My name is Haren Merritt and this happened to me in 2016 I was stationed in a remote part of Alaska on a classified Mission with three of my fellow Navy Seals we were out there to investigate some strange occurrences reported by locals and the occasional tourist people were disappearing there was no pattern no logical reason they'd go out for a hike or a fishing trip and just vanish the day it started it felt Like any other I remember joking with Carlos Jimenez about how the cold was worse than anything we'd faced in training I'd take
the desert heat over this any day he said rubbing his hands together trying to get some warmth back into them Carlos was from San Antonio and he never let you forget it he had a way of making you laugh even when you were freezing your butt off then there was Danilo Russo our Tech guy he was from Brooklyn with a thick Accent and a non-nonsense attitude he was busy fiddling with his equipment muttering about the crappy signal out there we in the middle of nowhere what did you expect I teased him he just gave me
a look then went back to his work lastly we had Eli Novak our medic he was a quiety guy from Vermont always reading some book or another when he had a moment Eli was the calm in our storm always steady always reliable we set up camp near a stretch Of forest that hadn't seen much human activity it was supposed to be a recon mission gather Intel and report back but things didn't go as planned they never do we heard the first scream around dusk it was distant echoing through the trees we all froze listening did
you hear that Eli asked his voice low Carlos nodded already checking his weapon yeah sounded like it came from the north we grabbed our gear and headed in that direction the forest Was dense the trees blocking out most of the fading light we moved quickly silently trained instincts kicking in we found the source of the scream near a small clearing there was blood on the ground a lot of it it was fresh still warm but there was no sign of a struggle no tracks leading away just blood and silence what the hell happened here danillo
whispered his eyes wide I scanned the area looking for anything Any clue that's when I saw it a figure just at the edge of the clearing half hidden by the trees it was tall unnaturally so and its skin looked wrong like it was stretched too tight over its bones I could barely make out its features but its eyes those I saw clearly dark empty and staring right at us we need to move I said my voice steady now we backed away slowly keeping our eyes on the figure it didn't follow just watched us leave we
didn't stop Until we were back at our camp what was that thing Carlos asked his face pale I don't know I admitted but we're not sticking around to find out we packed up quickly moving with a purpose the mission had changed it was no longer about Gathering Intel it was about getting out alive but the forest had other plans as we moved we heard it again that scream closer this time followed by a low inhuman noise that sent a chill down my spine we quickened Our pace trying to stay together but the forest was like
a maze it felt like it was closing in on us Eli was the first to notice we were being followed on our six he whispered his voice barely audible I glanced back and saw it again that figure moving through the trees silent and Relentless keep moving I ordered don't look back but it was hard not to the thing was fast keeping Pace with us no matter how quickly we moved we broke into a run our breaths coming In short sharp gasps the forest seemed to stretch on forever no end in sight Carlos was the first
to fall one moment he was there running beside me the next he was gone a scream tearing through the air we stopped turning back but there was nothing just the sound of our own breathing and the rustle of the trees Eli stay with Danilo I said my voice firm I'm going after him Harland you can't Eli protested we need to stick together but I couldn't leave Carlos I Moved back carefully calling his name the silence was deafening then I saw him or what was left of him Carlos was on the ground his body torn apart
I barely had time to react before I heard that noise again closer this time I ran back to the others my heart pounding in my chest we need to move now we pushed forward the the forest seeming to close in around us danillo was next he tripped falling hard I reached out to help him but something pulled him back something I couldn't see his screams echoed through the trees as he was dragged away Eli and I didn't stop we couldn't we ran until our legs gave out collapsing near a small stream what the hell is
that thing Eli gasped his face pale with fear I don't know I said struggl struggling to catch my breath but we can't stay here we need to keep moving we stumbled forward exhausted our senses on high alert the forest was silent too silent then we Heard it again that noise closer than ever we didn't have much time we need to make a stand I said my voice Grim we can't outrun it Eli nodded pulling out his weapon what's the plan we find a defensible position hold our ground I replied we're not going down without a
fight we found a small cave just big enough for the two of us it wasn't much but it was something we set up our defenses waiting for the inevitable it didn't take long the figure appeared at The mouth of the cave its eyes gleaming in the dim light it moved slowly deliberately as if it knew we had nowhere to go Eli take the shot I ordered he fired the sound deafed in the confined space the figure staggered but didn't fall it kept coming Relentless again I shouted Eli fired again but it was no use the
thing was almost on us I grabbed my knife ready for a Last Stand but it was too fast it swiped at Eli knocking him to the ground I lunged at it my knife finding purchase in its side it let out a horrible noise somewhere between a scream and a roar but didn't stop it turned on me its eyes dark and empty I fought with everything I had but it was too strong it grabbed me Lifting me off the ground and I thought it was over but then it just stopped it dropped me and disappeared into
the trees leaving me gasping on the ground I don't know why it spared me maybe it thought I wasn't a threat maybe It had other plans but it left me there alive Eli wasn't so lucky he was gone his body lying motionless on the C floor I don't remember much after that somehow I made it back to civilization the locals found me half dead and Delirious and got me to a hospital they asked me what happened but I didn't have any answers just a nightmare that wouldn't end the official report said we were attacked by
a wild animal a bear or a wolf but I know what I saw it wasn't any animal I'd ever seen it was something else something that shouldn't exist I left the seals after that I couldn't go back not after what happened I moved to a small town tried to start over but the memories are always there just beneath the surface every night I see those eyes staring at me from the darkness I don't know what it was or where it came from but I know it's still out there somewhere and I know that Whatever it
was it's not done yet my name is Daren Ashford and this happened to me back in 2012 at the time I was stationed in the Pacific Northwest on a classified assignment being a Navy SEAL you get used to the unexpected but nothing could have prepared me for what I experienced our mission was simple enough conduct a routine reconnaissance operation in a remote heavily forested area near the Canadian border the area Was largely Uncharted with dense woods and steep terrain the kind of place you'd only find if you were looking for it we set up our
base camp near a small River it was me Lieutenant Jackson Varner and two other seals Brooks and McKay we had been briefed about potential illegal activities in the area drug Runners maybe even human traffickers our task was to gather Intel and report back we were not expecting heavy resistance so our Armament was Light just our standard issue sidearms and knives the first few days were uneventful we scouted the area mapped out potential routes and kept an eye on any suspicious activity the forest was eerily quiet with only the sounds of nature filling the air on
the fourth night things started to feel off it began with Brooks disappearing during his watch we initially thought he might have wandered Off to relieve himself but when he didn't return after half an hour we knew something was wrong Jax where's Brooks I asked trying to keep my voice steady I don't know Jax replied scanning the tree line with his flashlight let's not jump to conclusions McKay stay here Darion you're with me we grabbed our gear and headed into the woods the darkness was thick the kind that swallowed our flashlights beams we called out for
Brooks but the only Response was the rustling of leaves in the wind after about an hour of searching we stumbled upon a small clearing there in the center was Brooks's cap I picked it up and that's when I noticed the blood it wasn't a lot but it was enough to send a chill down my spine something took him Jax muttered more to himself than to me we headed back to Camp our senses heightened McKay was pacing nervously when we returned any luck he asked eyes wide no Jack said But we found his cap it had
blood on it we need to get out of here McKay said his voice shaking no I countered we need to figure out what happened to Brooks we don't leave our own behind that night none of us slept we took turns keeping watch but nothing happened the forest was silent almost too silent the next morning we decided to expand our search area Jax and McKay took the Eastern perimeter while I headed west the forest seemed to close in around me the trees Towering overhead like silent Sentinels about a mile from Camp I found something strange a
series of deep scratches on a tree too high to be made by any animal I knew of I radioed Jax and McKay telling them to meet me when they arrived We examined the marks together what the hell could have done this McKay asked tracing the gouges with his fingers I don't know Jax replied but whatever it is it's big we continued our search but as the day wore on a sense of Unease settled Over Us by evening we regrouped at the clearing where we'd found Brooks's cap Jax decided we needed to set up a perimeter
