Just Creepy: Scary Stories - Skinwalker & Cryptid HORROR STORIES That Will Haunt You

Episode Date: October 21, 2024

These are 4 Skinwalker & Cryptid HORROR STORIES That Will Haunt You Linktree: https://linktr.ee/its_just_creepy Story Credits: ►Sent in to https://www.justcreepy.net/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:00:18 Story 1 00:15:58 Story 2 00:29:26 Story 3 00:44:56 Story 4 Music by: ► Myuu's channel http://bit.ly/1k1g4ey ►CO.AG Music http://bit.ly/2f9WQpe Business inquiries: ►[e-mail] #scarystoriespodcast #horrorstories #scarystories #skinwalker #cryptids 💀As always, thanks for watching! 💀

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Taxes and fees extra. See full terms at mintmobile.com. My name's Eric, and let me tell you, life hasn't exactly been a walk in the park. I'm twenty-five now, and I've been on my own for as long as I can remember. My parents? Well, they've been in and out of jail and rehab my whole life. That left me to figure out how to survive by myself. Right now, I've got two jobs, one as a waiter at a local diner and another cleaning offices at night.

Between the long hours and endless bills, life feels like one big treadmill I can't get off. One evening, after a particularly rough day at the diner, I was nearing the end of my shift. All I wanted was to get through the last few tables and go home. But there was this group of guys, high schoolers by the looks of them, acting like they owned the place. They were loud, obnoxious, and making everyone around them uncomfortable. I'd already asked them once to keep it down, but of course they didn't listen. I walked over trying my best to stay calm, though I could feel the frustration building. Hey guys, I said, putting on a polite but firm tone. I need you to quiet down a bit. You're

disturbing the other customers. One of them, a tall kid with messy blonde hair, looked me right in the eye and sneered. We just came from prom, man. We're trying to have a good time. Why don't you mind your own business? His breath reeked of alcohol, and I knew he wasn't. He wasn't just drinking soda like the rest of them. I held my ground. You've been warned. If you don't settle down, I'll have to ask you to leave. That's when the guy's smirk turned into something darker. Before I could even react, he picked up his drink, a large cup of soda, and tossed it in my face. I stood there, soaked, the sticky liquid running down my neck. For a second, everything went red. I wanted to grab him, to show him he couldn't treat people like that.

But just as I took a step forward, I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Glenn, the owner of the diner, pulling me back. Let it go, Eric, he said quietly, his voice steady. I'll handle this. In the back room, as I wiped the soda from my face, Glenn shook his head. I've never seen you this upset before, he said, his eyes studying me. What's going on? I tried to brush it off, but he didn't buy it.

It's more than the soda, isn't it? He wasn't wrong. For the past few months, it felt like everything was piling up. The long hours, the constant bills, the endless grind. I was exhausted, burned out. But I didn't want to admit it. Glenn crossed his arms leaning against the counter. Eric, you've been working non-stop.

You need a break before you crack. I'm taking you off the schedule for a week. Go home, rest. Get your head on straight. At first I argued, I couldn't afford to take time off, but Glenn wouldn't listen. He was right, though. I needed a break, whether I liked it or not. That night I walked back to my apartment feeling lost. Without work to distract me, what was I supposed to do with myself? As I opened the door, the silence inside felt suffocating. It was just me, alone, with my thoughts, and I didn't like where they were headed. The next morning, I woke up to a loud banging on my apartment door. I wasn't expecting anyone, so I hesitated before opening it. When I did, there stood Damon, my cousin, with his signature cocky grin.

Damon was the kind of guy who always seemed to have it all together, money, confidence, and a lifestyle that couldn't be more different from mine. Hey Eric, Damon said, pushing past me and into the apartment. He looked around at the clutter, raising an eyebrow. Still living the dream, huh? I ignored his jab and asked, What are you doing here? Damon clapped a hand on my shoulder.

I rented a cabin in the mountains for a few days. Figured I'd invite you along. You could use a break. At first I wanted to say no. Damon and I didn't have much in common. He was into hunting and outdoor stuff while I'd rather stay inside, away from bugs and dirt.

But then I remembered Glenn forcing me to take time off and how lost I felt with nothing to do. Maybe getting out of town for a bit wouldn't be so bad. I sighed and nodded. Sure, why not? A few hours later, we were on the road, heading deep into the mountains. Damon's truck was packed with all his hunting gear, rifles, ammo, and enough beer to drown an army. He talked the whole way, mostly bragging about his latest hunting trips, his job, and the new expensive rifle he'd brought along.

