Just Creepy: Scary Stories - 9 True Scary Forest Horror Stories

Episode Date: January 7, 2025

These are 9 True Scary Forest Horror StoriesLinktree: https://linktr.ee/its_just_creepyStory Credits:►Sent in to https://www.justcreepy.net/Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:00:18 Story 100:10:15 Story 200:14:14 Story 300:22:56 Story 400:26:26 Story 500:34:16 Story 600:39:54 Story 700:50:37 Story 800:58:19 Story 9Music by:'Decoherence' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.auhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM_AjpJL5I4&t=0sBusiness inquiries: ►[e-mail]#scarystories #horrorstories #forest #deepwoods #scarystoriespodcast 💀As always, thanks for watching! 💀

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When my friend Tyler and I signed up for a class, we thought it would be fun, a break from the usual grind. The assignment was simple, create a short documentary, but being the overachievers we were, we decided to tackle something bigger, something that would set our project apart from the rest, and most importantly, something that was interesting to us. And that's how we ended up in the middle of this supposedly cursed forest not far from where we live. Our goal was to debunk the local legends that had kept people out of those trees for decades. The forest was beautiful in its own way, with tall, lush trees and a special kind of quiet that was almost therapeutic. But that silence had a weight to it, like the forest was holding its breath, waiting for something to have.

happen. The stories about the forest go back generations. I've heard Native American tribes used to live there, and the forest was supposedly sacred ground, you know, the typical setup for every cursed story in the United States. But then came the stories of ghosts, demons, and dark rituals. In my opinion, it was just old folklore and myths that people said happened deep in those woods, and those myths got blown out of proportion and spread through the generation. Most people avoid the place, and those who didn't usually came back talking about negative energy and all that garbage. In case you can't tell yet, I'm not a believer in the paranormal or in energies or anything like that, and neither was Tyler. We didn't buy that the woods were cursed.

We thought it was all just superstitions and campfire stories. That's why we thought this was the perfect subject for a documentary, a chance to peel back the layers of folklore and show the world. or at least our class, that these woods were just another patch of trees. We spent the first few hours filming the scenery, capturing shots of the sunlight filtering through the trees, the dense foliage, and even some of the caves we found scattered throughout the area. It really was, objectively, a beautiful forest.

There was one cave in particular that caught our attention. It wasn't deep, but the way the light played off the rocks made it perfect for the eerie vibe we were going for in our film. As we set up the camera inside, it felt like something had changed. The sun started to shift behind the clouds, and it almost felt like the sounds of nature started to quiet down.

Right at that moment, Tyler stopped, freezing mid-shot. He whispered something in a very scared voice, asking if I had heard that. I hadn't heard anything, but the look on his face was enough to make me feel uncomfortable. We stood there in the dim light

the cave straining our ears. Then I heard it too, a sort of sound coming from outside. We had been hearing the wind blow all day, but this was definitely no wind. It was clearly the sound of someone, or something, approaching the cave. These footsteps would close in slowly, and then just fade into the distance, as if they were running away when they got close to the cave. We exchanged nervous glances at each other. We had spent the whole day laughing off the stories, but at that moment, I'm not afraid to admit I felt a twinge of fear. My mind raced with different scenarios. Maybe it was just another hiker, or some animal passing by. But the longer we stood there, the more I started to doubt those rational explanations. Trying to keep a

steady voice, I told him we should wrap things up since we had enough footage. He didn't argue. We quickly packed up the camera and gear, both trying to play it off like we were. were cool, but it was obvious we were both moving pretty frantically. As we stepped out of the cave, the forest seemed darker than it should have been since the sun had started dipping in and out behind the clouds. The feeling of dread was overwhelming, and with every step we took back toward the car, that sense of dread grew. We hadn't gone far when the sound came again, this time louder and much closer. We stopped and tried to assess the sounds. We were listening as the rustling morphed into the unmistakable sound of footsteps. We turned, and that's when I saw them,

two dark figures moving swiftly through the trees, their shapes blurred by the shadows. We both started to run. I turned back several times, but it was impossible to tell what was chasing us. I was refusing to believe it was some dark entity, but I truly couldn't tell in that moment. My heart was racing as Tyler and I awkwardly ran through the forest, trying not to run into trees or trip on roots. It seemed like these people were gliding through the trees. The faster we ran, the louder the footsteps grew, until it felt like they were right on top of us. I risked a final glance over my shoulder and got my clearest view of them. Not only were they still chasing us, but they were closing in fast. They were clearly human-shaped, but something was just

off about them, something in the way they moved. I couldn't make out any details other than than that they were shaped like people, dressed all in black, and moving so effortlessly through the trees. Tyler could see I was slowing down as I looked back, and he shouted for me to hurry up. We made our final push to the car and practically dove in, slamming the doors shut behind us. Tyler fumbled for his keys, his hand shaking. When he finally turned the ignition, the engine roared to life, and relief flooded through me, until I looked down and saw the dashboard light up with a warning. Tire pressure low. Tyler looked confused, but didn't think too much about it. He threw the car into gear, but the moment we tried to move, the vehicle lurched awkwardly.

Our tires were flat, all of them. I stuck my head out the window and saw that the tires looked as though they had been slashed. Before we could fully process what was happening, movement caught my eye. I looked up, and there they were. Three people, not just two. emerging from the tree line, walking slowly toward us. My stomach dropped as I realized they were the same blurred shapes I had seen before. These weren't ghostly apparitions, but actual humans dressed in solid black from head to toe, their faces hidden behind featureless masks. These masks looked similar to ski masks or something, just complete black.

The car was locked, but that did little to calm the rising panic inside me as they drew closer. Tyler frantically tried to dial for help, but the signal was weak, and the call kept failing to connect. Finally, Tyler got through to someone. He screamed for help, giving our location, but then the call dropped again. I could see the figures more clearly than ever now. One of them had a slender build and smaller hands with glittering nail polish, a detail that should have been insignificant but somehow made the situation even stranger. I almost wished it was some dark entity instead of a person.

