Tales From The Dark Forest
3 Hours of HORRIFYING Creepypasta Scary Stories To Fall Asleep To
[SPEAKING SPANISH] [SPEAKING SPANISH] [SPEAKING SPANISH] [SPEAKING SPANISH] [SPEAKING SPANISH] [SPEAKING SPANISH] [SPEAKING SPANISH] [SPEAKING SPANISH] [SPEAKING SPANISH] [SPEAKING SPANISH] [SPEAKING SPANISH] [SPEAKING SPANISH] [SPEAKING SPANISH] [SPEAKING SPANISH] [SPEAKING SPANISH] [SPEAKING SPANISH] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] I never should have come on this stupid camping trip. That's what I kept telling myself as I huddled in the damp darkness, straining my ears for any sound that mine to give away the presence of... of what. I don't even know anymore. All I knew was that something was out there in the endless sea of pines. Something that had already taken Eric's dad. And now, it was hunting us. But I'm getting ahead of myself. I should start at the beginning. Back when this was just supposed to be a fun weekend get away with my friends. God, was that really only two days ago? It feels like a lifetime. My name's Charlie, and I'm in eighth grade at Millbrook Middle School. Just your average 13-year-old kid, I guess. Not particularly athletic or popular, but I've got a solid group of friends. That's who I was with when everything went to hell. Eric, Peter, Jason, and Robert. Eric had been going on and on about this camping trip for weeks. His dad, Mr. Larson, was some kind of outdoorsman, and had promised to take Eric and a few friends deep into the Adirondacks for a real wilderness experience. No cell phones, no iPads. Just good old-fashioned camping. Eric was practically bouncing off the walls with excitement. "Come on, Charlie, it'll be awesome!" he'd said, grinning from ear to ear. "My dad's gonna teach us how to track animals, build shelters, and all that survival stuff." I'd been hesitant at first. The thought of being out in the middle of nowhere surrounded by who knows what didn't exactly fill me with enthusiasm. But peer pressure is a hell of a thing, and eventually, I caved. So there we were. Piled into Mr. Larson's massive SUV early on a crisp Friday morning in October. The leaves were just starting the turn, painting the world in a riot of reds and golds. It should have been beautiful. Instead, as we drove deeper and deeper into the wilderness, leaving civilization far behind. I felt a growing sense of unease settling into the pit of my stomach. I glanced around at my friends, wondering if any of them felt the same. Eric, of course, was practically vibrating with excitement. His mop of blonde hair bouncing as he pointed out landmarks to his dad. He'd always been the adventurous one of our group, always pushing us to try new things, taking risks. Sometimes, it led to amazing experiences. Other times, well, let's just say Eric's ideas don't always pan out. Next to Eric's sat Peter. His nose buried into a thick paperback. Classic Peter. While the rest of us were busy with sports or video games, Peter devoured books like they were going out of style. He pushed his glasses up his nose and flipped another page, completely oblivious to the world around him. In the back row was me with Jason and Robert. Jason was sound asleep, his bulky frame taking up more than his fair share of the seat. The gentle giant of our group. Jason was the kind of guy who had bench-press a small car but wouldn't hurt a fly. His snores filled the car, providing an oddly comforting background noise. Robert, on the other hand, was wide awake. His dark eyes darting nervously from window to window. Out of all of us, Robert was the one I was most surprised to see in this trip. He wasn't exactly the outdoorsy type. More of a computer geek, really. Always talking about coding and AI and stuff I barely understood. But here he was, clutching his backpack like a lifeline. "You okay, Rob?" I whispered. Not wanting to wake Jason or interrupt Mr. Larson's running commentary on the local flora and fauna. Robert jumped slightly and then gave me a weak smile. "Yeah, just not used to all this nature, you know. It's so big." I nodded, understanding completely. The farther we drove, the smaller I felt, like we were being swallowed up by the vast, indifferent wilderness. After what felt like ours, Mr. Larson finally pulled off on a barely visible dirt road. We bounced and jolted along for another 20 minutes before he brought the car to a stop in a small clearing. "Alright, boys," he boomed, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "This is where our real adventure begins. Grab your packs. We got about a five-mile hike to our campsite." Five miles? Through this dense forest? I exchanged a worry glance with Robert, but there was no backing out now. We piled out of the car, shouldering our heavy backpacks. Mr. Larson led the way, machete in hand, to clear any obstacles with Eric right at his heels. The rest of us fell into line behind them, with me bringing up the rear. As we height, the forest seemed to close in around us. The trees grew taller, their branches intertwining overhead to block out most of the sunlight. The air grew cooler, damper. Strange bird calls echoed in the distance, unlike anything I had ever heard before. But it wasn't until we were about halfway to the campsite that I first noticed something was off. It was subtle at first, just a feeling of being watched. I kept glancing over my shoulder, expecting to see something lurking in the shadows between the trees. But there was never anything there, just more trees stretching endlessly in every direction. Then I started to notice the silence. It fell suddenly, like someone had flipped a switch. One moment the forest was alive with the sounds of birds and small animals. The next, nothing. Just the crunch of our boots on the leaf string ground in our labored breathing. I wasn't the only one who noticed. I saw Robert's head swiveling back and forth, his eyes wide with fear. Even Jason, usually so laid back, seemed on edge. "Hey Mr. Larson," Peter called out, his voice unnaturally loud in the stillness. "Is it, uh, normal for the force to get this quiet?" Mr. Larson paused, frowning slightly. "Well, sometimes animals will go quiet if there's a predator in the area. Bear maybe, or maybe a mountain lion. Nothing to worry about, boys. They're more afraid of us than we are of them." His words were meant to be reassuring, but they had the opposite effect on me. "A bear? A mountain lion? How is that supposed to make us feel better?" We pressed on, the silence growing heavier with each step. And then, just as the last of the daylight was fading, we heard it. A sound that made my blood run cold and my heart leapt in my throat. It was a scream. High-pitched, agonized, and very, very human. Mr. Larson froze, his hand flying up in a gesture for us to stop. "What the hell was that?" he muttered, more to himself than to us. "Dad?" Eric's voice was small, scared. "I never heard him sound like that before." "Dad, what do we do?" For a long moment, Mr. Larson didn't move. Then he seemed to shake himself, turning to face us with a forced smile. "It's probably nothing, boys. Maybe some animal that sounded like a person. But just to be safe, we're going to set up camp here for the night, okay?" We nodded mutly, too scared to argue. As we started to unpack our gear, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were making a terrible mistake. We should have turned back, should have ran as fast as we could back to the car and civilization. But we didn't. And as the night closed in around us, bringing in with the chorus of unnatural sounds and fleeting shadows just beyond the reach of our flashlights, I realized with growing horror that it might already be too late. We set up camp at a small clearing, our tents forming a tight circle around the fire pit Mr. Larson insisted on building. "Bires keep the animals away," he said. But I couldn't shake the feeling that whatever was making that scream wasn't afraid of a little campfire. As the flames flickered to life, casting long shadows across our faces, I studied my friends. Eric was trying to put on a brave face, but I could see the fear in his eyes. Peter had his nose and his book again, but he wasn't turning any pages. Jason sat on a log, his massive frame hunched over, looking smaller than I had ever seen him. And Robert? Robert was muttering to himself, fingers flying over the screen of a small device he had pulled out of his pocket. "Hey," Mr. Larson's sharp voice made us all jump. "I thought I said no electronics, Robert, hand it over." Robert clutched his device to his chest, his eyes wide. "But Mr. Larson, I—" "No buts. This is about experiencing nature, remember? Now give it here." Reluctantly, Robert surrendered the gadget. Mr. Larson pocketed it with a satisfied nod. "Alright boys, who wants to learn how to roast the perfect marshmallow?" But none of us were in the mood for campfire treats. The forest around us seemed alive with whispers and movement, just beyond the reach of the firelight. Every snapping twig, every rustle of leaves, sent a fresh jolt of fear through me. "Mr. Larson?" I finally worked up the courage to ask. "What if—what if that scream wasn't an animal? Should we try to help?" He sighed, running a hand through his grain hair. "Look, Charlie, I know you're scared. All of you are. But trust me, there's nothing out here that we need to worry about. Probably just a fox or something. Now, let's try to get some sleep, okay? Things will look better in the morning." But sleep didn't come easily that night. I lay awake in my tent, shared with Robert, listening to the sounds of the forest. Robert's whispers broke the silence. "Charlie, you awake?" I rolled over to face him. "Yeah, can't sleep either?" He shook his head. His face pale in the dim light of the moon, filtering through the tent fabric. "There's something wrong here, Charlie. Really wrong, I—I've been tracking it." "Tracking what?" I asked, my heart beginning the race. The anomalies, the electromagnetic disturbances, they're off the charts out here. "That's what my device was for before Mr. Larson took it." "Charlie, I don't think we're dealing with animals. I think—I think there's something else out here. Something not natural." I wanted to laugh it off. To tell Robert he was being paranoid. But deep down, I knew he was right. There was something fundamentally wrong with these woods, something that set every nerve on edge. A sudden screen pierced the night much closer this time. We bolted upright, our eyes wide with terror. It was followed by the sound of running feet, branches snapping and then silence. "Boys? Everything okay in there?" Mr. Larson's voice came from outside, tense and alert. Before we could answer, another screen split the air. This time, I recognized the voice. It was Eric. What happened next was a blur of confusion and terror. We burst out of our tents to find Eric's empty, a trail of disturbed undergrowth leading into the dark forest. Mr. Larson had already charged down the path, flashlighted in one hand, hunting knife in the other. "Eric, Eric answer me!" he shouted, his voice cracking with fear. We followed, stumbling through the darkness, branches whipping at our faces. The beam of Mr. Larson's flashlight danced crazily ahead of us, illuminating snippets of the forest. A gnarled root here, a flash at least there. And then suddenly, the light fell on Eric. He was standing in a small clearing, his back to us, completely motionless. "Eric, thank God," Mr. Larson breathed, rushing forward. "Are you okay? What happened?" Eric didn't respond, didn't move. As we got closer, I felt a chill run down my spine. Something was very, very wrong. "Eric," I called out, my voice shaking. "Eric, come on, man, here." "Cadida Traxion, tojota tene bintidos be eculos desponibles contraxion total, etraxion quattro por quattro." "Juelba granny cioniebe, aya ochas lotto graba curba sera das." "Fronta lo cendero sconna ajil ra'for." "Manneja comfirbeza el cambritotalmente irido contraxion total desponible." "Wen cien de la traxion reforza de la tondra contraxion total desponible." At King Super's, an annual Boost Membership just got even better. Now you can choose from Disney+ with ads, Hulu with ads, or ESPN+ on us when you sign up. Plus, enjoy unlimited free delivery, double fuel points, exclusive offers, and free items. Sign up for a Boost Membership today. It's an easier way to save, including new streaming options to relax with, while we deliver your groceries. King Super's, fresh for everyone, restrictions apply. See site for details. "Crescaring us. Slowly, so slowly, Eric began the turn. And as his face came into view, illuminated by the harsh beam of the flashlight, I heard someone, maybe me, maybe all of us, let out a terrified scream. It wasn't Eric. Not anymore." The thing that faced us wore Eric's clothing had Eric's blond hair. But the face, the face was wrong, distorted. The eyes were too large, the mouth a gaping maw filled with needle-sharp teeth, and the skin. It seemed to ripple and shift as if something was moving beneath it. "Run!" Mr. Larsen whispered, his voice choked with horror. "Run!" We turned and fled, crashing through the underbrush, blind with terror. Behind us, I could hear something pursuing. Not footsteps, but a wet, slithering sound that seemed to come from all around us. I don't know how long we ran. Time lost all meaning in that nightmarish flight through the dark forest. All I knew was the burning in my lungs, the sting of branches against my skin, and the overwhelming need to get away. Finally, gasping for air, we bursted into another clearing. This one was different. In the center stood a massive ancient tree, its gnarled branches reaching towards the star-filled sky with grasping fingers. At its base was a dark opening, a cave or a hollow in the trunk, I couldn't tell. "In there!" Mr. Larsen panted, gesturing towards the opening. "Quick, before it catches up!" We didn't hesitate. One by one, we squeezed through the narrow opening, finding ourselves in a spacious hollow within the tree. It was pitch black inside, and the air thick with the scent of damp earth and decay. "Is everyone here?" Mr. Larsen whispered, his voice tight with fear. "Sound off!" "Here!" I said. "Present!" came Peter's shaky voice. "Yeah!" stammered Robert. A grunt from Jason confirmed his presence. Five of us, we had lost Eric, but the rest of us had made it, for now. Outside we could hear something moving, circling, waiting. Mr. Larsen? Robert whispered, his voice barely audible. "What? What is that thing?" In the darkness I heard Mr. Larsen take a deep, shuttering breath. "I don't know, son. I've never seen anything like it, but I swear I'm going to get you boys out of here, somehow." As we huddled together in the hollow of that ancient tree surrounded by the sounds of something inhuman prowling just outside, I realized that our ordeal was far from over. Whatever that thing was, whatever had taken Eric, it wasn't going to give up easy. And as the long night wore on, I began to wonder, was it just Eric had taken, or was it possibly that none of us were who we thought we were anymore? The thought sent a fresh wave of terror through me. I pressed myself further into the damp earth of our hiding place, straining my ears for any sound that might give away the creature's location. But all I could hear was the ragged breathing of my friends, and the wild pounding of my own heart. What had started as a simple camping trip had become a nightmare beyond imagination. And somehow, in the back of my mind, a terrible thought began the form. What if we never made it out of these woods? As the first pale light of dawn began the filter through the cracks in our wooden sanctuary, I realized that our fight for survival was only just beginning. The pale light of dawn brought little comfort. We had spent the night huddled in the hollowed out tree, jumping at every sound, every whisper a wind through the leaves. None of us had slept. How could we, after what we had seen? All right, boys, Mr. Larson whispered, his voice hoarse. We need to make a plan. We can't just stay here forever. What about that thing? Peter asked, pushing his glasses up to his nose with a trembling hand. It's still out there, isn't it? Mr. Larson's silence was answer enough. I could see the weight of responsibilities settling on his shoulders, aging him years in a single night. He was supposed to protect us, to keep us safe. But how could anyone be prepared for something like this? We need to get back to the car, he finally said. It's our only chance of getting out of here and finding help for, for Eric. His voice caught on his son's name, and I saw a flash of raw pain cross his face before he composed himself. But we don't even know where we are, Jason pointed out, his usual confidence replaced by fear. We ran for who knows how long last night, we could be miles from our campsite. I might be able to help with that. Robert said hesitantly. We all turn to look at him. Remember that voice Mr. Larson confiscated? It wasn't just for tracking anomalies, it also has GPS. Mr. Larson's eyes widened. He quickly dug into his pocket, pulling out Robert's device. Can you use it to get us back to the car? Robert nodded, taking the device with reverent care. I think so, it'll take me a few minutes to boot it up and get a signal butt. A blood-curdling shriek cut through the morning air, so close it seemed to vibrate through the very wood around us. We froze, hardly daring to breathe. It found us. I whispered terror, crying at my throat. Mr. Larson's face set in grim determination. Okay, change of plans. Robert, you work on getting that GPS going. The rest of us are going to make a run for it. We'll try to draw it away, give Robert some time. Once you've got our location, try to make your way back to the car. If we're not there, just go. Get help. But Mr. Larson, I started the protest. No arguments, Charlie. It's