Tales From The Dark Forest
1+ Hour Of Rainforest Horror Stories To Help You Fall Asleep | Black Screen For Sleep | Rain Sounds
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Visit renterswearhouse.com to request a free rental price analysis that's renterswearhouse.com or call 303-974-9444 to speak to a rent estate advisor today. Hello, and welcome back to the channel. Tonight's video, I am bringing you two terrifying rainforest stories. One taking place down in the country of Mexico and the other in the Amazons. Now sit back, relax, dim those lights, and let's get spooky. 10. Miles of dense vegetation, bird calls in the distance, and just about every type of insect swarming us. I remember it quite vividly, actually, the details of it all. Me and my two colleagues, we hiked through the dense rainforests of the Yucatan, our destination nestled deep within the jungle. My colleague Sergio, a Mexican man from Moaxaca, was leading the trek. Him and I are historical archaeologists, and both of us having done most of our work in Mesoamerica, which is how the two of us met in the first place, although he was the leading expert on the subject. Having studied these ancient civilizations for decades. Much of the work I've done was under his guidance. Vamanos miente shouldn't be much farther. Despite having height for several miles through the jungle, Sergio was unfazed. Undoubtedly, the kind of stamina someone would experience in his line of work would have. It was hot and humid, and there were several hazards in these parts, including venomous snakes and insects, some of which I've been bitten by. The third member of our expedition was Evelyn, an anthropologist from Cambridge who also studied Mesoamerica, specifically an expert in interpreting hieroglyphics and writing. Of course, this skill being essential in this field, she seemed rather eager to get to our destination. The sooner we find this place, the sooner we could publish the material. Chalet, we don't know what we'll find. Sergio never liked to rush anything. To him, the best way to study something was to do it step by step, no matter what the process and doing so was. Traveling was no different. This man knew each Mayan temple from the inside out, just about every inch of ancient stone within each pyramid known in the peninsula, and every artifact found within. Until now that is. Several months prior, authorities had found somebody, a man middle-aged, who was severely dehydrated and nearly dead. After being admitted to a hospital and recovering, he had claimed that he had been with another person, having been lost in the jungle. He explained that the two of them had came across what they perceived to be ruins, most likely Mayan, and claimed to have found bizarre inscriptions inside. Apparently the reason unknown, he wouldn't discuss anything else. Of course Sergio, who worked at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, was the first person they contacted. As soon as he was aware of this, he reached out to me to help me set up this whole excursion. On the account of inscriptions claimed to have been seen, Evelyn was brought on from Cambridge to provide expertise. This was assuming these were even writings. Most knowledge regarding the ancient Mayans had come from the Yucatan. You see, their society was one of the earliest in the Americas to have used complex astronomy. This is most well documented in Mayan architecture, with temples and pyramids being designed in such a way that the sun, moon, stars, and planets would be visible from the top or through certain windows at important times of the year. If we do happen to find a previously unknown structure, it could potentially contain knowledge about these people previously unbeknownst to the archaeological community. But that was only in theory, if there even was anything to begin with. For all we knew, the account could have simply been from a dearranged man, driven crazy from fatigue. As we continued on through the brush, Sergio raised his hand, signaling Evelyn and I to stop. For a good moment, he surveyed the surrounding rainforest before pointing to an opening through the trees. As the three of us headed on through, there it was. Built into the edge of a sinkhole was an old, foliage-covered structure, most likely a temple. No doubt this was it, the place we had been searching for. "Well, here we are," I told my colleagues. Seeing how overrun by plant growth the outside was suggested a rather old age, nature having reclaimed the ruins over the centuries. And its base was a large opening, likely the entrance to the inside. However, there was one problem. It was at the bottom of a cenote it was built upon. Cenotes, named from a yukatek maya word, are nature pits or sinkholes forming from a collapse in limestone bedrock, exposing groundwater. These pits were believed by the ancient Mayans to be portals to Exbalba, the Mayan underworld. Perhaps there were some significance in building it here. Evelyn gave a puzzled look to Sergio and I. Don't suppose you know how we get in. Ollie? Sergio turned our attentions to a small ledge which gradually descended into the hole. It was steep, but just right for us to walk along it. With Sergio leading Evelyn and I, we slowly walked down into the cenote. Each step was carefully calculated, as so much as one trip could result in serious injury. Falling wasn't the only hazard. Crocodiles have been known to inhabit the cenotes and are potentially dangerous. This would require caution close to the water's edge as well. Slowly we descended, getting closer to the water's edge. With our backs against the wall of rock, it was important we remained alert in the opposite direction, in case of crocs. Before long, we were on even ground, or at least the strip of dry land that could be called such at the corner of a pit. Regardless, it was spacious enough for us to all stand on. In front of us was the temple entrance, a dark looming corridor with nothing past four feet in front of us visible. No way any of us could get around inside without some sort of lighting. The three of us strapped on our headlamps before entering. Sergio went a step further, grabbing a dead branch and igniting the tip of it with his lighter. Not sure we'll really need that. He simply chuckled in response. After several minutes of prepping, we entered without any further delay. When we did, however, I unknowingly stepped on something. I lifted my foot to see a stone of some bizarre sort. This was not just some weirdly weathered rock, no. This was curved, lined with jagged edges, not in the shape of a dagger or blade, however. It almost looked like a tooth. I don't have time to analyze some random rock. Nonetheless, I was curious, so I stuck it in my pack and continued on inside. The main hallway seemingly stretched on perpetually. I couldn't see anything past the beams of our lamps, and even then, they hardly illuminated anything beyond a couple yards. The corridor was not very wide, hardly enough space for even two people to fit. This forced us to traverse the place single file. The overall atmosphere definitely gave off the impression of having been uninhabited for centuries. The air was stale, there was dust on just about every ledge, and the walls had been fairly eroded over time. Soon enough, the light from Sergio's torch revealed glyphic inscriptions. This was where Evelyn came in. It took her about a good minute to translate, though that was on the account of several glyphs that were partially eroded. The path to Zilvalba. Her translation made me think back to what I had initially guessed. That the building of this temple on top of a cenote had a connection to the underworld, at least in my own belief. You've heard of Pizza Hut's $7 Deal Lovers menu, right? All these delicious items for only $7 each when you buy two or more. But something's off. I mean, pizzas, melts, boneless wings, bacon, cheddar cheese, sticks, oven, baked pastas, cinebon mini rolls. And that's not even the whole menu. I'll keep eating or digging. You should too. Check out the $7 Deal Lovers menu at your local Pizza Hut. Product availability prices and participation may vary. Additional charges and exclusions may apply. Wings included are eight-count boneless. You know