I mostly tuned him out, staring out the window as the scenery changed. The trees got taller, the road narrower, and the sky seemed to close in above us. By the time we arrived at the cabin, the sun was already low in the sky. The place was more run down than I expected. The wooden structure creaked as we walked up to it, and the windows were small and dark. Inside it was even weirder. The walls were covered with hunting trophies, deerheads, antlers and animal pelts. It felt like we were stepping into some kind of hunter's museum.

The air smelled musty, and the furniture looked like it hadn't been touched in years. Damon didn't seem bothered at all. He threw down his bags, cracked open a beer, and tossed one to me. This is what you need, man, fresh air, cold beer, and some quality hunting. I took the beer, but my stomach was tight with unease. The cabin felt too quiet, the forest around it too still. Something about this place didn't sit right with me, but I couldn't explain why. As night fell, we sat by the fireplace, drinking. At first, Damon was in a good mood, talking about his hunting plans and how excited he was for me to finally bag a deer. But the more he drank, the more his attitude shifted. He started teasing me about my life, how I worked too much, how I didn't have

any friends and how I was always stuck in that same old apartment. His words were like little jabs, each one hitting closer to home. I tried to shrug it off, but it was getting harder to keep my cool. Finally, when he made some snide comment about how pathetic my life was, I'd had enough. Without saying a word, I grabbed one of his rifles and stood up. I'm going hunting, I said, needing to get away from him and clear my head. Damon just laughed. Good luck, man. Don't Don't get lost out there!" I stepped outside into the cold, dark forest, the rifle heavy in my hands. The trees towered over me, and the air felt thick and damp.

I wasn't a hunter. I didn't even know what I was doing, but right now, being out here felt better than being in that cabin with Damon's insults echoing in my ears. I didn't plan to actually shoot anything. I just wanted some space, some quiet. But as I ventured deeper into the woods, a strange sense of dread, dread started to creep over me. The forest was too quiet. It felt like something was watching me, hidden in the shadows. I don't know how long I walked through the woods, but the further I went,

the darker it got. The trees seemed to close in around me, their branches twisted like claws. The air was colder now, and an eerie mist had settled over the forest floor, swirling around my feet as I moved. I had no real direction, just trying to put as much distance as I had to put as much distance as I could between me and Damon's drunken taunts. I stopped for a moment, trying to catch my breath. The quiet was unnerving. No birds, no insects, nothing, just the soft crunch of my boots on the fallen leaves.

My grip tightened on the rifle, more out of instinct than anything else. I wasn't really planning to use it, but in that silence, the weight of the gun felt like my only sense of security. Suddenly something caught my eye up ahead, a flash of movement through the trees. I froze, squinting through the dim light, trying to make out what it was. My heart pounded in my chest. Maybe it was just a deer. Damon had brought me out here to hunt after all, but something about the way it moved seemed weird. I took a cautious step forward, my pulse quickening. That's when I saw it. Antlers sticking out from a bush just ahead of me. Relief washed over me for a second.

It really was just a deer. But as I moved closer, that relief quickly turned to horror. The deer wasn't standing. It was lying on the ground, motionless, and it was torn apart, ripped open in the most brutal, bloody way I'd ever seen. Its guts were strewn across the ground, its body mangled beyond recognition. The stench hit me like a punch to the gut, and I had to fight the urge to vomit. I'd never seen anything so violent, so wrong.

That's when I heard it, the sound of something large moving through the trees behind me. Heavy, deliberate footsteps. My heart leapt into my throat, and I turned, eyes wide, scanning the darkness. Whatever it was, it was getting closer. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. I couldn't see anything, but I could feel it. Something was out there, something big, and it wasn't scared of me. Suddenly, out of the mist, it emerged.

At first I couldn't process what I was seeing. It was huge, easily over eight feet tall, with dark, matted fur covering its massive body. Its eyes glowed a deep, unnatural red, and its teeth. They were long and sharp, stained with blood. In one of its massive hands it clutched a chunk of meat, likely from the deer it had just mutilated. I stood frozen in terror, my legs refusing to move. The creature snarled, a deep guttural sound that vibrated through the trees. My mind screamed at me to run, but my body was rooted in place.

Then, with a horrifying speed, it lunged toward me. The force of its strike hit me like a truck. I was knocked off my feet, the rifle flying out of my hands as I crashed into the dirt. My head spun and pain exploded through my body as I scrambled to get up. But before I could, the creature was there, towering over me. red eyes locked on mine. I was sure I was going to die. But in that moment of pure panic, my hand found the rifle. Without thinking, I grabbed it and fired. The gunshot echoed through the forest and the creature let out a deafening roar, staggering back as the bullet tore into its shoulder.