One of them started banging on the window, while the other two began kicking the doors and banging on the hood. Their fists slammed against the doors, rattling the car with every hit. My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to think of some plan, but the situation was paralyzing. The smaller one, with the nail polish, started pounding harder on the window, the glass beginning to crack under the force. I could hear them laughing, which only made the situation more horrifying. The glass felt like it was going to give. I knew it. And there was nothing we could do.

But then, through all the chaos, we saw lights appear, sirens in the rearview mirror. For once in my life, I was glad to see them. The masked figures froze, their laughter stopping as they turned to look. As the vehicle approached, I could make out that it was a park ranger. Without a word, the people bolted back into the woods, disappearing as quickly as they had appeared. The ranger pulled up beside us, his face a mixture of concern and confusion. He got out of his car and asked if we were okay. We nodded, still too rattled to speak.

The ranger led us to his vehicle, his radio crackling as he called for backup, and we left the car behind. The relief of being away from those woods was almost indescribable. Back at the station, a bunch of cops showed up, and we gave our statements, detailing everything that had happened. While we were still there, the police caught one of the people. It turned out to be a large guy with a goatee and tattoos of roses on each side of his temples, the stems curling down his cheeks and neck. Perhaps the worst part of the story is when the officers asked him during questioning why he

did what he did. Apparently, he just smiled and said, because I could and I wanted to. His voice contained no remorse or empathy, and he seemed almost happy about it. From what they said, we never found out who the other two weirdos were. We never learned if they were part of some gang or just a bunch of psychos. And honestly, I'm not sure I want to.

The thought of them still out there, lurking in those woods, waiting for their next victims, is enough to keep me awake at night. After all of this, Tyler and I proved that the woods aren't haunted, but that doesn't mean monsters don't inhabit them. It was early Sunday morning. I live in the suburbs, but my parents own a farm that I enjoy visiting because I get to see my dog, Molly. She's a mutt, but not a small dog by any means. At that time, I felt very safe around her and would often take her for walks in the nearby forest. The day started off like any other. My dad and I, got in the car, drove around for a while, and then arrived at the farm. I got out of the car and hugged

Molly. My parents always got angry when I hugged her because I would smell like her for the rest of the day. I put a leash on her and asked my dad if I could take her for a walk. He always thought we'd just go down the road and back, but I always found it more interesting to take her into the forest. I felt a kind of peace and relaxation there that was unmatched by anything else. So, we took a turn and headed into the forest. When we got there, I took her leash off so she could explore on her own. Most of the time, I would carve my name into the trees or look for anything interesting. On this particular day, I was playing baseball with some rocks and a wooden leg, most likely from an old table. Then, I heard it. Molly was barking at something. This wasn't normal when we were in

the forest. I thought it might be a fox or some other animal, so I quickly grabbed the wooden leg as a I knew that if it was a fox, I'd need to defend myself, but holding the leg gave me a sense of security. I called out, Molly, Molly, but she kept barking. This was strange because she always came to me when I called. I followed the sound of her barking and stumbled upon a scene I'll never forget. There was a man, most likely in his late 50s, half naked, carrying a large machete in one hand, and holding moonshine in the other. This was the first time. I'd ever come across someone in the woods, especially someone half-naked and wielding a massive machete. He was completely ignoring Molly and was hacking away at the ground for some reason.

I had no idea how to handle the situation. Even now, I don't know how I would. Sir, are you okay? I asked confused. I didn't grasp the seriousness of the situation at the time. He turned around and I'll never forget his face. His eyes were an intense blue, eyes I'd never seen before. To this day, I remember how wide open they were. Come here, boy, look what I dug up, he said. I was afraid that if I didn't listen to him, he might chase after me, and that was something I wanted to avoid at all costs. I got closer, but kept a good distance. I didn't see anything except for an empty hole. He returned to hacking at the ground with his machete, occasionally taking sips from the bottle. I used this opportunity to get Molly and started walking away slowly,

trying not to alert him that I was leaving. Then I took one final glance at the man. This time, his head was deep in the hole. I was intrigued, so I kept looking. I know how stupid of me. When he finally stood up, I was shocked to see that he had a bone in his mouth. I have no idea what kind of bone it was, or if it even belonged to an animal. That's when I had seen enough.

I started running with my dog. As we ran, I heard him laughing, and then I saw something flying out of the corner of of my eye. It was that damn machete. I heard him yell, God damn it. This made me run even faster. I knew the forest well, so I wasn't afraid of getting lost. I ran through branches and bushes until I got out of the forest, but I didn't stop running until I reached the garage where my father was testing lights on our tractor. I didn't tell him a single thing about the man, because I was afraid he'd get angry and wouldn't let me walk Molly anymore. Needless to say, I never, went into that forest alone again.

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We planned a light hike through the woods and an overnight camp out, but nothing too intense, no pun intended for those who got my intense joke. Anyway, we just wanted enough of a getaway to feel like we'd done something besides working and binge watching Netflix all summer. The day started out exactly how we hoped. We packed the car with our gear, grabbed some snacks, and hit the road with music blasting and the windows down. I think we played wrecking ball by Miley Cyrus at least seven times.

The hike we chose was about an hour away, a spot Jen's older brother had told us about. It's pretty secluded, he said, but it's beautiful, and you'll practically have the place to yourselves. That sounded perfect to us. On the way, we decided it wouldn't be a real camping trip without some beers, so we pulled into a gas station to try our luck. None of us were 21 yet, but Ashley, with her usual confidence,

strode into the store to give it a shot. Jen and I waited in the car, laughing and chatting, but when Ashley came back out empty-handed and shaking her head, we knew it was a no-go. In an annoyed voice, she said, the stupid guy wouldn't even entertain the idea. Ashley sighed as she slid back into the driver's seat. I could tell she was slightly embarrassed.

