5 Police Reports that CAN'T BE EXPLAINED

hi welcome to dead and roasted what can I get you a new round of police horror stories has surfaced ever since dead and roasted started serving out a new police discount cops have been getting 10% off their coffee and boy do they talk a lot when they're waiting for their Joe just between you and me I've been giving them 10% less coffee though look I can't afford this discount but Regional has been demanding it anyway now time for my break and that means time for you to hear new and allegedly true police stories about possible

serial killers demonic children and the thing that lives in the prison these are Tales from the breakroom if you're listening as a podcast follow us and leave us a rating on Spotify and apple if you're on YouTube subscribe to Darkness prevails for more scary stories my most Terri terrifying grunin from wheeler bill it was 2010 I was a cop for a town nestled along a stretch of lonely Highway the kind of place where big things don't usually happen we got our petty thieves occasional bar fights and the like budget cuts had recently hit our department

hard and that meant we often worked solo shifts especially during the night one evening I was assigned to one such shift covering for a colleague who had called and sick it wasn't my usual beat but I didn't mind the Solitude could be nice around midnight I made a mistake that could have gotten me written up or worse because I realized then I'd left my service weapon back at the station I had taken it off earlier to clean it between that a coffee and a snack I must have forgotten it a big breach of protocol then

again given the low crime name nature of our town I wasn't too worried about it so long as I got back and none of my co-workers or bosses knew about it the night was uneventful until about 2:00 a.m. I received a call about a broken down vehicle on an old country road just outside of town dispatch said a man had called in sounding frustrated and requested assistance I radioed back that I would be on my way i' driven that road hundreds of times before for a narrow winding path flanked by dense Woods on either side

the typical kind of place where cell surface can get spotty as I approached the location my headlights caught sight of a sedan parked on the shoulder with its Hood up I pulled over behind the car and radioed in my location I then stepped out of the cruiser it was a cold night I reminded myself that I was unarmed so I needed to be cautious evening I called out you the one who called in a man emerged from around the raised Hood he was tall and lanky wearing a worn out jacket and jeans his face was

partially shadowed by the brim of a baseball cap yeah that's me he replied his voice smooth and lacking inflection Carr just died on me all right let's see what we can do I walked over acting friendly I Stood Beside him and peered into the engine compartment admittedly I wasn't much of a mechanic any idea what happened I asked he Shrugged his eyes fixed on me rather than the engine just stopped running maybe you could give me a ride his gaze was intense unblinking I noticed his hands then scarred Knuckles dirt under his nails pretty intim

dating guy honestly sure uh we can arrange that I said might if I see your driver's license and registration first it's part of the routine he hesitated for a moment and finally responded left my wallet at home all right no big deal what's your name Daniel um Daniel what just Daniel that's when things felt a bit awkward and I was quickly reminded that I was alone and unarmed with a stranger who appeared to be quite bigger than me who was also becoming increasingly suspicious well Daniel uh why don't we step back to my cruiser see

about getting you some help he didn't move so you work alone out here he asked there was a hint of a smile creeping onto his face ah sometimes I replied but backups never far when I need it that's so his eyes narrowed listen Daniel I began why don't you wait there and I'll run your plates we'll figure out the best way to assist you he chuckled then you seem nervous officer something bothering you not at all just protocol he stepped towards me you sure you don't want to check under the car might be something stuck

under there I took a step back away from him I'll call for a tow truck they can handle it his smile faded you know it's dangerous out here at night never know the type you might run into well that's why we got to keep a good eye on one another ain't it Daniel I maintained eye contact more silence eventually he said seeing as I'm stranded how about that ride you mentioned I weighed my options letting him into my cruiser didn't seem wise at this point but refusing could escalate the situation tell you what why don't

you have a seat in your car to stay warm and I'll make a few calls he glanced back at his car then at me battery's dead no heat all right you can sit in the back of my cruiser I offered mentally noting that the back doors could not be opened from the inside he stared at me for a long moment before nodding sure that'd be fine I opened up the rear door for him as he slid in I noticed a tattoo on the back of his neck a jagged symbol that looked familiar somehow I closed