and keep watch through the night as Darkness fell the forest seemed to come alive with sounds Twigs snapping leaves rustling it was as if something was moving around us just out of sight around midnight McKay who was on First Watch shook me awake there's something out there he whispered his face pale I grabbed my flashlight And we quietly moved to the edge of the clearing I could see nothing but trees and shadows then I saw it a tall humanoid figure standing among the trees its eyes reflecting the light from our flashlights what the I began
but before I could could finish the figure moved it was fast faster than any human could be it disappeared into the darkness leaving us stunned did you see that McKay asked his voice Trembling yeah I replied I saw it we woke Jax and told him what we'd seen he was skeptical at first but the fear in our eyes must have convinced him we decided to pack up and move out at first light as Dawn broke we gathered our gear and began the Trek back to our extraction point we were about halfway there when we heard
it a low guttural noise that seemed to come from all around us we picked up the pace our eyes scanning the trees for any sign of Movement suddenly McKay screamed I turned to see him being dragged into the woods by that same humanoid figure McKay I yelled running after him Jax was right behind me we followed the sounds of of McKay's screams but they stopped abruptly when we reached him he was lying on the ground bloodied and unconscious the figure was gone Jax help me I shouted trying to lift McKay Jax grabbed his legs and
we carried him back to the path he was Alive but barely we radioed for an emergency extraction and within an hour a helicopter arrived to airlift us out McKay was rushed to the nearest Military Hospital he had deep lacerations all over his body but he survived when he regained Consciousness he had no memory of what happened back at base we were debriefed and our reports were taken the official story was that we encountered an unidentified hostile Force but Jax McKay and I knew the truth something was Out there in those woods something not entirely human
Brooks was never found his disappearance was classified as m AA and his family was informed it was a hard pill to swallow knowing we couldn't bring him back after the mission I took some leave to clear my head the memories of that night haunted me but I knew I couldn't let it control my life I returned to duty more Vigilant than ever and I made it my mission to ensure no one else Would suffer the same fate years later I still think about that mission sometimes I I wonder if that thing is still out there
lurking in the shadows waiting for its next prey and every time I walk through a forest I can't help but look over my shoulder just to be sure life went on and so did the missions but that experience changed me it made me realize that there are things In this world we can't explain things that defy logic and reason and as a Navy SEAL I've learned to face fear head on but that fear the one that crept into my bones that night never really goes away it's always there a reminder of the unknown and a
testament to the things we can't control ja and McKay eventually moved on too Jax retired and opened a small fishing shop in Maine McKay stayed in the service for a few more years before An injury took him out of the field he now works as a tactical instructor passing on his knowledge to the next generation of seals we stay in touch occasionally meeting up to reminisce about old times but we never talk about that mission it's an unspoken agreement a shared understanding that some things are better left unsaid sometimes when I'm alone I think about
Brooks I wonder if he's still out there somewhere if he ever found peace And I wonder if that creature that thing we encountered still roams those w Woods a silent predator in the dark the military never acknowledged what we saw our reports were filed away buried under layers of bureaucracy but we knew the truth and that truth is something I carry with me every day a reminder of the fragility of life and the Mysteries that lie just beyond our understanding as I sit here writing this down I can't help but feel A sense of closure
sharing this story putting it into words feels like a release maybe now I can finally move on maybe now I can let go of the fear but one thing's for sure I'll never forget what happened in those woods and I'll never stop searching for answers no matter how elusive they may be because some stories need to be told even if they're hard to believe and some truths no matter how terrifying deserve to be known My name is Langston Beal and this happened to me in 1997 I was a Navy SEAL stationed in an obscure non-descript
base somewhere in the Pacific our missions were usually classified so we worked in Shadows unacknowledged and often unnoticed one night my team and I were sent on a recon mission to a remote island that had been flagged for suspicious activity it was an ordinary assignment or so we thought the island called makulu was a speck of Land forgotten by time thick jungles and Jagged Cliffs made it look like something out of an adventure novel as we approached by boat under the cover of Darkness I cracked a joke to ease the tension I bet this place
is crawling with Dinosaurs who's got the tranquilizer gun the guys chuckled but the sense of unease was palpable there was something off about this this place a heaviness in the air that I couldn't shake we split into two groups to cover More ground I was with Carter our Communications expert and Ruiz our medic we trekked through the dense undergrowth the only sounds being our footsteps and the occasional rustle of leaves the plan was simple find out what was happening on this island report back and get out hours passed and we found nothing just jungle and
more jungle Carter tried to raise the other team on the radio but all we got was static maybe the cliffs are messing with the Signal he suggested we decided to head toward Higher Ground hoping to get a better reception as we climbed we stumbled upon a clearing in the center was a dilapidated Shack barely standing amidst the encroaching foliage it looked like it had been abandoned for years letun check it out I said signaling for the others to follow the door creaked as we pushed it open inside it was dark and smelled of rot The
floor was littered with debris and the walls were covered in strange markings Ruiz examined them closely these look like some kind of ritual symbols he muttered creepy we spread out searching for anything that might give us a clue about the Island's Secrets I found an old Journal tucked away in a corner its page yellowed with age the entries were written in a language I didn't recognize but the Illustrations were chilling depictions of strange humanoid creatures with elongated Limbs and Hollow eyes before I could show the others Carter's voice broke the silence guys over here he
was standing by a trapo half hidden under a pile of Rags think this leads to a basement he asked we pried it open and peered down into the dark Ness a foul stench wafted up making us gag only one way to find out I said flicking on my flashlight and starting down the rickety Ladder the basement was a cramped damp space the walls were lined with shelves filled with jars of murky liquid and in the center was a large wooden table stained with something dark it looked like an improvised operating table my gut told me
we had stumbled onto something we shouldn't have suddenly a noise echoed from above a faint scraping sound we exchanged glances silently agreeing to investigate climbing back up we found the shack empty but the door Was now wide open Carter tried the radio again and this time he picked up a faint signal bravo team this is Alpha do you read static then a broken response Alpha this is Bravo we camp movement repeat Bravo we didn't copy Carter said frustration creeping into his voice more static they mentioned a camp he said we need to find it we
exited the shack and continued our climb the jungle felt more oppressive now the Shadows deeper the sounds more Sinister I kept my grip Tight on my rifle eyes scanning the surroundings after what felt like hours we reached a ridge that overlooked a small Valley nestled in the center was a cluster of tents Bravo team's camp but something was wrong the camp was eerily silent no sign of our comrades we approached cautiously weapons ready the first tent was empty as was the second in the third we found them bravo team or what was left of them
the scene was horrific bodies were Strewn about mutilated beyond recognition blood soaked the ground and the stench of death was overpowering Ruiz checked for any sign of life but it was clear they were all dead what the hell happened here Carter whispered his face pale I was about to respond when we heard it a soft shuffling sound followed by a low moan it was coming from a tent at the edge of the camp we moved in ready for anything inside we found Ramirez one of Bravo's Men barely alive his body was covered in deep gashes
his breathing shallow Ramirez what happened I asked kneeling beside him his eyes flickered open filled with Terror it it came out of nowhere he rasped we thought it was a man but it wasn't it tore through us like we were nothing who what did this Carter pressed but Ramirez was slipping away the the Creature from the cave he managed before his body went limp we barely had time to process his words Before the sound of movement came from the jungle we need to move now I said grabbing my gear we can't stay here we decided
