Never Go RV Camping in ILLINOIS, It was a Deadly Mistake!

My name is Ryan Ellis and I'm 28 years old this happened last month and I still can't explain what I experienced I'm a freelance photographer specializing in folklore and abandoned places I've spent years chasing e stories for my portfolio and blog but nothing prepared me for matthus State Park I went there to find the witch's Trail a barely known part of the park tied to an old Legend locals claimed a Woman accused of Witchcraft in the 1800s was hanged near the trail they said her spirit still lingered cursing anyone who dared to walk it it

sounded like the perfect story to document I arrived at the park on a sunny afternoon parking my RV in the designated campsite the area seemed peaceful Lush Greenery distant bird calls the occasional sound of Rushing Water from nearby waterfalls it was hard to imagine Anything Sinister about the place I headed to The Visitor Center first hoping to get some background on the trail that's where I met Janet a park historian she was a non-nonsense woman in her early 40s with a tight bun and sharp eye eyes that sized me up the moment I walked in

you're here for the witch's Trail she said not bothering to hide her disapproval I smiled guilty I'm a photographer I want to capture some of The park folklore she sighed it's just a story a tragic one sure but nothing more the trail isn't on the map for a reason it's dangerous overgrown Rocky easy to get lost I'll be careful I assured her but what's the story she hesitated before speaking the witch if you can call her that wasn't a witch at all she was a Healer lived alone on the outskirts of what used to be

a small settlement when A sickness swept through the area people accused her of causing it they hanged her near the trail and ever since strange things have been reported there like what I asked asked leaning forward Janet gave me a hard look people hear Whispers feel like they're being watched some say they see her others get lost even seasoned hikers I'm telling you don't go looking for it I thanked her for the warning but had no intention of taking her advice I spent the rest of The day scouting the main Trails taking photos of waterfalls

and Canyon walls as evening approached I found a small unmarked path leading into the woods the air felt colder here the trees thicker their branches weaving a canopy that blocked out most of the sunlight this must be it I muttered stepping onto the trail the ground was uneven the path barely discernible beneath the overgrowth I couldn't shake the feeling That the trees were closing in on me their gnarled branches almost reaching for my shoulders as I walked strange symbols began to appear on the trees carvings of circles crosses and jagged lines they didn't look recent

moss and lyen had grown over some of them I stopped to photograph one but when I turned my camera on it wouldn't Focus the screen flashed error and the battery icon suddenly turned red that's weird I Muttered the battery had been fully charged that morning I replaced it with a spare but the camera still wouldn't work the silence was oppressive no birds no wind just the sound of my own breathing I started to feel like I wasn't alone several times I thought I heard footsteps behind me but when I turned around there was no one

there I pressed on determined to find something worth photographing that's when I met him the Hermit he emerged from the Shadows like he'd been waiting for me he was a scruffy wiry man in his 60s wearing a tattered coat and a hat that looked like it had seen better days looking for the witch are you he asked his voice gravy I froze caught off guard how do you know only reason someone like you would come this far he stepped closer his eyes darting around nervously I've seen her you know tall shadowy eyes like fire you

you seen her I asked my curiosity peaked Despite the unease he exuded he nodded she doesn't like visitors you should turn back I considered his words but ultimately brushed them off I wasn't about to leave empty-handed thanks for the warning I said stepping past him you'll regret it he called after me his voice followed me long after I could no longer see him him the deeper I went the colder it got the carvings on the trees became more Elaborate almost glowing in the dim light my chest tightened and my breath came in Shallow gasps I

wasn't sure if it was fear or something else then I saw her she stood in the distance partially obscured by the trees tall and impossibly thin her long black hair swayed as if caught in a breeze I couldn't feel her eyes glowed a dull red and her head tilted slightly as though she were studying me hello I called my voice Trembling she didn't answer instead she moved not walking but flickering like an old film reel skipping frames one moment she was farther away the next she was closer I stumbled backward tripping over a route my

flashlight flickered and when it steadied she was gone I should have turned back but I didn't something about the trail pulled me forward as if I were no longer in control of my own feet The Whispers began then soft at first then louder Ryan Ryan they came from all directions as if the trees themselves were speaking my name my heart pounded as I broke into a run no longer caring about the trail or the photos the ground beneath me quak and the symbols on the trees began to Glow a deep guttural voice boomed through the

forest you dare trespass I looked up and there she was towering over me her Shadows stretched across the ground her eyes burning like Embers leave she hissed her voice Echoing in my skull I tried to run but the ground seemed to shift beneath my feet pulling me toward her desperate I raised my camera and snapped a photo The Flash lit up the darkness for a split second before the camera shattered in my hands I don't remember how I got back to the RV the next thing I knew I was slamming the door shut my chest

heaving the RV was deathly quiet but I felt her presence when I glanced in the rearview mirror her face stared back at me her Eyes glowing with malice I didn't sleep that night as soon as the sun rose I drove out of the park and never looked back when I got home I checked the memory card for my camera most of the photos were corrupted but one image remained clear it was her face pale and Hollow with those fiery eyes staring directly into the lens now even in the safety of my apartment I hear Whispers

at night and Sometimes when I glance at the mirror I see her standing behind me my name is C Morris and I'm 35 years old this happened a few weeks ago and even now I can't get it out of my head I've spent years writing about strange places for my travel blog chasing Legends debunking myths but Pine Hollow it was something else entirely something I can't explain I had come to the edge of the cash River State Natural Area in Illinois after hearing about a secluded spot called Pine Hollow the locals wh whispered about ghostly

children who wandered the swamps at night their laughter echoing through the trees it was perfect fod for my blog haunted swamps of the Midwest I could already imagine the headline when I pulled up in my RV late that afternoon the place looked exactly as I'd hoped wild untouched and eerily quiet the campsite was a patch of dirt surrounded by towering cypress trees the swamp stretched out behind it a black Mirror under the fading light a grizzled park ranger named Tom approached as I was unloading my gear he was in his late 50s with sun weathered

skin and a look that screamed No Nonsense your caly right he asked glancing at the RV the Blogger that's me I said forcing a smile heard this place has a few spooky stories Tom frowned it's more than stories you'd do well to stay near your sight ma'am don't go wandering into the Swamp why I asked genuinely curious what happens out there Tom shifted uncomfortably you've heard of the Lost Children haven't you kids from a settlement that got wiped out by a fever in the 1800s some say their Spirits never left people who go looking for

them he he trailed off staring into the woods they don't always come back I almost laughed well thanks for The warning but I'll be fine he looked at me for a long moment before nodding just remember if you hear laughter you stay put don't follow it the first night was quiet enough I made a fire ate a can of soup and took some pictures of the swamp under the moonlight around midnight I climbed into the RV and started drafting my blog post the only sound was the distant chirping of Crickets and frogs then just as

I was about to call it a night I heard it laughter it was faint like the giggle of a child but it sent a chill straight down my spine I froze straining to hear there it was again closer This Time I grabbed my flashlight and peered out the window nothing but trees and shadows I told myself it was just the wind but as I lay in bed I couldn't shake the feeling that something or someone was out there the next morning I Woke to find Muddy handprints smeared across the RV's Windows small ones like a

child's I stared at them my heart racing it's just a prank I muttered trying to convince myself maybe some local kids had snuck in during the night that made more sense than anything else still I couldn't ignore the uneasy feeling that had settled in my chest later that day I decided to explore a nearby Trail I took my camera Hoping to get some good shots of the swamp as I wandered the air grew heavier the trees closing in like the walls of a tunnel that's when I saw her she was sitting on a fallen log

her knees pulled to her chest a little girl no older than 10 with pale skin and dark hair she wore a faded dress that looked like it belonged in a history museum hey there I called trying to sound calm are you Lost she looked up at me her eyes wide and unblinking I can't find my parents she said softly my heart achd for her what's your name I asked Abby okay Abby I'll help you find your parents where did you last see them she shook her head tears Welling in her eyes I don't remember I

knelt down trying to reassure her it's okay come with me my RV is not far we can call someone for help her Expression darkened no I can't go there why not they don't like it there her words words sent a shiver down my spine who's they she didn't answer instead she stood up and pointed deeper into the swamp you should leave before they come Abby wait but she turned and vanished into the trees as if she'd never been there at all that night I couldn't stop thinking about Abby something about her felt Wrong I tried

to rationalize it maybe she was part of a local reenactment group or maybe I was just overthinking things but then the knocking started it was soft at first a light tapping on the RV door I froze my breath catching in my throat the knocking grew louder more insistent I grabbed my flashlight and opened the door no one was there I stepped outside my flashlight cutting through the darkness that's when I heard it again The laughter this this time it was all around me coming from every direction the sound made my skin crawl I turned in

circles trying to find the source but there was nothing but Shadows then I saw them children pale translucent their eyes glowing faintly in the dark they stood at the edge of the swamp watching me with Eerie Stillness my heart pounded as they began to move closer their laughter turning into Whispers cie Cie I stumbled back into the RV and slammed the door The Whispers grew louder the RV shaking as if something or someone was pushing against it by the time morning came the children were gone but the RV's windows were covered in muddy handprints again

and the door handle was scratched as if someone had been trying to claw their way in I decided to leave whatever was happening here I wanted no part of it but as I started packing Abby appeared Again you can't leave she said her voice urgent not yet what do you mean I asked my voice trembling what's happening here they're angry she said you shouldn't have come Abby I don't understand she stepped closer her face pale and solemn if you want to live you have to cross the water what water I asked but she was already

walking toward the swamp I didn't want to follow her but something told me I didn't have a choice I grabbed My flashlight in camera and trailed behind her into the trees the swamp was darker than ever the air thick with the smell of Decay Abby led me to a narrow path that wound through the water don't look back she said no matter what you here I hesitated but nodded as I walked I heard them again The Whispers the laughter cold slimy hands grabbed at my ankles but I kept moving forcing myself not to turn around

