My name is John and I'd always dreamed of taking my son Danny
on a hunting trip. It had been years since we'd
gone out into the Wilderness together and I was excited to
spend some quality time with my son.
So when Danny's school schedule, cleared up for a week, I knew it
was the perfect opportunity. We packed up our gear and set
out early in the morning eager to make the most of our time in
the woods but as soon as we stepped foot into the forest,
something felt off the animals. Were eerily silent.
And the forest seemed to still it was as if we were being
watched. Danny didn't seem to notice but
I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being followed.
We trudged on trying to ignore the creepy sense of unease that
was growing with each step as the day.
Went on our unease, only grew the forest was too quiet and we
couldn't help the feeling that we were being followed.
We set up camp for the night and started a fire hoping to ward
off. The chill in the air and the
growing sense of fear that was creeping into our minds.
As we sat around the campfire, we started to hear the crunching
of leaves and twigs breaking all around us.
It was, as, if something was moving through the forest
closing in on us. But just as suddenly as the
noise started, they stopped Danny and I looked at each
other, our eyes wide with fear. I grab my weapon, ready to
defend us, if whatever was out there, decided to attack But
after searching the surrounding area, we found nothing exhausted
and on edge, we retreated to our tent for the night but as soon
as we stepped inside, we found a note and a Polaroid picture of
us walking through the woods earlier that day.
The note read, I am watching you Danny and I were now terrified.
We knew that we were not alone in the woods and someone or
something was following us. We didn't sleep that night.
And we knew that the next day would be even more dangerous
than the first. The next morning, we were too
scared to talk much during breakfast.
We just boiled some water for our instant oatmeal and ate in
silence. Both of us lost in her own
thoughts. Eventually, we decided to call
off the hunting trip and head back home.
We knew we wouldn't be able to enjoy ourselves with the
constant fear of something following us.
We quickly packed up our tent and put out the fire Fire, our
eyes constantly scanning the surrounding area for any sign of
danger, but the forest around us was eerily quiet and we couldn't
see anything out of the ordinary once.
Everything was packed up. We filled up our water bottles
from a nearby stream as we were doing so, Cloud started to form
and it began to rain. This was strange because John
had checked the weather before we left on the trip and it had
said there would be clear skies and sun we Quickly, put on our
rain jackets and sought shelter under a nearby tree, but the
rain didn't appear to be stopping anytime soon.
It was coming down harder and harder.
Turning the trail, we had taken before into a muddy mess.
We knew we couldn't risk getting injured in the forest with no
cell service. So, we decided to head to Higher
Ground and wait out the storm. The storm continued for the
entire day, and we kept hearing the occasional Twigs snap
throughout the day, but we couldn't tell what or who was
making them by the time, the rain stopped, it was completely
dark outside. We decided to set up camp again,
but this time the ground was too wet for a fire.
We tried our best to enjoy a Cold Mountain House.
Meal of chicken and rice in silence as we drifted off to
sleep, we started to hear some shuffling outside our tent.
I grabbed my weapon, in case we needed to defend ourselves,
whatever was outside the tent, began whispering.
Things in a language. We couldn't understand this
continued for about 10 minutes, but it felt like an eternity
then suddenly there was a howl far off in the distance.
The thing outside, the tent went completely silent.
Not making a move after a few howls off in the distance.
The thing outside, the tent ran off into the forest, we stayed
in the tent and complete Terror until sunrise, too scared to
move. The next morning, I open the
tent in complete shock outside. The tent was footprint
surrounding us. The footprints did not look
normal. Whatever made them was
definitely Barefoot. It looks similar to human tracks
but it only had three toes. We looked around the area and
found two more Polaroids nailed to a tree near us.
One was of Us near the stream and the other was of us sleeping
in our tent. We were shaken to our core and
knew we add to get out of this Forest as soon as possible.
We grabbed our stuff and ran as fast as we could on the muddy
Trail. The forest around us was still
eerily quiet. While we were running I could
hear the whispering from the night before playing over and
over in my head I still could not understand the language or
even begin to describe the sounds that I heard.
It took us a few hours to get back to my truck.
We felt like collapsing, once we arrived to our shock, there were
muddy three-toed Prints all over the truck.
The driver side window was broken.
And inside the seat was a note that read don't come back, we
threw our stuff into the back and got in, we backed up and
spit out of their tires peeling on the gravel road, when I
looked in the rearview mirror, I saw something that will forever
haunt me to humanoid creatures, stood where my truck was parked
guessing from the trees next to it.
They were about eight feet tall slender under and a greyish
green color. They had dark black circles for
eyes that peered into my soul. We made it home after a few
hours, the whole trip. We drove in silence.
Not knowing what to make of the whole thing.
We haven't told anyone else we know about our terrifying trip,
I doubt anyone would even believe us.
It's now been a few days and every time I lay down at night,
I still hear the whispering in my mind.
I haven't slept much recently I don't know what to do.
I did find one of the Polaroids in my jacket.
The rest must have fallen out. When we were running, it's a
little water damaged from the rain, but I'll do my best to
attach it. One thing is for sure, I will
never forget those things staring back at us in the
rearview mirror. I have no idea what they were or
why they wanted us to leave. I'm just glad we got out of
there with our lives. I'm never going into the woods
again. N.
During my years, as a park ranger, I encountered things
that would terrify the most tenacious trucker.
However, nothing on God's Earth has ever given me as much cause
for existential dread as the under tunnels of the Grand.
Canyon. Those treacherous tunnels were
not carved by human hands and they certainly were not intended
for human eyes. I have heard so many tales of
uncovered underground passages in the Grand.
Canyon, it's not a New Concept, but there's a difference between
a hidden Search and the under tunnels.
I probably should have left this place long ago, but I think I'm
too afraid, like Pandora's Box, one certain things have been
learned, they cannot be unlearned.
I feel I have an obligation to stay here until my dying day
besides no matter how far I might be able to run, it would
never be far enough. There might be under tunnels
beneath all places. I don't actually work as a
ranger anymore but I like to Say that I still perform a service
to the park because I frequent the bars and other Hospitality
attractions of the area. I keep an eye and an ear on
things. I still hear awful Tails.
That's how I know I'm not alone. I know there are others who have
seen, what? I saw several years ago.
Look, I'm not trying to deter you from coming here.
I'm simply saying that you shouldn't ever seek the Terrors
that hide in the hopefuls of the Grand, Canyon that only applies
to those of you. Explore the gorge itself.
If you simply want to admire the vibrant Vistas, atop the edges
of the canyon then go for it book.
A tour. It's well worth the experience,
but I would strongly advised against exploring.
What? Lies in its depths.
Most people never stumble upon an entrance to the under tunnels
but why would you take the chance?
I hope you'll respect my privacy and that's why I'm going to
refer to myself by the nickname that my youngest daughter Eliza
It upon me, mr. Danger, the park ranger and he
goes on adventures with his sidekick Miss Sunshine.
The porcupine Eliza loves her porcupine costume.
I have always marveled at my daughter's boundless creativity,
my wife Riley on the other hand, prefers us to stick to Jolly or
topics. Why do you fill her head with
the idea that you once had such a terrifying job, Riley asked?
Because life, as a financial advisor is so dull in
comparison, Comparison. I replied.
Boo boring. Eliza groaned making a farting
noise. Exactly what I want to say to my
boss every day. I said, before any of you start
panicking that I've been traumatizing, my ten-year-old
daughter, with detailed accounts of horrifying things, that
happen to me. I only tell ghost stories, never
anything real stories of trolls in the rocks and alien visitors.
Perhaps it helps me deal with my trauma to create fictional
horror stories. Can I tell a spooky story?
Next, Eliza asked, I grinned and said, go for it.
Miss Sunshine. It's the story of a witch who
once Eliza began no witches, I firmly stated.
And after that conversation earlier this evening, I was
forced to relive the most haunting night of my entire
life. The night I spent in the belly
of the Grand Canyon tirelessly hunting for two teenagers who
had gone missing. I hoped and prayed for an easy.
Uh, search and rescue job. I feared I would find two
injured hikers and some hard-to-reach crevice.
That was my worst case scenario. I had no concept of the real
worst case scenario. Traversing the rocky terrain of
the Colossal, Chasm that spans, the Grand Canyon National Park.
I found myself looking up at the wondrous walls that Rose like
Earthly skyscrapers above me at first.
I felt soothed and comforted by their presence.
However, as the sun, Into set, and my torch became my new
guide. Those Canyon walls,
shape-shifted into something far more Insidious.
They no longer felt like warm blankets.
They felt like walls of my coffin.
My harrowing thoughts were interrupted by the fluttering
wings of a crow that circled above me, I ignored the creature
pressing on words, but I could feel its black eyes, staring
onto the crown of my head. It was watching me as I walked.
When I was a park ranger, I like to think of myself Myself as a
man who had a strong Affinity with all the animals, but that
calling Crow evoked. A frightful feeling in my heart
even as a whippersnapper on the job.
And one who at this point in my life hadn't personally
experienced, anything terrible, my animal Instinct was
well-honed. Come on, mr.
Danger, I told myself you're not about to be bested by a crow.
Are you what would Miss Sunshine's?
Say if she could see you now. I clenched my torch tight.
In my right hand and started waving it around in a manic,
frantic motion attempting to shoot the bird away.
At that moment, I was starting to get frightened.
I was startled by the sudden sound of footsteps from the
darkness ahead of me with lightning fast reflexes.
I shown the torch of light, in the direction of the sound,
somebody emerged from the side of a rock, and their flashlight
came into view steady. It's me.
Jack cried. I thought you might want some
help. With the search any luck, I
found something quite promising, Jack, as I've named him for the
purpose of this story was a fellow park ranger.
He was a wizened old fellow and I always viewed him as a second,
Father Figure. He was a little old, and his
jokes often elicited I roles, but I've never been so relieved
to see his goofy. Grin hand, still trembling my
light erratically danced, and darted across the Rocks between
us. No sign of them.
You scared the absolute crap out of me, Jack.
I sighed, it's a good thing. I wore my brown trousers Jack
laughed and beckon for me to follow him.
So what you're promising find? I asked.
Well, let's just say we should be home and putting our feet up
and no time at all. I think I found a cave system
that the two girls must have explored.
He explained leading the way. It's not one that I recognize
truth be told but I Cause I might be getting forgetful in my
old age. Anyway, I'm almost certain they
entered it. There was a camp fire by the
entrance recently, burned out must be them.
Crap, I groaned. Last thing, I wanted to do at
nine o'clock on a Saturday evening, is to fish.
Some dumb unprepared injured people out of a cave better than
fishing. Some dumb unprepared passed
away. Bodies out of the cave, a jack
pointed out. Let's hope your version of the
events ends. Up being the true one.
I solemnly nodded my head thinking of the countless lives
that have been lost in the canyon.
Whenever I had cause to moan or groan.
I reminded myself of the people I was trying to protect it was
on nights like those that are Ranger had to prove their worth.
I prayed that we would find to live hikers.
Huh, Jack said what I asked as we rounded a tall stack of
rocks, my friend scratched, his chin, thoughtfully casting, his
Light onto the smoldering pile of sticks.
I was looking at the burned-out campfire as promised but there
was no sign of the mysterious cave entrance, just a solid
Canyon wall. As there had always been in that
spot. As far as I could recall, I was
certain that Jack who was 30 years, my senior at started to
lose his marbles, but none of the park rangers had the heart
to tell him to hang up the Hat. It was what he loved.
The park was the thing that kept him alive.
I know you're going to laugh Jack side, but I'm telling you,
there was a cave entrance, right?
In that very spot kiddo. I mean, I was right about the
campfire, wasn't I? I wasn't going to accuse you of
lying Jack. I replied it's dark and neither
of us can see anything out here. Even with these flashlights, the
human mind is a Fickle thing. It loves to play tricks, you
should know that, but let's not despair.
We must be on the right track, you're right about that.
That the campfire is a good sign.
Yeah. I suppose your 00 Jack stopped
looking to the side of my head. What I asked he chuckled got a
little something on your shoulder partner.
I swiveled my head to the left and screamed there, staring back
at me with Hollow eyes, was the black crow that had been
stalking me. It was silently, perching on my
shoulder, I hadn't felt. It was their it hadn't so much,
as made a sound or Into my field of vision, it was a gaunt
ghastly statue posing with such Stillness that it might as well
have been in Taxidermy bird Jack cackles until he wheezed and
sputtered. He continued to be of no use
whatsoever. Whilst I flailed around in a mad
Panic, striving to release the creature from my shoulder.
Eventually thankfully, it flew away to my park ranger friend.
It was an amusing incident to me.
It was something much worse. I didn't like the Erie
situation, The Disappearing cave, entrance, the eerily
Serene bird, none of it, not one bit.
As I said, I have good instincts and I don't fear animals for the
record. I never have.
I care deeply, even for Nature's Most ominous and overlooked
creatures. Crows had never bothered me
before that fateful night, but that Crow was unlike anything
I'd ever seen before. I didn't know what was wrong
with it, but I knew the mere sight of it filled me with Men's
horror it was dangerous and I'm not talking about fun and
Mischief that mr. Danger and Miss Sunshine, love.
This was real danger, danger, that I'd forgotten all about
until Eliza reminded me of something that had been hiding
in the dark and recesses of my fractured forlorn mind.
Wait, Jack said it moved, suddenly my park ranger friend
was sprinting past me, so I turned to see what had stirred
him and that I saw it on the canyon wall.
All opposite to the one that we had been facing.
There was a cave entrance. It was one.
I was certain, I'd never seen in that area before, and that made
me truly start to question everything.
Maybe Jack hadn't lost his marbles that could only mean
something more unsettling was happening either.
We were both incompetent Park Rangers or something unnatural
happened in Jack. I started let's talk about this
for a moment. Jack had already reached the
mouth of the cave and he was jubilant lead.
Sing in the entrance before I even had the chance to talk
about the horrible feeling in the center of my chest.
I spotted something that snapped me out of my feverish stupor
Jack. I warned wolf Jack immediately
Stop Dancing in the entrance and cast.
His torch light onto a large grey wolf.
That was slinking toward him. It did not growl, it did not
make a sound. In fact it's simply took long
purposeful strides toward my frozen friend.
Easy buddy. D Jack calmly said I don't have
any treats for you and I'm not as tasty as I look I promise now
ordinarily I'd scare you off with rubber bullets but I'm a
little unprepared this evening. I have to admit so I'm warning
you not to get too close otherwise you'll get the back of
this torch Jack. I said speaking with the same
air of calmness, keep your cool. I've been doing this a lot
longer than you kid. Don't worry about the Moved up
normally quick pouncing towards Jack, who slammed his torch into
the animals, face, the creature along with Jack's torch went
flying to the ground. It did not whimper or even
falter more than a second. It was calm to calm, the wolf
simply got back to its feet and I bawled the now torch list
Jack. I shown my light onto the cave
entrance Illuminating, my defenseless friend and the wolf
that had started to prowl towards him once more Jack Okay,
just let me. I started, I have to head into
the cave. Jack cried in a flash, my
reckless Ranger companion. Had sprinted into the cave, the
darkness swallowed him. And the wolf that was hot on his
tail. I ran after the pair of them.
Lighting the way with my shaky, torch entering The Passage
through the canyon wall. I tried to focus all of my
attention on Jack, on the wolf who were already out of sight in
The Labyrinth of tunnels, but I couldn't help fixating on the
particular noises. That engulfed me rocks.
Were shifting as if the canyon were continuously reshuffling
and restructuring itself, Jack. I screeched, I tumble through a
hole and cut my elbow on a rocky slope.
I slid down to a sprawling. Cavernous opening, I stumbled to
my feet quickly and picked up my torch fearing.
What I might see in the center of the underground space in the
center of the cave. I expected to see the wolf
tearing up my friend what I actually saw.
Saw was far worse because it couldn't be explained.
Jack was there, but he was not facing a wolf.
He was facing something indescribably horrible, a gangly
creature towered over him, skin decaying and limbs twice as long
as those of an ordinary human. It was a monstrous lie magnified
version of a person. No, not a person.
A skinwalker, as the Native Americans would no doubt call
it. The stuff of Legends, a monster
that I had only Ever seen in frightening, fables, not
something real. And yet my eyes were telling me
a different truth. I could see the thing with my
own eyes. The thing that goes by so many
different names in so many different places, still, no
matter what name, it's given everybody agrees that it is an
Unholy thing and Abomination. Not meant for our world death
incarnate. Jack I near soundlessly gasped,
my friend began to levitate his Ascension.
Tension orchestrated, by the gnarled brittle, fingers of the
inhuman thing before it the, which a silent and Serene
Puppeteer continue to raise her hand, utilizing some unseen evil
force. She moved my friend higher and
higher, into the air, watching his illuminated form.
In my torch light, I could see the creature was as still an
unwavering as the crow and wolf and that was when I piece the
parts of the puzzle together. I remember that feeling of being
stalked by the crow. Those creepy black guys.
A sudden snapping sound broke me from my disturbing Daydream.
Instead, putting me into a much more deeply disturbing state of
reality, Jack released a scream that ricocheted off the walls of
the enclosed space. As his legs, bent the wrong way.
They broke one by one, his jaw started to drop and I realized
that he was moments away from losing Consciousness as morbid
as it sounds, I prayed that he would faint.
I prayed that he would not be conscious during this as the
which Began to pop his arms Inward, and contoured him into a
box shape looking at his compressed form.
I realized that he wasn't unconscious, he was gone at that
moment. The rocks on the walls crumbled
away, revealing a stack of boxes and surprisingly, a red wooden
door. As the witch open, one of the
boxes and began to put my friend into it, I crept around the back
of her. She busied herself with the act
of packing, her latest victim into a wooden golden line,
treasure box. And she did not Seem to notice
the Torchlight that was moving around her, as I inch closer and
closer to the red door on the far wall, stealthily, I made it
across the cave and placed my hand on the door handle.
The creature screeched in a blind panic.
I swung the door open and closed it behind me to my utter
surprise. I was facing a long dark tunnel.
A tunnel constructed of red bricks on the walls floor and
ceiling. The real under tunnels, this was
more than just a A cave system. It was I realized the witch's
Lair. There was no way I could survive
by going backwards. So I had to push forwards,
lighting the way with my torch. I ran blindly through the red
brick tunnel not knowing what I might find around every Bend
suddenly there were multiple forking passageways.
I had no idea which way to go. I just knew that I had heard the
red door open behind me and I heard a slow steady still Serene
padding footsteps of the Thing that had taken, Jack help the
voice, cried from the tunnel to my left.
So, I immediately followed the sound cowering.
In the end of the fork of the tunnel was a girl.
She must have been 18 or 19 fully knitted out and hiking
gear and coated head to toe in a crimson liquid.
Oh, thank God. She whispered we have to get out
of here. That thing is coming for us.
Where's your friend? I asked the girls lip trembled
Elise. Shh.
She's she's gone Alicia. So you're a Daniela, right?
I asked she nodded. I'm sorry about your friend
Daniela. I lost someone too but we're
going to make it out of here. I promised I think we should go
back to the red door. Daniela said we know the way
back from here. I shook my head helping Daniela
to her feet and pointed a finger to my ear indicating her to
listen. I was trying to show the That it
wasn't safe to go back the way we came, but I could hear the
which has padding footsteps. I suddenly realized that not
hearing her was far worse, where was she?
What Daniela asked? I don't hear her.
That doesn't mean she's not there.