our best chance. He turned the Robert. You think you could do this, son? Robert gulped, but nodded. His finger is already dancing over the device's screen. Good, man. All right, boys. On my mark, we run. Robert, you stay here until it's clear. Understood? We nodded. Our hearts pounding in our chests. Mr. Larson peered out to the hollow, then held up three fingers. Two. One. Now! We bursted out of the tree, sprinting in the opposite direction from where we had heard the cry. I could hear it behind us almost immediately, that wet, slithering sound that haunted my nightmares. But we didn't look back. We couldn't. We ran until our lungs burned, weaving between trees, leaping over fallen logs. Mr. Larson led the way, his longer strides keeping him just ahead of us. And then, without warning, he wasn't. One moment he was there, crashing through the underbrush. The next, he was gone, as if the forest had swallowed him whole. Mr. Larson, Peter cried out, skidding to a halt. We stopped, spinning around wildly, searching for any sign of him. There was nothing. No sound, no movement, just the eerie stillness of the forest. "We have to go back," Jason said, his voice shaking. "We can't just leave him." But even as he spoke, we heard it. That terrifying inhuman shriek, coming from the direction Mr. Larson had vanished. It was answered by another cry. This one undoubtedly human. A scream of pure agony that cut off abruptly, leaving behind a silence more terrifying than any sound. "Oh God," Peter whimpered. "Oh God, oh God, oh God." I felt like I was going to be sick. Mr. Larson was gone, just like Eric. Taken by whatever ungodly thing lurked in these woods, and we were alone. "We need to get back to Robert," I managed to say, my voice sounding strange and distant in my own ears. "We need to get out of here." The others nodded mutly, too shocked and scared to argue. We turned to begin to make our way back to where we had come, moving as quietly as we could. Every shadow seemed to hide a threat. Every rustle of leaves sent a jolt of adrenaline through our systems. When we finally reached the hollow tree, we found Robert waiting for us, his face pale with fear. "I heard screams," he whispered. "Mr. Larson?" I shook my head, unable to form the words. Robert's face crumbled, but he took a deep breath and held up his device. "I've got our location," he said. "The car's about three miles northeast of here, but guys, there's something else you need to see." He turned the screen towards us. At first, I couldn't make sense of what I was looking at, a mess of lines and colors, like some abstract painting. But then I realized what it was. A topographical map of the area, and there, right where we were standing, was a swirling vortex of energy readings pulsing like a malevolent heart. "What is that?" Jason asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Robert's eyes were wide with a mix of fear and fascination. "I don't know, but whatever it is, it's not natural, and I think it might be what's behind everything that's happening here." As we stared at the pulsing anomaly on the screen, a chilling realization swept over me. We weren't just lost in the woods. We were trapped in the heart of something ancient and evil, something that had already taken two of our number. And as another inhuman howl echoed through the forest closer this time, I knew with terrifying certainty it wouldn't stop until it had us all. "We need the move," I said, surprising myself with the steadiness of my voice. Now. As we gathered what little supplies we had and prepared to make our desperate bid for escape, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were missing something crucial. Some piece of the puzzle that would explain why we were here, why this was happening to us. But there was no time to dwell on it. We had the run, we had the fight, we had to survive. Because if we couldn't make it out of these woods, no one would ever know the horror that lurked within them. And so, with heavy hearts and tear we're nipping at our heels, we set out into the forest once more, praying that we would live to see another dawn. We move through the forest like ghosts, our feet barely making a sound on the leaf's strewn ground. Richard led the way, his eyes glued to the device in his hands, guiding us towards what we hoped was salvation. But with each step, the feeling of wrongness grew stronger, a palpable miasma that seemed to cling to our skin. Wait, Peter suddenly whispered, grabbing my arm. Do you hear that? We all froze, straining our ears. At first I heard nothing but the usual forced sounds, the rustling of leaves, the distant call of a bird. But then, underneath it all, I caught it. A low pulsing hum just on the edge of hearing. "It's getting stronger," Robert muttered, tapping at his device. "The energy readings are off the charts. We're getting close to something." "The car?" Jason asked, hopefully. Robert shook his head. "No, this is different. I've never seen readings like this before." As if in response to his words, the forest around us began the change. The trees seemed to twist, their bark rippling like water. The ground beneath our feet softened, becoming spongy and unstable. In the air? The air filled with whispers, countless voices speaking in languages I had never heard before. "Guys?" I said, my voice shaking. "I think we should turn back." But even as the words left my mouth, I realized it was too late. The forest behind us had changed, becoming an impenetrable wall of riding vegetation. We had no choice. Querida Traxion, togio tatin eventidos bei colos desponidos contraxion total et traxion quatro por quatro. Joeba granis yoniebe, aya ochas lo do grabao curba sera das, a frondalos indero scona ajil rafor. Manneja comfirmeza el ganri totalmente irido contraxion total desponidle, cuinciendo de la traxion reforza de la tundra contraxion total desponidle. En cuentralemos yon ento yota punta com togio ta bya amos huntos. How dangerous is it to unwrap a burger at 40 miles per hour? More so than you think. In a little over two seconds, your car can travel slightly more than 117 feet, which is the same length as 20 bicycles. Anything that distracts you while driving is dangerous. That's why driving while texting can be deadly, too. So heads up, phones down. It's the law and you can be fined. A message from the Colorado Department of Transportation. But the press forward. As we stumbled onward, the world around us continued to warp and shift. Colors blend into one another, creating impossible hues that hurt to look at it. The ground rose and fell in nauseating waves. And always, always, that maddening whisper in the air, growing louder with each step. Finally, we emerged into a clearing unlike anything I had ever seen. In the center stood a massive structure, a twisted amalgamation of metal and organic matter. It pulsed with the otherworldly light, tendrils of energy, arching out to touch the trees surrounding it. "What? What is that thing?" Jason said, his eyes wide with a mixture of fear and awe. Robert was furiously tapping on his device, his face pale. "It's... it's not from here. Not from Earth. These readings, they're completely alien." As we stood there, trying to process what we were seeing, a figure emerged from behind the structure. My heart leapt in my throat. It was Eric's dad, Mr. Larson. But something was wrong. He moved with an unnatural fluidity, his joints bending in ways they shouldn't. In his eyes, his eyes were completely black, reflecting the pulsing light of the alien structure. "Mr. Larson?" Peter called out hesitantly. "Are you... are you okay?" Mr. Larson's head snapped towards us, a smile spreading across his face that was too wide, too full of teeth. Then he spoke. His voice was layered with others, as if a thousand beings were speaking through him at once. "Okay. Oh, I am more than okay. I'm perfect. We're perfect. And soon, you will be too." "We?" I managed to choke out. Mr. Larson's grin widened impossibly further. "Oh, yes. We. You see, boys. We've been waiting for you. For so long we've been trapped here, in this little pocket of reality. But now, thanks to you, we could finally break free." As he spoke, more figures emerged from the shadows. Eric, the park ranger we had seen at the trailhead, other hikers we didn't recognize, all moving with the same unnatural grace, all with those terrible black eyes. "You were our beacons." Not Mr. Larson continued. "Your fear, your confusion, your very humanity. It all served weak in the barriers holding us here. And now, we're ready to spread across your world." The truth hit me like a physical blow. We hadn't stumbled upon this horror by accident. We had been lured here, chosen. "Why us?" Robert asked. His scientific curiosity somehow overriding his terror. "Why, children?" Not Mr. Larson laughed. He sounded like breaking glass. "Children are so wonderfully malleable, so full of potential. The perfect vessels for our kind. And you five. Oh, you five are special. You each carry a spark of something unique, something we need." He pointed to each of us in turn. The adventurer, the scholar, the protector, the visionary, and you. His eyes locked on the mine. The survivor. Together, you'll be the very key to our expansion, our invasion force. "We'll never help you," Jason growled, stepping protectively in front of us. "Oh, but you will." Not Mr. Larson purred. "You don't have a choice. In fact, it's already begun. Haven't you noticed?" With dawning horror, I looked down at my hands. My skin was rippling, just like the bark of the trees had been. I could feel something moving beneath it, something trying to get out. "No," I whispered. "No, this can't be happening." But it was. I could feel my thoughts changing, alien concepts and memories flooding my mind. I looked at my friends and saw the same terror and confusion on their faces. We were changing. We were becoming... them. As the alien presence caught its way into my mind, one last desperate thought managed to break through. This wasn't the end. It couldn't be. Somehow, some way, we had to fight this. We had the war in the world. But even as I clung to that final shred of humanity, I felt it slipping away, replaced by something vast and unknowable. And as the clearing filled with inhuman laughter, I realized that our camping trip had been more than just a nightmare. It was the beginning of the end of the world. As the alien presence invaded my mind, I felt myself slipping away. Memories, hopes, fears, all of it being consumed by this other worldly intelligence. But deep down, in a place I didn't even know existed, a spark of defiance ignited. No, this is my body, my mind, my life. I don't know where the strength came from, but suddenly I was fighting back. I visualized walls in my mind, barriers against the invading consciousness. It wasn't easy. It felt like trying to hold back in ocean with my bare hands, but slowly, inch by inch, I began to reclaim myself. "Charlie?" I heard Robert's voice distant and distorted. "Charlie, what's happening to you?" I opened my eyes, not realizing I'd close them. The clearing swam in the focus. My friends were on their knees, their bodies twisting and changing as the alien presence took a hold. But they were looking at me with a mixture of awe and hope. Because I was standing, unchanged, human. The thing where Mr. Larson's face snarled, its features contorting into something inhuman. "Impossible," it hissed. "You can't resist us. No one can resist us." But I had. Somehow, some way, I had found the strength to fight back. And in that moment, I realized something crucial. This wasn't just about me. It was about all of us, about humanity. "You're wrong," I said, my voice steady despite the fear coursing through me. "We can resist. We will resist." I reached out the Jason, the closest to me. "Come on, big guy. I know you're in there. Fight it." For a moment, nothing happened. Then Jason's hands twitched, reaching for mine. I grabbed it, and it was like an electric current passing between us. I could feel Jason's essence, his humanity surging back to the surface. "That's it," I encouraged, reaching for Peter with my other hand. "Come on, guys. Remember who you are." One by one, my friends began to shake off the alien influence. It wasn't easy. I could see the strain on their faces, the battle raging inside them, but they were doing it. They were coming back. The knot Mr. Larson let out a shriek of rage and frustration. The air around us began to vibrate, the alien structure pulsing with angry red light. "You fools!" It helped. "You have no idea what you're giving up, the power, the knowledge. It could all be yours." "We don't want it," I said firmly, "not at this price." As my friends regained control of themselves, something strange began to happen. The clearing around us started to shift and warp, like reality itself was coming undone. The alien structure flickered, becoming translucent. "No," the creature wearing Mr. Larson's face wailed, "No, you're ruining everything." I understood then. Our resistance, our humanity, it was somehow undoing whatever force had brought this thing into our world. We were closing the door and had tried to open. "Guys," I said urgently, "we need to get out of here, now." We ran. We ran like we had never ran before, crashing through the underbrush as the world fell apart around us. Trees melted into nothingness. The ground rippled like water, in all the while that unearthly howl followed us, filled with rage and despair. I don't know how long we ran, or how we found our way. But suddenly, miraculously, we bursted out of the forest and onto the road where we had parked the car. It was still there, untouched, a beacon of normalcy in the world gone mad. "Get in!" I yelled, Yankee'd opened the driver's door. "Thank God Mr. Larson had left the keys in the ignition." We piled in, and I turned the key. For one heart-stopping moment, nothing happened. Then the engine roared to life, and I floored it, sending us hurtling down the road and away from the nightmare behind us. It wasn't until we had put miles between us in those awful woods that we finally let ourselves breathe, let ourselves think about what had happened. "Charlie," Peter said quietly, "you, you saved us. How?" I shook my head, still not entirely sure myself. "I don't know. I just... I couldn't let it win. I couldn't let it take us." "But Mr. Larson," Jason said, his voice breaking. "And Eric, there's still..." "We'll come back," I said firmly. "We'll get help, real help, and we'll find a way to save them." "I don't know if it was possible. I don't know if anything would ever be the same again. But I do know one thing. We had faced the impossible. Stared into the abyss of an alien horror, and we had survived. We had held onto our own humanity." As the first rays of sunlight began to paint the sky, I felt a glimmer of hope. Whatever came next, whatever battles we might face, we would face them together, and we would never, ever give up. Because that is what it means to be human, to fight, to hope, to survive. And as I drove us towards home, towards safety, I made a silent promise. To Mr. Larson, to Eric, to everyone who had been taken by that thing in the woods. We would find a way to save them. We would find a way to stop this, even if that meant that it cost me my own well-being. I have always loved the Boy Scouts, the campfires, the badges, the camaraderie. It was my escape from the monotony of small-town life. But that summer, the summer of 1994, everything changed. It was the summer that never really ended, at least not in my mind. My name is Jack, and I was 14 years old when Mr. Caldwell became our new scout leader. Looking back, I should have known something was off from the very beginning. It was late May. Our troop was gathering for the first meeting of the summer at the old community center. The peeling paint and musty smell were as familiar to me as my own bedroom. I took my usual seat between my best friend Thatcher and the ever-fidgeting spork. Yeah, that's his real name. His hippie parents had a lot to answer for. "Where's Mr. Holloway?" Thatcher whispered. His freckled face scrunched up in confusion. Our old leader was nowhere to be seen. Before I could respond, the double doors at the back of the room swung open with a creek that sent my teeth on edge. In walked a man I had never seen before. He was tall, impossibly tall, with limbs that seemed to just a little too long for his body. His skin was pale, almost translucent, like he had never seen the sun. But it was his eyes that really got me. They were the palest blue I had ever seen. So light, they almost looked white. "Good evening, boys," he said. His voice surprisingly deep and smooth. "I, Mr. Caldwell, your new scout leader." A murmur ran through the room. New leader? What happened to Mr. Holloway? Mr. Caldwell smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I know this is unexpected, but Mr. Holloway had to step down due to personal reasons. I'm looking forward to getting to know each and every one of you." And as he said this... At King Supers, an annual boost membership just got even better. Now you can choose from Disney+ with ads, Hulu+ ads, or ESPN+ on us when you sign up. Plus, enjoy unlimited free delivery, double fuel points, exclusive offers, and free items. Sign up for a boost membership today. It's an easier way to save, including new streaming options to relax with while we deliver your groceries. King Supers, fresh for everyone, restrictions apply, see site for details. His gaze swept across the room, and for a split second, I could have sworn his eyes lingered on me. A chill ran down my spine, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was very, very wrong. The meeting proceeded as normal, but there was an undercurrent of unease that I couldn't quite put my finger on. Mr. Caldwell was polite, even charming at