finally I reached the other side when I looked Back Abby was gone when I returned to the RV it was as if nothing had happened the muddy handprints were gone the door was intact and the window windows were clean but I knew better something had happened out there something I couldn't explain I left Pine Hollow that day and never looked back but sometimes when I'm alone at night I hear laughter in the distance and I know they're still watching my name is Maggie Reed and I'm 23 years old this happened 2 months ago During what

was supposed to be a relaxing weekend in shauni National Forest Illinois I've always been skeptical of ghost stories and urban legends the kind of person who scoffs at the supernatural but now when I close my eyes I see it I hear it and I don't think I'll ever feel safe in the woods again it started with a simple plan my older brother Jason who's 29 invited me my best friend lla and her boyfriend Rob To spend a few days camping in the forest Jason had been camping since he was a teenager and I trusted him

to keep us all safe Lyla 24 is a thrill seeker and a self-proclaimed paranormal expert always eager to dive head first into danger Rob on the other hand was new to all of this at 26 he was more comfortable behind a computer than in the wilderness Ness but he seemed excited to try something new and maybe to impress Lla we piled into Jason's RV early on a Friday morning stocked with everything we'd need for 3 Days Off the Grid food sleeping bags flashlights and laya's ghost hunting gear the drive to Shaunie was beautiful the trees

arching over the winding road like a cathedral ceiling when we arrived at a little known Trail Head Jason parked the RV in a small clearing the spot was perfect quiet secluded with a fire pit someone had built long ago this is it Jason said Stepping out of the RV he stretched and took a deep breath fresh air no cell service this is what I'm talking about Lyla immediately unpacked her camera and EMF reader holding them up like a trophy perfect spot to find something creepy I rolled my eyes you've got to stop chasing ghosts Lyla

she smirked I'm not chasing them I'm inviting them the first sign of trouble was the generator Jason had checked it before we left but when he tried to turn it on that evening It sputtered and died great Jason muttered fiddling with the machine guess we're sticking with flashlights in the fire it's fine lla said grinning creepy lighting is better for Ghost Stories anyway that night we sat around the fire roasting marshmallows and sharing stories lyla's ghost Tales were the Highlight as always she told one about a woman who vanished In This Very Forest only to

return as a shadow that mimics her victims I laughed nervously but Something about her story felt too real too close after we went to bed the first Eerie sound came knock knock knock it was faint but rhythmic like someone was wrapping on a tree far away I froze in my sleeping bag straining to hear knock knock knock woodpecker Jason mumbled sleepily from the bunk across the RV but it didn't sound like a woodpecker the next day we hiked deeper into the forest Jason led the way his Machete clearing the occasional Branch lla kept stopping to

take pictures and scan with her EMF reader which It beeped erratically every few minutes lla that thing useless Jason said it's never useless she shot back but even her confidence seemed to waver then we found the deer it was lying in the middle of the trail its body Twisted unnaturally as though something had played with it rather than hunted it around it were odd symbols made of twigs Stones arranged with a disturbing Precision what the hell Jason knelt down to inspected but quickly pulled back something's off here probably just a prank lla said but her

voice wasn't as steady as before we walked on in silence after that that afternoon Jason sent me to collect firewood near the camp as I wandered I heard Jason's voice calling my name Maggie he said his tone calm and familiar come over here I looked up Squinting into the trees Jason Maggie he called again closer This Time come on I followed the sound but when I rounded a tree there was nothing there no Jason no Footprints no sound when I returned to Camp Jason was sitting by the fire where were you he asked you you

were calling me I said my voice trembling out there he shook his head I didn't call you Maggie I've been here the whole Time that night everything went wrong we were sitting around the fire again when lyla's EMF reader started beeping wildly she held it up her face aight with excitement and fear it's here she whispered what's here Rob asked looking genuinely scared before she could answer the fire flickered dimming for just a moment then we heard it again knock knock knock this time it was louder closer Jason stood up his hand instinctively Going to

his knife everyone get inside the RV but before we could move Lyla froze staring into the trees do you see that she asked pointing we all turned the there just beyond the Fire Light was a figure it was tall and impossibly thin with glowing eyes that pierced the darkness its limbs were too long its movements jerky and unnatural and then it spoke in Jason's voice Maggie it said a sick parody of his Tone come here Jason grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the RV go he shouted Rob and Lyla followed but the creature didn't

pursue us it just stood there watching inside the RV we argued about what to do Jason wanted to leave immediately but lla insisted we were safe for the night it's just messing with us she said though her hands were shaking it hasn't done anything Rob was quiet staring at the floor it's my fault he said suddenly I forgot my boots I slowed us down no one Cares about your boots Rob lla snapped we need to figure out what that thing is knock knock knock the RV shook something was outside clawing at the walls tapping on

the Windows Jason grabbed his knife and motioned for us to stay quiet the noise stopped but when we opened the door the creature was gone in its place was a crude stick Effigy tied together with strands of something that looked disturbingly like human Hair the climax came the next morning lla saw the figure again while we were packing to leave she ran toward it before we could stop her shouting I'm not afraid of you lla don't Jason yelled but it was too late she disappeared into the trees we chased after her Jason Leading The Way

with his machete we found her in a small clearing standing perfectly still the creature loomed over her its glowing eyes locked on hers lla I screamed but she didn't respond Jason Lunged at the creature slashing at it with his machete it let out a bone chilling scream and vanished into the forest we grabbed lla and ran back to the RV but when we arrived it was overturned its Windows shattered Rob was gone all that remained was his boots and another stick effigy we drove away in Jason's truck silent and terrified lla didn't speak for hours

her face pale and blank I kept looking over My shoulder expecting to see those glowing eyes in the rearview mirror when I got home I thought I'd be safe but last night I got a voicemail from Rob's number it was my own voice distorted and broken repeating the words come back I'm never going back to the forest not ever my name is Marcus Hayes and I'm 42 years old this happened in October of 2021 during what was supposed to be a peaceful solo camping trip at Devil's Bake Oven in Southern Illinois I was there to

photograph wildlife and the stunning rock formations along the Mississippi River what I found instead still haunts me I arrived at the Campsite in the late afternoon the sun was sinking toward the Horizon painting the Sandstone cliffs in Hues of gold and red the formations of Devil's Bake Oven were stunning their Jagged edges and weathered faces shaped by centuries of wind and water my RV was parked at the edge of a gravel lot just A short hike from The Cliffs as I unpacked my gear a park ranger named Jake approached his wide brimmed hat casting a

shadow over his face you staying here alone he asked his tone more Curious than friendly yeah I said just me and my camera Jake frowned stay on the marked trails and if you hear drumming at night don't go looking for it I laughed thinking he was trying to Spook me drumming what like a local band Practicing in the woods Jake didn't smile it's not music you'll want to hear just stay close to Camp all right I nodded humoring him but as he walked away I could feel the weight of his warning lingering in the air

that first night I set up my tripod to capture the stars above the cliffs the Mississippi River shimmered in the distance and the forest around me was alive with the chirping of crickets and The occasional hoot of an owl around midnight I heard it a faint rhythmic drumming it was was soft at first like distant Thunder but it grew louder resonating through the woods I froze my hand hovering over my camera's shutter button the sound was coming from somewhere near the cliffs Jasper my golden retriever wasn't with me this time but I instinctively felt like

I needed a companion I stood shining my flashlight towards the direction of the Noise but the beam illuminated only trees and rocks it's just the wind I muttered though my heart was racing the drumming stopped as abruptly as it started the next morning I hiked to one of the cliffs I had scoped out earlier the trail was steep but manageable winding through the forest and opening up to breathtaking views of the river below I stopped to photograph a falcon circling overhead when I noticed something odd near the base of a tree Claw marks deep Jagged

gouges raed across the bark as though some massive creature had swiped at it the spacing was too even too deliberate to be the work of an animal I felt a shiver run down my spine I'd seen bare scratches before but these were different almost intentional still I pressed on dismissing it as a weird coincidence that evening I received a call from Rachel a fellow photographer and close Friend how's the trip so far she asked her voice crackling slightly over the spotty reception it's gorgeous I said trying to keep my voice light but I don't know

there's something off about this place off how I hesitated it's probably just my imagination but I keep hearing weird noises and I found some claw marks on a tree today that didn't look natural Rachel laughed nervously sounds like you've been Watching too many horror movies just be careful okay I promised I would but deep down I couldn't shake the feeling that I wasn't alone out here that night the drumming returned louder and more insistent than before I sat in the RV staring at the window my camera by my side the sound seemed to come from

everywhere at once surrounding the campsite my fingers itched to grab my flashlight and investigate but Jake's warning echoed in My mind then I saw it a shadow against the cliffs tall and horned standing perfectly still the Fire Light flickered casting strange twisting shapes that made the figure seem to sway my breath caught in my throat as I grabbed my camera snapping a few shaky shots when I looked back through the lens the shadow was gone the following day I checked the photos on my camera most of them were blurry distorted by the low light and

my trembling hands but One image made my stomach drop it was faint but unmistakable a horned silhouette standing on the Cliff's Edge its eyes glowing faintly red I tried to rationalize it maybe a trick of the light or some optical illusion but the more I stared at the image the less sure I became by the third night I was determined to capture something definitive I set up my camera outside Its lens trained on the cliffs the drumming started right on Q and this time I followed it the trail led me deeper into the woods the

sound growing louder with each step my flashlight flickered its beam struggling to pierce the darkness I stumbled upon a clearing where an ancient altar made of sandstone stood in the Moonlight symbols were etched into the surface matching the scratches I'd seen on the tree the drumming stopped behind me the air grew Heavy and a deep resonant voice spoke you've come far Marcus Hayes I spun around my flashlight Illuminating the figure from my photos it was no Shadow now the creature stood before me it its horned head tilted slightly its red eyes burning like Embers what

what do you want I stammered my voice shaking it smiled revealing sharp gleaming teeth I want nothing but you Marcus you want much I felt a cold dread wash over me I Don't understand you crave success recognition you want the world to see your work to Marvel at your Talent the devil gestured to the camera hanging from my neck I can give you that for a price what price the smile widened your life I bolted sprinting back toward the RV the ground cracked and smoldered beneath my feet the forest alive with Whispers and laughter the