that vibe? When you're rolling in your all-new Camry and you and wifey aren't seeing eye-to-eye. That's icy. Well, here's what you do. Use the available 12.3-inch multimedia touch screen to pull up you all's favorite crooners. The minute she hears that high note floating from the available JBL Premium audio, you'll know you just went from icy to thawed out. The vibe just shifted for the better with the all-new Camry. Toyota, let's go places. Of course, this was all just in theory. Evelyn honestly didn't know what to make of it. Anything else? I asked. There's not enough to work with here if only this weren't so vague. After a minute, we continued onward. Making our way through, the temple ceiling didn't look man-made anymore. Rather, we were in a cavern. Stylactites hanging above us. Much of the Yucatan's landscape is cursed, consisting primarily of limestone bedrock, hence the reason for the formation of the cenotes and caves. In this location, however, the ancient Mayans were apparently able to take advantage of it, building an entire structure into a cenote and through a network of caves. Soon enough, at the end of the hall, we stumbled into what seemed like a much larger room than the narrow corridor we had come from. Around us were inscriptions, engravings, overall history of which the ancient Mayans had recorded here. Some of them were familiar. All these symbols of Mayan architecture are significant to the culture and mythology of their civilization. But that was only some of it. Many of the carvings in this room weren't typical of what one would find. In fact, I don't recall anything similar to these in any of the other Mayan structures. Even Sergio, who had dedicated his life's work to this stuff, had known no other location murals of this variety were to be found. I wasn't used to seeing him so perplexed. From what I could remember, one of them looked like the top half of some giant reptilian creature peering out of the water. A crocodile, perhaps? Only. It had what looked like a forked tongue protruding from its mouth, like a snake. Another one featured what looked like a warrior horn confronting some large beast gnashing its jaws. Only the head was visible, but something about it just seemed vaguely familiar. The most intriguing example though was at the center of the room, with what looked to be some sort of creature with wings, with a slender neck and long bill, like some hellish stork. Above it, there was a carving of what looked to be a beam of light coming down. You ever seen these before? Evelyn was just as confused as Sergio and I, no, I don't think so. They certainly seem unique. Below the central mural, there was a monolith with several hieroglyphic inscriptions. Perhaps the key to understanding just what this temple's significance was. Immediately, Evelyn got to work on it. It took a couple of minutes to do so, given the complexity of Mayan symbols. But once done, she provided us with a proper translation. It's said through the gates of Zalbaba, three gods appear. Kolkalkin, season and chalk. A clash for dominance over the underworld begins. Angard, its zama strikes with the bolt of fire, laying waste to all in the realm. Don't think I can recall anything like this having been discussed in old mythos? Evelyn was legitimately puzzled. At first, this confirmed my original idea of this temple being built in a sinkhole as an ancient shrine for religious purposes. At the same note, there were elements that I couldn't quite piece together. How would this function as a shrine, if that's what it was? If this whole place was built for religious practice, it certainly didn't seem like a place accessible to a lot of people, not accommodating for that specific issue. It all felt off to me. Sergio was most interested by this bit of mythology presented to us by Evelyn, only he seemed more suspicious. Argo Estamado, these don't seem right. What do you mean? Kolkalkin is a serpent, not whatever that is. He was right. Mind mythology often depicts of God Kolkalkin as a winged snake, yet this mural showed some sort of bird-like creature. The other gods allegedly depleted. Season and chalk didn't look like their mythological depictions either. Perhaps these were some alternative interpretations. If they were, then they were quite far off. As we continued to debate, something caught my eye. The carving of the large creature, apparently season facing off against the Mayan warriors, had one of the shapes of its teeth missing. Well, not really missing, more so than it was an empty shape for one of its teeth, the longest in the top jaw to be precise. It was nonetheless confusing, but then I remembered something. Reaching into my bag and pulled out the stone that I had found at the entrance to the temple, and when I held it up, it seemed to be the exact size and shape of the whole. Without thinking, I just pressed it in and it held. Out of nowhere, the lights in our headlamps went out, as did Sergio's torch. What the hell? Evelyn was startled, as we all were, but we couldn't just move around and pitch black. Nobody moved, just try to remain where you are and will. Before I could finish, the entire room started shaking. Now, crap hit the fan. I didn't know what was happening. Was the cave system just suddenly beginning to collapse? None of us could see, and we're now struggling to keep our balance. That wasn't all. The outlines of the murals started to glow. In each second, they glued brighter. The room started shaking more violently as they did, the force of which threw me back. The last thing I saw was a blinding flash. I don't know how long I was unconscious. When I woke up though, I remember slowly opening my eyes to an open sky. I was outside, but that was only the least confusing part of it. My clothing were covered in sand, which surrounded me. Slowly, I ascended to see that I was on the shore of some sort of cove overlooking the ocean. My colleagues and I were in the middle of the jungle. How the hell did I end up here, wherever here was? The best guess I could think of was that I was on the Yucatan coast. Oh no, that's completely insane, as the last thing I could remember was being in the underground temple. Before well, whatever the hell it was that happened. As I stood there, trying to comprehend my situation I had realized something else. Sergio and Evelyn. There was no sign of them. While I had no rational explanation as to what was going on, they couldn't have been too far from me. At least, that's what I had hoped. As I combed the shore and edge of the jungle that boarded it, I called out for them and looked around for any sign of their presence. I searched for hours to no avail. I started to grow agitated, not having an idea to my location and having been separated from my team without any evidence of them being nearby. Then again, this led me to another realization. There's no sign of any human presence, like at all. Not even human articles or trash were littered across the beach. Even if there was no trash coming from inland, you would expect some to just wash up on shore from elsewhere, given the unfortunate state of the Atlantic. This all felt abnormal to me as well as off-putting. After spending around a half an hour looking, my attention suddenly shifted to the silhouette of a dark object embedded in the sand with several birds surrounding it. I went to go get a better look and recognized it as Sergio's pack. I rushed to retrieve it, shooing off some of the birds. What I didn't anticipate though, was the state it was in. The pack, it had been torn apart. There were gas marks straight through it. In addition, hardly anything was left, likely picked off by animals. Just what the hell happened here? Instantly, I worried for Sergio. This told me something had happened and it certainly wasn't pleasant. You've heard of Pizza Hut's $7 deal lovers menu, right? All these delicious items for only $7 each when you buy two or more. But something's off. I mean, pizzas, melts, boneless wings, bacon, cheddar cheese, sticks, oven, baked pastas, cinebon mini rolls. And that's not even the whole menu. I'll keep eating or digging. You should too. Check out the $7 deal lovers menu at your local Pizza Hut. Product availability prices and participation may vary. Additional charges and exclusions may apply. Wings included are eight-count boneless. You know that vibe? When you're riding in your all-new Camry and that cousin calls, the one who always tries to one-up you. I mean, yours is fine and all, but... Not even a hello. It's straight into better job, boyfriend, vacation spot, your response? Pressing the dirt off your shoulders and pulling up in the all-new Camry. 