopy above and to respect the delicate balance
that kept it thriving. Life at panguana was not just
about survival. It was about living in
consonance with nature. Every day brought new lessons
that no conventional School room could ever hope to impart.
I learned to navigate the Labyrinth of the Jungle not with
a compass but by reading the sun's position the vegetation's
density and the rivers flow. My father often said the jungle
speaks to those who listen and listen I did.
I knew which plants could heal and which could harm which
berries were an invitation to die and which were a forewarning
of danger. My education was unconventional
sure. There were no blackboards.
No rows of deaths. No school bells to command the
start and end of learning periods.
Instead there was the ever-changing environment around
us the constant cycle of life and death growth and decay.
My parents were strict though in I wasn't just a child of the
wild but also equipped with the knowledge from books.
They imported textbooks on math science and literature from
Germany and I studied by Lantern light the nocturnal sounds of
the Jungle a constant backdrop. As I Grew Older the necessity of
formal education beckoned me back to Lima At 17 I returned to
take my school's levers exam at Lima's German School.
The city was a stark contrast to my jungle home.
Its edges sharp. It smells akrid, it's noises
jarring. I missed the Symphony of the
Amazon. The scent of rain on leaves the
soft forgiving Earth underfoot. But I adapted as I had been
taught. I passed my exams with flying
colors my results a ticket back to my verdant sanctuary.
Yet as I prepared to leave the city once more.
A part of me lingard over the sights from high-rise building's
the buzz of electric lights and the undeniable pulse of human
innovation. On December 23rd 1971 with my
exams behind me and my future sprawling wild and green before
me. I was ready to return.
I was ready to go home to panguana.
Little did I know as my mother and I boarded the plane back to
our jungle just how drastically our plans would change we were
flying on borrowed time on wings.
Not just of Hope but of impending fate.
The morning was overcast as we made our way to the airport the
sky a heavy grey blanket that seemed to press down on the city
of Lima. My mother was quiet a rare
solemnity about her that mirrored the unease clawing at
my own insides. My father's warnings about lansa
the airline notorious for its lack safety standards echoed in
my head. But our options were limited.
It was the only way to get back to panguana in time for
Christmas. The plane was older its interior
Warren and smelling faintly of mildew and stale air.
As we ascended the city fell away replaced by the vast
expanse of the Amazon. I pressed my face against the
small window watching the world transformed below.
My mother perhaps sensing my unease squeezed my hand.
It's just another adventure. She whispered trying to infuse
the moment with a levity. I knew she didn't feel.
Then without warning the adventure turned nightmare.
About an hour into the flight the aircraft shook violently.
A deafening boom like the sky itself splitting reverberated
through the cabin lightning the pilots lost control in the plane
began a sickening nosedive screams filled the air a
cacophony of Terror that matched The Roaring in my ears.
I remember looking at my mother her eyes wide with fear and then
nothing but a blinding white flash.
I awoke to a silence profound and unsettling.
Disoriented I found myself still strapped to my seat miraculously
intact amid, the wreckage strewn across the jungle floor.
The plane had disintegrated around us scattering debris like
a child's discarded toys. I was alone utterly and
terrifyingly alone. No sounds of rescue.
No cries of other survivors just the Deep omnipresent hum of the
Jungle the realization that I was the sole survivor weighed on
me with a crushing grief, my mother was gone and with her and
he semblance of the world I had known but survival.
My father's voice instructed My Mother's Eyes implored was
Paramount. I checked myself for injuries a
broken collarbone Cuts bruises and a deep gash on my arm that
throbbed with the beat of my panicked heart.
Drawing on the lessons of my childhood.
I fashioned a sling from part of my seat cover wincing as I
maneuvered my arm into a less painful position.
My first task was to find water then shelter every step was
Agony, but the Jungle which had once been a playground now
presented itself as a Labyrinth of potential threats and scarce
resources. Days blended into a continuous
loop of survival tasks. I found water in a stream its
coolness a small Mercy food was harder to come by but I managed
to gather some fruits and nuts mindful of the teachings on
which plants were safe. Knights were the hardest the
darkness brought new sounds menacing and close and the pain
of my injuries and the itch of insect bites made sleep a
fleeting Escape. Each day.
I pushed forward driven by a singular need to survive to
honor my mother's memory by living.
The skills might parents had instilled in me once academic
exercises were now matters of life and death.
I navigated through the dense foliage avoiding natural hazards
each step a testament to the harsh lessons taught by the
wild. I was a child of the Jungle.
Yes, but never before had a demanded so much or exacted such
a painful toll. The 9th day Dawn just as cruelly
as the eight before it with the Relentless Sun filtering through
the dense canopy mocking my desolation.
My body was a map of bruises and bites my clothes tattered to
shreds and my spirit teetering on the edge.
I stumbled through the undergrowth my thoughts a
chaotic world of pain and despair when I broke into a
small clearing and saw salvation a missionary Camp deserted but
promising shelter and perhaps more my heart surged with a mix
of relief and anxiety as I approached the camp.
The place was empty left in a hurry, but it was stalked.
I rummaged through the supplies finding antiseptic bandages and
mercifully a small cache of food.
My First Act was to tend to my wounds the gash on my arm was
infected maggots thriving in the festering mess.
The pain was blinding as I cleaned it with the antiseptic
each wife a new level of Agony. It wasn't enough in a moment of
desperation. I found a can of gasoline.
I knew the risks, but the maggots had to go.
Pouring the fuel over the wound. I screamed into the empty Forest
as the pain erupted but the maggots arrived and died.
Exhaustion overtook me and I collapsed onto a cot sleep
enveloping me like a dark silent wave.
It was in this state of vulnerable Slumber that the
missionaries found me. I awoke to faces blurred by my
disorientation voices that seemed both alien and divine.
They had returned to resupply and instead found a barely alive
Jungle Girl a Survivor Against All Odds.
With efficient care and whispered prayers they arranged
for my evacuation. A helicopter turned the air
above as I was hoisted aboard the jungle receding below me a
tapestry of green that had been both a cradle and a crucible.
The hospital in Lima was a blur of white walls and clinical
smells. a stark contrast to the earthy tones of the jungle My
father was there his face a canvas of relief and sorrow.
We grieved together for my mother for the life we have
lost. My recovery was slow marked by
the physical scars that healed and the emotional ones that
lingered. Driven by a need to confront the
tragedy. I joined the efforts to locate
the crash site the government had organized search parties and
I guided them through the jungle my intimate knowledge of the
terrain proving invaluable. We found the wreckage a
graveyard of Twisted Metal and lost lives including my mothers.
The closure was painful yet necessary her remains
repatriated to Germany for a burial that was both an ending
and a beginning. In the years that followed I
embraced my Heritage studying biology like my mother before
me. I returned to panguana not just
as a Survivor, but as its stewarding the research my
parents had devoted their lives to the Jungle had tested me
forged me in its Relentless Crucible and I am emerged not
unscathed but undeterred. Warner hertzog's film wings of
Hope. Later, chronicled my ordeal
linking our Fates his decision to cancel his seat on that
ill-fated flight and my miraculous survival.
It was a story of what ifs and happens dances a reminder of how
closely life skirts the precipice of death and how
profoundly it can be altered by the simple twist of fate.
Back when I was in university, I joined the walking and Hiking
Society in stark contrast to its rather dull name.
They organized some of the most exciting trips abroad the
university had to offer every year they organized trips to
some of the best hiking spots in the world.
During my second year. The destination happened to be
the Carpathian Mountains. For those who don't know the
carpathians run through several central European countries, but
the vast majority of them are in Romania.
The carpathians are home to some of the wildest forests in all of
Europe and are also home to rather frightening Wildlife
including brown bears wolves and Linksys definitely creatures.
You wouldn't want to encounter during an early morning bathroom
break. However, it wasn't the wildlife
that made our carpathians trip so creepy.
It was a group of people we ran into after getting ourselves
lost in the Rodney Mountains National Park.
You're never really lost in the woods not if you're a good
enough Navigator, if you have a map and a compass some food and
some water you can always push on until you figure out where
you are based on landmarks and whatnot.
That's why when the leader of our hiking group a young
Professor. We call George.
Said we might have taken a wrong turn down one of the trails we
weren't panicking. In fact, it felt quite exciting
thinking that we were venturing into the unknown after all you
never improve your skills unless they're actually tested and
there's never any real growth without true discomfort.
We knew we had to cross one particular mountain and the key
was finding this one particular Mountain Pass.
As you can imagine that's easy enough to do.
All you have to do is find the spot where the mountains dip low
enough and Bob's your uncle. There's your way through.
So it was simply a case of finding an elevated position
finding where the range dip then just orienting ourselves towards
it. Easy peasy lemon squeezy, I
thought then off we marched in the direction of the past.
There was just one little problem and that was the issue
of sustenance because we all focused on having an ultra-light
kit. We take in minimal food and
water with us planting to stop off at various little Villages
along the route to take on supplies.
Given that we'd missed one of our village stops due to getting
ourselves a bit lost. We ended up running out of our
substantial Food Supplies. This wasn't a huge problem as we
still had a few cereal bars and glucose gel packs to keep us
going and finding fresh water from Mountain Streams was
surprisingly easy, but on the day before we plan to navigate
the pass. We were all starting to feel
pretty hungry as a result of the shortage.
At one point, we all decided to take a break while George and
another member of the group decided to scout the area to see
if they could find any sources of food wild or otherwise.
About two hours after they departed they returned with some
good news. They'd spotted what looked like
a small village up in the mountains one that wasn't on our
Maps but was definitely populated as there was smoke
coming from various chimneys. The plan was to show up be very
polite and offer them some cash in exchange for whatever food,
they could give us. We didn't care if we had to pay
over the odds for it. We were that hungry and would
have paid triple the going rate for a decent hot meal.
So that was all it took to get us moving again.
And with the promise of full stomachs.
We found ourselves with Renewed Energy to walk a few miles up to
the Mountain Village. It was definitely a bit nerve
wracking. I mean what if they were not
friendly or just straight up refused to sell us anything
despite us offering them A Fistful of cash.
If we took the Gamble and it didn't pay off, we'd have a
terrible time crossing the mountain pass.
A person can go a long time without food and we had enough
water to last us. But we definitely be in a bad
way once we got to the next Village after the pass.
Passing out from Hunger is bad enough at the best of times.
But pass out and tumbled down the Mountainside and that could
be the end of you. So you can imagine how elated
and grateful we were when we reached the village and they
were actually quite welcoming to us.
I say quite because as much as the bloke we offered money to
seemed over the moon to have us trudged into his village.
Some of the other villagers seemed less than impressed by
our presents. I really don't mean this to
sound too mean or ungrateful because they literally saved our
butts out there. But a lot of them just didn't
look right if that makes sense. I wouldn't have been surprised
if there was a bit of inbreeding going on to put it that way and
some of them had this far away glassy look in their eyes.
Like there wasn't too much going on between their ears if you get
my drift. So as much as we were happy to
be eating some proper food for the first time in like 24 hours.
We were quite keen on getting out of there, too.
We were offered goat milk and goat meat a few baked potatoes
pretty basic food like that and my god, did it tastes amazing.
Even with what little seasoning they used.
After that, we spent about an hour just relaxing and digesting
with full-on food babies until we realized in a bit of a panic
that Sunset was fast approaching.
But then when it came to asking the village headman to help us
find the mountain pass he casually refused and kept making
hand gestures that we interpreted as tomorrow or in
the morning. A quick show of hands showed
that almost no one was focused on betting down in the village
overnight. And given that some of the other
girls complained that some of the village boys had been giving
them some rather unsavory looks they'd rather take their chances
camped out on the Mountainside then stay in the village
overnight. And give him how we could
literally hear Woolf's howling on the preceding nights.
That was really saying something.
So that's how we ended up packing up our gear thanking the
village head guy after giving him a big chunk of change and
heading off into the Twilight to find somewhere to camp.
Once we walked a fair distance away from the village.
We all started setting up our little tents and whatnot.
Got a few fires going and after warming ourselves and laughing
about the close call. We had we all tried to get some
sleep before the busy day ahead of us.
We really did need to get all the sleep we could get as
traversing. The mountain pass was going to
be a heck of a lot of work even with the food in our bellies.
It turns out no one would get any decent sleep on account of
the visitor. We received in the middle of the
night. I remember being shaken awake by
the girl. I was sharing a tent with who
told me in this really shaky scared voice to put my boots on.
The next thing I know I can hear George the professor leading our
group calling out to someone he was saying things like do you
speak English? Are you from the village?
We're leaving in the morning and we don't want any trouble
whoever he was talking to wasn't saying anything back and it was
around then that I put my boots on and stuck my head outside of
the tent to see if I could get a look at the person only it
wasn't just one person. It was about four or five
different people standing on a rise above our campsite shining
flash lights down onto US At least I think it was only that
many because that's how many torches they were shining down
on us. There could have been a lot more
that we couldn't see. We didn't know who they were or
what their intentions were. We had no idea if they were from
the village or not. If they intended to Rob us and
take the rest of our money or something even worse.
Like I said, there were a few of the village boys who seem to
have taken an unhealthy liking to some of the girls in our
group and my own personal worst fear was just that they'd found
our camp and were intent on dragging one or two of us away
for You know what? Thankfully a few of the guys
came out of their tents to see what was going on.
The Torches switched off and we heard the sound of boots on
rocks then silence meaning whoever it was had retreated and
we all breathe this Collective sigh of relief.
But like I said sleep didn't come easy after that and that's
if you were able to get any sleep at all.
At first light we packed up our things and headed off in the
direction of the mountain pass. It was seriously tough on next
to no sleep, but thankfully the food in our bellies and the fear
in our chests motivated us sufficiently to make it all the
way to the other side by the early afternoon.
We were all elated by the time we made it across and down onto
the lush green fields on the other side.
It was like a little slice of paradise right before our eyes
and the best thing was we could clearly see quite a large
Village just a mile or two away one that would certainly have
access to food and more importantly alcohol.
I personally needed a strong one after the day we'd had and
luckily there was a small bar in the Village Square.
That was only too happy to provide us with these big
bottles of plum brandy. They called palinka.
The owner of the bar was quite proficient in English too, which
certainly made our lives easier and he ended up asking us about
our trip. Obviously one of the first
things we told him about was our run-in at the Mountain Village
and how it started out as a rather nervy encounter that
turned into a seriously creepy midnight confrontation.
When we told him he gave us this rather bemused look before
telling us that we must have been confused.
According to him there were no Villages around the mountain
pass and that they'd all been demolished during the Communist
era. With the occupants being moved
on to Collective Farms. We all sort of gave each other
these funny looks as if to say Well, that can't be right before
informing him that he was mistaken.
If the government had deported all those mountain people.
It looked like they'd moved right back up there as soon as
the Iron Curtain fell so to speak the conversation then
moved on to us asking why the government had done something so
cruel as to deport entire Villages away from their homes
and shockingly the bar owner seemed to have very little
sympathy for them. He launched off into some speech
about it being the best thing for them how they were all
illiterate and they needed to be dragged Kicking and Screaming
into the modern world. We thought this was a bit harsh.
Honestly, I mean everyone is entitled to live the way they
want to at least that's the way I see it.
But he disagreed he said if we knew the truth about what they
did up there, we wouldn't be so sympathetic then without a hint
of jest or hyperbole to his words.
He tells us that their cannibals and that they eat the weakest of
their own number in order to conserve resources.
Not only that but they steal the breast milk of their pregnant
women to distribute among the men of the village.
That's one of us piped up that one of the first things they
shared with us was meat and milk.
Of course, they'd claimed it was goat milk, but none of us had
ever drunk it before. So how would we know the
difference? The man looked absolutely
horrified when we told him this then promptly walked away from
our table before disappearing behind the bar.
Our group looked equally horrified at least until a few
of the older members spoke up that the bloke was either
seriously misinformed. Horrifically bigoted or was just
playing some elaborate joke on us that he could share with his
regulars for a good old laugh. This one guy named Adrian was
saying something like There was absolutely no chance that they
were a bit backwards but cannibals no bloody chance.
And I'm very much inclined to agree with him on that.
We were in Romania not some random isolated island and given
the grinding poverty. They were suffering.
It was almost an impossibility that they'd share anything as
precious as milk with us, even if they were bloody paying.
After all, there were tons of goats trotting around the
village plenty of females with swollen utters, too.
So I can almost categorically say that we didn't engage in
cannibalism nor did we drink any of the women's milk?
So to speak? The only thing that really still
scares me to this day is the gang of mysterious people who we
encountered the ones who Shone torches down on us from the
Ridgeline of no one with any innocent intentions just rolls
up on a camp of sleeping people like that.
They didn't say a word to us didn't greet Us in Romanian and
you'd think they'd at least say something to us to ensure their
good intentions. Even if it was in a language we
couldn't understand. After all, it's all in the tone
of voice and not so much exactly what you're saying.
It makes me wonder what would have happened if there hadn't
been so many of us if it had been just all girls or the lads
hadn't come out of their tents for an unintentional show of
force. Sometimes I don't think they
were just curious about us. Sometimes I think that they had
something very very bad in mind for us and we're all extremely
lucky that they didn't go ahead with whatever they were
planning. I don't think it was the nicer
guy who fed us either. I don't think it had anything to
do with him. I think it was the younger lads
who had been ogling the girls in our group and I think they'd
have been Monster's given half the chance.
All in all it was a wonderful trip just one that was slightly
marred by a rather unpleasant nocturnal in counter.
The people we met in Romania were for the most part some of
the kindest most welcoming people one could ever wish to
meet. But there were a small few and I
say this in no uncertain terms that might have done things to
us that meant we never made it home alive.
Kira pulled into the parking lot of the campground and was
surprised to see that it was nearly full F150s with boat
trailers and obnoxious RVs filled multiple spots completely
disregarding other campers. She sighed.
The one weekend I get off and everyone decides to go camping
here. She whispered to herself.
She drove by The Pact Rose frustrated and nearly ready to
leave. But as luck would have it a
small single spot revealed itself to her.
She waited ever so briefly to weigh her options.
I should just go back home. I don't even like camping.
She told herself. However, a car behind her honked
interrupting her moment of reflection and she pulled into
the spot. She got out of the car grabbed
her large backpack and went to the mouth of the trail.
The nearby lake was slightly less crowded but people lined
most of the nearby Lakeshore and a few dozen watercrafts were out
enjoying their day. Oh how hero wished she could be
out there with friends basking in the Sun and cool water
enjoying her time perhaps drinking and gossiping about
work or boys, but that wasn't the case for her.
She had lived mostly a sheltered life never taking risks never
acting on desires outside of her control.
She was a loner but not by choice. her anxiety and
depression had a firm grip on her one that she felt she would
never be released from She proceeded to the trail and
glanced to both sides colorful tents and camping chairs lined
fire pits, and the woods were bright and full of people
playing various yard games. each campsites seemed full She
continued her way down to the end of the trail where thick
Woods seemed to provide a barrier from the joyful
campsites in The Bleak Woods Beyond.
She glanced back one last time and much like her life.
There was no room for hero amongst the happy people.
She wanted to cut her losses and head back home, but remembered
that her therapist had promised that if she did something
outside of her comfort zone she'd begin to grow.
She pressed forward through the woods still able to hear the
commotion of the other campers. Near the trail ahead of her was
a similar view of land but much more cleared out.