Come on. I said, I let a begrudging
Daniela farther into the depths of the tunnels shaking as we
rounded every corner. Every time I saw the coast was
clear, it was both a relief and a fright, not knowing where she
Might be hiding was a scare like no other.
And then from the depths of the brick tunnels, we heard a sound
crying. It's a trick Daniela protested.
Don't go towards it. It sounds like a girl.
I said maybe Alicia is still alive.
I followed the sound of crying thankful.
For the fact that the tunnel no longer seem to be forming off in
two different directions, I was relatively certain that it was
more of an interconnected Circuit of tunnels rather than a
maze. All routes would have led to the
same place eventually a wooden colorless door and there was
crying on the other side, Daniela sobbed and said, don't
go in there. I ignored her motivated by a
sense of Duty. And perhaps a smidge of
stupidity. I burst through the door and
found myself in a cavern much larger than the last one.
And thankfully, there was a cave entrance at the far side, I
could see the outside world. It was a horribly Dark Knight
but it looked Like a glowing Beacon of Hope.
Anything was lighter than the hellish under tunnels of the,
which casting the light around the cave.
I eventually found Alicia pinned down by rocks tauntingly close
to Freedom. She was staring blankly ahead
and bawling her eyes out when she saw my flashlight, she
screamed help Alicia wailed. I'm trapped, it definitely felt
like a trap, but I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I
hadn't tried. Moreover yet again.
My instinct was telling me that I was looking at Alicia.
It wasn't the, which I could just feel it in my bones.
I darted over to the girl and heat the Rocks off of her arms.
There were cuts and bruises along her limbs.
So I hoisted Alicia to her feet. She screeched when she saw
Daniela get her away from me. Alicia cried Alicia, it's me,
Daniela replied, Alesia shook her head and gently nodded at
the far wall of the cave. I turned my head to see See what
the girl had been eyeballing. When I first entered, the
cavernous room I was horrified to see someone on the ground.
Lifeless in an unimaginable shape not just anyone Daniela
there were two of them. As I turned my torch light back
to Daniela who had just followed me from the under tunnels.
She nonchalantly through smile our way and yet as calm as she
may have been, it was the most unhinged and malicious smile.
I had ever seen Alicia and I slowly back towards the cave.
Sit watching as the fake 10 yellow started to grow in
height. Her limbs started to elongate
and her hair fell out within seconds.
I was staring at the horrific creature that had got my friend
Jack run. I screamed as we sprinted for
the exit, it began to close the rock shifted around it.
Slowly shrinking, the spot that was our only path to Freedom
within seconds to spare. Alicia dive through the opening.
And I followed turning to face the closing spot.
But I caught one final glimpse of the inhuman creature.
Before it was entombed in the wall of the Grand Canyon.
I had never told anyone that tail and I was a park ranger for
many years after that. If anything, understanding,
that, such things existed was. My reason for continuing.
There are other reasons that I eventually abandoned that line
of service, but my duty has never really went away.
And when Eliza reminded me of witches, I realized it was
finally time to tell my My story be you may or may not choose to
believe me. None of that matters.
But please, I beg you do not enter the under tunnels of the
Grand. Canyon
As I took my first steps through the entrance of the nature
trail. I was confident that this was
exactly the Escape I needed to decompress The Damp soil.
Sunk beneath my boots, flowers bloomed, the leaves on the tree
Shook and hum gently in the Summer Breeze and Birds Sang.
I felt like I'd walked into the Garden of Eden lost in thought
and devouring. The beauty radiating itself
through all my senses, I never heard the footsteps approaching
behind me. Hey there a woman's chipper,
voice. Plucked me out of paradise.
Happy trails. Saying I asked politely despite
my annoyance at the disruption. Definitely I come here a lot
when I need a break. How about you?
The girl lingered slightly behind tucking, her blond hair
behind her ear first-timer but I brought reinforcements, I said
gesturing to the map in my hand. There are better areas from when
they were first building the trails.
They're not as well maintained, but they're easy enough to
follow. They won't be on your map.
I'm taking one up to the river. Some people say it's dirty, but
I like to dip my feet in any way.
We were walking side by side. Now, our boots smacking the dirt
Trail and Rhythm, I looked at her closely for the first time.
We looked close enough to the same age.
Maybe her being a year or two younger, we were sporting
identical hiking boots in another life.
We might have been friends as if sensing my thoughts.
The girl looked towards me and smiled.
I'm Claudia, by the way, do you care for a walking buddy?
The forest is beautiful, but sometimes it feels lonely.
I can show you the river. I hesitated and nearly declined.
I had come out here to escape, not to be social, but she seemed
nice and a Riverview sounded amazing.
I'm Avery and I'm in lead the way after a few minutes.
Claudia gestured to a thin Trail, barely visible through
the overgrown vegetation. I stood at the small opening
thinking about the critters living, there wondering if they
bit so much for easy to follow as the trail widened, a few
yards in my worries fell it was beautiful the Sun glistened as a
dance, through the leaves, Claudia, put her Mount for me to
stop and pointed and the distance of Fallen lingered near
its mother. In this moment I was so glad to
have met her as we trekked on the foliage became more dense
and only small streams of light flicked through a light and
pleasant odor smelled in the breeze.
It seemed familiar but I couldn't quite place, it mold
growing on stagnant. Water was my best, guess a
gentle Mist world in the Rays of Light Between the leaves as I
followed Claudia in silence. I wonder just how well she knew
the trails she hadn't. Hesitated.
But the Mist was flirting with fog by the minute.
Claudia kept moving forward as if pulled by an invisible string
out of the corner of my eye, something moved on the edges of
the fog to my left, my heart picking up speed, I close the
gap. That had gradually formed
between us. I think there's something out
there. I whispered klaudia didn't slow
down, but she turned back towards me and giggled.
Of course, there's something out there.
There's a lot of some things, we're in a forest klaudia.
Must have seen the fear on my face.
And as an afterthought asked, was it big?
I'm not sure, I admitted nervously.
I only saw it for a second, it disappeared behind a tree.
It was pretty far out but I think it's moving in the same
direction. We are flawed e except her Pace
but she agreed. She'd keep an eye out for the
last 20 minutes. She'd kept her eyes firmly on
the trail. So somehow I doubted that I
looked up over her shoulder. And finally realized what she'd
been so fixated on there was something large up ahead,
peeking out through the fog. It's a cabin.
Oh man, this is amazing. Claudia exclaimed.
My dad told me about these during tourist season the park
rangers. Stay out here, I watched the
fog. Drop into the hole in the roof
of the cabin. It doesn't look like anyone's
lived here in a long time. I remark to, I'd only known
Claudia from the trail and yet I knew she was going to suggest we
go in and explore. She was the adventure to my
play. It safe on second.
Thought maybe we wouldn't have been friends in another life.
Claudia started to speak but I couldn't hear her over.
Thumping of my heartbeat in my ears closer than before the
thing from earlier. Stood, Still ahead of the cabin,
it was watching us. The fog obscured my vision but I
could see it was wearing something dark, that fluttered
in the wind. Let's go inside.
I interrupted her. Her eyes opened wide, as I
stormed Pastor the door groaned, it's protest.
As I threw it open and flew inside that thing from earlier.
Followed us here, Claudia, it was watching us.
We need to figure out a way to get out of here.
It's a head of the cabinet. And I think we can go back the
way we came. Can you see the trail well
enough to run. Claudia stood staring at me,
cheeks flushing. I've never been to this cabin
before. I lost the trail, a little ways
back. I figured we could group here
and make a plan. Are you sure there's something
out there for a moment? I was dumbstruck.
She had lost the trail. We were screwed.
Finally, I choked out. I'm positive.
It was some freak in a dark flowing, gown or something.
How did you lose the trail? I thought you said you Come here
all the time I hissed. Fear slithered its way from my
stomach. I mean, sure the not in the fog.
I was hoping we'd beat it and be able to watch it float across
the river. It's gorgeous.
Claudia looked uncomfortable. I know she didn't lead us off
Trail intentionally but it didn't feel that way.
Especially with some freak following us slowly, moving
closer. Let's look around and see if
there is anything here, we can use to defend ourselves.
Then we need to try to get out of here.
I could hear the frustration in my tone.
Umm, I never should have followed a stranger into the
forest. How could I be so stupid?
I went left towards the kitchen as Claudia made her way towards
the back rooms. I opened several drawers and
cabinets to find nothing but spiders and dust defeated.
I headed to meet up with Claudia.
Hoping she'd had more luck as I entered.
The first thing to hit me was a putrid smell, Claudia was bent
over the bed in the corner of the room, softly crying on top
of a bear stained mattress was a decomposing body blond hair
clumped around. The partially exposed skull as
the body had turned to liquid the red and white plaid shirt
had turned in nasty. Brownish along the Torso.
It would have been completely unidentifiable if not for the
clothing klaudia, was staring down at her own red and white
plaid shirt pulling on it willing it to not be true.
Both Claudia and the body on the bed, both Adorn the same denim,
shorts a small. Ripple on the right hem, the
arms of the body were cuffed to the bed.
Both feet were bound. I slowly stepped back as Claudia
whispered over and over. No, it cannot be as I reached
for her Claudia. Finally looked up, I yelped and
jerk my hand back body is face now.
Mirrored the body on the bed, the blond hair, she pushed
behind her ear earlier now, dirty clumped and missing.
And patches her eyes long since disintegrated leak to gelatinous
substance from the empty sockets, the few patches of skin
left on her face hum like dry snakeskin.
I'm sorry Avery, I just can't handle this.
She garbled with her stump tongue in a mouth with no lips
left, to help enunciate. She ran out of the cabin, door
and back into the forest, shock paralyzed.
Me and Insanity, threatened to leave me in the fetal position
in the corner. Waiting for someone to rescue
me, the deep down, I knew no one would come.
That's why Claudia's body was still lying here left to be, I
couldn't stay here, but leaving meant facing the follower, the
thing lingering in the woods. It was possible that the person
who got Claudia and the follower were one in the same, but
somehow I didn't think so. I did the only thing I could do
I Peeked my head out of the front door to make sure no one
was waiting for me outside. And I headed back out into the
forest. I had two options continued on
in the direction. Claudia had been leading me or
attempt to find the thin Trail in the fog.
Claudia had somehow managed to lose and head back to the main
trail upon inspecting betrayal. Seemed easier to follow heading
in the direction we had originally been moving.
So onward. It was the further on.
I went the denser. The fog, the foul smell from
earlier, slid down my nostrils and made my lungs a Through the
corner of my eyes, the follower inched closer, I kept my eyes
forward to keep my sanity. I stopped briefly to catch my
breath. I've been nearly running for
close to 10 minutes. I was terrified to stop, but the
built-up lactic acid in my muscles, beg to differ, as my
breath quieted, I heard running water.
The river just like Claudia had said, I had to be close to the
original Trails. I pulled out my map to try to
make a guess at where I could possibly be, and how to get the
hell out of here, while I couldn't be sure.
As to my exact location, I could see where the main trail met up
with the river. I could be anywhere from a few
feet to a few miles. The fog was so dense, I couldn't
see more than two feet from my nose.
My Hope was by the time I was near the trail, I be able to see
it. I inched forward slowly
carefully, up ahead, something dark move from higher up in a
tree and floated down on the briefs.
It fluttered like a down large bird, but as it neared I
realized in horror what was coming I tried to Scurry back
tripping over a Rock on the trail, my tailbone screamed
painfully as it, hit the hard ground below.
I scooted frantically away but made no real progress, the
follower continued its descent it hovered just above the
ground. And although its face was
shrouded in the same black fabric, I could feel it.
Sighs bore through me, my body shook as it looked down at me
waiting slowly. It extended its arm towards me
the sleeve pushed back to reveal, what I believe to be a
woman's hand. The nails were long and the skin
carried the grayish Hue of rot, as The hand, uncurled itself, I
struggled to tear my eyes from the golden sigils that started,
just under the fingernail, continuing up, past the sleeve.
It took me a moment to realize it was offering to help me up.
I started to extend my own hand before hearing, Claudia whisper.
She'll help you up, but she'll take you, we can stay in the
forest together, we can be friends.
Any part of me that question, my sanity was squashed by Claudia's
breath leaving condensation against my neck.
I've been so lonely out here Avery.
I've been so lonely. So long suddenly, I recognize
the smell carried by the fog. Once when I was young, a mouse
died behind one of the walls in the kitchen and the summer at
the smell became unbearable. My mother begged, my father to
cut the wall, open to pull the mouse from, it's poorly sealed
coffin, but my father refused, we ate dinner outside to avoid
ruining our appetites, eventually the smell faded and
things return to normal. But I'd never completely
forgotten the smell, the fog in my childhood home, both smelled
of death. With the follower was still
waiting with her hand extended, for my response, I crawled
backwards slowly, the follower remained still, I sprang to my
feet and ran back the way I had went.
I tripped twice, skinning my knee, but I didn't stop after a
few minutes. I ventured a look behind me.
The follower wasn't there. I slowed to a walk desperately
looking for the trail. The fog was slowly pulling back
after nearly 10 minutes of panic.
I'd found the small Trail Claudia and I had started on to
both my relief. Dismay, I didn't pass the cabin
again, just as Panic threatened to take.
Hold the fog, cleared enough to reveal the main trail just up
ahead. I broke out in a Sprint as soon
as I hit the trail entrance, I called the police.
I knew. If I told them the whole story
about Claudia, they'd never believe me.
But there was plenty, I could tell a park ranger, who
introduced himself as park ranger Thompson arrived.
First, I told him I begun on the main trail but noticed a small
side Trail and decided to take it.
He frowned at this. Continue to listen, I told him
about how at some point I'd lost the trail but continued on, I
told him about the rundown cabin and the body, chained to the
bed, he stopped me. There, you're telling me that in
those woods there's a cabin with a girl's body chained up and you
didn't call the police. Then I left my phone in the car.
I came out here for a break from the real world not to bring it
with me. While ma'am.
We haven't had a hiker go missing here in at least three
years and we've been all through here searching.
I've never come across a rundown cabin He responded flatly, she
had blond hair. I had started to cry for
everything that had happened and the loss of someone who could
have been a friend. She was wearing a white,
undershirt and a red and white plat flannel.
We had matching boots, my voice trailed off my throat burned
with the effort of containing sobs the park ranger tensed.
If this is some kind of joke, you need to leave right now.
Anger wavering his voice. Why would I joke about this?
What's wrong with you? She needs help.
I felt insane. How could he And none of this
made sense. My daughter went missing in
these Woods three years ago. She was last seen in a white
undershirt, red, and white plaid flannel and brown hiking boots.
His voice cracked, you said she's in a cabin.
I stopped myself quickly realizing my mistake.
I heard Park Rangers stay in them during tourist season but
no one had lived there for a long time.
There's no way. I tried my best to lead.
Ranger Thompson back to the side, Trail back to his daughter
but without Claudia leading me. I couldn't.
Find the trail. I swore it was there and the
hope for closure that flashed behind his eyes.
Let me know. He believed me, I'll pull the
map for the original Trails. Maybe one of them will have the
cabin on it. If you want to leave your number
I'll call you. If I find it on the drive home.
I had too much time to think. I don't think Claudia knew she
was gone. When she first walked up beside
me, I don't think she knew she was leading me to her body
either. I think she herself was pulled
by whatever it is that allows our souls to call a body, a
home. And I don't think the Our was a
monster anymore. I think she was death.
Offering me an easier way out. I wonder if Ranger Thompson will
call me after he finds Claudia or if the follower will be
waiting for him, in the cabin, offering him an easier way.
I wonder if Claudia will whisper in his ear about how lonely
she's been. I wonder if her breath against
the back of his neck, will convince him to stay regardless.
I'm staying off the trails. A few years ago, I bought a
small house in South West Main. It's one story around 1,000
square feet. A few months, after I bought the
house, I got lonely and decided to buy a dog whose name is Ace.
There's a forest outside my home.
I never bothered to do any of the normal things people do.
When there's a forest near them like Camp.
However, Ace never liked the forest, he would bark her wine.
Any time I took him on a walk where the tree line was visible,
I started realizing what was happening last winter.
Every tree began to wilt and die simultaneously.
If one leaf fell off a tree, that leaf fell off of every tree
when it became spring, all the leaves grew back at the same
time and place as well. It's as if the forest grew as 12
months ago, Ace picked up the habit of scratching my door, any
time I had locked him out of my room, he always makes a mess
when I let him in though. So I have to keep the door
closed two weeks ago. I heard a Yelp it was not as
though. It came from somewhere around
the back of my house after that. I heard he's running and
whining, and he started scratching my door.
It wasn't normal though. It was frantic.
I let him in my room and I swear, I already saw the thing
in my yard. I saw that thing staring at my
door. I looked closer and all there
was out there was the tree line, but I saw that thing out there.
I know it, I couldn't sleep, nor could Ace.
I stayed up and just scrolled through social media.
I don't know what time it was, but I heard a Yelp again.
And after that, a long disgusting groan.
I couldn't open my Or I couldn't, I didn't want to see
those eyes turn into trees. All I did was sit there thinking
of what to do with. There was something out there
the next morning, I don't know why, but I bought a pistol.
Something told me to a gut feeling that night, it happened
again the yelping groaning scratching and the staring this
time though, I went outside the pistol at my side, either that
thing was going to end up with a hole in its head or I was going
to be oft and I would be damned if I let the latter happen, I
was sitting there and 20-degree weather, just waiting but
nothing happened. I waited and waited, but there
was nothing until least was scratching on my door.
I looked around and saw it coming out of the tree line, the
long pale limbs the four different eyes and I heard the
grown, but it wasn't a groan. It was a scream, the loudest
scream I had ever heard. The thing ran at me and I drew
my weapon. I was still firing when it was
down. I moved to grab my phone to call
the police, and the second I turned around, it was gone.
I called the police. Police in shambles, not knowing
what to do. I got to find for prank, calling
911 but I know what I saw. I have to move away.
I can't look at that. Forest ever again.
I don't know what is wrong with that Forest, but it's not
normal. Maybe it's cursed haunted or
maybe this world has more secrets like this waiting to
emerge from the tree line. The United States has a diverse
land of many different forms of life from the fierce.
Grizzly, bears in the mountains of Alaska, to the stealthy
alligators, in the swamps of Florida.
Wherever you may be, there is always something unique about
your state that is until you get to Oklahoma.
You see, Oklahoma is without a doubt.
One of the most boring places maybe ever having lived here for
18 years, I'll be the first person to tell you.
That sure there are large cities just like any other
civilization. However they are spread out over
tens. Even hundreds of miles apart,
what you are left with in between those cities, as what
some refer to, as the sticks, are The Boondocks, or the
country, whatever you choose to call it.
And that is where I'm from In The Sticks, it consists of four
main elements, lots of trees, lots of crops, lots of Wildlife
and the occasional Walmart are Dollar General.
Since there is not a lot to do out here, that is where most
Oklahoma residents take up the Pastime of hunting.
And that is where my Story begins.
It was a cold November night right in the heart of Deer
season, I was laying in bed enjoying a video game.
I was playing when there was a knock on my bedroom door it
opened and my dad walked in. Hey kid.
He said, yes, Dad, you haven't been hunting this season yet,
why don't you take my bow and I'll get you set up.
And in the morning you can head out there and go get us
something. He's really putting me on the
spot here. I thought to myself, yeah, sure
why not? I said to him, he told me to
dress warm and to meet him outside by the front door in ten
minutes, so we could walk out to the spot.
So I would know where to go when it was time to leave tomorrow.