to head towards the cave Ramirez mentioned hoping it might hold answers the Trek was brutal our nerves frayed by every rustle and Shadow the cave was hidden behind a waterfall a dark MW that seemed to swallow the light inside the air was cold and damp the walls were covered in the same symbols we'd seen in The shack deeper in we found a large chamber and in the center stood a stone altar around it were bones human bones looks like some kind of sacrificial sight Ruiz said his voice barely a whisper before we could react a
figure emerged from the Shadows it was tall and gaunt with elongated Limbs and eyes that glowed with an unnatural light it moved with with an eerie Grace closing the distance between us in a heartbeat I fired the shots echoing in The cavern but the bullets seemed to have little effect the creature lunged at Carter who barely managed to dodge its grasp we scattered trying to find cover in The Limited space Ruiz tried to flank it but the creature was too fast it grabbed him lifting him off the ground with ease his screams were cut short
as it tore into him blood spraying across the stone floor fall back I yelled trying to draw its attention Carter and I retreated towards The entrance but the creature was relentless it moved with inhuman speed closing the distance in seconds we barely made it out of the Cave the creature hot on our heels we need to lose it in the jungle Carter panted his face slick with sweat we ran adrenaline fueling our desperate escape the jungle was a blur branches and leaves whipping past us I could hear the creature behind us its heavy footsteps growing
louder we stumbled into a ravine losing our Footing and tumbling down the slope I hit the ground hard pain shooting through my side Carter landed nearby groaning in pain there was no time to recover the creature was already upon us I raised my rifle firing until the clip was empty the creature staggered but it kept coming Carter grabbed a fallen Branch using it as a make shift weapon he swung at the creature buying me precious seconds to reload I aimed for its head praying this would work the Shot rang out and the creature's head snapped
back it let out a guttural cry stumbling before collapsing to the ground we didn't wait to see if it was truly dead we ran not stopping until we reached the shore there we found our boat thankfully untouched we radioed for extraction barely able to form coherent sentences Mission compromised Bravo Team Kia unknown hostile entity the extraction team arrived at dawn finding us exhausted and on the Verge of collapse we were debriefed and given medical attention but the nightmares didn't end I couldn't shake the images of that creature or the fate of Bravo Team in the
weeks that followed the official report was sanitized the truth buried under layers of classified documents we were given assignments told to move on but the memories lingered I never returned to makulu and I left the Navy not long after Carter and I stayed in touch for a while but eventually we Drifted apart we never spoke of that night each trying to forget in our own way years later I still wake up in a cold sweat the creature's eyes haunting my dreams I don't know what it was or where it came from but I know it
was real my name is Raymond Moretti and what I'm about to tell you happened back in 1998 I was a Navy SEAL at the time part of an elite team tasked with handling some of the most sensitive and dangerous Missions you could imagine this story however isn't about a glorious Mission or a Victorious battle it's about a secret operation that went terribly wrong deep in the dense Uncharted forests of northern Maine we had been briefed on a simple reconnaissance mission Intel suggested unusual activity near an abandoned military facility A Relic from the Cold War era
there were Whispers of illegal weapons trade possibly even bioweapons Our job was to survey the area gather Intel and report back it was supposed to be a straightforward In-N-Out operation our team consisted of six members myself Eric Draven a sniper with eyes like a hawk Chuck Hansen the demolitions expert who could disarm anything Tyler black our medic Alex Navaro a tech genius who could hack any system and our leader Lieutenant Jake Weston a man who had seen more battles than I could count we trusted each other with our lives and That night was no different
we arrived at the drop zone just after midnight the forest was dense the trees towering above us their branches intertwining to form a near impenetrable canopy the moon barely pierced through casting Long Shadows that seemed to move with a life of their own the air was thick with the scent of Pine and Earth and every step we took was muffled by the dense undergrowth Lieutenant Weston led the way his movements silent and precise we Followed in a tight formation communicating through hand signals and Whispers as we approached the coordinates of the old facility something felt
off the usual nocturnal sounds were absent no rustling leaves no animal calls just an eerie silence that hung in the air we reached the facility or what was left of it the buildings were in Ruins overtaken by Nature Vines crept up the walls and the roof of the main structure had collapsed leaving a Gaping hole through which we could see the night sky we split into two teams to cover more ground I was with Eric and Chuck while the lieutenant took Tyler and Alex our team moved towards the east Wing the entrance barely holding up
against the elements we slipped inside our flashlights cutting through the darkness the interior was a mess of debris and rusted metal it looked like no one had been there for decades but the Intel said Otherwise keep an eye on out Eric whispered his voice barely audible we moved through the hallways checking each room most were empty filled with nothing but dust and decaying Furniture then we found it a room with relatively new equipment a stark contrast to the rest of the facility jackpot Chuck muttered kneeling to examine the gear this stuff is recent someone's been
here before we could investigate further a crackle came Through our comms we found something meet us in the central Hall Lieutenant Weston's voice was tense we made our way back the sense of unease growing stronger when we regrouped Tyler was pale and Alex was shaking his head muttering to himself Lieutenant Weston held up a small metallic object a tracking device found this on the North side we're not alone he said his eyes scanning the Darkness suddenly a loud crash echoed through the facility followed by a low guttural sound we instinctively took defensive positions our weapons
at the ready the sound grew closer accompanied by heavy deliberate footsteps my heart pounded in my chest as the figure emerged from the Shadows it was humanoid but distorted its limbs were elongated its skin a sickly gray and its eyes glowed with an unnatural light it moved with a fluid almost pred Predatory grace before we could react it lunged at Eric moving faster than any human could Eric fired the bullets tearing through its flesh but it didn't slow down it swiped at him its claws raking across his chest sending him sprawling to the ground chuck
threw a grenade the explosion shaking the walls but the creature emerged from the smoke seemingly unharmed fall back Lieutenant Weston shouted and we retreated firing as we Moved the the creature pursued us Relentless and unyielding Tyler was next the creature's claws slicing through his leg dragging him into the Shadows before we could reach him his screams echoed through the facility then abruptly stopped we made it to the central Hall barricading the doors what the hell is that thing Alex gasped his hands trembling no idea Weston replied his face Grim but we need to get out
of here now we devised a plan to reach the Extraction point but the creature was one step ahead it crashed through the barricades and the fight was on we fired everything we had but it was like fighting a nightmare Chuck went down next the creature's claws piercing his chest he fell without a sound his eyes wide with shock we were down to four and our ammo was running low Navaro get us away out Weston ordered Alex frantically worked on his tablet trying to override the facility 's old security system we Need to lure it away
I said gripping my rifle I'll be the bait no Ray Weston started but I cut him off just get them out of here Jake I locked eyes with him and he nodded reluctantly I sprinted towards the main entrance firing a few shots to get the creature's attention it roared and charged after me I let it through the winding corridors my heart racing I could hear the others making their escape Alex's voice gu in them through the Cals I reached the end of The corridor a dead end the creature slowed its glowing eyes fixed on me
I fired my last rounds the bullets hitting their Mark but doing little to stop it it lunged and I barely dodged its claws feeling the rush of air as they passed inches from my face in a desperate move I grabbed a rusted pipe from the ground swinging it with all my strength the pipe connected with the creature's head and it staggered back giving me a moment to breathe but it was only a moment the Creature recovered its eyes burning with rage just as it was about to strike an explosion rocked the facility I looked up
to see the ceiling collapsing debris raining down the creature was buried under the rubble its screams muffled by the falling concrete I took my chance and ran adrenaline fueling my every step I emerged from the facility gasping for air the the others were waiting their faces etched with worry Ray you made it Alex exclaimed relief flooding his voice Let's move Weston ordered and we sprinted towards the extraction point the helicopter was already there its blades cutting through the night air we piled in and as we lifted off I looked back at the facility now a
smoking ruin we flew in silence each of us processing what had happened we lost two good men that night and the mission was far from over whatever that creature was it was still out there and we had barely scratched the surface of the horrors Hidden in that forest in the aftermath the brass tried to bury the incident labeling it a failed Op with high casualties we were sworn to secrecy the official story a cover for something far darker Eric and Tyler's families received the standard letters of condolence their deaths attributed to an ambush as for