225 horsepower, bold grill, available 19-inch wheels, and wireless charging. Who has the better what now? Thought so? The vibe just shifted in your favor with the all-new Camry. Toyota, let's go places. What happened next took things a step farther into a complete insanity. One of the seabirds suddenly swooped down over me and let out a shrill squawk and, when it did, revealed a row of teeth in the black of its mouth. I nearly fell over from the shock. That bird just gnashed its teeth at me, and I don't mean legitimate teeth. What the flying F was that thing? As much as I wanted to wrap my head around that, finding Sergio and Evelyn was my top priority. I kept searching the beach, nervously trying to piece together my situation and attempting to apply logic. Every moment, things just continued to make less sense. There's no signs of any people, birds with teeth, and zero explanation as to what happened back in the temple. The sky was beginning the changed color as the sun began its descent. With the overcast soon to be dark, I had to find them immediately. Just then, the scent of something foul and putrid filled the air. I remember the stuff being one of the worst things I'd ever caught a whiff of. As I progressed, it got stronger, and seabirds were flying in the direction I was heading. I noticed there was already stars visible in the sky, night falling faster than anticipated. Strangely enough, one of them was unusually bright, and not by simply just a small amount. It gave off nearly as much as the setting sun, so much so that it illuminated my surroundings. It turned my attention away from the cosmos above, and was greeted by a sight of something in the distance. As I neared it, it was becoming apparent that this was the source of that rancid scent I picked up. Washed up was the carcass of some animal, perhaps a whale. There were bits of flesh and skin, and the ribs were protruding out. The thing was swarmed with crabs and those birds from before. The closer I got, the stronger and more vile the smell became. That wasn't all, however. Right beside the carcass, another item, man-made caught my eye. Only a small piece of it was visible, but I could tell it was buried. I reached down to pull it out and found Sergio's glasses. Where the hell was Sergio though? Was he even still alive? My mind was clogged with fear, confusion, just about every negative emotion possible. Out of nowhere, I felt somebody's hand grab my shoulder. It was Evelyn. She was hyperventilating, dehydrated, and her clothing looked all beat up. She looked as if she had just fled from something. Are you okay? What's going on? Where's Sergio? We need to go. Get out of here now. What the hell do you mean? Now? Before anything else could happen, the air suddenly became filled with a loud bellow. The most accurate way I could describe it was like a honking goose, only much deeper in pitch. The sound was followed by the shadow of something massive flying overhead. I looked up, and what I saw was unlike anything in the air I had ever encountered before. A large airplane-sized creature with a long neck and stalk-like heads soared over us with vast wings. When it came down, it landed on all fours, standing as tall as a giraffe. Suddenly I realized, this thing, it was exactly like the carving in the temple, but that would mean, no, that's not possible. The creature was looking right at me and Evelyn, staring us down. It lifted its massive bill and let out another horse bellow and proceeded to close in on us. With a massive thrust of its neck, it lunged towards me. I jumped back and just barely dodged being Shishkebab. Evelyn and I decided to make a break for it. We ran towards the jungle, hoping to lose this thing, but we were stopped short by a noise. The sound of a blood curdling roar shook the jungle, scaring the birds from the trees and sending shockwaves down my spine. Then out of the jungle came a terrifying yet familiar shape. Standing in a bipedal gate, blunt, rounded head, dozens of massive teeth. That's a freaking T-Rex? What the actual F? That was all that was going through my head in that moment. But what was worse was that we were now trapped between it and the creature with wings behind us. The T-Rex looked at us, presumably sizing us up. Its attention span, however, was short, as it lifted its head towards the other beast and growled. The winged creature let out another throaty call at the Rex, much to my surprise, showing no fear whatsoever. It became clear the two were more interested in each other than to us, but we were smack in the middle of them and about to be trampled. Without warning, the T-Rex lunged forward. Evelyn and I managed to barely leap out of its way, its foot just inches away from us. The Rex took a massive snap at the neck of the other creature, missing. It retaliated, jamming a bill into one of the Rex's eyes, causing it to roar in agonizing pain. Now the Rex was blinded in one eye and ultra pissed off. With blinding rage, it charged forward, the other creature galloping away like some demonic bird horse, before leaping into the air and taking flight. The Rex nonetheless pursued as the creature flew over the water. It was gaining altitude, and the Rex was running knee high through the water, soon unable to pursue. It wasn't over yet though. Like a tidal wave, an enormous silhouette came racing towards through the water. It jumped out, revealing a massive reptilian creature with a fork tongue, yet another creature I'd seen in the temple mural. The beast clapped down on the Rex's leg, further aggravating it. In retaliation, the Rex bit down onto the sea beast's back, pulling out a massive chunk of flesh. The creature writhed in agony as the T-Rex continued to dismember it. While it was occupied with eating, the two of us made a break for it. We ran fast as far as we could and didn't look back. Eventually, we were out of breath, but thankfully far enough away from the Rex. At least I had thought. Evelyn was just as confused and terrified as I had been. Was all that what I thought it was? You have any other explanation? With no time to bicker, I knew Evelyn and I had to get somewhere safe and soon, as we couldn't stay out here in the open. Going off into the jungle was obviously not an option either, not knowing what sweet hell awaited us within. We looked around for any spot secure enough, places that could shield us from any potential danger. Soon enough, we came to the foot of a cliff. At first glance, a dead end. But I could just make out a stretch of rocks, one that led to a small opening or cave in the side of the cliff. Evelyn and I could easily fall or sustain serious injuries, and neither of us seemed too wild about it. No, that's just insane and reckless. Much to Evelyn's dismay, it wasn't like we had many options. See anywhere else to go? That logic was convincing enough for her, to some extent for me as well. Quickly but cautiously, we proceeded to move across the rocky ledge, once more calculating every step we took. After what had happened today, neither of us could afford any injuries. We continued down until just below the cave entrance. Now we had to climb. The two of us latched onto every reachable and graspable surface we could find, making an effort to reach the cave. Both of us held on for dear life. After about a few minutes of climbing, we were hardly a few feet away. Down below, I could see the dark looming shape of another one of those sea beasts, motivating me to climb even faster. As I did though, one of the rocks I grabbed came loose. I was hanging on for dear life, feeling my grip weakening. With my remaining stripes. You've heard of Pizza Hut $7 deal lovers menu, right? All these delicious items for only $7 each when you buy two or more. But something's off. I mean, pizzas, melts, boneless wings, bacon, cheddar cheese, sticks, oven, big pastas, cinnabon mini rolls, and that's not even the whole menu. I'll keep eating or digging. You should too. Check out the $7 deal lovers menu at your local pizza hut. Product availability prices and participation may vary. Additional charges and exclusions may apply. Wings included or eight-count boneless. You know that vibe? When you're riding in your all-new Camry and that cousin calls, the one who always tries to one-up you. I mean, yours is fine and all, but... Not even a hello. It's straight into better job, boyfriend, vacation spot, your response? Pressing the dirt off your shoulders and pulling up in the all-new Camry. 