devil's voice echoed around me taunting me urging me To stop by the time I reached the RV my chest was heaving and my legs felt like jelly I didn't dare look back as I slammed the door shut and turned the key the engine roared to life and I sped out of the campsite the sound of drumming Fading Into the distance months later I finally worked up the courage to review the photos from that night most were useless blurred by my panicked flight but one image stood out the devil standing at the altar its Glowing eyes

locked onto the camera I deleted the photo immediately but it didn't erase the memory now whenever I Step Into the Woods I hear faint drumming a reminder of the bargain I refused if you ever find yourself near Devil's Bake Oven remember this some places are better left unexplored my name is CLA Reynolds and I'm 35 years old this happened last fall in October of 2022 at Dead Man's Hollow In the Trail of Tears State Forest Illinois I went there to clear my head to find peace in solitude after my divorce instead I found something that

still haunts me to this day the air was crisp and cool when I arrived at Dead Man's Hollow the early October Sun casting a Golden Glow on the dense forest my RV sputtered to a halt on a gravel lot near the trail head the engine giving a faint hiss as if even it was tired from the Drive home sweet home I muttered to Jasper my golden retriever his tail wagged in response his enthusiasm never dampened by my sour mood I had planned this trip to escape everything my ex-husband the pitying looks from Friends the constant

reminders of what I'd lost I wanted Solitude and Dead Man's Hollow promised missed plenty of it the locals had been skeptical when I mentioned my plans to Camp there not many folks go out that way anymore the Woman at the gas station had said her eyes narrowing not since you know the stories I'd laughed it off every small town had its ghost stories and I wasn't one to scare easily the first day passed uneventfully uh I hiked a few Trails set up camp near the ruins of an Old Stone C and cooked dinner over a

portable stove Jasper explored the area occasionally stopping to sniff at the trees or chase after Squirrels by Nightfall The Forest seemed to change the cheerful rustle of leaves became an eerie whisper the Shadows stretching longer than they should have I chocked it up to nerves convincing myself I just needed a good night sleep the tapping started around midnight at first I thought it was Jasper pawing at the RV door but when I looked he was curled up on the bed his ears twitching slightly in his sleep the tapping continued faint but deliberate Like fingernails on

wood I grabbed a flashlight and peered out the window the beam cut through the darkness revealing only trees and underbrush no sign of anything unusual get a grip Claire I whispered lying back down the next morning I noticed the markings they were carved into the bark of several trees around the campsite strange Jagged symbols that resembled stick Figures Jasper barked at one of the trees his fur bristling and I felt a chill run down my spine I tried to ignore the unease creeping in after all they were just markings probably left by board hikers that

afternoon I decided to explore the ruins the stone foundations of the old cabin were moss covered and crumbling but they hinted at a structure that had once been substantial I wandered through what Remained of the fireplace and an overgrown Garden marveling at how nature had reclaimed it all that's when I found the journal it was tucked into a hollow in one of the stones the leather cover brittle with age most of the pages were illegible but a few words stood out the witch will not forgive Shadows take their form don't follow the voices I laughed

nervously and shoved the book back where I had found it superstitious nonsense I Said to Jasper though my voice wavered that night the crying began it was faint at first a soft mournful whale that drifted through the trees Jasper growled low in his throat his ears flat against his head probably just an animal I said aloud trying to convince myself as much as him but the sound grew louder more distinct it wasn't an animal it was a woman I grabbed my flashlight and stepped outside the cold air biting at my skin The crying seemed to

come from deeper in the woods pulling me toward it hello I called is someone there the crying stopped abruptly replacing by a deafening silence Claire the voice was soft almost a whisper but it was unmistakably mine I froze the flashlight trembling in my hand Jasper barked furiously lunging toward the sound but I grabbed his collar and dragged him back inside the RV my heart pounded as I locked the door and hold the curtain Shut just the wind I muttered though I didn't believe it the next morning I found Jasper gone the door to the RV

was wide open swinging gently in the breeze Panic set in as I searched the campsite calling his name hours passed with no sign of him and I was on the verge of tears when he finally returned but something was wrong ashy symbols were scrawled on his golden fur the same Jagged markings I'd seen on the trees he seemed unhe hurt but skittish refusing to leave my side I decided then that it was time to leave the RV wouldn't start the engine sputtered and groaned refusing to turn over my phone had no signal and I was

miles from the nearest town I spent the rest of the day trying to repair the engine but nothing worked as the sun dipped below the Horizon I felt the forest closing in around me that night the witch revealed Herself the air inside the RV grew cold my breath visible in the dim light Jasper whimpered cowering under the table then the lights flickered and went out completely a shadow appeared in the corner of the room taller and darker than anything I'd ever seen its form was vaguely human but its movements were jerky and unnatural why are

you here the shadow whispered its voice echoing as if from a great Distance I I didn't mean to disturb anything I stammered my back pressed against the wall the shadow tilted its head as if considering me you disrespected my land my home I didn't know it lunged forward and I screamed desperate I remembered the journal's mention of an artifact I grabbed a flashlight and bolted from the RV J ER at my heels the forest seemed alive branches clawing at my clothes as I ran I found the scorched Tree near the ruins And began digging frantically

at its base my fingers scraped against something cold and metallic the locket the air around me grew heavier the Shadows pressing closer whispered voices filled my ears taunting and accusing I placed the locket on the Old Stone altar near the ruins and stepped back my chest heaving the Shadows stopped moving the forest fell silent leave the witch's voice hissed faint and fading at dawn the RV started as if Nothing had been wrong Jasper and I left without looking back even now months later I can still hear The Whispers sometimes faint but unmistakable the witch may

have let me leave her land but I'm not sure she ever truly let me go if you're ever tempted to visit Dead Man's Hollow take my advice don't some curses aren't meant to be broken my name is Ethan Carter and I'm 27 years old this happened in October of 2022 a Caven Rock State Park Illinois if you're reading this consider it a warning some Legends are real and not every Trail leads you home it started as a trip to escape the monotony of life my girlfriend lla had been pestering me for months about doing something

spontaneous when her friend Maya suggested camping at Cave in rock I wasn't thrilled I preferred controlled environments ones with reliable Electricity and cell service but Lyla loved adventure and I loved her so I gave in Maya brought it up casually during one of our group Hangouts the Park's beautiful this time of year and the cave has this creepy history Pirates curses sounds fun right her voice was tinged with unease but lla jumped at the idea Sam my best friend rolled his eyes curses yeah sure probably just locals trying to scare off tourists Maya gave him

a quiet look but she Didn't argue we arrived at the park on a chilly Friday evening our old RV rumbling like it might give out at any moment the generator had been acting up for weeks but Sam swore he'd fixed it he parked Us near the edge of the woods just a short hike from the cave itself it's perfect lla declared jumping out of the RV her blonde hair caught the dying sunlight and for a moment her excitement made me forget how uneasy I felt about the place the first signs of trouble Were small the

generator flickered on and off forcing us to rely on the campfire for light our portable stove wouldn't work so we ate cold sandwiches Sam laughed it off but I could see Maya watching the tree line her dark eyes scanning the shadows as if waiting for something that night I woke to a sound it was faint at first just a soft tapping on the RV wall I sat up holding my breath and listened tap tap Tap lla I whispered she stirred beside me but didn't wake I crept to the window and peaked out the forest was

a blur of moonlit shapes then I heard it my name Ethan it was lyla's voice but it came from outside I froze my first thought was that she was playing a prank but I turned and saw her sound asleep my blood ran cold The Voice called again this time farther away Ethan I didn't sleep the rest of the night the next morning I told the group What I'd heard it was probably a bird or something Sam said sipping his coffee they can mimic sounds you know lla gave me a teasing smile or maybe it's the

cursed Pirates calling your name I didn't laugh Maya finally spoke her voice quiet it wasn't a bird she looked at me her expression serious whatever it was it wasn't natural that afternoon we hiked to the cave the Limestone walls loomed over us damp and dark and the air inside was Colder than it should have been Maya hesitated at the entrance I'll wait out here she said clutching her jacket tightly Sam rolled his eyes suit yourself the rest of us ventured inside are flashlights cutting through the Gloom strange carvings lined the walls symbols I didn't recognize

look at this lla said running her fingers over one don't touch it I snapped she frowned at me but stepped back deeper in the cave we found what Looked like an old campsite rusted cans a decayed blanket and a small leatherbound book lay scattered across the floor the book's Pages were damp and smudged but one entry stood out the Shadows mimic us don't trust their voices don't follow them I didn't tell the others that night things got worse as we sat around the fire the forest seemed alive with movement Shadows danced just beyond the fire

light and Every crack of a Branch made us jump probably dear Sam said but his voice lacked conviction around midnight lla went to bed and Sam followed shortly after Maya and I stayed by the fire do you feel it she asked suddenly feel what she stared into the Flames like we're being watched I couldn't deny it sometime later I heard footsteps I turned expecting Sam or lla but the figure approaching was wrong its movements were Jerky unnatural Maya I whispered but she was already staring the figure stepped into the fire light it looked like Lyla

same hair same clothes but its face was wrong the eyes were too large the smile too wide Maya it said its voice distorted Maya grabbed my arm get inside she hissed we ran for the RV slamming the door behind us what the hell was that I demanded Maya shook her head Tears In Her Eyes a warning we shouldn't have come here the next day Lyla was Different she was quiet withdrawn at first I thought she was tired but then she started muttering under her breath phrases in a language I didn't recognize Sam noticed too she's

probably just freaked out he said but he didn't sound convinced I pulled him aside we need to leave we're not cutting the trip short because you're scared he snapped that night the RV's walls shook violently Something was outside growling scratching when we opened the door we found claw marks in the metal the final straw came when Lyla disappeared I woke to find her gone the RV door wide open we searched the forest calling her name until we found her by the River Bank staring blankly at the water she's not herself Maya said I didn't want