Although talking to normal people in everyday situations
was really hard for her. She loved the lonesomeness that
the woods provided. Nighttime is specially the
darkness seemed to call to her. She secretly longed for it the
Blackness of the Void to cover her and eraser from this painful
world. The Warren Trails seemed to be
less maintained the further she went into the woods.
The twists and turns made it feel like this path went on
forever. Instead of just camping off the
trail an idea had crept into her mind.
What lies Beyond she thought just further down into the woods
perhaps there was the perfect spot for seclusion a nice dark
little Nook just for her what she lacked in Social ability she
made up for in curiosity. Maybe just out of earshot of the
other campers. She thought as she hiked into
the darker recesses of the Woods.
The untouched portion of the woods was less appealing to the
eye but much more gratifying overall.
This was real nature not the ideal construct of what people
tend to make it out to be but the real unfiltered nature that
she so desperately needed. Time didn't seem to affect her
as she eventually found herself a good ways in beyond the sight
or sound of anyone else. She began to set up her one main
tent by clearing the litter of leaves out of the area the
uneven ground proved difficult. But once the tent was fully
erect. It didn't seem to matter.
Once the site was fully set up. She realized that there was much
more Daylight left than she had anticipated.
Simply sitting in her tent didn't appeal to her the idea of
walking back over to the overpopulated campsites to try
to make friends seem troublesome.
But taking a reflective hike deeper into the woods was far
more appealing. She set her stuff down and
didn't bother taking her phone. She only brought her half full
Hydro Flask and a small jacket just on the off chance that the
weather decided to take a turn for the worse.
She made sure to keep a mental note of where she was going.
So as not to get lost in the unfamiliar Woods alone, but she
wasn't terribly worried despite her being tucked away in the
portion of unmarked Woods. She quickly found an old trail
that led deeper into the forest. The path was unkempt almost
unrecognizable had she not been looking for it.
But now that she was on it. It was almost impossible to
miss. She placed a single earbud in
and played an audiobook while also keeping an ear out for
nature. Normally she would indulge
herself with an additional substance like shrooms or THC.
But seeing how she was alone in an unfamiliar Forest.
She decided to hold off until after her hike.
About an hour into the hike she began to realize that the
atmosphere. She had seen earlier was nearly
the opposite. The Lively chatter of nearby
campers was replaced by an unsettling silence.
Birds and small insects had ceased their noise the overall
Vibe matching that of a cemetery.
However, this was exactly the kind of Peace.
She was looking for but not to this degree.
Silence was always welcome to her.
But this was something else. She looked around and removed
her earbud to better ground herself in where she was.
Trees surrounded the trail, but up ahead a couple of hundred
yards or so a small clearing indicated something of value
might be there. The walk to the clearing was
much different than the entirety of the hike.
Fear perhaps of stumbling upon someone's remote cabin crept
into the back of her mind. She had heard her fair share of
horror stories of Hermits occupying remote cabins to make
drugs or perform ungodly acts away from society.
However, this all dissipated almost instantly once she
reached the mouth of the clearing.
Sitting in the open field perhaps 100 feet in the air or
so was a gargantuan structure. The metal frame and its supports
were old and rusted but still seemed to support the small
viewing station sitting on top. Kira racked her brain for a few
moments but quickly realized that this was a fire tower.
There were no signs posted at the base of the stairs and no
indicators of restricted access. She quickly walked over and
examined the stairs up. She listened briefly, but the
overwhelming silence persisted. The option to turn back at this
point was going to have to wait. Kira had been able to follow the
old trail to a hidden treasure tucked away in the woods all for
herself to examine she began up the stairs excited to see what
wonders she would be able to see from the New Perspective.
She had found a nun obscured view of the lake was most likely
an option. Her excitement was beginning to
Cloud her judgment. She speedily ascended the stairs
not worrying about the potential dangers of going inside an old
structure. The tower creaked slowly as its
frame moved slightly in the Wind.
Her footsteps sounded up the tower filling the Silence of the
forest nearby with excitement. Unaware of her Pace she ended up
stopping about three quarters of the way to catch her breath.
Her legs began to burn slightly as the hour hike plus the
rigorous stairs began to take their toll.
Looking out from the staircase. She could already see above the
tree line far stretches of green met her gaze as she drank in all
that nature had to offer. She prepped herself for the last
few flights before reaching the top her hike was going to be
much slower, but she didn't mind.
Before she started up the stairs again.
The excitement of the fire tower was beginning to diminish.
She was now more aware she bent down to tighten both shoes and
noticed that the stairs mixed with their rust also had dried
stains. Surely this could have been mud
or tracks of other people. But the thought crept into her
mind. Once the realization hit she
listened not just for the enjoyment of nature but to try
to see if there was something else nearby.
Again, the silence was far too heavy but now she was actively
conscious of it. She continued but much slower
this time for some bizarre reason her anxiety.
The one thing she was trying to escape from had returned.
Her brain was on high alert telling her that something was
wrong, but it had yet to provide any reason or proof to convince
her to decline the view from the top.
Her mind would soon be validated as the pressing silence.
She endured for the last 20 minutes or so began to leave.
A mysterious sound began to emanate from above a soft and
rhythmic humming seeming to come from the tower.
Her mind was still aware, but the sound was so bizarre that
Curiosity replaced her anxiety. At first the sound gave her the
brief impression that it could have been the hooting of an owl.
But that theory was quickly thrown out the closer.
She reached the top. The low humming began to reveal
itself as The Melancholy sounds of sobbing.
Someone was here out in the middle of nowhere standing in
this Tower and they were sobbing.
Something was not right. Kira now stood two flights of
stairs away from reaching the top, but that was no longer
appealing. Her breathing began to get heavy
as she was now concerned about alerting whoever this Disturbed
person was to her presents. Thankfully the winds at this
height gave her a slight cushion as they covered most of the
sounds. Kira glanced at the stairs and
noticed more stains smeared across the walkway.
However, these were far fresher some of the stains still dripped
a thick dark liquid indicating that something was probably
dragged up here. after seeing the stains Kira gasped once she
did the sobbing from above suddenly stopped.
The wind had betrayed her as it now held its gust and silence
once again filled the air. She stepped backward hoping that
whoever was above was oblivious to her presence.
Motion could be heard from above and Kira now knew it was time to
get out of there. She ran down the stairs as
quickly as her body would allow. She didn't bother with sound at
this point as speed was her main concern.
An ear piercing scream came from above sending chills down her
spine had she not already been moving.
She would have most likely been petrified in place.
She quickly reached the bottom of the stairs and knew better
than to look back. She knew if she did she would
see something. She wouldn't like.
Kira struggled to find the old trail back to her camp but fate
was again on her side. She eventually found it a quick
glance behind her while a good portion down the trail confirmed
that she was not being followed a sigh of relief began to wash
over her. She began to calm down as she
got closer to her camp. Before she reached her Camp.
She saw a peculiar sight. Standing in the middle of the
trail ahead of her was a park ranger mounted on an old horse.
He wore a uniform in badge including the iconic hat.
He appeared to be old and unaware of her presence.
She caught him off guard as she said.
Hello while approaching. Whoa.
What are you doing out here? He said legitimately surprised.
Sorry, I'm just out for a hike she said.
His old crusty gaze peered over her in a disapproving way.
You shouldn't be out here. You need to stay on the posted
Trail so you don't get lost Kira nodded.
Okay, I can do that. She said politely I ought to
write you a ticket, but I don't have a pen next time.
You won't be so lucky. Keira nodded oh, by the way,
there's someone crying in the fire tower at the end of the
trail Kira mentioned as she passed the ranger on the trail.
The ranger had a bizarre look on his face.
You've been to the fire tower. He said legitimately confused.
She stopped I didn't go inside, but I could hear someone crying
from outside. The ranger was silent as he
clearly contemplated this new information.
All right. Well, no one's supposed to be
out there, but I'll go take a quick look.
Kira noticed that the ranger had a rifle tucked into his saddle
as well as a pistol holstered at his hip.
The two went separate ways and Kira was slightly frustrated.
She made her way back to camp and could hear the noise again
of the other. Joyful campers.
The atmosphere had shifted again, but this time for the
positive. The warm sun began to set as
brilliant oranges and pinks filled the sky.
Kira debated moving her Camp closer to the others but felt it
would be too much work. Especially as it was getting
dark. Nighttime eventually came and
her strange encounter in the woods faded from her mind.
She got a small fire going and began eating the food.
She had brought as she relaxed Under the Stars.
Keira called it an early night and put out her fire making sure
to get rid of any trash and food.
So that Critters wouldn't get into them.
Her hike had taken its toll on her and she drifted off quickly
into her sleeping bag. As soft and sweet as her dreams
were they didn't last long? Hero was awoken several hours
later by the sound of something heavy moving outside her 10th.
It jolted her awake. Something large could be heard
moving outside and she slowly began to panic at her Newfound
situation. However, it didn't take her long
to recognize the familiar sounds.
As she poked her head out from the tent.
She shined her light on the familiar horse.
She had seen earlier that day the horse was walking with a
limp and its Rider the grouchy old Ranger was nowhere to be
seen. She got out of the tent and went
to inspect the large animal seeing that both the horse and
the saddle had several scratches on them.
The horse was slightly shaking but enjoyed her embrace.
What happened to you? She said she gently rubbed the
horse. Surprisingly enough the saddle
still had its rifle on it. She racked her mind for what
could have possibly happened but was unsure maybe a bear attack
or even a cougar could have done this.
The horse then began to walk away back out onto the trail
leading back to the fire tower. She couldn't just let the horse
go not after what she had seen. The horse then stopped and
waited as she slowly began to follow behind it with her flash
light. She realized that the horse was
leading her somewhere most likely to the scene of the
incident. After seeing what the horse was
doing, she grabbed the rifle from the saddle and continued to
follow. Her light shook as they walked
side by side unsure of what they were about to see.
The old trail was much different at night.
Darkness seemed to fill all parts of the path except for the
small area where the flashlight shined the only thing that was
the same. Was that Eerie silence.
Shadows cast by branches and tree limbs gave off terrible
portraits of potential monsters lurking in the woods.
Kira tried her best to stay focused and not be so jumpy.
After a long walk deeper into the woods the horse finally
stopped Kira shined her light around hoping for anything to
explain what was going on, but was only left with more
questions. Her light eventually landed
briefly on a figure laying face down on the ground.
The Familiar uniform revealed to her ahead of time who at most
likely was She walked over quietly and took the rifle off
her shoulder. Her light revealed small
portions of blood and torn clothing laying around the
lifeless body. She bent down and nudged it
softly to find that it was firm and cold.
She turned it over to confirm that it was indeed the old
Ranger from before. His torso had several scratches
running across it but the bizarre thing about it was his
face a look of horror still held on his face as his mouth hung
open his jaw broken and making his expression even more extreme
red stains smeared across his beard and neck as more scratches
could be found. It was his eyes that startled
Kira. Instead of his eyes having
pupils or even being removed all together.
His eyes were even more terrifying a milky white color
seemed to fill the entire eyeball with no traces of color.
Keira gasped in horror as something inexplicable had
clearly occurred here. She tried to move his body, but
he was far too heavy. Hero quickly turned back to the
horse. I can't move him.
We need more help. She whispered to the horse KIRO
put the rifle on her back and tried to pull the horse alone,
but it wouldn't budge the horse was loyal to its owner even
though he had clearly passed. She quickly made her way back to
her tent where she tried calling the police.
Of course. She couldn't get a connection in
the woods. So she had to quickly make her
way out to the parking lot. Once she called the police they
gave her an estimate of when she could expect the two officers to
arrive. Kira waited in her car for 45
minutes before they showed up. It was about 2:00 in the
morning. The police arrived with their
lights on but no siren. Kiera met them, but made sure to
leave the Rangers rifle in the car.
I'm the one that called about the body.
She said frantically as she approached the two officers.
Let's try to calm our voices down.
We don't want to alarm the other campers one officer said in a
hushed tone. I should also mention that I
found his rifle out in the woods.
I grabbed it to make sure no one else did anything stupid with
it? She pointed to her car the
Second Officer peered inside. I'm going to grab this as
evidence. He said but instead of putting
the rifle in the police cruiser, he slung it on his shoulder.
Okay, show us where the body is. Kyra led the two officers out
into the woods They found the small Trail and followed it
while doing their best to be quiet.
All three of them had flash lights and shine them in
different directions as they quietly ventured to the scene.
Once they arrived where Kira had left the body a shocking
Discovery was made. The horse which had been
determined to stay there was still there, but was no longer
in one piece. Its body was absolutely
destroyed and aside from its head.
No other part was recognizable. The body of the Ranger however
was no longer there. This is where the body was Keira
whispered. Both officers were silent as
they scanned the woods around them.
One of the officers then shushed Kira as they listened intently.
The same Stillness of the forest hung quietly, but a familiar
sound could be heard down the trail the sound of crying.
The two officers then looked at one another and proceeded to go
towards the noise. Wait hero whispered.
Something's not right about this the Second Officer removed the
rifle from his shoulder. It's clear that someone's under
stress and we need to look into this.
Kira Then followed them but made sure to stay behind just on the
off-chance that something bad would happen.
The three eventually reached the source of the sound and to
everyone's surprise just sitting off the main trail was a tall
man. He was slightly hunched over and
facing a tree his forearms were covered in a dark liquid, but
that wasn't what concerned them. The tall figure was bald and
completely naked. His lanky arms looked brittle
with hands and feet that were too large.
Sir, is everything. Okay.
The first officer said while slowly drawing his pistol the
figure then stopped crying as they all stood there in silence
not responding tension began to build as both officers slowly
got closer to the mysterious figure.
Sir, I'm going to need you to turn around the officer said
again, no response. Keira had backed up at this
point before both officers could issue a final warning the figure
slowly turned to reveal a horrifying face.
Blood ran from its teeth filled mouth and milky white eyes
stared at the officer's the creature had no exterior nose.
Just a hole in its head. The officers were stunned as the
creature sprinted off into the woods at an alarming speed.
They had clearly come across something that they didn't have
a rational explanation for the three silently agreed that the
best option was to get out of their quickly.
Their Pace was quickened by the thought of that thing returning
once back at the main campgrounds.
Both officers quickly got in their Cruisers while alerting no
one about the situation. Whatever it was that we saw out
there. It's beyond our ability to
assist the second officer said before driving off.
Kira sat in the dark parking lot as the tail light slowly faded
off into the distance. I have spent the last hour
Googling the name of my hometown.
Nothing, is there all the local schools and restaurants are
gone. Even my social media is messed
up. I can't find any of my friends
online. I can't find anybody.
I'm actually kind of freaking out about it.
Has anybody ever experienced anything like this before?
Don't believe me. Try it yourself?
Follow it in City High gon fall it in Middle gone fall it in
elementary school gone, Follette City College gone that preschool
behind the tire place in next to that McDonalds where my mom took
us growing up. You get the idea?
all gone thousands of people dozens of places I can't find
information for anybody. It's like we disappeared.
I can't even reach the cops. I wish that were the only
problem. My family and I woke up this
morning to a total blackout every single house on the Block
lost power that does tend to happen out here in the valley
often enough that my older brother Mark rigged his computer
to get a connection via satellite.
The two of us are currently crouched beside the generator
desperately trying to get a handle on the past few hours.
My parents are panicking. They won't say anything.
They won't say why but we have our suspicions.
I saw something in the woods last night right before the
power went out when it was still dark outside Mark woke me up and
pulled me over to his bedside window.
He pointed frantically into the trees behind our house.
It was raining. The Mist made it difficult for
my eyes to adjust but after a moment something big we only
agree on something big darted toward the neighbor's back porch
a thick branch fell in its weight then somebody screamed.
My parents rushed into the room right at that moment.
I guess they heard the commotion and freaked.
Mom beckoned for us to get away from the window.
I gave in right away because my parents can be scary when we
don't listen, but Mark lingered there a little while longer.
I didn't see what he saw. Mark whispered that he saw
somebody running. He said it looked like they were
running away from something. My father turned off the lights.
I found that odd and pushed my brother aside.
He squinted out the window in silence.
Finally after what felt like an eternity he concluded nothing
was there just wind in the trees.
Then the power went out my parents have been acting very
weird ever since. During the day my mom tried to
keep us in the kitchen. She made breakfast lunch and
dinner over the fireplace. She even broke out a board game
in the afternoon and we played for a couple of hours.
She kept asking about schoolwork football baseball or anything,
but the odd situation we were in we tried to change the subject
tried to ask her what was happening outside, but it was no
use she ignored our questions. My father had a wild look in his
eyes Mark and I can't recall anything like it.
He kept rushing to check the window every few minutes.
Then he would sit down to check his cell phone then back to the
window then back to his phone like clockwork. each rotation
left him more agitated than the last the cable didn't work.
The internet had been spotty. There was really nothing to do
but read a book or play a game Mark asked to go for a walk
before dinner. I thought Mom might pop the
temple out of her forehead. Nobody goes outside.
She snapped there could be live wires on the ground Mark snorted
watch your attitude. She barked.
And keep the windows closed. I asked why and she just stared
at me with these deadly fearful eyes that made me really
uncomfortable. She looked like she wanted to
tell me something. But my father answered instead.
Nobody goes outside. I returned to my book without
argument. I found one of my mom's old
Stephen King Collections and stumbled onto a story about rats
and a basement bigger than a man.
Time moved a little faster while I read the walls of my house
started to evaporate. It didn't take long for my
imagination to disappear down the stairwell in the story
plunging further into the darkness with each step
listening to Untold things move around me perilously through the
blackness. Someone knocked on the door
around 10 p.m. After an entire day of endless
boredom. I thought this might be
salvation. Thank God maybe a maintenance
worker. Maybe a neighbor.
Maybe my friend from down the block finally convinced his
mother to Traverse the Minefield of imaginary Livewire.
I got up from my chair to answer the door.
My father sprinted across the room to block me.
I don't think I had ever seen him run before he put his hand
over my mouth. I tried to protest he squeezed
my arm. He didn't look angry.
He looked scared his eyes were on fire.
It grew quiet outside like someone was listening one finger
over his lips told me to shut up.
I looked over to my mom and saw her doing the same thing to my
brother. He looked like he wanted to cry.
The knocking resumed the pace was pleasant at first your
typical formal, but friendly rat tap tap. then a pause that tap I
was confused. Why were they scared?
Why would a burglar knock I thought that this could be
someone who could tell us what was going on and it annoyed me
that my parents were paranoid. So I got the idea to try saying
something. Anyway, not my best thought.
My father grabbed me by the throat and pushed me up against
the wall his sweaty Palms slipped against my mouth.
He raised one finger to his lips and held it there the knocking
continued. my brother whimpered in the corner the door hinges
whined from the pressure of the nox My father reached into his
pocket with the hand that was formerly placed around my neck.
I knew he had a knife in there the knocking continued.
And just as soon as it started the knocking stopped.
The house got quiet again. My father let go of me.
It's been hours since the knocker left.
My parents still won't talk to us.
My mom is sleeping on the couch. My dad is sitting in front of
the door with a gun across his lap.
Can someone please tell us what's happening in Fallen City?
I still can't find anything on line.
We are available through message and comment as long as our
connection holds. I don't think I'll sleep much
tonight. It's too quiet.
Do you know what happens when you search online for Fallon
City now this post comes up. I'm not quite sure how to
describe that feeling. We are a community of hundreds.
If not thousands of people each with countless stories and
worries of Our Own. You are only hearing one of them
now. I cannot understand how our
digital footprint could disappear overnight but here we
are day two and a missing City. I didn't get much sleep last
night Mark spent most of it glued to our bedroom window.