I didn't wait to see what would happen next. I ran. I ran faster than I ever had in my life, the sound of the beast's furious howls chasing me through the trees. I had to get back to the cabin. I had to get away. I didn't stop running. My legs burned and my lungs felt like they were going to explode, but I couldn't slow down. Every step felt like it wasn't fast enough. Behind me, the creature's roars filled the night, getting louder, closer, twigs snapped underfoot, and branches scratched at my face, but I didn't care. All I could think about was reaching the cabin. When I finally saw the faint glow of the cabin's windows through the trees, a surge of relief hit me. I burst through the door, slamming it behind me, gasping for breath.

Damon looked up from cleaning one of his rifles, a beer still in his hand. His eyes went wide when he saw me, covered in dirt, blood, and pure panic. Eric, what the hell happened to you? He asked, standing up. We have to get out of here. Now, I shouted my voice shaking. I rushed to the window peeking through the blinds. The trees outside swayed and the distant thud of heavy footsteps told me the creature wasn't far behind. Damon frowned, clearly not understanding the urgency. Calm down, man.

You probably just saw a bear or something. Relax. No, I snapped, turning to him. This wasn't a bear. This thing, it's huge, Damon. And it's coming, right now. Before I could explain further, a loud bang echoed from the side of the cabin. The whole building shook. Damon's face paled. He wasn't laughing now. We both stood frozen for a

moment as the sound of something massive circling the cabin filled the air. It was like the walls themselves were groaning under the pressure. Grab the guns, Damon whispered, his voice tight with fear. He quickly loaded his rifle and tossed another one to me. I barely caught it, my hands trembling. The creature pounded on the walls again, this time harder. The windows rattled. It was testing the cabin, looking for a way in. I backed up, heart pounding in my chest. Damon stood by the door, rifle raised, eyes darting from side to side, waiting for the inevitable. Suddenly, there was a crash. The front window shattered and a giant clawed hand reached through, swiping wildly. Glass flew everywhere, and we both jumped back.

Damon fired. The sound of the gunshot, definitely. in the small cabin. The creature let out a monstrous roar, pulling its hand back, but we knew it wouldn't stop. It was angry now, desperate to get inside. We have to get out of here, I yelled, already heading for the back door. Damon hesitated for a second, but then nodded, grabbing his gear. Another crash came from the front as the door began to buckle under the creature's strength. We didn't have time. Without looking back, we burst out the back door and ran into the dark woods. I didn't know what we were. where we were going, but I knew we couldn't stay there. The creature's roars echoed behind us,

closer now. Every second felt like it was about to catch us, like we were running from the very jaws of death. The forest felt endless, and the darkness swallowed everything, but we kept running, pushing through the trees, slipping on rocks and dirt. The creature's footsteps followed us for what felt like ours, but finally, mercifully, they began to fade. Maybe it had lost interest, or maybe it couldn't keep up. I didn't care. I just knew we were still alive. Eventually we found the road. Damon's truck still parked where we left it. We jumped in and Damon floored the gas. The tires screeched as we sped away from the woods, the cabin shrinking in the rearview mirror. Neither of us spoke the whole ride back. By the time we reached town,

the sun was starting to rise. I was exhausted, every muscle aching, but we had made it out. Barely. As Damon parked the truck, he finally broke the silence. We're never going back there, he said, his voice low. I nodded, staring out the window at the rising sun. Whatever was in those woods, it wasn't something meant to be found. I didn't know what it was, but I knew one thing for sure. I was never going near that cabin, or any forest, again. You said this place was steps from the water. We just haven't found the steps yet. How much did we save? Enough.

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It matters where you stay. Hilton, for the stay. My name is Levi, and I'll never forget that night in the woods. It started out like any other night with my cousins and me playing Manhunt. We had our own version of the game, hiding in teams and trying to sneak around without being caught. My cousin Marty and I were on one team, and our cousin Lorelei and her friend Blaine were on the other. We always played in the woods near Nana's house in Nibo, Louisiana. The woods felt different at night, though.

There was something about the darkness. Marty and I were walking deeper into the forest, looking for a good place to hide. The trees started to look strange the further we went. They weren't random like normal trees. They were all lined up in perfect rows. It gave me the creeps, but I didn't say anything. We found a spot to hide and turned off our flashlights. Everything went completely silent except for the sound of our breathing.