We began our walk into the woods.
With every step we took. I began to get a little bit more
annoyed. Where are we going?
I thought to myself, I thought we were just going to go behind
the house. I didn't know.
We were going to have to hike to the hunting spot.
Dang, what was I thinking? I should have just said no, when
we finally arrived at the hunting spot, we were more than
a mile out into the Wilderness behind my house.
He finally stopped by a huge oak tree and pointed his flashlight
at some see Cedar trees that were off to the side.
See it. He said, no, I don't I replied,
he walked closer and shined his flashlight into the trees to
reveal a tiny chair. That was hidden under some tree,
branches, and sticks. That is where you're going to
set up in the morning. Got that I nodded my head, as he
tossed out, some dried corn to attract the deer in the morning
for what I came back. What time do I need to head out
here? I asked my dad expecting him to
say six to seven in the morning. He then muttered, you need to be
up and ready to head out by 4:00 in the morning.
My heart sank. It was going to be pitch black
outside. There's no way I was going to be
able to make it all the way out here in the pitch-black.
We finally made it back to the house by 11:30, and I headed up
to my room to get as much sleep as possible before this hunting
trip. I woke to the painful sound of
my alarm blaring into my dark room.
I looked at my phone and it was 340 I sighed.
And sat up I put on the warmest clothes, I could find and made
my way. Out into the living room there,
on the couch, sat my dad's bow, two arrows, and a small, but
sharp hunting knife. I grab the gear, plus a
flashlight, and made my way out the front door, navigating the
woods at night was an extremely frightening experience that took
much longer than what I would have.
Wished I left my house at 4:00 and I did not arrive at The
Hunting location until 437. I was impressed with just how
many trees I managed to walk into and how many times I almost
tripped over large logs even with the help of my flashlight.
Once I Arrived. I sat down in the little
uncomfortable plastic chair and began waiting.
My dad wanted me out here so early, because it makes it a lot
easier for the hunter to sneak into his spot.
And the deer not being able to watch him.
I'll never forget the paranoia, I experienced in those woods in
the pitch-black that feeling of not wanting to breathe too loud.
Because something, or someone might hear you, is, like, no
other after roughly 15 minutes of sitting in the quiet
Darkness, I heard it. Stick snapping at leaves
crunching, it was a deer walking to my spot.
My heart began to pound as I listened closer, the leaves
continue to Crunch with each footstep, but that's when I
picked up on something strange is this thing walking on two
legs. I thought to myself, it sounded
just like a pair of human legs. Walking through the leaves, is
it my dad? I thought maybe I forgot
something at the house. Surely it has to be him but no,
it couldn't have been him. The footsteps were coming from
the woods, not the trail. We walked the footsteps emerged
from the woods and stopped. After a short pause it took step
towards me a moment later. It took one more step in my
direction. I began to get nervous.
Dear shouldn't be acting this way.
What the hell is this thing? I raise my flashlight up from my
lap and in a moment of pure bravery and stupidity.
I clicked my flashlight on what I saw in front of me, still
haunts me to this very day and front of me, stood a creature.
No, shorter than 10 feet. Tall it stood on two legs.
It was covered in black fur. The face was human.
I believe the face looked to be of a man's face.
The eyes were closed and the mouth was contorted into a
Sinister grin. It had two great big antlers.
That seem to come off of an elk or a moose.
It had hooves for feet and it's arms, were long and skinny but
it had what appeared to be claws on the end of its hands.
As soon as I saw this thing, I clicked off my flashlight.
Praying it didn't see me too late.
I almost started gagging from Fear when I heard this thing.
Sprinting of me as fast as I could, I loaded a narrow and
Drew back the bow without hesitation.
I fired the bow into the darkness.
Hoping I could hit the creature but I missed.
I heard the arrow whistle off into the woods before.
Striking a tree prep, stupid idea.
I thought I immediately stood up and began sprinting down the
trail, the creature was in close Pursuit.
I ran faster than I knew. I could down this Trail.
When I was almost halfway home, I began to naturally, run slower
because of fatigue. And that's when it's swiped at
me. It hit me directly.
In my right calf, I stumbled and fell off the trail and into a
nearby ditch. Once I fell, and I could
immediately feel the And begin to start gushing out of my leg,
I quickly tore off my hoodie and wrapped it around my leg as a
temporary tourniquet. However, my bleeding leg was the
least of my worries, the creature, jumped down into the
ditch with great force and began swiping at the ground, hoping to
hit me. Luckily, the thing landed about
20 feet away from me. So I had some time to spare.
I heard Lee, pulled out my flashlight and threw it behind
the creature upon hearing the flashlight, hit the leaves that
turned around and began swiping at the ground once again, as
quickly and quietly. Quietly as possible.
I crawled out of the ditch on my way out.
I heard the creature begin to make a clicking noise from its
mouth. Now, I can't confirm it, but I
assume that noise was the creature.
Using echolocation to find me if this thing is blind.
How did it see my flashlight? Back at the hunting spot?
I thought, then I realized I had to click my flashlight on and
the creature probably heard that despite now knowing it was using
audio to track me. I still ran to the best of my
ability Out of the Woods. The thing didn't follow me out,
I made it Woman crashed through my front door bleeding all over
the place. My parents took me to the
emergency room to get stitched up.
They asked me what happened and I told them what happened, but
of course, they didn't believe me.
They assumed I fell while walking through the woods and
tore open my like, somehow. And after a while, I began to
think the same thing. Maybe I was sleepwalking and
fell, maybe I was hallucinating. Who knows is what I used to tell
myself. I almost forgot about my
experience until today, my dad went out hunting and was
supposed to be back. Three hours ago.
Me and my mother began to get worried.
I walked out my front door I planned on going to look for my
dad and that's when I heard it screaming.
I don't know if it was my dad's or if it was just a wild animal
but we called the police anyway. And as I type this I can hear a
faint clicking out by the woods and if I look hard enough, I
think I can make out a human face looking up at my window.
Please, if you are ever in the forests of Oklahoma, be extra
quiet. You never know what is going to
hear you? I used to be a forest officer in
a European nation. My job was to protect and
preserve the forests as well as to ensure the safety of those
who entered them. However, as I soon discovered
the forest held many secrets and dangers that I never could have
imagined. One of my first encounters with
the unknown occurred. While I was on a routine Patrol,
deep in the heart of the forest, I had been walking for hours and
was getting ready to turn back. When I heard a strange noise at
first, I thought it was just an animal, but as I got closer, I
realized that. It was something else entirely
the sound was like nothing. I had ever heard before a low
guttural growling that seem to be coming from the very Earth
itself. I was terrified, but I knew I
had to investigate, I followed the sound until I Came Upon a
clearing and there in the center of the clearing.
Stood, a creature. Unlike anything I had ever seen
before it was huge with Shaggy black, fur and glowing yellow
eyes. It had a long snout and
razor-sharp teeth and it was clearly agitated.
I froze unsure of what to do the Sure seemed to sense my presence
and turned its gaze towards me for a moment.
We just stood there, staring at each other.
And then without warning, it lunged at me.
I managed to dodge out of the way just in time and the
creature crashed into the trees behind me, I took off running
not daring to look back. I ran four miles, not stopping,
until I was sure that I was safe.
I reported the encounter to my superiors, but they didn't
believe me. They thought I had imagined it
or that it was some kind of wild animal, but I knew what I had.
Seen and I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something
sinister lurking in the forest over the next few months.
I started to notice other strange occurrences.
I would hear strange noises at night and I would find strange
symbols carved into the trees. I would come across abandoned
camp sites with no sign of the occupants.
I knew that something was not right and I couldn't shake the
feeling that I was being watched.
I decided to talk to my fellow Forest officers to see if they
had had any similar experiences to my surprise many of them.
They had seen strange creatures heard strange noises and found
strange symbols in the forest, we all knew that there was
something dark and Sinister lurking in the forest and we
were determined to find out what it was.
We started to investigate and do research on the Legends and
folklore of the forest. We found out that the forest had
a long history of strange and terrifying occurrences from
ancient curses to mysterious creatures.
The forest seemed to be alive with danger one night.
I decided to go back to the clearing where I had seen the
creature. Teacher, I was determined to
find out what it was and I was armed with a flashlight and a
camera. I arrived at the clearing and
started to take photos of the area.
As I was taking a photo, I heard a loud growling noise, I quickly
turned around and saw the creature from before staring at
me with its glowing. Yellow eyes, I was terrified but
I knew I had to get a good shot of the creature.
I quickly snapped a photo and the creature lunged at me.
I managed to dodge out of the way and ran as fast as I could.
I didn't stop running until I was back at Station the next
day, I showed the photo to my colleagues and we were all
shocked. We couldn't believe what we were
seeing the creature in the photo was like nothing we had ever
seen before it looked like some kind of wild animal, but it was
much larger and more aggressive than any animal we had ever
encountered. We knew that we had to find out
more about this creature. So we started to investigate
further, we contacted local experts and Wildlife and
biology, but none of them had ever seen or heard of anything
like this before we Also reached out to local indigenous
communities to see if they had any knowledge of this creature,
but they too had never seen or heard of anything like it before
we were at a loss. As to what this creature could
be, we knew that it was dangerous and we knew that we
had to do something to protect the people who entered the
forest. We decided to set up cameras and
traps in the area to try and capture the creature.
We also increased our Patrols in the area and warned hikers and
campers to be extra cautious. Despite our efforts, we never
saw the creature again. But the strange occurrences in
the forest continued we found more abandoned camp sites and
heard more strange. Noises at night, we knew that
the creature was still out there and we knew that we had to be
vigilant. As a forest officer, it was my
duty to protect the forest and the people who entered it.
But I also knew that the forest held many secrets and dangers
that I never could have imagined, I knew that there was
something dark and Sinister lurking in the forest and I knew
that we had to be prepared for anything to this day.
The forest still. Holds many secrets and strange
occurrences still happen. As a forest officer.
I have learned to be vigilant and cautious, always ready for
the unexpected and I will always remember the terrifying
encounter with the unknown creature deep in the heart of
the forest. When I was growing up, I was
never Afraid of the Dark. I never feared, the dark spaces
under my bed, the Gloom and the closet, the one corner of the
basement, that the light never seemed to reach.
I didn't get scared of the knocks on the walls.
The groaning of our old house settling, or the odd scraping
noises outside my room at night, even a slight flutter, or
tapping on my window, wasn't spooky to me.
And I could sleep comfortably through the night.
That all comes from spending your whole childhood in a
haunted house. When my room would be Rearranged
by an unseen Force. I just clean it up when cups
flew across the room. I'd catch them.
Eventually. I started responding to the
actions even giving my friends names.
It wasn't uncommon in my early teen years for my mom to hear.
Don't even think about it. Darrell as a cup would start to
slide across the table. So I'd never been afraid of the
supernatural. I believe in Monsters, but I
never used to be afraid of them. They all had to just be
misunderstood and lonely, like me, you think?
Think my favorite police on our property was the Knoll a little
bump of a hill at the edge of the cornfield where the woods
came closest to the house. It was a good 500 feet from the
Barnyard but still far enough that I could get some space and
some quiet. The trees in this part of the
woods were tall far taller than the trees that covered the rest
of our woodlot, their canopies blocked out some of the Sun.
And their needles made the ground soft perfect for sitting
and relaxing, with a thermos of coffee and a book on an Fall
afternoon before the snow hit, it was always easy to find a
place to lean as these ancient trees have long ago, lost their
lower Limbs, and the forest here felt like a Gothic Cathedral
High vaulted pillars. The partial Twilight, even
during the day, with small bursts of Light breaking through
the canopy. Even the singing of the birds or
the rustling of mice was like a symphony of its own.
I may have lived in the house, but I lived for the woods,
especially my little part of it. My parents always taught me to
Um, back before Sunset not to whistle and to never follow.
If anyone was calling my name, I never questioned these rules.
I grew up with him after all mom and dad never cared if I went to
the Knoll, but they wanted to make sure that I was safe.
I was always happy to oblige knowing full.
Well, that if I broke these rules, I'd be grounded and stuck
inside, even when the birds sang, I never whistled back when
I was in the forest, No Matter What.
By now, I'm assuming you've gathered that I grew up in
Appalachia Isolated surrounded by the supernatural raised in
it. So, it was second nature.
I guess I can thank my deeply superstitious grandmother for
that. After all.
It kept me alive. I can't say the same for
everyone else. By the time, I was in early High
School. My parents were getting tired of
the commute. After all, it was about an
hour's drive to the nearest town.
There was no cable and the power to the house was always dicey
because squirrels would short out the Transformer on the power
pole about once. A week, they were considering
moving and I was looking forward to not waking up at 5 in the
morning for school. They bought a new house in town,
and we were preparing to move. We packed anything that wasn't
necessary and had already moved it into the new house.
But Mom and Dad decided to have one last house party before we
threw the bed since suitcases. We've been living out of into
the moving truck and finally finished the move.
They invited friends, co-workers and their kids.
Many of these families were from out of town.
They didn't know the rules and certainly thought we were all
superstitious people. I wish I could say that we were
just superstitious the party started in the early afternoon
on the last beautiful day in late.
August, the Sun was shining bright.
There was just enough wind to keep the bugs at Bay and
everyone was basking in this truly gorgeous day, the younger
kids were playing with my brothers, the older kids were
with me watching a movie Inside and generally being antisocial
teenagers, eventually the heat in The house drove us out into
the late afternoon sun, and I began to give the tour of the
property. I begrudgingly agreed to do
hours prior. The older kids were generally
polite as I showed them around except for Cassie.
Cassie wasn't from around here. And she like to remind everyone
about that. Cassie's family moved out to the
middle of nowhere, because her father was offered a really good
job. And in a town with a low cost of
living in a decent salary, they decided to move Cassie, had made
it clear from the start that she hated everything.
About this new town, including everyone in it.
The most interesting thing about Cassie was probably that she'd
never gone in the woods around here and she was desperate to go
for a hike in the woods in retrospect.
I never should have taken her, I should have accepted being
grounded for refusing to be hospitable.
But hindsight is 20/20. I guess after the cajoling
pleading threatening and eventual blackmail from Cassie,
I backed down an offer to show her.
The Knoll I told her that a hike was out of the question.
Question after dark because the sun would be setting soon and we
shouldn't be in the Woods After Dark despite her sneering at the
superstitious Backwoods idiot. I refuse to give in.
I knew for a fact that the woods weren't safe at night.
Once the sun sets, the Shadows change, you can lose your way in
the dark and nocturnal Predators like Bobcats can hunt you
silently through the brush. I was not willing to risk it.
I told my mother where I was taking the group of older kids,
she looked me in the eyes and told me very firmly.
To make sure they all follow the rules, especially the whistling
under no circumstance. Should any of us whistle in the
trees? I promise to go over the rules
before we left when I was returning to the group, Cassie
began mocking me for having to check with my mommy.
Before we went out for a walk, I just ignored her and turn to the
group. Okay guys, there are a couple of
rules before we head out. Pretty sure most of, you know
them, but I just need to make sure we're all on the same page
first stick together. Second, we will be back in the
barnyard by sunset. This is not up for debate.
Third, under no circumstances. Are you allowed to whistle?
Once we leave the yard. And lastly, if you hear, anyone
calling your name, we're all leaving the woods as soon as
possible understood. All the locals, nodded
understandingly, Cassie, rolled her eyes.
I turned and started walking towards the null followed by the
older kids, including Cassie, she ran up to me and started to
ask me the questions I had been dreading.
The others won't tell me why the rules exist.
They're pretty stupid. If they don't have a reason.
I mean, are the woods really? That different at night?
I stopped dead in my tracks. I turned to her grabbed her by
the shoulders and looked deep into her.
Eyes are normally dismissive expression turned almost
fearful. When I began to speak tasi, the
woods are different at night, it changes and the other rules are
there to make sure you don't get lost in a strange place or
attract some type of Predator. There are coyotes.
Bobcats and God knows what else in the woods for once in your
life, shut up. And listen, please the color
drained from Cassie's face. And she nodded, I turned back to
the Knoll and kept walking. I hope that maybe just, maybe
she would listen for once the Knoll was just ahead a calm
Sanctuary after the craziness of the party that day, when we
stepped into the shade of the ancient trees, the temperature
was noticeably cooler and the slight wind made the great giant
sway, gently, and produced a sound like Creaking Timber and a
Faraway whisper, as it ran through the needles above us.
The others looked up into the canopy, then found a place to
sit and relax. I was starting to chill my back
against my favorite tree. When Cassie came up to me, hey,
um, is the whispering in the trees normal?
It sounds like my name Cassie. It's just the wind.
Seriously, you need to relax. You were the one who wanted to
come out here. Remember, I answered trying to
sound relaxed but on the inside, I started.
Had to get a bit nervous. Cassie was silent for a few
moments after that and I could see her starting to relax out of
the corner of my eye. I started to allow myself to
calm slightly listening to the sound of the wind in the trees.
Just as I was starting to think everything was going to be okay.
Cassie turn to look deeper into the woods.
She was staring intently into the gloomy trees as if she was
hearing something from the woods.
Suddenly, I had an awful feeling in the pit of my stomach.
I looked over at the others. Who had also noticed the
difference in Cassie's behavior and it was beginning to make
them uneasy to. We all stood up walking over to
where Cassie was sitting. It was like she was hypnotized
or paralyzed staring off into the shadowy trees.
There was no sound other than the wind, no birds.
None of the usual forest, sounds out of nowhere.
Cassie let out a loud whistle. I grabbed her by the arm,
snapping her out of her trance, realizing what she done, and
seeing the fear. In my eyes, she went to run.
No, no don't run. If we're being hunted, we walked
quickly but we never run that will trigger the prey drive of
whatever is out there and that's the last thing we want.
Let's go I said in a low whisper to her and the other kids barely
audible over the now much stronger wind we made for the
safety of the house battling Against The Wind that had picked
up. Since we entered the trees it
was gusting and felt like it was trying to drive us back into the
woods the dust from the Barnyard Stone our faces as we made.
Away across the field. Moving slowly despite our
efforts, I refuse to look back at the woods, instead, focusing
on the adults who are suddenly rushing to get everything.
Inside a tablecloth blew off, one of the picnic tables and
flew. Right by us, looking every bit
like a ghost as it whipped. Past us towards the woods, I
followed it with my eyes as it flew towards the Knoll I froze
in my tracks. The woods look different somehow
changed. As if the police I had known all
my childhood was darker. A stranger almost evil.
I knew it was impossible, but I thought I heard a growl come
from behind me as I stared The Impossible noise.
Snapped me out of my stupor. I turned and began to Sprint the
last 100 yards towards the house.
Run, I screamed, as I caught up to the group, we all broke into
a Sprint. My mother was in the barnyard.
When we all came flying through the gate, she tried to stop us
but we wouldn't stop all out flight until we'd gotten through
the main door of the house as the rest of our group was
catching their breath. Rev, my mom took me aside.
I told her everything that happened and she immediately
looked afraid her expression, darkened.
When rain began to patter against the window, the local
kids, and their parents left, leaving only my family and
Cassie's in the house. My parents had previously
offered for them to stay the night as they lived.
The farthest from our house about an hour drive one way
tassie's family, not used to driving such long distances,
would have been nervous and even perfect weather.
Let alone the thunderstorm that had blown in suddenly, my
parents did everything they could to keep us all distracted
from what was going on outside and it was working for everyone.