225 horsepower, bold grill, available 19-inch wheels, and wireless charging. Who has the better what now? Thought so? The vibe just shifted in your favor with the all-new Camry. Toyota, let's go places. I think I threw my arm and regained my footing. Finally, I'd made it. Evelyn coming up behind me. Quickly, I proceeded to help pull her on to the ledge. Her and I barely possessing any more strength. Safe at last. Was how I wish things turned out. Without warning, the all-too-familiar sound broke the silence around us. And before Evelyn could react, another winged creature, like the one before, grabbed her in its bill. I screamed in fear. No! Helplessly, I watched as it carried Evelyn, screaming in terror as the animal was attempting the holder. She soon proved too much for it to carry, and was dropped into the water below. She splashed around, struggling the swim as the sea beast I had spotted proceeded the snatcher up and descending into the deep. I fell to my knees. Both my colleagues were now dead, and I did nothing about it. I did nothing to save Evelyn, and I had no idea as to Sergio's fate. Why? Now, they're gone. Soon, the sun had set, and the cover of night had fallen. All alone, I sat, trapped in this cave on the side of a cliff, shivering and terrified. What started out as an ordinary expedition turned into whatever the hell had just occurred now. That temple somehow led the ancient Mayans, and now me and my deceased colleagues through some sort of rift into the ancient past. How is beyond my comprehension? There's no other way to grasp its rationality. Things didn't exactly end there. With nowhere left to go, and nothing to do, all I could do was wither away in this tiny hole. But something began to turn my attention to the night sky. As I looked, faint silhouettes were streaming across the horizon. It didn't take a genius to realize that those were small comets, and in the center of it all is that bright star from before, or so I thought. By the second, it continued to get brighter and brighter. Its light shined so bright that it casted vivid shadows on the ground below. There was no mistake here. That star was a several billion ton asteroid about to devastate everything in its wake. It was just seconds away from crashing down, and in that little time I had left I reflected on how things ended up this way, and wondered how it all went so horribly wrong. Losing somebody I knew personally, and watching another die right in front of me, and now I'm about to get quite literally obliterated. The next thing I saw was a blinding light, accompanied by an ear shattering boom of unfathomable proportions. I was practically deaf in the moment. Following it was a massive hellish wave of fire and debris, moving in an unimaginable speed towards me. This was it, and without thinking I closed my eyes, not wanting to see it coming, but then suddenly everything went quiet. I could suddenly feel a different kind ground beneath me, and the familiar sounds of the jungle reentered my ears. I opened my eyes and I was back at the overlook of the Sanote temple. What just happened? How the hell am I back here? I was literally seconds from being vaporized, and now I'm suddenly back where I had started. As I continued to try to comprehend the situation, the sound of vehicular whirling slowly began picking up in volume. It was a rangers helicopter. The chopper slowly descended to where I was, and two paramedics exited. I was incredibly weak in lacking the proper strength to do most anything, so the medics assisted me into the craft. I asked them why they were here, and what they explained didn't make any sense. Apparently, Sergio, Evelyn, and I had been missing for roughly a month, and a search was conducted for us. Of course, none of this made any sense, as it had only been a day that we were at the temple. Could whatever happened had affected my perception on time? When I had given my account for what had transpired, I made up an excuse. I had fallen into one of the Sanotes and had gotten lost and separated from my team. While this didn't explain how I survived for around a month, it checked out well enough. No way I'd try to tell them what actually happened. Being admitted is the last thing I want or need. It's been over six months since those events transpired. If everything that happened actually happened, then how? How is all of this possible? Were my team and I actually sent back in time? Did the Mayans encounter literal dinosaurs? Regardless, I've come to the conclusion that I, no, we should have let be that, which has a reason not to be understood. As the deeper we dig, the more we find things that weren't meant to have been. I myself wish I had realized that sooner. Hi all. I don't normally post on Reddit, but I'm at my wit's end, and I don't know what else to do. My eyes have crystals in them. Nobody else will believe me, and the guilt has been driving me insane. I can't think straight. I apologize for the rambling. I never been one for telling stories, but if I don't do this now, the truth about what really happened will never be told. I owe it to her at least to put this out somewhere. I've just been so ashamed. I'm sorry, Eve. I'm a real piece of crap and you deserved better. Now, I could only hope that we'll all go down in flames. Five months ago, my girlfriend and I went on an anniversary trip to the Amazon rainforest. While we had only been together for a year, Eve was an incredibly sentimental person. Taking great joy and planning and celebrating small anniversary events for each month that we had been dating. The first month, she had treated us to dinner at a museum where we had had our first date. My salmon rolls were overpriced and stale, but when you're lucky enough to be in the presence of the most stunning woman in the world, almost every moment is something to be savored. Speaking of our first date, it happened spontaneously the first time we met, which is not something I ever imagined myself saying. It was a particularly nasty winter that year, and I had some time to kill after work that day, so I took a long walk to the Uptown Art Museum. With no real plan or initiative, I meandered my way through the exhibits, pausing the sketch anything that caught my eye when I found someone behind me tapping on my shoulder. I turned around and, wow, an angel. No, a literal angel tattooed on her right hand, tufted plumes of feathers radiating outwards and snaking up her forearm. I like your tat. I tried to choke out before she repeated her question. What's your favorite piece from this period? Huh? You know, she gestured towards the display case that I didn't even realize I had been sketching. Perhaps pitying my social ineptitude. She picked up the conversation and explained her own personal interest in the complexities of mid-1800s glass production. Two hours later, we were holding hands in front of a medieval suit of armor, and she gave me a peck on the cheek. Right then and there, I knew she was the one. We had both planned for our first year anniversary trip well in advance, spending months scraping together what little disposable income we had to purchase tickets to Ecuador. Growing up, victoriously exploring the jungle through the lenses of nature documentaries. It had been an eve's dream to visit the Amazon rainforest and finally experience in person. The beauty and perils and equal measure that she had been so enthralled with on the clunky beige computer of her childhood home. This fascination eventually manifested itself into the form of piles upon piles of library books and later on midnight excursions down the great