the door behind him taking a deep breath and walking around the driver's seat once inside I discreetly locked all the doors I picked up the radio handset dispatch I've got a stranded motorist at mile marker 42 on Old Mill Road requesting a tow truck and back up silence I tried again dispatch do you copy radio troubles came Daniel's voice from the back seat I glanced at the rear viw mirror his eyes met mine uh just a dead zone I said trying to sound confident technology can be unreliable he mused I pulled out my cell phone

to try that no signal of course great looks like we'll have to drive a bit to get some reception I said I started the engine and pulled back onto the road the atmosphere inside the cruiser was tense I needed to keep the guy talking maybe glean some information off of him so Daniel where were you headed tonight nowhere in particular must be nice to travel freely like that you from around here been on the road a long time you could Sam searching for something is that so what are you searching for he leaned forward interesting

people good conversations well he found me I forced a chuckle he smiled yes yes I have I noticed his reflection in the mirror his eyes appeared to be scanning the interior of the cruiser so officer do you always forget your sidearm when you're on duty my blood ran cold how did he know I glanced down my empty holster was partially visible sometimes I'm forgetful I said calmly but like I said backups never far he sat back I suppose that's true we drove in silence for a few minutes still no cell signal and the radio remained

useless mind if I ask you something he asked go ahead do you believe in fate can't say I think about it much maybe you should he said I needed to say something else take the conversation away from fate Daniel is there someone I can call for you once we get reception maybe some family or friends he shook his head no one waiting for me everyone's got someone not me but you you've got people waiting for you don't you I didn't reply a family perhaps kids I white knuckled the St steering wheel why do you ask

just making conversation we approached a gas station the only one for miles but the lights were off of course closed for the night let's stop here unfortunately it's closed even so might be worth checking maybe they got a pay phone I was hesitant but decided maybe there was someone still in there and they were just closing up I pulled into the lot parking near the entrance wait here I'll see if anyone's around as I reached for the door handle he said I think you should stay I paused why is that he leaned forward again his

voice low because if you step out of this car you you won't be coming back I turned and faced him directly are you threatening me Daniel no sir just an observation my heart was pounding like it was going to explode I had to do something to diffuse this Daniel if there's something you want to tell me Now's the Time he smiled that thin smile again you know of officer sometimes meeting the right person can change everything I nodded slowly I agree maybe we can help each other maybe look if you're in some kind of trouble

I can help you but you got to be honest with me he seemed to think for a moment then said you seem like a good man honest hardwork Family Man perhaps I swallowed yes he sighed it's been a long time since I talked to someone like you let's keep talking tell me about yourself not much to tell made some mistakes took some wrong turns well everyone deserves a second chance he looked out the window do they absolutely he went quiet again eventually he said I think this is where we part ways I was confused what

do you mean before I could react he opened the door stepping out I couldn't breathe as I said those doors are not supposed to open but he opened that door and he stepped out beginning to walk away wait Daniel I called after him he was walking into the woods beyond the gas station I climbed out of the car debating whether to follow him unarmed and isolated it seemed like a bad idea Daniel I shouted he turned back briefly and said to me take care officer cherish what you have of and with that I never saw

Daniel in person again I stood there the night felt colder than it had before I wanted to go after him but something held me back and I think that something was fear I admit it I was more scared than I'd ever been I don't think I've ever met a man as scary as Daniel I got back in the cruiser trying the radio again after a few tries someone replied I sighed with relief I told him I'd been trying to get in touch copy that we've been trying to reach you everything all right I had some

trouble encountered a stranded motorist but he's he's gone now understood be advised State Police have issued an alert about a suspected criminal in your area matching the description of a Drifter involved in multiple homicides exercise caution in that moment it felt like my heart dropped right out of my body all I could do was mutter a Roger that and put the handset back where it went I drove back towards town and when I felt safe I reported the man I saw Daniel giving them all the details backup was dispatched searching the area I'd been and