Except for Cassie, she kept staring out into the darkness
and the direction of the Knoll every time, the wind would
whistle past the window. It was almost like she kept
hearing her name. Every time the wind blew, I
tried my best to relax and calm Cassie down eventually by
bedtime sheet, relaxed enough to lie down on the air mattress, we
had set up in our guest room. In that she was safe in the
house with her parents allowed me to finally fall asleep at
about 1. A.m.
I woke up to the sound of the guest room, door opening, which
was unusual seeing as I was used to things, going bump in the
night, I got up immediately putting on my slippers and
stepping out into the hallway. Just as the top of Cassie's head
disappeared down the stairs. She was muttering that she could
hear something calling her. And she had to go, I woke my
parents up and then ran down the stairs.
As I heard the front door Creeks, open My father, followed
me down the stairs while my mother woke her parents as Dad
and I ran out the open door Into the Storm.
We saw Cassie walking and tranced towards the gate out of
the Barnyard, we shouted and tried to follow but the wind
seemed to whip our voices away chassis mother and father
Spilled Out into the yard shouting for their daughter to
snap out of it. If she heard them she didn't
respond the gate which had been changed.
Shut flew wide open. Allowing her out of the
relative, safety of the Barnyard and into the open field.
And a bolt of lightning, split the sky and we saw the
silhouette of a figure right in front of Cassie, it was
pitch-black easily standing Ten Feet Tall with impossibly long
arms and legs. It's hands were narrow fingers,
long and spider like Dad and I froze as we watched a pitch
black hand wrap around Cassie. She didn't wiggle didn't protest
as it lifted her into the air. I heard Cassie's mother scream
her name and suddenly Cassie was gone.
It was like in the blink of an eye whatever.
Were held Cassie, had vanished back into whatever realm sheets
summoned it from, and taken her with it.
We called the police and they came in the morning.
After the storm, they said that the storm must have washed away
her tracks and that she must have been sleepwalking.
We moved out of the house, the same day.
While Cassie's disappearance made local news.
It never became a national story.
I haven't even seen her disappearance being discussed on
internet forums or True Crime podcasts.
Cassie's parents were never the same.
They moved away. Way, after the case went cold, I
think about what happened to Cassie, almost every night when
the formerly comforting dark descends on me, like, a wet
blanket. I no longer think that monsters
are just misunderstood. I'm afraid of the dark and I
haven't set foot in the woods since
There's a story that you won't read in history books.
It's a truth that you only hear in my Village, The pendel
Witches were innocent, but there is a real witch in The Forest of
Bowland, my name is Thomas and I grew up in barley, which is a
small English Village in the borough of pendel.
Most of you won't know that place.
You might have never heard of the pendal hangings, even if you
do know about the famous witch trials that took place during
the 17th century, you probably don't believe in superstitious
nonsense. You probably think.
The hangings were the mark of an uncivilized era you wouldn't be
wholly wrong. It's ghastly that throughout
history. So many innocent women were
taken based on unfounded accusations of Witchcraft, that
doesn't mean, however, that witches aren't real.
And if you'd ever stumbled across a certain house in Boland
Forest, you would know that watch out Sammy, the pedal,
which is might turn you into one.
I giggled as my four-year-old sister nearly tripped over a
towed by our local pond, I was six years old.
Time and I'll never forget the way.
My grandpa looked at me his eyes were filled with a mixture of
dread and fury. He grabbed my wrist in his
gnarled decaying fingers and left a mark that didn't fade for
days. Don't you ever joke about that?
He snarled. Grandpa, you're hurting me.
I wind my sister. Samantha had stopped playing.
We both quivered in the shadow of the old man, who loomed above
us height. Am I hurting you?
Good reckon that'll help you. Remember this lesson there's
only Only one which have pendel she was never tried and she
never died. I don't ever want to hear you
kids mention her again. Understood my little sister was
sobbing at this point, but I tried my best to put on a brave
face and protect her. I always hated my grandpa, he
was cruel. Still the old jerk was certainly
not creative enough to tell tall tales and he was no liar.
I didn't realize that. As a young child, at the time,
he seemed far worse than any witch, get off me.
Demanded my grandpa grumbled and released me.
I complained to my parents we didn't spend weekends at his
house. After that.
Of course we do live in the same Village.
My mom pointed out, you can't avoid him forever.
Just watch me. I remember thinking that my dad
pulled me aside when my mom left the room.
Listen, I hate my father-in-law as much as you.
He's always been a jerk. Don't let your mom know.
I said that he whispered I snorted then my dad's.
Russian changed. I'd never seen him look so
Stern. He was always soft.
He was a clown. He didn't do serious.
However, I will say that, I don't want you to talk about
the, which again, some things are best left alone.
And I did I left her alone for eight years, of course, I grew
up in pendel so it was hard to avoid General talk of witches,
especially at Halloween that being said, I did start to
notice that adults. And barley would climb up when
that dreaded W, word appeared in conversation, I could never
understand why other towns and villages in the county of
Lancashire seemed to derive, great, pleasure from telling
scary stories about the witches of Pendle Hill whilst people in
barley shunned. The topic, I didn't hear of the
real, which again until I went to a sleepover with my, for
closest friends, I suppose, we were still young and foolish
enough to find the myth fascinating, and at the age of
14, we were fueled by testosterone.
We relished in discussing something forbidden.
I cannot as hard as I, Why forget that weekend in December?
The year was 2009. It was the coldest winter in
decades, why we chose to sleep in a tree house on such a brutal
evening. I'll never know, I suppose.
It was another way of proving to ourselves that we were strong.
We weren't children. We sat in a circle and told each
other ghost stories by Torchlight.
I think it might have actually been a lot of fun at first, but
it's hard to remember. Everything afterwards was so
horrible. The weekend, steady decline
began. Michael told his story, there is
a force he began. Oh, not this again.
Jack groaned. What Gareth asked.
Don't encourage him jack side. I'm not sure you've got the
stomach for this one. Gareth Michael laughed.
Menacingly Bradley was snoring away at this point and I Still
Envy him for that. I wonder how different my life
might look. If I'd had the privilege of
missing Michaels story. What I have had the courage to
do things differently. What about you Tommy?
You want to hear my story? Michael asked, I Shrugged
whatever we say. We're going to hear it so just
get on with it. Jack nodded agreeing.
With my point. Gareth lie on his front propped,
on his elbows Jack. Scrolled through his phone.
I wrapped myself up in my sleeping bag.
Focusing on the icy Breeze, that was seeping through the cracks
of the flimsy boards that formed Michaels, rickety Treehouse
somehow. I knew the story, he was going
to tell here, once was a witch who lived in pendel chin.
Michael started. What Gareth interjected.
We all know about the pen tool, which has Michael glared at him.
Did I say which has demet? No I said which now shut up.
And listen in 1612 12 innocent women were convicted of 10
murders and tried for witchcraft not a single one of them ever
harmed a soul in the Modern Age, we all know that don't we
because witches aren't real you jerk, Jack muttered looking down
at His phone and typing away, Michael laughs maniacally.
No, that's not why they were innocent.
The people simply hang the wrong women.
There was only ever one real pendel, which, and she still out
there. She lives in the forest of
Bowland. Hold up.
Gareth said, sitting up 1612, she's like, three hundred ninety
six years, old older than that. Michael answered.
Is that it is that the story. Gareth asked, Jack nodded still.
Looking up from his phone. Yep, that's the entire story.
My grandpa told me about her. I finally said one side, rid my
throat of the stubborn lump that was blocking it.
Why have I never heard of this? Gareth left, that's way cooler
than the original story. About the pendulum, which has
the original isn't a story jerk. Its history people were hanged.
Show some respect. I said Woo, Jack mocked
giggling. Yeah.
Gareth show some respect, dude. Seriously, why haven't I heard
it before? Gareth asked you never heard it
because you didn't grow up in barley.
Gareth Jack explained still absorbed in his phone and
utterly disinterested in the topic of conversation.
That's what Michael always reminds me.
I moved here from clitheroe and Outsiders, just don't get it.
What do you mean? Gareth asked every barley grown
up tells their kid that dumb story.
I explained shrugging. It's a rite of passage or
something. I can't wait to Traumatize my
kids with it. Yeah, you guys are weird.
Gareth laughed. This Village has a real Hot Fuzz
Vibe. Move back to Chorley than a
jerk. Michael barked and did I say?
I'd finish the story. Yes, Jack replied.
No, Michael said, there's a part of the story that you haven't
heard Jack. Oh, well, please do Enlighten us
Jack side, rolling his eyes, Michael Grint.
I know where she lives silence gareth's at their slack.
Like jawed staring at his Idol in eager anticipation.
I don't know why I instantly believed him but I did.
It was some sort of intuition, I froze.
And tried to force back the wave of nausea that threatened to
incite a round of projectile. Vomiting Jack's reaction was the
most surprising. He put his phone down, bullcrap.
Jack said are really going to give us an opportunity to call
you out on one of your lies. You're going to give us a
location that we could visit to prove that you're full of crap.
It's not a lie. Michael assured us, she lives in
a house, right? At the heart of the Boland
Forest. I know how to find it.
And how do you know that Jack asked?
It's a long kept barley secret Michael explained.
That's why it's only people from our village who wet their pants
At The Mention Of pendel, which has only we know that she
exists. Yes.
Okay. But how do you know we're in the
forest to find her? I asked, you know, mr.
Henderson. Our old history teacher, Michael
asked the three of us nodded. I saw him in the pub.
Last Day. He was sitting in the corner.
Crying just himself, mrs. Henderson was at home.
He's in the pub. Most days.
Larry said, Michael explained, he's not been the same since
Millie went missing. Whoa, Jack interjected stop.
We put up with a lot of your crap, but I'm not going to let
you bring a real life. Story into this little ghost
tail. That's messed up.
We all knew Millie, she was a buddy, Michael slammed his fist
on the hardwood floor of the treehouse.
For a second, it felt as if the whole structure might crumble,
but it didn't it quieted Jack, though.
It's not a story. Michael growled.
Let me finish. Okay.
This is why I invited all of you here tonight.
You see, I learned something. I talked to mr.
Henderson Wick, dared me. Make was Michaels, older,
brother. He was a jerk.
You can probably imagine what we called him behind Michael's
back. And what did mr.
Henderson say, darreth asked. Now anxiously biting his nails.
I asked him whether he was okay. Michael continued, I said I
missed Millie. I wasn't a knob.
All right, I only went over to shut Rick up.
I was nice to mr. Henderson.
I didn't expect him to open up and he opened up.
He really opened up just say it Jack side.
He told me that he and Millie went on a bowl and Hiking
weekend but they weren't really hiking.
They were looking for something the pedal which see Mr.
Henderson comes from a long line of Henderson's, one of the
oldest families and barley and they've been passing on a
warning for Generations. Ever since the 1600s, his family
has been telling the villagers of barley to stay away from the
bowl. And Forest, William Henderson
was the only person to ever see the Witch and survived to tell
the tale. He wanted everyone in barley to
know about her. He wanted everyone to stay away,
and they listened folk from other towns ignored him and
said, the Which has had already been tried and hanged, but
William was respected in our Village People.
Trusted him and he did his warning.
Some new lure, fantastic Jack, mocked Michael ignored him when
mr. Henderson are mr.
Henderson heard that story from his father, he became obsessed.
You see William Henderson told his son something that he didn't
tell the rest of the villagers and barley.
It's a secret that's been kept in his family for hundreds of
years. He told his son, something, he
was too scared. To tell his friends and
Neighbors in case. They might feel brave enough to
do something about it. He told his son where the witch
lived. So when mr.
Henderson learned this family, secret, 400 years later.
He wanted to prove that the which was still out there.
Then Millie found his facts, she wanted to go with him.
She wanted to see whether the legend was true like her dad.
She wanted to prove that a, which really exists and mr.
Henderson, just let her come with him.
I asked choking on my own Words, he was excited.
He said he wanted to share the adventure with his daughter.
He didn't heed his own father's warning.
He didn't encounter any danger or maybe he admitted to me, he
didn't really believe the which was real at all.
He was just excited to share something with Millie.
Michael said, is that all he told you Gareth asked,
tentatively Michael shook his head, he looked me dead in the
eye and told me that they found it, they found a house in the
heart of the Boland Forest. They found the which mr.
Henderson did not say that Jack scoffed but even his steady
voice seemed to be waning, he did Michael assured Jack and she
took Millie just just took her. Gareth gulped, I tried to ask
him what happened, Michael replied, he wouldn't tell me, he
told me to go away. Told me some questions weren't
worth answering that he said was what he had finally learned.
Jesus, Jack side, collapsing on his sleeping bag.
Okay, I take it all back. Maybe you could work on the
ending but that was a good horror story.
Yeah. Gareth whimpered crawling into
his own bag. I think I'm ready to call it a
night before I wet my sleeping bag.
Gareth and Jack fell silent. But Michael and I were still
sitting up in our bags. He was staring at me with the
most petrified eyes. It was a look.
I'd seen in the eyes of both, my grandpa and my dad real terror.
It's not a story. Michael whispered before lying
down and turning off the Lamp beside him.
I sat there for a while longer at this point.
I wouldn't blame anyone for thinking the tail to be
make-believe but it's not about the words.
It's about the feeling. Maybe it's something only barley
folk can understand like Michael, I'd caught the fever,
I'd seen the, which not physically, but in my mind and
my dreams, she felt real to me. I didn't need to go to the heart
of Bowland Forest to find out whether she was real.
I already believed the next morning I woke.
Up to the sensation of something heavy landing on my chest.
It was my rucksack. What is this?
We going on, a hike Bradley asked throwing his bag off
himself. Michael was dressed in full
hiking gear and standing by the open trap door to the Treehouse.
He slept through some weird stuff.
Last night, dude. Darreth laughed sitting up in
his sleeping bag and rubbing his eyes the pendel, which Jack
clarified. Oh, right.
Bit old for Ghost Stories, aren't we lads?
Bradley chuckled, he'll grow up eventually.
Don't worry. You're the same age as us
Bradley Jack pointed out anyway. Michael's updated the legend.
He added a pretty freaky story at the end.
Actually David a spooky update. I was impressed.
It's real Michael explained and we're going to find her who
Bradley asked snorting with laughter Millie.
Michael answered everybody fell silent Jack scolded him Mike.
Eagle. Don't be an idiot, man.
You're pushing it too far now, the girls gone, mr.
Henderson told me everything that I told you last night,
Believe it or don't, I couldn't give a crap.
I know, Tom believes me, Michael said, suddenly all eyes were on
me. I looked down at the rucksack,
on my lap. I do believe you.
I said, well, I believe that something bad happened to Millie
out in that Forest. So why would we go out there?
Yeah, which are know which I think is In a pass on that one
Bradley said, I don't want to find somebody.
I thought you were saying, we all needed to grow up Michael
pointed out, and you said it yourself?
Nobody ever found her body, she's still out there, she might
still be alive. She wasn't even then, I knew
that, but I also knew that Michael loved her.
He had always loved her, she had softened his coarseness and he'd
return to being a full-blown jerk when she went missing.
But maybe this wasn't just about finding During her maybe as a
been the case with mr. Henderson.
Michael had the obsession he had to find the Witch and then I had
a horrible thought a thought that sicken me to the very core
of my being. Maybe that was what the which
wanted. Maybe that was how she found her
prey. She got into their heads and
lured them to her Lair. I'd love to give you an answer
but I don't know even after what happened a group of teenagers
searching for a past body. In the forest.
Gareth said, sounds like Stand By Me Everything.
Reference with this guy Bradley left.
Forget it. Let's I'm going home.
I'll tell the villagers of barley about your Brave.
Sacrifice safe travels, my friends and then he disappeared
through the trapdoor. Whatever that leaves the idiot
would only slow us down. Michael said, his words were
pure vitriol at this point. His eyes were red.
It looked as if he hadn't slept all night.
I know. I hadn't.
I'd barely managed more than a couple of hours.
There was no way I was going on a hike.
Like in this sleep-deprived state anyway, I had the excuse
that. Any 14 year old would have my
parents won't, let me, I said, oh, shut up, Michael moaned.
I got your precious permission slips.
My folks, rang your parents last night.
How would we even get to Bolin Forest?
Dude, Jack pointed out. It's a bit far on foot ready?
Idiots? Came a voice from the bottom of
the ladder. We all gathered around the trap
door. I looked down to see Rick
standing at the foot of the tree with a set of Car keys dangling
from his fingers, my heart sank. It was, at that moment, I
realized I had no Escape. Michael wasn't going to take no,
for an answer in the ten years. We had been friends, he had
never taken no for an answer and yet naively.
I had hoped this would be the exception as everyone started
climbing down the ladder. I remember looking at Michael
with tears, in my eyes, I tried my best to hold them back.
I'd accepted the inevitable but we shared a look.
I think for a moment, his Expression was apologetic.
It was as if he were under the witch's spell he probably would
have let Gareth or Jack walk away if they'd really wanted to
do so, but he wouldn't let me. I was his Rock.
So we all piled into Rick's battered.
Old camper van bringing Ruck sacks filled with supplies that
Michael had gathered before. We even woke up and said goodbye
to our parents who were standing and waving in the front yard of
Michael's house. Everything was arranged and our
parents were happy for us to go camping as long as Rick and
Stacy. Girlfriend looked after us on
the trip and brought us back before 6:00 on Sunday night.
I watched Pendle Hill from the car window and thought about how
beautiful it looked in the early morning sun.
I wished more than anything that we were going on a pleasant
stroll, up the hill to find the which anywhere but the forest.
Haven't you got anything better to do than hang out with a bunch
of teenagers, Rick Jack, teased making Gareth snort.
Yeah of course, Rick replied. I'm going to feed you idiots to
the way. Which that sounds much better
than hanging out with you. Rick don't be rude.
They're just kids, Stacy protested.
Aren't you guys only like 18. Gareth asked, 19, quick,
corrected, sorry, mr. Nineteen-year-old, the Earth
responded making Jack laughs. You two, make a cute couple Rick
retorted, which silence Gareth and jack for a while.
So why do you boys really want to go to Boland?
Stacy asked, shouldn't you be busy playing Call of Duty.
They're going to sit around the campfire to listen to each
other's ghost stories, Rick answered, gross, Gareth groaned.
You should be on some kind of register, Jack added.
We're just going on a hike. Michael explained coldly as he
stared vacantly out of the passenger window.
I don't believe you Rick replied shaking his head.
You're a bad liar, little brother.
How about you? Shut up and mind your own
business? Michael asked, dude, how about
you remember? Who's driving you to your new?
A little sleepover spot. Rick pointed out silence.
Anyway, I know you're looking for the witch Bradley.
Told me Rick said, Michael didn't say anything.
He just continued to watch the scenery flood past the window.
I don't really give a crap. Stacy and I won't be going on
your little hike, though will be staying behind and having some
alone time, Rick said what? But Mom said Michael begin.
Yeah, I know wake interrupted, we'll set up camp and Some food
whilst you go on your little Adventure.
So don't walk too far, okay? I don't want to have to go
looking for you and that creepy Forest Michael side.
Fine? Just don't eat everything whilst
were gone. You greedy, idiot.
Screw you Rick left. I listen to music on my iPod for
the rest of the trip. I tried to convince myself.
That wasn't happening. I tried to convince myself that
the which wasn't real, which I'm sure you're already doing but
you just don't get it. Michael's.
Right. People from barley are
different. The, which has some sort of hold
over us. I always believed my grandpa
deep down. I just didn't want to admit it.
I won't tell you where we camped.