Wikipedia rabbit hole. She was always so happy to share her love for the rainforest dispense through various tidbits of knowledge, hoping that it would rub off on me. Hey, she'd say, did you know that three-toed sloths are three times stronger than the average human? They're also excellent swimmers. We're lucky they're so slow. And did you know that there's little parasitic fish that swim up people's ureps? You've heard of Pizza Hut $7 deal lovers menu, right? All these delicious items for only $7 each when you buy two or more. But something's off. I mean, pizzas, melts, boneless wings, bacon, cheddar, cheese, sticks, oven, baked pastas, cinebon mini rolls. And that's not even the whole menu. I'll keep eating or digging. You should too. Check out the $7 deal lovers menu at your local Pizza Hut. Product availability prices and participation may vary. Additional charges and exclusions may apply. Wings included are eight-count boneless. You know that vibe? When you're riding in your all-new Camry and that cousin calls, the one who always tries to one-up you. I mean yours is fine and all, but... Not even a hello. It's straight into better job, boyfriend, vacation spot, your response? Pressing the dirt off your shoulders and pulling up in the all-new Camry. 225 horsepower, bold grill, available 19-inch wheels, and wireless charging. Who has the better what now? Thought so? The vibe just shifted in your favor with the all-new Camry. Toyota, let's go places. He throws while they're swimming in the Amazon River? Ew, Eve, how is that one a fun fact? That's just gross. Yeah, but like only people with junk, so we'll be okay. And so on. So while I wasn't surprised when she had asked, fists practically clenching with anticipation, if we could do this very special trip for a very special occasion. I had initially been on the fence about the whole idea, leaning strongly towards the side of non-encountering abnormally strong mammals or creepy parasite fish. For one, between our meager customer service salaries and the astronomical and still somehow rising prices are rent, saving up for such a trip would take nothing short of a Herculean effort. I was also somewhat of a homebody who was more than content to remain in the familiar confines of the city. My only wilderness experience was that of a summer camping trip that my cousins and I went on in the Catskills when I was a little kid. I remember it being a holy unpleasant slog, getting sick from licking hot chocolate powders straight from the bag and being devoured alive by mosquitoes. Knowing this, Evad had taken my dislike for the non-air conditioned into consideration and proposed a sort of compromise. Serenity Rainforest Villa, the website boasted. It is an all-inclusive luxury retreat into the beautiful Amazon rainforest of Ecuador. Explore the Amazon through engaging private tours with our world-class guides and surround yourself with the comforts of your own fully furnished cabins. We guarantee that you will have the experience of a lifetime. Picture after picture of exuberant tourists filled the screen. Eve signaled for me to stop scrolling. Look, Mina, I think that's a sake monkey. Look how cute it is. The enthusiasm on Eve's face as we shifted through the site was infectious. And over the course of the next few days, I couldn't help but let myself be convinced that this trip would be a good way for me to reconnect with the outdoors. And yes, the monkeys were admittedly very, very cute. Escaping the grey sludge of another unusually cold winter for an entire week was also an undeniable bonus. More than anything though, I really wanted to make my girlfriend happy. I had made a big show of grumbling and muttering about being coerced into something I had no say over in the first place. But she had received her answer the next day in the form of a field guidebook. Eve hugged me tight as I melted, a long hug that persisted all throughout the summer and fall. More days than not, we would collapse from exhaustion once we had gotten home after working extra shifts. But we both pushed on with fever, knowing that it would all be worth it. And that's how months of our quite literal blood, sweat, and tears led us to a cheerful, nondescript green dock on the Amazon River. Our guide, Gilbert, was waiting for us next to the speedboat that would bring us to the resort. A chatty yet stoic man with a permanently furrowed brow. Albert was a father of two, spending half of his time as a tour guide. The other half is an English teacher, and the third half he joked, parenting his children. He was from a small village nestled deep within the rainforest and grew up fishing alongside his brothers. A few times a month, he and his brothers would paddle their boat filled with the prized salt preserved fish to a large trading village, to barter for other goods. Albert was particularly fond of books and had never failed to lead the post without one or two on every trip, purchased with his cut in the allowance. This was how he had taught himself English over the years. You two chose a good time to come. It's the wet season right now. He explained as we glided over the muddy waves. Lots of people mistake the wet season for the rainy season, but the river is actually rising due to melting snow from the mountains. Organic debris gets swept in along the way, so keep your eyes out for manatees and pink river dolphins. Eve's eyes widened as she all but craned her head out of the window, making Albert laugh. Here we have an old myth about the pink river dolphins, Bowdo and Kentado. They come out of the water at night disguised as handsome men. They dance all night with the women in the villages and take them to the underworld by the morning. Eve remained silent, staring intently at the water. The boat ride will take two more hours, and the other guests will have already arrived. You two should nap if you're tired. By the time we get there, dinner will be ready. Eve and I both took in as many sights as we could during the first hour of the boat ride, but a combination of several hours of restless plane rides and the gentle rocking motion of the waves eventually lulled us into a peaceful sleep. Wake up, get excited, we're here. Albert's voice drifted into our ears as he nudged the back of our seats. We're just in time for dinner, let's go. He studied the boat against another little green dock as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, finally taking in just how magnificent the place really was. Four covered wooden walkways, each corresponding with a cardinal direction, balanced precariously on an intricate networks of stilts, creating a sort of compass. At the farthest bounds of the compass, barely visible from my vantage point, private cabins nestled in the lush foliage, the center of the compass, distinctly established by the converging walkways, housed a circular courtyard and an absolutely enormous thatched hut that towers spectacularly over the trees. This is the big lodge, Albert announced, used as the common and dining areas. Here you could chat with other guests between activities at all hours of the day. You have meal vouchers for two meals a day to be eaten whenever you would like before 9pm. Breakfast is complimentary, but you have to get here early between 6 and 8am if you want any. Kitchen and upstairs staff area is off limits, got it? We nodded, following him inside. While the outside had been hot and humid under the oppressive rainforest sun, the inside of the big lodge was an airy refuge that smelled of lemongrass and suntan lotion. String lights dangled from the ceiling, casting dancing specks a light onto a massive polished wooden table below. At the bottom of the room, a brick wall separated the public guest areas from the private kitchen. Just like our tour guide had said, the other guests, about a dozen in total, had already taken their places at the table. Some of them nodded towards us in acknowledgement as we awkwardly shuffled into our seats. An Eve struck up a conversation with the couple to our right, who I gradually became to know as Chira, an energetic 30-something vet tech with this sonaris laugh, and Matt, her husband, a quiet man with the bluest eyes I had ever seen, rarely caught without the huge camera strapped