times, but there was something about him that just felt... off. After the meeting, as we were filing out, I overheard Ziggy, a resident conspiracy theorist, whispering to Blank, the quiet kid who always had his nose in a book. "I'm telling you, man, something's not right with this guy?" Ziggy hissed. "Did you see how he kept staring at Jack? It's like he was sizing him up or something." Blank just shrugged, but I felt my stomach do a flip. So, I wasn't the only one who had noticed. As the weeks went by, things got progressively weirder. Mr. Caldwell seemed to take a special interest in me, always calling me on to demonstrate knots or lead discussions. At first, I was flattered by the attention, but it soon became uncomfortable. Then there was the strange occurrences. Items would go missing from our packs, only to turn up and on places. The forest around our usual campsite seemed different somehow, darker, more oppressive. And more than once, I could have sworn I saw Mr. Caldwell standing at the edge of the woods, watching us, when he was supposed to be back at the main camp. It all came to a head during our annual summer camping trip. We were deep in the woods, further than we had ever gone before. Mr. Caldwell said that he knew a special spot, a hidden lake that would be perfect for our week-long excursion. As we height, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched. The trees seemed to close in around us, their branches reaching out like gnarled fingers. More than once, I thought I heard whispers on the wind, but when I turned to look, there was nothing there. We reached the lake just as the sun was setting. It was beautiful, I'll give it that. Crystal clear water reflected the orange and pink sky. But there was something else, too. A heaviness in the air, a sense of anticipation, like the whole forest was holding its breath. "All right, boys," Mr. Caldwell said, clapping his hands together. "Let's set up camp. Jack, why don't you and Thatcher go collect some firewood?" I nodded, grateful for the chance to talk to my friend alone. As soon as we were out of earshot, Thatcher turned to me, his face pale in the fading light. "Jack, we need to get out of here," he whispered urgently. "Something's not right. I saw, I saw something in the lake." I felt my heart rate pick up. "What do you mean? What did you see?" Thatcher shook his head, his eyes wide with fear. "I don't know, man. It was just for a second, but I swear I saw faces in the water, dozens of them, all staring up at us." I wanted to tell him that he was crazy, that it was just a trick of the light. But deep down, I knew better. I had felt it, too. The wrongness of this place. The sense that we were in terrible danger. "Okay," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "We'll wait until everyone's asleep, then we'll wake up Spork and Ziggy. The four of us can make a run for it to get help." Thatcher nodded, relief washing over his face. "Yeah, okay, that sounds like a plan." We gathered the firewood and headed back to camp, trying to act normal. But as we approached, I knew immediately that something was wrong. The camp was too quiet. Where were the usual sounds of boys laughing, arguing over who got which tent? As we entered the clearing, my blood ran cold. Our entire group was standing in a circle around an unlit fire pit, their backs to us. And at the center of the circle stood Mr. Coldwell, his pale eyes gleaming in the twilight. "Ah, Jack, Thatcher," he said, his voice sending shivers down my spine. "So good of you to join us, we've been waiting for you." As one, the other boys turned to face us. Their eyes were blank, pupilless, reflecting the same pale blue as Mr. Coldwell's. Even Spork and Ziggy, usually so full of life, stood motionless, their faces devoid of expression. "What's going on?" I managed to choke out, even as every instinct screamed at me to run. Mr. Coldwell's smile widened, revealing teeth that seemed a little too sharp. "Why, Jack, isn't it obvious? We're having an initiation, and you're the guest of honor." He gestured towards the lake, and I saw that the water was beginning the churn in bubble. Something was rising from its depths, something ancient and terrible. "You see, Jack," Mr. Coldwell continued, his voice taking on in otherworldly quality. "This lake has been waiting for a very long time. It needs fresh souls to sustain it, to keep it alive. And you, my boy, have been the purest soul I've seen in centuries." The centuries? My mind reeled, unable to process what was happening. This couldn't be real. It had to be a nightmare. But as tentacles began to emerge from the lake, writhing and grasping at the air, I knew with horrifying certainty that this was all too real. "Run!" I screamed at Thatcher, shoving him towards the trees. We took off, crashing through the underbrush, the sounds of pursuit close behind us. Branches whipped at my face. Roots seemed to reach up the trip me, but I kept running. I could hear Thatcher's ragged breathing beside me, punctuated by Saab's a terror. We ran for what felt like ours, the forest growing darker and more twisted around us. Finally, gasping for air, we collapsed behind a fallen tree. "Did we lose them?" Thatcher panted, his eyes wild with fear. I peered over the log, straining to sea or hear any sign of our pursuers. The forest was eerily silent, no birds, no insects, not even the rustle of leaves in the wind. "I think so," I whispered, not quite believing it myself. "But we need to keep moving. We have to find help, save the others." Thatcher nodded, wiping tears from his dirt-streaked face. "What about spork and ziggy and blank? We can't just leave them." The guilt hit me like a punch to the gut. In our panic to escape, we had abandoned our friends to whatever horrific fate awaited them at that cursed lake. "We'll come back for them," I promised, hoping that I sounded more confident than I felt. But first, we needed to get out of these woods and find someone who could help. As we stumbled to our feet, a twig snapped somewhere behind us. We froze, hardly daring to breathe. "Jack, Thatcher?" It was ziggy's voice, but there was something wrong with it. It sounded hollow, like it was coming from the bottom of a well. "Where are you guys?" "Mr. Caldwell says it's time to come back now. The water's so nice and cool. Don't you want to join us?" I grabbed Thatcher's arm, ready to run again, but he was rooted to the spot, staring at something over my shoulder. Slowly, dreading what I might see, I turned around. Ziggy stood at the edge of a small clearing, his skin growing faintly in the moonlight. But it really wasn't Ziggy anymore. His eyes were those same horrible pale blue, and his skin seemed to ripple and shift as if something was moving beneath it. "Come on, guys," not Ziggy said, his mouth stretching into an impossibly wide grin. "Everyone's waiting. It's time for you to become one with the lake." With a strangled cry, Thatcher broke free of my grip and took off running. I didn't hesitate following close behind him. The thing that used to be our friend let out an inhuman screech and gave chase. We ran blindly through the dark forest, branches tearing at our clothing and skin. I could hear more voices now, calling out to us with sweet promises and terrible threats. The voices of our friends, of Mr. Coldwell and others, older, deeper voices that seemed to come from the Earth itself. Just what I thought my lungs would burst. We bursted out of the tree line out onto a dirt road. In the distance, I could see the glow with streetlights. "There," I said, pointing, "the town. We're almost there." But as we ran towards the lights, I realized something was wrong. The town looked off. The buildings were warped, the streets twisted at impossible angles, and the lights weren't the warm yellow of street lamps, but the same sickly pale blue as Mr. Coldwell's eyes. "No," I moaned, the last shred of hope dying in my chest. "This can't be happening." Thatcher grabbed my arm, his nails digging into my skin. "Jack," he whispered, his voice trembling. "Look." I followed his gaze and felt the bottom drop out of my world. Standing in the middle of the road, blocking our path was Mr. Coldwell, but he wasn't human anymore, if he ever had been. His body had elongated, his arms now reaching to the ground, ending in wicked claws. His mouth had split open, revealing row upon row of needle-sharp teeth. "Did you really think you could escape?" Mr. Coldwell's voice boomed, seeming to come from everywhere at once. "This is my domain, boys, the lake, the forest, the town. It's all a part of me, and soon you will be too." As he spoke, the road beneath our feet began the liquefy, turning into the same dark water we had seen in the lake. I could feel it pulling at me, trying to drag me down. "Jack," Thatcher screamed as he began the sink. I grabbed his hand, trying to pull him free, but the water was too strong. "Hold on!" I yelled, even as I felt myself being pulled under. The last thing I saw before the dark water closed over my head was Mr. Coldwell's triumphant grin. I woke up gasping, my sheets soaked with sweat. My room was dark, the only light coming from the digital clock on the bedside table, 3.33 AM. For a moment, I let myself believe it had all been a horrible nightmare, but then I felt it, a wetness in my skin that wasn't sweat. I turned on my lamp and looked down at my arms. They were covered in lake water, bits of algae clinging to my skin. With trembling hands, I reached for the phone, ready to call for help. But as I picked up the receiver, I heard a familiar voice on the other end. Having trouble sleeping, Jack? Mr. Coldwell's smooth voice heard. "Don't worry, the lake is waiting for you. It will always be waiting for you." I slammed the phone down, my heart pounding. This couldn't be real. It had to be some kind of hallucination, a waking nightmare. But as I sat there in my bed, shivering despite the summer heat, I knew the truth. The nightmare wasn't over. It was just beginning. In the days that followed, I tried to convince myself that it had all been some kind of mass hallucination. Maybe we had eaten some bad berries, or been exposed to some kind of toxic gas in the forest. But deep down, I knew better. My parents were concerned, of course. Their son had disappeared into the woods with his scout troop and emerged three days later, babbling about monsters and living lakes. The other boys who had made it back, and there was only a few of us, told similar stories. We were all subjected to medical tests, psychological evaluations, even hypnosis. But in the end, the official story was that we had gotten lost in the woods and our minds had played tricks on us. But I knew the truth. And so did thatcher, spork, and blink. The only other survivors of that horrific night. We made a pact and never speak of what really happened, but I could see the knowledge weighing on them, just as it had weighed on me. The nightmares continued. Every night, I found myself back at that leg, watching as my friends were (speaking in foreign language) - At King Super's an annual boost membership, just got even better. (speaking in foreign language) (speaking in foreign language) (speaking in foreign language) (speaking in foreign language) (speaking in foreign language) (speaking in foreign language) (speaking in foreign language) - At King Super's an annual boost membership, just got even better. Now you can choose from Disney+ with ads, Hulu with ads, or ESPN+ on us when you sign up. Plus, enjoy unlimited free delivery, double fuel points, exclusive offers, and free items. Sign up for a boost membership today. It's an easier way to save, including new streaming options to relax with, while we deliver your groceries. King Super's, fresh for everyone, restrictions apply, see site for details. Ragged into the murky depths, sometimes I was the one doing the dragging, my body no longer my own. I'd wake up gasping, my sheets soaked with sweat, and something that smelled suspiciously like lake water. Months passed, the town tried to move on, to forget the tragedy of the lost Boy Scout troop. A new leader appointed, and the surviving boys were encouraged to rejoin, but none of us did. How could we, knowing what we knew? It was a crisp fall day when I saw him again. I was walking home from school, kicking through piles of fallen leaves, when I felt a familiar chill run down my spine. I looked up, and there he was, standing on the corner across the street, Mr. Caldwell. He looked exactly the same, tall, pale, with those unsettling blue eyes. He smiled at me, a smile that was all wrong, too wide and full of too many teeth. Then he raised a hand and beckoned to me. I ran. I ran all the way home and locked myself in my room, my heart pounding so hard, I thought it might burst out of my chest. When my parents finally coaxed me out, I told them I had seen a stranger who scared me. I couldn't bring myself to tell them the truth. But that was just the beginning. I started seeing him everywhere, in the crowd at the grocery store, lurking at the edge of the school playground, standing outside my window at night. Sometimes he looked human, other times, not so much. The others saw him, too. Thatcher called me one night, his voice shaking, to tell me he had seen Mr. Caldwell in his backyard, just standing there, staring at his window. Spork's parents ended up moving away after he had a complete breakdown at school, screaming that the walls were melting in the water. I tried to be strong to convince myself that it wasn't real. But how do you fight something that can twist reality itself? How do you escape when the very town you live in might be part of the monster? As winter set in, bringing with it long, dark nights, I found myself sleeping less and less. I was afraid of what I might see in my dreams, afraid that one night I may not wake up at all. My grades started to slip, and I withdrew from my friends, what few I had left. It all came to a head on a snowy night in December. I was home alone, my parents at a Christmas party. As I sat in the living room, trying to focus on my homework, I heard the sound that made my blood run cold, the slow rhythmic drip of water. I looked up, my heart and my throat, to see water seeping in from under the front door. But it wasn't normal water. It was dark, almost black, and it moved with the purpose, creeping across the floor towards me. I jumped up, knocking over my chair in my haste. The dripping sound grew louder, and I realized with horror that it was coming from everywhere. The windows, the walls, even the ceiling, the house was being invaded by the lake. No, I whispered, backing away. This isn't real, it can't be real. But I could smell it now. That unmistakable scent of stagnant water and decay that I remembered so vividly from back at that cursed camping trip. As I watched, paralyzed with fear, the water began to take shape. Tendrils rose from the growing puddles, reaching for me with terrifying intent. I turned to run, but only found my path blocked by a familiar figure. Mr. Coldwell stood in the doorway, his pale eyes gleaming with triumph. "Did you really think you could escape Jack?" he asked, his voice echoing strangely in the water-logged room. "The lake has chosen you. It is time to come home." I wanted the scream to fight, to do anything but stand there frozen as the water crept up my legs. But my body wouldn't respond. It was like I was trapped in one of my nightmares, helpless to do anything but watch as the horror unfolded. Just as the water reached my waist, there was a pounding at my front door. "Jack, Jack, are you there?" It was Thatcher's voice filled with panic. The sound of my friend's voice broke whatever spell had been holding me. With a desperate lunge, I broke free of the water's grasp and ran for the door, sloshing through the ankle deep water that now covered the floor. I yanked the door open to find Thatcher standing there, his face pale and drawn. "We have to go," he gasped. "Now they're coming for all of us." I didn't need to ask who they were. I could see the fear in Thatcher's eyes, the same fear that had haunted me for months. Without a word, I grabbed my coat and followed him out into the snowy night. As we ran down the street, I could hear the sound of rushing water behind us. I dared to glance back and immediately wished I hadn't. The entire street was flooded, a dark tide that was quickly gaining on us. And in the midst of it all, I could see figures moving, distorted, inhuman shapes that might once have been our fellow scouts. "This way," Thatcher yelled, pulling me down a side street. Spork and Blinker waiting for us, we have a plan. A plan? I wanted to ask what kind of plan could possibly save us from this nightmare, but I was too out of breath to speak. We ran through the deserted streets, the sound of pursuit always just behind us. Finally, we arrived in an old abandoned factory on the outskirts of town. Spork and Blinker there, looking just as terrified as I felt. They had a car, an old beater that looked like it had seen better days. "Get in," Spork yelled, already behind the wheel. We piled in and Spork gun the engine before I had even closed the door. As we sped out of town, I finally found my voice. What's going on? Where are we going? Blink turned to me, is usually quiet demeanor replaced by grim determination. We're getting out of here, Jack, for good. This town, it's not right. It hasn't been right since that camping trip. We think this whole place is under the lake's influence somehow. I felt a chill that had nothing to do with the winter night. But what about our families? We can't just leave them. That sure put a hand on my shoulder. We don't have a choice, man. It's too late for them. If we stay, we'll end up just like the others. I wanted the argue to insist that we go back and try to save everyone, but deep down, I knew they were right. Whatever