the rest of us we were reassigned to different units scattered across the globe the events of that night haunted us a grim reminder of the Unknown dangers lurking in the shadows I left the seals a few years later unable to shake the memories of that mission I live a quiet life now far from the chaos and violence of my past but every now and then I dream of that night the creatures glowing eyes and the screams of my Fallen com RADS it's a nightmare I can't escape a constant reminder that some secrets are better left
buried and so I tell this story not to seek sympathy or recognition but to warn Others there are things out there in the darkest corners of the world that defy explanation monsters that lurk in the shadows waiting for the unsuspecting stay vigilant stay prepared and never forget that sometimes the real Horrors are the one ones we cannot see my name is Dirk Riggins and what I'm about to tell you happened back in 2008 I was a Navy SEAL stationed in the Pacific Northwest on a covert Mission our base was tucked away in the dense Forests
of Washington state Far From Any prying eyes we were on a routine reconnais operation scouting potential threats and securing the area for an upcoming training exercise I remember that day vividly the sky was overcast the kind that presses down on you and makes everything feel a bit too close we were a small team just five of us me CPL Brian cner Sergeant Ellie bear Lieutenant Mark vas and our medic petty officer Lisa Drayton we were a Tight-knit group having seen action together in some of the the world's most volatile hot spots we set out early
moving through the forest with practiced ease the trees were thick their branches knitting together to block out the Sun the underbrush was a tangle of ferns and Fallen logs making our progress slow but steady the radio chatter was minimal just enough to keep us coordinated without drawing unnecessary attention it wasn't long before things started to Feel off Ellie was the first to mention it dirt you getting any strange readings on your GPS she asked her voice crackling through the headset I checked my device and frowned the signal was jumping all over the place the usual
Precision lost in a jumble of numbers yeah mine's acting up too I replied could be interference let's keep moving but stay sharp we pressed on but the feeling of unease only grew the forest usually Alive with the sounds of birds and small animals was eerily silent it felt like we were being watched but every time I scanned the trees I saw nothing hold up Brian said raising his hand you hear that we all stopped and listened there was a faint rustling like something moving through the underbrush it was too controlled to be an animal but
too quiet for a person maybe just the wind Lisa suggested though her eyes told a different story we were all all on edge Senses heightened as we continued our Patrol about an hour later we stumbled upon something that made my blood run cold in a small clearing we found what remained of a campsite tents were torn apart supplies scattered and a fire pit filled with ashes but what caught our attention were the tracks large humanoid Footprints pressed deep into the soft Earth each print showing a strange elongated shape with claw-like impress RS what the hell
made those Mark Muttered crouching down to examine them those aren't Bear Tracks that's for sure we took pictures documented everything and decided to head back to base whatever was out here we weren't equipped to handle it without more information as we made our way back the feeling of being watched intensified the forest seemed to close in around us each Shadow a Potential Threat suddenly Ellie who was leading stopped dead in her tracks Durk look at this she whispered Pointing ahead I moved up beside her and saw what she meant just ahead partially hidden by the
foliage was a body it was one of the missing campers a young man by the looks of it his face was frozen in a mask of Terror eyes wide open and his throat slashed we secured the area and called it in keep keeping our weapons ready as we waited for extraction the forest seemed to come alive with movement Shadows flickered at the edge of our Vision and the rustling grew louder eyes on the perimeter I ordered stay alert minutes felt like hours but finally we heard the chop of helicopter blades we moved to the extraction
Point carrying the body with us as we reached the clearing something barreled out of the trees hitting Brian hard he went down with a grunt and before we could react a creature was on him it was humanoid but Twisted with pale almost translucent skin and long limbs that ended in sharp Claws fire I shouted raising my rifle we opened up bullets tearing into the creature but it moved with unnatural speed it slashed at Brian again before retreating into the forest Brian hang on Lisa shouted rushing to his side blood poured from Deep gashes in his
chest and his breathing was shallow we formed a defensive Circle weapons trained on the trees as Lisa worked to stabilize him got to get him out of here now she yelled the helicopter touched down and We moved as quickly as we could dragging Brian onto the chopper as we lifted off I caught a glimpse of the creature watching us from the tree line its dark eyes following our Ascent back at base Brian was rushed to the infirmary despite Lisa's best efforts he he didn't make it the loss hit us hard but there was no time
to grieve command needed answers and we had to figure out what we were dealing with the next few days were a blur of briefings and planning Sessions we poured over the data trying to make sense of what we'd encountered there were no matches in any known databases no records of similar creatures it was as if it didn't exist a ghost in the wilderness determined to avenge Brian and protect any other potential victims we prepared for another mission this time we were going in heavily armed and with reinforcements we set out at dawn moving back to
the area where we'd found the Campsite we spread out in a grid pattern sweeping the forest for any signs of the creature hours passed with no contact just the oppressive silence and the constant feeling of being watched as night fell we set up camp keeping a tight perimeter and rotating watches it was during Lisa's watch that the creature struck again a piercing scream cut through the night waking us all we scrambled out of our tents weapons at the ready Lisa was gone her gear Scattered around her post we followed the sound of rustling leaves and
snapping branches the creature's path easy to track we found her a few hundred yards away her body broken and bloodied the creature was still there looming over her with a primal intensity we opened fire and this time it didn't Retreat it charged moving with a terrifying Speed and Agility we fought hard but it was like trying to stop a hurricane with a garden hose Ellie was The next to fall her screams echoing through the forest as the creature tore into her Mark and I managed to get a few hits in but it was relentless desperate
we used everything we had grenades knives bare Fists in the end it was Mark who managed to land the killing blow a lucky shot that hit the creature Square in the head it collapsed twitching and bleeding out onto the forest floor we stood there breathing hard covered in blood and Sweat the thing that had terrorized us was finally dead but the cost was too high we lost good people friends in that cursed Forest we radioed for extraction and waited in Grim silence when the chopper arrived we loaded up our fallen comrades in the creatures body
back at base we handed it over to the scientists and debriefed command the creature was an anomaly something beyond our understanding they called it a genetic mutation a freak of nature but I wasn't Convinced there was something too deliberate about its actions too intelligent in the aftermath we were given time to recover but the events of that mission never left us the forest was off limits quarantined by the government and the official story was a tragic training accident but we knew the truth or at least part of it I left the seals a year later
the memories of that mission haunting my dreams I still think about Brian Lisa And Ellie their faces Frozen in my mind and sometimes late at night I can still hear the rustling in the trees a reminder of the thing we fought and the price we paid life goes on but that part of the forest remains a dark spot on the map a place where the lines between man and monster blur and though I've tried to move past it I know I'll never forget the past is always there lurking just out of sight waiting to remind
us of what we've Lost my my name is Zachariah wils and this all happened back in 2012 I was part of a small team of Navy SEALs stationed in New Mexico we were on a covert mission in a desolate part of the state near an old abandoned mining town called chloride the place was forgotten by time with only a few decaying buildings left standing surrounded by miles of Aid Desert I wasn't new to dangerous missions or hostile environments but this one was different From the start it felt felt off even as we were briefed about
a missing scientist Dr Eliza Mortenson she was working on some top secret project for the government and her disappearance was classified as high priority they sent us in to extract her and any data she had gathered we arrived in chloride just as the sun was setting casting Long Shadows across the empty streets the town felt like a ghost of its former self with wind blown dust Adding to the Eerie silence my team consisted of four men myself Lucas Hargrove Theo Santiago and our leader Marcus Mack mallister we were all experienced having served together in countless