around his neck. "Matt loves that thing," Chira said, playfully punching him on the shoulder. He got it last Christmas and hadn't put it down since. It's practically part of him now. Matt smiled sheepishly and snapped a picture of her in response. Shortly after we had taken our seats, a tall, professional-looking woman with an austere brunette bob strode confidently out of the industrial kitchen door to the head of the table. Dressed in an impeccably fitted white sheath dress, she looked at a place in the middle of the rainforest to the point of absurdity. "Hello, ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of all of us here, I'd like to extend you all our warmest welcome to Serenity." She paused, as if evaluating us for a moment. "My name is Amelia, and I will be your events coordinator for the duration of your stay. Please do not hesitate to ask me any questions or make any requests. Anything at all that will make your stay here perfect." She grinned, flashing a mouthful of white teeth. "I know that presently all of you must be starving, so first, before anything else. Let's eat." "I was no foodie back at home. I would have probably took in a box of craft mac and cheese over just about anything. But the food we had that night might have been some of the best food I had ever had in my life." A tender-cut steak, seasoned with herbs whose name my mouth could not make proper sound for, practically melted upon hitting my tongue. With it, a side of vibrant orange rice, stewed in a rich tomato broth, and a small ramekin of creamy scalloped potatoes around us. "You've heard of Pizza Hut's seven-dollar deal lovers menu, right? All these delicious items for only seven dollars each when you buy two or more. But something's off. I mean, pizzas, melts, boneless wings, bacon, cheddar cheese, sticks, oven, big pastas, cinebon mini rolls. And that's not even the whole menu. I'll keep eating or digging. You should too. Check out the seven-dollar deal lovers menu at your local Pizza Hut. "Product availability prices and participation may vary. Additional charges and exclusions may apply. Wings included are eight-count boneless." You know that vibe? When you're riding in your all-new Camry and that cousin calls, the one who always tries to one-up you. "I mean, yours is fine in all, but…" Not even a hello, it's straight into better job, boyfriend, vacation spot, your response? Pressing the dirt off your shoulders and pulling up in the all-new Camry, 225 horsepower, bold grill, available 19-inch wheels, and wireless charging. Who has the better what now? Thought so? The vibe just shifted in your favor with the all-new Camry. Toyota, let's go places. The other guests murmured in approval. "Isn't this amazing, Mina? I don't know how food could taste this good," I replied, "and Eve reached for my hand under the table." "I'll ask them the recipe," I said, interlocking my fingers with hers. "I'll ask them the recipe, and I'll learn how to make this stuff, and we'll eat it every day until we get tired of it or we run out of money, if you'd like that." "Of course, I'd love that, Mina. I love you." "I love you. I love you." It echoed through my mind as we headed down the South Walkway, scurrying past a disturbing amount of tarantulas that had begun to congregate under the soft beams of the overhead lights. "I love you," I getily thought as we drifted off to sleep in our cabin, just the two of us, serenaded by the rhythmic lullabies of millions of frogs and giant neon-colored cicadas. When the sun began the rise, this nighttime song ebbed away, replaced by an all manner of shrieks and trills and chatter of birds, and the whole canopy erupted into a cacophony of conversation. I could barely hear a thing. I was in a trance. I was floating. We're really actually here, and it's not a dream. She's happy and we're in love. And so, in this way, the first two days passed in a blissful days. We woke up to the chorus of birds, began our ritual of fastidiously applying sunscreen and bug spray on each other, and made our way to the big lodge, where we ate breakfasts of pancakes and scrambled eggs with chira and mat. After breakfast, Albert took us on walking and boat tours along the Amazon River, joined by his teenage son, Victor, a soft-spoken boy who acted as a lookout for animals of interest in the canopy. Time after time, he would point at something that we could not see. A toucan perfectly camouflaged with a splotch of brown perched on top of tree. A flock of green parrots from a distance near indistinguishable from the fruits that they ate, preparing to take flight. A family of spider monkeys, nimbly making their way through a maze of branches undetected. And while at first we could not see them, eventually our eyes had learned to adjust. "When you see one, you see them all," Victor said, and quickly, one spider monkey turned into a group of fifty, peering curiously down at us from the trees. When Eve spotted a macaw before Albert or Victor managed to, our little party broke into a round of applause, and she positively beamed with pride. After the nature walks, we stopped by the dining area for short lunch breaks before continuing on with our afternoon activities. We went swimming in the murky, vaguely thawnic water of the aptly named Blackwater section of the river. Eve did at least. "It's perfectly fine, I promise," she said, twirling around in the water, attempting the coax me in. "I know it looks scary, but it's this color because of the tannins from the leaves that have fallen in." "I didn't budge." "It's good for your skin." "Ezzotently I dipped my hand in, the water quickly swallowing up my fingertips." "I couldn't see anything past my submerged knuckles." Images of men who turned into dolphins, feeding on the bodies of their hapless victims, filled my mind, and I imagined a hand offering a dance, dragging me down into the darkness. I quickly yanked my hand out. "Hey, you guys come here for a second." On the evening of the third day, Chara waved us over as we stepped through the doors of big lodge for dinner. "Check this out," she said, thrusting Matt's camera towards us. Our tour guide took us down to this giant lily pad pond today, right? It was nice, but then Mattie saw something weird on one of the lily pads off in the distance. When he zoomed in, it turned out to be a vial and some sort of syringe just tossed aside there, and then a couple of yards passed that, as we were walking by. We saw an open cage in the undergrowth. We thought the vial could have been filled with some sedatives, for the catch and release of a large animal. Matt added, "Chara's betting on a panther." When we pointed it out to our guide, he kind of laughed and just changed the subject, which was strange, but you guys have to take a look at the cage. Sure enough, the digital display had captured a pixelated yet unmistakable image of an unlabeled glass vial with a syringe. The next image was a much clearer shot of a large, reinforced steel cage. It was immediately obvious that this cage had been badly roughed up. Several of the bars had been bent in random areas, and a series of indents had lined the horizontal beams. Eve shifted in her seat. "Are those bite marks?" Seems to be, "Chara" replied. "Must have been one distressed panther." Not wanting to make a fool of myself, I remained quiet, but when Matt next spoke, it was the only question on all of our minds. "Is a panther really strong enough to do that?" He asked. "To no one in particular." The four of us sat through dinner in an uncomfortable silence. "I can't sleep, Mina." Eve's shaky voice woke me from my slumber. I could feel her trembling beside me. "There's voices coming from the big lodge. They've all been yelling. I'm scared." "Shit, what time is it?" I blindly patted around. "No sooner had my hand landed on my phone. A low rumble followed by a deafening…" Much like the blast of a cannon resonated from the direction of the big lodge. The wooden walls of the cabin rocked violently. In my mind, I can imagine the trees outside cleaving in two. For a split second, all sounds of the forest ceased, before picking up with a redoubled frenzy. Eve whimpered, digging her nails into my arm. "What was that? Oh my god, what was that?" 3.22 AM. The glow