had happened at that lake, whatever Mr. Caldwell really was, it had infected our entire town, and we were the only ones who could see it. As we drove through the night, leaving behind everything we had ever known, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The lake had chosen us for a reason, and I had a sinking feeling that it wasn't going to let go so easily. Hours passed, and as the first light of dawn began the creep over the horizon, I allowed myself to hope. Maybe we had escaped, maybe we were finally free. But then Spork, who had been quiet for the past hours, spoke up. "Guys," he said, his voice trembling. "Do you hear that?" We all felt silent, straining our ears. At first, I didn't hear anything over the rumble of the car's engine, but then I caught it, a faint but unmistakable sound. "Drip, drip, drip." I looked down in horror to see water seeping from the floorboards of the car, dark murky water that smelled of rot and decay. "No," I whispered. "No, no, no." Bleak let out a strangled cry. "Look!" We all turned to see what he was pointing at. There, in the rear view mirror, was a sight that made my heart stop. The road behind us was gone, replaced by an endless expanse of dark water. And rising from that water, growing larger with every second, was a massive wave. As it crested, I could see a figure. Even at that distance, I recognized the two long limbs, the pale skin, the inhuman grin of Mr. Coldwell. "Drive faster," Thatcher screamed, but it was too late. The wave was upon us, lifting our small car as if it weighed nothing. As the water crashed over us, as I felt myself being pulled under once again, I had one last terrifying thought. The lake had never let us go. We had never escaped, and now it was claiming us for good. The world dissolved into darkness and the rush of water. I could feel the car being tossed about like a toy, could hear the muffled screams of my friends. Then, silence. A silence so complete, it was almost deafening. I don't know how long I floated in that darkness. It could have been seconds, or it could have been years. Time seemed to have no meaning in this watery limbo. Eventually, I became aware of a light, faint at first, but growing stronger. I swam towards it, driven by some instinct I didn't fully understand. As I got closer, I could make out shapes moving in the light, familiar shapes. I broke the surface with the gas, my lungs burning as they filled with air. I was back in the lake, the cursed lake where it had all begun. Around me, I could see the other boys from our troop, all of them just looking as confused and terrified as I felt. And there, standing on the shore was Mr. Coldwell, but he wasn't alone. Next to him stood a figure that made my blood run cold. It was me. Or rather, it was what I might become if I gave in to the lake's power. "Welcome home, Jack," Mr. Coldwell said. His voice carried easily across the water. "You've been gone for so long, but the lake never forgot you. It's time you take your place among us." As he spoke, I felt something brush against my leg. I looked down to see tentacles rising from the depths, wrapping around my body. But strangely, I wasn't afraid anymore. There was a part of me, a growing part that wanted to give in, to join with the lake and become something more than human. But another part of me, the part that was still Jack, the boy who loved camping and ghost stories and his friends, rebelled against this. With every ounce of willpower I had left, I fought against the lake's pull. "No," I said, my voice stronger than I expected. "This isn't real. None of this is real." Mr. Coldwell's smile faltered for a moment. "Oh, but it is, Jack. More real than anything you've ever known. Why fight it? Embrace the lake. Embrace your true nature." I closed my eyes, concentrating hard. This was my mind, my reality. I didn't have to accept this nightmare. With the supreme effort a will, I imagined myself back in my room, safe and dry. When I opened my eyes, I was there. Sitting up in my bed, drenched in sweat, but blessedly free a lake water. For a moment, I allowed myself to believe it had all been a terrible dream. But then I saw it. On my bedside table, where it certainly hadn't been there when I was asleep, was a small, smooth stone. A lake stone. And carved into its surface was a simple message. We'll be waiting. I knew then that this wasn't over. The lake, Mr. Coldwell, whatever forces were at work here, they weren't done with me. Maybe they would never be done with me. But I also knew that I was not alone in this fight. Somewhere out there, Thatcher, Spork and Blink were facing the same battle. And maybe, just maybe, if we stood together, we could find a way to truly escape the lake's grasp. As I sat there in the early morning light, turning the stone over in my hands, I made a decision. I couldn't run anymore. I wouldn't hide. It was time to face this nightmare head on, to find out the truth about Mr. Coldwell, the lake, and why we had been chosen. The hunt was on. And this time, I wouldn't be the prey. Little did I know, this decision would lead me down a path darker and more terrifying than anything I had ever experienced by far. The true nature of the lake, the cosmic horror that lurked beneath this placid surface, was something my young mind could barely comprehend. I was born in the city of Carbono. I was born in the city of Carbono, and I was born in the city of Carbono. I was born in the city of Carbono, and I was born in the city of Carbono. I was born in the city of Carbono, and I was born in the city of Carbono. I was born in the city of Carbono, and I was born in the city of Carbono. I was born in the city of Carbono, and I was born in the city of Carbono. At King Super's, an annual Boost Membership just got even better. Now you can choose from Disney Plus with ads, Hulu with ads, or ESPN Plus on us when you sign up. Plus, enjoy unlimited free delivery, double fuel points, exclusive offers, and free items. Sign up for a Boost Membership today. It's an easier way to save, including new streaming options to relax with, while we deliver your groceries. King Super's, fresh for everyone, restrictions apply, see site for details. As I sat there, the lake stone cold in my palm, a grim determination settled over me. I knew what I had to do. I spent the next week preparing, gathering supplies and stealing my nerves. I left a note for my parents, telling them that I loved them and not to worry. Then, in the dead of night, I slipped out of my house and made my way to the edge of town. Thatcher's spork and blink were waiting for me, just as we had planned. None of us spoke as we piled into Spork's old car. We all knew what was at stake. The drive back to the campsite was tense, filled with a heavy silence. As we neared our destination, the air grew thick and oppressive, just as it had that fateful summer. We parked at the trailhead and continued on foot, each step taking us closer to the nightmare we had tried so hard to escape. The force seemed to close in around us, branches reaching out like grasping fingers. Finally, we emerged at the shore of the lake. It looked deceptively peaceful in that pale moonlight, but we knew better. We could feel the malevolence radiating from its depths. "Are you sure about this, Jack?" Thatcher whispered, his voice trembling slightly. I nodded, my throat too tight to speak. We had discussed this at length. There was only one way to end this, to free ourselves in our town from this lake's influence. We had to destroy it at its source. We began the ritual we had prepared together from old books and internet forums. It was dangerous, forbidden knowledge, but it was our only hope. As we chanted, the lake began the churn, a thick mist rose from its surface, coalescing into the familiar form of Mr. Caldwell. "You foolish children," he hissed, his form flickering between human and something far more terrifying. "You have no idea what force is you're dealing with." We didn't falter, we couldn't. As our chant reached its crescendo, the ground began the shake. The lake's waters receded, revealing glimpses of the horrors that dwelled in its depths. Mr. Caldwell lunged at us, his form now fully monstrous. But as he reached the edge of our ritual circle, he dissolved into mist. A piercing shriek filled the air as the lake began to collapse in on itself. The trees around us groaned and twisted, reality itself seemed to warp. "We need to go," Spork yelled over the cacophony. "This whole place is coming apart." We ran, the world unraveling behind us. I could hear inhuman voices calling my name, begging me to stay, to join them in the depths. But I didn't look back. We barely made it to the car before the wave of unreality caught up with us. Spork floored it, and we sped away as the forest behind us was swallowed by a void of nothingness. We drove through the night, not stopping until we were several states away. When we finally pulled over at a rest stop, the sun was just beginning to rise. We sat there in silence for a long while, each of us lost in our own thoughts. Finally, Blanks spoke up. "Is it over?" he asked, his voice small and uncertain. I looked down at my hand where the lake's stone had been. It was gone, dissolved into nothing. "In that moment I felt a weight lift from my shoulders." "Yeah," I said, allowing myself a small smile. "I think it is." We never went back to our hometown. We couldn't. The official story was that a sinkhole had opened up, swallowing the forest and lake. The town was evacuated, declared uninhabitable. We went our separate ways after that. Each tried to build a new life, each tried to build a new life far from the memories of that cursed summer. But we stayed in touch, bound by the shared trauma we could never fully explain to anyone else. Years passed, the nightmares faded, becoming little more than a distant, unpleasant memory. I convinced myself that it was over, that we had won. But sometimes on quiet nights, I find myself looking out at the horizon, half expecting to see a familiar figure standing there, pale eyes gleaming in the darkness. And I wonder what the chill running down my spine if we really destroyed the lake, or if we just postponed the inevitable. Because deep down, in a place I tried not to acknowledge, I could still hear it calling. The lake, Mr. Caldwell, the things that lurk in the spaces between reality. And sometimes, God help me, I want to answer. But I don't, I won't. That chapter of my life is closed, the books sealed shut. Whatever cosmic horror we glimpse that summer, whatever eldritch truths we briefly touched, there better left in the past. I'm an adult now, with a family of my own. We never told them about what had happened, and I never will. Some truths are too terrible to share. But if you're reading this, if you've made it this far, let my story be a warning. Be careful of still waters and two perfect lakes. Be wary of those who smile never reaches their eyes. And if you ever find yourself faced with the horror too great the comprehend, run. Run and don't look back. Because not everyone is as lucky as we were. Not everyone escapes the lake. I live in a small town in Romania. My retired neighbor, let's call him, Pabel, used to be a high school teacher back in the day. He told me a story about one of his trips into the woods back in the 80s, before the fall of the Communist regime. I've recorded it, and told him that we should upload it somewhere. He agreed, as long as I wouldn't give his identity away. So with the exception of some names that I've changed, I wrote down an exact transcript of his story. My neighbor's story. Back in 1988, I was living in Brazil. I understand that some people may not be too familiar with our region, so I'll make it clear. It's a small city in Southeastern Transylvania in the Carpathians. It's only a short trip away from Bran Castle. Many tourists may know it as Dracula's Castle. A beautiful place with a lot of history. Our teacher told us a lot about it. We were planning the visit together sometime, but we ended up doing something different. That year, on December 30th, some of my ex classmates and I went for a three-day trip into the woods. We were celebrating the ten years that passed since we had graduated high school. We were brought together by Mr. Dima, our history teacher. He didn't have any family, so he was very fond of his students, and he always dedicated most of his time to teaching. Plenty of teachers back then were pretty rough, but he was different. He was like a bigger brother to us. He knew how to turn any piece of history into an amazing story. And he always knew what to say whenever any of us was troubled. So we were all very excited to celebrate the new year by throwing a big party somewhere remote with our favorite mentor. There were seven of us. Mr. Dima, of course, our big brother, who arranged everything. Then there was Vladimir, Paul, David, Emma and Diane. Vladimir was a troublemaker that was usually the ringleader behind most of our shenanigans. Ironic to think that he became a prison guard. Paul and David were the two brothers and pranksters in our class. We had spent so many weekends at their place since their dad had a VCR. You know, back in the 80s, plenty of American films were banned or censored, so you had to get your hands on tapes that were smuggled from the West. Not to mention that a VCR back then was so overpriced. It would usually cost as much as a car. Most of us didn't speak English too well, so we used to watch dubbed versions. There was this lady, Irina Margaretta of Nister, that dubbed a couple thousand movies all by herself. Look her up if you don't believe me. It was so goofy, watching Terminator and hearing her high-pitched voice dubbing Schwarzenegger's lines. But it had a charm of its own, you know? Where were we? Right, right, Paul and David. And then there was Emma, the funny and charming girl, you know? The kind girl that all the boys had a crush on. Well, most of the boys anyways. She was the competitive one, always getting herself involved in any contest or project that was going on. Although personally, I was paying more attention to Diana. She was the reserve type, a little bit nerdy, a little bit of a hopeless romantic. She read a lot of novels, and she had Mr. Dima's talent being a great storyteller. I didn't tell her that I had a thing for her. Well, no point in crying about it now, is it? And of course the last one in the party? Me. They nicknamed me Mousey, due to a tooth I had lost back in the 10th grade. My obsessive interest in history didn't help either. Most of my colleagues became accountants, factory workers, or in Vladimir's case, a prison guard. So during the trip, I was standing out as the new history teacher, the guy that may replace Mr. Dima at some point. Our teacher's brother-in-law was a forest ranger, so he knew about this long cabin somewhere up in the mountains. The place used to be a gathering point for forest rangers, and lost tourists could also spend the night there. As it turns out, the place had a decent supply of liquor and firewood, so any lost hitchhiker could seek refuge there. The rangers were pretty sure that nobody would turn up in the coming days, so they decided to "rent us the cabin" for a decent price. Of course the whole thing was illegal, and done behind the back of their chief, but it's not like he would ever find out. They were all probably going to get drunk and spend the days at the rangers lodge far away from the cabin. It was a four-hour walk through the frozen woods. We had lost a half an hour or so going off the road, since it was snowing like crazy, but the trip was sure worth it. We arrived at a two-story cabin close to a narrow river. I think it was the one they called Valia Dragavinalar. I'm not sure. The place felt very welcoming. It had a nice view with the river and the little grove below. The main room had a long table with twelve seats. The walls were covered with all sorts of decorations and hunting trophies. It felt almost like the home of some Viking warrior. Well, a Viking with finer taste, that is. There were a lot of games lined around, an improvised pool table, and even one of those table football games. It was the first time we were seeing something like this. We didn't even know what it was. I guess we were more interested in all the liquor in the basement. After an hour or so, Mr. Dima sent Vladimir and I outside to gather some firewood. It looked like it would get very cold in the coming days, so we needed the stock up before we got stuck by a snowstorm. As we were walking around the cabin, picking up twigs and branches, Vladimir couldn't keep it to himself and told me. If I were you, I'd make sure I'd pick a bed that isn't too squeaky if you know what I mean. What are you talking about? I asked, even though I knew what he meant. I don't know. You seem a little too curious about someone in particular. You're imagining things. You haven't changed a bit. You still have a thing for Diana, don't you? What's it for you? Maybe I could help you out with this, you know? Maybe you could help me out as well. I should have known he was up to something. He wasn't the kind of guy to help you out without getting his reward, one way or another. He continued. Well, Diana and Emma will probably want to share the same bedroom. You know how those two are. But if you manage to get Diana to spend the night with you, you know, then Emma would need a new roommate. Diana's engaged, you nitwit. I told him. So what? It's a one-night thing, come on. All the time you spent around the prison turned. I stopped, realizing that there was a weird silhouette nearby, watching us from behind the trees. It was hard to see with all the snowfall, but there was something there, all right. Vladimir saw it too. "Who's there?" I asked. No response. We got closer. We were both armed with logs we had found lying around. Two