I don't want some ignorant person to stumble across this
story and decide they want to go looking for the, which don't do
it. Rick was most certainly a jerk,
but he looked after us, I can't really fault him on this trip.
He was Kinder than usual, the teasing started to fade as we
drove Closer to the forest, he became like Michael and me.
He grew quiet fearful, he was a barley lad after all, he might
not know mr. Henderson story, but everybody
in the village feels something about the which like I said I
can't really explain it. You've got two hours.
Rick said as he and Stacy started to put up the tents.
That's not enough time Michael protested.
Clicking together the rucksack straps across his chest two
hours Rick repeated fiercely. Lee, we didn't question him.
Everyone was on edge, even Jack and Gareth seemed to sense that
something was wrong with The Barley kids, they seemed a
little nervous. We'd infected them with are
superstitious fear. So we just blindly walk through
trees, Jack asked Henderson. Told me where to go, Michael
explained, you don't have a map or something.
Gareth asked. No, no, Gareth.
I don't have a map, Michael side.
Let me guess. Jack said it's a barley thing.
Michael didn't respond Gareth turned to face me.
I was walking at the back of the line as we weave between tall
trees. What's the time?
He asked me? My phone's dead already, Jack
left, you wouldn't last, two seconds on your own, shut up.
I would have charged it before we left, but somebody didn't
even tell us we were going on a camping trip this weekend.
Gareth shouted. Nobody forced you.
Michael said you always forced Tom.
He feels so Sorry for you. We all do.
So we go along with what you say, Jack said or maybe unjust
the alpha of the group and you'd all be lost without me.
Michael suggested, laughing bull crap Jack, retorted you throw a
hissy fit when you don't get your way.
We were just avoiding a scene. Keep telling yourself that
Michael replied, I'm here for Milli.
You only want to find the Witch and maybe you feel guilty about
that. It's okay.
I looked at my phone and finally answer.
Original question, 12:57, more key Garrett said, so we turn
around and head back to camp at 2:00.
We turn around when we have found Millie, Michael answered
Marching for Words. Michael were not going to find
Millie Jack said his tone becoming aggressive.
We're not going to find anything.
We're turning around at 2:00 in the afternoon and we'll get back
to the camp. A three?
Yeah, I'll be hungry by then I haven't even had lunch.
Gareth said I packed everything. We need Michael explained there
are crisps in your bag. Eat up and shut up other than
the sound of Gareth munching. We were silent for a little
while a long while actually, after about an hour.
I looked at my phone screen prep, it's 2007.
I said, come on, Michael, let's turn around the sun will have
almost set by the time we get back, we're nearly there,
Michael insisted, we can't turn back now.
Well, I'm turning around, Gareth said.
Spinning on his heel and stomping past me.
Screw this fine. Throw, he went Michael spat.
We're all going Jack said, firmly you trying to be the
leader. Michael asked turning around and
squaring up to Jack. You haven't got the guts, we
don't have a leader, Jack replied standing his ground,
stop being an idiot and come back with us.
No, I'll just do it on my own Michael mumbled, continuing on
his way without us, we should go.
After him, I saw I'd screw in Jack said, I'm not going to get
lost in the middle of this forest in the dark and neither
are you come back with us? He'll turn around.
He can't do anything without you Tom, I begrudgingly followed
Gareth and Jack back to Camp. I hope they were right.
I hope Michael would get cold feet and follow us.
He didn't. We were all starting to feel the
chill of Bolin Forest as the sky.
Turned a mesmerising shade of orange and eased Into Darkness.
Yeah, we're long. Walk back to Camp passed quickly
when we arrived. However, the site was deserted,
there were three fully pitched tents and a smoldering pile of
lugs. In the dirt, there was an open
packet of marshmallows, some were lost in the mud.
There were six camp chairs. Two of them were also lying in
the mud. Thanks for ruining the
marshmallows. Jerk Gareth yelled at no one.
Are they here? Jack asked walking over to the
camper van? They're not in here.
Then we heard a haunting sound a razor, sharp scream that pierced
the air, and cause the three of us to immediately throw our
hands to our ears. What the hell?
Gareth cried shaking that sounded like a woman.
It must have been Stacey. I said, oh, Jack said, lowering
his hands from his ears. I get it.
What I asked, they're messing with us, Michael, Rick and
Stacy. They planned this whole trip to
scare us Jack said before starting to Bellow, Nice prank
guys, he can come out now. Nothing, I guess they're really
committing to the bit. Gareth suggested gulping, Jack
pointed to the forest, only a few hundred yards from the
field. We chosen for our campsite,
they're hiding behind some trees and giggling, Jack explained to
heck with them. I say, let's eat some grub and
wait for them to get bored. I'm freezing my hands off out
here, and they must be cold to will restart the campfire to
draw them to us. Us Gareth.
And I follow Jack's lead sitting into of the Still Standing camp
chairs and proceeding to roast some marshmallows, half an hour
passed, then an hour, then another and another 6:30 p.m.
it's pitch-black and freezing cold out there.
Why would they still be pranking us?
Gareth asked, I don't know, and I don't really care.
Those brothers are jerks, Jack side picking up the portable
stove and throwing it at me, feel like cooking us some proper
food. Camp.
I looked up from my lap. I've been sitting there
silently, contemplating. Everything Michael had told us,
there was a cutting Breeze in the air.
Something unnatural the campfire, had warmed us up, but
I felt a different kind of coldness, something.
I can't explain everything felt wrong.
I pushed it aside, I did, as Jack said, I wasn't being a
pushover. I just preferred his plan of
staying away from the forest. I was scared.
I was a coward and I know I was a coward.
Because I knew that scream had been real.
I knew something had happened to Stacy Rick and possibly even
Michael. He'd been gone for hours.
I cooked some sausages and clumsily shove them in buns,
passing them shakily to Gareth and Jack we ate in silence.
My friends weren't their usual chatty selves and I know they
wouldn't ever have admitted it, but they were scared.
They were starting to have their doubts, about the whole thing,
being a prank. It wasn't until 8:00 that any of
us said anything, and it wasn't who you doubt.
Expect to speak up. Something's wrong.
Gareth said, leaping out of his chair.
We have to go and find them. I pulled my earphones out in
Jack, put his phone down, it's cold, and it's dark Jack
replied. You really want to go out there.
They're not pranking us. Gareth whispered quivering.
We've been here for five hours. They're not pranking us.
I think we should all just go to bed and wait until morning.
Jack said, it'll be light and we can figure out what's happening.
Plus Us, they'll probably have caved in crawled back into their
tents, or maybe they're camping out there on their own.
They don't have any supplies I pointed out.
They left everything here. The place was a mess.
There was that scream Garrett's right?
Something's wrong, no Tom. Well what do you want to do Jack
questioned? The two of them looked at me.
I didn't want to March into the forest and save anyone.
I wanted to go home. I think we need to phone our
parents and tell them something's wrong.
I said Jack and Gareth groaned. Great idea.
That's a sure way for us to never be allowed to do anything
like this. Again, Gareth side.
Something might have happened to them.
I insisted. We have to be sensible, guys.
I'm all for avoiding the forest, Tom, but we're not snitching to
our parents. No, to that Jack said, shaking
his head two options. We go to sleep.
Are we search for them? I vote.
We search for them. Garrett said, I vote.
We go to bed. Ed Jack said turning to me
deciding vote, Tom, Michael's not here.
Now, this is finally, a democracy.
I looked down at the campfire, wishing for Rick Stacy and
Michael to come running out of the trees with smiles on their
faces but they didn't and I had to make a decision.
I wanted to phone my parents, I wanted to run back to Barley if
necessary I could have followed the dirt path back to the main
road. Five hours, I reckoned five
hours to walk home. I wish Done that.
But peer pressure is a supernatural force of its own
foolishly. I voted to search for our
missing friends. I might have been a coward but I
couldn't live with the prospect of cozying up in a tent while
something Unholy was happening in the heart of that Dreadful
Forest. So Guided by the Torches, that
Michael had packed for us. We delved into the forest Jack
and I had gone to Scouts together, but we were not
equipped for this. We had no idea how to navigate
The Forest of Bowland at night. We had no idea how to to track
missing people. Instead, we were Guided by
adrenaline boy, stupidity, and perhaps a smidge of Bravery.
Stacy, are you okay? I called Rick Michael.
Garrett's shouted, not a sound, not even the rustling of tree
leaves, such an icy night and yet the air was still.
So, why could I still feel wisps of wind?
Like, Winters breath, washing over my skin, I can forgive
Gareth and jack for ignorantly running into the witch's Forest.
I should have known better. Everyone from barley knows
better. This is hopeless.
Gareth cried. We should go, no Jack
interrupted, lifting his boot, out of something that made us
squelching noise. What is this?
Dareth and I slowly walk towards our crouching Friend, Casting
our torch lights on to what he held in his hands.
God Gareth shuttered, before turning, and vomiting behind
him. Jack immediately.
Dropped the squishy object trembling as he returned to
reality. And He realized what he picked
up with his bare hands. It's a site that haunts me to
this day. A heart, a human heart.
I'm no biologist. But I knew it was human.
No Jack cried. We have to find them.
I said calmly, I was stunned by my balance composure.
Perhaps I wasn't a coward after all more.
Perhaps I was in shock. I'd probably know if I were ever
to see a therapist but I'm sure they'd have me committed.
If I were ever to tell them the rest of the story that I'm about
to tell you. You see, I'd love to say that.
Gareth and Jack. Didn't listen to me.
I'd love to say that they decided we should go back to the
tents but we were boys and boys follow leaders in the absence of
Michael. I seem to have assumed that role
perhaps that would have always been my role in the Friendship
group. If I'd ever fought for it.
Perhaps, I could have challenged Michael in the treehouse and
prevented any of this from happening.
What if, as we marched on words, I felt A Renewed sense of
confidence. Something I had in Possessed
since the age of six before my grandpa, and dad had traumatized
me into being a sheltered little limb.
I wish I'd stayed a frightened lamb rather than the dumb person
who decided to delve deeper into the woods.
What was that? Gareth whimpered.
What was white? I asked as we continue to walk
through the block and Forest, I heard something behind me.
Gareth whispered, I stopped walking and turned around
casting the Torchlight on to my two friends, the color left my
face and any ounce of courage. We're fully vacated my body.
I screamed I screamed louder than I knew, I could scream.
There was a figure behind Jack. A pale woman was strolling
between the trees. I thought it was the witch help.
She said weakly it wasn't the, which there was Stacy.
The three of us rushed over to her and Gareth dive to cushion.
Her fall has her knees, buckled, and she fell to the ground.
What happened? Jack questioned, kneeling beside
her. I was relieved to see that she
didn't seem to have a cab. Vernis hole in her chest, but
whose heart was it? That was all we wanted to know
anyway. That didn't mean Stacy looked
physically. Well, she didn't her face was
grey Wick. She cried pressing her face into
Gareth shirt. He just he disappeared.
What do you mean? I asked, where did he go?
We were at the camp, Stacy sniffled.
He said he heard something. I thought he was playing a cruel
joke on me. He said she was calling to him.
He said he had to Find her. Whoo.
Gareth asked Millie. Stacy whispered.
How did you end up out here? Did you follow him?
Jack questioned. Stacy nodded.
I saw something. I can't.
I don't know. Please, we have to go.
We have to find Rick and Michael.
I pleaded. She shook her head.
No, they're gone. We found you.
So we can find them. I insisted.
Gareth and Jack were in a state of uncontrollable Panic.
We were children. Hard to understand that when
you're young, but I saw it for a brief fleeting moment.
Then I snapped back into my leadership role.
I don't know why, I think I wanted to prove something to
myself. I wanted to be brave.
I wanted to be a hero. Rick, Stacy, wind, he tore out
his the four of us fell. Silent Gareth, turned paler than
Stacy pulling himself away from her.
So he could empty his guts into a nearby Bush.
She didn't need to finish her sentence.
We knew what he tore out. We didn't however expect her to
say what she said next and after he after he did that after he
tore it out, he just carried on walking.
She sobbed what Jack questioned where is his body Stacy.
Listen to me, she pleaded assuming a fetal position on the
ground. He didn't die.
He walked away. We still need to find Michael.
I stated firmly, Stacy sat upright and screamed at me.
You don't know what I saw it. Sounds horrible.
Bill. But I started not that she
interrupted that was only the start.
I told you I saw something. I want to go home.
Gareth cried and Jack hugged him.
So does Michael, I said, whatever Stacey saw he's still
out there. We have to save him, jack
stopped hugging Gareth and he walked slowly towards me.
There was such a disgusted look on his face, Rick's dead, Tom
and Michael isn't here for all. We know that little psycho is
the one who did This he's the reason we're all here, isn't he?
There's always been something wrong with him, something wrong
with his mind. So no, I'm not going to risk my
life for him. Nobody else is dying tonight.
That doesn't explain what Rick did.
I replied that doesn't explain what Stacey saw.
We have to go Stacey cried stumbling to her feet and
tugging at gareth's leave, Jack whispered to me Stacy's got PTSD
or something, I don't know. Wake up Tom Um week didn't rip
his heart out and walk away. No something else did it to him,
I muttered trying to repress the fear that was clawing at the
surface of my mind. Jack suddenly shoved me to the
ground, it knocked the wind right out of me.
I looked up at him and confusion pulling myself to my feet dies.
Gareth protested. Shut up.
Gareth Jack shouted. Are you really trying to say?
What I think you're trying to say Tommy, I held up my hands.
I know you don't believe. There is no which has everybody
lost their minds Jack built it at the top of his lungs.
Then there was the faint sound of humming, we all stopped and
listened. Stacy looked bewildered.
Wiping the tears from her face and watching we three boys
exchange horrified. Looks at one another Millie
Gareth whispered sobbing, that's her favorite Psalm.
I cried fervently clinging to my last strand of Sanity.
She'd be told off for humming it in class.
What are you saying? Stacey cried.
And I don't hear any humming please.
This is all in your heads. Don't leave me.
Not like Rick. Michael Jack said it has to be
Michael. He's toying with us, it isn't
Michael. Stacy screeched.
We have to leave this place. I agree.
Jack replied. Let's go.
Screw you, Michael you guys get Stacey back to Camp.
I have to keep going. I said, what was propelling me?
Forwards? The farther.
We walked the sicker, I felt in the pit of my stomach and yet as
we vanished into the Of the forest, the more compelled.
I felt to find whatever I was trying to find.
It wasn't Michael. I knew that much Stacy wailed,
no, please I can't leave you on your own.
Please don't make me come with you.
We need to go back to the camp. Come on, Tom Jack said putting a
hand on my shoulder and speaking more gently you've done enough
for him. You don't have to keep going.
You're not under his spell anymore with tears.
In my eyes, I smiled at my dear friend and said Thing that I
wouldn't understand until later, I'm sorry, I kept walking, I
knew that Gareth. Stacy and Jack would follow.
They did not protest, but Stacy continued to cry, the boys,
followed the siren Call of Millie's hum as I did.
Then we saw it something. None of us had really expected
to see a small house, little more than a derelict shed really
situated. In the midst of this dense tree
cluster was a tiny little house. What is this Gareth asked?
Is this house doing out here? I don't like it Jack whispered.
The Voice is coming from there. I said, it's a trap.
Stacy said, she's not really in there and, you know, it, you
know, it Tom, please stop this. I have to go inside Millie and
Michael are in there. I said, I cannot describe how I
felt. I was not possessed, I did not
hear the cackling voice of some Sinister, which in my head.
There were no demons telling me to off my friends.
I felt entirely in control of my life.
Limbs and my mind nonetheless, I was not myself.
I was filled with an urge and urge to go into that haunted
hellhole. I started to walk towards the
front door, but Stacy barge past me still sobbing her heart out,
I suddenly realized, she had Gareth torch in her hand.
But me, I remember her crying as she sprinted towards the door.
She thought she was protecting us.
She thought she was the grown-up and we all thought that at the
time. But she was 19.
She was a child. Like us, Stacy, grab the door
handle shaking as she did, so and called out Millie.
Michael, are you in there? I'm going to come in darreth
Jack and I stood, a few yards behind her, we waited with bated
breath wondering, what could possibly lie inside?
It was too dark for us to see. Stacy opened the door revealing
nothing. But Darkness she slowly lifted
her torch and we all breathed a collective sigh of relief.
It was just a house. She stood in a narrow hallway
with doors lining either side and there was a painting on the
wall at the end. I couldn't quite make out the
picture from that distance but it looked familiar.
Stacy stepped inside. Shining her light onto each of
the doors and calling out for million Michael again faster
than any gust of wind could have carried it.
The front door slammed behind her she screamed Stacey Gareth
yelled lunging at the door he and Jack started ramming their
shoulders into it whilst I simply clasp.
Of my hands onto my head. Dropping my torch to the ground.
What had I done? Where had I let us.
I still wanted to believe it wasn't real.
This was just a house. Rick.
Michael. And Stacey were pranking us.
That heart was fake. It wasn't real Tommy.
Jack shouted slamming into the door that wouldn't budge help
us. I snapped out of it and join my
friends, eventually, the latch snapped and the door flew open,
my bravery seem to have abandoned me.
So I let Jack, take charge, he led the way with his torch and I
followed to mentally broken to remember to pick up my Fallen
torch, we stepped into the house, I don't know why.
I think we all knew that they were gone we just couldn't
accept it or maybe that same Force.
The same thing that hummed at us was drawing us inside Stacee
Jaxx shouted which door Stacy. The house was a bungalow and it
only had one hallway with six doors.
There were six rooms that could be holding our One at a time
Jack said, opening the first door on his left.
Gareth and I cowered behind him watching, as he illuminated the
first room, there was nothing in there, but a pile of rucksacks,
their rucksacks, they're here. Gareth whispered, they have to
be here, Jack, quietly. Close the door, and we shuffled
across the hallway to the first door on the right, a bedroom
there were scribblings on the walls.
In some language, we couldn't understand for more rooms with
each door, we opened. My throat seem to close a little
more, tightly. The second door on the left
offered nothing but a book on the floor, jack cast, his torch
on it. The Pied Piper of barley was the
title on the front. Where are you?
Gareth screamed into the empty space, Jack clasped a hand to
our friends mouth. And with this torch holding
hand, he raised a finger to his lips, darreth nodded.
And we shuffled silently across the hallway.
It was the second door on the right that gave Jack a reason to
hesitate. Placed his hand on the door
handle, Stand Back. Jack said something about this
room. Do you hear that hear what?
I asked feebly of its own accord.
The door to the fourth room flew, open, what we saw next to
something that I cannot explain there, stood Stacey with her
face contorted in a way that defied all laws of Nature's.
All I can tell you is that her eyes were gone.
Her sockets were two black, kazan's.
Stacy was gone. She looked as if she had stared
into the The face of fear itself, the worst part was that
she was still alive. She lifted a shaky arm and
stretched her bony fingers towards us.
I think she wanted help. I think she wanted the end.
Stacy Gareth cried squeezing between Jack and me.
He knocked Jack's arm as he ran into the room and the torch went
flying out of his hand. Gareth wait, Jack, screamed, the
door, slammed behind him without the last torch, we had been
plunged into complete darkness. I was Afraid to walk back
outside and find mine Jack fiddled with the door handle,
but it wouldn't budge. Neither of us.
Had the energy left to fight it. I think we realized we couldn't
fight it. I realized I had my phone, so I
slid it from my pocket. I used the flashlight to find
Jack who was leaning with his back against the now-closed,
fourth door. He had his hands on his knees.