to believe it but deep down I knew she was right Maya suggested an offering she believed the skin walker or Whatever it was wanted us to acknowledge its presence I remembered the book we'd found in the cave and decided to leave it behind we placed it at the edge of the woods along with a circle of salt and burning sage the forest grew silent at dawn we packed up and left lla barely spoke and the rest of us were too shaken to fill the silence I don't know if we did the right thing but the

attack stopped still I can't shake the feeling that we left a piece of ourselves behind In that cursed place if you're ever tempted to visit cave in rock think twice some voices aren't meant to be followed my name is Michael Torres and I'm 35 years old this happened last summer during a solo RV trip to caveen Rock State Park Illinois I'd gone there to shoot survival videos for my YouTube channel a project I'd started after leaving the military Things hadn't been going well and I figured upping the stakes with an overnight Adventure in the famous

cave would get me more views I had no idea what I was walking into the trip started like any other I parked my RV at a secluded sight by the woods unpacked my gear and planned my next 3 days of filming the park was strangely empty for the time of year but I chocked it up to luck fewer distractions meant I could focus By late afternoon I'd set up my first video a tutorial on fire starting with wet wood the process calmed me as it always did and for a while I forgot about my Channel's

low subscriber count my dwindling savings and the memories I couldn't seem to shake memories of my little brother Dany Dany had drowned when we were kids I'd been the one who dragged him into the river sure we could swim across he didn't make it and I've been carrying That guilt ever since but guilt doesn't pay bills so I buried it as best I could and kept working the first night I heard the whistle it came faintly at first carried by the wind a simple haunting Melody that didn't seem to have a source I assumed it

was a bird or maybe the wind itself playing tricks but as I lay in bed trying to ignore it The Sound grew louder Closer by midnight I was too unsettled to sleep I grabbed my flashlight and stepped outside the air Was thick with humidity the kind that clings to your skin but the sound had stopped the woods were silent too silent the next morning I walked into town for supplies it was a tiny sleepy place the kind of town where everyone knows everyone at a general store I mentioned the whistle to the woman behind the

counter she was older with sharp eyes and a wary expression you heard the whistle she asked her voice low yeah I said Shrugging it off probably just some local Wildlife right her face darkened you don't follow it you hear me no matter how sweet it sounds you don't follow what's that supposed to mean she leaned closer it's the devil's whistle if you follow it he'll come for you that evening I set out to explore the infamous cave in rock hoping to shake off her warning the cave was massive carved into a limestone Bluff overlooking the

Ohio River it's history Was steeped in blood River Pirates thieves and murderers had used it as a hideout in the 1800s local Legends claimed their spirits still haunted the cave but I wasn't interested in ghosts I wanted to capture its raw Eerie Beauty inside the air was cool and damp my flashlight beam swept over graffiti covered walls revealing strange carvings beneath the spray paint they looked like symbols circles Stars jagged lines I Recorded some footage making a mental note to research them later as I left the Cave the whistling started again this time it wasn't

faint it echoed clearly from the woods a perfect lilting melody that seemed to tug at something deep inside me against my better judgment I followed it the trail led me to a clearing where an old oak tree stood beneath it was a figure a man tall and gaunt dressed in tattered clothing his eyes were black his skin Pale as Ash he smiled when he saw me you've come far he said his voice smooth and melodic like the whistle itself who are you I demanded though my legs felt like lead something about him made it impossible

to look away they call me the Whistler he said and I've been waiting for you I tried to move but my body wouldn't obey the Whistler stepped closer his smile widening you carry a heavy burden he said his voice dripping with sympathy Your brother you blame yourself my heart pounded how do you know about that I know many things Michael I know what you want most in this world and I can give it to you his words twisted around me like a snake what are you talking about I can bring Dany back he said alive

and whole as if he never left all I ask is a small price your soul the offer hit me like a punch to the gut Danny alive the Possibility was intoxicating but the rational part of me screamed to run I shook my head this is insane you're not real this isn't real The Whistler laughed a sound as Hollow as the wind through a graveyard if you doubt me let me show you he snapped his fingers and then the clearing shifted suddenly I was standing by the River from my childhood Dany was there laughing as he

splashed in the water he Looked exactly as he had before the accident bright eyed full of life see for yourself The Whistler said my chest achd with longing but I knew it wasn't real this is a trick is it he asked his Tong almost gentle think of all the years you've lost the birthday the moments you'll never get back I can give them to you I clenched my fists forcing myself to look away no I'm not making any deals the vision shattered and I was back in the clearing the whistler's Smile faded replaced by something

darker so be it he said but no one walks away for free the ground trembled and the air grew icy shadowy figures emerged from the woods their faces featureless but their forms human they moved toward me their limbs jerking unnaturally as if pulled by invisible strings I ran my flashlight flickered as I stumbled through the trees the sound of the whistle chasing me when I reached the cave I darted inside hoping the Thick walls would block the sound the cave was worse the walls seemed to close in the carvings glowing faintly in the darkness the

whistle grew louder sharper like it was coming from inside my head desperate I grabbed a rock and started smashing the carvings the glow dimmed with each strike and the whistle faltered the shadowy figures appeared at the Cave's entrance but they hesitated as if held back by some unseen force with one final swing I shattered the Largest carving the glow vanished and the whistle stopped the figures dissolved into smoke and the cave fell silent I staggered out exhausted and shaking the clearing was empty the Whistler was gone the next morning I packed up and left without

looking back as I drove away I thought I heard a faint whistle on the wind but I didn't stop to check some things are better left unanswered I uploaded my footage a week later the Video went viral but the comments weren't about my survival skills they were about the sound a faint Eerie whistle that played in the background impossible to explain it haunts me to this day my name is Lyla Mathers and I'm 32 years old this happened in late October just last year during what was supposed to be a relaxing camping trip to Starved

Rock State Park in Illinois what unfolded there has changed the way I see the world and I'll never set foot in those woods again I'd invited my younger brother Jonas who's 28 and my best friend Renee also 32 to come along the plan was simple spend a long weekend hiking camping and Recon connecting I'm a history teacher and I was especially interested in researching some of the Park's darker stories like the intertribal wars and the tragic Massacre that gave Starved Rock its name Jonas saw the trip as an excuse to escape his office job and

enjoy some fresh air though he made it clear he thought my history project was a waste of time Renee the thrill seeker of our group was excited for ghost stories and Adventure she'd even brought along a Ouija board as a joke I laughed it off but I couldn't shake a feeling of unease as we drove into the park the RV we rented was old and temperamental as we pulled into a Secluded clearing near French Canyon the engine sputtered and died Jonas grumbled as he tried to restart it but the engine refused to turn over guess

we're not going anywhere until tomorrow Jonas said slamming the driver's seat in frustration Renee leaned out the window grinning good thing I brought marshmallows let's make the best of it that first night started off fine we built a fire roasted marshmallows and I Shared the story of the massacre that had happened centuries ago the tale described how a group of Native Americans besieged by their enemies had starved to death at Top of the Rock that now Bears its name their Spirits according to to Legend still wandered the area seeking Vengeance Jonas rolled his eyes Spirits

huh more like bad luck and Superstition let's talk about something less Depressing Renee of course was enthralled what if we find something out here like an artifact or a rustling sound interrupted her we all froze staring into the dark woods beyond the fire light it's just an animal Jonas said though his voice wasn't as confident as usual I wasn't so sure the sound had a deliberate Rhythm like footsteps but nothing emerged from the trees and eventually we all went to bed the first Sign that something was wrong came the next morning Renee found it a

small doll made of twigs and Feathers hanging from a tree branch near our campsite she waved it at me grinning looks like we've got company put that down I snapped the doll gave me the creeps it looked like a protective Talisman the kind you'd see in Old rituals relax she said setting it back where she found it it's probably just some kids art project Jonas laughed yeah or a souvenir Someone left behind don't let your imagination run wild but I couldn't shake the feeling that we weren't alone that afternoon we hiked to French Canyon the

path was eerily quiet no birds no wind just the crunch of leaves underfoot why is it so dead out here Renee asked her voice breaking the silence probably the time of year Jonas said but he sounded UNC halfway to the canyon I caught a glimpse of something out of the corner Of my eye a shadowy figure darting between the trees I stopped my heart racing what is it Jonas asked I thought I saw someone I said pointing but when we looked there was nothing there probably a hiker Renee said though she looked a little nervous

now we made it to the canyon without further incident but the oppressive quiet continued to gnaw at me that night things escalated it started Ed with The Whispers faint and distant like a conversation just out of earshot I sat up in my sleeping bag straining to hear but the Whispers stopped then came the knocking soft at first then louder it sounded like it was coming from outside the RV Jonas I hissed shaking him awake do you hear that he groaned it's just the wind Lyla go back to sleep but the the knocking grew louder more

insistent Renee woke up too and we All sat there listening then a voice called out it was my voice coming from the darkness outside the RV Lila come here Jonas grabbed a flashlight and threw open the door determined to prove it was just our imaginations he stepped outside sweeping the beam of light across the clearing nothing's here he said but his voice wavered get back inside I shouted pulling him back in just as the door shut something slammed against it hard Enough to Rattle the RV Renee screamed and Jonas locked the door as fast as

he could The Whispers returned louder now circling the RV I peaked out the window and saw it a gaunt humanoid figure its limbs too long its face pale and featureless it moved unnaturally like it didn't understand how bodies were supposed to work we spent the rest of the night huddled together too terrified to move by Dawn The Whispers And knocking had Stopped but the RV wouldn't start we were stranded we need to leave I said now we can't just walk out of here Jonas said it's miles to the main road then we wait Renee said

someone will come by eventually but no one came and by midday Renee had wandered off saying she wanted to explore when she didn't return after an hour we went looking for her we found her at the edge of a cliff staring out over the canyon she didn't respond when We called her name when I grabbed her shoulder she turned to look at me her eyes wide and glassy they're here she whispered they're always here here what are you talking about Jonas demanded but Renee didn't answer she just pointed to the woods where the shadowy Figures