operations we split up to cover more ground with mac and Theo heading towards what used to be the town hall while Lucas and I checked the old mining office as we approached the dilapidated building I couldn't shake the feeling that we were Being watched Lucas ever the Joker tried to lighten the mood hey Zach you think there are any gold nuggets left in there maybe we can strike it rich and retire early I chuckled shaking my head if there is I'm keeping it all for myself man we moved inside the floorboards creaking under our weight
dust Moes danced in the dim light filtering through the broken windows we found nothing of interest just old papers and rusted tools but then something caught My eye a set of footprints in the dust leading towards the back of the building fresh Footprints Lucas check this out I said pointing them out looks like someone's been here recently Lucas nodded gripping his rifle tighter let's follow them the footprints led us to a hidden trap door we exchanged a glance both knowing this could either be a lead or a trap with a deep breath I lifted the
door revealing a narrow stair St case descending Into Darkness we moved Down carefully our flashlights cutting through the Gloom at the bottom we found a small room with makeshift living quarters clearly someone had been hiding out here on a makeshift desk we found a journal belonging to Dr mortensson her entries detailed strange sightings and inexplicable phenomena she had encountered during her research Zach look at this Lucas said holding up a small vial of some unknown substance what do you think this Is before I could respond we heard a noise from above footsteps we quickly turned
off our flashlights and pressed ourselves against the wall listening intently the trap door creaked open and we could hear someone descending the stairs my heart pounded in my chest as the footsteps Drew closer a figure appeared in the doorway silhouetted against the faint light from above it was Dr mortensson she looked disheveled her eyes wide with fear who are you she Whispered her voice trembling we're here to help I replied quietly are you Dr mortensson she nodded tears welling up in her eyes you have to get me out of here it's not safe we didn't
need to be told twice we guided her up the stairs and out of the building meeting up with Mack and Theo along the way Dr mortensson was clear clearly shaken and as we regrouped she began to explain what had happened they're after me she said her voice trembling I don't know Who they are but they're not human they're something else Mac frowned what do you mean not human she took a deep breath I was studying some ancient artifacts found near here they seem to be linked to a civilization that predates anything we know then strange
things started happening Shadows moving on their own whispers in the dark and then they came tall humanoid figures but not like us they have this Eerie otherworldly look to Them just as she finished speaking we heard a sound that sent chills down our spines a low inhuman whale that echoed through the deserted town we instinctively raised our weapons scanning the area for any signs of movement move out now Mack ordered we started to make our way back to our extraction Point sticking close together the sun had fully set by now and the only light came
from our flashlights in the faint glow of the Moon every shadow Seemed to move and every noise set us on edge we were about halfway to the extraction point when Theo suddenly stopped his eyes wide with Terror did you see that see what Mack asked looking around there in the alleyway something's moving we all turned to look and sure enough a tall shadowy figure stood at the edge of the light watching us it was unnervingly still its eyes glowing faintly before we could react it darted out of sight moving with unnatural speed Go go go
Mack yelled we broke into a run Dr Morton and struggling to keep up the sense of being hunted was overwhelming and the air was thick with tension we could hear more of those Eerie whales in the distance growing closer with each passing moment as we neared the extraction point we saw the helicopter waiting for us its blades already spinning relief washed over me but it was short-lived one of those creatures emerged from the Shadows blocking our Path it was tall and gaunt with elongated Limbs and pale almost translucent skin its eyes glowed with an otherworldly
light and its mouth Twisted into a grotesque Silent Scream open fire Mack ordered we unleashed a hail of bullets but the creature moved with impossible speed dodging our shots effortlessly it lunged at Theo its clawed hand slashing across his chest he went down with a scream blood pouring From the wound Theo I shouted but there was no time to help him we had to keep moving Lucas grabbed Dr Mortenson practically dragging her towards the helicopter Mac and I provided cover fire trying to keep the creature at Bay it moved with terrifying agility but it seemed
hesitant to approach the helicopter get in now Mack yelled we scrambled aboard pulling Dr mortensson up with us the pilot didn't wait for a signal he lifted off the moment we were Inside the helicopter Rising into the air as we gained altitude I looked down to see the creatures Gathering below their eyes glowing in the darkness Theo didn't make it his body lay motionless on the ground and there was nothing we could do the ride back to the base was silent each of us lost in our thoughts Dr mortensson was safe but the cost had
been high back at the base Dr mortensson was quickly whisked Away by government officials we were debriefed our Superiors demanding to know every detail of what had happened they seemed particularly interested in the creatures we had encountered but they offered no explanations in the weeks that followed I couldn't shake the feeling of unease chloride was off limits and any information about the mission was classified Theo's death weighed heavily on me and I found myself questioning everything I knew what were those creatures why was Dr Mortenson targeted The questions haunted me and I knew I would
never get the answers I eventually left the seals the events of that night marking the end of my military career I moved back to a small town in Oregon trying to find some semblance of normaly but every now and then in The Quiet Moments of the night I hear those whales echoing in my mind and I remember the glowing eyes watching us from the Shadows the official reports listed Theo As Kia and our mission was deemed a success but the truth was far more unsettling we had encountered something beyond our understanding something that defied logic
and reason and I knew deep down that it was still out there lurking in the Forgotten corners of the world sometimes late at night I wonder if anyone else has faced those creatures if anyone else has survived their encounter and I wonder too if they'll ever come for me My name is Caleb hasin and what I'm about to share happened back in 1998 I was a Navy SEAL and we were deployed on a secret mission in the dense forests of Oregon not far from the small town of tiok we were there to investigate a series
of bizarre disappearances that had local authorities stumped being in the military we didn't get all the details just enough to know that something weird was going on and it was our job to Figure it out we arrived in tilamook under the cover of night the air was thick with the scent of Pine and damp Earth and the town itself seemed cloaked in an unsettling quiet my team consisted of five men Lieutenant Jake mortensson our commanding officer Marco Sullivan a Communications expert Victor Reyes our medic and Thomas Tommy Delgado a demolition specialist all solid guys men
I'd trusted my life with on more than one occasion our contact was a local Sheriff named Rick Dobbins he briefed us quickly his voice tense there have been over a dozen disappearances in the last 6 months he said running a hand through his graying hair no bodies no signs of struggle people just vanish we set up our base in an old abandoned Ranger Station deep in the woods it was a two-story structure creaky and dilap ated but serviceable the first few days were uneventful we patrolled the woods using all our training to navigate the Dense
underbrush and towering trees but we found nothing out of the ordinary then on the fourth night things started to change we were sitting around the old wooden table in the ranger station eating MREs and sharing stories when we heard it a scream sharp and piercing cutting through the Stillness of the night we bolted outside weapons at the ready but the forest around us was eerily silent sounded like a woman Tommy said Scanning the darkness with his flashlight stay alert Mortenson ordered we're not alone out here we didn't find anything that night but the scream lingered
in our minds the next day we split into pairs to cover more ground Mortenson and I took the northern sector while the others spread out to the east and west Mortenson and I trudged through the forest the undergrowth thick and unyielding we moved in silence our senses on high alert after a few hours We came across an old cabin half hidden by moss and Vines it looked abandoned but we decided to check it out the inside was musty and dark filled with broken furniture and decaying debris as we cleared each room we found nothing but
dust and shadows that is until mortensson called out Caleb over over here in the corner of what seemed to be the living room was a trapdoor it was partially hidden under a rotting rug and Judging by the dust around it it hadn't been Disturbed in a long time we PRI it open and were met with a set of rickety wooden stairs leading down into darkness stay sharp Mortenson whispered and we descended into the unknown the basement was cold and damp the air thick with mildew we swept the room with our flashlights and saw that it
was filled with old crates and boxes but in the far corner there was something that made my blood run cold an altar it was crude Made of Stone and wood with strange symbols carved into it around it were scattered bones some animal but others disturbingly human this isn't good Mortenson muttered we need to get the others we hurried back to the ranger station and relayed what we'd found the atmosphere grew tense as we discussed our next move Reyes suggested we wait until morning to investigate further but mortensson was adamant whatever's happening it's Happening now we