He woke me and called me over every now and again.
Sometimes he saw flashes of light in the distance.
Sometimes he saw movement in the trees.
Mostly we saw fog. Thick blankets of it descended
on our house like a comfort her it also never stopped raining
big gusts of wind thumped the house hard enough to make us
jump. But the most uncomfortable parts
of the previous night where the periods of complete and total
silence. Something about that quiet can
really make you crazy. In any given suburb, there are a
million background noises at once even in a storm.
Even at night birds should be chirping insects should be
buzzing car engines are motorcycles are air conditioners
should all be gently humming in unison, but we didn't hear any
of it. Not a single sound but our own I
couldn't stop thinking about the neighborhood dogs.
Shouldn't they be barking there was one in particular a yappy
little thing named Cesar which never passed up a good
opportunity to wake you up in favor of a scrambling squirrel
or rabbit. Did our time to get them inside
did something else happen to them?
What happened to Cesar? Mark woke me up for the final
time around 5. I tried and failed to shrug him
off. I heard something in the street.
He whispered. Let's go.
I asked him what he heard clicking.
He answered. He got up and walked towards the
living room without another word.
I didn't want to go. I was freaked out enough.
I didn't and still don't need to add another messed up layer to
this situation Blissful ignorance is sometimes the best
approach but I got a gut feeling that this wasn't something that
should be missed. And I didn't want Mark to be
there alone for it. So I followed him.
The hallway that leads to the living room passes by my parents
bedroom. We could hear my mother snoring
Softly on the other side. A baseball bat was propped up by
her nightstand herself on was at the ready right beside it.
We tiptoed past the creaking wood floor and arrived at the
entrance to the kitchen the clicking became clearer by that
point. Mark pointed over to an Alcove
by the couch. I followed him to the corner
then he stopped dead in his tracks.
My father was sleeping with the gun in his hand.
There was a window behind him that looked out into our entire
living room staring through the other side was a giant black
eyeball. We froze.
The eye darted back and forth across the room.
We were in plain sight just standing there in the kitchen
like a couple of idiots. But for some reason the I didn't
seem to notice us. It passed by a couple of times
to focus on the toaster or something else.
My father must have subconsciously read the tension
in the air. He stirred and moved to roll
over when he did. Thankfully we locked eyes.
I put one finger to my lips a sober understanding dawned on
his face. He took the safety off his gun.
The I responded to the movement of the gun and in one swift jolt
disappeared from behind the window leaving a wake of leaves
and Scattered footsteps behind it.
The air left my lungs. Something big ascended the woods
steps to our porch. My dad turned to aim the gun.
The knocking continued this time.
We didn't need anyone to tell us we all stayed quiet.
We sat in still silence for the better part of the early
morning. My mother awoke some hours later
and got prepared to make breakfast and only then did it
feel safe enough to move around the house.
Nobody told her what happened? I didn't think we needed to. my
father certainly wasn't going to I Got the Feeling from the look
on his face that he would prefer not to talk at all for as long
as he could. Mark returned to his spot by the
window dad disappeared downstairs to get another box of
ammo for his gun. I helped mom cook over the fire
and we all went about our tasks and complete and total silence.
Nobody tried to fake conversation anymore.
There wasn't any point in arguing about what was out
there. We had enough food.
We had enough water. Nobody was going anywhere.
A knock came at the door just after noon.
Each of us instantly stopped what we were doing a sigh of
relief echoed through the room when the familiar voice of our
neighbor Mr. Hallow followed. He was looking for us the door
pounded harder no time to explain please he shouted can
you let us in my father walked in and stood awkwardly between
my mother and the door I could tell that he would prefer to
ignore it, but she would never let him live it down the true
married man's dilemma. Please folks if you're in there
open up, we don't have a lot of time he said.
Mark shook his head, please. He begged Gene is hurt my mom
bit her nails dad gave in and reluctantly looked through the
peephole satisfied with his view of the other side.
He slid the pistol into his back pocket unlatched the lock and
opened the door. Thank you.
He said Mr. Hall is a big Burly guy.
He took my father into his arms and slapped his back so hard the
sound echoed down the hall. He moved over to Chase my mother
down for a kiss on the cheek as his wife and daughter Trail
meekly behind. Thank you.
He bellowed. Thank you.
We didn't know if we'd see
anybody else. My dad noted awkwardly.
My mom stepped up and hugged Mrs. Hallow tight.
A quiet pitiful moan escaped her lips as she did.
The two of them were usually thick as thieves.
My neighbor was a nice lady the type that usually never shuts
up. But now she couldn't get a word
out. a thin line of blood trickled behind her foot It
didn't take long to notice the source.
Her slacks were cut from the ankle to the knee.
My dad slammed the door. Come on, Jeannie.
My mother could let's get you cleaned up.
The two of them walked hand in hand to the kitchen Mr. Hallow,
sat down on our couch and wiped the sweat from his forehead and
t-shirt. His daughter Alice perched
herself. Neatly on the arm beside him.
Like I said, he said while catching his breath lucky we
found somebody my father nodded again.
Did you see it Mark asked what is out there?
I mean. Mr. Hallow stared back at him.
He took a second before he spoke like he wanted to pick his words
which didn't quite fit for a guy like him.
One of them got in the house. He said definitively.
An open window down stairs. We we trapped it in the
basement. My father held up his hand.
Didn't feel safe staying there though.
He continued my father interrupted.
Enough he whispered. Take a break Mike.
Let's talk. Mr. Hallow nodded in
bewilderment. He got up and shuffled after my
father towards the dining room leaving Mark and I uncomfortably
with Alice. Alice hallow is around my age.
She short with dark hair and dark eyes.
She has this awkwardly adorable round head that she covers up
with a bow or pin or some other new accessory every other day.
I've had a crush on her since grade school.
I know that's probably not relevant.
But I just want to point out what may later become obvious.
Mark elbowed me in the ribs. I ignored it.
So did you see anything? I asked like did you see anybody
out there? She paused and then shook her
head. Well, what does it look like
outside Mark asked? Normal quiet she answered and
you really didn't see anything. I asked again when it started I
mean She looked at me and shook her head pause then relented.
We were all inside sleeping like you probably were it was late.
She started or early. I don't know.
My dad was up stairs. I was upstairs.
My mom doesn't sleep much so she was doing some laundry in the
basement. She continued.
She hesitated. I don't know.
What woke me up first her screaming or the power going
out. They both seem to happen at the
same time. My dad started shouting her
name, you know Genie Genie and my mom was just wailing from the
basement. We both got to the kitchen and
we could see her running up the steps.
She was screaming at my dad, you know close the door close the
door. But my dad couldn't stop looking
at whatever was behind her. He just froze.
She said right Mark whispered can't blame him.
So I reach out and slam the door just as my mom makes it through
and something wedges itself in the doorway.
She said Holy crap, I murmured what was it.
I don't know something thick and sharp like a claw.
I guess it was wet too. It left a stain.
And anyway, I couldn't get the door shut because of it.
I was panicking. I kicked my dad in the shin and
he threw his body weight against the frame the lock finally
clicked and we heard what ever it was fall down the stairs on
the other side. She said, she paused it didn't
come up again. She said my father re-emerged
from the dining room some moments after our awkward
silence Mr. Hollow Trail sheepishly behind.
Who's ready to eat? He asked we ate our fire cooked
meal in relative silence all four parents made it abundantly
clear through menacing stares that the topic of the crap show
outside would not be discussed with children present Mark again
asked if he could go for a walk nobody dignified him with a
response. After our dishes were done and
disposed of we retreated into various alcoves of our suddenly
cramped three bedroom. Mark and I went back to our room
Alice set up shop in the office with her mom.
My mother retired to bed early and both dads stood sat guard in
the living room the house grew quiet again.
The Wind and Rain finally seemed to slow down.
My Stephen King Novella kept me company.
I couldn't help but empathize with the main character.
Somewhere between Tales of rats and armor fat rats and albino
rats who never saw the sun. Sleep came easily and
comfortably under my familiar warm sheets.
I woke up to a rude shaking Alice was standing over me.
She didn't say anything. I guess she didn't have to mark
and I rubbed the last remaining of sleep out of our eyes and
followed her wordlessly into the office.
Two cots were set up in the room one looked disheveled.
The other was still made. Alice pointed to the open window
her mother was gone. My home town is dying and I
don't want to die with it. I know it sounds ridiculous to
be lamenting on an internet Forum while the world is melting
around me. At the moment it definitely
feels ridiculous. But you have to understand if we
don't survive which we almost certainly won't this story will
be my Town's last living record that's important to me that's
important to them. I have to let someone know what
happened here. Even if it's only you The truth
is obvious. Now.
We are being exterminated. This town and its people are
being erased. Follet in city is all but wiped
from the collective subconscious already.
All that's remaining are the survivors the creatures and this
story. I'll keep it going as long as
they let me. I don't know why this is
happening. I don't particularly care not
anymore. I just want to get out of here.
This will be my last post from inside my childhood home.
The only home I've ever known. My brother and I have decided
that we won't die here. Mark packed a couple of
Essentials in our school backpack.
The only thing that's remaining is this lap top and a Frank
conversation with my parents. I know they're scared.
We're all scared. But we have to do something Mrs.
Hallow didn't come back last night.
Alice only stopped crying long enough to tell the adults what
she knew which wasn't much. She fell asleep sometime around
midnight. Her mother was in the room at
the time. She was acting strange though,
you know. she sobbed she just kept repeating the same things
over and over and her face was white.
Like really really white. I thought it was just shock over
what happened the scratch the attack, you know.
I didn't know I didn't know. Mr. Hall was inconsolable.
Well, we have to find her Jack. He bellowed me you and the boys
Alice can come too if she is up to it.
We've got weapons don't we you've got a small Arsenal here
Richardson, they're big but the damn things are stupid enough.
My father just shook his head and pursed his lips.
I won't risk my family safety dad insisted, especially not at
night. Mr. Hallows already read face
turned a particular shade of scarlet He looked like he might
blow a gasket. Then he calmed himself and
delivered the next bit like a sermon.
Fine, he spit stay inside and cower lighting your kids keep
him underneath the covers long enough and maybe they won't
think there's monsters out side. You raise your family how you
want? Jerk, but don't you dare tell me
how to take care of mine. Mark looked down at his feet.
I avoided my father's glance. Alice let's go Mr. Hallow
beckoned. Get what you got.
Please my father interrupted. Just wait a minute.
We're not staying Mr. Hallow finished.
You're not convincing me to abandon my wife out there.
You know me better than that Jack.
My father reached out and handed him a gun.
We have extra he paused. You'll need it more.
Mr. Hallowed nodded awkwardly. He took the pistol and stuffed
it into an oversized coat pocket before turning and heading for
the door. My mom met him there with some
bread and other things stuffed into a plastic bag.
There wasn't much but I think she felt like she had to do
something and she looked like she wanted to say more.
But she didn't. Alice reached out and gave me a
warm hug. She held on longer than
expected. Right around that time.
I really wish she would stay. Not because of my feelings for
her but because a piece of each of us knew what would happen
next. It all just happened so fast.
Thank you for the hospitality. She said Mr. Hallow shook, each
of our hands one last time my father opened the door for him.
Without another word the pair descended the front porch into a
thick evening fog Alice turned back to wave then she turned
around and they were gone. My father shut the door dad
shuffled back to the couch and collapsed mom waited at the
door. Like they might change their
minds marked at the window. He looked over and shook his
head at me just as an all too familiar clicking echoed down
the block. I could feel my body
instinctively tensing. I had no true preparation for
what came next. The sound started quietly before
it seemed to fill the air. Soon it was as if a thousand
Cricket suddenly invaded Fallon and all decided to chirp at the
same time the ringing awful cacophony of it was deafening.
somebody outside screamed I couldn't tell if it was a man or
woman the chirping erupted even louder and seemed to devour
their voice. My father held his head in his
hands he motioned for us to block our ears.
My mother started to cry. Underneath the clicking
underneath the screams one word became clearer as it repeated
over and over again in the distance.
Genie Genie Genie the man screamed the gun went off soon
after. Gini he said one shot at first
then two three four in quick succession. somebody else
started screaming I knew that had to be Alice.
The pain behind that scream made my stomach turn.
The gun went off one more time. The clicking dissipated the
screams stopped and then it was quiet again.
My father got up and quietly LED my brother away from the window.
Mom fell to a heap in front of the couch.
I could feel the tears forming in the corner of my eyes and
desperately fought them back. You knew that would happen.
I accused my dad. Why did you let her go?
He stared back at me his eyes were cold heavy footsteps echoed
on the porch the knocking continued.
My mother couldn't control her sobs my father dropped onto the
floor to silence her. It was no use the two of them
ended up in this awkward wrestling embrace the pounding
outside continued. We killed them Mark whimpered
and now they're going to kill us.
The footsteps left the porch and circled the house.
We heard a knocking from my bedroom window then the office
window. They're checking for weaknesses
Mark whispered trying to find a way in.
The sound ascended to the roof heavy footsteps paced back and
forth above us. the chimney kicked back smoke It's too
small. My father murmured.
They can't fit please God they can't fit. my mother raped her
arms around her head the knocking surrounded us there had
to be a dozen of them all checking various points of Entry
all clicking their disturbingly loud song in unison staying
quiet would be no use they had to know we were inside Mark
gestured for me to look through the peephole.
I squinted and noticed something in the distance.
It was still dark, but the sun started to rise on the horizon
and with it came a few tentative beads of Light, which softly
illuminated the neighborhood. I realized I was staring at the
home of yappy Cesar. Standing in front of it was
something I hope to never see again. the creature stood at
least two to three times the height of a man it held itself
up on two massive legs that bent wildly at the knee almost like
pincers and behind it were smaller legs that I thought at
the time that they looked like fins one of the bent legs
reached out to my neighbor's glass.
There was a moment's pause their window opened.
I had to fight my instincts as a woman leaned outside as if to
greet the creature which gently took her into its hind legs and
rambled down the hill. The unrelenting clicking soon
gave way to the scurrying of heavy footsteps.
A massive weight lifted itself off our roof.
The sun came up we were alone again.
We have to leave today. We can't take no for an answer.
We have no choice. These things know where here.
They will get inside tonight. If I don't make it, you know
what happened, but please wish me luck.
I feel better knowing that some trace of my town will live on
this forum. I can hardly describe driving
through the complete Devastation of my home town.
We passed dozens of familiar homes from over the years.
Some of them had bullet holes some had bent frames or broken
glass. Some had dead bodies in their
front yards and I tried not to look at those too long because I
knew the faces but it's hard to stop yourself from looking once
you start, you know. I Saw Alice I saw Mr. Hallow I
saw Neighbors I saw friends. Some of them died running some
died fighting but all of them seemed to end up the same way.
In scattered bits and pieces cast like trash almost
decorating their own immaculately made front lawns.
My father drove the car only one road let us out of town, but it
passed through a few hiccups along the way.
The supermarket on Grand Street sat behind two apartment
complexes that tended to be crowded the gas station on Main
would allow us to fill up but they didn't call it Maine for
nothing and more people would almost certainly lead to more
problems. All of these issues swirled
around my head and Unison with the backdrop of my entire town
carved up like origami right in front of my face.
And my dad didn't even seem phased by it.
He actually humbled for the first 10 minutes of the trip.
My dad is not the type to whom. At first I thought it might be a
nervous thing, but then my mother started to join him guys.
I called out. Mark glued himself to the car
window. He wouldn't look at me not even
a shared glance of misery. I knew from his reaction that
something bad was about to happen.
I guess I just didn't want to admit it to myself.
Dad I said my father slowed down around the grocery store he
pulled into the lot unceremoniously as if it were
any other Tuesday while the corpses of our neighbor's line
the streets Among Us clearly baking In The Heat Of The Rising
Sun, I actually thought we hit one of them What are we doing I
asked. Nobody answered me.
Hello. I tried again.
My father parked the car. He leaned over to give my mom a
peck on the forehead. She nodded and smiled back after
a moment of silence. He gingerly unclipped the
seatbelt and moved to get out. Nobody bothered to stop him.
Dad. I shouted wait.
Are you serious? You can't go out there?
He smiled at me one last time looking back.
I like to think there was still some small part of my dad in
that smile. He looked like a weight had just
been lifted from his shoulders like he got us this far like his
job was done. I didn't understand it then.
I do now. I only saw the scratch when he
got up right above the belt hip to hip his shirt had always been
tucked my mother took a deep breath.
Mom, I begged mom. No, no, no.
No, please. She looked back at me and
grasped my hand. She was cold to the touch.
Mark whimpered something small. I knew then that he knew all
along. It happened the first night.
He whispered. They can't fight it anymore
Maddie. It won't let them. the car door
opened Mom, you can't go out there.
I said she pulled her hand away. Mom, please I said it's okay,
honey. She murmured dreamy.
Okay, honey. Okay, honey.
She got out of the car and sprinted after my father.
I never saw my mother Sprint before.
She looked so strange doing it. I watched the two of them go
towards the store hand in hand. In a moment, they were there and
the next they were gone. We have to follow them.
I begged please a soft boom sounded from somewhere in sight.
Okay, he whispered has a Tinley but be ready to run when I say
run deal a second boom followed. Deal I muttered I am the oldest
he insisted. We don't know what we're going
to see inside there. You have to listen to me.
Shut up, and let's go. I said we hopped out of the car
and ran across the empty lot rain and heavy winds swooped in
with our arrival Mark slipped and fell into a particularly
nasty pool of blood. I raced back to help him by the
time we both made it inside our parents were gone.
We looked around for a minute. The store seemed to be shelled
overturned shelves made it difficult to get around.
Smeared floors made the entire Place stink worse than a
slaughterhouse. At the center of the store was a
staircase that leads to the basement level normally larger
items like water jugs or stored down there.
We got the distinct feeling that we weren't totally alone because
we could hear some kind of movement in that area.
So we moved towards it. Mark found some cover behind a
blown out register. We used it to peek down the
staircase. an enormous pit sat below us we couldn't actually
see where it ended Mark picked up a can and dropped it 10 to 15
seconds later. It made contact with the bottom.
The closer. We inched towards the center the
more that movement seemed rhythmic almost pulsing like a
heartbeat. We heard footsteps Mark ripped
my collar and pulled me back approaching the center of the
store where a man and woman who both looked familiar to me from
different places. That was my first thought you
know that they must be together without me realizing and that it
really is a small city after all.
The couple walked up casually to the edge of the pit.
They looked at each other and smiled then they jumped hand in
hand as if expecting to land in a ball pit the Splat came after
the Boom the store grew quiet. Something seemed to be slurping
down below. What the hell Mark whispered.
You don't think It drinks the blood.
I said suddenly the pulsing grew louder horrible scraping
somewhere below it. I can't adequately describe this
sound almost like a giant moth breaking its way out of a cocoon
a familiar Rhythm to the din took over. checking for
weaknesses Mark muttered even at Birth the knocking continued to
go Mark shouted. Definitely.
I answered each of us put in our best Track Performance is to
date the building gave way as if an earthquake were underneath
it. We skidded out of the front
entrance just as the overhang dipped down to smash the
carousel door. My brother got to the car before
me he jumped into the driver's seat.
And thank God the keys were still in the ignition.
He smashed the gas and all but left me with the passenger door
popped open. I hopped in at the last possible
moment. The store collapsed behind me.