hours. I told him that there was no chance of it. I told him that there was no chance of it. I told him that there was no chance of it. I told him that there was no chance of it. I told him that there was no chance of it. I told him that there was no chance of it. I told him that there was no chance of it. I told him that there was no chance of it. I told him that there was no chance of it. I told him that there was no chance of it. I told him that there was no chance of it. I told him that there was no chance of it. I told him that there was no chance of it. I told him that there was no chance of it. I told him that there was no chance of it. I told him that there was no chance of it. At King Supers, an annual Boost Membership just got even better. Now you can choose from Disney Plus with ads, Hulu with ads, or ESPN Plus on us when you sign up. Plus, enjoy unlimited free delivery, double fuel points, exclusive offers, and free items. Sign up for a Boost Membership today. It's an easier way to save, including new streaming options to relax with while we deliver your groceries. King Supers, fresh for everyone, restrictions apply, see site for details. Our relief. We realized that we were spooked by a snowman. It didn't have a carrot. Its nose was just another twig, but otherwise, it looked just like any snowman, with a smiling face made out of pieces of coal. It was creepy, I had to admit. It was built pretty close to the pathway on which we came, so we should have noticed it before. We've also noticed that it was wearing a grey hat, similar to the ones worn by the local rangers. We just presumed that Paul and David found the hat inside the cabin and were pulling a prank on us. As they always did back in high school. We returned to the cabin, and of course, we asked about it. They said they didn't know anything about the snowman. In the evening, we were having dinner together. Mr. Dima brought out an old guitar, so we took turns, trying to play something. Of course, Vladimir took the chance to try to impress Emma. Always the charmer. Too bad he was too drunk to play anything. A couple of hours later, most people were already going to sleep. Diana and I were the only ones left, sitting by the fireplace. Somewhere around 3am, I woke up all of a sudden. Diana was sleeping next to me. It took me a second to realize that David woke me up. He looked a little worried. I asked him what was wrong. "Hey, so have you guys seen Paul around?" He asked. "No, I've been sleeping until you woke me up." I answered, angry that he ruined my sleep. "Can we go have a look around? I'm getting worried." Just as David said that, the entrance door creaked open. Paul stepped in. He didn't seem to notice us or care about us. He just walked past us, going straight to bed. "David, if this was supposed to be another one of your stupid pranks, I mumbled, still half asleep." "No, wait, wait, I didn't know he was outside," David answered, sounding very defensive. "I just told him to get lost and to let me get some sleep. But no chance for that." Early in the morning, I got woken up again by David. He told me to follow him. "We both went to his bedroom. Paul was not around. There was also something very weird on the bed. There was a puddle of water on the left side of the bed, and there was a bunch of twigs lying around, on the bed and on the floor." And then small pieces of a black rocky thing. At first I thought it was cold, but after touching it, it felt cold and a little mushy. It wasn't hard enough to be cold. If this was one of Paul's pranks, I had to admit, it was a pretty good one, because we were all creeped out. Still, I was expecting any minute that he'd just jump out in front of one of the windows and give us a heart attack. A couple of hours later, everyone woke up. After finding out that Paul's not around and since it became pretty clear that David was honest, Mr. Dima told us to get ready. We would go out and look for him. Luckily the cabin had what we needed for a situation like this. We'd split up in the two teams of three people. Each of us would get some length of rope and tie it around a steel pole just outside the cabin. The blizzard was getting pretty strong, and we couldn't risk getting lost in the woods, so by carrying that rope, we'd easily find our way back. We only had a few hundred meters of rope each, so it would have to do. Mr. Dima, Diane and I, headed east, just over the river, while David, Vladimir, and Emma went west. We took the hunting rifles in the attic. Vladimir had some experience with guns from his training as a prison guard, and Mr. Dima was in the army, so they knew what they were doing. While we were walking around the woods, Diane and I were trying to come up with all sorts of explanations for what had happened. At the end of the day, there was still a chance that Paul was messing with us, but still, we had to look for him. Maybe he was having to hang over and decided to go walk around the area. We also considered that Paul might be a sleepwalker and went out there while asleep. He did ignore us when he returned last night after all. While we were searching, we heard something echoing in the distance. It came from the western side of the forest. A deep and constant whistling sound, almost like the sound made by a large plane that passes by. It didn't make sense for a plane to fly around that forest, especially in that kind of weather. There was something off about it, but we didn't give it too much thought. We still had to find Paul. After another hour or so of searching, we headed back to the cabin. The other group didn't return yet. We could see that their rope was still dangling, so they were probably still searching, heading deeper into the forest. The three of us decided to sit by the fire to warm up for a while, before heading back into the forest for another search. Mr. Deema seemed more worried than ever. He was visibly shaken by Paul's disappearance. As we were sharing our thoughts, I brought up the snowman Vladimir and I had saw by the river. Mr. Deema didn't seem too interested at first, simply shrugging it off as the creation of some tourist that possibly spent the night in the cabin. That was, until I mentioned the grey hat that it was wearing. He asked me to show him. We all went outside and headed south, and after a short walk, we found the snowman, right where we had first seen it. Mr. Deema grabbed the grey hat, cleared it of its snow to inspect it, and after a short while, I could see him growing visibly concerned. "This is Radio's hat," he said, his voice shaking anxiously. "Who?" I asked, even though I had a feeling that I'd better not know. "Radu, he was one of the Rangers that was on shift these days. This is his hat." "Maybe Paul or somebody found it inside the cabin," I tried the reason. "No, Radu was on his shift yesterday. They don't leave their uniforms inside the cabin." As we were there, I felt the need to grab one of the pieces of coal placed on the snowman's face. I had an intuition about something, and sadly, I was right. The pieces of coal placed on this snowman had the same mushy, soft feeling to them, like the ones we had found in Paul's bed. I didn't tell the others. I just told them that we should find the other group immediately. As we returned to the cabin, we realized that their rope was no longer stretching, so that means they must be returning. Nevertheless, we decided to follow the rope. We had to find them as quickly as possible. We were walking at a quick pace. Mr. Dima was leaning us, pointing his rifle forward just in case. We agreed that as soon as we get back to the cabin, we will pack up and head to the nearest village and call for authorities. While we were heading west, Diana asked us if we had heard about the New Year's assassin. Of course we did. Back then, there was a serial killer that had this name. Every year, on the night of December 31st, he killed a child in the city of Buzia, three hours away from Brasov. He started his murder spree in 1985, and every year, on December 31st, he would strike. The snowman. It just made sense to be the artwork of some crazed serial killer. But why would he show up here all of a sudden? As we were discussing this horrifying scenario, Mr. Dima stumbled, almost falling into the snow. He stepped on something in the snow. We gathered around, trying to have a better look. After clearing some of the snow, it became clear it was a human lying on the ground. And after we turned it around, we realized it was Emma. We checked her pulse. She was gone. Her eyes were blank and devoid of life, and her skin was pale. Really pale. Almost like the snow. And then I saw some aspect that horrified me, looking at her hands. The tips of her fingers. They were rough looking and hard to the touch. Almost like the bark of a tree. Diana started yelling, staring forward into the snowman. Mr. Dima jumped. His rifle aimed straight forward. There was something dead ahead. Something in the distance, not too far away from us. Mr. Dima shouted, calling Vladimir and David, but he received no answer. As we were looking forward, we realized what we were seeing. There in the distance were two snowmen. Not even fully taking in what we just saw. Almost simultaneously. The three of us started running towards the cabin. We had to get out of there fast. No time to think about it. We wanted to take some supplies and go. But then we decided it would be better to just leave everything behind and just run towards the nearest ranger outpost. So we deviated from our original route and went south on the pathway, not even stopping for a second when we saw the cabin. We were running so quickly, I turned my head to see if anybody was following us and bumped into something and I fell to the ground. I got up immediately. Looking down, I realized that it was the snowman we had found yesterday. I've seen those pieces of coal from up close now and it just clicked. I remember one of my trips in the woods when my uncle got his left foot frozen and he eventually had to amputate it. Those weren't pieces of coal. They were lumps of human flesh destroyed by frostbite. As we were descending down the mountain, we heard it again. The deep whistling noise. We didn't turn. We just kept going. After some time, I don't know, it felt like ages. We reached one of those skiing spots. Nobody was around since the snowstorm forced them to close shop. We didn't have time to equip skiing equipment, so we were just looking for some sleighs. We saw a two-person sleigh next to a wooden shed. Mr. Dima told me to grab that sleigh and take Diana and go. He said he'd find another sleigh in the shed or somewhere. Without realizing it, I said, "I'm sorry. I don't know why. I suppose I knew that this might be the last chance I have to talk to him." I got the sleigh in position and told Diana to get behind me. As she did, she had to look back, and she started screaming loudly. I wanted the turn, but she grabbed my head and covered my eyes. I could also hear Mr. Dima screaming, and then I could feel the earth slipping below me. We were starting to drift downwards. I grabbed Diana's hand and removed them so I could see. As we were plunging through the snow, I heard a loud gunshot and then the whistle again. But this time, it was very loud and sharp. Then came another gunshot, and then the same whistle. I was drifting the sleigh left and right, trying to dodge the trees in our way, and then before we knew it, we were launched way up in the air, and then I only remember everything fading to black. I woke up on January 2nd in a hospital room in Brasov. I was told by a medic that Diana and I suffered both head traumas. We were out cold for a couple of days. We told the police what had happened, although I doubt that they even took us very seriously. In fact, I was worried they may have sent us to a sanatorium if we said too much. We were released from the hospital a week later. The police and the rangers combed the forest, but to this day, nobody managed to find our friends. I wish I had an explanation for you, but I don't. I don't understand anything that had happened, and I don't have the strength to keep searching for an answer. I can only offer you a piece of advice. If you ever see snowmen in the forest, it would be better to leave immediately. There would be one more thing. A few months after this terrible incident, Diana told me that the head trauma might have been a blessing in disguise for her. It made her forget some of the things that she saw. She showed me a drawing of what she saw in the forest that day. You can describe it, but I ask that you never show it to anyone, please. My neighbor handed me a piece of paper covered in pencil sketches. As requested, I won't post it here, but I will describe it. The figure in the drawing had a humanoid form, an approximate humanoid form, although it is rather emaciated, slim and tall. Two arms that are elongated and thin are stretching all the way down to the ground. The torso looked bulkier, and by the looks of it, appeared to be a mix of snow and tree branches. Overall, the legs and the arms appeared somewhat interrupted, as if pieces of twigs and tree branches are floating around the torso, or they are mixed with the snow and ice. The legs were very sharp, and they were very sharp. The legs were very sharp, and they were very sharp. The legs were very sharp, and they were very sharp. The legs were very sharp, and they were very sharp. The legs were very sharp, and they were very sharp. The legs were very sharp, and they were very sharp. The legs were very sharp, and they were very sharp. They were very sharp, and they were very sharp. The legs were very sharp, and they were very sharp. 89% of business leaders say AI is a top priority. 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The mouth appears to be above the eyeballs, which are two perfect white circles. And the hair is curly, uncapped, and raised all the way up. And all over its skin, on its arms, legs, torso, and head, the figure appears to be covered in small black circular shapes, like small blobs or moles. Okay, so I've tried the figure out what exactly had been going on with my situation since its most recent occurrence, and it ended up going nowhere. I found stories in folklore that were kind of similar, but not exactly enough for me to figure out what I encountered was. Given my failed search for answers, I'm hoping I could get something from talking about what happened. Whether it's some new lead for me to follow, or some kind of folklore piece I missed, or even a definitive answer from whoever may read this. My first experience is rather fuzzy for me, being that it happened to me when I was five years old. I'm part of a hunting family, and even at that age, I would be taken along on hunts whether I wanted to or not. During one hunt, during I think fall or winter, it was either one of those because I remember a lot of snow at the time. We ended up going in the woods somewhere in Jasper, here in Alberta. I don't remember what we were hunting, not that it mattered. It was me, my dad, and a hunting friend to his. The three of us were pretty deep in the woods, and I remember our camp was set up in a wall tent. I remember it being pretty spacey in there. The walls were made out of some kind of thick canvas or some other white textile, and there was no light in there. Even the small furnace in the tent did not provide much light in the tent except for the dim shine of orange. During the night of the second day, we were getting ready to head to bed on some uncomfortable cots. I remember when it was dark out, my dad and his friend were sleeping. I wasn't because I was bored and uncomfortable at the time, like really bored since I was a kid that was taken on a hunt I didn't want to be on. I couldn't sleep, so I ended up taking a flashlight with me to explore the forest around the tent because why not? It was just meant to be for a little bit, and in my mind, I had nothing to fear. I had spent plenty of time in the woods at this point, so I believed there was little to no danger to encounter, and there were guns in the tent, so I'd be safe. The only thing of note I could remember from my exploration besides the darkness of the forest and freezing cold was this one large animal I caught a glimpse of. I don't remember much about it, just that I shined my light into the trees for a few seconds before there was movement or something moving away. Shortly after, I went back to the tent and got into my cot and had to sleep. I remember waking up to my dad's friend, stoking up the furnace or adding a log to it or something. He then left the tent momentarily with the flashlight, presumably to take a piss. I tried to go back to sleep, but that was interrupted by my dad's friend yelling. My dad immediately woke up and grabbed his rifle that was next to him before leaving the tent. I was scared and stayed frozen in my cot, unsure about what to do. I don't know how much time passed before there were gunshots and I think yelling. My dad ran back, his friend being absent from whatever was going on. After zipping on the entrance, he ordered me to stay with him in the middle of the tent, given the distance between us and the walls of the tent. If whatever was out there would rip open the walls, my dad would have time to react. I'm not sure how much time passed with us just sitting in the middle of the tent, but eventually, the sound of quick footsteps began circling the tent. I think it may have closed my eyes and covered my ears in anticipation of my dad shooting or something else happening. After circling the tent a few times, I remember hearing the sound of something dragging across the tent's fabric which made my dad shoot in that general direction. Whatever it was ran off, and the two of us remained in the same spot for the rest of the night, only moving whenever my dad had to add more logs to the furnace. When