need to act fast we decided to head back to the cabin this time with the whole team it was getting dark and the forest seemed to close in around us as we made our way back the cabin looked even more ominous in the fading light its Shadows stretching out like a dark stain inside we descended the stairs again our flashlights piercing the Gloom we spread out Examining The Altar and the surrounding area Tommy was the first to Notice it a small hidden compartment under the altar he pried it open revealing a journal its Pages yellowed
with age as we leafed through it we realized it was a detailed account of rituals and sacrifices written in a mix of English and some other older language the last entry was particularly chilling it spoke of summoning something a creature that dwell in the forest hungry for human Souls guys we need to leave I said a Sense of urgency creeping into my voice now but it was too late from above we heard a noise a low guttural sound that sent a chill down my spine we rushed up the stairs weapons ready but what we saw
froze us in our tracks standing in the doorway was a figure tall and gaunt with pale almost translucent skin its eyes were Hollow empty voids that seemed to suck in the light it moved with an unnatural Grace stepping into the cabin without a Sound back away slowly mortensson ordered but the thing was faster it lunged at Reyes its hand a blur we opened fire the sound of gunshots deafening in the confined space the creature staggered but didn't fall it slashed at Rees who screamed in agony as he went down blood gushing from a wound in
his side fall back I yelled dragging Reyes towards the stairs we retreated firing as we went but the thing was relentless we barely made it out of the Cabin Mortenson and Tommy covering our Escape once outside we regrouped panting and shaken Reyes was in bad shape and we knew we had to get him medical attention fast but as we started to move we heard more noises rustling in the underbrush shadows flitting between the trees we need to get back to the ranger station mortensson said his voice Grim now we half ran half carried Reus through
the forest the darkness pressing in around Us the sounds of pursuit grew closer more distinct we fired blindly into the trees trying to keep whatever was following us at Bay by the time we reached the Ranger station we were exhausted and terrified we barricaded the doors and windows setting up a defensive perimeter Reyes was fading fast his breathing shallow Tommy did his best to patch him up but we all knew it was a losing battle as the night wore on the sounds outside grew louder more Insistent we could hear them the creatures moving around the
building scratching at the walls trying to get in this can't be happening Mark muttered his face pale what the hell are those things doesn't matter mortensson said his jaw set we hold the line we survived till morning but Dawn seemed an eternity away the hours dragged by each minute of Lifetime our ammo was running low and we were all on edge the fear palpable Just Before Sunrise there was a final assault The creatures attacked with renewed ferocity breaking through the barricades we fought them off but it was cha in the melee mortensson went down one
of the creatures tearing into him with Savage Fury Mark and I managed to drag his body inside but he was gone by the time the first light of dawn broke through the trees the creatures had retreated leaving us battered and broken Reyes was dead Mortenson too only Tommy Mark and I were left and we were barely Hanging on we made our way back to tillamuk each step a struggle the towns people stared at us their faces a mix of horror and pity Sheriff Dobbins met us his expression Grim what happened he asked I told him
everything sparing no details he listened in silence then nodded I'll take care of it you boys did your best in the aftermath there were no answers the disappearances stopped but the town was left with an unspoken fear a sense of something lurking just out of Sight Tommy and Mark left the service soon after unable to shake the horrors of that night I stayed but the memories haunted me a constant reminder of the darkness we faced even now years later I can't forget the eyes of that creature the emptiness that seemed to swallow everything I don't
know what it was where it came from or why it chose that forest all I know is that it left a scar one that will never fully heal and every time I close my my eyes I see those Shadows moving hear the rustle of leaves and wonder if one day it will come for me too my name is Brandt Vickers and this all happened to me back in 2007 I was a Navy SEAL and believe me I'd seen my share of crazy stuff but what went down on this Miss well it was different it started
like any other covert op in a place you'd probably never heard of we were in a small town in the Carpathian Mountains Of Romania investigating some disappearances the locals were spooked talking about something they couldn't explain we figured it was just Superstition but we had our orders our team consisted of four guys me Patrick senson Malik Jones and our Tech Guy Isaac Mar Merit we were tight like brothers we had been through hell and back together that night we set up a base in an abandoned cabin just outside the village the place was falling apart
But it provided the cover we needed hey Brand Patrick called out you think we'll find anything out here or is this just another wild goose chase I chuckled if it is we'll just have to catch that goose and bring it back home the first night was quiet too quiet we took turns keeping watch I was up for the first shift sitting on the porch with my rifle across my lap the wind rustled the trees and the only light Came from the Half Moon hours passed and I was beginning to think Patrick was right then just
as I was about to hand over the watch to Malik I heard something it was faint almost like a whisper but there was no mistaking it I strained my ears trying to catch it again nothing Malik came out rubbing his eyes anything just the wind I lied no point in spooking him over something that could have been my imagination he nodded and took his place On the porch the next day we split up to cover more ground Patrick and Isaac headed west while Malik and I took the East we were looking for any signs of
struggle any clues about the missing people the forest was dense and the further we went the more oppressive it felt the trees seemed to close in on us blocking out the light hey Brandt you ever get that feeling like you're being watched Malik asked glancing over his Shoulder yeah but we're in the middle of nowhere probably just animals we kept moving but the feeling didn't go away after a few hours we found a small clearing with a makeshift campsite it looked recent there was a fire pit with burnt wood and some scattered belongings no sign
of a struggle but it was clear someone had been here we should radio the others mik suggested yeah let's get back to the cabin and Regroup on our way back we heard it again that faint Whispering it was like a chorus of voices just Out Of Reach we picked up the pace not wanting to stick around to find out what it was when we got back Patrick and Isaac were already there looking uneasy found anything Patrick asked just an old campsite you same here but we heard something too voices Isaac nodded I picked up some
weird interference on the coms like Static but with a rhythm that night we decided to stick together we set up a perimeter around the cabin and took turns on watch it was my turn again and I was determined to stay alert the wind had picked up making the trees groan and Creek around midnight I saw movement at the edge of the forest I raised my rifle peering through the scope there was something there just beyond the tree line but I couldn't make it out Patrick mik wake up I whispered urgently they scrambled to their feet
weapons ready what is it Patrick asked something's out there we moved as a unit approaching the trees cautiously the Moonlight barely penetrated the thick canopy casting Eerie Shadows we heard the whispering again louder this time it sent chills down my spine but I pushed forward suddenly Malik stumbled cursing under his breath you okay I asked yeah just tripped over something we looked down And saw it was a shoe covered in dirt and leaves nearby there was a torn piece of fabric stained dark it was blood someone's hurt we need to find them Patrick said his
voice tense we followed the trail of blood deeper into the forest the whispering grew louder almost like it was guiding us then we found him or what was left of him a local man his body mangled and torn apart it was gruesome like something out of a nightmare no animal could do This Jesus Malik muttered turning away we we need to get back now Isaac said his face pale we hurried back to the cabin our nerves on edge none of us slept that night at dawn we decided to head to the village and Report what
we found the villagers were scared but they wouldn't talk they just kept Crossing themselves and muttering in Romanian this isn't right Patrick said they're hiding something we went to the local Constable A man named Andre he was reluctant to speak but we pressed him there are old stories he finally admitted Legends of creatures in the forest people go missing but it's always explained away wild animals accidents but we know we know something else is out there we asked him to show us where the disappearances had happened reluctantly he agreed he led us to several sites
all similar to what we found blood torn clothes but no bodies it was like they Vanished Into Thin Air these creatures I asked what do they look like Andre hesitated they are not human tall with pale skin and long limbs they move silently in their eyes their eyes are black like voids that night we prepared for whatever was out there we set traps around the cabin and armed ourselves to the teeth I didn't believe in Monsters but whatever was out there it was dangerous we were ready to face it as The sun set the forest