They're not making a sound in there.
He said, nobody leaves this house, do they?
I don't think so. I replied.
Solemnly casting the light on the third right-hand door to
more rooms. Tom Millie is gone.
Rick is gone, Stacy is gone, and now Gareth Jack stopped,
stifling his tears. Michael is gone too.
You know that I just I paused I think Michaels here maybe Jack
nodded and maybe he's messed up like everyone else.
Look, I've seen some stuff, I can't explain.
Okay, I believe I believe in the way.
You and I can still make it out of here.
I ignored Jack and walked over to the third door on the right.
We'd reached the end of the hallway and I remembered
something, the painting, I slowly lifted, my phone like to
get a better. Look at it.
It was a picture of a pond with three figures standing beside
it. A boy a girl and an old man,
that's when I realized it was my grandpa's Sammy.
And I it was a painting of that day in the picture, my grandpa
was clutching my wrist. The brushstrokes captured that
horrifying expression he'd worn on his face as he told me of the
real pendel, which it's me. That's me in the painting.
I whispered. What are you saying?
Jack cried from behind me. Let's go whilst we still can Tom
but I couldn't I reach for the door handle to the third room on
the right and lightly pushed it open inside.
There was a boy standing up in a boy lying At His Feet Rick and
Michael Rick. I gently whispered, I had my
light firmly. Stated on his looming.
Figure, he shuffled around to look at us.
There was a bloody hole in the center of his jumper, and he
revealed a face, even ghastlier than the one we had just seen on
Stacy, unlike her. Rick did not look as if he had
seen the face of fear. He did not look scared at all.
In fact, beneath the black empty holes were, his eyes used to be.
He wore a toothy grin. That stretched from ear to ear.
It haunts me. I still see Rick's face.
I still see him raising a finger to his lips and making a shush.
Rushing sound. I remember his Wheezy laugh, I
remember him pointing at the floor behind him unable to utter
a peep. I shakily move my phone light to
the floor. There, lay the remains of
Michael. He was missing an arm two of his
legs and both of his eyes, but they weren't black holes.
Like the ones that Stacy and Rick had.
They were red wounds claw. Marks ran down his face.
He was pointing at something in the corner of the room, I found
her Michael groaned the which made Henderson do it.
I leaned around the door frame and cast my light into the
corner there. It was a pile of bones wearing
hiking clothes, Millie. I finally started to cry and
when I turned around to find Jack, he was gone, it was just
me Michael. And what used to be Rick Jack?
I screamed nothing, the fifth door, slammed in my face, the
brothers were gone, Jack was gone.
I found myself standing alone in the hallway.
I could feel a weight lifting from my Mind as if I had been in
a trance and now I could see. I wondered why I was still in
that house. I turned on my heel and I bawled
the open doorway that led back out into the forest, but
something still had my body, I couldn't move and that was when
the sixth and final door creaked open the third door on the left,
I found my feet carrying me towards it.
I remember glancing at the painting at the end of the
hallway. Before I entered the room, the
three Figures were gone. There was a silhouette between
the Trees in moved out of sight. I found myself standing in the
last room and the door closed behind me.
It was cold like no coldness. I'd ever felt in dark.
Like, no Darkness. I'd ever seen.
I felt my arm moving. I couldn't stop it.
My phone light was moving across the walls slowly making its way
towards something. At the back of the room.
No, I cried trying desperately to stop myself.
I didn't want to see what was at the back of the room.
I could hear breathing. I couldn't move.
My limbs, but I could move my lips.
Wait, I pleaded, why did you let William Henderson?
Go my arm stopped, my whole body stopped, the breathing stopped.
Whilst I had control of my limbs.
I let the phone dropped to the floor.
It landed face up. So the flashlight was pressed
against the floor. I breathed a sigh of relief, I
didn't want to be forced to see what Stacey and Rick had.
Seen made a deal a voice whispered, it wasn't the voice
of a woman who was It wasn't the voice of a man I always say it
was the devil but I do that to help myself sleep at night
truthfully, whatever was in that room scared me more than the
devil. What deal?
I went bird I'll never forget seeing her blackened silhouette
as she moved in front of the one window in the room.
Dim Moonlight wasn't dim enough to completely hide her seven
foot tall, gangly Limbs and ahead, far, bigger than that, of
any human. I see her in my dreams.
I see her in my waking hours. I'm lucky.
I dropped the phone. What I'd be like, Stacy or Rick.
If I'd seen her in the light must eat.
That was all she said before I passed out, but I knew what she
wanted. She had already told me what I
needed to do. The book on the floor, the Pied
Piper of barley, she would let me stay alive, but I had to
continue what William Henderson had started the tales.
He told the villagers of barley had been leading victims to the
which for years. Maybe he hadn't given exact
directions but all it takes is a spark.
Arc and idea, of course, everyone in barley knows, the
story, but not, everyone feels the pole, maybe it only works on
the broken mr. Henderson ignited that spark and
Michael. He planted the idea of the which
and Michael did the rest. I like to think our dear old
history teacher did not willingly lead his daughter to
the slaughter, just as Michael did not willingly lead our
friends to that house, mr. Henderson was just a fool who
learned the hard way what his ancestor had really done to make
it out of the bowl and house alive.
And like the Hendersons. I knew what needed to be done.
When I woke in the morning, I was back at the campsite, I rang
my parents and told them that everyone had gone missing in the
woods. I told them they tried to find
Millie, but I stayed in the tent I'm 27.
It's been 13 years and the families of my friends still
hunt for their missing children. But they don't know where to
look, I could have told them where to go, but the, which
would not have taken kindly to an angry mob.
I misdirected the police and her house was never found.
Not everyone in barley is pray. Some of us are just storytellers
The Witches, pied, Pipers, speaking of which, I still see
mr. Henderson in the village from
time to time. I think he knows what I am.
I think he knows what I've done. He shames me with a glare but no
more than he shames himself, heed my warning, the Pendle
which is real. She's something far older than
you or me and she's hungry, very hungry.
I I think, you know why? I have told you this story.
I think you finally understand. I am sorry.
It's an idea and I have to plant it.
If you feel something pulling you deep into the forest of
Bowland, please forgive me. Every time I glanced at my leg,
I'm haunted by Memories. The pain was gone as was most of
the injury, but the scar was still there.
It looked like something tried to bite my leg clean off.
And that's usually the story. I tell people when they ask
fighting off an animal is a lot more believable than what
actually happened. The other boys in my cabin had
decided to skip out on the campfire one night and
investigate the forest much to. My surprise, they invited me
blinded by the idea of having Being friends.
I didn't think twice about joining them.
I've come to regret that day ever since once the campfire
started and we told the cabin counselor that we were going to
sleep. We set out to the forest, the
leader of the group. A kid named Braden took the lead
and let us deeper and deeper into the woods Camp.
Nightingale had a rumor that there was a monster lurking
within its Woods. Of course, no one believed it or
at least, I thought they didn't. As I look to my left, I noticed
that Daniel a kid with a Body type more similar to.
Mine was wielding a slingshot. Any good that would do.
I thought we're not actually going to find anything, you guys
know that, right? I asked looking around the group
of laughing and joking boys, who were all sporting various
amounts of weapons. They just laughed, probably not,
but it would be awesome if we did.
The kid said, aiming his slingshot and me and preparing
to launch, whatever he was aiming at I flinched instantly
stopping my walk as the group chuckled.
Still the butt of the joke. I thought that's when I heard
it. It was so synced with my
footsteps that I almost missed it.
But the moment I stopped something behind me, took
another step before pausing. I froze, tilting my head around
to see what it was. Unfortunately, without Braden's
flashlight. I had no luck in finding what it
was. Yo, can you shine your light on
something? Behind me?
I stammered Brayden was confused, but did so, I studied
his expression, which turned into Mission aside from the
hundreds of trees, there was nothing behind me.
Stop being such a wimp. Like you said, we're not
actually going to find anything. I rolled my eyes jogging to
catch up with them, duh. I just thought it might be a
bear that caused an uproar in laughter a bear out here, man,
you're dumb. The third kid Thomas spoke for
the next 10 minutes. Things went smoothly and nothing
happened. We had only been traveling in
One Direction. Which Braden thought was good
enough to act as our way back. Also, I have this he shook the
smartphone in the are proudly the Google Maps app open, it
didn't make me feel all that much relieved, but I dropped it
once, we reach the edge of the forest.
I started getting the feeling that we were being watched yet
again and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up, then
something rustled in the bushes. This time, I wasn't the only one
who heard it. Brayden pointed at the bush,
Daniel aimed his slingshot and Tom Pulled out a pocketknife.
I never knew he had with nothing in my possession to fight back.
I picked up a stick. I found beneath me pointing it
at whatever was behind the bush. I expected that after a tense
moment, a rabbit would pop out as the cartoons, which show.
But that moment of silence never came something emerged from the
Shadows lanky and covered in fur, its shape was unlike any
other animal I'd ever seen. In fact, I wasn't even sure it
was an animal. Its body was long.
IMS gripping onto a tree scurrying away.
The moment, the light hit its face but those few seconds gave
me all the time. I needed to make out the Beast
features. It had a snout like a deer yet.
It walked upright though for a coded its skin.
I could tell that it was almost decaying with black spots on its
flesh. Its face was hideous with black
gums lining, yellow teeth, instantly.
All of us, let out a shriek and dashed in the opposite
direction. I was able to keep up with them
for the first 30 yards, but they All much more athletically built
and I soon fell behind as I tried to shout my lungs burned.
Muffling my voice, I felt like I was coughing up fluid soon.
The light projected by the flashlight, diminished behind
the ever-growing Sea of trees. I took in the are trying to call
out for one last time, but before I got the chance, I
collided with a tree and I lost Consciousness.
The first hint of daylight crept through the Treetops and the
birds welcome the dawn with their songs.
My bones ache from having slept on the uneven ground, but
despite it all my eyes had finally opened memories of the
encounter drove me to jump to my feet, no matter how dizzy that
made me, I looked around searching the surrounding area
for both, anyone from the camp and the thing I saw earlier, but
there was no sign of either. However, there remained another
problem, I didn't know how I was going to get back after being
unconscious for quite some time. I forgot.
Which way I was running to. Swallowed back fear realizing
that the monster I saw could still be lurking in the forest
with nothing else to do. I began walking my legs feeling
like lead. That was when I took a step
landing on what felt like hard metal.
I barely had the opportunity to look down before the jaws of a
bear trap clamped down coming close to severing my right foot
cartoonishly triangular blades, dug into my skin one completely
piercing through my bone. It took everything.
I had to not pass out right there.
I tried to let out a scream but my throat choked up.
And all I could manage was a dry rasp as I fell to the ground,
the bear trap flipped with me. My first thought was to open it.
However, it wasn't like what I'd seen in the movies, it was
bolted shut with several parts and components that I couldn't
dream of ever figuring out. Once I realized, I wasn't going
to open it. My heart rate spiked, and I
began yelling my frail voice. Barely left my throat sobs.
Overtaking the words, it deafening silence.
Did me I kept calling out for help with no response and I must
have lost a lot of liquid. Because I got lightheaded, I
tried to keep moving, but I could barely lift my arms.
Forcing me to stop. I know that it was probably my
paranoia getting to me, but it seemed that there was always
something in my peripherals only making an effort to move when I
wasn't looking. It got so bad that after a few
hours, I considered ripping my leg off, of course, when I so
much as touched it and excruciating pain.
Shot through my entire body after letting go.
I lay on the hard ground, just beginning to drift to sleep.
Hoping that someone would come back for me.
That's when I heard branches cracking, my eyes immediately
shot. Open the idea of sleeping
suddenly becoming foreign to me my body, jump to life
frantically searching my surroundings to see where the
noise came from. Noticing, the rock beside me.
I picked it up before immediately, looking back up.
How I wish I hadn't there was something there.
Two large white orbs. Floated in the air about eight
or nine feet away, they were far too big to belong to a small
Critter and it was positioned at least seven feet tall.
Giving them considerable size. The creatures body was long
within like, supporting a frail torso, that looked like it was
made of sticks. Its body was covered in matted
fur, except for its head. Its jaw was unhinged open and
revealing rows of teeth. However, what was interesting
was that the teeth weren't all that sharp?
In fact it didn't seem like any part of the creature could be of
any trouble. Its body was way too skinny for
it. To actually attack.
It was more like a sickly animal with no strength to speak of as
I waited to see what it was going to do.
Wondering if it was trying to hurt me, I began to realize
something, it wasn't trying to attack me.
Instead it simply watched wide unblinking eyes, not taking the
slightest interest in anything around me.
I glared back as if it was, the only thing I could do those.
Sun began to shine it. Remained motionless at night,
the creature looked terrifying but in the sunlight where I
could make out every detail even more so Fletching The Rock, I
throw it as hard as I can. It hit the creature in the
shoulder but aside from awkwardly shuffling back it
didn't seem to notice it dehydration had begun to set in
and I was feeling dizzy as the creature watched it reminded me
of something the way it watched its prey to the end before, I
could only assume it eats. Smee reminded me of vultures
it's funny, as I was asking myself.
If dehydration or hunger would get me first.
The creature was thinking the same, exact question, as my
vision slowly began to blur. I noticed that it was slowly
getting closer. When my eyes would close for a
moment. I'd opened them in its head
would only be an inch away from mine.
Causing me to jump the creature would do the same bolting behind
the safety of a tree, but as this act of ours repeated for
several times that Teacher would be less afraid each time until
eventually it would no longer move.
I wave my arms violently but still no response.
My stamina was running low and there was no sign of anyone else
coming for me, the more exhausted I got the more I
wanted to give in to the idea of passing the pain, in my right
leg was becoming unbearable. And at this point, death was a
preferable outcome to continuing in the very bottom of the pit of
despair. I lay there, limp, and
completely spent. Not moving another muscle.
Despite the fact the creature was glaring down at me, I
couldn't care anymore. My eyelids began to grow heavy,
my Consciousness growing cloudier by the second, but just
before I could be taken away a voice rang out.
Oh my God, it was loud, startling me awake.
I look toward the source of the noise and found that it was
Braden. And his friends along with the
Camp staff, they all rushed in the creature, jolting its head
up to face them, scurry. Off before everyone else could
even get to me. The next couple of minutes
passed by in a blur, the Camp staff managed to free my leg
from the bear trap. I was sent to the infirmary for
treatment, then released with instructions to remain on
crutches for the rest of the month.
When I asked them about the creature.
They said they thought it was just a bear, but couldn't tell
for sure. Maybe I was just imagining the
whole thing. All that mattered was that I
survived. However, lingers of the despair,
I felt from that day. Never Left for some reason, I
can't shake the memory of that creature from my mind and the
fear it induced Within Me. All right, I spent my entire
slow day at work yesterday. Reading through this sub.
So now I want to share my little story.
My childhood best friend Marie and I were around 11 or 12 years
old at the time. Marie's family had their own
Campsite in a Provincial Park about two hours from our
hometown and would spend the entire summer each year living
in their camper out there. This particular summer I was
able to go and stay with them for a week and we were excited
to spend our time adventuring around the forest.
On the last night that I was there.
We decided we wanted to hurry down to the ice cream shop by
the lake before it closed. It was early evening at this
point, still pretty bright out, but beginning to lose light, the
path, we took was down a short slope right next to the main
road with maybe 10 feet of thick brush and trees in between, on
the other side was the forest with more tall thick brush.
So we were walking along, not seeing a single other person on
the path in front or behind us. We hear a sudden rustling.
Being and snapping of branches, similar to the sound of, maybe a
deer moving through the woods. I wouldn't have thought anything
of it, but then the sound of running footsteps follows Marie
glances back and suddenly grabs my arm.
Urging me under her breath. Not to look back at the same
time, the running stops. I don't know why I didn't ignore
her and get a look myself. I guess I could sense the very
real fear in her voice and chose to listen, we both start to
panic getting that feeling like when you're running up the
stairs, After turning the basement, light off we pick up
speed as much as we can without breaking into a Sprint.
Knowing the ice cream shop is only about a minute walk away at
this point, the path soon brakes and we are in the parking lot.
Suddenly Marie, steers me hard to the left.
Heading towards the lake and the boat rental instead of
continuing straight to the ice cream shop and I go along with
it silently. Understanding ice cream is no
longer an interest right now. Maria's clearly panicking at
this point. We are We're both looking around
but it seems whatever scared her is nowhere.
In sight. At this point Marie, walks up to
the boat rental and gets us a kayak.
And we climb in and begin to paddle out into the middle of
the lake as we paddle. She tells me that there was a
man behind us and that the man had stopped running at us.
Very abruptly upon making eye contact with her.
He had been wearing a long black coat with the hood up, despite
it being the middle of July, he had a terrible smirk on his face
and she swore that as he stopped running, she saw him put Shiny
away into his coat, he appeared to have just emerged out of the
bushes. After we walked past, given the
sounds, we heard right before he came running onto the path, we
reach the center of the lake and stop paddling, I pull out my
Nokia brick phone that my parents had thank God given me
just in case I hand it to Marie and tell her to call her parents
to come pick us up as the phone rings I see her.
Look out past me to the shore and go pale.
Lifting a hand to point to what she's seeing.
I Turn. And there was the man stalking
his way around the path that circled the edge of the lake
staring out at us. We sat in the middle of the lake
and watched him do two full laps.
Never looking away from us before finally disappearing.
It took a few tries to get ahold of her family.
We were freaking out so bad the whole time as the sun got lower
and lower. We did manage to have someone
come with the truck but by the time we reach the shore, it was
pretty dark outside. I don't know what we would have
done if we hadn't been able to call for a ride.
I'd looking back. I don't know why.
We didn't just go up to the ice cream shop, inform an adult
there and ask her parents to come get us then, but it worked
out. We got back safe and we
thankfully never saw the man again.
And someone who loves to take long walks on the beach in the
early mornings, when very little to nobody else, is there the sea
spray on my face and the salt air in my nostrils?
Always helped make the eight hour shifts.
I spend behind a desk somewhat tolerable and the sight of the
sun rising out on the Misty. Waves has always filled me with
a sense of calm, however, that changed yesterday.
When I was out for my walk, it was a slightly rougher day, the
waves were crashing on Shore, a bit harder than normal.
And the wind was whipping, something fierce.
As I Strode across the beach. I noticed something out of
place, being pummeled around in the surf.
Like it was a pinball when I drew closer.
I saw it was a plastic bag which had been sealed with duct tape
at the top inside was what looked like a book of some sort
and driven. By curiosity, I waited into the
waves up to my ankles, to retrieve it.
When I got back to my car, I managed to open the bag and
found that the book was actually somebody's Journal as stated by
the inscription on the inside of the cover.
It declared it. On to a man named Anthony
Hodgson as part of an ocean Crossing sailing trip from
almost 20 years ago, as I was late for work.
I didn't read any more of it and instead tucked it into my
briefcase for safekeeping. I figured I could find out more
information later on that night and try and return it to its
rightful owner. When I got home that night, I
immediately took the journal out and began reading excitedly.
However as I got further and further towards the last entry,
my intrigued and excited, And crumbled to dust and it was
replaced by some of the strongest dread and horror that
I have ever felt. I wasn't sure what to do with
it. Once I finished reading, there's
not much I can do, I can't send it to anyone.
And if I turned it over to any newspaper or TV station, I'm
sure it would be dismissed as a hoax.
Finally, I decided that the only place I could come to share, it
would be here as I know many others come to share.