the day broke, we hurriedly packed up our bags before my dad gave me his friend's rifle and we left. I was worried about what had happened to his friend since he never came back to the tent, and we just left without him on our long hike back to my dad's truck. After that point, I just remember my dad driving us home as he talked to, I think, was the police on his flip phone. I talked with my dad about that night only a couple of times after that, and from what he had told me. He never saw his friend when he went looking for him after he yelled. He looked around and came across some tall, humanoid figure standing behind some pine trees, possibly hiding from him. He couldn't see any details, just the silhouette of something inhumanly tall. He shot at it before coming back to the tent. When I asked him about the dragging along the tent, he said that he just saw what seemed to be the indent of a finger touching it from the other side, as if trying to identify the material of the walls. After we left, he told me the police showed up a few hours later, and he had to leave them out into the woods and back to the tent. The tent had been searched through, although nothing was taken. The zippers weren't used to enter the tent, either. The walls were cut open by an animal. They found some blood nearby, along with some tracks that looked like the cross between a canine and a human. It was snowing by the time the police were out there, but they did manage to find the dead body of my dad's friend before the trail was covered up. It was partially devoured, and after a short investigation by the RCMP, they deemed it to be an animal attack despite the humanoid figure seen and finger examining the tent. Nothing else came from the case after that, besides my family moving away from Jasper, and never returning for any reason. We basically forbid ourselves from going anywhere near Jasper unless we were passing through to BC for whatever reason. The second time I encountered this creature was when I was 10 years old. My class had this field trip where we all would go to this one patch of woods that had small cabins, a small rec center, and other things like that. It was supposed to be a trip where you'd show up, spend the day doing whatever, and spend the night in a cabin with whatever group you made, and leave around noon the next day. I don't remember the exact area we were in. It was somewhere northeast of Edmonton, which would be pretty far away from Jasper. We went up there, and things were normal the first day. We wouldn't have been there for the second day if that creature didn't show up. When it was really dark out, we had a game of manhunt. Basically, two or three seekers were picked to look for the hiders who would hide anywhere around the forest as long as they didn't stray too far away. If the seeker found a hider, the hider would become a seeker and help them. At the end of the game, there was a prize to be won if you were deemed the best seeker or the best hider. I was supposed to hide, so me and my friend at the time ended up heading down this trail which led to a more lush part of the forest nearby. We figured it would be the best area to hide, given all the bushes and trees. It wasn't out of bounds, but still deep enough in the trees, so if any of the seekers came looking for us, they would have to come pretty deep into the brush to get us. Some seekers eventually did come by, but they only found my friend who was hiding close to me but not with me, and he didn't snitch on me, so they all left, leaving me alone. Some time passed as I remained hunched in the small circle of trees that almost perfectly covered me. The only way I could be seen would be if someone looked thoroughly through the trees in front of me, or if someone came from behind me where I was more exposed. There wasn't much covering me there, so if anyone came by, I would have to hope that they didn't walk behind my cover. At my hiding spot, I had the advantage of being able to see anyone coming up the trail here if I just pulled the branches in front of me aside. I also could see the moon through the branches if I looked to my right, the white dot in the sky preventing that area from being a solid black void like everything else around me. I remember sitting there for so long I actually started the shiver from the nightly chill, and the boredom slowly started to get to me. I think I had my iPod 5 at the time, and since I figured no one would be coming back here, I took it out with my earbuds and started to play some games on it, occasionally doing a quick 360 degree scan of my area in case any seekers were about. I remember 30 or so minutes had passed at that point, which meant any minute now some teacher would be ringing a bell to mark the end of the game, the winning hiders being given a reward. I kept my eyes on my iPod, continuing to do my occasional scans of my area for any seekers. During one of my scans, I resumed playing games as usual, but I had this off feeling now. I didn't see anything, but I felt like something was wrong. I remember hearing somewhere that the feeling of being watched comes from you seeing something at a place, but not exactly registering what it is. I'm pretty sure that is what I was feeling, so I turned around and looked around more thoroughly, examining what little I could be given it was all pitch black. There was nothing behind me, but the feeling persisted. Some panic began to slowly surge through me despite the fact I had not seen anything yet. I considered getting up to leave, but someone would be ringing a bell soon, and I didn't want to miss out on the reward. Why would I leave if there's really nothing there? After this feeling kept picking at me, I eventually felt courageous enough to shine a light around me. My iPod had a flashlight on it, albeit one that wasn't very powerful. I raised it and turned it on, scanning the area behind me since I assumed someone would be watching me from where I was exposed. I could see a few meters behind me and only saw pine trees, small plants, and other typical things you'd expect. I felt safer knowing there wasn't anything behind me, so I turned off the light. I resumed my game, the feeling still persisting, but a sense of security now instilled. Nothing was behind me. As I played games and waited, I thought about that. Nothing was behind me. I only searched the areas behind me, not the areas to my sides or in front of me. This new realization worried me, so I pushed the branches out of the way to see in front of me, and there was nothing but a barely visible trail back to the cabin, which was to be expected. I glanced over my sides, the area to my left harboring nothing but blackness past the trees. I checked to my right, also nothing but a black void past the trees. I was about to get back to my game, but I realized that something was wrong. There was nothing to my right. Where was the previous visible moon behind the branches there? I remembered looking over, realizing the moon was indeed gone, which could only happen if something were to be blocking it. I froze, realizing someone had been standing behind the bushes to my right for who knows how long. (speaking in foreign language) - My breathing picked up as I stared in that direction, it became obvious I noticed whatever was there, still, whoever it was didn't move, they didn't say anything, they didn't even attack me. The sound of a distant bell ringing snapped me back to reality and I sprung up from my sitting position and ran through the pine branches in front of me, getting whipped and pricked by the needles. I reached the clearing in front of me and ran to the trail as fast as I could. When I saw a teacher ahead of me coming up the trail, I ran to her out of breath. I tried to explain what had happened, her not understanding me because of how frantic I was. When I calmed down, I said someone was in the trees watching me and they weren't a seeker or hider or anyone else. She went from chill to serious and asked me if I was sure. After confirming that I was indeed stalked by someone who wasn't a fellow classmate, she led me back to the cabin where my group was, including my friend. She told us to lock the doors before she left and talk to someone on her radio. Me, my friends and three other kids were left in that cabin which had a small window on both doors and a large window on the walls, all of which didn't have curtains. We were missing one of our members who had left to refill their water bottle at the rec center before I showed up. My group asked what had happened and I told them someone who wasn't a seeker was watching me. They seemed skeptical, but my friend believed me since he knew me better than the rest of them and he knew no one else came up that trail to where I was. Around a half an hour passed where nothing happened. No teachers came back. Our other group member did not come back and it was just us five. One of us wanted to leave to use the washroom at one point and I pleaded with him not to leave. I think he realized I was serious about no one leaving since he stayed. The cabin felt safe. We had the doors locked and there was other people here and the teachers knew about the thing in the woods. More time passed when nothing happened. No teachers are nothing. The kids still needed to leave, but I figured things had been settled, so I didn't try to stop him. He dug around his stuff for his water bottle so he could use it to refill when he was out. Before he could leave, there was a loud knock on the wall of our cabin, thankfully the wall without a window. We all looked at each other before there was the sound of dragging along the side of it. I turned off the light and we all hid under the beds. It led from the middle of the wall to the corner, then over to the door. There was a loud tap on the glass, followed by another and then another. The doorbell was tried momentarily, the knocking stopping it, before the tapping on the glass continued. When it finally stopped, there was a minute of silence before the tapping resumed on the large window on the wall of the cabin. I was facing it but couldn't see anything. The tapping stopped and I assumed they would start tapping on the window to the other door. I waited an anticipation for it, before a loud crash came from the window that was just touched. A sporadic ringing came from the object thrown through the window before it ricocheted off the wall and onto the ground near me, the object letting out one last ring. I felt like I was going to die. It would go inside through the window, then it would kill us. I closed my eyes thinking about my eventual death. It never came though. My eyes remained closed as even more time passed, as if whatever threw the bell through the window was just taking their time. I'm not sure how long it was, but eventually, we heard footsteps near the cabin before there was a knock on the door. A light shined through the window as a man shouted that they were the police. We were relieved and got up to open the door. It was indeed an officer, and he started to ask us if we were okay. As my group explained what had happened, I looked back at the object thrown through the window since there was light. It turned out to be a bell the teacher used to end the game, this bell being bloody. After he talked to us, he led us back to the rec center where more police, teachers, and students were. The rest of the night was spent there in the lobby as the police searched the area. Parents were notified and they began to arrive to get us. Before they did, the police asked students if they saw anything, and when they got to me, I explained everything I had experienced from being watched while hiding in our cabin window being broken. When talking to my group members, they said that after the window was broken, the large silhouette of the head of something stuck through the opening of the window and briefly looked around. My mom arrived in the next morning, taking me away from that hellish forest. One of the last things I remembered when leaving that place was two officers talking, one of them mentioning a body being found. I learned later from one of my parents that one of the male teachers was found dead and partially devoured. They found the bell he had to get the hiders to have been the same one tossed through my window that night. When my dad heard the details about the body being devoured and me telling of something examining the walls and window of the cabin, he immediately recalled our hunting trip back when I was five. That was when he explained to me what he saw that night for the first time. My latest experience happened before I went to college. We moved to a rural town near Athabasca that probably had a population of 30 people. There was plenty of forests around us and being an 18-year-old who had basically forgotten my previous encounters by that point, I felt like I could take on anything that was in the woods besides grizzly bears or moose for some obvious reasons. It was summer vacation and since I had nothing else to do, I would take my bow and head out the hunt some small game like rabbits. By August, I had gone from leaving to hunt for a few hours to leaving with a tent in a bag of supplies to camp out in the deep of the woods for a night or two. It was nice, but my last hunt of the summer before college started pretty much ended my interaction with the forest for me for the next while. My final hunting camping trip was pretty normal for the first bit of it, which was to be expected. I walked into the forest for about 30 or 40 minutes, which led me to a very flat clearing that was perfect to sleep in in a small tent. I've made this trip to the same spot multiple times at that point, and with the aid of my compass along with some pink ribbons I left tied the trees. It kept me from getting lost on the way there and back. It was very scenic and peaceful, devoid of any sight or sound of people, just pure nature. I set up my camp, did some hunting where I found nothing besides some large bear prints and some dried mud, had this box of cheap dried hash browns for supper, and then chilled out of my camp for the rest of the day while drinking some coolers I had brought and blasting loud music to keep any bears away. By the time the night enveloped to the forest, I was ready to get some sleep. Some time later, I woke up. I wasn't sure why, I just happened to. Feeling tired, I tried to go back to sleep until I heard the sound of plastic in cans rustling near my camp. I froze for a moment, not believing what I heard. When the sound rustled again, I sat up and grabbed my hunting knife. My groggy mind took a moment to think, and I realized that something was digging into my trash bag. I stored any food-related trash in a plastic bag before tying it and hanging it from a tree away from camp in case bears came by, and something was definitely digging in it at that moment. I hung it pretty high up, so it was either some scavenger animal that could climb or a bear. For my sake, I hoped it was the first option. I had just a bow and a knife, and neither would do much to help against a bear, especially if it was a grizzly. After a few minutes of rustling, there was silence. I still waited, keeping as quiet as I could to not draw the animal's attention to me. As I waited, I thought about what I would do. Some of my ideas were to go back to sleep. People were grabbing my stuff and leaving, and I even had the dumb thought of scaring the animal off if it was still there. I eventually figured that if it was some small animal, I'd stay. If I got any confirmation about it being a bear, I'd pack up my stuff and leave the first chance I had. I would check my phone occasionally to see how much time had passed. When about 15 minutes passed, I assumed the animal had left, and I checked the time, seeing that it was around 2 AM. Tired, I tried to settle back into my bag. A roar sounded off in the distance, ruining any chance of me going back to sleep. I sat up, not believing what I heard. I'm not sure where it came from, but it sounded like a bear's roar. I'm pretty sure bears only roar when trying to find a mate or when they are defending territory, and since it wasn't bear mating season, that meant it was likely a territorial dispute. With the confirmation that a bear probably rolled up to my camp, I packed at my bag and left my tent, zipping it behind me as I turned on my headlamp. I took out my compass and figured out the general direction of the first ribbon to follow back home. Regardless of the 40 minutes hike ahead of me, I hurried towards the first ribbon. My hand rested on the knife attached to my belt just for the feeling of security since it's not like I'd be able to defend myself against a bear with a simple knife. Thankfully, it didn't take long for me to find my first pink ribbon. It was pretty close to camp after all. I think I set up a couple dozen of them, so I should come across every single one every couple of minutes. During the walk, I didn't try to be stealthy. My headlamp lit up a fair amount of the area around me and loudly charged through the shrubs in plant matter. When I came across the second pink ribbon, I felt more confident about my trip back. Things were on the right track so far. My confidence faded somewhat when I had about five minutes without seeing any ribbon. They were spaced out a few minutes apart, so I should have found the third one by now. It was dark though, and I could barely recognize the area, and I was kind of panicked so my state of mind wasn't completely there. I tried to remember what the tree I had tied it to looked like, or any kind of landmark near the ribbon I could recognize, but nothing came to mind. I couldn't be too far, I kept telling myself, so I kept looking around, relying solely on my compass for guidance. Five more minutes passed, which turned into ten minutes of me searching for the third ribbon. Hopelessness