Ashley wasn't used to hearing no. Just as we were about to give up on the beer idea, a guy who had been filling up his tank walked over to our car. He looked normal enough, average height, a little scruffy, maybe in his mid-20s. He was wearing a nice purple flannel that didn't look ragged or gross. Most noticeable, though, was his friendly smile. But something about how quick. he was to approach us, set off a tiny alarm bell in my head. In a deep, almost bellowing voice,

he said, hey. Then leaning down to Jen's window, he added, saw you had some trouble in there. Need help getting something? His tone seemed casual, but his eyes were all over us, lingering just a bit too long for comfort. Ashley, always the bold one, jumped at the chance. Yeah, could you grab us some beers? We've got cash, she said, handing him a twenty. He nodded, smiling. Sure thing. What do you want? Still, something about his smile was off to me.

Ashley kept talking to him, and I tried to silently communicate my unease to Jen, but it was too late. The guy was already walking into the store. When he came back out, he had a case of beer in one hand and the change in the other. Here you go, he said, handing it all over with that same smile.

Then he hesitated, like he was waiting for something. Thanks, man. man, Ashley said quickly, grabbing the beer and giving him a little wave. Jen started the car, and before the guy could say anything else, we drove off. As we pulled out of the parking lot, I glanced back and saw him still standing there, seemingly watching us. That was weird, I muttered, but Ashley brushed it off, saying, Relax, he was just being nice.

We got our beer, didn't we? The drive to the trailhead was uneventful, and soon we were out in the woods, surrounded by tall trees and the sound of birds. The hike was gorgeous, just like Jen's brother had said. The path wound through the trees with sunlight filtering through the leaves, and we were laughing, taking pictures, and enjoying the peace that came with being away from civilization. But as the day wore on, I started to feel a little uneasy.

Every now and then, I thought I heard something. Simple things like twigs snapping, leaves rustling, or the sound of sudden shifting in the distance. But whenever I turned around, there was nothing there. I told myself it was just the usual sounds of the forest, but no matter what I told myself, I couldn't shake the feeling. By the time we set up camp, the sun was finally setting, and our little corner of the forest was getting dark fast.

We built a small fire, roasted marshmallows, and cracked open a few of the beers we almost didn't get. Jen and Ashley were having a blast, and on the surface, I appeared to be having fun too, but I couldn't ignore the creepy darkness closing in around us. While we were sitting around the campfire, it was Jen who first mentioned the sounds out loud. Do you guys hear that? she asked in a low, almost whispering voice. It sounds like, I don't know, like someone walking around out there. Ashley quickly responded, come on, it's probably just animals.

but even she didn't sound entirely convinced. We all sat there, listening intently, but after a while, the noises stopped, and we tried to shake off the uncomfortable vibe around the fire. Eventually, we crawled into the tent, snuggled into our sleeping bags, and tried to get some sleep. But sleep didn't come easily.

The sounds outside started up again, faint, but unmistakable. To me, it sounded like bipedal footsteps. My heart was pounding, and I could tell Jen and Ashley were awake and hearing it too by the way they shifted in their bags. After what felt like hours of lying there, eyes wide open in the dark, I couldn't take it anymore. The fire had died down before we got into the tent, and I wanted to make sure it was completely out. I whispered to the girls that I was stepping outside for a minute, and they silently agreed. I unzipped the tent and stepped out into the cool night.

The woods were pitch black except for the faint, glow of the embers from our fire. I grabbed a bottle of water and was about to pour it over the coals when I heard the rustling again. This time it sounded like footsteps, directly behind me. I froze, unable to catch my breath. Slowly, I turned, and there, standing just a few feet away, was what I could only describe as the guy from the gas station. His face was barely visible in the dim light, but I recognized him instantly. I recognized him instantly. I recognized. I recognized. recognized the purple flannel from earlier. I wanted to scream, to run, but I was rooted to the spot, so scared I forgot how to breathe. He just stood there, staring at me, not moving a muscle. Somehow,

that made the situation even worse. It felt like an eternity, but finally, I found my voice. Get away from me, I screamed. The sound seemed to snap him out of whatever trance he was in. He took a step back, then another, and before I knew it, he was sprinting off into the woods. I didn't wait to see where he went. I ran back to the tent, shaking Jen and Ashley awake. We need to go now! I could feel my voice shaking. I told them the guy from earlier was outside, and that was enough to get them panicking. We packed up in record time, not even bothering to fold the tent properly. We just stuffed everything into our bags and took off down the trail. The trail back was nerve-wracking.

It was so dark, and our flashlights barely illuminated the path. Every sound we heard made us more erratic, causing us to run faster. We got to the car before dawn, and we didn't say much on the drive home. We were all too freaked out to process what had just happened. In hindsight, we should have called the police right then and there, but all we wanted was to get away. When we finally pulled into Jen's driveway, we just sat there, staring, straight ahead. That's when I finally called the police to report what had happened. I told them

about the guy from the gas station, about the approximate time we had encountered him. I remember Ashley begging me to get off the phone because she was scared she'd get in trouble for the alcohol. But if this guy was some sort of creep, I wanted the cops to know. It's been years now, and we never did figure out what that guy wanted, or if it was even him following us. After that night, our summer adventures were over. I can still imagine the sight of him standing there in the dark, staring at me, and I often wonder what would have happened if I hadn't gone out to check the fire. Not that it's the most reassuring thought, but I also hope he was just a peeping creep and not something far worse. I've been running in these woods for as long as I can remember, but this encounter made me

change my mind. The story begins around 6.30 p.m. I had finished eating and decided to go for a run, as I always do. I always use the same path, cross the street, run for about a mile, and pass the gate that leads into the forest. Something important to note is that the trail I use in the forest splits about halfway through. One path is paved, and the other isn't. I always take the unpaved trail first, and then turn on to the paved one after about three miles. Nothing really ever goes wrong. I occasionally meet some people walking their dogs, but other than that, I'm pretty much alone. At least, I thought I was. I had been running for a while when I heard a notification from my phone. It was an airdrop notification. Since I didn't want to appear worried,

I kept running for a couple more minutes before stopping to change the music. Dreadfully, I opened the airdrop. Who the hell was sending me stuff? I was pretty sure I was alone. I clicked on the drop and my heart sank. It was a Snapchat picture of me running with the caption, You look good, I didn't turn around. Instead, I kept running like nothing had happened until I reached a certain point. You see, the forest is surrounded by a fence to keep children from entering unsupervised. When I was little, I didn't like that rule, so my friends and I cut a hole in it.