were gathering the rest of the day was a blur of panic and Desperation we tried to leave the campsite on foot but the figures Followed us their Whispers growing louder Jonas tripped and fell into a shallow Ravine twisting his ankle I had to half carry him back to the RV where we barricaded ourselves inside that night the figures surrounded us again banging on the walls and windows they were more aggressive now clawing at the door trying to get in Desperate I remembered the Talisman Renee had found it was still hanging from the tree I think

it's a protection Charm I said if we put it back maybe they'll stop Renee and I ran to the tree leaving Jonas behind to keep the door shut the figures swarmed around us their Hollow eyes glowing in the dark I recited an apology aloud hoping the spirits would understand when we placed the Talisman back on the branch the figures stopped they stood motionless for a moment then melted into the Shadows leaving us in Silence by morning the RV's engine Miraculously started we left Starved Rock without looking back Jonas didn't speak the entire drive home Renee

on the other hand became obsessed with what we'd seen researching everything she could about the Park's history and legends as for me I quit my research paper and vowed never to return but sometimes when I close my eyes at night I still hear The Whispers And I wonder if the spirits of Starved Rock ever truly let us go My name is Sarah Grant and I'm 40 years old this happened in late May of last year during what was supposed to be a routine camping trip for work I'm a travel writer and my job is to

explore lesser-known destinations and write about them usually these trips are peaceful even therapeutic but Fox Ridge State Park in Illinois was different it was where I came face to face with something I still can't explain I'd been going through a rough Patch divorce papers finalized my savings drained from legal fees I decided to distract myself with work researching Fox ridge's lesser-known history of Witchcraft Trials the story of elanar Ashcroft an accused witch hanged from an old oak tree in the park intrigued me her spirit was said to haunt the area cursing anyone who lingered near

the tree it sounded like just the sort of folklore my readers loved the park was only a few hours from Chicago so I loaded up my rented RV and set off alone I'd done solo trips plenty of times but as the Trees of Fox Ridge loomed closer and the cell service bars on my phone dropped to zero I felt a twinge of unease I told myself it was just nerves I was here to do a job not get spooked by old ghost stories the first night was uneventful aside from the RV's electrical issues the interior

lights flickered Sporadically and my phone wouldn't charge I chocked it up to a faulty adapter and went to bed early planning to hike to the infamous witch tree the next morning by late morning the sky darkened unexpectedly and a heavy rain rolled in my boots sank into the mud as I trudged down the trail camera slung over my shoulder the path was eerily quiet the usual hum of forest life absent I found myself jumping at every snapping twig as I neared the clearing where the witch tree stood the air grew noticeably colder my breath fogged

despite the mild weather forecast the tree itself was unmistakable gnarled and massive its bare branches twisting like skeletal fingers around its base were strange carvings in the dirt symbols I didn't recognize along with charred piles of wood and small bones I snapped a photo but my camera screen glitched distorting the image that was When I first heard it a faint rhythmic chant carried on the wind I looked around but no one was there back at the campsite I met Maggie Cooper a ranger in her late 50s with sharp eyes and a cautious demeanor she knocked

on the RV door as as I was toweling off from the rain folks don't usually camp this close to the witch tree she said glancing at the clearing behind my sight I'd suggest moving closer to the main Campground I forced a laugh why is that Ghosts don't like company Maggie didn't laugh people who Camp here see things hear things I'd move if I were you her warning stuck with me but I was stubborn I wasn't about to pack up because of local Superstition later that evening as the rain tapered off I heard a knock on

the RV door it wasn't Maggie this time but a man in his mid-30s with wild eyes and a notebook in hand sorry to bother you he said I'm Ethan wils I'm a historian or Well an amateur one are you here for the witch tree I hesitated unsure whether to invite him in but my curiosity won out and I opened the door Ethan launched into a rapid explanation about Eleanor Ashcroft claiming he'd been studying her case for years she wasn't a witch he said flipping through his notes she was framed by the town's people but they

say her spirit turned dark after her death people who get too close to the tree they Change I didn't tell Ethan about the chanting or the strange cold but his stories unnerved me he begged me to join him on a nighttime investigation insisting it was the only way to truly understand the curse against my better judgment I agreed at midnight we treed back to the witch tree flashlights barely piercing the fog that had settled over the park the carvings I'd seen earlier seemed deeper now as though someone or Something had etched them further into to

the Earth Ethan began muttering to himself running his fingers over the symbols like he was in a trance what are you doing I whispered he didn't respond his flashlight beam flickered casting strange Shadows across the clearing then I saw her a figure standing beneath the tree her head tilted unnaturally to one side a noose around her neck her eyes locked onto mine Hollow and burning at the same time Do you see her I hissed shaking Ethan but he didn't answer instead he began carving one of the symbols into his arm with a pocket knife Ethan

stop I grabbed his wrist but he was terrifyingly strong the chanting I'd heard earlier grew louder though there was no one else around panicked I dragged Ethan back toward the RV he stumbled and fell mumbling Eleanor's name over and over over I managed to get him inside and lock the door but the chanting didn't Stop it surrounded us echoing in my head then the scratching began long deliberate Strokes against the RV's walls the lights flickered wildly plunging us into darkness before snapping back on I peaked through the window and saw her again standing just outside

her mouth moved as if she were chanting though the sound seemed to come come from everywhere at once Ethan lunged toward the door trying to open it she's calling me he said his voice Eerily calm I have to go to her I grabbed a can of pepper spray and aimed it at him you're not going anywhere I realized then that the only way to stop this was to confront it Maggie's words came back to me people who Camp here see things hear things she must have known more more than she was letting on Desperate I

grabbed my camera and flipped through the distorted photos I'd taken earlier one of them showed an effigy near the base of the tree Partially hidden by Roots I think I know what she wants I said though I wasn't entirely sure dragging Ethan along I ran back to the witch tree the fog was thicker now and the air crackled with static I found the Effigy a crude figure made of twig and bones and picked it up it felt cold heavier than it should have been Ethan began to scream clutching his head as the chanting reached a

deafening pitch I had no idea what I was doing but I Remembered something from my research about burning objects tied to curses I lit a match and held it to the Effigy as the Flames consumed the Effigy the chanting stopped the fog lifted and the oppressive cold vanished Ethan collapsed unconscious but alive the figure of elanar Ashcroft appeared One Last Time her expression shifting from anger to sorrow before she faded into the darkness I stood there shaking unsure if I'd truly ended the curse or just delayed it the next morning Maggie found me packing up

the RV she didn't say much just nodded knowingly as I handed her the Effigy charred remains not many people make it through a night here she said you're lucky I didn't feel lucky driving away I glanced in the rearview mirror and saw a faint Shadow hanging from the tree swaying gently in the breeze I haven't been back to Fox Ridge Since some stories are better left Untold my name is Megan Turner and I'm 31 years old I've been traveling solo in my RV for the past 2 years chasing Landscapes and forgotten places to photograph for

my online portfolio this happened last fall in Black Partridge Woods near Metamora Illinois it was supposed to be another peaceful Adventure but instead I found myself in a nightmare I still can't Shake the place caught my attention while researching Illinois Parks black Partridge Woods was a lesser known area overshadowed by places like Starved Rock or Mattis but it had something those Parks didn't a history of eerie Legends locals called it the screaming Woods claiming you could hear ghostly whales at night that was all it took to Intrigue me I wasn't one to scare easily and

ghost stories made for great blog content I Arrived late in the afternoon the campground was almost empty which suited me just fine I parked my RV in a quiet spot near the tree line unpacked my gear and grabbed my camera the woods stretched out before me like a wall of Shadows the thick canopy muting the sunlight a light mist clung to the ground giving everything a dreamlike quality as I headed down the trail a man emerged from the trees he was in his 40s With a weathered face and a park ranger uniform that looked as

worn as he did he gave me a sharp nod but didn't smile evening he said his voice Gruff you're camping out here yeah just for the night I replied the woods are beautiful he didn't respond right away just stared past me toward the trees stay out of the deep Trails after dark he said finally people say things in this Forest aren't right I smiled smiled politely assuming He was trying to scare me off I'll be careful you don't understand he said his voice dropping if you hear screaming don't go looking for it before I could

ask what he meant he turned and walked away his figure disappearing into the trees like a ghost I shook my head and laughed it off every Park had its quirks and every Ranger had their warnings by Twilight I had wandered deeper into the woods Chasing The Fading light with my camera the Trees loomed taller here their branches knitting together into a dense canopy the air felt cooler heavier I stopped to photograph a moss covered log adjusting the aperture to capture the soft light filtering through the Mist that's when I heard it a scream faint but

unmistakable echoed through the trees it wasn't an animal it was human high- pitched and desperate my first thought was that someone might be hurt maybe a hiker in trouble I grabbed my flashlight And followed the sound my pulse quickening the trail twisted and narrowed the Mist thickening around me the scream came again louder this time pulling me deeper into the woods then as suddenly as it started it stopped the silence that followed was almost worse I turned to head back when I saw her a little girl stood in the middle of the trail maybe 8

years old with curly brown hair and a pale blue dress she was barefoot and her clothes looked oddly Old-fashioned like something out of a black and white photograph are you okay I asked kneeling slightly to her level I can't find my family she said her voice trembling can you help me my heart achd for her she looked so small so lost of course I said where did you last see them she pointed vaguely down the trail that way okay let's go find them I said offering my hand she didn't take it just Started walking I

followed keeping my flashlight trained on the ground to avoid tripping the deeper we went the more the woods seemed to change the trees grew gnarled and twisted their branches clawing at the sky the air turned colder and the Mist thickened into a heavy fog are you sure this is the right way I asked she stopped abruptly and turned to face me her eyes which had seemed normal before now gleamed unnaturally in the Light do you like playing games she asked tilting her head what I said taking a they like playing games she said her voice

suddenly lower almost a growl a chill ran down my spine who's they she didn't answer instead she smiled a wide unnatural grin that made my stomach Lurch and turned to walk ahead I wanted to turn back but something about her kept me following it wasn't just concern it was like I couldn't help myself Like the forest itself was pulling me forward the trail Twisted into a narrow almost impassible path and then I saw it an old crumbling cabin tucked between the trees the girl stopped in front of it and pointed they're inside she said I

hesitated the cabin was dark its Windows broken and its roof sagging strange symbols were carved into the wood around on the door circles Spirals and claw-like Shapes my instincts screamed at me to leave I don't think your family's in there I said my voice shaky they're waiting for you she said her smile widening before I could respond she stepped backward into the shadows and vanished the cabin door creaked open on its own I shown my flashlight inside revealing a single room filled with broken furniture and rotting wood the walls were covered in more of the