seemed to come alive with sounds the whispering returned louder than ever it was unnerving but we stood our ground hours passed and then we saw them tall pale figures moving between the trees they were fast almost a blur we opened fire the night erupting in gunfire and screams one of them got through our defenses grabbing Isaac he screamed as it dragged him into the forest we chased after them but they moved too fast we Found Isaac's body lifeless and torn apart God damn it Patrick swore tears in his eyes we need to get out of
here we ran back to the cabin but the creatures were everywhere they swarmed us their black eyes empty and soulless we fought hard but they were Relentless Malik went down next ripped apart before our eyes it was chaos a nightmare come to life Patrick and I made it back to the cabin barricading the door we could hear them outside Scratching and Whispering we were trapped brand if we don't make it out of here I just want you to know Patrick started but I cut him off don't talk like that we're getting out of here but
deep down I wasn't so sure the night dragged on every sound making us jump we were running out of ammo and I knew we couldn't hold out much longer at dawn the whispering stopped and the creatures vanished we didn't waste any time we grabbed what we could and made a run for It the village was empty when we got there the people had fled leaving everything behind we found a vehicle and drove as fast as we could not stopping until we were miles away we reported what happened but no one believed us they said it
was trauma that we were seeing things but I know what we saw those creatures whatever they were they were real and they're still out there waiting Patrick and I were the only Survivors we were debriefed and sent home but the memories never left us we tried to move on but it was hard Patrick took it the worst he started drinking trying to drown out the nightmares one night he didn't wake up the coroner said it was an overdose but I think he just gave up as for me I left the seals I couldn't go back
after that I moved to a small town in Montana trying to live a quiet life but every night I hear the whispering I see those black eyes in my Dreams I know they're still out there and part of me wonders if they'll come for me one day so that's my story believe it or not it's the truth and if you ever find yourself in the Carpathian Mountains stay out of the forest because some things some things you just can't explain my name is Nolan Driscoll and this happened to me back in 2018 I used to
be a Navy SEAL and now I work for a private security firm we get hired to do all sorts of things from Guarding VIPs to co Ops this particular job took us to a remote part of Alaska Way Off the Grid to investigate a series of strange disappearances the locals were terrified and the authorities were stumped I was teamed up with my buddy roor we'd been through a lot together and I trusted him with my life the client was a wealthy businessman named Clive Garrison whose son had gone missing while camping with Friends in the
area no trace of him or his friends was found which was unusual given the terrain and conditions we landed in Anchorage stocked up on supplies and then took a small plane to the nearest air strip from there it was a rough 2-hour ride in an old truck to the edge of the Wilderness we set up a base camp and started our search the first couple of days were uneventful we hiked through dense forests crossed icy streams and Navigated Rocky terrain it was grueling but nothing we couldn't handle the area was eerily quiet though and we
saw no signs of wildlife which was odd usually you'd at least hear birds or see tracks one evening just as the sun was starting to set we came across an old cabin it looked abandoned but we decided to check it out anyway the door creaked open and a musty smell hit us inside it was dark and cluttered with old furniture and tools it didn't look like anyone had Been there for years RoR found a Dusty journal on a table and started flipping through it the entries were mundane at first just notes about hunting and fishing
but then they took a darker turn the writer mentioned seeing strange creatures in the woods describing them as humanoid but not quite human the last entry was almost illegible scrawled in a hurry they're coming I can hear them outside we both felt a chill but tried to brush it off as just some old crazy Guy ramblings we decided to make camp nearby and continue our search in the morning that night though things took a turn I woke up to the sound of roor whispering my name he was peering out of the tent his face pale
Nolan you need to see this he said I crawled over and looked out in the Moonlight I could see figures moving around the cabin they were tall and thin with long Limbs and pale skin their eyes glowed faintly in the dark we watched in silence as They moved around seemingly searching for something then one of them let out a low guttural sound and they all turned in our Direction RoR and I backed away slowly trying not to make a sound but then I stepped on a twig and it snapped loudly the creatures froze and then
started moving towards us we grabbed our gear and ran not caring about making noise anymore we could hear them crashing through the underbrush behind us getting closer my heart was pounding And my breath was coming in short gasps we stumbled into a clearing and found ourselves at the edge of a Steep Ravine there was no way down and the creatures were almost Upon Us RoR pulled out his sidearm and fired a few shots into the darkness the creatures hesitated but kept coming we need to split it up he said they can't follow both of us
I didn't like the idea but there was no time to argue I nodded and we each took off in different directions I ran Through the woods branches whipping at my face my lungs burning I could still hear the creatures behind me but they seemed to be getting further away eventually I stumbled onto an old trail and followed it hoping it would lead me somewhere safe after what felt like hours I I came across another cabin this one in better shape the door was unlocked and I slipped inside bolting it behind me I collapsed on the
floor trying to catch my breath the cabin was Dark but I found a flashlight and started looking around there were signs that someone had been there recently a half-eaten meal a sleeping bag and a map spread out on the table I studied the map trying to figure out where I was there was a marked path leading to what looked like a small settlement a few miles away I decided to wait until daylight and then make my way there I barely slept that night my mind racing with thoughts of roor and those Creatures when Dawn finally
broke I gathered my things and set out again the woods were still eerily quiet and I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched the trail led me to a small village more like a collection of shacks really the people there were wary of out iders but when I mentioned Clive Garrison's son they opened up a bit they told me about the disappearances how people would go into the woods and never come back some claimed to have seen the Creatures but no one knew what they were or where they came from I asked if anyone had
seen roor but no one had they offered me food and a place to rest but I couldn't relax I had to find my friend one of the villagers a woman named arara offered to guide me to an old mine where some of the disappearances had occurred she said it was a place the locals avoided believing it to be cursed we set out the next morning aara leading the way the mine was deep in the woods Hidden from view as we approached I could feel a sense of unease growing the entrance was overgrown but we managed
to squeeze through inside it was dark and cold the air thick with dust we explored the tunnels our flashlights casting e Shadows on the walls we found signs that someone had been there recently footprints in the dirt discarded equipment and then we found RoR he was lying on the ground barely conscious his face pale and drawn I rushed to his side Checking for injuries he had a nasty gash on his leg but he was alive Nolan he whispered his voice weak they're here I turned and saw the creatures emerging from the Shadows arara screamed Ed
and backed away but there was nowhere to go I pulled out my knife ready to fight but the creatures didn't attack they just watched us their eyes glowing in the dark one of them stepped forward its movement slow and deliberate it reached out a long bony hand and touched Ro's Wound he cried out in pain but then the creature stepped back and the others followed they disappeared into the darkness leaving us alone I helped RoR to his feet feet and we made our way out of the mine as quickly as we could arara was waiting
for us outside her face pale with fear we didn't speak as we made our way back to the Village RoR was weak but he managed to tell me what had happened after we split up he'd been cornered by the creatures and dragged to the mine They hadn't harmed him just watched him as if studying him he didn't know why they let us go and neither did I we left the Village the next day eager to put the experience behind us Clive Garrison was grateful to have his son's fate confirmed though devastated by the news we
never found out what those creatures were or why they took people it was as if they existed outside of our understanding a mystery we could never solve roor recovered from his injuries But neither of us could forget what we'd seen the memory of those glowing eyes and the sense of being watched stayed with us we both left the firm soon after deciding that we'd had enough of the unknown every now and then I think about that cabin the journal and the creatures I wonder if they're still out there watching and waiting it's a thought that