Mark doesn't know crap about driving and neither do I but any
idiot can hit the gas and steer away from the explosion.
We picked up speed while debris rocked the car.
Just as we got back on the road Mark pointed into the rear view
and I wish he didn't. Standing in the wake of the
grocery store was a creature three times its size.
I didn't look at it twice. We managed to drive to the gas
station before nightfall. We found it pretty much
untouched. I don't think anybody else made
it that far. We took the Mountain Road into
the next town and drove past sundown.
We are safe and sound now in a place called White Valley.
The people here are friendly but none of them including the
sheriff can tell me a damn thing about faltan or what happened to
it the past few days go figure. I hope more than anything that
my post can help drive more survivors out of the woodwork.
Please please message me if you or someone, you know lived
through the attack on Titan City.
I can't overstress the importance of that plea.
We cannot let our town be forgotten.
One day we will go back. I don't care.
If it's just Mark and me. I know we can find the entrance
the same way. We found the exit.
We don't expect to find anybody alive.
That's just hope that's not worth having but we all have a
right to know what is living there instead. signing off for
now, Matt My family moved to rural Pennsylvania when I was
four. I was immediately entranced with
living in the country with several Acres of woods behind us
and the house seemed to me at the time.
However, as a kid, I was always sensitive to spiritual energy
and there were definitely some creepy things going on in that
house. My parents noticed that I stayed
with our dog Bambi a lot. He was a small sheepdog and my
adventure buddy when we were out in the woods.
In case your questioning my parents they trusted me as young
as age five to walk alone. As long as I was with my dog as
he was very protective of me my dad would also give me his cell
phone to carry with me in case I needed any help up until I was
about 15. I spent a lot of time alone by
choice. After school, I'd be home by
3:20 in grade school. I eat lunch and immediately take
Bambi out into the woods. We'd explore the surrounding
forests Fields Meadows and ponds together.
He was always right by my side and seemed to tune to spiritual
stuff as well. If I felt something was in the
house. He'd bark at it or whine or I'd
watch him follow it around. Usually he picked up on the
presence of something at the same time, I would.
From the backyard to the left. There's a small strip of trees
in the fall and winter when the branches are bare.
You can see the field next door, which is about 300 yards from my
house. There's a big shed up there in a
kind of Runway where my neighbor would fly his biplanes off of
what's important to the story is that I have no neighbors for a
mile in every direction. It's pretty rare to see any kind
of people on the surrounding properties unless it's my
neighbor's hanging the fields in the summer.
One day in early fall. I had been tromping through the
woods with Bambi for several hours.
I let him run off the leash most of the time but he would run
only about 20 feet ahead and keep turning around to check
that I was still there. If I lost sight of him, he'd
retraced his steps and find me again.
That day I got caught up whittling something.
So Bambi ran off for a little bit and I suddenly realized that
I was alone. Suddenly there was a lot of
crashing deeper into the woods and I heard Bambi's alarm bark
and a lot of yelping and then some screeching.
Raccoons and gophers make really scary distress sounds so I
figured that that's what it was. I called for Bambi and he popped
out of some brush covered in Pickers.
Since I was spooked I ran back home with him.
Right as I got to the back door. I stopped to catch my breath and
Bambi and I were just standing there when I spotted something
standing on the edge of the runway.
It ran along the higher end of the field and then there was a
steep drop off the edge of the hill at the very end of it.
They didn't appear to be wearing anything distinctive.
But even in the dust I could still see that they appeared
completely black or everything about them was very shadowy and
dark. This is the part that gives me
shivers now. They were standing facing off of
the runway. And then I saw them hunched over
then slowly raised their head and yelled Bambi in the same
high pitched voice. I used to call him.
They had the same vocal inflection as me too, but it
sounded like they were really trying hard to sound like me.
Next to me Bambi tucked his tail under lowered his head and
growled Softly. They called again.
But this time it sounded like they were losing their voice as
if they'd been calling for a while.
In my eight-year-old logic, I assumed that someone was trying
to steal my dog. But why would they stand in the
middle of the field and be obvious about it?
When I told my parents about that night, they just dismissed
the story. The next day I went to my
cousin's house two miles up the road and my uncle told me about
an animal. He saw the night before that.
He was trying to identify. He said it looked like an
emaciated cows sprinting across the bridge over the creek, which
is about 300 yards from the runway.
And all so since then anyone who's been at my house has
always been uneasy around the creek and the plane shed Runway
whether or not they're interested at all in the
Paranormal. I know a lot of deaths have
happened in nature, but iveo found several goats ripped up in
the field the nearest house with any amount of goats or farm
animals is nearly four miles away.
And a lot of unexplained things have happened there.
Okay, so I've tried to figure out what exactly has been going
on with my situation since its most recent occurrence, but it
ended up going nowhere. I found stories and folklore
that were somewhat similar but not exact enough for me to
understand what I encountered. Given my failed search for
answers. I'm hoping I can gain something
from talking about what happened whether that be a new lead for
me to follow a piece of folklore I missed or even a definitive
answer from whoever May read this.
My first experience is rather fuzzy for me as it happened.
When I was five years old. I'm part of a hunting family and
even at that age I was taking a long on hunts whether I wanted
to or not during one hunt in either the fall or winter.
There was a lot of snow, so it was one of those seasons.
We ended up in the woods somewhere in Jasper, Alberta.
I don't remember what we were hunting not that it matters.
It was me my dad and a hunting friend of his the three of us
were deep in the woods and I remember our camp was set up in
a wallet. It was spacious inside the walls
made out of some kind of thick canvas or another white textile
and there was no light. Even the small furnace in the
tent provided only a dim orange glow.
On the night of the second day as we were getting ready for bed
on some uncomfortable cots my dad and his friend fell asleep
while I was awake bored and uncomfortable.
Since I was a kid taken on a hunt, I didn't want to be on I
couldn't sleep. So I ended up taking a flash
light to explore the forest around the tent.
It was just meant to be for a little while and in my mind.
I had nothing to fear. I had spent plenty of time in
the woods at that point. So I believed there was little
to no danger and there were guns in the tents so I would be safe.
The only thing of note I remember from my exploration.
Besides the darkness of the forest and the freezing cold.
was a large animal like caught a glimpse of I don't remember much
about it just that I Shone my light into the trees for a few
seconds before there was movement of something moving
away. Shortly after I went back to the
tent and got into my cot to sleep.
I remember waking up to my dad's friends stoking the furnace or
adding a log to it or something. He then left the tent
momentarily with a flashlight presumably to take a leak.
I tried to go back to sleep, but that was interrupted by my Dad's
friend yelling my dad immediately woke up and grabbed
his rifle that was next to him before leaving the tent.
I was scared and stayed frozen in my cot unsure about what to
do. I don't know how much time
passed before there were gunshots and I think yelling my
Dad ran back his friend absent from whatever was going on.
After zipping the entrance he ordered me to stay with him in
the middle of the tent. Given the distance between us
and the walls of the tent if whatever was out there were to
rip open the walls. My dad would have time to react.
I'm not sure how much time passed with us.
Just sitting in the middle of the tent, but eventually the
sound of quick footsteps began circling the tent.
I think I might have closed my eyes and covered my ears in
anticipation of my dad shooting or something else happening.
After circling the tenth of a few times.
I remember hearing the sound of something dragging across the
tents fabric which made my dad shoot in that general direction.
Whatever it was ran off and the two of us remained in the same
spot the rest of the night only moving whenever my dad had to
add more logs to the furnace. When day broke we hurriedly
packed up our bags before my dad gave me his friends rifle and we
left. I was worried about what had
happened to his friends since he never came back to the tent and
we just left without him on our long hike back to my dad's
truck. After that point, I just
remember my dad driving us home as he talked to I think the
police on his flip phone. I talked with my dad about that
night only a couple of times after that.
And from what he told me he never saw his friend when he
went looking for him after he yelled.
He looked around and came across a tall humanoid figure standing
behind some pine trees possibly hiding from him.
He couldn't see any details just the silhouette of something in
humanly tall he shot at it before coming back to the tent
when I asked him about the dragon along the tent.
He said he just saw what seemed to be the indent of a finger
touching it from the other side as if it was trying to identify
the material of the walls. After we left, he told me the
police showed up a few hours later and he had to lead them
out into the woods and back to the tent.
The tent had been searched through although nothing was
taken. The zippers were not used to
enter the tent either the walls were cut open by an animal.
They found some blood nearby along with some tracks that
looked like a cross between a canine and a human.
It was snowing by the time the police were out there, but they
did manage to find the dead body of my Dad's friend before the
trail was covered up. He was partially devoured and
after a short investigation by the RCMP, they deemed it to be
an animal attack. Despite the humanoid figure seen
in the finger examining the tent.
Nothing else came from that case after that besides my family
moving away from Jasper and never returning for any reason.
We essentially forbade ourselves from going anywhere near Jasper
unless we were passing through to BC for whatever reason.
The second time I encountered this creature was when I was 10
years old. My class had this field trip
where we all would go to this one patch of woods that had
small cabins a small rec center and other amenities.
It was supposed to be a trip where you show up spend the day
doing whatever spend the night in a cabin with whatever group
you made and leave at around noon the next day.
I don't remember the exact area we were in but it was somewhere
Northwest of Edmonton which would be pretty far away from
Jasper. We went up there and things were
normal the first day we would have been there for the second
day of that creature hadn't shown up.
When it was really dark out we had a game of Manhunt.
Basically two or three Seekers were picked to look for the
hiders who could hide anywhere around the forest as long as
they didn't stray too far. If a Seeker found a Hider The
Hider would become a seeker and help them.
At the end of the game. There was a prize to be won if
you were deemed the best Seeker or the best hider.
I was supposed to hide so my friend at the time and I ended
up heading down this Trail which led to a more Lush part of the
forest nearby. We figured it would be the best
area to hide give an all the bushes and trees.
It wasn't out of bounds, but still deep enough in the trees.
So if any of the Seekers came looking for us.
They would have to come pretty deep into the brush to get us.
Some Seekers eventually did come by, but they only found my
friend who was hiding close to me, but not with me and he
didn't snitch on me. So they all left leaving me
alone. Sometime passed as I remained
hunched in a small circle of trees that almost perfectly
covered me. The only way I could be seen
would be if someone looked thoroughly through the trees in
front of me or if someone came from behind me where I was more
exposed there wasn't much covering me there.
So if anyone came by I would have to hope they wouldn't walk
behind my cover at my hiding spot.
I had the advantage of being able to see anyone coming up the
trail here if I just pulled the branches in front of me aside.
I also could see the moon through the branches.
If I look to my right the white dot in the sky preventing that
area from being a solid black void like everything else around
me. I remember sitting there for so
long. I actually started to shiver
from the nightly chill and the boredom slowly started to get to
me. I think I had an iPod 5 at the
time and since I figured no one would come back here.
I took it out along with my earbuds and started to play some
games on it occasionally doing a quick 360 degree scan of my area
in case any secrets were about I remember 30 or so minutes had
passed at that point which meant any minute now some teacher
would come ringing a bell to Mark the end of the game the
winning hiders being given a reward.
I kept my eyes on my iPod continuing to do my occasional
scans of my area for any secrets.
During one of my scans. I resumed playing games as
usual, but I had this off feeling now.
I didn't see anything, but I felt like something was wrong.
I remember hearing somewhere that the feeling of being
watched comes from use seeing something out of place, but not
exactly registering what it is. I'm pretty sure that was what I
was feeling. So I turned around and looked
around more thoroughly examining what little I could see given
how it was all pitch black. There was nothing behind me but
the feeling persisted. Some Panic began to slowly
search through me despite the fact I hadn't seen anything yet.
I considered getting up to leave but someone would come ringing a
bell soon, and I didn't want to miss out on the reward.
Why would I leave if there really was nothing here?
After this feeling kept picking at me, I eventually felt
courageous enough to shine a light around me.
My iPod had a flash light on it all be at one.
That wasn't very powerful. I raised it and turned it on
scanning the area behind me since I assumed someone would be
watching me from where I was exposed.
I could see a few meters behind me and only saw pine trees small
plants and other typical things you'd expect.
I felt safer knowing there wasn't anything behind me.
So I turned the light off. I resumed my game the feelings
still persisting but a sense of security Now instilled.
Nothing was behind me. As I played games and waited I
thought about that. Nothing was behind me.
I only searched the area behind me not the areas off to my sides
or in front of me this new realization worried me.
So I pushed the branches out of the way to see in front of me
and there was nothing but a barely visible Trail back to the
cabin which was to be expected. I glanced over to my sides the
area to my left harboring nothing but Blackness passed the
trees. I checked my right also nothing
but a black void passed the trees.
I was about to go back to my game, but I realized there was
something wrong. There was nothing to my right.
Where was the previously visible Moon behind the branches there?
I remember looking over realizing the moon was indeed
gone, which could only happen if something were to be blocking
it. I froze realizing someone had
been standing behind the branches to my right for who
knows how long? My breathing picked up as I
stared in that direction it becoming obvious.
I noticed what ever was there? Still whoever it was didn't move
they didn't say anything. They didn't even attack me.
The sound of a distant bell ringing snapped me back to
reality and I sprung up from my sitting position and ran through
the pine branches in front of me getting Whip and pricked by the
needles. I reached the clearing in front
of me and ran down the trail as fast as I could.
When I saw a teacher ahead of me coming up the trail I ran to her
out of breath. I tried to explain what happened
her not understanding me because of how frantic I was.
When I calmed down I said someone was in the trees
watching me and they were not a Seeker or Hider or anyone else.
She went from chill to serious and asked me if I was sure.
After confirming that I was indeed stalked by someone who
wasn't a fellow classmate. She led me back to my cabin
where my group was including my friend.
She told us to lock the doors before she left and talked to
someone on her radio. Me my friend and three other
kids were left in that cabin, which had a small window on both
doors and a large window on one of the walls all of which didn't
have curtains. We were missing one of our
members who had left to refill their water bottle at the rec
center before I showed up. My group asked me what happened
and I told them someone who wasn't a Seeker was watching me.
They seemed skeptical but my friend believed me since he knew
me better than the rest of them and he knew no one else came up
that trail to where I was. Around half an hour past where
nothing happened. No teachers came back.
Our other group member did not come back.
It was just us five. One of us wanted to leave to use
the washroom at one point and I pleaded with him to not leave.
I think he realized I was serious about no one leaving
since he stayed. The cabin felt safe we had the
doors locked there were other people here and the teachers
knew about the thing in the woods.
More time passed where nothing happened.
No teachers are noting the kids still needed to leave but I
figured things had been settled so didn't try to stop him.
He dug around his stuff for his water bottles so he could refill
it while he was out. Before he could leave there was
a loud knock on the wall of our cabin.
Thankfully the wall without a window.
We all looked at each other before there was the sound of
dragging along the side of it. I turned off the light and we
all hit under our beds. It led from the middle of the
wall to the corner then over to the door.
There was a loud tap on the glass followed by another and
then another the doorknob was tried momentarily the locks
stopping it before the tapping on the glass continued.
When it finally stopped there was a minute of Silence before
the tapping resumed on the larger window on the wall of the
cabin. I was facing it, but couldn't
see anything the tapping stopped and I assumed they would start
tapping on the window to the other door.
I waited in anticipation for it before a loud crash came from
the window. That was just touched.
A sporadic ringing came from an object thrown through the window
before it ricocheted off the wall and onto the ground near me
the object letting out one last ring.
I felt like I was going to die. It would get inside through the
window then it would kill us. I closed my eyes thinking about
my eventual death. It never came though.
My eyes remained closed as even more time passed as if whatever
threw the Bell through the window was just taking their
time. I'm not sure how long it was,
but eventually we heard footsteps near the cabin before
there was a knock on the door. A light shine through the window
as a man shouted that they were the police.
We were relieved and got up to open the door.
It was indeed an officer and he started to ask us if we were
okay. As my group explained what
happened. I looked back at the object
thrown through the window since there was light it turned out to
be a bell the teacher used to end the game this Bell being
bloody. After he talked to us, he let us
back to the rec center where more police teachers and
students were the rest of the night was spent there in the
lobby as the police searched the area.
Parents were notified and they began to arrive to get us.
Before they did the police asked students if they saw anything
and when they got to me, I explained everything I
experienced from being watched while hiding to our cabin window
being broken. When talking to my group
members, they said that after the window was broken the large
silhouette of a head or something stuck through the open
window and briefly looked around.
My mom arrived the next morning taking me away from that.
Hellish Forest. One of the last things I
remember when leaving the place was too officers talking one of
the mentioning a body being found.
I learned later from my parents that one of the male teachers
was found dead and partially devoured.
They found the Bell he had to get the hiders to have been the
same one tossed through my window that night.
When my dad heard the details about the body being devoured
and my telling of something examining the walls and window
of the cabin. He immediately recalled our
hunting trip when I was five. That was when he explained to me
what he saw that night for the first time.
My latest experience happened before I went to college we
moved to a rural town near Athabasca that probably had a
population of 30 people. There was plenty of forest
around us and being in 18 year old who had basically forgotten
my previous encounters at that point.
I felt like I could take on anything that was in the woods
besides grizzly bears or mousse for obvious reasons.
It was summer vacation. And since I had nothing else to
do I would take my bow and head out to hunt small game like
rabbits. By August I had gone from
leaving to hunt for a few hours to leaving with a tenth and a
bag of supplies to camp out deep in the forest for a night or
two. It was nice.
But my last hunt of the summer before College started pretty
much ended interaction with the forest for me for the next
while. My final hunting camping trip
was pretty normal for the first bit of it, which was to be
expected. I walked into the forest for
about 30 or 40 minutes, which led me to a very flat clearing
that was perfect to sleep in a small tent.
I've made this trip to the same spot multiple times at that
point and with the aid of a compass along with some pink
ribbons. I left tied to trees it kept me
from getting lost on the way there and back.
It was very Scenic and peaceful devoid of any sight or sound of
people just pure nature. I set up my Camp did some
hunting where I found nothing besides some large bear prints
and some dried mud had this box of cheap dried hash browns for
supper and then chilled out at my camp for the rest of the day
while drinking some coolers. I brought and Blasting loud
music to keep any bears away. By the time night in the forest.
I was ready to go to sleep. Sometime later.
I woke up. I wasn't sure why I just
happened to. Feeling tired.
I tried to go back to sleep until I heard the sound of
plastic and cans rustling near my camp.
I froze for a moment not believing what I heard.
When the sound Russell's again, I sat up and grabbed my hunting
knife. My groggy mine took a moment to
think and I realized that something was digging into my
trash bag. I stored any food-related trash
in a plastic bag before tying it and hanging it from a tree away
from camp in case Bears came by and something was definitely
digging in it at that moment. I hung it pretty high.
So it was either some scavenger animal that could climb or a
bear. For my sake I hoped it was the
first option. I just had a bow and a knife.
And neither would be much help against a bear, especially if it
was a grizzly. After a few minutes of rustling
there was silence. I still waited keeping his quiet
as I could to not draw the animals attention to me.
As I waited I thought about what I would do.
Some of my ideas were going back to sleep some were grabbing my
stuff and leaving and I even had the dumb thought of scaring the
animal off if it was still there.
I eventually figured that if it was some small animal I'd stay.
If I got any confirmation about it being a bear, I'd pack my
stuff and leave the first chance I had.
I would check my phone occasionally to see how much
time had passed. Went around 15 minutes passed.
I assumed the animal had left so I checked the time.