of my phone screen illuminated her face with a faint purple light. She was crying. "Hey, hey, it's alright." I cued, taking her head of my arms. "It's okay. I'm gonna go over there and take a look, okay? Just stay here and don't open the door for anyone until I get back." Eve pressed her head into my chest. "I just want to make sure we're safe. It will only take a few minutes, and I'll leave the lights on so you don't have to wait in the dark, alright?" "Ah, Eve, don't cry." I held her for a bit longer before prying myself from the warmth of the bed and slipping out the door. Whatever happened, it had not gone unnoticed by the other guests. Far off in the distance, I could see lights from some of the other cabins turning on, and another guest groggily making their way towards the big lodge. Inside of the building had been a flurry of activity. In the aftermath, the stately communal dinner table which previously stood in the center of the dining area had been haphazardly pushed into the wall and was now lying on its side. Shattered shards of porcelain and silver cutlery had scattered everywhere. The air felt impossibly dense. In an acrid metallic smell had permeated the room. Muffled voices came wafting through the closed kitchen door. The loudest one came from Albert. I could recognize his distinct rasp. It sounded like he was berating the rest of the group. By then, some of the other guests had also arrived to check out the source of the commotion. We stood there in our t-shirts and boxers and nightgowns, unsure of where to stand or what to say to each other, waiting. It was as if some unspoken rule had passed between us. No one should go knock on the kitchen door. And so we waited. A few minutes went by, and Amelia came along out of the kitchen, wringing her hands. Despite it being well past three in the morning, her hair and makeup were pristine, and she donned a crisp white chef's coat. She took a second to survey the scene inside. "I'm truly sorry. Please accept our sincerest apologies for the disruption." Some unexpected circumstances arose, but rest assured, we have the situation fully under control. And it would bring me great relief if he would return to bed and find some sleep. I call bullshit. Muddered the guy next to me. Then louder so Amelia could hear. Can't you tell us exactly what happened? Yeah, another guy from the back chined in. It sounded like a rocket launcher had gone off in here. And I'm not going to ignore that and go back to sleep. We nodded in agreement. You've heard of Pizza Hut's $7 deal lovers menu, right? All these delicious items for only $7 each when you buy two or more. But something's off. I mean, pizzas, melts, boneless wings, bacon, cheddar, cheese, sticks, oven, big pastas, cinebon mini rolls. And that's not even the whole menu. I'll keep eating or digging. You should too. Check out the $7 deal lovers menu at your local Pizza Hut. Product availability prices and participation may vary. Additional charges and exclusions may apply. Wings included or eight-count boneless. You know that vibe? When you're rolling in your all-new Camry and you and wifey aren't seeing eye to eye. That's icy. Well, here's what you do. Use the available 12.3-inch multimedia touch screen to pull up you all's favorite crooner. The minute she hears that high note floating from the available JBL premium audio, you'll know you just went from icy to thawed out. The vibe just shifted for the better with the all-new Camry. Toyota, let's go places. Amelia's lips pursed, contemplating her next move. One moment, she said, excusing herself before briskly walking back into the kitchen. More muffled voices, arguing. Amelia came back out, thin-frowned lines creased across her forehead. Very well then. A panther. That's what Amelia had told us at least. Two of the chefs had been up preparing pastries for the next day. When one of them noticed a figure slinking about in the darkened common area through the open kitchen door. Believing it to be a guest in search of a late-night snack, the chef had gone out to offer them some food. When it dawned on him what the creature was, he had run into the table in a panic. The other chef made aware of the dire situation at hand, had fired a single flare in the attempt to scare off the animal. It had worked, though the sound had woken up the rest of the guides, who slept upstairs, and more importantly to Amelia, the guests, who she did not want to freak out. Eve had been inconsolable after I returned with the news. Signal flares don't sound like that. She repeated over and over. "Do you think this has something to do with what we saw earlier at the pond?" "Well," I replied. "When we see them tomorrow today, Chira will be happy to know that her panther theory was correct." "No, I mean something else." Her voice trailed off. "I want to go home." "I stroked her hair." "Eve, you know we can't do that right now, and besides, we only have one more day here anyways." "We both worked so hard for this. Don't you think we deserved to enjoy this last day?" Chira and Matt didn't show up for breakfast. Eve eyed their empty spots at the table wearily. Her pancakes untouched were beginning to congeal into a syrupy mess, but her gaze remained transfixed. I wasn't particularly perturbed. They must have also been awakened last night, and likely skipped breakfast in favor of sleeping in the catch-up on some much-needed rest. Knowing that this would continue to bother Eve for some time though, I excused myself to look for their tour guide in hopes that he could offer some reassurance. "Oh, those two," Javier coughed, waving at another guide passing by behind me. They left a few hours ago after dinner last night. I believe one of them had an unpleasant stomach ache, gave them some Tylenol, but Amelia insisted that we take them to the nearest hospital just in case they needed some antibiotics for something more serious. It's a few hours from here by boat, so they should be back any minute now. He's suddenly straightened up. You and your girlfriend don't happen to have any of their contact information by any chance, do you? No, unfortunately, we don't. Javier slumped back into a seat. So yeah, hopefully they'll be back soon. I relayed to Eve. She managed to one tight-lipped smile, but said nothing. I watched as a fly and landed onto the amber puddle of syrup on her plate, but she did not bother to chew it away. She studied the insect, iridescent blue with a traffic cone orange head lost in thought. Albert, Victor, and another couple greeted us at the dock after breakfast. It had taken much cajoling in a dumb joke or two, told at my expense, before Eve had finally allowed herself to cheer up, a green to end our trip on a high note. Evelyn Minerva. On the off chance that you haven't gotten to acquaint yourselves earlier, I'd like to introduce you to Bryce and June. Bryce, June, this is Evelyn and Minerva. Please call me Eve. We exchanged pleasantries. Due to the events of last night, Amelia had asked for us to travel in larger numbers for safety. It is unheard of of a panther to attack a group this size, but if such a brave panther were to exist, there's absolutely nothing in this force that Victor and I or any of us guides for that matter can't deal with. Albert winked. The rest of the day went by quickly and pleasantly. Albert had navigated the boat out to a floated clearing and we lazily drifted past the submerged treetops, surreptitiously poking their heads out of the water like endless fields of bean sprouts. Blue morpho butterflies bigger than my hand fluttered past us in undelated patterns. Peels of Nectar's sweet bird song echoed from the distance. Eve closed her eyes, letting the fragment breeze below through her hair. Incandescent locks of copper which had soaked up the warmth of the sun created a sort of halo a light around her. I wish we could have remained there in that perfect moment, a snapshot preserved forever. Tonight we're going on a special nighttime cruise. The sun had begun the dip over the treeline, and the orchestra, frogs, and insects had started warming up for their nightly performance. "This is the favorite amongst our guests," Albert explained, switching on a bright flashlight from somewhere at the back of the boat. "We