When I aligned with that hole, I quickly turned and buried myself into the forest. aiming for my escape. I could hear something behind me, but I still didn't turn back. When I finally reached the hole, I jumped through it and absolutely booked it to the fire station a couple of streets down. The last thing I heard as I left the forest was an angry huff and metal scraping against metal. I still don't know who it was or what they wanted from me, but I will never run in that forest again. Later that night I went to the bathroom multiple times. For the past four days, every time I leave the bathroom I can see myself still standing in the mirror from the corner of my eye. It's as if the other me is watching me leave the bathroom. It terrifies me to the point where I almost run out without

looking directly at the mirror. I never told my husband about it because I didn't want to acknowledge it out loud. Today, I took a nap in our bed while my husband sat in a chair next to it, watching TV. When I woke up, he told me he had seen me sit up, crawl backward to the edge of the bed, and stand in front of our bedroom door from the corner of his eye. He thought it was weird because I'm in the last month of my pregnancy, and I can't really move well without pain. So he tried talking to me, but when I didn't answer, he looked at the door to find me still in bed, sleeping.

I got really creeped out and finally told him about what I've been seeing in the bathroom. He thought it was creepy too, but he didn't want to talk about it anymore because he believes discussing it will give whatever it is power or element. I have no idea what it wants or why we've both seen it. If you have any idea, please let me know. Also, as you're getting ready for bed tonight, when you walk out of the bathroom,

take a quick peek behind you at the mirror. See if your reflection is still looking at you as you walk away. Back in 2014, my wife and I, along with our friends John and Mike, had been planning a hiking trip for many weeks. We all worked together, and it was rare for us to get a long weekend off at the same time, given that we had such drastically different jobs. So when the opportunity

finally came, we jumped at it. The plan was to head out early Saturday morning and spend the entire day exploring the wilderness. We had mapped out a trail that promised stunning views, and we were all eager to disconnect from the world for a while. The drive to the trailhead was peaceful. The sun was just starting to rise, casting everything in this amazing orange glow. We were loud. We were loud, laughing, swapping stories, and enjoying the early start. But as soon as we arrived at the trailhead, our excitement took a hit. The sky darkened almost instantly, and within minutes, it started to downpour. It was raining so hard that we couldn't see anything in front of us.

We hoped it was just a passing shower and decided to wait it out in the car. We'd already made the drive there, and we weren't about to turn around and head home just yet. The rain pounded against the roof and the windows fogged up with our breath. It wasn't the start we had imagined, but we were determined to make the best of it. After about twenty minutes, the rain led up, leaving behind a misty, overcast day. We debated whether we should continue the hike, but the trail was calling us, and we didn't want to waste any time, so we grabbed our gear and headed out. We didn't get very far before the rain started again, this time even harder.

It was like someone had turned on a faucet and we were drenched within seconds. We ran back to the car, laughing and cursing at the same time, trying to shield ourselves from the downpour. But as we reached the car, we saw something that made us all stop in our tracks. Standing next to the SUV was a young woman. She was soaked to the bone, her clothes clinging to her thin frame like rags. She looked like she had been through hell. Her hair was matted, and her face was covered in what looked like dirt.

At first, I thought maybe I was seeing things because of the rain. But no, she was definitely real and standing directly next to my car. Even more unsettling, she appeared to be looking into the windows. Without thinking, I shouted something like, Hey, get away from my car. It was more out of fear than anything else. It was instinctive, and I just felt this rush of adrenaline, telling me something wasn't quite right. But she didn't move. She just stood there, staring at us with hollow eyes. She had that look like a deer does in the middle of the woods,

just sort of standing there like a statue. Before I could let out another angry shout, my wife held me back and said, in a very concerned voice, wait, hold on. She even suggested the woman looked hurt. John and Mike were silent, unsure of what to do. I didn't want to let this stranger into our car, but I couldn't ignore the fact that she might be in serious trouble. So, against my better judgment, we all piled into the SUV, with the woman sitting behind the front passenger seat and my wife in the middle seat, trying to comfort her. The car was cramped, the windows fogged up again from the sudden influx of bodies, and you could feel the tension. It went from being a fun hiking trip to dealing

with a strange, potentially hurt woman in the middle of nowhere. The woman didn't say much. In fact, she didn't say anything at all. She just sat there, shivering and staring straight ahead. My wife thought she might be in shock and started to assume the worst. The woman had makeup running down her cheeks, and it was impossible to tell if it was from the rain or crying. We tried asking her where she was from and what had happened, but she didn't respond. I kept glancing at her in the rearview mirror, trying to read her expression, but there was nothing there, just a vacant look. The lights were on, but nobody was home. John suggested we get her to the nearest gas station and call for help.