Seeing that was around two a.m. Tired.
I tried to settle back into my bag.
A roar sounded off in the distance ruining any chance of
me going back to sleep. I sat up not believing what I
heard. I wasn't sure where it came from
but it sounded like a bear's Roar.
I'm pretty sure Bears only Roar when trying to find a mate or
when they are defending territory.
And since it wasn't bear mating season that meant it was likely
a territorial dispute. With the confirmation that a
bear probably rolled up to my Camp.
I packed my bag and left my tent zipping it behind me before I
turned on my headlamp. I took out my compass and
figured out the general direction of the first ribbon to
follow back home. Regardless of the 40-minute hike
ahead of me. I hurried toward the first
ribbon. My hand rested on the knife
attached to my belt just for the feeling of security since it's
not like I'd be able to fend off a bear with a simple knife.
Thankfully it didn't take long for me to find my first pink
ribbon. It was pretty close to Camp
after all. I think I set up a couple dozen
of them. So I should come across them
every couple of minutes. During the walk.
I didn't try to be stealthy my headlamp lit up a fair amount of
area around me and I loudly charged through the shrubs and
plant matter. When I came across the second
pink ribbon, I felt more confident about my trip back
things were on the right track so far my confidence faded
somewhat when I had gone about five minutes without seeing any
new ribbons. They were spaced out a few
minutes apart. So I should have found the third
one by now. It was dark though, and I could
barely recognize the area and I was kind of panicked so my state
of mind wasn't completely there. I tried to remember what the
tree. I tied it to looked like or any
kind of landmark near the ribbon.
I could recognize but nothing came to mind.
It couldn't be too far. I kept telling myself.
So I kept looking around relying solely on my compass for
guidance 5 more minutes passed which turned into 10 minutes of
me searching for the third ribbon hopelessness started to
set in as I searched around for the third Ribbon or any
recognizable Landmark with nothing more than a headlamp on
and a compass in one hand. I started to blame myself for
everything that was going on as I searched for the ribbon.
I could have looked for a closer clearing near my house to camp
at. I could have stayed back at camp
for the night instead of heading home.
I could have left for home after finding the large bear print
before night fell. I could have just walked in One
Direction using the compass and take an even longer, but
Surefire trip back home. I could have done any number of
things to have avoided this. I just walked around hopelessly
looking for the ribbon insulting myself in my mind as I did.
It all became very distracting for me and I slowly stopped
paying attention to my surroundings.
All my focus was just on either my compass the ground since I
believe the ribbon fell off somehow or other ways I could
judge myself. This led to me walking into a
large mass. That was slightly obscured by a
Fallen Tree 15 or so meters away.
If I remember correctly. It's dead leaves covering most
of it. I stopped walking and looked up
realizing it was a grizzly bear the front half of it being
obscured by the fallen tree. I'm dead.
That was the first thing I thought I couldn't outrun one.
And if I were to play dead it would just beat the crap out of
me and probably seriously wounded me and if that were to
happen, I would definitely never get home after that.
Unsure about what to do. I took out my knife and stared
at the grizzly which still hadn't reared its head from
behind the leaves. I stood there Frozen as I waited
unsure about what to do. The bear had not turned around
so it's front half was still covered.
Despite my fear restraining me from properly functioning.
I thought it was odd how it didn't at least move to get a
look at me. More confusion built up in me as
I realized how loud I was and how I had my headlamp on this
whole time. The bear would have known I was
approaching long before I even came across it and it would have
reacted as such. As I slowly regained my senses.
I noticed a couple more things. I was too fearful to notice
before. First the bear wasn't standing
it was lying down on its stomach.
Second there was blood some of it was along the ground.
Some was rubbed against trees some was on the bear.
I don't know how I felt seeing that it seemed like it was dead.
Which meant I was safe from it. However, I didn't know for sure
and if it was alive, I didn't know what that would mean for
me. Maybe I should walk away or be
quiet and stand still or turn off my light or check to see if
the bear was actually dead. I settled for checking on the
bear and forced my legs to move me closer as quietly as I could.
I kept my distance from the bear because all I wanted to do was
confirm it was dead. Once I could see around the
fallen tree, I could confirm it was indeed dead its bottom jaw
was ripped off and it looked like something tore its neck
open. Its front leg was mangled and
lifted up exposing its chest which had been torn open its
bloody contents looking as if they were slightly chewed up.
Not a single animal here in Alberto would have done this.
A cougar wouldn't enter a grizzly bear's territory and end
up killing it for the soul purpose of eating it and when
Grizzly's fight with other Grizzlies, they typically don't
end up in death and devouring if I remembered correctly.
I remember staring at it in morbid at all at this site
relieved that the grizzly wouldn't hurt me but worried
about what killed the grizzly. The thoughts of my previous
experiences in the past came to mind and I tried to ignore them
and tell myself that makes no sense.
I was in Athabasca, which I think is somewhere around 400
kilometres from Jasper and maybe half that from where I was
during my field trip. It could not have found me here.
It could never have. That would be impossible.
Why would it even follow me me of all people all this way
across the province? Still it all felt very similar.
Everything from it being night to it being in the forest to
even the partly devoured corpse. There was one thing missing
though as I stood there examining the dead grizzly.
I realized too late though after thinking about all the
similarities between this situation and the previous ones.
The main difference I came to realize is that I haven't
confirmed I was being watched yet.
That thought immediately made me want to do a 300 and 360 scan of
my surroundings. Without even trying I simply
turned my head around and felt numb.
I saw the creature standing around 10 meters from me.
It wasn't even hiding just standing right behind me this
whole time watching me. I wanted to drop to my knees and
just die there. I didn't want to feel the fear.
I felt in that moment. I'd rather have just died right
there and then as to not feel it anymore.
This was the first time I'd ever seen the creature in full.
It was around 10 or 12 feet tall it easily towering over me.
It had a humanoid shape its body legs and arms being very similar
to that of one. Its hands were large clawed and
bloody. Dark tattered first similar to
an unkempt moose covered its body.
It had a tail a pretty long and bony one at that.
It's head was recognizable to me.
It being very similar to that of a moose skull due to how a
elongated it was. It had no antlers not even
stumps on its head. So maybe it was a female
creature. Blood was around its mouth where
instead of the typical herbivore teeth a moose would have it
instead had sharpened predatory ones.
They're looked to be a symbol of some sort drawn onto the
forehead of its skull and I think charcoal just something
dark. The last thing I noticed the
most out of place for it was the missing pink ribbon tied around
the base of a moose like ear protruding from the back of its
skull like a taunting decoration.
Its other ear just had this string tied to it with animal
bones or something hanging off of it.
My first thought was that I was seeing a wendigo not that
knowing what it was would help me at that moment.
We stared at each other not that I wanted to I wanted to run but
I couldn't I just kept staring into its eyes or lack thereof
given it just had two empty black voids in place of them.
I tightened the grip on my knife causing its head to tilt
slightly engaged towards it. I'm not sure how much time
passed as we had our standoff as if it couldn't kill me with
ease. The more time passed the more
control I gained over my body. The moment I could move my legs.
I took a step back causing the creature to tilt its head more
as if curious about what I had planned.
I took another step back then another after backing up a few
meters the creature took a single step forward instantly
making our distance between each other the same as before.
When it did that I raised my knife as if that would do
anything to Ward it off it tilting its head again.
We kept backing up like this me moving a few meters back with
multiple steps before it closed that distance with a single
step. I was so lost in this that I
bumped into the Dead bear causing me to turn around and
look at it. The moment my eyes were off the
creature. I heard two quick loud footsteps
and turned back to see it. Only a few meters away from me.
It's jaw slightly unhinged. I gave up on being careful at
that point. I had nothing to do besides the
Primal control of hopelessly fleeing.
I turned and ran while trying to drop my backpack in both that I
had over my shoulders. I successfully dropped my bow on
the ground shedding a little weight during my run.
I unsuccessfully tried to take my backpack off one handed as I
had my knife in my other hand. Running through and cutting
myself on multiple branches didn't help.
Still the creature had not managed or chosen to catch up
with me yet. After running through a pine
trees bunch of needles. I ended up reaching a Steep
Ravine. It was around 8 feet high and I
didn't see it after running through the tree.
I fell and covered my head as I rolled down it my backpack
providing little protection during my tumble.
When I finally came to a stop at the end of it, I just felt pain
all over me one very noticeable burning pain on my cheek.
During the fall. I think my face bashed into the
knife. I was out of breath my body
hurt. I dropped my knife and didn't
know where it was and my headlamp turned off during the
fall and fell off my head with the inability to see or defend
myself or even run being that I was in pain and out of breath.
I just laid there and hoped for the best whatever that could
have possibly been. Maybe if I just stayed still it
wouldn't find me. Maybe it would be quick when
killing me. I just laid there with my eyes
closed resting my head on my arms.
I'm not sure how much time passed like that.
There was no sound of the creature being anywhere near me.
Although that didn't mean anything.
It has been closed and quiet to me before.
Eventually, I got to my knees. I didn't know where my headlamp
was and I wasn't too keen on feeling around for it.
I took out my phone and turned on its flash light.
I scanned around finding the headlamp not too far away from
me. I grabbed it put it on and
prepared myself to turn that one on and look around.
There was no way the creature wasn't standing somewhere near
me watching like it usually did. Turning the headlamp on I did a
quick look around spotting the creature crouched at the top of
the hill. I fell down.
It was looking down at me likely watching me during the entire
time I laid there. Its head was tilted as per usual
it curiously examining me. I wanted to say something to it.
Ask it what it wanted or even just tell it to get it over with
but I just couldn't choke out any words.
I rubbed my cheek where the burning sensation was and sure
enough I had a cut there. The creature lowered itself down
the hill with ease and reached out its hand shortly after I
checked my cut. I closed my eyes and waited for
the obvious. It didn't come through instead.
I felt its hand rub against my face where the cut was it then
grabbed my sides and lifted me up unsure about what it was
going to do. I just kept my eyes closed as it
elevated me. My heart was pounding.
I was breathing heavily. The feeling was indescribable.
I have no clue how to use words to explain the feeling.
I felt at that very moment. I felt something heavy and hard
rest to top my head. Confused I opened my eyes for a
moment realizing that as it held me in the air.
It was resting its bony head on top of mine as it held me in the
air like this. I considered raising my legs and
kicking it to get it to let go of me but it's not like I had
anywhere to run if I did that. It continued to hold me as I
expected something more brutal to happen, but it never did.
It stopped resting its head on mine and gently lowered me to
the ground. It stared at me for a few
moments. Then with surprising ease scaled
the Steep Hill heading back to where we just came from
presumably to finish eating the bear.
As for me, I took a moment to lean against a tree and shock.
I couldn't comprehend what happened.
I was still kind of roughed up from my tumble and I didn't know
where I was. After my moment to rest, I found
the things I dropped scaled the hill to get my bow and took out
my compass. I settled on just walking South
West which was the general direction of my town.
The walk wasn't fun. I heard and I kept looking over
my shoulder expecting to see it following me.
Around an hour of walking later. I reached a gravel road which I
followed for another 10 or 15 minutes back to my town and then
eventually to my house. It was around four in the
morning at this point and everyone was asleep.
So I just got some water and went to my room to reflect on
what happened before I went to sleep.
I woke up at around 2 p.m. Which meant my parents were gone
at work. Being alone.
I searched the house for the gun safe Keys, which I eventually
found hidden in some random decorative candle holder in my
parents' bedroom. I grabbed one of our shotguns
and left to go retrieve my tent and whatever else I left in the
woods. It was horrible heading back
into the woods where I came across that creature less than
10 hours beforehand, but I couldn't leave a tent and
blankets and other stuff out there to rot.
I never encountered the creature again thankfully but when I
reached my Camp I didn't like what was there some dried blood
was dragged alongside the tent so I could assume who examined
my tent for a bit. It was unzipped which meant it
learned how to use zippers since the first ever time I
encountered it. Inside my tent was my blanket
and sleeping bag which were ruffled up as if it looked
around in there. The last thing I found was the
most messed up nearby left in the charcoal and Ashes of my
fire was a dead rabbit. Its head was bitten off and I
could only assume it was some kind of gift or offering or
something after that. I have an encountered anything
creature related since by september I moved away for
college to the town of Vermilion, which is surrounded
by Acres upon Acres of empty Fields.
So no way that thing is going to come all the way out here
unnoticed. before I moved I brought up what I encountered
with my dad when he got home from work because I had to he is
the only person I know who has encountered the same creature
before. He was Disturbed.
And the last time I talked with him he planned to move somewhere
less Rural and away from forests.
Looking back on all my experiences and after some
research into Cryptids and Forest monsters and stuff.
I have no idea what that is. At first I thought it was a when
to go because of the skull head humanoid body and how it would
eat people. then after comparing the way they act with my
experience as with it, I don't think it is.
It had a female moose skull head instead of a male deer skull
head, which could be excused. Maybe the female moose skull
head means it's a female variant or something.
I don't know. I'm not a wendigo expert it
never mimicked people ever or even spoke any words, which
seems to be a thing when to goes can do it did eat people but it
also killed and ate a grizzly bear and killed and ate a
rabbit's head. It had the symbol on its skull
head and it had decorative stuff on its ears.
Lastly. I don't think it's a wendigo
because it let me live. It did Chase me watch me and
somehow follow me across the province, but it wasn't to kill
me or hurt me. If anything it possibly likes me
given that when finding me at my weakest.
It just held me and rested its head on mine even leaving me the
same animal. I had been hunting at my
campsite for me. It just doesn't seem like a
wendigo. I considered Skinwalker after
that but it wasn't canine related and I've never seen a
moose around those areas surprisingly.
I feel like if it was a skinwalker it would just be a
moose and watch me during the day and I wouldn't notice no one
would. Not only that the behavior and
location are two different to be one.
I tried looking into other Cryptid and folklore stuff, but
none of it is similar enough to my experience of being followed
across the province or to the way the creature looked.
I also tried to remember and draw that symbol that was on its
head, but I can't remember any of the details of it.
Besides there being a large black dot within a circle.
Overall, I'm just at a loss. None of this makes any sense to
me, which is why I'm posting what happened here.
I hope someone can provide some insight about what that is or
what it may want with me. As for me, I'm considering a new
career choice. The college here in Vermilion is
for jobs that typically involve nature.
And after that thing found me twice across the province.
I'm pretty sure I don't want a job that takes place in the
woods. I'm pretty confident that
whatever it is. It would find me again if I did.
It doesn't seem to want to kill me.
I don't know what it wants with me.
Even if I were safe from it, which seems to be the case.
So far others wouldn't be because it had probably eat
them. I hope someone on here can
provide me with some answers or anything.
If you're ever driving down Route 106 and Michigan and you
see a sign for The Greenbrier Motel, you'd better just keep
driving because there is something terribly wrong here.
And the last thing I would want is for more people to die.
I started working at The Greenbrier Motel a week ago.
It wasn't a dream job by any standards the night shift at the
front desk checking people in and out and doing some inventory
in the back. I like the peace and quiet
though as a little rundown Motel on an isolated Highway it gave
me a lot of time to read and play computer games on the
clock. It also helped that the owner
Frank didn't seem to care that I was a high school dropout with a
rap sheet. But on the very first day, I
felt that something was terribly off.
For one there was the smell when the wind shifted the entire
parking lot smelled like rotting meat.
I ran to close the windows, but even then I could still smell it
it seeped in through the HVAC system.
The motel is surrounded by Deep Woods.
So I figured maybe we were near the kill grounds of some animal.
Or maybe it was just the endless roadkill of deer and possums on
the highway. Either way, it was unsettling
and definitely not enjoyable. The other thing that struck me
as odd was the guests rooms. Some of them didn't have Windows
and it seemed like that was intentional.
I could see the lines in the paint the seams outlining where
Windows had once been. When I asked Frank, he told me
that some of the guests asked for windowless rooms that they
were in high demand. He didn't elaborate and
honestly, I was a little scared to him on it.
Things went from strange to downright creepy.
However as soon as Frank left. As I got set up at my desk a
woman walked into the room. She was in her 40s, maybe with
black hair and very pale skin as soon as she stepped inside.
She locked the door behind her. Frank left right?
She asked me. Yeah, I replied.
Uh, who are you? She introduced herself as
Matilda. She'd been working here for a
decade cleaning the motel rooms after the guests checked out
after a few minutes of small talk.
She suddenly came up to the counter and lowered her voice.
I want to make sure you're safe around here.
She said glancing back toward the door nervously.
So I need you to listen to me. Okay?
My heart dropped, okay. Whatever you do don't ask
questions. Just check people in check them
out and mind your own business. And then you'll be fine.
My stomach did a little flip. Okay.
So it was that kind of Motel illegal business of multiple
kinds probably all being conducted under our leaky roof.
What? What if the police come will I
be arrested too? She gave me a Blank Stare. the
police say they find evidence of illegal activity in one of the
rooms. Well that get me in trouble.
I already have shoplifting on my record and can't she shook her
head? Don't worry about the police
just don't ask questions and don't make eye contact or look
at their faces for too long. I swallowed they don't want
Witnesses. They don't want me to be able to
pick them out of a lineup. I thought okay, I won't ask
questions and I won't look at them for too long.
Got it. She smiled at me.
You have nothing to worry about. As it turned out though.
I did that night. I checked in three people.
They were almost like caricatures a big strong guy in
sunglasses that looked like he'd stepped right out of the
Godfather. A woman dressed to The Nine's
wearing more makeup than a clown.
Skinny young guy in a hoodie that smelled like something
chemical and strange. But I listened to Matilda.
I didn't ask questions. I didn't even ask the questions.
I should have been asking like when hoodie guy gave me an ID.
That was clearly fake. Don't ask questions and you'll
be fine. I kept repeating that to myself
and I kept my eyes glued to the computer screen never even
glancing up at them. When it hit midnight, I assumed
the rest of the night would be smooth sailing.
On this lonely stretch of highway.
It was unlikely anyone else would check in.
I pulled up mine sweeper and played some music on my phone.
My peace and quiet however was interrupted by the door swinging
open at 2 a.m. I glanced up to see the guy in
sunglasses. The guy who looked like he'd
stepped out of The Godfather. Damn, I should have locked the
door. I swallowed and kept my eyes
glued to the computer screen as he approached.
Can I help you? I asked watching him in my
peripheral vision. Do you have any razors for
purchase? I froze razors at 2 a.m.
I instantly got a mental image of him slashing someone up in
his room blood all over the sheets soaking into the carpet.
No, we don't have any razors. I said keeping my eyes on the
computer screen. Can you just check in the back
please? He asked I swallowed.
I really really didn't want to go check as soon as I turned
around he could do anything pull out a gun tackle me force me
into a Chokehold and keep me hostage, but refusing him was
just as bad. If not worse.
It might make him mad really mad.
I sat there staring at Minesweeper on the screen
weighing my options paying close attention to him out of the
corner of my eye. And that's when I saw it.
There was something off about this guy.
His sunglasses looked like they were slightly too low on his
face. Like the eyes they were covering
weren't in quite the right place.
And not only that but I couldn't see his eyebrows above the
frames or the Contours of his brow Ridge.
Everything above the glasses was perfectly flat and smooth.
Like he had no ice sockets at all.
Can you check in the back please?
He asked again his voice taking on an annoyed tone.
Yes, sure. I sprang out of the seed and
ducked into the backstory area. I quickly glanced over my
shoulder to make sure he wasn't following me.