started this set in as I searched around for the third ribbon, or any recognizable landmark with nothing more than a headlamp on and a compass in my hand. I started to blame myself for everything that was going on as I searched for the ribbon. I could have looked for a closer clearing to my house to camp at, I could have stayed back at camp for the night instead of heading home. I could have left for home after finding the large bear print before night fell. I could have just walked in one direction using the compass and would have taken even longer, but a surefire trip back home. I could have done any number of things to have avoided this. I just walked around hopelessly looking for the ribbon, insulting myself and my mind as I did. It all became very distracting for me, and I slowly stopped paying attention to my surroundings. All focus was just on either my compass, the ground since I believed the ribbon fell off somehow, or other ways I could judge myself. This led to me walking into a large mass that was slightly obscured by a fallen tree, 15 or so meters away if I remember correctly. It's dead leaves covering most of it. I stopped walking and looked up, realizing it was a grizzly bear, the front half of it being obscured by the fallen tree. I'm dead. That was the first thing I thought. I couldn't outrun one, and if I were to play dead, it would just beat the crap out of me and probably seriously wound me. And if that were to happen, I would definitely never get home after that. Unsure about what to do, I took out my knife and stared at the grizzly which still hadn't reared its head from behind the leaves. I stood there frozen as I waited, unsure about what to do. The bear did not turn around, so its front half was still covered. Despite my fear restraining me from properly functioning, I thought it was odd how it didn't at least move to get a look at me. More confusion built up in me as I realized how loud I was and how I had my headlamp on this whole time. The bear would have known I was approaching long before I even came across it, and it would have reacted as such. As I slowly regained my senses, I noticed a couple more things I was too fearful to notice before. First, the bear wasn't standing. It was lying down on its stomach. Second, there was blood. Some of it was along the ground, some was rubbed against the trees, some was on the bear. I don't know how I felt seeing that. It seemed like it was dead, which meant I was safe from it. However, I didn't know for sure, and if it was alive, I didn't know about what that would mean for me. Maybe I should walk away or be quiet and stand still or turn off my light or check the sea if the bear was actually dead. I settled for checking on the bear, and forced my legs to move me closer as quietly as I could. I kept my distance from the bear because all I wanted to do was confirm it was dead. Once I could see around the fallen tree, I could confirm it it was indeed dead. Its bottom jaw was ripped off, and it looked like something had tore its neck open. Its front leg was mangled and lifted up, exposing its chest which had been torn open, its bloody contents looking as if it were slightly chewed up. Not a single animal here in Alberta could have done this. A cougar wouldn't enter a-- [SPEAKING SPANISH] [SPEAKING SPANISH] Grizzly bears territory and end up killing it for the sole purpose of eating it, and when grizzlies fight with other grizzlies, they typically don't end up in death and devouring it if I remembered correctly. I remember staring at it in morbid awe at this point. Relieved that the grizzly wouldn't hurt me, but worried about what had killed the grizzly. The thoughts of my previous experiences in the past came to mind, and I tried to ignore them until myself that makes no sense. I was in Athabasca, which I think is somewhere around 400 kilometers from Jasper, and maybe half that from where I was during my field trip. It couldn't have found me here. It couldn't have. That would be impossible. Why would it even follow me, picking me of all people all the way across the province? Still, it all felt very similar. Everything from it being night to it being in the forest to even the partially devoured corpse. There was one thing missing, though, as I stood there examining the dead grizzly. I realized too late, though, after thinking about all the similarities between the situation and the previous ones. The main difference I came to realize is that I haven't confirmed I was being watched yet. The thought immediately made me want to do a 360 scan of my surroundings. Not even trying, I simply turned my head around and felt numb. I saw the creature standing about 10 meters from me. It wasn't even hiding, just standing right behind me this whole time watching me. I wanted to drop to my knees and just die there. I didn't want to feel the fear I felt in that fricking moment. I would have rather just died right then and there than not feel this anymore. This was the first time I had ever seen the creature in full. It was around 10 or 12 feet tall. It easily towered over me. It had a humanoid shape, its body, legs and arms being very similar to that to one. Its hands were large, clawed and bloody. Dark tattered fur similar to an unkept moose covered its body. It had a tail, a pretty long one and a bony one at that. Its head was recognizable to me, of that being very similar to a moose skull due to how elongated it was. It had no antlers, not even stumps on its head so maybe it was a female creature. Blood was around its mouth where instead of typical herbivore teeth a moose would have, it instead had sharpened predatory ones. There looked to be a symbol of some sort drawn on to the forehead of its skull and I think charcoal, just something dark. The last thing I noticed, the most out of place for it, was the missing pink ribbon tied around the base of the moose-like ear protruding from the back of its skull like a taunting decoration. Its other ear just had this string tied to it with animal bones or something hanging off of it. My first thought was that I was seeing a windigo. Not that knowing what it was would help me out at this moment. We stared at each other, not that I wanted to. I wanted the run, but I couldn't. I just kept staring into its eyes, or lack thereof, given it just had two empty sockets, black voids in place of them. I tightened the grip on my knife, causing its head to tilt slightly and gaze up towards me. I'm not sure how much time passed as we had our standoff as if it couldn't kill me with ease. The more time passed, the more control I gained over my body. The moment I could move my legs, I took a step back, causing the creature that tilted its head more, as if curious about what I had planned. I took another step, then another. After backing up a few more meters, the creature took a single step forward, instantly making our distance between each other the same as before. When it did that, I raised my knife as if I would do anything to ward it off. It tilted its head again. We kept backing up like this, me moving a few meters back with multiple steps before I closed the distance with a single step. I was so lost in this that I bumped into the dead bear, causing me to turn around and look at it. The moment my eyes were off of the creature, I heard two quick loud footsteps and turned back to see it only a few meters away from me, its jaws slightly unhinged. I gave up on being careful at this point, I had nothing to do besides the primal control of hopelessness fleeing. I turned and ran while trying to drop my backpack and bow that I had over my shoulders. I successfully dropped my bow on the ground, shedding a little weight during the run. I unsuccessfully tried to take my backpack off one handed as I had my knife on the other hand. Running through and cutting myself on multiple tree branches didn't help. Still, the creature had not managed or chosen the catch up with me yet. After running through a pine treeed bunch of needles, I ended up reaching a steep ravine. It was around 8 feet high and I couldn't see it after running through the trees. I fell and covered my head as I rolled down it, my back providing little protection during my tumble. When I finally came to a stop at the end of it, I felt pain all over me, one very noticeable burning pain on my cheek. During the fall I think my face bashed into my knife. I was out of breath, my body hurt, and I dropped my knife and didn't know where it was, and my headlamp turned off during the fall and fell off in my head. With the inability to see or defend myself or even being able to run in pain and out of breath, I just stayed there and hoped for the best, whatever that could have possibly been. Maybe if I just stayed still it wouldn't find me. Maybe it would be quick when killing me. I just laid there with my eyes closed, resting my head on my arms. I'm not sure how much time passed like that. There was no sound to the creature being anywhere near me, although that didn't mean anything. It had been close and quiet to me before. Eventually I got to my knees. I didn't know where my headlamp was, and I wasn't too keen on feeling around for it. I took out my phone and turned on its flashlight. I scanned around, finding the headlamp not too far away from me. I grabbed it, put it on, and prepared to turn that one on and look around. There was no way the creature wasn't standing somewhere near me, searching like it usually did. Turning the headlamp on, I did a quick search around, spawning the creature crouched to the top of the hill I fell down. It was looking down at me, likely watching me during the entire time I laid there. Its head was tilted as per usual, it curiously examining me. I wanted to say something to it. Ask it what it wanted, or even it, ask it what it wanted, or even just to get it over with, but I just, but I just couldn't choke up any words. I rubbed my cheek where the burning sensation was, and sure enough, I had a cut there. The creature lowered itself down the hill with ease, and reached out its hand shortly after I checked my own cut. I closed my eyes, waiting for the obvious. It didn't come though. Yet I felt its hand rub against my face where the cut was. It then grabbed my sides and lifted me up. Unsure about what it was going to do, I just kept my eyes closed as it evaluated me. My heart was pounding, the feeling was indescribable. I had no clue how to use words to explain the feeling I felt at that very moment. I felt something heavy and hard rest atop my head. Confused, I opened my eyes for a moment, realizing that it held me into the air. It was resting its bony head on top of mine. As it held me into the air like this, I considered raising my legs and kicking it to let go of me, but it's not like I had anywhere to run off to if I had. It continued to hold me as I expected something more brutal to happen, but it never did. It stopped resting its head on mine and gently lowered me to the ground. It stared at me for a few moments. Then with surprising ease, scaled the steep hill, heading back to where we had just come from, presumably to finish eating the bear. As for me, I took a moment to lean against a tree in shock. I couldn't comprehend what happened. I was still kinda roughed up from my tumble, and I didn't know where I was. After a moment to rest, I found the things I had dropped, scaled the hill to get to my bow, and took out my compass. I settled on just walking southeast, which was the general direction to my town. The walk wasn't fun, that was hurt, and I kept looking over my shoulder expecting to see it following me. Around an hour of walking later, I reached a gravel road which I had followed for another 10 or 15 minutes back to my town, then eventually to my house. It was around 4 in the morning at this point, and everyone was asleep, so I just got some water and went to my room to reflect on what had happened before I went to sleep. I woke up at around 2pm, which meant my parents were gone at work. Being alone, I searched the house for the gun safety keys, which I eventually found hidden in some random decorative candleholder in my parents' bedroom. I grabbed for one of the shotguns and left to go retrieve my tent and whatever else I had left in the woods. It was horrible heading back into those woods where I came across that creature less than 10 hours beforehand, but I couldn't leave the tent and blankets and other stuff out there to rot. I never encountered the creature again, thankfully, but when I reached my camp, I didn't like what was there. Some dried blood was dragged alongside the tent, so I could assume who examined my tent for a bit. It was unzipped, which meant it learned how to use zippers since the first time I had encountered it. Inside of my tent was my blanket and sleeping bag, which was ruffled up as if it was looking around in there. The last thing I found was the most messed up. Nearby, left in the charcoal and ashes of my fire, was a dead rabbit. Its head was bitten off, and I could only assume it was some kind of gift or offering or something. After that, I hadn't encountered anything creature-related sense. By September, I moved away from college to a town, Vermilion, which is surrounded by acres upon acres of empty fields, so no way that thing is going to come all the way out here unnoticed. Before I moved, I brought up what I encountered with my dad when he got home from work because I had to. He is the only person I know who has encountered the same creature before. He was disturbed, and the last time I talked to him, he planned to move to somewhere less rule and away from the forests. Looking back on all of my experiences, and after some research into cryptids and forest monsters and stuff, I have no frickin' clue what that was. At first, I thought it was a Wendigo because of the skullhead, humanoid body and how it was eating people. Then after comparing the way they act with my experiences with it, I didn't think it was. It had a female moose skullhead instead of a male deer skullhead, which could be excused. Maybe the female moose skullhead means it's a female variant or something. I don't know, I'm not a Wendigo expert. It never mimicked people or even spoke any words, which seems to be a thing that Wendigos can do. It did eat people, but it also killed an ada grizzly bear and killed an ada rabbit's head. It had the symbol on its skullhead, and it had decorative stuff on its ears. Lastly, I don't think it's a Wendigo because it let me live. It did chase me, watch me and somehow follow me across the province, but it wasn't to kill me or to hurt me. If anything, it possibly likes me given the fact that it found me at my weakest. It just held me and rested its head on mine, even leaving me the same animal I had been hunting in my campsite for me. It just doesn't seem like a Wendigo. I considered skinwalker after that, but it wasn't canine related, and I've never seen a moose around those areas surprisingly. I felt like if it was a skinwalker, it would have just been a moose and watched me during the day, and I wouldn't notice. No one would. Not only that, the behavior and location are too different to be one. I tried looking into other cryptids and folklore stuff, but none of it is similar enough to my experience of being followed across the province, or to the way the creature looked. I also tried to remember and draw that symbol that was on its head, but I can't remember any of the details of it beside there being a large black dot within a circle. Overall, I'm just at a loss. 