We crouched there for what felt like forever, waiting to hear Lorelei and Blaine coming after us. That's when we heard it, the sound of footsteps. At first it was fan. like someone carefully stepping on dry leaves, but soon the footsteps got closer and louder. There were no bushes to hide in, just trees and piles of dead leaves on the ground. Marty and I exchanged nervous glances. We were sure it had to be Blaine or Lorley trying to sneak up on us. Marty, I whispered, did you hear that? He nodded, his eyes wide. Yeah, but it doesn't

sound like them. I felt a shiver run down my spine. We hadn't seen anyone, and by now, Blaine or Lorelei should have been close enough for us to spot them with our flashlights. Marty's hand shook as he raised his phone and sent a quick text to Lorelei, asking where they were. We sat there in the dark, waiting for a reply, trying not to panic. Then I heard it, a soft rustle, like something moving just beyond the trees. Marty's phone buzzed. He looked at it, and I saw the color drain from his face. Blaine's at the house, he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Lorelei's on Nana's porch.

My heart skipped a beat. If Blaine and Lorelei were at the house, then who, or what, was in the woods with us. Just then, something darted past us, so fast that we could barely see it. Marty jumped up, shining his flashlight around, but all we saw were the rows of trees and the thick shadows between them.

Whatever it was, it wasn't human, and it was fast. I didn't need to say anything. Marty and I locked eyes, and we both knew what to do. We bolted out of the woods running as fast as we could. My feet pounded the ground, leaves crunching underfoot as I tried not to trip. I didn't dare look back. By the time we reached Nana's house, we were both out of breath, hearts racing. We stood there in the safety of the porch, staring into the dark woods.

whatever was out there wasn't Lorelei, Blaine, or any of us, and it wasn't done watching us either. Something was in those woods that night, something fast, something dangerous. A few years after that creepy night in the woods, I figured I had moved on. I mean, nothing weird had happened since, right? But even though I told myself I'd forgotten about it,

the truth is, that night never really left me. Still, life goes on. and as teenagers, my cousins and I found new ways to have fun. That usually meant hanging out on the dirt roads near the oil fields late at night, where nobody bothered us. One night it was me, my cousin Jaden, our friend Gage, and a couple of other friends, maybe E.J., I can't remember exactly. We had this favorite spot on a hill where all the trees had been cleared out.

It gave us a perfect view of the sky. We'd go out there to smoke and drink and just relax, especially on nights like this one, when the stars were bright and the air was cool. The open sky always felt peaceful, but there was something about the quiet that night that made me uneasy. We started walking down the dirt road toward the hilltop, and I was trailing behind, as usual. I was a little buzzed, so I wasn't really in a rush. The others were ahead of me, laughing and talking, their voices fading in and out as I lagged behind. It was kind of calming, but that's when I started to notice Gage acting strange.

He kept glancing back at me, his face looking tense, like something was bothering him. I figured he was just high, so I didn't pay much attention. Finally, we reached our spot. The sky above was wide open, stars sparkling like glitter. I sat down on the ground feeling the cool breeze against my face. That's when E.J. came up to me with this weird look on his face. Hey Levi, he said, Gage is tripping out. He thinks you're a skinwalker or something. I laughed. I thought it was hilarious that

Gage was so high he thought I was a skinwalker. I mean, come on, a skin walker. Those are just stories, right? But then Gage spoke up, his voice dead serious. No, Levi, I didn't think you were a skin walker. I saw something behind you. I froze. What do you mean behind me? I asked. My voice suddenly not so confident anymore. Gage stared at me, his eyes wide. When we were walking back here, I saw something, tall. It was moving behind you, but when I looked again, it was gone. My stomach dropped. Suddenly, I wasn't laughing anymore. Gage wasn't the type to mess around like that, and the way he looked at me, it wasn't a joke. I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. Are you sure you weren't just seeing things? I asked, hoping that he was just too high to know what he saw.

But Gage shook his head. No, man, I know what I saw. Something was following you, Levi. I didn't say anything. I couldn't. My mind was racing, flashing back to that night in the woods, when Marty and I had run from something we couldn't explain. Was it possible that whatever had been out there was still watching us, still following us. That night, I couldn't stop looking over my shoulder, waiting to see something lurking in the shadows. And from that moment on, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was still out there, waiting.