He wasn't I had half a mind to just stay there hiding out in
the back storage room until I heard his voice calling out to
me again. Did you find them?
He sounded angry almost Furious. Thankfully I did find a few
packaged razors next to some other toiletries.
We kept I kept them and handed them over.
I kept my eyes trained on the floor the whole time.
Thank you. He said sounding pleased and
that was it. He turned around and left.
As soon as the door shut I ran over and locked it.
I closed the blinds and sat back down at the front desk.
My heart was hammering in my chest.
All I could picture were the strange shapes of his face.
And as I sat there I realized something.
All three guests that I checked in since the start of my shift
The Godfather guy the makeup woman the hoodie guy.
They all had something covering their face or head.
I mean, I wasn't exaggerating about the woman having enough
makeup for a clown. She was wearing foundation so
thick that it cracked around the corners of her eyes and lips.
And she wore false eyelashes so long they looked like spider
legs. And Hoodie guy had kept his hood
pulled. So tightly over his head that I
couldn't see his ears and hair. It was like they all had
something to hide. Morning, couldn't come soon
enough. As soon as the day shift workers
arrived. I got the hell out of there.
I floored it back to my house and slept for a long time.
I had nightmares all night about faceless people and spidery
eyelashes. Then it was time to go back to
the motel for night. Number two.
Thankfully it was a quieter night all though the vacancy
signed glowed brightly in the darkness.
No one checked in during my shift.
They must have all come earlier during the day.
So I locked the door sat down with a cup of coffee and enjoyed
some reading in the quiet. Unfortunately, the quiet didn't
last long around midnight. I heard a loud slam from
outside. I threw my book down and ran
over to the window the door to room 16 was wide open.
I looked around nobody appeared to be outside.
The parking lot and the sidewalk were empty.
The room itself was dark. None of the lights were on.
I walked over to the computer and looked up the room to my
surprise. No one had booked it for
tonight. Should I go out and close the
door? I hesitated it was late.
There was no one around except for the occasional passing car.
If someone had broken into that room and that attacked me there
would be no one to hear me scream.
So I kept the door locked tight and opened up the security
camera feed instead. As I rewound it.
I saw what happened the door had opened and then a woman had
walked out of it. I couldn't see her face.
Just her long dark hair. She then disappeared into room
22. I checked room 22 on the
computer. It was booked to a woman named
Cassandra Johnson. I frowned.
It looked like Cassandra might be going into our vacant rooms
and possibly stealing stuff. Matilda must have forgotten to
lock up the room after she cleaned it.
I sighed opened the door and began walking toward the open
room. I thought of knocking on room
22. But then decided against it.
Keep your nose out of other people's business.
I just locked up room 16 and go back to the lobby like a good
little employee. I walked toward the open room.
But as soon as I got close a horrible smell drifted out of
the room like something rotting decaying. my stomach turned what
did Cassandra do in there? Throw up stash all her garbage
in there. I reached into the darkness of
the room bracing myself. I flicked on the light. the room
looked normal The bed was made the carpet was clean, but the
smell only got stronger. I pinched my nose as I glanced
around starting to feel nauseous.
And then I saw it. There was something on the
carpet just barely poking out from the other side of the bed.
What is that? It was tan and folded over
itself like a beige sheet or pillowcase had been bunched up
on the other side. But all our sheets were white.
I stepped into the room my heart pounding in my chest.
Hello, I called out nothing the smell got even worse as I
approached the bed nausea washed over me.
I forced myself to keep going pinching my nose swallowing down
the urge to throw up. I appeared over the side of the
bed and froze. There was a pile of beige
slightly translucent material folded over itself on the other
side, but I instantly recognized certain shapes attached to it
awfully familiar shapes like five fingers.
It looked like a glove made of skin poking out from under one
of the folds. It looked like someone had shed
their skin. I stepped back my legs shaking
underneath me. If it can't be I backed away
toward the door my throat dry because it didn't make sense.
It didn't even make sense for it to be a murder.
There wasn't any blood on it. It hadn't been cut off someone.
It was like a snake skin clean and perfect holding the shape of
its wearer like a ghost. I ran out of the room and saw
walking toward me down the sidewalk the woman from room 22.
Strands of her dark straight hair hung over her face, but I
could tell through her hair that there was something wrong with
her face. Her eyes and lips were in
slightly the wrong position. She walked toward me fast her
shoes clicked on the pavement. I didn't want to find out what
she do if she caught me. I whipped around and ran as fast
as I could I could hear her running behind me.
She was running much faster than what I thought possible in her
heels. But I forced myself to go faster
and faster until I was inside the lobby.
I clicked the lock shut and collapsed in the back room where
she couldn't see me. That's when the whistling
started. Just outside the door.
I could hear her whistling the source of the sound shifted as
she circled the lobby area looking for a way in.
I heard it at the door then at the back then through the side
windows then back at the front door.
This one on for an hour. Finally the whistling faded, but
I didn't move. I stayed there.
I huddled in the back storage room until dawn broke as soon as
the day shift arrived. I booked it out of there as fast
as I could. I wanted to quit with everything
the way it is. I wanted to just walk away, but
I needed the money. I already knew how hard it was.
Finding a job with a rap sheet. It was either go back to the job
or face eviction, so I went back.
When I got on shift though, I pulled Matilda aside and told
her what I had seen. I asked her again and again and
if my life was in danger. Asked her what the hell was
going on here. If other people were in danger,
too. I promise you as long as you
mind your own business, you'll be safe.
So that's what I did. I kept my head down and for the
next few days nothing really happened.
Sure. There were a few people who
checked in that were wearing hats or sunglasses or extra
makeup, but I just tried to avoid eye contact with them.
Tried to keep my head down and my nose out of other people's
business, but then came that one night in November.
It was raining then I remember. The rain came down and sheets
and every so often I heard thunder shake the windows.
I wasn't expecting anyone to come in that night.
I didn't see that many cars driving by on the highway the
rain seemed to keep everybody in.
But then I heard a knock when I looked up.
I saw a man staring in the window a chill ran down my
spine. He was wearing a hoodie that
kept his face mostly in Shadow and he was aggressively banging
on the window. It was like he was in a hurry.
I grabbed the mace. I kept under the counter and
slipped it into my pocket then I approached the window.
Do you have any vacancies? He asked in a low voice I could
barely hear him over the pounding rain the vacancy signed
glowed. Brightly behind him.
There's no way he could have missed it.
Yeah, come on in. I said, I unlocked the door with
one hand and gripped the Mason in my pocket with the other.
He stepped inside rain drip off his jacket and onto the floor.
I barely glanced at him. I just turned around and walked
back around the counter. Then I sat down at the computer
keeping my eyes fixed on the screen.
In my peripheral vision I could see him leaning over the
counter. His face was only about a foot
or two from mine. So close that I could smell the
stale mothball odor coming off his clothes.
So close I could hear drops of water plopping onto the counter
from his sleeve. Can you go faster?
He asked his voice raspy in his throat?
Sorry, sir. I'm going fast as I can.
I replied my heart starting to pound.
It's an old computer. My fingers slipped on the mouse
as I rushed to click the buttons.
I don't have all day. He growled leaning even closer
to me. I wanted to look at him my eyes
were itching to glance up at the man that was six inches from my
face, but I forced myself to stare at the screen, whatever
the hell was going on here. I was not going to be a witness.
I was not going to look up and find myself face to face with a
Smith and Wesson. Your name I asked as soon as the
words came out of my mouth I froze.
I needed a name to book the room.
That's all but maybe he wouldn't see it.
That way. Maybe I wasn't supposed to ask
for names maybe that was part of Frank's understanding with
certain guests. Thankfully nothing happened
after a second of hesitation. He replied Daniel Jones.
The name struck me as fake common.
First name common last name, but who even cared at this point.
I typed his name into the system and completed the booking
process. He paid for the room in cash,
which was another thing that made me uneasy, but I tried not
to worry about it. I turned my back and took a key
off the hook. Room 7 I said handing it to him.
He thanked me and then waited by the door.
I waited for a minute then two. But he didn't leave.
Do you need something? I asked careful not to make eye
contact. Can you escort me to my room?
Oh hell no there was no way I could go out there in the middle
of the night with this creepy guy that was like a death
sentence. I glanced out the window and
spotted his car a beat up sedan and one of the nearby parking
spaces. the murderer scenario played out in my head shove me
into the hotel room kill me. Stick my body in the trunk, then
throw it in the middle of the woods, or maybe worse.
Maybe my skin would end up crumpled on the floor of one of
the rooms. Maybe he'd take my form or turn
me into something. That sheds its skin like a
snake. That has eyes too low on its
face. Or no eye sockets at all.
And the longer I looked at him in the corner of my eye the more
I noticed things about him. There were smears of dirt on his
sleeves and on the Hem of His pants.
Like he's been digging a grave the voice in my head added his
face half hidden in Shadow was sunken and gone.
His jaw was covered in Grace stubble.
His teeth were a horrible shade of grayish yellow.
Can't you just go yourself? I have something that I need to
do here. My boss is going to get pissed
you can take two minutes to walk me to my room dammit.
I sat there in stunned silence. He sounded Fury Furious my heart
pounded in my ears. Okay.
I said finally my fingers curled around the mace and my pocket
and then I joined him by the door.
I'll walk you to your room. He didn't think me.
He just grabbed the door and swung it open it nearly swung
back in my face. I stepped out into the pouring
rain with him. The parking lot was like a lake
and our feet sloshed loudly through the water.
The cold water seeped through my sneakers and I shivered.
I followed the man to his car staying a good 15 feet away.
He popped the trunk and I held my breath, but thankfully there
was only a duffel bag inside. He hoisted it on his shoulder
and started for room 7. I followed him at a distance
staying several feet away watching him fidget with the
key. You got a lot of other people
staying here right now. He asked as he slid the key into
the lock. Some I replied not great weather
for it. He said not really.
The storm supposed to clear tomorrow.
It'll be good weather then. Wow, this is taking a while.
I thought to myself that's one. I looked down at his hands and
noticed that he wasn't really trying to get into his room.
He was just inserting the key pausing and then pulling it out
over and over again. He was stalling for time.
He was keeping me here on purpose.
I looked up from his hands just in time to see him staring at
me. His blue eyes were intense
studying me. I wanted to run away every inch
of me was screaming to get out of there.
But the guy had six inches on me and was really thin he'd
probably catch me in seconds. I was never much of a runner.
I slipped my hand in my pocket curling my fingers around the
mace. Do you need help getting into
your room I asked. He shook his head.
I'm going to go back to the front desk.
I said taking a step back. As soon as I said that he froze
his eyes widened as he stared at me.
Slowly he shook his head his lips stretching into a Grimace
that showed his yellow teeth. Don't go he growled his voice
barely audible above the rain. Stay exactly where you are.
I left into action. I whipped the mace out of my
pocket and held it in front of me pointing it right at him.
Don't get any closer. My finger hovered over the
trigger and then I heard it. Someone was whistling behind me
somewhere in the rain. The song cut through the
raindrops Like a Knife. It was the same Eerie tune that
woman had whistled a few days ago.
I'm sorry, the man said quietly his blue eyes locked on mine.
But I needed bait. I stared at him.
My brain couldn't even process what he was saying. bait I took
a stumbling step back. The whistling grew louder I
whipped around through the rain. I could see someone walking
through the parking lot. barely lit by the flickering Street
Lamp the mace fell from my hands and clattered to the ground.
Then I turned and ran as fast as I could toward the lobby the
whistling stopped and then I could hear loud splashing
footsteps growing louder with every second behind me.
I swung the door open slammed. It shut and turned the lock.
I pulled the blinds down over the window panting.
I opened them with my fingers and peered out into the night.
There was a woman standing in the parking lot the same woman.
I had seen a week ago her hair and clothes were drenched with
rain, but she was smiling. This big crooked grin that sent
chills down my spine. And her eyes were strange.
Wide and wild incredibly light blue.
In the Darkness at almost looked like she didn't have irises at
all. Just two pinholes for pupils
staring right at my door. She took a step forward.
I ran over to my desk grabbed. My cell phone started dialing
911. Come on come on operator.
I'm at The Greenbrier motel and there's this guy and this weird
woman. I was cut off by a loud thump
nearby. I ran to the window and looked
out the man who'd booked room 7 was running toward the woman.
He was holding something up in the air a short dagger shining
silver in the rain. He is attacking her.
I screamed into the phone. The woman's face changed her
features Twisted her grin crept up to her eyes her arms cracked
and stretched. She blinked and her eyes turned
Pure White her body Twisted on naturally at the waist so that
she was facing the man. With fast jolted movements she
left it at him. Within seconds, he was dead.
She stood on all fours of him her knees bent the wrong way her
fingers far too long. With another horrible crackling
sound her next stretched out two feet long twisting like a snake.
And then she looked at me I left away from the window with a
scream. I opened my mouth tried to speak
but only a squeaking sound came out by the time I made it back
over to the window. The woman was standing there
looking down at her kill. She looked normal, then she
stepped over his body and walked toward the rooms.
To my horror, she pulled out a key and opened room 22, then she
disappeared inside the police arrived a few minutes later.
I begged them to check room 22 that something horrible was
lurking inside. But then they knocked on the
door and a completely normal looking woman opened it.
I watched from the lobby. I couldn't hear that much of
their Conversation Over the pouring rain, but they were not
arresting her weren't accusing her.
They seemed to just be having a friendly chat asking her what
she'd seen. Then they thanked her and came
back to me. Will need to see the security
tapes from tonight, please the officer said but when I showed
them the tape they got quiet. One of the officers made a call
to someone saying something about in infestation.
The other two officers ushered me out into the lobby their
faces serious. They told me not to leave as
they talked among themselves in hushed voices in the corner of
the room. Then they approached.
You didn't see anything to night.
One of the officers said leaning in close.
You got that but what about listen to me?
Very carefully. He interrupted lowering his
voice. You didn't see anything just
like you never shoplifted in your life.
What? You understand me.
He asked the silence stretched out between us.
Yeah, I got it. I said my voice wavering.
I didn't see anything. I left the motel that night and
never went back. I plan to never speak of what I
saw to keep my mouth. Shut just like they told me to.
But after many sleepless nights, I realized that I need to warn
people. I need to warn you I can't have
another person dying because of these things whatever they are.
So I'm begging you if you're driving through Michigan and see
that there's a vacancy at The Greenbrier Motel keep driving.
I am American and I've got some Scottish Heritage.
So I had always wanted to explore the highlands.
I spent some time making my way North from Edinburgh staying in
hostels and small bed and breakfasts along the way.
By the time I reached the northern Highlands, I was
feeling pretty confident in my hiking abilities.
I'd done some challenging trails and even wild camped a few
times. So when I heard about this
remote trail, that wasn't on most tourist Maps, I thought why
not? It was supposed to lead to this
hidden lock that was supposedly one of the most beautiful spots
in all of Scotland. The trailhead was near this tiny
village. Honestly, it was more like a
handful of houses clustered around a pub.
I stopped in for a bite before heading out figuring I'd stock
up on some energy for the hike. The pub was one of those old
cozy places with a low ceiling and a fire crackling in the
corner. It was pretty empty when I went
in just a couple of old timers nursing pints at the bar.
I ordered some food and got to chatting with the bartender
telling him about my plans to hike out to the lock.
The change in atmosphere was noticeable.
The bartender got this weird look on his face.
He tried to play it off saying something about the weather
being unpredictable this time of year, but I could tell there was
more to it. I pressed a bit asking if there
was something I should know about the trail.
That's when one of the old timers spoke up apparently
overhearing my conversations so far.
You don't want to be going out there loud.
He said that place is not right. I laughed at first thinking they
were just trying to scare the tourist but that old man was
dead serious. He told me that people had gone
missing on that trail over the years not many and not often but
enough to make the locals weary. There's something out there.
He said his voice low. Something old something that
doesn't like visitors. Now I'm not usually one for
Superstition. But the way he said it sent a
chill down my spine. Still I figured they were just
being overprotective. I thanked them for the warning
but said I was still planning to go.
The bartender side and said if you must go at least take this.
He handed me a small smooth stone with some kind of symbol
carved onto it old protection. He said.
I pocketed the stone more to be polite than anything else
finished my meal and headed out. The trail started off easy
enough winding through some beautiful Pine forests, but as I
got further in things started to change.
The trees got older thick and overgrown.
The undergrowth thicken too making the trail harder to
follow. Before long there was this
smell? Kind of musty and sweet at the
same time like rotting flowers. It wasn't strong but it was
persistent. I'd been hiking for about three
hours when I realized I should have reached the lock by now.
I checked my map but had definitely made a wrong turn
somewhere. I wasn't seeing any of the
landmarks. I was supposed to be seen.
I tried to backtrack but didn't locate anything familiar now get
this as I was walking. The forest was filled with the
sounds of nature and literally the next single step.
I took the moment my foot hit the ground everything fell
silent. That was extremely disturbing
not too long after that smell got stronger.
I was kind of freaked out and decided to set up camp for the
night right there and get my bearings in the morning.
I found a nice open space and got my tent set up just as it
was getting dark. That night I still have
nightmares about it. I woke up because I was hearing
a whispering sound. At first I thought it was Wind
Through the Trees but it kept getting clearer until I could
hear words. Words that I couldn't clearly
make out yet, but it was very obviously multiple voices
talking over each other and they seem to be getting closer.
I double checked my tent making sure the Zipper was all the way
up. I told myself to calm down that
it's nothing out of the ordinary.
That I saw Shadows on the tent wall.
Thanks to it being a clear night with a bright moon.
Something was moving around out there and the shapes they cast
were wrong. Very tall very thin moving in
ways that nothing should I was paralyzed just Frozen there left
to watch. The Whispers grew louder and I
could smell that sickly sweet odor right outside the tent then
something brushed up against the side.
I had to bite my lip to keep from screaming.
This went on for a few hours. Sometimes the Shadows would
Retreat and I would think it was over but then they'd come back
even closer than before. By the time Dawn finally came.
I was a wreck as soon as there was enough light out.
I packed up my things and started hiking again this time.
I didn't care which direction I just wanted out but no matter
how far I walked I couldn't shake the feeling that I was
being followed. Around late afternoon.
I could hear running water. I pushed through some bushes and
found myself on the shore of a lock.
But this wasn't the beautiful peaceful place I had been told
about. The water here was dark almost
black and there was a very thick Mist hanging over it.
The trees around the shore were twisted and wrong their branches
reaching out over the water like grassing fingers.
And there were Stones Standing Stones forming a rough Circle
near the water's edge. They were covered in markings
similar to the one on the stone. The bartender had given me.
As I looked at them I felt a pressure building in my head
like right before a migraine. I suddenly saw ripples forming
on the water's surface. Something was moving around out
there. Something big something coming
my way. Before I saw it emerge I bolted
out of there. I don't remember much of what
happened next just crashing through the underbrush. branches
whipping my face that sickly sweet smell all around me.
I could hear something moving through the woods behind me,
too. I swear.
But I didn't dare look back. Thank heavens.
I found my way out somehow. Everything was really just a
blur by the time I came out. I was scratched up and babbling
about monsters in the lock. The locals didn't seem
surprised. I went back to my hostel got
cleaned up and drank some strong tea.
When I finally settled myself down I went back to that Pub to
return the stone. When I tried to give it to the
old man, he shook his head. Keep it.
He said you might need it again someday.
I left the highlands the next day taking some new lifelong
memories and scars with me. I was about halfway through my
Trek along the Great Divide Trail in the Canadian Rockies.