We all agreed, as there was no cell service out here, so that was our best option. I started the car, and we headed down the muddy road, with the windshield wipers working overtime to keep the rain at bay. Now I know it's easy to say this in hindsight, but something wasn't sitting right with me. I know it was a tense situation, but that wasn't what bothered me. It was the way she just appeared out of nowhere, her silence, and how she didn't seem phased by the cold or rain. That's what bothered me. It was clear the woman had issues, and it was impossible to tell if she was dangerous

or just truly shaken up. I could tell my wife and friends were trying to stay calm, but I could feel their discomfort. especially mics. We were about two minutes from the gas station when the woman suddenly started to scream, not just a little scream, but a loud, high-pitched, guttural sound that startled me so badly I nearly lost control of the car. She thrashed around in the back seat, hitting the windows and seats, making it impossible for me to regain control. I tried my best to keep the SUV on the road, but the road was slick, and before I knew it, we veered off and into it. We veered off and into a a ditch. The car came to a sudden stop, and for a moment, everything was silent, except for the

pounding rain. We were all trying to catch our breath and make sense of what had just happened. Then the woman started cackling. It was a cold, empty laugh that snapped us back to reality. She was howling with laughter. I had a minor scrape on my forehead from hitting the steering wheel, but everyone else appeared to be okay. Before anyone could say anything, John shouted at her, what the hell is wrong with you? The woman's insane laughter came to an abrupt stop. She pulled out a small blade from inside her shirt. It looked like a box cutter from where I was sitting. She put her left elbow into my wife's neck and held the blade to Mike's throat, saying, give me all your money, now. One of the most unsettling parts of this nightmare was

the lack of fear in her voice. It was just this sick sort of satisfaction. We didn't argue, We threw down whatever cash and belongings we had. We were all too scared to do anything else. My wife started crying. John was cursing under his breath, and I was just trying to keep it together for everyone. The woman grabbed the money, opened the car door, and sprinted into the rain without looking back. We sat there in silence, with the back door still open. After a few moments, I started the car again, and my wife closed the door.

We drove the rest of the way to the gas station. We reported the incident, but by then, the woman was long gone. The police took our statements, but it was clear they didn't expect to find her. To this day, I have no idea who that woman was or where she came from. I thought maybe she was a meth addict or something. For a while after that, I looked up crimes in the area, but I never found anything that remotely fit that description. All I know is that we were lucky to get out of that situation alive.

This was one of the worst experiences of my life. And even though I was happy to get out physically unharmed, I still think about it. It makes me sick knowing that somewhere out there, that wild woman is most likely terrorizing someone else. Spring just slid into your DMs. Grab that boho look for that rooftop dinner, those sandals that can keep up with you, and hang some string lights to give your patio a glow up. Spring's calling. Ross, work your magic.

This story took place approximately eight years ago. I'm going to change the names for anonymity, and this is also a burner account, so it will be the only post I make under this account. You see, I was with my girlfriend, let's call her Sarah, for four years at the time of the story. We both loved the outdoors, hiking, fishing, picnics, you name it. We love taking drives to random parks and just exploring. One Saturday morning, we decided to go for a hike. It was a decent drive for us. so I brought our camping gear just in case we decided to camp or sleep in the car instead of driving home.

Depending on the weather, we might just suck it up and drive home, since neither of us wanted to sleep in the rain, even in the car. The hike started out peaceful and enjoyable, with the melody of running water, birds, bugs, and other woodland animals. That's what drew us outdoors in the first place, the escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It was a place where we could clear our heads and find peace of mind. We usually spent most of our time talking about the future,

our wedding, the kind of neighborhood we wanted to live in, the house, and all the other things that come with the next chapter of life. We would discuss our dream scenarios, like where we wanted to establish a hometown and where we might escape the winters. Not having kids, we thought, would hopefully free us up financially to make those dreams a reality someday. It's hard to explain, but I felt like we had our best conversations while hiking.

As we went deeper into the woods, I got a strange feeling of paranoia. It felt like the peaceful sounds around us had changed somehow. The animals had a different tone or vibration, and the sound of the water we passed long ago, now resembled whispers. I felt like we were being followed, and as if someone was trying to get my attention,

I quickly shook it off and continued the conversation we were having at the time. I started feeling tired and asked if we could take a break. I was surprised that I needed one and figured I hadn't had enough water that day, thinking dehydration was to blame. After the break, I noticed a shift in Sarah's mood and mannerisms. She seemed much quieter and grumpier than usual. I brushed it off, assuming she was just tired too, and tried to steer the conversation toward something positive to cheer her up.

Not long after her mood shifted, she became outright rude. Every comment I made was met with a sarcastic or snarky remark. At first, I thought she was joking, but I quickly realized she wasn't. I asked if she wanted to turn around, take another break, or continue in silence, anything to gauge what would make the situation better. But she remained silent and refused to communicate with me at all. I began replaying the day in my head, wondering if I had said or done something to upset her,

but I couldn't think of anything. Then, as we reached the deepest part of our hike, Sarah suddenly had a complete manic breakdown. She started screaming and crying at the same time. When I tried to approach her to ask what was going on, she became violent, flailing her arms, and one of them hit me directly in the temple, knocking my glasses off.

I'm nearly blind without my glasses, so I panicked, scrambling on the ground like Velma, trying to find them while Sarah, continued flailing her arms and running away, screaming in the opposite direction. Thankfully, I found my glasses quickly, got up and chased after her. When I caught up, she seemed completely out of it. Her eyes weren't glazed over, but they looked different, like she was there, but not really

there. I know that may sound strange, but it's the best way I can describe it. By this point, she had stopped screaming and wasn't acting violently anymore. I sat her down and made her. drink some water. She still wasn't talking much, but she seemed a little more settled. Once I was sure she could walk, we started heading back down the trail toward the car. The further we moved from where her breakdown occurred, the more she seemed to return to normal. She began talking to me again and asked if she had said or done anything strange. She told me she had no

memory of what happened, and was embarrassed and apologetic for her episode. By the time we were about half a mile from the car, she was completely back to her usual self. I, however, was still struggling to process what had happened. In the four years we'd been together, I had never seen her act like that, even during the happiest or most stressful times of our lives. Sarah was a big believer in the supernatural, so she was convinced that something dark had taken over her body. I didn't believe that. I thought there had to be some rational explanation. After doing some research, I found that there are certain plants in those woods that can mess you up. I think she must have come into contact with something that triggered her episode.

Some of those plants can cause mania, fever, and even hallucinations. It got me thinking that maybe I had come into contact with something too, which might explain the anxiety I had felt earlier in the day. Without a clear answer, I've chosen the simplest solution. Never hike there again. Has anyone else experienced something similar? If so, I'd appreciate hearing your thoughts. Girl Scouts have always been a huge part of my life.