One night, not long after Gage's freaky Skinwalker story, I was hanging out at my parents' house. We live in an even more remote place now, a spot called Possum Point. Yeah, I know, funny name, but the place is anything but. It's quiet, almost too quiet sometimes. The kind of place where, when the sun goes down,

the only sounds you hear are your own footsteps, and maybe the wind rustling through the trees. It's peaceful during the day, but at night, well, it's different. My younger sister, Georgia, used to love walking the dirt roads around our house after dark. She's like me in that way. We've always enjoyed being out there, just soaking in the stillness.

But lately, Georgia had stopped taking those walks. It was weird, and I wanted to know why. One night I convinced her to go on a walk with me. We were going to smoke a blunt, just chill like we used to. She agreed, but she seemed nervous. It wasn't like her. As we started walking down the road, I asked her, What's up?

You don't seem like yourself. Georgia hesitated before answering. I don't really like walking out here at night anymore. I looked at her, surprised. Why not? You used to love it. She bit her lip and finally said, Something happened. Now she had my full attention. What do you mean something? Georgia sighed and told me about the night she had gone for a walk with our outdoor cat. She said everything was normal at first. The cat was following her, meowing like it always did.

But then, out of nowhere, she heard another meow, except this one didn't come from the cat that was with her. It came from somewhere in the woods, just ahead of her. There's only one cat, she said, her voice shaky. So how could there be two meows? A chill ran down my spine. You sure it wasn't just an echo or something? Georgia shook her head. No, it wasn't an echo.

It sounded like, like something was copying the cat. I freaked out and went straight back to the house. I felt my heart start to race. The thought of something mimicking sounds, especially animal noises, made me think of one thing, skinwalkers. I had read about them before. There are these creatures from Native American legend that can mimic animals or even people, but those were just stories, or at least I thought they were. Georgia, I said slowly. Do you know what skinwalkers are? She frowned. Not really, why. I told her

everything I knew, how Skinwalkers were said to imitate sounds to lure people in, how they could even mimic voices to make you think it was someone you knew. By the time I finished, George's face had gone pale. You think that's what it was, she whispered. I don't know, I admitted, but it's starting to feel like more than just a coincidence. We stood there for a moment, staring into the woods that surrounded us. I couldn't shake the feeling that we weren't alone out here. that something was watching us from the shadows. We walked back to the house quickly after that, our heads on a swivel, listening for any sound that didn't belong.

That night, I couldn't stop thinking about the second meow. If something had been copying the cat, what else could it be copying? And what would it want with us? I couldn't stop thinking about what Georgia told me. The meowing in the woods, Gage's story about something following me, and the thing Marty and I ran from in the forest years ago. It all seemed connected somehow. Like whatever it was hadn't left us alone.

It was still out there watching, waiting. The more I thought about it, the more I felt like I needed to face it. I couldn't keep running forever. So one night, I made up my mind to camp out in the woods, alone. It was a dumb idea, I know. But something inside me needed to know if what I feared was real, if there really was something lurking in the woods around Nibo. I packed a small bag, just a flashlight, a blanket, and some snacks, and headed out after dark.

The woods felt different at night, darker than usual. Every sound seemed louder, every shadow longer. I tried to shake off the fear creeping up my spine, but it clung to me, heavy and thick. I reached the clearing where Marty and I had hidden that night. The trees were still in perfect rows, like soul, soldiers standing at attention. I set up a small fire, the flickering flames casting long, dancing shadows all around me. I sat there, staring into the woods, waiting. At first nothing happened. Just the usual night sounds, crickets chirping, wind rustling through the leaves.

But then, after a while, the crickets went silent. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I scanned the tree line with my flashlight, my heart pounding in my chest. The feeling was back, the feeling that I was being watched. I kept telling myself it was just my imagination, but deep down I knew it wasn't. Something was out there, and it was getting closer. Suddenly, I heard it, a soft rustling like footsteps moving through the leaves. My heart jumped into my throat. I shined my light toward the sound, but I didn't see anything.