It was late August and the plan was to hike the entire route
from Waterton Lakes National Park up to kokua Provincial
Park. It was a trip.
I'd been dreaming about for years.
I'm from Vancouver, but I'd never really explored much of
the Wilderness in my own backyard always too busy with
work and life and all that. But I finally saved up enough
vacation time and money to take a couple of months off and just
disappear into the mountains. That particular day had been
rough. I had been pushing myself hard
trying to make up for lost time after waiting out a nasty storm
a few days back. My legs were aching my feet were
blistered and I was starting to run low on supplies.
I knew I'd have to detour off the trail soon to resupply, but
I was hoping to push on for one more day.
As evening started to set in I realized I had miscalculated.
I was nowhere near my planned campsite and the terrain was too
Steep and Rocky to safely set up camp.
From there. I spotted a faint light in the
distance off to the east of the trail.
It had to be a farm or maybe a ranger station.
I thought so I figured I had that way see if I could camp on
the edge of their property for the night to be safe.
Worst case. Maybe they let me refill my
water. It took me about an hour to
reach the place. As I got closer I could make out
the shape of a farmhouse one of those old two-story jobs that
looked like it had been there for Generations.
There was a bar in off to one side and I could see a few
outlying buildings that I guessed were sheds or workshops.
The whole place was surrounded by Fields with the forest
pressing in close on all sides. I was about to head up to the
house when something made me hesitate.
I can't really explain it to be honest.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and something just fell
wrong. You spend enough time in the
wilderness. I guess you develop a sort of
sixth sense for danger. This felt like that but
different. more unsettling somehow And then I saw it.
Something that at first I thought was a person.
There was a figure standing by one of the ground floor Windows
of The Farmhouse. As my eyes adjusted to the dim
light I realized it was way too big to be human and the shape
was all wrong. It was tall maybe seven or eight
feet covered in what looked like Shaggy dark fur.
But it wasn't shaped like a bear.
It was standing on two legs body hunched forward in a way that
looked unnatural. Its arms, if you could call them
that were long and ended in what looked like huge clawed hands.
I froze afraid to move the creature had not seen or sensed
me yet. It was completely focused on
that window. As I watched it leaned in closer
pressing its face against the glass.
And then God I can barely bring myself to describe it if began
to lick the window long slow Strokes of its tongue against
the glass. The sound carried clearly in the
still night air this wet raspy noise that made my skin crawl.
I'm not sure how long I stood there paralyzed with fear before
finally the creature pulled back from the window.
It turned its head and for a heart stopping moment.
I thought I'd been spotted it led out a low rumbling sound not
quite a growl not quite a whine then loped off into the darkness
of the surrounding Forest. I waited until I was sure it was
gone. Then practically ran up to The
Farmhouse. My hands were shaking so bad.
I could barely knock on the door a middle-aged man answered
looking understandably confused to find a disheveled hiker on
his doorstep at night. I opened my mouth ready to spill
everything. I just seen But the words caught
in my throat. How could I explained what I had
witnessed without sounding completely insane.
Instead. I forced a sheepish smile and
said I'm so sorry to bother you this late.
I was hiking out here and got myself completely turned around.
Could you possibly point me in the direction of the nearest
town? the man's confusion turned to
concern you're pretty far from any marked Trails, son
everything. All right.
I nodded perhaps a bit too eagerly.
Yeah, just I took a wrong turn somewhere lost track of time.
He studied me for a moment then glanced over his shoulder into
the house. Look, it's pitch black out there
and the terrains treacherous if you don't know it.
Why don't you come in for a bit? My wife just put on some coffee?
I hesitated part of me wanted to leave to put as much distance
between myself and this place as possible.
But another part. Well, I couldn't just leave
without saying something. Could I?
And I really did need to get my bearings.
That's really kind of you. Thank you.
I said stepping inside the warmth.
Hit me immediately making me realize how cold I'd been the
man introduced himself as John. He led me to a cozy kitchen
where his wife. Sarah was indeed Brewing some
coffee. She gave me a warm smile and set
about pouring me a cup. As I sat there hands wrapped
around the steaming mug. I wrestled with what to say.
I couldn't tell them the exact truth, but I couldn't say
nothing either. I actually I saw something
before I came to your door. I started my heart pounding.
I'm not sure how to say this. But well, I think I saw a
strange man peering through one of your ground floor windows.
John and Sarah exchanged a look. It wasn't the reaction I
expected not shock or fear, but more like resignation.
Which window John asked his voice low?
I pointed in the general direction over there, I think on
the side of the house. Sarah's face paled.
That's Emily's room. She whispered.
John stood up abruptly. I'll go check on her and have a
look around outside as he left Sarah turned to me.
Thank you for telling us we've had issues with trespassers
before not sure why but this area attracts all sorts of
strange Folk. I nodded not trusting myself to
speak and now wondering if I counted as one of those strange
Folk. I wanted to say more to her to
warn her about what I'd really seen, but I just couldn't.
John came back a few minutes later.
Emily is fine. He said to Sarah sleeping
soundly didn't see anyone outside, but I'll do a more
thorough check in the morning. They offered to let me sleep in
the spare bedroom next to their bedroom so they could keep an
eye on me. John agreed to stay up anyway in
case that man came back, but all so probably because he wanted to
keep an eye on me, too. I gratefully accepted the offer
but truthfully I spent most of the night staying up and talking
to John discussing goings on in the woods what he does for a
living. How life was out on the farm. in
the morning John gave me directions to the nearest town
where I could resupply I thank them for their hospitality and
set off. Glad to put some distance
between myself and whatever I'd seen the night before.
I wish I could say that was the end of it that I finished my
hike and went back to a normal life.
Chalking the whole thing up to dancing shadows in the night, or
maybe just a really big bear. But I still couldn't shake it
off. It nagged at me demanded
answers. About six months later.
I found myself driving through that way and decided I would
drop by the farm to pay them a visit.
I told myself. I was just being thorough tying
up Loose Ends before I wrote up my trail Journal but deep down.
I think I wanted to make sure that everyone there was okay.
And I was extremely grateful for how kind they were.
I don't think I could have walked any further in those
woods in the dark knowing that something like that lived out
there. The farm looked different in the
daytime, peaceful and ordinary. John seemed surprised to see me
but he invited me in for coffee we chatted for a bit about
nothing in particular the weather how my hike had gone
that's sort of thing at a certain point.
I asked how Emily was doing. John got real quiet.
He looked out the window for a long moment.
Emily was a sickly child weak lungs.
The doctor said to be frank with you.
She passed away in her sleep only a week after you were here.
I was taken aback didn't know what to say.
My God, I'm so sorry. I managed to finally say it felt
inadequate. The thing is John continued his
voice barely above a whisper. Do you mind if I share something
strange John asked? I nodded the night before she
died. Emily told us she'd been having
dreams said John. Said there was a big dog that
would come to her window at night said it would lick the
glass and tell her not to be afraid.
I only want to bring it up because it reminds me of the man
you saw it at her window that night.
I felt the hairs on my arms stand up John continued.
She said it spoke to her in her dreams told her it would take
her somewhere. She wouldn't be sick anymore.
He looked at me his eyes starting to shine with unshed
tears. I've been wondering if it was
the fever talking. I think about it a lot lately
that maybe these dreams. She had helped her to pass on.
We sat in silence for a long while after that.
What could I even say? Eventually, I made my excuses
thanked him profusely again for the coffee and for the kindness
his family showed me that night then left.
As I drove away I couldn't shake the image of that creature at
the window. Had it really been there for
Emily. Despite how disturbing it looked
was it some kind of spirit guide or was it something darker?
Something that caused the girl to die.
I've turned it over in my mind a thousand times since then and I
still don't know but I've had plenty of nightmares about it
ever since. I'm asking anyone and everyone
who hears this story or reads it.
What do you think it could have been?
A benign creature or Spirit trying to help the little girl
knowing that she was about to pass or some sort of evil
monster that curse the girl to die.
I had gone backpacking through Northern Michigan after
graduating from college wanting to do a solo trip to clear my
head before starting my job hunt.
Originally from the suburbs of Chicago.
I wasn't exactly an experienced Outdoorsman though.
I had done some camping as a kid.
I figured I could handle a week-long trek through the
Hiawatha National Forest. Looking back.
I was pretty naive and underprepared.
I had decent gear a good backpack tent sleeping bag Etc.
But I had never really done any serious Backcountry hiking
before. I plotted out a route that would
take me on a big loop through some of the more remote parts of
the forest figuring I'd cover about 10 miles a day.
In retrospect that was way too ambitious for my skill level.
The first couple of days were actually great the weather was
perfect with clear skies and temperatures in the low 70s.
I was making decent time and really enjoying the solitude.
There's something magical about being alone in nature surrounded
by nothing but trees and Birdsong.
I would stop occasionally to filter water from streams or
take photos of particularly Scenic spots.
At night I would make Camp eat some trail mix or dehydrated
meals and fall asleep to the gentle rustling of leaves in the
breeze. It was on the third night that
things started to get weird. I had hiked a little farther
than usual that day pushing myself to reach a small Lake I
had marked on my map as a good campsite.
By the time I got there the sun was already dipping below the
tree line. I quickly set up my tent and got
a small fire going wanting to eat and get settled before dark
really set in. As I sat by the fire heating up
some soup. I had the sudden feeling of
being watched, you know that prickly sensation at the back of
your neck. But this was more intense.
I looked around scanning the trees at the edge of my little
clearing, but I didn't see anything out of the ordinary.
Still I couldn't shake the feeling.
I tried to tell myself. It was just my imagination being
alone in the woods can play tricks on your mind.
But as the night wore on the feeling only intensified.
I kept catching glimpses of movement out of the corner of my
eye only to turn and see nothing there.
The forest sounds seemed to change too.
The usual nighttime chorus of crickets and frogs went quiet
replaced by an eerie Stillness, which was only broken by the
occasional snapping of a twig in the dark.
I didn't sleep much that night. Every time I start to drift off
I would jerk away convinced. I'd heard footsteps or breathing
just outside my tent. By the time Dawn broke I was
exhausted and on edge. Part of me wanted to pack up and
hightail it back to civilization, but I told myself
I was just being paranoid. I'd come out here for an
adventure after all so I shouldered my pack and pressed
on. The next day was odd.
I couldn't quite put my finger on why but something felt off
about the forest. The trees seemed denser the
Shadows deeper. I checked my maps and Compass
only to find that I didn't seem to be making much progress.
Not as much as I should the landmarks.
I was looking for never seemed to materialize it was as if the
landscape itself was subtly shifting around me.
By late afternoon. I had to admit I was lost.
None of the terrain matched my map anymore.
I thought about trying to backtrack.
But I couldn't even be sure which direction I had come from.
The sun was hidden behind a thick canopy and my compass was
spinning wildly the needle swinging in circles.
As I began to panic I stumbled into another clearing.
That's when I saw it for the first time.
It was I don't even know how to describe it right, but I'll do
my best. It was a figure standing at the
edge of the clearing impossibly tall about eight feet or more.
It was thin like a shadow given 3D form.
It didn't seem to have distinct features just a vague humanoid
shape that hurt my eyes to look at directly.
I froze my heart pounding in my chest.
The figure didn't move didn't make a sound it just watched.
I don't know how I knew that since I couldn't see any eyes,
but I swear I felt it's gays boring into me.
After a while I backed away slowly the figure remained
Motionless. Soon as I reached the tree line,
I turned and ran I crashed through the underbrush branches
whipping at my face my lungs burning I ran until I couldn't
run anymore collapsing in a heap on the forest floor.
As I lay there gasping for breath.
The Shadows lengthened around me night was falling again, and I
was nowhere near any state to make camp.
I knew I should get up find water set up a tent but I was
paralyzed by fear exhaustion and confusion.
That's when I heard it a chittering sound high pitched
and insectile that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere
at once. And underneath it a deeper sound
a rhythmic thumping like massive footsteps getting closer.
I scrambled to my feet all fatigued forgotten in a fresh
wave of adrenaline. I picked a direction at random
and ran again quieter this time trying to listen for Pursuit
over the sound of my own ragged breathing.
I'm not sure how long I fled through the darkening Forest
time seemed to lose all meaning. the trees began to look Twisted
into unnatural shapes the ground beneath my feet felt spongy and
uneven At some point, I became aware that the chittering had
stopped. The forest was once more deathly
quiet. I slowed to a walk straining my
ears for any sign of danger. And then I saw the lights ahead
of me. Weaving between the trees were
tiny points of bluish white light.
They moved like fireflies on a mission.
Despite every Instinct screaming at me to run the other way.
I found myself drawn towards them.
As I got closer, I realized the lights were coming from small
ethereal figures flitting through the air.
They seem to take notice of me. They began to circle around and
unbelievably they seem to form a path through the woods some part
of me knew I shouldn't follow but I was beyond rational
thought at that point. I stumbled after the lights
pushed onwards by equal parts curiosity and Desperation.
I was led into a meadow where the trees began to have these
strange symbols carved into their bark.
I stopped for a moment reaching out to touch one of the symbols.
As my fingers brushed the rough bark the world seemed to shift.
Or maybe I just blacked out. The next thing I remember was
opening my eyes and the lights were gone and everything fell
well normal again. In fact, my surroundings had
changed. In the distance.
I saw lights different lights. These were man-made the
outskirts of a small town. That was not there before.
I made my way there in a hurry finding the nearest Street
people were looking at me. Strangely.
I'm assuming my appearance didn't help I had to have been
filthy scratched up and wild eyed.
I found a convenience store and went inside.
I went right up to the counter and asked excuse me my voice
sounding hoarse. Can you tell me where I am he
gave me the name of a town? I'd never heard of in a state
100s of miles from where I had started my hike.
What day is it I asked I dreaded the answer when he told me my
knees felt weak somehow impossibly over two weeks had
passed since I had entered that Forest. two weeks that I had no
memory of the convenience store. Let me use the phone and I
called my parents. They were hysterical.
Apparently I had been reported missing after failing to return
from my trip on schedule. Search parties had combed the
area where I was supposed to be hiking but found no trace of me.
I never did come up with a satisfactory explanation for
what happened. The official story is that I got
lost in the woods and wandered in a delusional state for two
weeks before finding my way back to civilization.
I know that's not true. But it's easier than trying to
explain the unexplainable. I've since gone hiking again.
I still do go hiking on occasion, but I don't go alone
anymore, and I never go into deep.
Nowadays, no matter what. I feel like I'm always catching
a glimpse of something out of the corner of my eye something
darting between the trees and I wonder if that's PTSD from my
experience. The moment I stepped foot into
Woods anywhere. I always feel watched.
It's funny how some memories from childhood stick with you?
Most of the time I can barely remember what I had for
breakfast yesterday, but this one night from when I was 11 is
burned into my brain like it happened last night.
This was back in 92. I was in the fifth grade.
My best friends were Tommy and Jesse Tommy lived on the edge of
town where the suburbs gave way to Farmland his house backed up
to this big open field that led to a hill we called the mound.
It wasn't much of a hill really, but when you're a kid everything
seems bigger. It was a Friday night and we
were having a sleepover at Tommy's place, but this wasn't
going to be any ordinary sleepover know we had big plans
we were going to be real adventurers.
Tommy's parents had finally agreed to let us camp out on top
of the mound. Well sort of we could go up
there with our sleeping bags and backpacks hang out until 9:00
p.m. Then come back to sleep in the
house. It wasn't exactly roughing it in
the wilderness but to us it was the height of Adventure.
We'd been planning this for weeks.
Our school backpacks were stuffed with all the essentials
flashlights comic books enough snacks to feed a small army.
And of course our trusty Swiss Army knives.
We felt like real explorers ready to tame the wild half mile
between Tommy's back porch and the top of the mound.
Tommy's mom made a sandwiches for dinner reminding us for the
100th time to be careful and stay together.
We nodded impatiently eager to get started on our grand
Expedition. As soon as we finished eating we
were out the door our backpacks weighing us down as we set off
across the field. The sun was just starting to set
as we began our Trek. The mound loomed ahead of us
away waiting us under a dark and sky.
Jesse was the worrier of the group he kept glancing back at
Tommy's house, which was growing smaller behind us.
You're not scared. Are you I teased.
Jesse puffed up. No way.
I was just making sure we're going the right direction.
Tommy laughed it's a straight line dummy.
We can't get lost. We continued on the Tall Grass
of the field giving way to the steeper rockier slope of the
mound. It wasn't a difficult climb, but
we took our time. Anyway, pretending we were
scaling some great mountain peak.
When we finally reach the top we were out of breath but grinning
from ear to ear. We made it.
Tommy crowed dropping his backpack and raising his arms
and Victory. We've conquered the mound.
Jesse and I cheered along with him caught up in the moment.
We felt like kings of the world looking down at the twinkling
lights of our small town spread out below us.
We then set about making our camp which mostly consisted of
laying out our sleeping bags in a rough Circle piling up our
snacks in the middle. Tommy had brought a small
battery powered lantern which we placed in the center of the
circle. It cast a warm glow over our
little campsite as the last traces of daylight faded from
the sky We broke into our snacks and started to tell Ghost
Stories the usual stuff kids tell around a campfire like
hook-handed killers and vengeful spirits.
Jesse was in the middle of a particularly creepy tale about a
babysitter and a killer hiding up stairs when Tommy went still.
guys He said his voice barely above a whisper.
Look up there. We followed his gaze up to the
night sky at first I didn't see anything on usual just Stars
twinkling like they always did. But then I saw it a light
brighter than any star moving slowly across the sky.
It's just a plain Jesse said but he didn't sound convinced.
The light was moving too slowly to be a plane and it was getting
bigger brighter much brighter. Maybe it's a meteor.
I suggested my voice shaking a bit.
But it wasn't like any meteor. I'd ever seen or read about.
The light kept growing from a pin prick to the size of a dime
then a quarter. It was so bright.
It was hard to look at directly, but we couldn't take our eyes
off it. That's when things got fuzzy.
I remember the light getting so bright.
It seemed to fill the whole sky. I remember a humming sound so
low I felt it more than heard it and I remember feeling very very
sleepy all of a sudden. The next thing I knew someone
was shaking me away. I opened my eyes to find Tommy's
dad leaning over me. Looking worried.
You okay? He asked helping me sit up.
We'd been calling for you for about an hour.
I looked around disoriented Tommy and Jesse were just waking
up too looking as confused as I felt our campsite was a mess
sleeping bags Twisted snacks scattered everywhere.
The lantern was off its battery was apparently dead.
What happened? Tommy asked his voice groggy?
His dad's side. No idea you had us worried sick.
Why didn't you come back at 9 like we agreed?
We looked at each other baffled. How could it already be past
nine? It felt like we just laid down
in our sleeping bags only a few minutes ago.
We must have fallen asleep. Jesse said but he didn't sound
sure. Tommy's dad helped us pack up
our things and let us back down the mound as we walked.
I was trying to piece together what it happened the Ghost
Stories the light in the sky and then nothing.
It was like someone had just erased a few hours of my memory.
When we got back to Tommy's house his mom was waiting for us
on the porch. She looked mad at first then
relief washed over her face when she saw us.
She hugged each of us in turn then sent us off to get ready
for bed. As I was brushing my teeth.
I caught sight of myself in the bathroom mirror and froze.
There just behind my ear was a small perfectly round bruise.
I had a notice it before and I had no idea how I had gotten it.