What they've seen and found. Let me know what your thoughts
are on this, but for me, personally, Only what I've read
has given me some of the worst nightmares I've had since I was
a child and we'll probably keep me out of the ocean forever.
Here are the entries, July 15, 2004, 3:30, 4:00 p.m.
Well, here we are Journal. Today is the day I've been
dreaming about for most of my life ever since I was a little
child spending time at my aunt and uncle's house and Main
reading their old sailing magazines.
I've always had the desire to make an oceanic Crossing.
And using nothing more than my skills, knowledge and
determination to get me to the other side after, almost 30
years of waiting. It's now, finally, my turn and
thanks in. No small part to the group of
friends, I've forged in this journey called life, all in
total. There are six of us.
Who will be making this trip. Myself, Darrell Zander, Winston,
Holly and Anastasia. It was Sanders idea for us to
begin saving and pulling together our money to purchase a
sailboat over 12 years ago. And now I sit in my cabin on
what took what seems like an eternity to attain her name is
the lunging lie on a 52-foot Sparkman in Stephens, y'all from
1950. And God is she one of the most
beautiful things I've ever seen and for something almost 55
years old, she looks as good as the day.
She first entered the water. We're currently docked at appear
in Boston and I can hear the others loading, the final crates
of supplies and barrels of diesel fuel on board.
Tomorrow, we will sail at the I have gone from here with our bow
squarely aimed for none other than Jolly Old England.
I've done the calculations and if we can average between 10 to
15 knots with the wind, it should be no more than a week
and change to make it there almost 3,000.
Nautical miles of the Atlantic lie between us and the end of a
journey that we will remember for the rest of our lives.
I would love to keep writing, maybe even wax a bit poetic
about this undertaking, but I can hear the others calling to
me to help them. So this is where Have to end
this entry for a first one, and as someone who's never written
in one of these things, I don't think it was that bad.
Alright, later. July, 16, 2004, 11:17 a.m.
Good Morning, Journal. We're officially on our way.
We woke up at just a little after 6:00 in the morning and
after a last few consultations of our charts.
And farewells with the Harbormaster, we cast off our
lines and use the diesel engine to motor out of Boston Harbor.
Once we were clear of the last marker, buoy we floored it.
And opened up the sails. I'm happy to report that the
second they did the wind blowing from the West caught them and we
shot off like a bullet currently.
According to the readout were sailing along at a pleasant nine
knots, not what we were hoping for but still adequate.
I do have to say though there is an extreme almost sense of Peace
already Boston and all the rest of land is slowly but steadily
turning into just a thin line behind us.
And The lunging lie on under only sale power, the only sounds
that can be heard are the creaking of the boats, wouldn't
whole as she slices through the water, the sails and the
rigging, as they are slapped by the wind and the cries of the
sea birds as they follow us out to sea.
And of course, the shouts. And laughs of my friends,
everyone's Spirits are at a crescendo as the object of many
late-night conversations turns from the stuff of drunken
speculation to reality. I should point out that everyone
on board has a job to do. Darrell and Winston are the two
with the most practical knowledge on sailing as they've
actually sailed from Washington State down to Baja four or five
years ago as part of a competition.
They'll serve as the captain and the navigator for our trip.
Thank God for them. Are we being way over our heads
here, Xander and myself, have some knowledge, but only from
small trips, usually from Portsmouth up to Bar Harbor in
Maine. So, we are to help with
piloting. While Holly and Anastasia will
be working the rigging raising and lowering the Sales as needed
with our help. Of course, additionally
Anastasia will be serving as our cook for the duration of our
trip and considering some of the meals she's made.
I am all for that. I just took a look at the depth,
finder mounted just beside the main hatch in the cockpit
according to it. The bottom is already over 3,000
feet below us. I know many other people might
find such a revelation scary, but as someone who's loved the
sea as long as I can remember, it's thrilling.
I Can Only Imagine Ajan, what strange and wonderful creatures,
swim and Float beneath us in the dark and cold Waters.
Listening to the sounds of our whole creaking, reverberating,
four miles away, as sound travels farther in water than
air. Daryl, just asked me to take
over the helm for a while so I'll end this entry here, write
again. Soon, July, 18, 2004, 1:37 p.m.
while I can't exactly say good afternoon as things aren't as
smooth sailing as I would have liked you.
We've come across a rather large fog bank, which almost seems to
have risen up from the waves and ensnared all in its reach
ourselves. Included, you can't even see 20
feet in any direction, and whenever a sound is made it
tends to bounce off the fog. Back to you in a rather sharp
Echo. We've had to pull some sales
down and reduce our speed. 26 knots to be safe to tell you the
truth Journal. It's really rather Erie.
It almost feels like the entire world has been swallowed up and
disappeared and we're all that's left.
Left thankfully though Winston told me that he's seen fog like
this before, and that it won't last longer than a few hours.
I'm grateful for that, honestly, if it lasted longer, I feel it
might pull on my sanity, a little, the magazine articles
and photos, never showed her spoke about this and I wish they
would, it wouldn't have changed my mind on this trip, but it
would have prepared me for what to expect something loud.
Just splashed out in the Gloom. None of us could see what caused
it, but everyone topside It, it was only a single Splash one,
which echoed like the crack of a gunshot.
In the fog, when I asked Darrell, what it could have
been, he Shrugged his shoulders. It could be anything.
Tony. He said, lots of things Splash
around in deep water, could be a whale breaching, could be a
shark going after a school of fish.
Hell, it could even be a piece of Flotsam getting tossed about
by a particularly tall white cap.
Explanation brought me more Comfort instead of a sense of
unease about the unknown, Known my mind is now, filled with
natural explanations. According to the radar, we are
about 400 miles off the coast of the US and the depth.
Sounder shows the bottom as dropped away to 6,000 feet.
We all need to keep a sharp eye out.
So I'll stop writing for now to help the others write again soon
July. 19th. 2004 117 am what the actual hell.
Just happened, not even four hours ago, myself sander and
Holly laid down. Get some sleep.
As we've worked out a schedule where we sleep three at a time
changing out during the night to allow the other team to rest.
I just managed to drift off when I flew out of my bunk onto the
floor. It literally felt as if the boat
had slammed into another vessel for a moment.
That was my biggest fear, and after checking, on the other two
down below with me, who both had slight bruises from their own
unexpected flights. I Dash top site to the sounds of
chaos. Winston and Darryl were shouting
back and forth. To each other in confusion and I
could hear Anastasia moaning somewhere closer to the bow.
When I asked what had happened, they told me, they didn't know.
It was like, we sailed straight into a damn block of concrete.
Winston exclaimed to me, when I went to check on Anastasia, I
found her lying on her back on the deck, she had cracked her
head on the mainmast giving her a rather nasty bump on her left
temple and received a cut on her cheek.
The three of us. Carried her down below and laid
her down in the forward birth, or Ali is looking after her.
She says she'll be okay but she needs to rest for the rest of
the night. I for the life of me, can't
understand what we hit. It could have been a whale or a
large piece of wood but nobody saw anything and it was a
perfectly clear night, something that Daryl tells me.
We'll end the night after tomorrow as a storm is coming
our way. And I'm fairly certain that the
two most experienced of our crew wouldn't jeopardize us.
So carelessly, if they say they didn't see anything, then I
believe. Them.
I've gone back down below to try and catch.
At least an hour's more rest before I helped take over the
late night to early morning shift at the helm, according to
the charts and radar. We're now about 850 miles off
the coast though. I didn't look at the depth
sounder. This time, one additional thing
to note that may not have any meaning but I'm still going to
write down. There was one strange thing.
I noticed when I went topside and went to help Anastasia,
there was a rather putrid scent in the air.
Something I couldn't place. If I didn't know any better, I
would have said it was a monia, but we have none a board which
could have spilled. So I don't know what to make of
it, probably nothing. But still noting.
Anyways, good night. Hopefully no more surprises.
July 20th, 2004, 4:37 p.m. Good Morning, Journal things
happily seem to be more on track today than they have been the
last to. I'm currently sitting behind the
helm using my foot to keep it straight As.
I write most of the others have gone below to have dinner which
I'll have myself when they're finished someone needs to steer
after all. I'm happy to report that
Anastasia as backup and aside from the bump.
On her head, seems to be in good spirits, she's currently making
clam chowder. A favorite of all of ours, we've
picked speed back up to about 11 to 12 knots, with a strong
Tailwind. Although earlier at quit,
causing us to have to tack back and forth before regrettably
having to fire up the engine. Carry us a bit farther.
The sound of it was almost heresy out here in the silence
only broken by the wind and the waves.
It was worth it though. As I saw a truly amazing sight
about half an hour ago, a whale it breached out of the water,
not more than a half. A mile away from us seeing that
gigantic block Leviathan. Leaping from the waves is a site
that filled me with joy to tell you.
It did. So a few more times seeming to
move around in a circle before disappearing below the waves,
I've I honestly, never heard of a whale doing multiple breaches
in such a short succession, but there's a first time for
everything, I guess. Anyways, I look ahead now.
And in the distance, I can see the storm clouds on the horizon.
Lightning occasionally flashing in the dark gray fluff.
According to the report, we got from a tanker on the ship's
radio, it will be a bad one. Meaning, our initial plan to
make it to England in just over a week, is going to be extended
to just about two weeks fine by me as despite our setbacks And
problems. I still am thoroughly enjoying
this journey. Good Lord.
Did that just startled me? I heard a loud splashing sound
off. Our Stern behind me and swollen
around. There was nothing there, but it
was so close. I swear, I could feel the water
droplets, hitting me on the back of the neck.
Anyways, Sanders coming up to take over Helm duties, so it's
time for me to head below to eat according to the radar.
We're now over a thousand and three hundred miles out to sea
close to the halfway mark. Talk of our trip.
The depth sounder says 12,000 feet of water lie between us and
the sea floor, right later, July 21st, 2004, 7:18 a.m.
I don't even know where to begin with this entry.
I'm honestly lost for words, both in my shock and my grief.
I suppose there's no other way to put it other than bluntly
Paul. He's gone last night, we sailed
Into the Storm at just a little after 8:00 the waves and wind
became something fierce. Something that I only read when
reading novels like The Perfect Storm and The Old Man and the
Sea, The Waves crashed down on the deck with all the ferocity
of a freight train. And the howling of the wind
sounded like a banshee screaming into our ears.
All of us, save for Anastasia who was cleaning up dinner
dishes in the galley, were top side to keep the lunging, lion,
straight and true, but this storm battered about our
sailboat. Like, it was a child's plaything
in the bath. I don't know how big the swells
became but we would ride up one. And almost drop in a 75 or 80
degree angle down into the trough before the next set, the
lightning flashed momentarily, Illuminating the hell we'd
sailed into like it was the middle of daytime and the
Thunder boomed and rattled my eardrums Darryl and I were at
the helm fighting to keep the rudder straight while the others
were working the rigging and the sales Holly was working the
rigging underneath the main sail, when it happened, a sudden
change of wind slammed into us from the port side Shifting, the
boat sideways. Is it also caused the boom to
change direction? Suddenly swinging across the
deck, like a charging bull sander and Winston managed to
duck under it. But Holly didn't the huge wood
and fiberglass, projectile, caught my friend on the side of
the head and shoulders in its Arc.
And before anyone knew what was happening, she was gone knocked
over the railing and into the churning waves for a moment as
we panicked and looked around us.
I thought I saw her in a flash of lightning about 15 yards
behind Find the boat, waving her arms and her mouth open in a
scream as she bobbed in the waves, kept afloat by her life
jacket, though. When the next flash came, not
even for seconds later, I saw nothing, we couldn't turn around
in the storm, not, unless we wanted to swamp ourselves in
sync, we could do nothing. But helplessly sail away from
our friend Sandra hasn't been able to stop crying Holly and he
were an item and losing his life partner.
Has destroyed him in a way. I can only imagine the Leaves
have less than some sense but our boat has taken major damage.
Both the radio and radar have been damaged in the storm making
any kind of call for help impossible as well as knowing
our exact location to make matters worse.
There seems to be something wrong with the propeller for the
diesel engine. As when we discovered some tears
in the Mainsail, we lowered them to repair and continued under
engine power. But though the engine roared, we
didn't move at all. Daryl says, he'll check it out.
Once the storm lets up a a little more for now.
All happiness, of this trip has flooded out of all of us.
Now, it's marked by the loss of one of us.
I just honestly want to get to England at this.
Point will write later, July 21st, 2004, 3:13 p.m. the storm,
finally abated enough for Darrell to check on the prop as
the waves petered out, and we seem to move into the eye of the
storm. He donned a pair of flippers and
a mask and jumped overboard to inspect it when he Just head
above the waves. His face bore a look of
confusion and worry, Treading Water beside the boat.
He told us that the prop had been sheared half off by
something. The one remaining blade had been
bent so that it couldn't turn anymore but the rest was just
gone. I remember his exact words.
I've sailed for 15 years and I've never seen something like
that happen in Open Water. You usually have to run aground
to do damage like that, a nerve myself, I asked him to come back
aboard as he swam back to the swim ladder on the stern.
I swear, I saw something below the waves, a shape darker than
the rest of the ocean. One that seemed to move on its
own power slowly rising up towards us, whatever.
It was, it looked big. I fully admit.
When I saw that dark sheep, I couldn't help but reach over the
transom and grab Darrell by the arm almost wrenching him, out of
the water. It's beyond ridiculous, I know,
but given our recent events, I feel on edge.
Hell, we all do. Now, I sit behind the helm in
the cockpit as I watch Anastasia and Xander, try and sew up the
torn sales. I hope they'll do good.
Progress soon. I want to be out of this area
before nightfall and more unnerving.
Is the fact that that ammonia like smell is back this time.
Winston smelled it as well. Holding his nose and complaining
about that. God awful stench, we looked
around but saw nothing. I'm beginning to regret being
the one who thought this trip of ours up over a decade ago.
Right later. Our July 21st 2004 613 p.m.
Daryl's gone. What the actual hell is going
on? Just before dusk fell.
He came back topside in one arm, holding a waterproof, flashlight
in the other, a brand new propeller he told us that he'd
brought a spare along in case of any emergency and we felt a wave
of relief wash over us, that we be able to get moving.
The storm wall was fast approaching and Xander, an
Anastasia hadn't finished mending.
Sales yet. He also had a yellow pony
bottle, which he pushed the regulator into his mouth, and
after picking up a wrench, put on his flippers and mask and
slipped back overboard, we all saw his light, click on, and he
slipped out of sight underneath the boat.
Every couple of seconds we saw burst of bubbles break the
surface as he breathed out and a quick flash of his flashlight.
Swing around for a few minutes, we felt the tension he's up and
despite the Grim mood from Holly's death.
Winston told us a joke about sharks and a razor line
surfboard, which made us laugh a bit.
But then that jovial mood deflated as quickly as a bully
popping. A kids party balloon.
Hey what's going on? We all heard Anastasia cry and
we looked over the railing down into the water.
Darryl's light was dancing about as if he was turning rapidly
around from one side to the other, the air bubbles coming in
Faster streams, then two things happened in Rapid succession.
The first was that the beam from As light disappeared.
It was as if he just snapped it off.
One second it was their whipping around the next, it was gone.
And the second was that a huge stream of bubbles came to the
surface at once. It was only for a second and
then nothing we waited and waited the S drawing in two
minutes. But our friend and one of our
two leaders never resurfaced, it was as if he'd never even been
there. We debated for a few minutes
about having someone else go into the water and after many
Few zil's, I finally relented and grabbed a mask.
I wouldn't be going in all the way though.
I would just drop down the swim ladder enough to see under the
boat. And that was it as I stepped
down and felt the freezing water, touch my feet.
I felt Goose Bumps rise all over my arms and legs.
I couldn't understand why, but I felt my Primal flight-or-fight,
instincts, kicking in, as I stuck, my head in the water and
pointed another flashlight around, I saw no sign of him,
the water under the boat. Was completely empty of life.
No fish. No, sharks nothing and no
Darryl, I swim my head around looking off into the Gathering
Gloom but still saw nothing as I turned and looked down Into the
Depths. However, I swear, I saw a flash
of changing color, it could have been a trick of the ocean, but I
swear, I saw one patch turn from dark blue almost black to a very
dark maroon. That was enough to make me yank
my head out of the water and climb back up from the swim
platform. Form.
He's not there. I said to the others, he has
just disappeared. We all agreed.
Then that nobody else would enter the water.
We take our chances being battered around by the storm.
Currently, we've started the bilge pumps before it reaches
us, I can hear them roaring away in the recesses of the hull.
As I sit at the galley table and write this, and I can't help.
But feel a creeping sense of dread as I close my eyes and
recall that dark shape. I thought I saw plus the change
in color. I swear, I On the deep but I
can't let myself lose my cool. We all need to keep a level
head. If we hope to get back to dry
land. I'll write again soon.
I hope to God. It's with better news.
July 23rd, 2014, 13. In the morning.
If you gaze too long into the abyss, he'll find the abyss.
Also, gazes back at you. That may not be the exact quote,
but who gives a damn not. When you've looked into the eye
of a monster still, I should tell you what happened.
And the storm reached us that night and all throughout it and
much of the next day we were battered by it.
I thought so many times that the wooden Hull would break apart
dropping us all into the Monstrous waves and stinging
rain but somehow she stayed afloat.
It's true what they say. They don't make them like this
anymore. As daylight broke though the
storm increased in its ferocity and we were forced to venture
topside to steer the boat into the waves to keep from capsizing
myself Xander. Winston went up after donning
life jackets. We told Anastasia to stay below
for her own safety. When we emerged it was like
stepping directly into hell. The Rain tour at our faces and
the wind almost completely drowned out.
The sound of our voices, lightning pierce, the dark, and
we worked with our remaining flashlights to raise what little
sales. We had left hole and then began
to try and steer towards what our compass and charts.
Indicated was England. We had no idea how far we were
from it or how blown off course. Course the storm had shoved us
but we had to try for three hours.
We were battered and beaten, but we seem to make Headway that was
when a familiar sensation, struck our boat the same
concrete slamming sensation as before making it feel as if we'd
come to a dead, stop in the waves, which began to wash hard
down into the cockpit. Thankfully, the main hatch was
closed. So no water.
Got down below. What the hell did we hit?
I heard, Winston shout to be heard over the howling wind.
Hello. No Sandra called back to him.
And I saw his flashlight beam. Shined down into the water.
I don't see anything. His voice, cut off.
You don't see what Winston yelled back, but there was no
answer from him feeling a piercing fear seized me.
I pointed my own flashlight. Beam up to?
Where he'd been near the bow. It illuminated him still
kneeling and clutching at the railing.
Staring down into the sea sander.
What the hell's the matter with you?
I screamed as loud as I could slowly.
He turned to look up and back at me.
What I saw made me feel like ice.
I have never seen Xander. Even a tiny bit afraid before.
We always said, he was the most courageous out of our group, but
now his face had turned a Shade of Pale.
I thought only corpses could hold and his eyes were about as
wide as they could get his hand holding his flashlight trembled.
As I looked, I smelled that putrid stench.
Once more this time though, it was overpowering.
That was, when I heard Winston scream, ice, one might be.
Port side and the beam. Oh good God.
Almighty. The beam landed on a scene that
however, much longer. Am I alive?