will look for nocturnal animals. Caimans, boas, and birds." "Birds?" "Yes, such as the black-crowned night heron. They have crystals in their eyes. Tape them lucidum. That reflects light and allows for them the sea in the dark. Most nocturnal hunters do. That is how we look for them. You will see the crystals appearing along the banks of the river, so pay close attention." As the ray of flashlight danced back and forth along the river's edge, several pairs of luminescent eyes blinked back at us. Bryce and June owed an odd from the bench behind us. It was just like in the movies. When I was a kid, I was obsessed with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I must have watched the movie upwards to twenty times, to the exasperation of my poor parents, and a scene that never fails to terrify me was the one in which Snow White gets chased down by the huntsmen in the haunted forest. Norold branches grab at her arms and legs while the cruel, piercing, bright eyes of owls and bats glare at her from behind every crack in crevice. Caught up in my memories and enchanted by a world that, up until a few days ago, was simply images on a screen to me. I did not initially notice that the forest had gone silent. Eve was pointing to the back of the boat where Albert and Victor stood. She was shaking so hard that the boat swayed gently with her, creating ripples in the inky black water. Then a word whispered so faintly that I could have misheard it. Crystals. Bryce possibly believing that he was being accused of something clear to his throat. "What the?" I spun around, just in time to see Victor. Only the mere silhouette of a man now, two glowing white dots where his face had once been, sinking his teeth into Bryce's head. That's right. Victor mumbled through a mouthful of flesh, spitting out something that clattered against the floor of the boat. Crystals. I'm sorry. What happened afterwards is something that my mind has tried to erase. I mostly remembered the ringing in my ears. Whether it came from June or Eve or myself, I don't recall, but the entire forest opened its hideous mouth and screamed. Now that Victor had made the first move, Albert crouched down in his haunches, eyes flashing in anticipation, eager to join the hunt. Before I had a chance to react, Eve, an indecipherable expression on her face, stood from where she had sat, placing herself between me and Albert. Paralyzed with fear, I could only watch helplessly. I was a statue, a stupid statue cemented to the bench of the boat as he lunged towards us, the thing that I so foolishly entrusted with our lives. Eve, the observant one who had a bad feeling the entire time, who tried her best to warn us, and me, the idiot who had gotten us both killed. I'm such a F up. I'm such a F. Eve kicked me hard, a direct impact to my stomach, forcing the air out of my lungs, searing waves of pain shot across my abdomen as my body recoiled, spasming. I was too much in my shock, choking, uni- Psst, you've heard of Pizza Hut's $7 deal lovers menu, right? All these delicious items for only $7 each when you buy two or more, but something's off. I mean, pizzas, melts, boneless wings, bacon, cheddar, cheese, sticks, oven, baked pastas, cinabon mini rolls, and that's not even the whole menu. I'll keep eating or digging. You should too. Check out the $7 deal lovers menu at your local Pizza Hut. Product availability prices and participation may vary. Additional charges and exclusions may apply. Wings included or eight-count boneless. You know that vibe? When you're rolling in your all-new Camry and you and wifey aren't seeing eye-to-eye. That's icy. Well, here's what you do. Use the available 12.3-inch multimedia touch screen to pull up you all's favorite crooners. The minute she hears that high note floating from the available JBL premium audio, you'll know, you just went from icy to thawed out. The vibe just shifted for the better with the all-new Camry. Toyota, let's go places. Camo defined my voice to ask why. For she had saved me. Albert's jagged yellow nails had only managed to slice the thin web of skin between my fingers before I plunged backwards into the water. She gazed down at me tenderly, lovingly. Just like she always did when she would braid my hair and weed conjure up grand fantastical plans of our future together. She didn't look away. Not even as Albert laughed and used those nails to slit her throat. A fisherman found me a few days later. I had been floating next to one of his nests, hysterically babbling about river dolphins. My skin was so severely macerated after days spent drifting in the water that some of it had sloth off, leaving infected yellow sores all over my body. In broken Spanish between hiccups, I'd managed to tell him that my girlfriend had been in the water with me, but she hadn't made it out. She kept telling me that I had the leave and that she'd miss me, but I didn't want to leave her. It was so peaceful. Her wings were so beautiful. I begged to be with her for just a few more minutes. "You really, really have to leave now," she was saying, and then her face turned into a dolphin, and she had all these rows of barbed wire teeth. She got mad and chased me to shore. She hates me, I think, but we have to go find her. The doctors tell me that this is a result of hypoxia. My oxygen-starved brain hallucinating as it shut down. I was lucky to have made such a miraculous recovery, they say. Had I remained in the water for any longer, I would have likely met my end. They attribute all of the other things as to what I'd seen, the facility, doubling as an innocuous tourist attraction in the middle of the Amazon rainforest was, in their professional opinion, a response to acute trauma. The manufactured superhuman zombies that killed my girlfriend along with all the other tourists were merely stories that I had subconsciously created as a means to process grief. Something like that. I don't give a crap as to what they had to say. I know what I saw. I quit my job, I stopped talking to my friends. Hell, I haven't left my apartment in over five months since I'd returned home. I no longer eat, I no longer sleep. The news reports describe it as a senselessly violent poacher attack. A band of poachers witnessed engaging in criminal activities by a group of guests at a remote rainforest resort. Indiscriminately slaughtered said guests in any attempt to cover up their tracks. The rest of the guests, as well as the resort staff, have been taken hostage. I am the sole survivor, and my story is solid as one of resilience and triumph. I throw a vase at the television. I look up phrases like "Serenity Rainforest Villa." Amelia Researcher Serenity Rainforest Villa, genetically modified creatures in the Amazon rainforest online. It's an exercise in futility. Serenity Rainforest Villa had been scribbled clean from the internet. For all anyone knows, it had never existed. At night, I stare for hours on end at myself in the mirror as my eyes shine white, reflecting the light from my monitor. On the screen is a picture of even eye, drunkenly laughing at the dollar pizza place down the block. Not a care in the world. Whatever they have been working on, whatever they turned me into, they probably didn't expect me to survive. I know they're still out there, and more than anything, I hope that I'll be ready. I'll be booking a flight back to the rainforest, and when I get to where I need to be, I'm torching down the facility and taking the rest of those frickers with me. Well, it sounds like the tenants at your rental property sure know how to throw a great party. You just wish they wouldn't throw so many parties, on Tuesdays, until 4am. And if they could pay the rent on time, that would be nice too. Being a landlord can be stressful, but it doesn't have to be. Let renters warehouse handle the hard part of property management for you, like finding quality tenants you can trust. Renters warehouse manages thousands of single-family homes, and specializes in locating reliable tenants at the right price for your property, usually in a matter of days. And if your tenant defaults for any reason, they'll replace them for free up to 18 months under their tenant warranty program. 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