The footsteps stopped. Silence. I held my breath, my hands shaking. Then, from the opposite direction, I heard it again. Footsteps, this time faster, like something running. I whipped my light around, but there was still nothing. My pulse was racing now, panic clawing at my chest. I grabbed my blanket and stood up, ready to run, but I didn't know which way to go. That's when I saw it. Just for a second, a flash of movement between the trees, something tall, fast, and watching me. I froze, my mind screaming at me to run, but my legs wouldn't move. The thing, it was there, just beyond the reach of my flashlight, lurking in the darkness. I took a step back, my heart hammering in my ears, and then, in the silence, I heard it, a sound that made my blood run cold. It wasn't an animal, it wasn't the

wind. It was a voice, a whisper, soft and clear. My own voice calling out from the woods. Levi, that was it. I turned and bolted, running as fast as I could, the voice echoing behind me. I didn't stop until I reached the house, breathless and shaking. I don't know what that thing was, but I know one thing for sure. It's still out there, watching, waiting, and one day it might come back for me. is California's number one entertainment destination for today's superstars. Catch the Jonas Brothers return to the Yamava Theater stage on April 30th, the powerful vocals of Demi Lovato on May 17th,

and the signature Southern Country Rock of Eric Church on July 19th. Tickets on sale now at Yamavat Theater.com, only at Yamava Resort and Casino, celebrating its 40th anniversary. You win? Must be 21 to enter. The Utah Desert stretched out endlessly in front of us. all red rocks and dusty trails. I'd never seen anything like it. Mark was driving, his hands tight on the wheel as the car bumped along the dirt road.

Emily sat next to him in the passenger seat, flipping through the map we probably didn't need. It was the middle of nowhere, exactly what we'd been looking for. Did you guys know that this area is full of ancient Native American legends? Mark said, glancing at us in the rearview mirror. They say Skinwalkers used to roll. these canyons. I rolled my eyes from the back seat. Seriously, Mark? We're here to camp, not listen to ghost stories. Emily smiled but didn't say anything. I could tell she was already a

little freaked out. Mark had a habit of spouting off weird facts whenever we went on these trips, and this one was no different. Still, something about the way he said skin walkers made me uneasy. I shoved the feeling down and focused on the scenery outside the window. The canyons were beautiful, with towering red walls and narrow crevices that looked like they had been carved out over centuries. It was peaceful, but lonely. After what felt like ours, we finally found a spot to set up camp. It was perfect. No other campers, no sign of civilization, just us and the wild.

We pitched our tents in a small clearing by our camp. rocky ledge. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the canyon. I watched as the colors shifted from orange to deep purple, the sky slowly darkening. We gathered around the fire, eating dinner and laughing about how we were going to survive without cell service for a whole week. Mark told us more about the area, but this time I didn't feel like joking around. The air had changed, it was cooler, and a slight breeze picked up, rustling the bushes around us. There was something in that breeze, a faint sound like whispering, but I couldn't make out what it was. You guys hear that, I asked, my eyes scanning the darkness beyond the firelight.

Emily shook her head, looking a little pale. Probably just the wind, she said, but her voice was unsure. Mark shrugged. It's the desert. it can mess with your senses. I nodded, trying to convince myself it was nothing, but I couldn't shake the feeling that we weren't alone. The shadows seemed to move, just at the edge of the light,

like something, or someone, was watching. I kept telling myself it was my imagination. I mean, we were miles away from anyone else, right? Later, when we crawled into our tents, I tried to sleep, but my mind wouldn't let me. Every time I closed my eyes, I'd hear, something, a branch snapping, footsteps, or maybe just the wind. I didn't know any more. Then I heard it, my name, whispered softly from somewhere outside. Ryan, my heart jumped into my throat.

It was Emily's voice, but when I peeked out of my tent, she was still zipped up in hers, fast asleep. I blinked into the darkness, my breath caught in my chest. I couldn't see anything, but I knew what I heard. It was impossible, but it was real. I laid back down, pulling the sleeping bag tight around me, my pulse pounding in my ears. Something wasn't right. As the fire died down outside, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something much worse. By morning, the strange feeling from the night before hadn't gone away. The air was heavy, like something was lurking just beyond the camp. I shook off the thought and helped Mark and Emily pack up our gear for the day's hike. We planned to explore one of the deeper canyons

nearby, a place we were sure no one else would be. As we started hiking, the sun was already beating down on us. The heat bounced off the canyon walls, making everything feel hotter. The path was narrow, with cliffs towering on either side. It was beautiful, but something about it made me feel small, like we were being swallowed up by the landscape. Every sound echoed, and it made me jumpy. Mark was up ahead rattling off more facts about the area. These canyons have been here for millions of years. People say they hold secrets no one's ever uncovered. He laughed, but his voice didn't have the usual ease it did. I think he was feeling it too, the sense that something was off. As we moved deeper into the canyon, I started noticing things. The rustling in the bushes

that I'd heard last night came back, but this time, it wasn't the wind. I could hear it, something moving, following us. Every now and then I'd look back, but there was nothing there. My stomach tightened with dread. I didn't want to freak out, but I couldn't help it. I could feel it in my bones. We weren't alone. You guys hear that?