where I'd last seen but Daniel was never found not here to this day I believe that my words during that encounter showing empathy engaging him in friendly conversation may have saved my life if IID acted differently who knows where I'd be now this experience changed me I don't take things for granted as much anymore and I always remember that sometimes the most critical tools an officer can have aren't his weapons but his words I don't know if Daniel's still out there but I got to say I kind of feel grateful for the guy strengthening my

resolve wanting to help people more than ever I'll end this story here and just say be nice and understanding to your fellow man because you may be talking to a serial killer Annie from Hired Gun O2 I've been retired for some time now but my grandkids always want to hear stories about when Grandpa was a cop I always have a story too but this is one I never tell them nor their parents I worked for a medium-sized apartment in West Virginia as I worked to became a parent that I had this ability to communicate with

emotionally disturbed people EDP soon I was trained by the FBI as a crisis negotiator I was a sergeant by this time and my patrol officers would call me to help with touchy calls that could become violent I was asked at one point to assist at a shoplifting call at a large grocery store when I arrived the officer said it's Annie and she's wound up Annie was a local homeless woman who was also an EDP when I walked into the security office she was cursing at the store security officer Annie could make a sailor blush to

say the least I just stared at her until she stopped and said what I asked if she had stolen something she lowered her head and mumbled yes I asked why and she yelled at me I was hungry I told her Annie you've been arrested for shoplifting you have to go to the county jail do you want me to take you she said she did so I cuffed her and put her in my cruiser number 14 Annie had a thing for STS in Cologne she would dowe herself in the stuff I had to roll the windows

down just to breathe I looked back and Annie was asleep I pulled into KFC and got her a two-piece and a biscuit I backed into a parking space under a light I got out to take her cuffs off she woke up and started to scream that I was going to assault her if you catch my drift I got back in and locked the doors and sat while Annie ate it was an ordeal with the Stetson filling the car I booked her into the county jail to await the night magistrate the jail deputies just said thanks

as he covered his nose with his handkerchief time went by and Annie continued to get arrested she would ask for me by name so I would take her to jail and KFC before long I was promoted to Lieutenant and became a shift Commander my cruiser number 14 was recycled into the patrol Fleet and I was issued an unmarked car one evening a call went out about a fatal car pedestrian crash when I arrived on the scene I realized the dead pedestrian was Annie she had quote unquote stolen some ketchup packs from a fast food place

ran out the door into traffic and was struck I looked down at her thinking maybe she wouldn't be hungry anymore and would have all the stats and she desired I remember murmuring her sufferings over I got back into my car and drove back to the station later in the evening I was approving reports when dispatch called me saying there was a problem in our finston police vehicle lot a young Deputy returning to the county jail had seen someone sitting in the rear seat of car number 14 I was called by one of the officers who

went to check it uh Lieutenant you better come down here I made my way to the lot and saw them standing by number 14 they had unlocked the doors and they were open when I walked up an older officer said check the back seat Lieutenant I leaned in and immediately smelled STS in Cologne I stepped back and just stood there I looked at the Elder officers who just said yeah I suppose that the door could have lingered since the last time Manny was in the car but before we all jump to that conclusion you should

know I had parked that Cruiser 6 months ago I really don't have an answer to this it became kind of a legend that training officers would tell the rookies on the midnight shift though I've been retired for over 20 years now I'll never forget that night was it Annie do you think it was I honestly don't know department store calls from Anonymous I moved to this city about a year before these events hoping for a fresh start my old Precinct was fine but I needed a change of scenery plus my leg had been giving me

trouble off and on since an old injury flared up again figured a new place might help me get back on track a new slower place for the sake of my leg I got assigned to a beat that included a stretch of downtown with some old buildings and a big department store that's been around forever and it seemed like a Qui enough area mostly just tourists and Shoppers during the day but the weird stuff started about 6 months after I settled in it was a Tuesday night when we got the first call dispatch batch said there