sends a shiver down my spine even now but I try not to dwell on it life Goes on and there are always new challenges to face and yet in The Quiet Moments I can't help but feel a lingering sense of unease a reminder of the things we encountered in that remote part of Alaska it's a story I share only with those I trust a reminder that there are still mysteries in this world that defy explanation my name is Callum Wakefield and this happened to me in 2012 I was a Navy SEAL used to following orders
fac Danger and getting the job done this story though isn't about any typical Mission it's about something that shook me to my core and changed the way I see the world forever it all started when I was deployed to a remote area in Alaska we were on a classified Mission something about tracking illegal armed shipments our team consisting of myself Tony Vasquez and Eric Dy was sent to a small isolated town near the Canadian border The place was called White Pine a small dot on the map surrounded by endless forests and Mountains White Pine was
the kind of place where everyone knew everyone and strangers were immediately noticed we were staying at a rundown Motel the only accommodation in town our cover story was that we were Hunters taking advantage of the Abundant Wildlife one evening after a long day of surveillance Tony and I decided to hit the local bar Eric stayed back going Through through the Intel we had gathered the bar was a small cozy place called the pine cone filled with locals and a few Outsiders like us we grabbed a couple of beers and sat at a corner table trying
to blend in while we were there we overheard a conversation that caught our attention a couple of locals were talking about a series of strange disappearances in the area they mentioned hikers and Hunters who had gone missing without a trace this wasn't Entirely surprising given the vast wilderness but the way they spoke about it was different there was fear in their voices something more than just concern about accidents I leaned over to Tony and whispered you hear that sounds like more than just people getting lost Tony nodded taking a sip of his beer yeah sounds
fishy we should check it out could be connected to our mission the next day we decided to investigate We spoke to the local Sheriff a grizzled old man named Hank Morton he was initially reluctant to share details but eventually opened up when we flashed our credentials look fellas he said I don't know what's going on but something's not right people have been disappearing and it's not the usual lost in the woods stuff there's no sign of struggle no tracks nothing it's like they just vanished we asked if there were any patterns or leads but he
shook his head Just rumors and Whispers some folks say they've seen strange creatures in the woods but I chalk that up to too much booze and Tall Tails despite Hank's skepticism we decided to dig deeper we started interviewing locals who had reported sightings or had missing friends or family members most of the stories were vague and inconsistent but a few stood out there were mentions of a tall humanoid figure with pale skin and eyes That GL lowed in the dark some described it as almost ghostlike moving silently through the trees one night while we were
out in the woods on surveillance Eric spotted something unusual we had set up a perimeter and were watching the area through night vision goggles around midnight he saw movement a shadowy figure slipping between the trees he radioed in and we converged on his position I saw something Eric said his Voice tense over there moving fast we spread out weapons ready and cautiously Advanced the forest was eerily quiet the only sounds are footsteps and the rustling of leaves suddenly we heard a scream blood curdling and full of Terror it came from the direction of our Motel
we sprinted back Hearts pounding when we arrived we found the motel owner an elderly woman named Mrs harlo in a State of Shock her grandson who had been helping with the motel was gone she kept Repeating it took him it took him we searched the area but found nothing no tracks no signs of struggle just the chilling realization that something was out there taking people over the next few days more people went missing the town was gripped by fear and the once friendly locals became suspicious and hostile towards Outsiders we were on edge our nerves
frayed by the constant attention and the feeling of being watched one night Tony And I were patrolling the outskirts of the town when we saw it a tall thin figure with pale almost translucent skin it moved with an unnatural Grace slipping between the trees like a shadow we raised our weapons but it vanished before we could get a clear shot what the hell was that Tony whispered his voice shaking I don't know I replied but we need to find out the next day we decided to set a trap we used ourselves as bait knowing it
was Risky but hoping it would draw the creature out we set up camp deep in the woods making ourselves visible and vulnerable it didn't take long for the creature to appear it was just after midnight when we heard the first rustling Tony and I were on Watch and we saw the figure approaching moving silently through the trees we waited until it was close then sprang our trap flood lights illumin ated the area and we opened fire the creature let out a Screech a high-pitched whale that sent shivers down my spine it moved with Incredible speed
dodging our bullets and disappearing into the darkness we chased after it but it was too fast and we lost it in the dense forest over the next few days we continued our hunt but the creature seemed to always be one step ahead it was as if it knew our every move more people went missing and the town was on the brink of collapse one evening while we were regrouping at the Motel we heard a knock on the door it was Sheriff Morton looking pale and shaken we found something he said you need to see this
he led us to an old abandoned cabin deep in the woods inside we found evidence of the missing people clothes personal items and signs of a struggle but what chilled us to the Bone were the markings on the walls strange symbols and drawings depicting the creature and what seemed to be some kind of Ritual what the hell is this Tony muttered running his hand over the carvings I don't know Morton replied but it seems like this thing has been around for a long time some kind of ancient evil we decided to stake out the cabin
hoping the creature would return we took turns watching our nerves on edge around midnight we heard movement out outside the creature had returned and this time we were ready we opened fire but the creature moved with Incredible speed Darting through the trees and avoiding our bullets it let out that same chilling Screech and then suddenly it was gone we searched the area but there was no sign of it exhausted and frustrated we returned to the cabin as we were packing up Eric noticed something strange one of the drawings on the wall had changed it now
depicted three figures standing together with the creature looming over them that's us Eric said his voice Trembling it's watching us we decided to regroup and come up with a new plan we needed to figure out what this creature was and how to stop it we spent the next few days researching pouring over old books and local Legends we learned that the creature was known as the wendigo an ancient spirit that prayed on humans it was said to be nearly impossible to kill but there were stories of it being driven Away by fire armed with this
knowledge we prepared for one final Confrontation we set up a trap using ourselves as bait once again but this time we were ready with flamethrowers and explosives it was a cold clear night when the creature appeared it moved silently through the trees its eyes glowing in the darkness we waited until it was close then Unleashed our our trap the area was engulfed in flames and the creature let out a terrible scream as it was consumed by the fire for a moment we thought we had won but then the creature Emerged from the Flames still very
much alive it attacked with a fury slashing and tearing at us with its claws we fought back with everything we had but it was relentless in the chaos Tony was grabbed by the creature he screamed as it dragged him into the woods Eric and I tried to follow but the creature was too fast we lost them in the darkness and when we finally found Tony it was too late he was gone his body torn apart by the Creature we returned to the town battered and broken the locals were devastated by the news and the town
was on the brink of collapse we knew we couldn't stay but we couldn't leave without trying to finish what we started we spent the next few days preparing for one final battle we gathered every weapon we could find setting traps and fortifying the town we knew the creature would come for us and we were ready to face it it was a cold Dark night when the creature attacked it moved through the town with Incredible speed killing anyone who got in its way we fought back with everything we had but it seemed Unstoppable in the end
it was Eric who saved us he managed to lure the creature into a trap set setting off a massive explosion that engulfed in flames the creature let out a terrible scream as it was consumed by the fire and then finally it was gone we stood there watching the Flames die down Knowing that we had finally won but the victory felt Hollow Tony was gone and the town was in Ruins we had saved the people but at a terrible cost we left White Pine the next day our mission complete but the memories of what happened there
still haunt me I can still hear the creatures scream see its glowing eyes in the darkness I know that it was real and that it was something beyond our understanding I've been on many missions since then faced many Dangers but nothing has ever shaken me like that encounter in White Pine it was a reminder that there are things in this world that we can't explain things that lurk in the darkness waiting for their next victim and I know that I'll never forget what happened there in those dark silent woods the creature may be gone but
the fear it left behind will stay with me forever