I finally asked stopping in my tracks. Emily and Mark turned. Emily's eyes were wide, and I knew she heard it too. Probably an animal, Mark said, but even he didn't sound convinced. coyotes maybe. No way, Emily muttered. Coyotes don't sound like that. We kept walking, but now the mood had changed. None of us said it, but we were all listening for the sound. It came again, closer this time, footsteps. I swear I saw something out of the corner of my eye, something dark and fast, but when I turned, it was gone. We reached a narrow part of the canyon

where the walls closed in, and the trail was barely wide enough to walk single file. That's when the noises got louder, a rustling behind us. Then the sound of rocks tumbling down a slope. We spun around, flashlights out, searching the shadows. Nothing. Ryan stopped looking so paranoid, Mark said, but his voice shook. He was trying to keep it together, but I could tell he was scared. We pushed on, the tension building.

The canyon seemed to go on. on forever, and every step we took felt heavier. My heart was racing, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was right behind us, watching. Suddenly we heard it, loud and clear this time, a voice. Mark, it was Emily's voice, but she was right next to me. She froze, her face pale as a ghost. What was that? She whispered. I didn't answer. I couldn't. We all stood there, frozen, staring into the dark canyon ahead. Let's go back, I said, my voice shaking. But before we could turn around, the voice came again.

This time, it was mine. Ryan, chills ran down my spine. Something was playing with us. Something was out there, and it was getting closer. By the time we got back to camp, the sun was already setting. None of us spoke the whole way back. The air felt thicker, head. heavier, and even the wind seemed like it was whispering something we couldn't understand.

I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being hunted. Emily's face was pale, and she kept glancing over her shoulder. Mark, usually the confident leader, had gone quiet too. His jokes had dried up, and now he just looked tired, like the weight of everything was pressing down on him. I think we should leave tomorrow, Emily said quietly as we sat around the fire that night. This doesn't feel right. Mark shook his head.

We can't just leave. We're miles from the main road, and we'd never make it back before dark. Then let's leave at first light, I said, my voice sounding more desperate than I meant it to. Something's out there, Mark. You can't pretend you don't feel it too. Mark poked at the fire, not looking at either of us.

It's probably just wildlife, coyotes or something. But I could hear the doubt in him. his voice. He didn't believe what he was saying, and neither did I. The fire crackled, but it didn't make me feel safe. It only made the shadows bigger, deeper, like something could be hiding just outside the light, watching us. My skin crawled with the thought. I kept glancing toward the edges of the camp, where the trees and rocks blurred into blackness. Every time the fire popped, I jumped, half expecting to see something standing there. Maybe we're just spoofing. Maybe we're just Spooking ourselves, Mark said, trying to sound casual. People hear things when they're scared.

Emily shook her head, staring into the flames. That wasn't my voice calling your name, Mark. It wasn't me. No one had a response for that. The silence that followed was suffocating. I didn't want to admit it, but she was right. What we had heard out there wasn't something we could explain. It was something else. Something old. Something evil. The hours dragged by, and the fire started to die down. We didn't talk much after that, just sat there, listening to the sounds of the night. I kept hearing rustling in the bushes, but every time I shined my flashlight, there was nothing there. My heart pounded in my chest, and I felt like a rabbit trapped in a cage, waiting for the predator to strike.

Then Mark disappeared. It happened so fast I barely even registered it. One moment he was sitting by the fire, and the next he was gone. His chair was empty, his flashlight lying in the dirt. Emily gasped, jumping to her feet. Mark, I called out my voice breaking. Mark, where are you? No answer.

Just the wind and the whispering sounds that seem to circle around us. Ryan, we need to find him, Emily said, her voice shaking. We grabbed our flashlights and searched the campsite, but there was no sign of him. Panic surged in my chest. Where could he have gone? There was nowhere to go. Just endless darkness and the feeling of being watched. Then, after what felt like hours, Mark came stumbling back into the light.

But something was wrong. His eyes looked glassy, and his movements were slow, stiff, like he wasn't sure how to move his own body. Mark, what happened? Emily asked, rushing over to him. He didn't answer right away. He just stared at her with this strange, distant look on his face. I got lost, he finally muttered, but his voice didn't sound right. It was slower, like it was someone else trying to imitate him.