was a possible Breakin at the department store alarms had been triggered but no one had reported seeing anything I was closest so I told them I'd head over and I did just that the place was all lit up when I arrived the big display Windows casting a glow onto the empty Street the manager I'll call him Mr glum because he always seemed pretty glum met me at the front entrance that night he was kind of jittery glasses slipping down his nose keys jangling in his hand as he unlocked the door sorry to drag you out

here officer he told me maybe some sort of glitch or somebody forgot something somewhere alarms been acting up no worries I replied mind if I take a look around just to be safe he said that would be fine he let me inside the store was really quiet the kind of silence to make your footsteps sound way too loud rows of neatly arranged clothes perfectly stacked shoes and those mannequins all lined up like soldiers at attention we walked through each department but nothing seemed out of place just yet there was no sign of a forced entry

no broken glass but then we made it to the women's wear section some of the mannequins looked off one had its head turned turned completely around facing backward another had its arm raised pointing towards a corner Mr glum frowned that's odd he muttered I wonder if some kids got in here before closing and messed with them I'll have a talk with staff could be I said I finished my sweep finding nothing else out of the ordinary and headed out I chocked it up to a false alarm and went back on patrol everything everything was fine

and dandy until a week later same deal dispatch called me in the middle of my shift alarm at the department store had gone off again this time I was already nearby I grabbed a coffee to keep me going through the night and got there in a few minutes Mr glum was waiting outside looking more frazzled than before third time this week he said shaking his head it's getting ridiculous third time I wondered really I only got called out here once so far he sighed yeah the system went off two nights ago too we didn't bother

calling that one in since well nothing happened last time I sipped at my coffee and told him we should go check it out together we went inside again the store was just as quiet as last time we headed straight to the women's wear section and this time the mannequins were arranged in a circle all facing inward at one another in the center however was one of the child-sized mannequins the kind they use for kids clothes sitting cross-legged on the floor that was a bit unsettling but nothing some kids who wanted to freak out the staff

wouldn't do uh what do you think of that I asked Mr glum looked at me I just don't understand how anyone's getting in the doors are locked and the security C cameras aren't showing anything and I had the staff double check that the mannequins were all sorted out properly before they left I perked up when he mentioned the cameras so I asked if I could take a look and he nodded leading me to his office on an old monitor he pulled up the recordings sure enough from the time the store closed until we arrived there

was no one there nothing strange no movement no Shadows nothing that could explain how the mannequins got rearranged well I'll report this I told him maybe increase my patrols around here at night he thanked me looking relieved but still stressed out in the back of my head I thought if there was some Intruder getting in and I didn't think there was at least they were just messing with mannequins but if it wasn't just some prank it was probably the staff themselves maybe they wanted to freak Mr glum out I left the store that night finding

my different explanations and theories kind of funny maybe Mr glum was a horrible boss and the teenage employees were getting back at him but still it was strange that the cameras hadn't picked up anything and it appeared that Mr glum was the only one with access to those monitors a few nights later I was parked near the department store keeping an eye on things like I said my leg was acting up that night a all ache throbbed every time I moved I figured sitting in the cruiser for a while might help it out around 2:00

a.m. I caught sight of a flicker of movement near the side entrance I set up peering through the windshield there it was again a shadowy figure slipping through the door just as it closed behind gotcha I muttered grabbing my flashlight and radio I called in that I was investigating a possible Breakin and approached the building the side door was a jar I Eed it open Flashlight beam cutting through the dark inside alone this time save for whoever I saw come in things definitely felt different and this time the place was a mess the displays were

disheveled clothes hanging off racks shoes scattered across the floor I heard a rustling ahead toward the center of the place I moved cautiously I remember my leg acting up with each step rounding a corner I caught a glimpse of someone darting between some mannequins police I shouted stop right there but the figure didn't stop instead they slipped deeper into the Maze of displays I tried to chase them but a sharp pain shot up my leg nearly buckling my knee dang it I hissed pressing on despite my limp as I pushed forward the sound of Shifting