When I was little, some of my best memories were going to Girl Scout meetings with my mom. It wasn't really about selling cookies or earning badges, though. It was more about the time I spent with her, working on my uniform and talking about the things I learned. I don't know why, but certain memories, like my mom sewing those little badges on, stick out more than others. Maybe it's because I lost her when I was still pretty young, and those moments became more precious to me over time. Even though I never had kids of my own,

I still loved being involved with the Girl Scouts. I stayed a part of it as a volunteer, helping out whenever I could, especially on the annual camping trips. Those were always fun. The girls would get so excited about spending time in the woods, hiking, making s'mores, and staying up too late telling ghost stories around the,

the campfire. I wasn't a huge fan of the outdoors when I was their age, but as an adult, I loved seeing how much fun they had. This trip started out like all the others. It was early morning, and we were just getting everything set up. Tents were being pitched, supplies unpacked, and everyone was buzzing with excitement. I was in charge of helping with the arts and crafts, but the first activity of the day was a hike. We always started with a short walk through the woods, just to give the girls a chance to stretch their legs and get a feel for the area. Plus, it tired them out a little, which meant they were more likely to fall asleep easily later that night.

The hike began like usual. The girls were laughing and chatting, skipping along the trail, and the other volunteers and I made sure they stayed in line and didn't wander off. The trail was wide and well-marked, nothing dangerous. But as we went further into the woods, I started to feel something strange. At first, I thought it was just my imagination, but soon the air felt heavier. The usual sounds of the forest birds chirping, leaves rustling, seemed to fade away.

I couldn't hear anything except a weird buzzing in my ears, like when you're on an airplane and your ears need to pop. I shook my head, trying to snap out of it. I looked around and saw the girls still walking ahead, all fine, but something wasn't right. That's when I noticed Cindy was missing. Cindy was one of the quieter girls in the group. She usually stayed near the back, close to the adults. My heart started racing. I called her name, trying not to sound too worried.

No answer. I sped up, moving from group to group, asking if anyone had seen her. Nothing. A few of the other adults joined me, and we began calling for her, scanning the trees and bushes for any sign of her. minutes passed and my panic grew how could a girl disappear so quickly we stopped the group keeping the other girls close as we continued to search my mind raced with horrible thoughts had she wandered too far off was she hurt lost just as we were about to contact the authorities i saw movement out of the corner of my eye there she was walking calmly a little ways off the trail like she hadn't been missing at all Relief washed over me, but as I approached her, something about her felt off. She wasn't scared or upset. In fact, she was smiling, like everything was perfectly fine.

I took her hand, but that feeling of unease in the pit of my stomach didn't go away. Something wasn't right. When I found Cindy, I was so relieved, but the way she was acting felt strange. She wasn't scared or even upset that she had gotten lost. Instead, she seemed completely calm, almost too calm for a little girl who had just wandered off into the woods by herself. As I held her hand and led her back to the group, she started humming a little tune, which was unusual for her. Cindy was normally very quiet and shy,

not the type to hum or talk much. As we walked, I decided to ask her a few questions. I wanted to make sure she was okay, and I also needed to figure out where she had been. Hey, Cindy, I started, trying to sound calm. What happened? Why did you wander off? She looked up at me with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Oh, I wasn't wandering, she said softly. I was with my friend.

My heart skipped a beat. Your friend, who did you meet in the woods? I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. The last thing I wanted was for her to feel scared, but the idea of a stranger being out here, near our camp, sent a chill down my spine. Cindy didn't seem worried at all. She kept that odd little smile on her face as she said. My friend, they were nice.

They told me to stay away from the man in the red cave. I froze for a second. What do you mean, Cindy? I asked, my voice a little shakier now. Who's the man in the red cave? and where's the cave? She shrugged, still smiling. I don't know. My friend said I shouldn't go there. The man in the red cave isn't nice. Goose bumps crawled up my arms. I didn't know what to think. Was she making this up? Or had she actually seen something out there? Either way, it didn't sit right

with me. I squeezed her hand a little tighter. Cindy, did anyone else talk to you or touch you? I asked. my voice more serious now. She shook her head, her smile never fading. No, my friend was nice. They wouldn't hurt me. I didn't know what to say. Part of me wanted to believe she had just let her imagination run wild,

maybe from hearing spooky stories or being in the woods for the first time. But another part of me couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. When we got back to the group, I kept a close eye on Cindy for the rest of the day. She acted like nothing had happened, going along with the activities, talking and laughing with the other girls. But she still seemed different, more talkative, more cheerful than I had ever seen her before. It was unsettling. Later that night, as I lay in my sleeping bag, I couldn't stop thinking about what she had

said. Who was this friend she met in the woods? And what was the deal with the man in the red cave? I kept trying to tell myself it was just a made-up story, but the more I thought about it, more uneasy I felt. Eventually, I drifted off to sleep, but my dreams were restless, filled with shadows and strange whispers about a cave deep in the forest. By morning, I was more tired than I had been before I went to bed, and the feeling of dread from the day before still clung to me. I couldn't shake the thought that something wasn't right. Years went by, and I hardly thought

about that strange camping trip or the weird thing Cindy said. Life got busy. and I volunteered for more Girl Scout events, but I avoided going back to that particular forest. It wasn't until we planned another camping trip to the same area that all those memories started creeping back into my mind. At first I didn't think much of it. It had been a long time, and I figured the whole Man in the Red Cave thing

was just something Cindy made up. Kids have wild imaginations, after all. But as we set up camp that evening, I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling growing in my stomach. I told myself I was being silly. Nothing happened back then, right? Cindy was fine. There was no man in the woods.

Still, that night, sleep didn't come easily. I lay in my sleeping bag, staring up at the tent ceiling, trying to push away the strange sense of dread that seemed to be settling in around me. The forest was quiet, too quiet. The usual sounds of crickets and wind in the trees seemed muted, just like they had on that hike years ago. Around midnight, I heard someone moving outside the tent. I quickly sat up, heart racing.