I'll see whenever I close my eyes, Winston was still there,
but so was something else, something which had come from
the sea itself. My hand, trembles, as I write
this next part, it was a tentacle an honest-to-god
tentacle looking like something out of the old 20,000 Leagues
Under the Sea movie from the 50s, but unlike that this was
very much alive. I saw every detail in slow
motion, the giant Club of the tentacle big enough to wrap
around the Mast and filled with dozens of huge, white suckers,
the arm of the tentacle as thick as two men standing next to each
other. It all was a dark maroon color
and then I saw Winston. Oh God no, the tentacle had
wrapped around my friend with the strength of seven boa.
Constrictors squeezing him, so tightly.
I saw his face turn red even in the biting Wind and Rain.
He feebly pressed his hands to it, trying in vain to push it
away. And then as quick as one of the
bolts of lightning flashing overhead, he was gone.
It was so quick. I only saw it as a blur hearing,
a gigantic Splash as he was yanked.
Below the waves. I forgot all about steering the
boat and scrambled for the side in some misguided and foolish
attempt to save him. I pointed the lights beam down
into the dark Waters and me running.
Do I wish I hadn't because it pointed directly into an eye.
My and in human eye, the size of a wall clock one, which looked
back at me with a cold and predatory gaze.
The pupil contracted in the light and it shot back
underneath the boat to the other side Xander, I turned to scream
for my other friend to get away from the railing, but he was
already gone. I hadn't even heard him get
taken over the wind. And the rain is flashlight
rolled around on the deck near where he'd been kneeling, but he
was gone. That's when I saw another
tentacle rise above the railing, Few feet in front of me.
I felt around on the deck seeming to move by a sense of
touch as it searched for its next meal for me, while courage
left me, and I abandoned anything topside and dash below.
I slammed the hatch closed behind me and locked.
It knowing full. Well, if it really wanted to the
tentacles, could easily rip it off.
Its track Anastasia was shaking when I ducked down below and saw
her she'd been looking through the side windows and seen what
had happened to the other two. Winston her husband as much as I
was terrified. I went to her.
I held her in my arms to console her and we sat there sitting on
the hardwood floor, listening to the sickening sounds of the
tentacles. Moving underneath us over the
hole and breaching the waves to search the deck after a while.
It stopped the storm lessened, a little, the wave, ceasing their
merciless, battering of our boat Anastasia, finally drifted off
to sleep in my arms and I carried her to the forward
birth. She needs sleep.
Leap, so do I, but I can't bring myself to fall asleep.
I know, I'll be haunted by nightmares of that tentacle and
I and I know it's still there. I can still smell that ammonia
sent even through the closed windows and hatch for now
though, I'll just curl up on the galley seats.
I don't know what else to do. There's nothing else I can do.
Who gives a crap about the date. This will be my final entry in
this journal. I don't even know how many days
we've drifted aimlessly on the waves anymore.
The storm finally passed and the waves have remained relatively
calm ever since. If it weren't for knowing What
Lies Beneath them, I might almost call it peaceful.
It's anything but though our food and fresh water is almost
completely used up. All our remaining sales tour in
the storm and Anastasia's and no shape to sew them up.
And unfortunately, I never learned how it wouldn't matter.
Anyways, our Rudder is gone. I know because when I opened the
main hatch and stuck my head out, I saw it floating on its
side about a half mile away from us.
No, doubt, torn off by that creature.
Leaving us completely dead in the water.
I know what it is now. I was too terrified and Confused
to put together the pieces in my mind, but now all the marine
biology knowledge in my brain has allowed me to identify it.
ARCA tooth is ducks. A giant squid one far larger
than has been seen by scientists before at least 60 or 70 feet
long judging by the size of the eye.
I saw a creature that has for centuries terrorized Sailors,
giving rise to the legend of the Kraken.
Pulling ships below the waves and preying upon the floating
Sailors. So many marine, biologists and
historians said that the stories of ships being pulled down to
their Doom were conjecture wise Tails.
I I can confidently say that they're absolutely full of crap.
The stories were right on the money.
The lunging lion is slowly sinking, the pumps gave out
yesterday. Both Anastasia and I heard them
quit when I went topside to check on them, looking around as
if I were an owl to make sure I wouldn't be grabbed and lifted
the hatch to the engine compartment, I saw water in it
for a while. We tried bailing it out but
soon, gave up what's the point? Anyways, we can't call for help.
We can't escape. The dinghy lashed to the deck as
we be set upon by the Beast, that damn smell is always here.
Now, one that signals its presence along with the scrapes
of its tentacles along the whole or screwed.
Anyway, we look at it and this morning, Anastasia stepped
overboard. I don't think she could take the
waiting anymore. I woke up just in time to see
it. She become closed off since the
day before. Barely saying a word I couldn't
make out what she was thinking, but I awoke and saw the Hatch to
the cockpit was open. Feeling a new sense of dread
course through my veins. I ran to the open hatch just in
time to see her step off the stern.
Railing, I heard the splash of her dropping into the water, the
sound of the tentacles, rubbing on the whole stopped and then
nothing silence. I'm alone now, well, not
completely alone. That thing is still there.
The rubbing and scraping has started again, as I write this
the boat has sunk lower into the water.
The entire transom is almost underwater and as it Bob's up
and down in the waves, I can see it sitting just below the
surface behind the boat and waiting patiently.
Staring at me with that cold, unblinking eye.
It knows as well as I do that. I don't have lung, which is why
I'm going to place this journal into a bag.
After I'm finished writing this. I'll seal it with a roll of duct
tape, which floats around near my feet and then I'll throw it
overboard as far away as I can maybe with some luck.
It'll Wash ashore somewhere. So someone can know what
happened to us. The transom is lower in the
water now and the tentacles are beginning to reach over into the
cockpit. I'm going to stuff myself into
the forward birth, as far as I can.
And shut the cabin door. If I'm lucky, maybe I'll drown
before it can reach me. I don't want to be torn apart by
that monsters beak. Like the others were please,
whatever you do. But where the open ocean
monsters? Real ones?
Dwell out here. And Dubai.
I could hear the Twigs cracking beneath my feet, as I walked
through the forest, the trees loomed ominously above me, their
foliage, blocking out, the Moonlight and casting a veil of
Darkness around me. I tried to keep calm but my
heart was racing with anticipation as I nervously,
surveyed, the area, suddenly I spotted something in the corner
of my eye, a shadow moving quickly between two trees in the
distance. I froze in fear.
As I watched it slowly slink away into the darkness and
vanish from sight. Right.
That was when I started to notice them figures in the
shadows, standing still like statues and watching me from all
directions with piercing eyes sweat was running down my face.
As I slowly backed away trying to keep an eye on them at all
times without drawing attention to myself.
Then without warning they started to move towards me
slowly at first, and then faster and faster until they were
sprinting across the ground, towards me with alarming speed
Panic set in. As I nervously turned around and
started running My life there footsteps, echoing behind me in
unison, like an eerie chorus of death.
As I ran a flashes of black figures made their way through
my mind, tall and slender humanoids with pale skin, that
seemed almost translucent in the Moonlight.
It was like a vision from some Forgotten Nightmare, it felt
like hours before I finally reach safety, but by then my
legs were trembling so badly that I could hardly stand up
straight. Then suddenly, it hit me.
Those black figures weren't following me.
They had been chasing. Sing something else.
Something that had been lurking in the shadows just like them.
A chill ran down my spine, as I realized what it was a pack of
wild creatures black as night and completely silent in the
darkness, I quickly made my way back home, never wanting to set
foot in that place. Again, I still remember those
black figures in the forest, their eyes filled with an eerie
hunger that will haunt me forever.
I had heard rumors of mysterious creatures, living in the depths
of the woods, but nothing had prepared me for this.
In the days and weeks that followed I could still feel
their presence lingering in the air around me like an invisible
cloak of fear that refused to leave my side.
I started to avoid that part of the forest at all costs, making
sure to keep a safe distance between myself and those dark
figures. But deep down, I knew that this
was only the beginning. If I ever wanted to find out
what really lurked in those Shadows, I would have to go back
and face my fears head-on. So one night, I mustered up
enough courage to venture Her out once more into the darkness
hoping Against All Odds, that I would make it out alive.
As I slowly approached the edge of the forest.
I started to feel a strange presence in the air around me.
A presence that seemed to be emanating from those same black
figures. I had seen before, I could feel
my heart pounding as they slowly emerged from the Shadows.
They're pale skin glowing in the Moonlight and their eyes staring
directly at me with a menacing hunger.
They seem to be waiting for something almost as if they
wanted me to join. In their hunt for whatever lurk
beyond the trees. I was so scared that I could
hardly speak. But eventually I managed to
muster up enough courage to take a few tentative steps forward,
somehow drawn towards them, like a moth to a flame, and that was
when it happened all at once. Like some sort of Silent command
all of them started running into the darkness and disappeared
from sight. They seem to be leading these
somewhere, but with each step, I took my fear, grew stronger and
stronger and my courage began to waver Eventually we reached our
destination, an old abandoned cabin deep in the woods and
without warning they stopped dead in their tracks and began
to circle around. It silently like Predators
stalking their prey suddenly one of them stepped forward towards
me and pointed towards the cabin door.
It was almost as if he were asking me permission to enter.
My heart was pounding so hard. That I thought it might burst
out of my chest. But before I could move or even
think about what was happening, they all vanished Into Thin Air.
Left alone in total, darkness. I tentatively stepped forward
and opened up the door. Only to find myself face to face
with what appeared to be an ancient ritual chamber filled
with dozens of black figures wearing hooded cloaks tannic set
in, as they all turned around to face me at once my legs felt
like jelly as they slowly Advanced closer towards me where
they going to hurt me where they going to off me before I knew
it. One of them had grabbed, hold of
my arm, he had a firm grip on it, but his touch felt
strangely. Warm and comforting almost as if
he wanted nothing more than for me to understand something
important suddenly he pulled back his hood, revealing his
face. He was a middle-aged man with
kind eyes and an air of wisdom about him and immediately my
fear began to subside. He spoke in a gentle voice that
seemed strangely familiar. You are not safe here, child.
He said these are dark Forces at work.
Here forces, you do not understand, so please go home
now. Then you let go of my arm almost
as if he knew that his words had been understood before turning
back around and rejoining his companions who then quickly
vanished Into Thin Air without another word.
I stood there for what felt like hours until finally gathering
enough strength Within Myself to stumble home shaking yet.
Somehow reassured by this mysterious encounter when
morning came it was as if nothing happened everything
looked perfectly normal again yet deep down inside something
had changed forever. Ever from then on whenever night
Came Calling no matter how scared or tired I become I can't
help but feel drawn back into those woods again hoping against
hope that I will find answers hidden amongst those
ever-present black figures. So every night I set off once
more into the darkness hoping this time do make it out alive
little by little I start understanding more about those
mysterious beings how they move together in unison like an army
protecting something hidden behind those trees yet every
time even after Getting close enough.
I still can't figure out what it says.
These cloak protectors are so desperately trying to keep away
from prying eyes. But then one night after months
searching something happens, one figure separates himself from
the others as though beckoning me closer, he starts walking
away from them. A few moments later, we stopped
before an ancient tree surrounded by thick fog, he
pulls aside its heavy branches. Revealing what looks like an
entrance without thinking twice? I enter inside.
Side is an underground chamber filled with statues depicting,
many strange creatures, suddenly everything becomes clear.
These creatures have been guarding something hidden from
us, humans for centuries. Just when I turn around ready to
leave the figure stops me, his gaze remains fixed on mine.
For what feels like eternity. Until finally speaking, this
place is not meant for your kind.
He said it is best you leave. Now I tried going in but he
strongly pushed me out and the Entrance closed.
I tried as hard as I could but it wasn't possible.
I had to go back to my house but I will find them again.
This happened around either May or June of 2010.
I was spending the day with my future wife and her family on
Mount Lemmon which is north of Tucson Arizona.
There's a road leading up to a town.
That's about 25. Miles long and has a fairly
steep grade along the way. The land changes from Desert to
Pine Forest, it's absolutely beautiful and one of the most
challenging cycling routes in the world our day.
However, was to go geo. Caching using a All GPS that
only told direction and distance to the cash after several hours
of stopping along the road hiking, a bit and finding
several of these geocaches. We made it to the small town.
At the end of the road, we had a late lunch and we were planning
to go back down. But my wife pointed out there
was still time to find one more cash before it.
Got dark, all of us. Agreed in saw, there was one
fairly close less than two miles away.
Her family had a small sedan at the time.
And when we saw, Was down the dirt road on the backside of the
mountain. We parked and started walking
there. It was only a little over half a
mile at this point so we didn't think anything of it.
This road goes along a fairly steep section so there are lots
of switchbacks after what was probably an hour.
The GPS said we still had just under a quarter.
Mile to go my wife. Her father and I were having no
trouble but her sister who was 13 or 14 at the time and her mom
were not as fast. So the pace was quite slow.
Finally, we got within 20 feet of the cash, a dense patch of
forest with lots of Fallen trees and underbrush.
The sun was really low. Now maybe even already setting
it was getting dark fast and we still hadn't found this cash.
I looked at my wife pointing out, we didn't have any
flashlights and that we really needed to head back.
She nodded and told her parents with her mom.
Quickly agreeing that we all needed to head back, somewhat
dejected, the five of us started back up the road.
It was even slower going that when we were going down and soon
the dark closed around us. Luckily there was enough
Moonlight to let us see a few dozen feet in front of us but
not much else. I kept trying to push the pace
even though my wife's mom and sister were struggling telling
them it's just a bit further. My wife came beside me, holding
my arm and pressing against me, please be nice.
My sister is really scared, I told her okay and apologize to
her sister saying that I'd walk more slowly for them.
M. At this point, I was leading us.
My wife still holding my arm and her sister's hand with her mom
and dad right behind us. A weird sensation started
running through me. Then I told my wife to stay
right behind me because I needed my hands to be free, my gate
lowered and widened every noise from the dark caught.
My attention, I didn't move my head, only my eyes, it didn't
matter, everything was dark except the faintest outline of
trees and the occasional Boulder.
I couldn't see much. Of anything, but I had to look.
I need a knife. My wife made a sound, which I
took to be a question to my statement.
I need a knife almost grunting the words out a big knife.
Why do you need that? Her mom asked just above a
whisper. I shook my head, barely moving
it at all. I just do every hair on my body.
Stood on end. That Primal animal Instinct that
takes hold with either fight or flight.
I was ready to fight. The forest was quiet.
Now, not even the sound of Wind Through The Pines.
I remember hearing somewhere that when a predator moves
nothing else makes a sound. All I heard was the soft crunch
of gravel beneath our feet not even breathing.
I'm not religious at all. In fact, I'm a borderline
atheist. But at that moment I was praying
to the spirit of the forest, the mountain sky, anything, that
would listen that, I was that Predator after a few hours, we
finally reached the main road and we relaxed got into the car
and drove down the mountain in silence.
The next day, we went back to her parents house to visit
nothing. Exciting.
I was watching an NFL game and having to explain everything to
my wife's mom, which was fun, especially the yellow line that
she didn't know was superimposed on the broadcast and not
actually on the field for the players to see.
At one point, it was just my wife, her father, and I sitting
alone in the living room and I started talking about how weird
I felt while we were walking back to the car last night.
Telling him everything. Yeah, he Looked at the Two of Us
speaking in his deadpan manner. I really wanted a big gun, but I
didn't want to scare your mother and sister.
Why is that you looked at both of us.
There was something following us some sort of Predator.
This wasn't dead pain. He was serious.
I looked back a few times and saw size big ones.
That Primal feeling took hold of me again.
Even inside a house. During the day, it was big to
his gaze, went into the distance as his mind, replayed, whatever
it was. He had seen the first time it
was on the ground. And maybe 50 feet away, then it
was up in the trees. And I mean, up in the trees, my
body shook With Every Beat of My Heart.
The last time I saw it, it jumped from the ground into the
Treetops and was keeping Pace with us.
They're hunting us from above. I kissed my wife the first time
I had ever done so in front of either of her parents and told
her I loved her more than anything.
None of us ever spoke of it again I still go hiking even
more so since my wife passed that now Now, I have two rules.
I only hike during the day, I always carry a big knife.
This story happened to me back when I still lived at my parents
house, I was commuting to college at the time and had
three siblings that also lived at home.
My brother and two sisters for some context.
We lived on 5 acres in rural Ohio, surrounded on both sides,
by woods and farm Fields. Additionally, during the week.
My dad normally left for work at 2 a.m.
So I had always felt like it my job to be the man of the house
because he was gone during the times when you would imagine
something sketchy. Opening, however, on this night
because it was the weekend. My dad was home.
I woke up to the sound of my brother's voice, trying to get
my attention, we had separate rooms upstairs and coming out of
our rooms. You could look down over the
banister and to see our front door.
When I woke up. It took a few moments to get out
of the haze and realize what was going on.
I looked at the clock and it was around 2:30 a.m.
And my brother told me, there were two men at our front door.
Now, this really woke me up. Up.
We quietly walk out of my room and peek over to look down at
the front door when we looked. There was no one at the door,
but I noticed my parents off to the side out of view of the
glass on the front door. I whispered down to my dad and
he told me, there were two guys who had been talking to each
other and knocking on the door, hearing my dad, say this
freaked. Me out even more.
I went back into my room and grab my pistol quickly shuffling
down the stairs. After looking to make sure they
weren't at the door. If they had been They would have
easily seen me coming down the stairs as it is in direct view
of the door. My brother is right behind me as
we head over to where my parents are whispering to try and find
out what is going on. My parents had awoken to the
sound of our dog barking and had come out to find these two men
knocking loudly at the door. At this point, the men returned
and begin knocking. Again, despite the fact that no
one had come to the door and our dog was still actively barking.
The fact that they were there at this time in a Location where
houses are spread out, hundreds of yards and still knocking with
a dog barking. Made the situation even more
terrifying. After a couple of minutes, the
men walked away and we all Shuffle across the kitchen, into
the family room to peek out the windows into our driveway, which
is lit up by our outside light. There was a black Cadillac
sitting there but no one was inside from what we could see
immediately, the question was worded.
These guys go, they weren't in their car and they were no
longer at the front door. Unfortunately, we figured out
the answer when the handles on our back, French doors started
jiggling, they were actively trying to enter the back of our
house which enters into the kitchen at this point.
I just remember my mom frantically saying, David to my
dad as pure Terror overwhelmed her, then, two things happened.
Adrenaline filled my body, as I prepared my handgun, horrified
at the very real possibility that I might have to shoot these
men. Secondly, my dad finally grabbed
the phone called the police. And calmly told them what was
happening, thankfully, after a minute of jiggling, they stopped
at the back door and disappeared.
Again, only to return to their knocking at the front.
However, at this point, several minutes had gone by and
suddenly, we saw the local police fly up in multiple
Cruisers with their lights on as they whipped into our driveway
in front yard the two men bolted away.
Attempting to run the long way around the house.
Across the driveway, one of them disappeared out of our view, but
the other one was in Accepted by an officer yelling for him to
get on the ground. He didn't.
And he was immediately tased and fell on the ground.
Some of the officers went around the house.
After the other guy in one of them came to talk to my dad and
I as we came out the front, they ended up finding the other man
hiding in my sister's little playhouse in the backyard.
It appears both of them were drunk and high as the one who
hit had cocaine on him, while they were both arrested that
night, we never did find out what they were charged.
With her, what happened to them? Needless to say, the whole
experience was not fun. So Random men at our door in the
middle of the night, let's not meet again.
With her, what happened to them? Needless to say, the whole
experience was not fun. So Random men at our door in the
middle of the night, let's not meet again.