plastic reached my ears it was subtle at first a quiet scrape or a creek but then it became more pronounced the unmistakable sound of something heavy moving across tiled floor I swung my flashlight around the mannequins I had just passed by seemed different were they closer now the ones that had been on platforms were on the floor now but I swear it wasn't that way before and their blank faces were pointed towards me I shivered a bit I was starting to get creeped out I heard the rustling again this time behind me I spun around

but no one was there just more mannequins arms outstretched towards me who's there I called out my voice echoing in the empty space no answer just the steady sound of of plastic limbs moving when I wasn't looking it dawned on me that every time I turned away they shifted closer my rational mind fought against a rising Panic mannequins don't move on their own something someone was out there messing with me moving them and running just out of sight when I turned around come on show yourself I demanded but there was silence I decided I was

done my leg was throbbing and I wasn't about to play cat and mouse with some trickster in a department store after dark I started backing away keeping my eyes on the mannequins they didn't move so long as I looked at them maybe whoever was doing it didn't want to come out of hiding if they knew I was watching reaching the main aisle I turned and made a beline for the exit but the moment I turned away behind me I heard the sounds pick up again quick skittering noises like dozens of feet scrambling across the floor

I didn't look back out on the sidewalk I radioed for backup my whole body was trembling possible intruder at the department store requesting some assistance dispatch then told me that someone was on their way to help I leaned against the nearby wall trying to catch my breath the street that night was deserted the whole city was asleep as they should be the storefront windows were dark but I could swear I saw Shadows moving inside within minutes two other patrol cars arrived officers McLoud and brelli stepped out both seasoned guys I trusted what's the situation McLoud

asked I filled the men trying to keep my voice steady someone's inside there moving the mannequins around they keep breaking in after dark but I'm pretty sure I saw someone go in there they should still be in there too never saw them come out did you get a look at them brelli asked just a glimpse couldn't make out any details all right we'll go in and check it out we entered the store together flashlight sweeping the space inside everything was normal now the displays were pristine cloes neatly arranged no sign of chaos this unsettled me

even more I frowned that's not right I told them I explained how the place had been a mess just a few minutes ago McLoud raised an eyebrow you okay place looks untouched no I'm telling you someone was in here the mannequins were moving relli chuckled mannequins moving oh come on now I felt frustrated boiling up moving like maybe someone was moving them around I'm just saying I know what I saw and there was someone in here we did a thorough search of the storm but found nothing no Intruder even the side door I'd entered through

was locked tight none of it made sense as we left McLoud told me maybe you're overworked we all get a little jumpy on the night shift too I wanted to argue but I really couldn't the evidence at this point was not backing me up I conceded and nodded though I didn't agree over the next few weeks there were no more calls from the Department Store no alarms no reports of break-ins everything went back to normal but I wasn't about to forget what happened one afternoon I stopped by the store during my day off Mr glum

was surprised to see me he asked what brought me around and I told him I wanted to check in make sure everything was all right everything's fine hasn't been another incident but we have made some changes he said he led me to the women's wear section the mannequins were gone we decided to update the look we thought that maybe the displays were attracting the wrong kind of attention I smiled that's probably a good idea as I was leaving an older woman approached me she was a sales associate judging by her name tag excuse me she

said softly I couldn't help but over here did you experience something strange here I glanced at her debating whether or not to engage with this kind of conversation uh why do you ask she lowered her voice well I've heard that years ago a lady died here a lady that ran that section A lot of the staff in the store refused to work that section near dark or closing I tried to hide my shutter and I lied I appreciate the Insight but I don't think the building is haunted I left the store feeling both better and

chilled if that lady was right maybe it was haunted it makes sense why people think mannequins are creepy because face it people they just are even cops are terrified of the black gued strangers from Garrison 422 in 2006 I was a patrol officer working the night shift in a small town that I won't name but I will say it was in the midwest my wife was pregnant with our first child and she was due any day as you can imagine anxiety was through the roof money was tight so I'd been picking up as much overtime