One of the girls was walking toward the fire pit, her small figure barely visible in the dim light. I grabbed my flashlight and stepped out of the tent, quietly calling after her. Hey, sweetie, what are you doing up? You okay? She turned and looked at me, her eyes wide and sleepy. I'm fine, she said softly. I just couldn't sleep.

My friend keeps waking me up. My heart dropped. I took a deep breath and tried to stay calm. Your friend? Are you sure someone's not just talking in your tent? She shook her head. No, it's my friend. They keep telling me I need to go see the man in the red cave.

I froze, my flashlight trembling in my hand. What did you say? I asked. My voice barely above. of a whisper. The man in the red cave, she repeated, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. My friend says I should go find him. I felt a cold shiver run down my spine.

It was happening again. I knelt down to her level trying to stay calm even though my mind was racing. Who's your friend? Is it someone in your tent? She looked confused for a moment. No. I don't know. I only see them in my dreams, but they always wake me up.

I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry. Okay, I said, keeping my voice steady. Let's get you back to bed, and if your friend wakes you up again, just come get me, okay? She nodded and followed me back to her tent, crawling inside without another word, but I couldn't go back to sleep. My mind was spinning with fear and confusion.

How could another girl, years later, be talking about the same thing? The man in the red cave wasn't real, was he? I stayed awake the rest of the night, listening for any strange sounds, but nothing else happened. By the time the sun rose, I was exhausted, and I made up my mind. I would never come back to this forest again. Whatever was out there, whether it was real or just some strange coincidence, I didn't want to know, and I didn't want to risk hearing about the man in the red cave ever again. This is a Bose moment.

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Find your perfect product at Bose.com. A few years ago, I spent a... summer working as a lifeguard at a resort nestled deep in the mountains. The place wasn't exactly a tourist hotspot, but it had a steady stream of visitors. A lot of people were just looking to get away from the noise of city life, hike a few trails, and soak in the peace and quiet of the mountain area. The resort was spread out with a main hotel, some cabins scattered around the property, and a pool that, on most days, was more about lounging than swimming. It was a lazy afternoon, the kind where the sun hung high, and the most exciting thing to do was sip on an

ice-cold drink while drifting in and out of a half-nap. I was on lifeguard duty at the pool, making sure no one did anything stupid. The usual crowd was there, mostly married couples and young adults celebrating events, specifically a bachelorette party. Then I noticed a guy hanging around the fence that separated the pool area from the rest of the resort. He was dressed for swimming and just stood there, watching the group of young women celebrating the bachelorette party. The women were sunbathing and standing around the shallow end of the pool. At first, I didn't think much of it. People get curious, and it wasn't uncommon for someone to come over and ask about pool hours,

or how to get a guest pass. But this guy wasn't asking questions. He just stood there, watching the women and talking to them. They seemed to be doing their best to ignore him. I couldn't hear what he was saying. but I could tell from the way they were avoiding eye contact and shifting uncomfortably that they weren't interested in whatever he was saying. After a few minutes, I decided to step in.

I walked over to the edge of the pool, trying to keep things casual, and called out in a calm voice, asking if he had a pool key. The guy turned to look at me, and his face was expressionless. For a moment I thought he was going to argue, but instead he just shrugged and mumbled something under his breath before walking away. The women gave me relieved smiles, and one of them, a brunette with the most beautiful smile I've ever seen, waved me over. In a sincere voice, she thanked me saying, he was really starting to creep us out. I tried to keep cool and confident, replying,

No problem, just doing my job. I felt a bit like an idiot, like I was some sort of superhero, but thankfully they didn't think I sounded dumb. The woman who had spoken introduced herself as Abby and then pointed out the rest of the group, Rachel, Claire, Danny, and Bree. They were celebrating Bree's bachelorette party. We chatted for a bit. They were staying in one of the cabins for the weekend.

As it turned out, they were planning a little get-together that night and invited me to join. Being a single guy with not much else to do, I figured why not. Later that evening I headed over to their cabin. The sun was setting, and the temperature was cooling down drastically. The cabin was cozy with a small porch and a view that overlooked the woods.

Inside, the girls had set up drinks and snacks, and soft music played in the background. It was just the six of us, and the vibe was relaxed and easygoing. Apparently, they had invited a few other guys they met earlier that afternoon, but I was the only one who showed up. We talked and laughed, and after a couple of drinks, some of the girls started getting a bit adventurous.

Bree suggested a night hike. I wasn't too thrilled about the idea, but I didn't want to be a killjoy, so I went along. Not because I was scared, but because I worked there and knew what kind of animals lurked in the woods at night. I'm not a huge fan of those encounters. We grabbed some flashlights and headed out, sticking to a trail that looped around the resort.

As we walked, the usual nighttime sound surrounded us. crickets chirping, the occasional rustling of leaves, typical forest sounds. But after a while, I started hearing something else. It was quiet at first, like someone was walking at a distance behind us. But every time I turned around, I saw nothing but darkness. Eventually, Abby looked visibly scared and nervously asked if we had heard anything. We all stopped, listening intently. There it was again, erratic and rapid movements somewhere near body.

in the darkness. This wasn't just the typical sounds of wind blowing through the trees. It sounded more deliberate. We all looked at each other, and that's when Rachel said she'd had enough. She and Bree decided to head back to the cabin, and I didn't blame them. The rest of us followed, keeping a quick pace. By the time we made it back, the mood had shifted. The carefree energy from earlier was gone, replaced by nervous tension. We locked the doors and tried to shake off the feeling of being watched, but it wasn't easy. We sat around trying to laugh it off, but something about the evening just felt off. Speaking for myself, I couldn't shake the feeling that someone or something had been out in the woods with us. In a moment of monumental stupidity,

Danny and Bree decided to go back outside. Several minutes later, we heard footsteps outside the cabin. We turned down the music and listened intently. It sounded like footsteps circling the cabin, each step slow and deliberate. It didn't sound like Danny and Bree. These were heavy methodical footsteps. Rachel, who had been the most rattled by the hike, froze and asked, Did you guys lock the back door? I shot up from my seat, grabbed a flashlight for some reason,

and ran towards the back door to check the lock. It was secure, but I had this sinking feeling that someone was out there. I could only see a little bit through the window, and it was completely possible that someone was. someone was standing just outside my view. As I turned back towards the group, I heard a loud crash from the front of the cabin. Before I could react, Danny and Bree came barreling into the living room, screaming that someone had been chasing them in the woods.