Strange symbols and the air rre of Decay on a table in the center of the room sat a pile of old photographs they showed families smiling brightly but their eyes seemed wrong Hollow lifeless my stomach turned as I realized some of the faces looked familiar like the ranger I'd met earlier I grabbed one of the f phos my hands shaking a sudden scream pierced the silence so loud and close it felt like it was coming from Inside my skull I spun around but there was no one there I bolted out of the cabin my flashlight

barely cutting through the fog the screams followed me echoing through the trees overlapping and growing louder then I saw them figures moving through the Mist their shapes were vague but their eyes burned like coals my breath caught as one of them stepped closer it was the little girl but her face was no longer human her Eyes were black pits and her mouth stretched unnaturally wide filled with jacked teeth they like playing games she hissed her voice distorted and inhuman I ran branches clawed at my arms and legs and The Scream seemed to come from all

directions my flashlight flickered and for a moment the world plunged into darkness when the beam returned I was back at the playground the swings creaked in the breeze and the Mergo round spun on its own a figure stood by the slide tall shrouded with glowing eyes it was The Wraith the thing the ranger must have warned me about its presence radiated malice freezing me in place you shouldn't have come here it rasped its voice like Wind Through Dead Leaves I stumbled backward tripping over a route The Wraith raised an arm and the screams rose again

deafening and Relentless my head felt like it would Split open desperate I grabbed my camera and fired the flash the bright light seemed to stun the creature its form flickering like a glitch in a video I didn't wait to see what would happen next I ran as fast as I could the screams fading behind me I burst out of the woods just as the first light of dawn broke Over the Horizon my RV was exactly where I'd left it but deep claw marks covered its sides and the windows were fogged with what looked like Handprints

I didn't stop to inspect it I jumped in started the engine and drove until the woods were far behind me when I reviewed my photos later I found something chilling in one image of the playground the little girl stood by the merrygoround holding hands with The Wraith both of them were staring directly at the camera their eyes glowing faintly I deleted the photo and vowed Never to return to Black Partridge woods but the screams still haunt my dreams and sometimes when I'm alone at night I hear faint laughter just outside my window my name name

is Alex Carter I'm 34 years old a former office drone turned survivalist and travel blogger this happened last fall during what was supposed to be a routine trip to Rock Cut State Park near Rockford Illinois I wasn't looking for anything Extraordinary just a peaceful few days to photograph wildlife and document the park for my website instead I found something I wish I could forget it started innocently enough I'd parked my RV in a secluded spot near a forgotten Trail called Raven's Hollow the park was quiet almost unnaturally so with only the occasional bird call breaking

the silence the heavy canopy of trees cast Deep Shadows even during the day but I didn't mind it was perfect for the kind Of nocturnal photography I had planned that first evening as I set up my cameras I encountered an old man on the trail he must have been in his 70s with a wiry frame and piercing eyes he walked with a cane though he moved like someone who didn't need it you camping out here he asked his tone flat yeah just for a couple of days I replied hoping to catch some good Wildlife Shots

he shook his head slowly stay out of Raven's Hollow after dark don't let the kids find you I chuckled nervously kids he didn't elaborate just turned and disappeared into the woods I wrote him off as a local eccentric every park has its share of odd characters that night I set up a small fire and settled into my RV to review the Day's photos around midnight I heard it a faint high-pitched laugh like a child playing it startled me but I Figured it was just a group of late night hikers still I stepped outside to check

the forest was still too still the fire had burned down to Embers casting faint flickers of light around the campsite I scanned the area with my flashlight but there was no one there when I checked the trail camera my stomach tightened there were blurry images of movement small figures darting between the trees the time stamps indicated the photos were taken minutes Apart but they weren't clear enough to make out faces or details probably just dear I muttered to myself though I wasn't convinced the next morning I ventured deeper into the woods the air felt heavier

like the forest itself was holding its breath that's when I found the playground it was an eerie sight rusting swings hanging a skew a merry go round Frozen in mid Spin and a slide half bar In overgrown grass the place looked like it hadn't been touched in decades something about it set my teeth on edge hello The Voice startled me I turned to see a boy standing at the edge of the clearing he couldn't have been more than eight with a mop of brown hair and clothes that looked oddly out of place like something from

the 1950s are you lost I asked I'm looking for my parents he said and his voice barely above a whisper where did you Last see them he pointed deeper into the woods toward a faint Trail I hadn't noticed before I hesitated the kid seemed harmless but something about his demeanor didn't sit right with me still I couldn't just leave him all right let's find them I said motioning for him to follow as we walked the woods grew darker even though it was Midday the path Twisted unnaturally like it was Leading Us in circles I tried

to make conversation but the boy was mostly silent when he did speak his words were strange do you like playing games he asked at one point sure I guess I replied humoring him they like playing too he said his tone matter of fact who's they he didn't answer just smiled in a way that made my skin crawl we reached a dilapidated cabin in a small clearing its windows were broken and the door hung a jar swaying slightly in the Breeze the boy gestured for me to go inside they might be in there he said I

peered into the cabin the air was thick with the smell of Decay and the walls were covered in strange symbols scratched into the wood in one corner a pile of old photographs and new news clippings caught my eye most of the photos showed family smiling brightly but the clippings told a darker story mysterious disappearances in Rock Cut State Park the Articles were dated From the 1960s hey kid I said turning around but he was gone as I stepped outside I saw her a woman around my age emerged from the woods looking disoriented and pale she

had a backpack slung over her shoulder and carried a flashlight are you Alex she asked startling me how do you know my name I ran into this old man earlier he said you were camped here my name's Heather I'm uh looking for A Haunted Cabin I think this might be it Haunted doesn't even begin to cover it I muttered you shouldn't be out here Heather seemed unbothered by my warning look I came here to document the Supernatural not to be scared off by spooky Vibes did you see anyone else like kids I told her about

the boy and her expression darkened the Legends talk about them she said their Spirits or maybe something worse they mimic kids to draw people in Heather and I decided to stick Together as night fell the woods came alive with Eerie sounds footsteps circling our c amp faint giggles and the occasional rustle of leaves that seemed too deliberate to be the wind my flashlight flickered and Heather's camera kept glitching then the boy reappeared he stood just beyond the Fire Light his face half hidden in Shadow why did you leave me he asked his voice Trembling Heather

grabbed my arm that's not a kid she whispered the boy stepped closer and his features began to change his eyes turned pitch black and his grin stretched unnaturally wide we like playing games he said his voice echoing unnaturally we ran Heather led the way her flashlight bouncing wildly in the darkness the laughter grew louder joined by other voices high-pitched and mocking figures darted between the trees their forms FL flickering like static on an Old TV we stumbled back to the playground the merry-go round was spinning again even though there was no wind Heather stopped abruptly

staring at the swings do you see that she whispered at first I saw nothing then they appeared children dozens of them sitting silently on the swings and slide their Hollow eyes fixed on us they won't let us leave Heather said her voice breaking desperate we followed a faint Path that seemed to lead uphill the voices grew fainter but I could still feel the weight of their gaze at the top of the hill we saw it my RV parked just where I'd left it Go Heather shouted but as I ran for the RV I realized she

wasn't following she had stopped halfway up the hill her face pale and determined they won't stop unless someone stays she said go before I could argue the Shadows swarmed her her screams pierced the Night as I threw myself into the RV and started the engine I sped out of the park not daring to look back days later I found Heather's camera in my RV the footage showed her facing the children chanting something under her breath the final frame was of the boy his grin wide and triumphant I uploaded my story to my blog warning others

to stay away from Raven's Hollow but part of me knows the truth the park isn't done with me and I'll never escape the shadows of rock cut my name is Margaret Hart but everyone calls me Maggie I'm 42 years old and last October I went went on a solo RV trip to Rock Cut State Park in Illinois I just finalized a messy divorce and the thought of escaping into nature with nothing but my camera and the trees sounded like exactly what I needed I was wrong what I experienced there still haunts me and even now

I can't bring myself to look at the Photographs I took during those 5 days it began innocently enough I arrived at Rock Cut in the early afternoon the Autumn Sun warming the Rolling Hills and dense forests I chose a spot in a small quiet campground on the edge of Cedar Hollow Loop a Less Traveled Trail I'd heard about from a few online forums it was supposed to be stunning in the fall with fiery leaves and rare Wildlife sightings perfect for a wildlife photographer like me the first Person I met was Derek Mayu a middle-aged Park