as I could decorating and preparing the babies room was not cheap and my mom and dad had told me how much it cost them just to deliver a baby and after all these years of inflation I was freaked out one particular night i' been on duty for over 14 hours and exhaustion was hitting me like a train it was around 2:00 a.m. and the town was quiet most nights here are uneventful occasionally we'll get a call about a noise complaint or a suspicious person but nothing more than that not really I parked my cruiser in

a vacant lot near the edge of town to catch my breath and maybe have a quick snack but the soft h of the engine and the warmth of the heater made it difficult to keep my eyes open I was fighting sleep doing that headbanging thing you know when I noticed movement in my peripheral I ignored it for a moment thinking it was me being sleepy and going in and out of it but then I saw clearly a figure approaching my cruiser from the dark I straightened up alert and Confused it was unusual for anyone let

alone what appeared appeared to be a child to be out at this hour as the figure got closer I realized it was a young girl maybe 8 or 9 years old she wore a simple old-fashioned dress something you might seen an old photograph her hair was long and matted and she walked Barefoot on the cold ground I rolled down my window a couple of inches hi there are you okay do you need some help she stopped few feet away from the passenger side door Mister can you help me her voice was soft but clear I

quickly told her yes and asked what was wrong I assumed she was lost or maybe separated from her parents I need to get home can you give me a ride she said not moving any closer I felt a pain of concern again a child this young should not be alone at this hour where are your parents I asked they're waiting for me please I need to get home obviously something about the situation felt completely wrong protocol dictated that I should help her but my instincts were going crazy about this one okay uh why don't you

come closer this way so we can talk she remained motionless you have to invite me in the car I can't get in unless you say I can my eyebrow raised and I felt some Goosebumps what do you mean you can come over here I'm not going to hurt you just tell me to get in your car she insisted I glanced around the street lights nearby were dim and there was no one else in sight my cruiser suddenly felt like the only safe place in this otherwise empty world what's your name I asked she waited a

little too long to answer before finally saying Amanda all right Amanda I replied where do you live maybe I can call someone to come get you she shook her head no it needs to be you invite me in please her insistence on being invited was unnerving then it happened headlights from a car passing by illuminated her face it was the first car to pass by in such a long time and if it hadn't I dare not think about what would have happened to me because I saw her eyes eyes that were completely black dark voids

like pits dug into her face I felt a knot form in my stomach like I was going to throw up Amanda I need to know where your parents are I can call them for you she stepped closer they'll be worried if I don't come home soon you have to let me in my hand moved instinctively to rest on my holster not drawing my weapon but feeling reassured in the same moment I felt completely ridiculous and stupid this girl couldn't have been more than 9 years old and there I was prepared to grab my gun why

don't you wait right there and I'll radio for someone to come help us I said I reached for the radio but all I got was static I started to adjust the dial but oddly enough every channel was the same just white noise and then I began to hear the Cruiser's engine sputter and die the lights on the dashboard flickered and went right out the heater stopped blowing what was happening I began to panic I tried the ignition but nothing happened my car wouldn't start I remembered my cell phone I pulled it from my pocket but

the screen was now black it wouldn't turn on I remember charging it on my most recent break you can't leave me out here there Amanda's voice was right next to the passenger window I turned to look at her she was closer now her face nearly pressed up against the glass those black eyes were clear even without a car passing by and they were staring at me I'm I'm sorry I can't let you in her expression didn't change you have to I felt trapped something was so very wrong and unnatural here and I didn't know how

to handle it training didn't cover stuff like this Amanda I'm going to step out and we can talk okay I reached for the door handle but hesitated a deep unknown sense of dread told me that leaving the cruiser was not only a bad idea but it might be my last idea she tilted her head slightly it's cold out here please let me in I can't do that her lips parted into a slight frown that freaked me out it was the first true emotion that I saw on her face and then she said then they will