I moved toward the door, hoping to calm them down. As I stood in the doorway, before closing it, I looked out to the front of the cabin. That's when I saw him. A man, running straight at me, a hood pulled over his head. pulled over his face. He tackled me to the ground in an instant. The air rushed out of my lungs as I hit the floor. He was stronger than I expected, and he was reaching for something at his waistband. I couldn't tell what it was, but I assumed it wasn't good for me. I knew I had to fight back, but I was struggling to get him off me. Just as I thought I was done for, I heard a loud thud,

and the weight on top of me shifted. Looking up, I saw Abby standing over. both of us, holding a golf club. Her face was pale but determined. She had hit him hard on the side of the head, and he was out cold. We called the police who surprisingly showed up quickly, given the resort's remote location. It turns out this guy was the new maintenance man, someone who had just started working at the resort a few days earlier. He had been using his position to scope out the place. God knows what he had planned for that night. We pressed charges, and he was arrested on the spot. If Abby hadn't acted quickly, I might not be sitting here writing this. It still blows my mind that there are people out there in the world who are just

that evil. This man seemed to have no motive other than to bring harm to me and those girls. My now ex-boyfriend, who I'll call Roger, and I love to travel and take trips as much as possible. We enjoyed exploring new places and getting away, even if it was just for a few days. We're both pretty big introverts and prefer doing our own thing, especially when hiking or camping. We like to be in secluded areas, avoiding crowded campsites or trails where you're shoulder to shoulder with others. One day, we decided to visit a new hiking trail that Roger heard about from a friend at work. It was said to be quite steep, which we figured would test our limits and provide a nice getaway for a few days. We had a huge tent and other amenities to make ourselves comfortable, and I was pretty excited.

to escape for a bit. When we arrived, we set up an impromptu campsite on a flat piece of ground that would shelter us from the wind during the night. We started the hike, and though I was a bit nervous, I was mostly excited. However, my excitement quickly turned to annoyance when we stumbled upon another couple hiking in the same area. I say I was annoyed, but I wasn't really upset. After all, everyone has the same right to public places. It's just that I'm a very anxious and socially awkward person. The couple approached us and introduced themselves. We were polite and made small talk. They were actually quite charming, and the way they engaged with us put both Roger and me at ease. They asked if we wanted to continue the hike together, and since it was such a long trip,

we agreed, thinking we could always turn back if we no longer wanted company. As I mentioned, the couple was very sweet and knowledgeable about the area. Despite my usual trouble with making conversation with new people, I found them surprisingly easy to talk to. After about 45 minutes of hiking, I started falling behind a bit. The guy, who I'll call Matthew, I won't use the real names they gave us, slowed down and struck up a conversation with me. This is when things started to get creepy. He began commenting on my physique and asked what kind of workouts I do, saying his partner was trying to tighten her buns and stay fit. Then he put his hand on my arm and said, Look at that definition, you must devote a lot of time to arm days.

I pulled back, shocked and uncomfortable. Just minutes ago, I found him charming, and now I felt like his eyes were all over me. I was getting very creepy vibes. I caught up to Roger and quietly whispered what had happened. He told me the woman had also started acting weird, making a comment about his package, and made sure to clarify she wasn't talking about his backpack. Thoroughly creeped out, we decided to head back. We thanked them for the conversation, hoping to part ways.

Thankfully, they wanted to finish the hike, so we were able to get back to our campsite without them. After having a bite to eat, I realized both my bracelet and ring were gone. I couldn't figure out how I could have lost them, as I never take them off. It didn't seem likely they would just fall off. After 15 minutes of searching through my bags, I stopped dead. dead in my tracks. I leaned over to Roger and said, Matthew touched my arm in hand when he was complimenting my definition. Do you think he could have swiped them without me noticing?

We weren't sure, but Roger suggested heading back up in the morning to see if we could find anything on the ground. We went to bed early, knowing we'd get up early to search for the lost jewelry and head home. In the middle of the night, I woke up to the loud sound of a snapping branch and what sounded like whispering. As I became more alert, I should, shook Roger awake. He must have heard it too because he put a finger to his lips, signaling me to stay quiet. He quietly unzipped the tent to take a look. The next thing I knew, he was yelling, Hey, what are you doing over there? It was the couple from earlier. They claimed they had stumbled across our campsite and wanted to wake us because they saw a bear nearby and were concerned

it might attack us. Roger thanked them for the information, but said we were all set. Then he came back into the tent, put his finger to his lips again, and kept his eyes fixed on the tent's window, not speaking for several minutes. After about five minutes, he looked at me and said, Grab everything you can and get in the car. I started to ask why, but he just repeated the same phrase. We got out and hurriedly grabbed as much of our stuff as we could. Roger even stuffed the half-assembled tent into the truck before we peeled off with the essentials. Once we were safely on the road, I finally got an explanation. Roger told me that when he had stepped out of the tent, he saw Matthew with a knife in his hand,

and another one holstered. He didn't feel safe staying there any longer, and knew we needed to leave as soon as possible. When we got home and started to process the nightmare, I decided to look up the names the couple had given us on Facebook. To my shock, I discovered that the names they gave us belonged to a couple who had died on a camping trip a few years earlier. This wasn't some ghost story either. There were photos of the couple who had tragically passed, and they weren't the people we had met. For what malicious reasons were they using fake names? Were they just trying to steal our stuff, or was it something worse? I'm so grateful we left when we did.

We might have found out what their true intentions were if we had stayed.