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Its eyes blazed with a feral hunger, and its snarls filled the night air with a primal fury. I knew then that I was facing a creature of God, I don't even know what to tell you it was. A monster that had haunted the dark corners of these woods for, I'm assuming, generations. And as it advanced towards me, its monstrous form breathed in shadow and flame. I realized my only chance of survival lay and running. With a scream of terror, I turned and bolted into the darkness. My heart pounding in my chest and my breath coming in ragged gasps. The creature thundered after me. Its roar is reverberating through the night and sending a chill down my spine. I ran faster than I ever had in my life. My feet pounding against the forest floor and my lungs burning with exertion. But no matter how fast I ran, the creature was always just a step behind. Its monstrous form looming closer and closer with each passing moment. I could hear the sounds of its hot breath behind me, feeling the heat of its fury as it closed in for the kill. And as I sprinted through the night, with the creature's roar echoing in my ears and its claws reaching out the snatch mean its grasp, I knew that this would be a fight for my life. Summoning every last ounce of strength and resolve, I pushed myself to run even faster. My heart pounding in my chest and my muscles screaming in protest. And then, just as I felt the creature closing in, I saw a glimmer of light ahead. It was the edge of the forest, the boundary between the darkness and the woods and the faint glow of civilization beyond. With a surge of hope, I pushed myself even harder. My legs pumping with a desperate energy as I raced towards the safety of the clearing. And then, as if by a miracle, I bursted into the open, the creature's roar is fading in the distance behind me. I collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath and trembling with adrenaline, but alive. As I laid there in the cool grass, the sound of the night faded away into silence. I knew that I had narrowly escaped a fate worse than death. The creature that had lurked around in my campsite was still out there, waiting in the shadows of the woods. But I also knew that I had survived, that I had faced my worst nightmare in real life and emerged victorious. And as I looked up at the stars twinkling overhead, I knew that I would never forget that horrifying night in the woods of Northeast Texas, and the creature that had stalked me in the darkness. I have a spooky tale to share, and I thought this would be the perfect place to send it to. It's not long, but it's right up your alley. I was out solo camping last summer, and this is what happened. As I sat alone in my campsite in the woods in Texas, the crackling fire provided warmth and comfort. I couldn't shake this feeling of unease that lingered in the air. The rustling of leaves, and the distant hoot of an owl and the moans of coyotes, somehow more sinister in the darkness in the night. I tried to shake off my nerves by focusing on the beauty of the starry sky above me, but a sense of foreboding continued to nod me. It was as if something was lurking just beyond the reach of my flashlight's beam, waiting, and watching. Deciding to ignore my irrational fears, I crawled into my tent and zipped up the flap, hoping that sleep would come quickly and banished the sense of impending dread. But as I laid there in the darkness, the only sounds of soft chirping of crickets and the crackling of the dying fire, my unease only grew. Suddenly, a low growl pierced the silence, causing my heart to pound in my chest. I froze, fear gripping me as I strained my ears to try to identify the source of the sound. Another growl followed, closer this time, and my hands trembled as I fumbled for my flashlight. With a deep breath, I unzipped the tent flap and stepped outside, the fire casting flickering shadows around me. I swept the beam of flashlight around, my heart and my throat as I searched for any sign of movement. I'm out here in the wild and it could simply just be a coyote or some random animal, but still it's better to be safe than sorry. Moments later, that's when I saw them. Two glowing eyes staring back at me from the darkness. I felt a chill run down my spine as I took in the sight of the creature before me. Its form was obscured by the shadows, but its eyes gleamed with a malivalent light. I could sense its predatory gaze fixed on me, and I knew with a sinking feeling that I was not safe. Without taking my eyes off of the creature, I slowly backed towards my tent, hand reaching out for anything that could be useful as a weapon. Finding nothing, as everything was still packed up in my backpack, I suddenly just stood up fast, deciding to take fight over flight, and screamed at the top of my lungs, hoping to scare this thing off. But the creature remained still, its eyes never leaving mine as it let out another menacing growl. I could feel the primal fear clawing at me, urging me to run, to hide, to do anything to escape from this unnatural terror that lurked in the shadows. As if sensing my hesitation, the creature took a step forward, its silhouette growing taller and more menacing in the firelight. I could see now that it was no ordinary animal, its proportions were wrong, its movements too fluid and deliberate to be of this world. With a sudden rush of adrenaline, I raised my hand up to defend myself and screamed out all the air out of my lungs. The creature then recoiled, a guttural roar escaping its distorted maw as it turned and vanished into the night. I stood there, my heart racing and my breath coming in short gasps, the echoes of that unearthly roar still ringing in my ears. I knew then that I had definitely encountered something truly malevolent in those woods, something that defied explanation or any type of reason. Some type of cryptid beast that I had never even heard of. And as I crawled back into my tent, the fire now nothing but embers, I prayed that whatever lurked out there in the darkness would never find its way back to me. For in these woods, in the dead of night, I had come face to face with a horror beyond comprehension. Last spring, my friends and I decided to go camping in the secluded woods of Texas for a weekend getaway. Little did we know that it would turn out to be the scariest experience of our lives. As we had arrived at the campsite, the sun was beginning the set, casting eerie shadows amongst the trees. The crackling of the campfire was the only sound breaking the silence of the night. We set up our tents and settled down for the night, excited for the adventure that laid ahead the following day. As the night grew darker, a sense of unease began the creep over us. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched. My friends dismissed my fears, attributing it to unfamiliarity of the surroundings. But I couldn't shake the feeling that something just wasn't right. As we sat around the campfire, sharing stories and laughter, a chill went through my body. I could have sworn I saw a pair of glowing eyes peering at us from the darkness of the woods. I quickly dismissed it as a trick of the light, but the feeling of dread lingered. As the night wore on, strange things began to happen. The campfire began the flicker and die out, despite our best efforts to keep it going. Shadows danced around us, and strange sounds echoed through the forest. My friends laughed it off, but I could sense their unease growing as well. Suddenly, a loud howl pierced through the night, causing all of us to jump in fear. The sound was like anything I had ever heard before, sending shivers down my spine. My friends began the panic, frantically looking around for the source of the noise. I knew then that we were not alone in the woods, not alone with the regular forest animals that is. Something sinister lurked in the shadows, watching our every move. I tried to calm my friends, but my own fear was beginning the take hold. As we huddled together on our tent, the night grew colder and darker. The sounds grew louder and closer, as if whatever was out there was toying with us. I could feel its malevolent presence looming over us, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Just as I thought things couldn't get any worse, a figure emerged from the darkness. It was tall and hunched, with glowing eyes that seemed to pierce through the darkness. My friends screamed in terror, but I was frozen in fear, unable to move or speak. The figure drew closer, its bony fingers reaching out towards us. I could see now that it was no human, but something far more sinister and otherworldly. It exuded an aura of malice and darkness. Just as it seemed like all hope was lost. I could see the dark, but it was not as dark as the dark. I could see the dark, but it was not as dark as the dark. I could see the dark, but it was not as dark as the dark. I could see the dark, but it was not as dark as the dark. I could see the dark, but it was not as dark as the dark. I could see the dark, but it was not as dark as the dark. A burst of light erupted from the sky, illuminating the figure in a blinding light. It lit out a deafening screech before disappearing into the darkness, never seen it since. As the light faded and the darkness receded, my friends and I found ourselves alone in the woods once more. We frantically packed up our things in silence, too shocked and frightened to speak. The horror of the night would stay with us forever, a reminder of the two terrors that lurks out there in Texas. Camping with my friends in Texas last spring was indeed the scariest experience of my life, and one that I will never forget. It's crazy to think about what that creature was for one, but second, what in all that's holy was that bright light that came out of nowhere and scared it off. The woods hold many secrets, and some are best left undisturbed. Growing up, I'd always been fascinated by the idea of cryptids, mysterious creatures that supposedly roamed the wilderness just out of sight of humanity. I had read countless books and watched numerous documentaries on the subject, but I'd never actually seen one myself. That all changed when my girlfriend and I decided to go camping in the remote wilderness of Texas. We had been hiking for a few hours, enjoying the fresh air and the stunning natural beauty that surrounded us. The trail we were on wound its way through dense forests and up steep hills, but we were both in good spirits and excited for the adventure ahead. As we rounded a bend in the trail, we heard a loud, crashing noise off in the bushes to our right, and first we thought it may have been a bear or some other large animal, but as we cautiously approached, we saw something that froze us in our tracks. There, standing in the clearing just off the trail was a creature unlike anything I had ever seen before, at least, not in real life. It stood at least seven feet tall with long, wiry limbs and a head that resembled that of a wolf. Its eyes glowed a yellowish color in the dim light and sharp teeth gleamed in the darkness. My girlfriend and I watched in horror as this creature attacked a deer that had been grazing peacefully nearby. It was a brutal and grisly sight as the creature tore into the helpless animal with savage ferocity. The deer let out pained cries as it struggled to escape, but it was no match for the monstrous creature. We knew that we had to get out of there before the creature noticed us, so we slowly began the back away down the trail we came. Every twig that snapped or bird that chirped seemed impossibly loud in the stillness of the woods, and we held our breath as we tried to make it back to our campsite without drawing the creature's attention. Once we were safely back at our campsite, we wasted no time in packing up our things and getting out of there. There was no frickin' way we were gonna be spending the night in those woods after witnessing such a terrifying spectacle. As we drove away from the campsite, I couldn't shake the feeling that we had just actually encountered something otherworldly that day. The memory of the creatures in human eyes and razor-sharp teeth haunts me, and I knew that I would never forget the sight of that dogman devouring its prey in the darkness of that forest. Although my girlfriend and I never spoke about that night again, I could see the fear in her eyes whenever we passed a wooded area or heard a strange noise in the night. We both knew that we had come face to face just about with something beyond our wildest nightmares, in that we were lucky to have escaped with our lives. To this day, I still can't bring myself to go camping in the woods. The memory of that encounter with the dogman is burned in my mind. A reminder that there are things in this world, not just in Texas, that are best left unseen and unheard. And as for cryptids that once fascinated me, I now know that some mysteries are better left unsolved. This happened to me and my family just about two weeks ago. It's short and simple and sweet and thought that you would enjoy it. So here it goes. As the sun began the set in the rural area of northern Texas, I decided it would be a perfect opportunity to take my kids camping in our backyard. The cool breeze of the evening enveloped us as we gathered around the crackling fire pit, roasting marshmallows and telling scary stories. Little did I know that our peaceful evening would soon be turned into a nightmare. As we were enjoying our campfire snacks, I noticed a strange feeling of unease creeping up on me. It was as if something or someone was watching us from a distance. Rushing off the feeling as just my imagination running wild, I continued to focus on spending quality time with my kids. Suddenly my youngest daughter, Emma, led out a blood curdling screen that shattered the otherwise quiet night. My heart pounded in my chest. I whipped around to see the cause of her alarm. What I saw will forever haunt my dreams. Peeking over the backyard fence that bordered our backyard was a creature unlike anything I had ever seen before. I could only see partial of its body, but what I did, it was the body of a massive dog covered in dark mangy fur that seemed to ride and clumped together in unnatural ways. Its eyes glowed a sickly yellow in the dim light, fixated on us with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. My children huddled close to me, their eyes wide with fear as the creature continued watching us with unblinking focus. I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, a primal instinct warning me of the danger that lurked just beyond the safety circle of the light. Trying to keep my voice steady, I whispered to my kids to slowly back away from the fire pit and towards the safety of the house. As we moved, the creature's head followed our every movement, its gaze never wavering from us. Once we had reached the door, I quickly ushered my kids inside and locked the door behind us, my heart hammering in my chest. I couldn't shake the feeling of being hunted, as if the creature outside was waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Or was it just curious? I guess I'll never know. That night, sleepy looted me as I laid awake, my mind racing with thoughts of the doglike humanoid creature that had invaded our peaceful camping trip. I couldn't shake the feeling that it was still out there, lurking in the shadows, waiting for another chance to watch us with those haunting eyes. The next morning I gathered my courage and ventured outside to investigate. What I found left me speechless. Just beyond the fence and the soft earth of the nearby woods were unmistakable tracks left behind by the creature. They were massive and twisted, canine-like, like nothing I've ever seen before that size. My hand shook as I knelt down to examine them, the reality of what had happened sinking in. From that day on, we never camped in our backyard again. The memory of that doglike humanoid creature watching us from the shadows haunts us, a reminder of the darkness that lurked just beyond the safety of our home. I often find myself staring out into the night, wondering if that creature still watches us, waiting for the perfect moment to peek a boo again. The fear that grips me in those moments is a constant reminder of the horror we experienced that night in our rural corner of North Texas. As the sun set over the vast wilderness of Texas, Sarah and her husband Adam set up camp in a secluded area deep in the heart of the woods. They had been looking forward to this getaway for weeks, eager to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and reconnect with nature. Little did they know, their peaceful camping trip would turn into something of horror. The couple had heard rumors and rumblings about the dangers of camping in this certain area, but they brushed off the warnings as mere superstition. They had packed all the necessary supplies, tents, sleeping bags, food and flashlights, and felt confident in their ability to handle whatever nature threw their way. As darkness fell, the woods around them seemed to come alive with strange noises and eerie shadows. Sarah shivered, feeling a sense of unease creeping up her spine. Adam attempted to reassure her, building a fire and casting a warm glow over the campsite. But his efforts did little to ease her growing sense of dread. Suddenly, a rustling sound echoed through the trees, causing Sarah to jump in fear. Adam stood up, his hand reaching for his hunting knife he had brought along for protection. The rustling grew louder, closer, until a figure emerged from the darkness. It was a man, tall and menacing, with wild eyes and a sinister grin. Sarah's heart pounded in her chest as she realized they were no longer alone. She grabbed Adam's arm, pulling him closer as the stranger stumbled towards them. His words slurred and incomprehensible. "Please, help me!" the man slurred, his voice filled with desperation. "I'm lost and hungry. I need some food." Adam hesitated, unsure of whether to trust the stranger and the dead at night. Sarah could feel the tension between them, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end. But before either of them could respond, the man lunged towards them, his intentions clear. In a moment of panic, Adam swung the knife, catching the man in the arm and sending him sprawling to the ground. Sarah screamed, the sound echoing through the silent woods as Adam struggled to restrain the intruder. In the chaos that ensued, the man managed to break free, disappearing into the darkness as quickly as he had appeared. Shaken and terrified, Sarah clung to Adam, tears streaming down her face as they realized the danger they were in. This was no camping trip they had signed up for. This was a horrifying experience that neither one of them had ever expected would happen, regardless of the rumors that had spread from their friends and colleagues. But they toughened it out, thinking it was maybe just some weird homeless person, and they stayed. Throughout the night, they huddled close to the dwindling fire, the sounds of the forest around them growing more sinister by the hour, and they wondered if they had made the right choice. Every crack of a branch, every howl of a distant animal sent shivers down their spines. They knew deep down that they were not safe, not by a long shot. As the first light of dawn broke over the horizon, Sarah and Adam wasted no time in packing up their camp and fleeing the woods. They vowed never to return to that cursed place, haunted by the memory of that past night. For Sarah and Adam, camping would be forever a harrowing experience, a cautionary tale of the dangers that lurked in the darkness. And as they drove away from the woods, they knew they had narrowly escaped a fate that few may have survived. The horrors of that night will stay with them forever, a chilly reminder that some places are just simply better left unexplored. Well, I hope that you all had enjoyed the stories tonight. If you're still here sticking around at the end, I'd like to thank you. Make sure to like, comment, and subscribe if you're new. And if you're already subscribed, thanks a lot, and have a good night. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