be here soon who I asked she didn't answer this time instead she stepped back and pointed toward the darkest part of our surroundings I followed her finger but I didn't see anything Amanda who are you talking about all you had to do was invite me in you should have listened I had no idea what was happening or what was about to happen my heart was pounding and I tried the ignition again the car was still dead I hit the horn but no sound came out are you going to let us in she said I felt

trapped I couldn't call for help couldn't drive away and leaving the cruiser felt like it would be a death sentence please go away I managed to say not until you let us in she said and that time I swear I heard a second voice I closed my eyes as tightly as I could a faint tapping on the window made me open my eyes Amanda's face was inches from mine only some glass separating us I won't let you in I declared Amanda's face changed then her face Twisted into a scowl she then screamed at the top

of her lungs it was so loud like she was inside the car with me I had to cover my ears I began to look all around afraid that she had gotten in even though I'd been watching her right there and when I looked back Amanda was gone the scream replaced by silence in an instant the heaters in the cruiser turned back on the dashboard lit up and I quickly tried the ignition one more time the car started I'd never felt so happy I didn't waste a moment I put the cruiser in gear and sped away

heading straight back to the station when I made it back before getting out I kept wondering was I supposed to report this or was this an incident that stayed with me in the end that's what I went with I didn't want to risk being labeled as unstable especially with a baby on the way the following day with the courage afforded by sunlight I checked the area where I'd seen Amanda there was no sign of children or anything unusual I still work nights sometimes I've never seen anything like that again but it might be because I'm

much more cautious I don't park in vacant Lots I stay where it's lit and where people might be up still and if I can't find a place like that or I feel too alone I start driving because nothing is going to happen to me so long as I'm behind the wheel and I'm pressing the pedal down I still wonder what the heck Amanda's problem was and if she was even human it lives within the prison from swelter Skelter I work as a corrections officer in a state prison and I've been working here for about 5

years now my nights include routine patrols checking cells making sure everything is in order I first started the night shift a few months back I was assigned when the administration said they needed experienced officers for the night and I didn't mind the change one of the first things I noticed during night shifts was these stories circulating among the inmates typical gossip and threats and such like that but there was also something different floating about it sounded silly at first but then I wasn't so sure the inmates seemed to really believe it you see there was

a legend about something lurking in the old wing of the prison the section that had been closed off years ago due to structural issues the inmates called it the crawler I dismissed it at first as typical prison folklore prisoners will not only make up stories to pass the time but also convinced themselves into believing them because it beats being bored Plus these stories often spooked the newer guys one night I was doing my rounds when an inmate named Marcus stopped me Marcus was usually quiet and kept to himself officer can I talk to you he

asked eyes darting around what's on your mind inmate I replied have you seen it yet seen what the thing that's been crawling around at night some of the guys say they've heard it scratching in the walls I sigh those are just stories inmate probably rats or the old Pipes making noise he shook his head vigorously it's not just rats it's something else just be careful on your patrols okay I gave him a reassuring nod and continued my round later that week I overheard two other inmates talking in low voices Tommy saw it that last night

one whispered you're kidding what' he say the other replied said it was in the shadows near cell block D moved like nothing is ever seen I made a mental note cell block D that was near the old Wing again I tried to brush it off but the frequency of these stories was increasing a few nights later I was in the control room with another officer named Carla we were monitoring the cameras when she pointed at one of the screens did you see that she asked I said no and asked what she meant I thought I

saw something moving around near the old Wing entrance I looked at the screen the corridor was dimly lit we only kept minimal Lighting in that area probably just a glitch or at worst an inmate that shouldn't be there I theorized maybe but these cameras have been acting up a lot lately tell maintenance to check it out and that was that that night as I made my rounds near the old Wing I noticed something odd one of the doors that should have been locked was slightly a jar I approached it cautiously shining my flashlight into the