When I asked Tommy and Jesse later, they both found similar
marks on the selves. Tommy on his neck Jesse on his
shoulder. We tried to talk about what
happened, but none of us could make sense of it.
We agreed to keep it to ourselves who was going to
believe us. The next morning.
Tommy's parents seemed to have chalked up the whole incident to
us being irresponsible kids who fell asleep and lost track of
time. We didn't correct them.
How could we explain something? We didn't understand ourselves.
Life went on and for a while. We didn't talk about that night
on the mound, but things had changed we had changed Jesse
suddenly became obsessed with UFOs and aliens spending hours
in the library reading every book.
He could find on the topic. Tommy on the other hand refused
to even look at the mound. He kept his bedroom curtains
closed at night and would change the channel if anything about
aliens came on TV. As for me, I found myself
watching the sky more often, especially at night.
I'd wake up sometimes heart racing convinced.
I'd seen a bright light outside my window, but it was always
just the moon or a streetlight. Or me waking from a dream.
About a month after our camping trip.
Tommy called me in the middle of the night.
He was whispering his voice shaking.
Its back. He said the light it's over the
mound right now. I rushed to my window peering
out into the darkness. I couldn't see the mound for my
house. But the sky in that direction
did seem brighter than it was supposed to be.
What do we do I asked nothing Tommy replied?
We pretend we never saw it. We never talk about this again.
Okay. I agreed wondering why he even
called me then but I couldn't help feeling like we were making
a mistake. Like we were ignoring something
important. The years went by and we grew
up. During High School Jesse moved
away his family relocated for his dad's job Tommy and I
drifted apart as childhood friends.
Sometimes do every now and then I might run into Tommy during
one of my college breaks. Whenever I heard from Jessie
again, he was still very much into UFOs, but in a more
Academic Way. He was studying astronomy.
He told me hoping to work for steady one day Tommy though.
Well, Tommy never got over that night.
He joined the military right out of high school saying he wanted
to be as far from the mound as possible.
Eventually. He got his wish and I stopped
seeing him during those college breaks.
I guess he made it somewhere overseas or to a different state
for training. I tried to put it all behind me.
I told myself it was simply a weird childhood Experience One
possibly fueled by too many Sci-Fi movies and wild
imaginations. Even so I wonder I can't help
but feel online to myself. I've never gone back to the
mound. Not sure I could even if I
wanted to. Last I heard they build a
subdivision there turning our childhood Adventure spot into a
cluster of cookie cutter houses. But part of me is glad at least
kids won't be camping up there anymore risking.
Well, whatever it was we encountered.
But it also feels like I lost something important.
It feels like there was a mystery there something bigger
than us, and we just walked away from it.
Maybe we were made to walk away from it.
I don't know. Maybe I should finally give it a
rest. Stop thinking about it.
Some Mysteries aren't meant to be solved after all.
I'll leave you with this. Sometimes I still check behind
my ear half expecting to see that perfectly round bruise
again. And whenever I look up at the
night sky, I feel like something might be looking back.
I had always been drawn to the Obscure and Forgotten Tales that
linger in the shadows of the world where the modern age has
yet to fully cast its light. Romania with its Rich tapestry
of history and mystery seemed like the perfect canvas for an
eager anthropology student like myself.
The idea of spending a summer trekking through its remote
villages to unearth ancient folklore was romantic.
Almost like stepping into the pages of a storybook.
As the plane descended into Bucharest the Panorama below
shifted from sprawling cityscapes to The Rolling Hills
and dense forests that characterize much of the
country's landscape. The transition was like watching
the past and present Collide a reminder of why I had chosen
this place. I felt a mix of exhilaration and
nervous anticipation stirring in my chest as I collected my
backpack from the overhead compartment.
The first few days were spent navigating through well-trodden
paths in cities like Brasov where Gothic spiers and medieval
fortresses spoke of centuries past.
I conversed with local historians and gathered
narratives that while Rich felt Polished by frequent retelling.
What I saw it was something raw tales that were woven into the
fabric of smaller communities those not found in tourist
guides or history books. Driven by this desire.
I rented a car and headed towards the Carpathian
Mountains. The drive was seen it with each
winding turn offering vistas of valleys bathed in the Golden
Light of the late June son. Yet as the day waned the shadow
seemed to stretch across the road almost as if they were
reaching out from the dense Woodlands that flanked my path.
I arrived at the Village just before dusk.
It was the kind of place you might miss.
If you blinked a handful of whether houses clustered around
a Time Warner Church, its steeple piercing the sky.
There was no Hotel only a small store that doubled as a post
office. It's Windows displaying an
Eclectic mix of goods. The villagers eyed me with a
mixture of curiosity and weariness as I parked the car
and stretched my legs. Their gaze followed me as I
approached the store their Whispers barely audible over the
creek of the sign swaying gently in the evening Breeze.
Inside I asked the storekeeper about a place to stay.
With a cautious glance. She directed me to a house on
the outskirts of the village where an elderly woman rented
out a room to the occasional Wanderer.
Her home was a quaint Ivy clad Cottage the garden blooming with
wildflowers that released their fragrance into the cooling are
the woman misses popescu greeted me with a nod and a cautious
smile her English broken but sufficient.
Through a combination of my patchy Romanian and expressive
gestures. We agreed on a price and she
showed me to my room. The room was simple a single bed
with a hand knitted quilt a wooden chair and an old wardrobe
that looked as if it could tell stories of its own.
The window offered a view of the forest trees standing like
silent Sentinels against the sky.
I remember thinking how peaceful it looked a stark contrast to
the bustling energy of the city's I had left behind.
That night as I lay in bed the excitement of the day gave way
to the Silence of the village. It was a silent.
So profound it almost had a presence of its own.
Just as I was drifting off to sleep a faint sound teased the
edges of my Consciousness. It was a soft insistent
scratching like nails gently scraping against glass.
Heart pounding. I sat up and looked towards the
window for a moment. I thought I saw something a face
perhaps pale and distorted by the glass.
I blinked and it was gone leaving only The Whisper of
leaves outside. I told myself it was nothing
just the remnants of a dream or the trickery of Shadows.
But as I lay back down a small part of me couldn't shake the
feeling that something was very different here and perhaps I had
ventured further into the unknown than I had intended.
The morning brought with it a Mist that clung to the Village
like a shroud muting the colors of the wildflowers and casting
the houses in a ghostly power. I woke her early wrestlers from
the previous night's Eerie in eruption and decided to immerse
myself in the Village Life. Hoping to glean some of the
stories hidden within its quiet boundaries.
I started with a walk the do soaked grass Whispering under my
boots as I moved through the village.
The sun struggling to pierce the Fog cast long thin Shadows that
seem to flicker with my passing. The villagers were already up
tending to Gardens or heading off to Fields with tools slung
over their shoulders. They nodded as I passed their
smiles guarded and their eyes holding stories that their lips
seemed reluctant to tell. I found my way to the small
store again where the elderly storekeeper was arranging bread
and other Staples on Warren wooden shelves.
Good morning. I greeted her in my faltering
Romanian which brought us a surprise chuckle from her.
Her response was warm, but cautious and when I ventured to
ask about the villages history, she paused her expression
turning thoughtful almost pensive.
We are a simple people. She said finally found by
tradition in the land. Perhaps the church is priest
could tell you more. She seemed relief to divert my
inquiries elsewhere. Thanking her.
I headed towards the church. Its steeple looming ominously
against the slowly clearing sky. The priest astute figure with a
face as cragged as the Carpathian landscape was
sweeping the front steps. He regarded me with a deep set
Discerning gaze as I approached. You are the visitor staying with
Mrs. Popescu. He stated more than asked his
voice deep and resonant. Yes, I'm studying anthropology.
I'm interested in the folklore of places like this. stories
that are perhaps not known outside these mountains the
priest said his broom aside folding his hands.
Folklore. Yes, we have plenty but not all
tails are for telling he sighed the sound seeming to carry a
weight of resignation. But if stories you see then you
must learn of our story. As he spoke of the story his
voice dropped to a whisper as if the mere mentioned might invoke
their presence. They are spirits of the Dead
restless and roaming. They prey on the unwary those
who do not respect the old ways. His eyes flick to the forest and
a chill ran down my spine as I remembered the face at the
window. Why tell me this?
I asked my curiosity piqued despite my unease.
Because knowledge can be a lantern in the dark.
He replied cryptically be wary young lady not all Spirits are
bound by story alone. The rest of the day I spent
wandering the edges of the village my mind spinning with
the priest's words. I tried to speak with others,
but it was as if the mention of the story had erected a wall of
Silence around me. As the sun began to set casting
Long Shadows across the village. I felt a growing sense of dread.
What had I stirred by my probing?
That night the scratching returned more insistent than
before. As I lay in my bed listening to
the unsettling sound. I realized that the villages
stories were not just remnants of the past but living breathing
truths that watched from the dark woods and whispered with
the Wind. And now they were aware of me.
The Shadows lengthened into evening as a silence settled
over the village deeper and more complete than any night before.
My heart beat with a heightened awareness of every small sound
the distant bark of a dog The Whisper Of The Wind through the
trees and the soft Eerie scratching at the window that
now seemed like a Sinister serenade meant just for me.
I lay in bed Frozen the covers pulled up to my chin.
The memory of the priest's warning echoed in my mind a
solemn reminder that I adventured too far into the dark
heart of folklore. I so naively sought to explore
the scratching continued persistent and methodical as if
whatever lurked outside knew. I was just beyond the thin pane
of glass. Let me in a voice whispered so
faint. I thought I might have imagined
it. So cold out here.
The voice was soft almost pitiful but behind its plea I
sensed a trap. It was the story.
I was sure of it using its cunning to seek an invitation
every tale. I had ever read about spirits
and their machinations swirled through my mind paralyzing me
with fear. I was a stranger here an
outsider exactly the sword of person the old man had said the
story prayed upon. I didn't dare move towards the
window. I didn't even dare to breathe
loudly my room fell like a cell and the walls seemed to press in
with the cold dampness of the night.
Hours dragged by marked only by the Relentless scratching and
the occasional Whisperer each plea more desperate than the
last let me in but I didn't respond.
I couldn't instead I lay there a silent Sentinel in my own
besieged Fortress praying for the first light of dawn.
The night was a battle of wills my fear against the cunning of
an ancient evil lurking just outside.
As the darkness began to thin with the approach of dawn the
scratching faded The Voice dissipated and a profound
Stillness took over. When the Sun finally broke the
Horizon its light felt like a cleansing fire banishing the
knights Horrors back into the depths of the forest.
I Rose from my bed my body stiff from hours of immobility my
spirit weary from the ordeal. I didn't bother packing my
belongings properly. I just stuffed what I could into
my backpack my hands trembling with the rush to leave.
I left some money on the table for Mrs. Pope's School enough to
cover my stay and perhaps a bit more a silent apology for any
trouble. I might have brought to her
door. Without a backward glance.
I fled the house my feet carrying me swiftly to the
Village Square where I caught the first bus heading anywhere
but there. As the village receded in the
distance a part of me more into the loss of Innocence the harsh
lesson learned about the reality of the stories.
I had so eagerly pursued. I spent the remaining weeks of
my trip in cities surrounded by the comforting anonymity of
crowds and the constant hum of urban life.
Yet even amidst the bustle of civilization.
I kept my curtains tightly drawn each night a barrier against the
dark. I told myself it was just a
precaution a silly habit born from a single terrifying
encounter. But sometimes in The Quiet
Moments just before sleep. I would hear a whisper carried
on the wind a chill reminder that some doors once opened can
never be fully closed again. I had always dreamed of
exploring the great mountains and finally my chance had come.
With my backpack ready and my spirits High I set off for a
solo Trek across the Magnificent French and Swiss Alps.
It was going to be a three-week adventure and I had everything
planned perfectly or so. I thought the first nine days
were like a dream. I hiked through breathtaking
Landscapes took pictures of the sunrise and even saw a few
mountain goats. I was alone, but I felt a
thrilling connection to Nature. Each night.
I camped Under the Stars feeling a little chilly, but mostly
excited about the days ahead. But on the 10th day everything
changed. The sky grew dark and the wind
began to howl as I crossed over into Switzerland.
Soon it wasn't just windy. It was a full-blown storm.
The rain poured down so hard at felt like buckets of cold water
were being dumped on me. I struggled Against the Wind
which seemed determined to knock me off my feet.
My waterproof jacket and pants were no match for this storm.
As I trudged through the muddy path my boots squelching and my
fingers numb with cold. I spotted a small Hut in the
distance. It looked old in a bit worn out,
but right then it seemed like the coziest place on Earth.
Pushing against the wind. I made my way to the Hutt hoping
to find shelter and maybe a place to dry off.
When I reached the Hutt I was surprised to find that I wasn't
alone. Inside there was an old man
sitting calmly by a fire smoking a pipe.
He looked like he had jumped out of a history book with his wool
trousers suspenders and a strange old fashioned hat.
Despite his odd appearance the Warm Glow of the fire made him
look friendly enough. The old man didn't seem
surprised to see me at all. He just nodded slightly and
gestured for me to come in. I didn't need to be asked twice.
I stepped into the Hut grateful to escape the Relentless reign.
Hello, I managed to say shivering as the warmth began to
seep into my bones. The old man just nodded again.
I'm Klaus. He said in a voice that sounded
like it was used to the quiet of the mountains more than the
chatter of people. I introduced myself trying not
to stare at his old timey clothes.
As I hung my wet jacket near the fire Klaus resumed his spot by
the flames. I pulled up a chair glad for the
Heat and the company even if it was a bit unusual.
We sat in silence for a bit just listening to the crackle of the
fire and the storm raging outside.
Then as if deciding that I was okay Klaus began to talk.
He told me stories about the Alps Tales of adventurers and
explorers from long ago histories were interesting.
But what really got my attention where the Legends he shared
stories about creatures that lived in the mountains
mysterious beings that were part human and part Beast.
As the wind howled like a banshee outside Klaus is Tails
grew stranger and scarier. He spoke of echo Spirits Eerie
creatures that could mimic any sound even human voices when the
echo calls your name. That's when you run.
He said looking straight at me with a serious glint in his
eyes. I tried to laugh at off.
Echo Spirits, huh? That sounds spooky but it's just
a legend right? I wasn't so sure anymore not
with the storm making strange noises outside Klaus didn't
answer. He just stared Into the Fire his
face flickering with the Flames leaving me to wonder if some
Legends might be real after all. That night even though I was
tucked away inside the little mountain hut sleep didn't come
easy. Every sound the storm made
seemed louder and scarier. Thanks to the creepy stories.
Klaus had told me about Echo spirits.
I kept telling myself. They were just old Legends
nothing more. But every Creak of the Hut and
howl of the Wind made me think twice.
The fire of eventually burned down to just glowing Embers
casting Eerie Shadows on the walls.
I wrapped my sleeping bag tighter around me trying to
shake off the chill and the Spooky feeling's I must have
finally fallen asleep because the next thing I knew everything
was strangely silent. Morning Light was peaking
through the small window when I opened my eyes.
I sat up expecting to hear Klaus tending the fire or maybe
humming an old tune. But there was nothing.
No, sound of footsteps, no crackling fire know Klaus.
I scrambled out of my sleeping bag and looked around the Hut
was exactly a small and rustic as when I entered but there was
no sign of the old man. The chair where he had sat the
night before was empty without even an indent in the cushion
his pipe his hat. Everything was gone.
It was as if he had never been there at all.
This can't be right. I muttered to myself my heart
starting to race. I stepped outside hoping maybe
clouds was just outside Gathering more wood, but the
area around the Hut was deserted.
The storm had passed leaving behind a quiet Christmas morning
that made the knights fears seem distant and silly.
Still a part of me couldn't shake off the unease.
I packed up my gear quickly eager to leave the Hut and its
Mysteries behind. As I set out on the trail again
the fresh air and bright Sunshine helped lift my spirits.
It was just a weird night. I told myself trying to focus on
the beautiful views and the adventure ahead.
The path wound through Lush Green Meadows and over sparkling
streams and I started to relax and enjoy my hike again the
mountains were peaceful with only the sounds of birds and the
occasional distant Rumble of a waterfall.
It was easy to believe that the scary stories from the night
before were just that. stories But then just as I was getting
comfortable my name echoed across the valley.
At first I thought I was imagining things.
Hello, I called out half expecting no reply, but then it
came again my name clearer this time.
It sounded just like klaus's voice.
My heart skipped a beat. This has to be a joke.
I thought looking around nervously.
There was no one in sight the echo of my name seemed to bounce
off the mountains surrounding me.
I remembered klaus's words when the echo calls your name.
That's when you run. I wasn't about to run not yet.
I was curious maybe a bit scared too, but I needed to know what
was happening the echo seemed to be coming from a cave nearby.
I hesitated for a moment then walked towards it.
Hello. I called again as I approached
the cave entrance. The echo that came back was
chilling. It was my voice but underneath
it. There were other voices like a
dozen Whispers Tangled together. It felt wrong deep in my bones.
That was the moment. I knew I should have listened to
clouds. Whatever was in that cave wasn't
just an echo. It was something else. something
that my name standing at the entrance of the cave my heart
pounded in my chest. The voice is echoing back at me
weren't just echoes. They were something more.
something eerie I knew I should run just like Klaus had worned,
but my feet felt like they were glued to the ground.
The Whispers mixed with my name sent chills down my spine it
sounded like the voice is were calling me trying to lure me
deeper into the cave. I remembered all the Legends
Klaus had told me. Stories meant to scare, but
maybe they were true. I took a deep breath and against
every Instinct screaming inside me.
I stepped back from the cave. Time to leave I muttered to
myself turning away from the dark opening in the mountain.
But as soon as I started to walk away the voices grew louder and
I could hear my name being called out again this time more
urgently. It felt as if the mountain
itself was speaking to me. I broke into a run my legs
finally responding the path was Rocky and I stumbled a few times
but fear pushed me forward. The Echoes followed me bouncing
off the valley walls It was like a wave of sound chasing me
growing louder with every step I took.
The thought of looking back terrified me.
So I kept my eyes fixed on the path ahead.
My breath came in short gasps and my muscles ache, but I
didn't dare Stop The Whispers seemed to be just behind me
always calling my name mixed with those strange other worldly
voices. After what felt like hours but
was probably only a few minutes. I reached a river.
The water rushed loudly and for a moment I hesitated.
The river was wide and the water looked cold and deep but the
voices were still behind me closer than ever.
Without another thought I jumped into the river the cold water
hit me like a wall shocking me back to reality I gasped for air
struggling against the current. The cold seemed to seep into my
bones, but as I reached the other side and pulled myself
onto the bank, I realized the voices had stopped the sound of
the Rushing Water had drowned them out.
I lay there on the riverbank panting and shivering but
relieved. Looking back across the water
the other side seemed so distant now as if it was another world
where the Echoes couldn't reach me.
I knew I couldn't go back the same way I came.
Finally regaining my strength. I stood up and started walking
again this time towards the nearest town.
I was done with the mountains in their secrets for now the
thought of spending another night out there with those
voices possibly finding me again was too much.
When I reached the town, I told people I had gotten spooked by
the storm and decided to cut my trip short.
I didn't mention the Echoes or the cave who would believe such
a story. They think I was just a scared
kid with too much imagination. I've since read up on the
Legends and talked to other hikers online some of her
similar things which makes me wonder.
But now I stick to group hikes where their safety in numbers
and whenever the wind howls I never listen to closely just in
case it's not just the wind.