Ranger with a kind but weathered fish face he spotted me unloading my equipment and walked over leaning on his truck with a casual but purposeful stance planning on hiking Cedar Hollow he asked glancing at the camera slung around my neck yeah I heard it's beautiful this time of year he hesitated then nodded slowly it is but it's not the most popular Trail for a reason if you're Going alone I'd stick to the main paths Cedar Hollow has a way of confusing people thanks for the warning I said brushing him off with a smile I dealt

with plenty of overprotective men in my life and I wasn't about to let derk's vague warnings scare me off I wish I'd listened the first day was uneventful I spent it setting up camp organizing my gear and exploring the nearby Trails Cedar Hollow would be my main focus the next day but for now I Wanted to ease into things the forest was quiet almost unnaturally so but I chocked it up to the offseason the lack of other campers only added to the peaceful atmosphere I was craving that night however I woke to a strange sound

it was faint at first like a soft tapping at the edge of my awareness as I sat up in bed it grew louder more rhythmic tap tap tap it seemed to be coming from outside the RV near the door I grabbed my flashlight And peered through the small window nothing just the empty clearing bathed in Moonlight still the tapping continued I told myself it was probably a branch swaying in the breeze but when I stepped outside the air was completely still the sound had stopped uneasy but determined to brush it off I went back inside

and locked the door the next morning I headed for Cedar Hollow Loop excited to finally get some Shots of the elusive Birds I'd read about the trail was overgrown but manageable the canopy above casting dappled Shadows on the ground I'd barely gone a mile when my camera started acting up the shutter clicked randomly capturing blurry unfocused images even when I hadn't pressed the button I stopped to examine the camera CR rated but the moment I did I heard something my name Maggie it was faint almost a whisper carried on the breeze I froze Scanning the

trees no one was there Maggie it came again this time from deeper in the woods my first instinct was to call out but something about the voice stopped me it wasn't just that it sounded strange it sounded familiar too familiar like my own voice distorted and stretched shaking it off I continued along the trail but the unease lingered the deeper I went the quieter the forest became the usual sounds of birds and Rustling leaves faded replaced by an oppressive silence that pressed against my ears like cotton about 2 miles in I stumbled upon something unexpected

a clearing with with a circle of large stones in the center at first I thought it was a fire pit but as I got closer I saw that the stones were arranged too deliberately their surfaces etched with strange angular symbols in the center of the circle lay a single Bleached white bone an animal bone I hoped but the symbols they made my skin crawl I snapped a photo out of habit but when I checked the screen the image was distorted the bone was there but the rest of the frame was filled with what looked like

static jagged lines slicing across the screen I didn't linger the hike back to the RV should have been straight forward but the trail seemed different somehow landmarks I'd passed Earlier the Twisted tree the Fallen log were gone replaced by unfamiliar terrain my GPS refused to work its screen stuck on a loading symbol then the sounds began at first it was just the crunch of leaves behind me perfectly synchronized with my steps I stopped and so did the noise when I walked again it returned always just out of sight Maggie The Whisper was back clearer now

closer I turned in a slow Circle my Heart pounding the trees were empty but the voice came again louder than this time Maggie and then another sound joined it a child's laughter high pitched and chilling echoing through the woods my blood ran cold there were no children here no other hikers just me I ran when I finally saw the RV through the trees relief washed over me but as I got closer something stopped me in my tracks the windows were fogged up and on the Condensation someone had written a single word stay the air around

me felt heavy charged like a storm was about to break I spun around and there it was the echo Spirit it wasn't human not entirely its form shimmered like heat waves a humanoid shape made of twisting Shadows and Light its face was featureless except for a wide empty mouth which stretched open as it mimicked my voice Maggie Maggie I stumbled backward Fumbling for the Emergency flare I kept in my bag the spirit Advanced its form flickering and shifting as if it were struggling to maintain its shape leave me alone I screamed lighting the flare and

holding it out like a shield the spirit recoiled its form Rippling as the bright light cut through the Shadows with a final bone chilling shriek it vanished into the the forest leaving me alone in the clearing I didn't waste time packing I Jumped into the RV and drove away not caring about the gear I'd Left Behind when I reached the nearest ranger station I told Derek everything he listened quietly then nodded as if he'd heard it all before Cedar Hollow he said grimly I warned you I haven't been back to Rock Cut since the photos

I took on that trip are still on my hard drive but I can't bring myself to open them sometimes late at night I hear The Echoes again faint Whispers just outside My apartment Window my name is Lyla Morgan I'm 26 years old an environmental scientist and until recently I thought I was a fairly rational person what happened during that weekend at Devil's prophecy Trail changed everything I believed about the world and about what's truly out there waiting for us in the dark this happened last October in PE Marquette State Park Illinois my boyfriend Ryan and

I had planned a camping trip with two others Cassidy my best friend since childhood and Jake Ryan's cousin the park was stunning that time of year with its fiery red and orange leaves and crisp autumn air but beneath that beauty lay a strange heavy silence like the forest was holding its breath Ryan suggested the trip because he'd heard about the Park's haunted history Devil's prophecy Trail was Infamous rumored to be cursed after a native tribe's sacred ground was Desecrated by settlers the trail had been officially closed for years but Jake had heard of a way

around the barricades the first day was uneventful apart from Jake's lack of preparation he showed up with a cheap tent missing its poles and insisted he'd just sleep under the stars he also forgot the map he promised to bring brushing it off with a grin who needs Maps we've got GPS he said shaking his Phone but once we entered the trail the GPS signal faltered and the canopy of trees turned the path into a dim tunnel Cassidy wasn't thrilled about the whole idea especially after hearing ran regil us with the legends of Skin Walkers humanoid

creatures that could mimic voices and appearances to lure their victims it's not funny Ryan Cassidy snapped when he made Eerie noises behind her this place doesn't feel right you're Too superstitious Ryan said though even he seemed less confident as the trees grew denser we set up camp just off the trail close to a stream the fire crackled and for a moment things felt normal I worked on documenting rare mosses and fungi for my research ignoring Jake's Antics as he filmed himself around the campsite that night Cassidy sat rigid by the fire staring into the trees

do you hear that she whispered Here what I asked my stomach tightening it's Whispering like voices Ryan laughed it's just the wind but the forest was too quiet for wind I strained my ears and there it was a faint murmuring like a dozen people speaking at once just beyond the Fire Light I convinced myself it was nothing we went to bed but I didn't sleep well the air inside the tent felt stifling and I could have sworn I heard my name whispered Outside the next morning I went back to work cataloging plants while Ryan and

Jake explored Cassidy stayed with me clearly unnerved I'm serious Lyla something's wrong here she said her voice trembling I can feel it I know it's creepy I admitted but there's no such thing as curses that's when I noticed the Moss it was dead Brown and crumbling despite the dampness of the soil nearby there were strange symbols Carved into the tree trunks resembling crude animal shapes probably teenagers messing around I said though my confidence was starting to crack when the guys returned Jake was practically bouncing with excitement he'd found something a stone circle deep in the

woods you have to see it he said it's perfect for my next video cassid refused to go that's where it started she said the curse I read about it we shouldn't even be here Ryan dismissed her fears And dragged me along with Jake the Stone Circle was as Eerie as Cassidy had warned large flat rocks arranged in a perfect ring the ground within the circle was Barren as though nothing had grown there for centuries Jake started filming immediately his voice dripping with bravado here we are Folks at the legendary Devil's prophecy Circle they say if

you stay here after dark the forest will claim You that night everything unraveled it started with Jake disappearing one moment he was joking around the fire and the next he was gone we heard his voice calling out from the woods hey guys you've got to see this Ryan grabbed a flashlight but Cassidy and I begged him not to go he's probably just trying to scare us Ryan said annoyed but what if it's not him Cassidy said her voice cracking the three of us ventured into The trees shouting Jake's name his voice answered from deeper in

the woods but it sounded off like it was coming from multiple directions at once we found his phone lying in the dirt still recording there was no sign of him but when Ryan played the video my blood ran cold the footage showed Jake standing by the Stone Circle grinning into the camera then something moved behind him a shadowy figure hunched and impossibly Tall with glowing eyes the video cut out With a loud crack we have to leave Cassidy said grabbing my arm now we can't leave Jake Ryan shouted but as we argued the forest came

alive with movement Shadows flickered between the trees and low guttural sounds echoed around us my flashlight caught glimpses of them Twisted figures with pale skin their limbs bent at unnatural angles then they spoke not in their own voices but in ours help me they cried imitating Jake don't leave me we ran Back to the campsite but the fire was out and our gear was shredded the Shadows circled us their mimicry growing louder and more distorted Cassidy clutched a necklace she'd worn since childhood murmuring a prayer what are you doing Ryan snapped trying to protect us

she shot back from what we don't even know what they are they're Skin Walkers she said and they're feeding on us on our fear suddenly one of the creatures Lunged at the edge of the Fire Light Ryan swung his flashlight and it recoiled with a hiss its face was grotesque a mockery of human features stretched and wrong Cassidy insisted we follow the symbols I'd seen earlier claiming they were Wards meant to lead us out I didn't have a better plan so we ran sticking close together but the Skin Walkers weren't done with us they whispered

in Jake's voice then Cassidy's Then mine we reached a cff overlooking the Illinois River trapped we turned to face the creatures as they emerged from the darkness they were no longer just Shadows they had taken on our forms grotesque parodies of us CID stepped forward clutching her necklace she began to chant her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes the creatures hesitated their movements jerky and uncertain go she yelled I'll Hold them off no I screamed but Ryan pulled me toward the Cliff's Edge there was a narrow path leading down and we scrambled to

safety as the skinwalkers swarmed Cassidy her screams echoed through the forest followed by a deafening silence we stumbled Out of the Woods at dawn battered and terrified Park Rangers found us but dismissed our story claiming the trail had been closed for decades and that no One named Cassidy was registered at the park later I checked Jake's social media his account had uploaded a video a distorted looping clip of him at the Stone Circle grinning as the shadowy figures loomed behind him I don't know if it was real or if I'm losing my mind but I

do know this Devil's prophecy Trail isn't just cursed it's a trap and whatever lurks there doesn't let its prey Escape easily my name is Daniel Hawthorne and I'm 35 Years old this happened last October when I decided to spend a week camping in a remote part of Illinois called Devil's prop Forest Preserve I needed to get away clear my head and finally write the book I'd been putting off for years the forest was supposed to be my quiet Sanctuary instead it became the stage for for the most horrifying experience of my life I should have

known better I'd heard the rumors stories about strange Disappearances inexplicable deaths and a shadowy cult that supposedly worshiped something ancient and unspeakable in those woods but as a journalist I'd learned to separate fact from fiction Legends don't scare me or at least they didn't I arrived at the campground just before dusk my RV humming along the dirt road as I searched for a good spot to set up the place was deserted not even a ranger in sight just trees stretching endlessly their branches clawing at The Twilight Sky perfect I thought no distractions the first few