darkness hello in there I called out there was silence I went in the the old Wing was officially off limits but if an inmate had managed to get in here it could be dangerous for everybody the air inside smelled old carrying the scent of damp concrete and rusted metal the cells were empty bars covered in a thin layer of rust as I walked in deeper I heard a faint scratching noise I paused listening closely it seemed to be coming from one of the cells up ahead I approached it slowly the door was closed but there

was a large hole in the back wall roughly the size of a manhole it looked like the result of years of erosion or perhaps an abandoned maintenance project shining my light into the hole I couldn't see much just darkness stretching beyond the beam's reach but then I saw it movement something shifting just out of sight and hey who's down there I demanded no reply a sudden Rush of air blew past me and for a split second I thought I saw something a pale contorted thing moving on all fours darting across the cell and disappearing into

the hole my heart pounded in my chest I stepped back unsure of what I just witnessed I decided it was probably time to leave as I turned to exit the cell I heard the scratching coming again louder than before I speed walked away back in the control room I found Carla did you go into the old Wing she asked yeah I thought I saw someone in there she looked concerned then did you find anything I think I just saw a stray animal maybe a raccoon or something got in she frowned well be careful that place

gives me the creeps over the next few nights the atmosphere in the prison grew tense more inmates were talking about the crawler some refused to sleep others requested transfers to different cells One inmate an older man named Lewis called me over to a cell officer you need to do something about that thing he said urgently what thing leis the crawler it's getting Bolder I know you know what I'm talking about last night it was in the ventilation shaft near my cell I could hear something breathing have you actually seen it he nodded quickly years ago

before they closed off the old Wing I swear one of the inmates there got attacked once I tried to reason with them leis there's no record of any missing inmates you're letting stories get to you he gripped the bars tight then if you don't do something mark my words something bad's going to happen that night I decided to check the old Wing again wanting to make sure all the doors were secured as I approached the same cell with the hole I found the door wide open my flashlight flickered as I stepped inside the hole in

the wall seemed larger than last time I heard a low Rumble emanate from within was that an animal growl didn't sound like any animal I'd ever heard who's in there I called silence I contemplated in calling for backup but didn't want to risk sounding paranoid over what could be nothing Gathering my cage I stepped closer to the hall the air seeping from it was cold and damp suddenly I swear a hand or something that resembled a hand reached out from the dark I stumbled backward falling onto the cell floor something quick and pale emerged from

the hall just halfway it was gaunt with Hollow eyes and a mouth too wide to be man it emitted a guttural hiss eyes fixed on me before pulling itself back in rapidly and disappearing I scrambled to my my feet and bolted out of the cell slamming the door behind me my adrenaline was pumping as I sprinted down the corridor back at the control room I found Carla again I think we need to report this I gasped report what what's going on she wondered there's something in the old Wing I don't know what it is but

it's dangerous she stared at me trying to gauge my seriousness are you sure he didn't just see a shadow or an escaped inmate I'm telling you Carla it was real we need to get the warden involved eventually she agreed we contacted the warden who arrived within the hour after explaining what happened he looked skeptical and a bit angry did you call me down here for an animal can't handle a raccoon huh at worst it was a homeless person who found their way in no sir this was no person not an animal either not like any

animal I've seen he sigh well we'll have maintenance seill off that hole and set some traps I suggest you get some rest wouldn't want you to call me back down here for nothing he didn't believe me and I could have been severely reprimanded if he thought I was playing a prank or lying after that night night I decided to avoid the old Wing altogether just as the warden said maintenance sealed off the hole and even locked down the old Wing altogether the only folks who could enter were maintenance and the warden himself and from then

on Whispers of this crawler died down I couldn't be happier it was a story I didn't want to believe and the more real it got the more scared of my own job I got I don't know what it was or where it came from but ever since then I wonder if the prison was built over something something that shouldn't have been Disturbed I Still work as a prison guard there but I keep my head low and my ears even lower thanks for tuning in to Tales from the breakroom the home of the scariest true work

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