hours were uneventful I cooked dinner on my portable stove set at my workspace and typed up some notes about the local Legends I even chuckled at how seriously people seem to take the tales of Devil's acre a cursed Forest a murderous cult it all felt like cheap Halloween material but that night as I lay in bed I woke to a rhythmic tapping on the roof of the RV tap tap tap it wasn't loud but it was Insistent at first I thought it was just a branch swaying in the wind but when I stepped outside to

check the trees were dead still no wind nothing the tapping stopped as soon as I opened the door lifting the flashlight I scanned the area Shadows danced at the edge of the beam but there was no one there I chocked it up to nerves and went back inside locking the door behind me the next morning I woke to find strange marks etched into the dirt around my RV concentric circles with jagged lines cutting through them like some kind of primitive Rune my first thought was kids some pranksters messing with me but there were no other

campers around and the forest didn't exactly scream hangout spot for teenagers I tried to ignore it burying myself in work but my laptop had other plans it crashed erasing the outline for my book which I'd spent hours working on then the RV's battery started to drain Inexplicably leaving me with no power to charge my devices frustrated I decided to take a break and explore the forest maybe some fresh air would help about a mile into the woods I found it a crumbling Stone altar half buried in Moss and leaves the thing R of age its

surface carved with more of those strange symbols sitting on top was an animal skull its Hollow eye sockets staring Back at me it was unsettling sure but also intriguing this was exactly the kind of atmospheric detail my book needed as I studied the altar I felt a sudden chill like the temperature had dropped 10° the forest Around Me grew eerily quiet no birds no rustling leaves just silence that's when I noticed the footprints they were faint but Unmistakable leading away from the Altar and deeper into the woods human Footprints Barefoot I hesitated then turned back

toward Camp whatever curiosity I had wasn't worth following those tracks when I got back there was someone waiting for me an old man hunched and wiry leaning on a gnarled walking stick he didn't say a word at first just Stared at me with sharp almost predatory eyes you shouldn't be here he said finally his voice a grally whisper excuse me I asked more annoyed than scared this land it takes what it's owed always has I laughed nervously trying to brush him off look I'm just camping doing some research I'll be out of here in a

few days the old man shook his head you think the land cares about your plans leave before it's too late And then he was gone disappearing into the woods as quickly as he'd appeared that night the tapping returned but this time it wasn't just on the roof it was on the windows the walls even the door tap tap tap it surrounded me Relentless I grabbed a flashlight and peered out the window but the beam caught only Darkness then I heard it a voice my voice Dan come out out side I froze the voice was soft

distorted but unmistakably mine come outside it Repeated closer this time my heart pounded as I backed away from the window the lights inside the RV flickered and the air grew heavy oppressive then out of the corner of my eye I saw it a figure standing just beyond the circle of light cast by my Lantern tall and gaunt with eyes that glowed faintly in the dark I didn't sleep that night instead I sat in the driver's seat clutching a kitchen knife waiting for the first Light of dawn the next morning I found more footprints around the

RV they circled the vehicle overlapping as if whoever or whatever had been out there had been pacing for hours I decided to leave I packed up as quickly as I could but when I turned to the key the RV wouldn't start the battery which should have been fully charged from the backup generator was completely dead Panic set in as I realized I was stuck then I heard it Again my voice calling from the woods Dan you can't leave I tried to ignore it but it grew louder more insistent and then it wasn't just my voice

anymore it was my ex-wife's accusing me of failing her my EST stranged Brothers mocking me for my career choices a younger version of myself taunting me for never finishing what I started the voices clawed at my sanity dredging up every regret every failure every doubt I'd ever Buried desperate I turned to the journal I'd taken from the altar earlier that day it belonged to Old Man Harris the pages were filled with cryptic warnings and details about the cult that had once inhabited the forest they worshiped a being no a force that thrived on human despair

the altar Harris wrote was both a conduit and a prison if I destroyed it maybe I could sever the connection or maybe I'd unleash something even worse but I Didn't have a choice armed with a can of kerosene and a lighter I made my way back to the altar the forest seemed Alive Now shifting and closing in around me Shadows darted between the trees and the voices grew louder more frantic when I reached the altar The Entity showed itself it was a towering figure of Shadow its form shifting and flickering like a dying flame its

eyes dozens of them glowed a sickly yellow locking onto me you can't stop this it hissed it Voice a cacophony of every fear I'd ever known I didn't listen I DED the altar in kerosene and lit the match Flames roared to life consuming the ancient stone The Entity screamed its form writhing as the fire spread and then just as suddenly as it had begun it was over the forest fell silent I stumbled back to the RV exhausted but alive the engine started this time and I didn't look back as I sped down the dirt road

desperate to put as much distance between myself and Devil's prop as possible but the nightmare didn't end there back in my apartment I noticed something on the window sill those same concentric symbols etched faintly into the glass and sometimes late at night I still hear the tapping tap tap tap my name is Olivia Reynolds and I'm 28 years old this happened last fall when I decided to prove to myself that I didn't need anyone else not my ex not my Friends not anyone I was going to spend a week alone in the breathtaking Wilderness of

shaune national forest specifically in the Garden of the Gods it was supposed to be empowering instead it became the most harrowing experience of my life I wasn't entirely alone my Labrador lla was with me she was my comfort my company and my little protector she had always been calm and friendly but out here her demeanor Changed that should have been my first clue I had barely parked my RV at the remote Campground when Brandon showed up Brandon Knox my ex 30 years old tall brooding and annoyingly practical he sauntered over with a smug grin holding

a cooler you didn't think I'd let you camp out here alone did you he said not even waiting for an invitation to step inside my RV I wanted to kick him out right then but I didn't part of me was secretly glad he'd come even though I'd Never admit it his presence was infuriating but also familiar I told myself he could stay one night then he'd have to leave the first night everything seemed normal almost peaceful Brandon grilled burgers lla lounged near the fire and I begrudgingly enjoyed his company but just after midnight I woke

to a sound it wasn't the usual rustling of leaves or distant calls of animals it was a whistle sharp and high-pitched echoing through the Trees Brandon wake up I whispered shaking his arm huh what is it he mumbled listen we both held our breaths the whistle came again faint but unmistakable it didn't sound like any bird I'd ever heard it almost sounded human it's probably some idiot hiker Brandon muttered pulling the blanket over his head but lla was awake now too she stood by the door her tail stiff her ears pinned back she let out

a low growl That sent chills down my spine the next morning I stepped outside and froze the side of the RV was scratched not the light kind you'd get from brushing past branches these were deep Jagged gashes like something had clawed at the metal did you do this I snapped at Brandon thinking it was some stupid prank he frowned why the hell hell would I do that looks like a bear bears don't whistle in the middle Of the night I thought but didn't say lla barked at the scratches pacing nervously something about them made my

stomach churn they weren't random they formed a strange spiraling pattern I convinced myself it had to be an animal though the explanation felt Hollow Brandon dismissed it entirely and we went our day the trails were beautiful but the forest felt wrong the deeper we went the quieter it became no birds no wind just an oppressive Suffocating silence even lla usually so energetic stuck close to my side halfway through the hike I realized my compass was gone I'd clipped it to my backpack that morning but now it was just gone are you sure you brought it

Brandon asked his tone more condescending than concerned yes I'm sure I snapped it was right here we argued for a bit before giving Up and heading back only we couldn't find the way the trail which had been so clear before seemed to twist and loop back on itself it was as if the forest was playing tricks on us when we finally stumbled into the campsite the sun was already setting that night the whistling returned it was louder closer then came the voices Olivia a voice called from the darkness it was soft and distorted almost like

my own my heart pounded Brandon did you hear that he sat up his face pale yeah I heard it then it called again this time in Brandon's Voice live come here we stared at each other the blood draining from our faces lla barked wildly scratching at the door Brandon grabbed a flashlight and flung the door open but there was nothing there just the trees swaying in a wind that hadn't been there a moment ago we're leaving Tomorrow Brandon said his voice trembling for once I didn't argue the next morning we found footprint encircling the RV

they weren't human or animal they were somewhere in between long spindly toes and deep Impressions like They Carried immense weight Brandon was shaken but still tried to rationalize could be some weirdo out here messing with us you think a weirdo has feet like that I shot back the day Passed intense silence we packed up ready to leave at first light but as night fell The Entity escalated its game this time it showed itself it was a coyote at least that's what it looked like at first but its movements were wrong jerky and unnatural as if

it didn't quite know how to move like an animal its eyes were too large glowing faintly in the Fire Light then it stood up not on four legs on two I froze Layla growled bearing her teeth Brandon Grabbed the fire poker his hands shaking the creature tilted its head almost mockingly before retreating into the Shadows we have to leave now I whispered it's too dark Brandon said we'll crash if we try to drive through this forest at night he was right but staying felt like a death sentence I remembered something a story I'd overheard from

a local shopkeeper when I was buying supplies they'd mentioned spirits in the Forest and how salt and fire could Ward them off help me build a bigger fire I told Brandon and grabbed the salt from the RV he didn't question me for once we circled the campsite with a thick line of salt and stoked the fire until it roared the creature appeared again just beyond the circle it didn't cross the saw but it circled us its glowing eyes locked on mine it started mimicking us Again Calling My Name Brandon's even Lila's but the salt held

it stayed outside the circle pacing like a predator waiting for its chance we didn't sleep we sat by the fire clutching makeshift weapons until the first light of dawn as soon as the sun rose we bolted the RV sputtered to life and we sped down the dirt road not daring to look back when we reached the nearest ranger station we told them everything they didn't believe us of Course but one older Ranger gave us a knowing look you're lucky you got out he said most don't I haven't been camping since Brandon and I don't talk

much but when we do we don't bring up The Garden of the Gods lla is fine but she refuses to go near the woods I still hear the whistling sometimes in my dreams or at least I hope it's just in my dreams