I took a step back, my stomach twisting with fear. Something wasn't right. That wasn't the mark we knew. We didn't sleep that night, not after what happened to Mark. Emily and I sat close to the dying fire. Our flashlights gripped tightly. in our hands. Mark was back, but something was wrong. He hadn't said much after stumbling into camp, just sat there, staring into the darkness. His eyes looked distant, like he wasn't really with us

anymore. Every time he spoke, his voice sounded just a little off. Emily leaned in close to me. Ryan, I don't think that's Mark. Her words sent a chill down my spine, but I couldn't disagree. I had been thinking the same thing ever since he returned. The way he moved, the way he talked. It didn't feel right. But what could we do? If that wasn't Mark, where was he? And what was sitting next to us?

We need to get out of here, I whispered back. At first light we run. We don't stop. Emily nodded, her face pale with fear. But as the minutes ticked by, the sky still dark and endless, I realized we couldn't wait until morning. The feeling of being watched was growing stronger, the sounds of movement in the bushes creeping closer. Whatever was out there, whatever had taken Mark, was closing in.

Suddenly Mark stood up. His movements were slow, stiff, like he was learning how to use his body all over again. I need to go for a walk, he said in that strange, dragging voice. Emily's hand tightened around my arm. Don't let him go. But before I could say anything, Mark turned and walked into the darkness. My heart pounded in my chest.

I knew we couldn't let him out of our sight, but at the same time, I was terrified of following him. What if we weren't just dealing with a skinwalker? What if it had already taken Mark, and we were next? We have to go, I whispered urgently to Emily. Now, she nodded, her eyes wide with fear. We grabbed our backpacks and flashlights, not even bothering to pack everything.

As quietly as we could, we started to move away from the camp, our footsteps soft on the dirt. The fire had died completely, and the night was so dark that every sound seemed amplified, the crunch of gravel under our feet, the wind whistling through the canyon, and that awful low whispering that seemed to follow us. We had barely made it a few steps when we heard it, Mark's voice calling from the shadows. Emily, Ryan, where are you going? I froze. It wasn't him. It couldn't be him.

My heart raced as I glanced at Emily. Don't look back, I whispered. Just run. We took off down the canyon, our flashlights bouncing wildly in the dark. I could hear something chasing us, its footsteps unnaturally fast, its breath ragged and close. My lungs burned as I ran, but I didn't stop. I couldn't stop.

The narrow walls of the canyon closed in around us, and suddenly we were trapped. Dead end. I spun around, my flashlight shaking as I pointed it into the dark. I could hear it, whatever it was, getting closer. We have to hide, Emily gasped, her voice barely above a whisper. There was a small crevice in the canyon wall, just big enough for us to squeeze into. We shoved ourselves into the crack, holding our breath as we heard the thing,

the Skinwalker, approach. Its footsteps slowed like it knew we were nearby but couldn't see us. for what felt like hours we stayed hidden, not daring to move or even breathe. Finally the footsteps faded, and the whispers stopped. We need to move, I whispered, now. We crawled out of the crevice and kept moving, slower this time, making our way through the canyon. As dawn's light started to creep over the horizon, we saw it, the road. We had made it.

But as we stumbled toward the edge of civilization, something didn't feel. I glanced at Emily, her face covered in dirt and sweat. And then I looked at Mark, who was following close behind us, his expression blank. The road wasn't the end. Something had followed us out of the canyon. Transport your senses with Sol de Janeiro's limited edition perfume mist collection. At Sephora, sprits on lush notes of rainforest orchid and crisp sea breeze with Hefrresco Paraiso.

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months, ever since my dad disappeared. Mom couldn't handle everything after the accident, so she shipped me off to this tiny, creepy town in the middle of the Appalachian Mountains. My aunt was nice enough, but the house was old and smelled like dust and mothballs, and I felt alone all the time. The town felt even worse. quiet, with too many dark corners and fog that never seemed to go away. Maya, Caleb, and Jordan were the only kids who talked to me at school. They weren't bad, but they had all known each other forever. I always felt like an outsider, like I was trying to break into some secret club.

Still, they let me hang out with them most days after school. That's when Maya first brought up the legend. You haven't heard about the path? Maya asked one afternoon, as we sat on the rust. swind swings at the old playground. It was chilly, and the wind kept blowing the dead leaves around in little circles. I shrugged. Nope. What is it? Caleb leaned in, his eyes wide. It's an old trail that only shows up during a blood moon, he whispered, like it was some big secret. If you walk it, you can make a wish. Any wish, but... He paused dramatically. If you step

off the path, the forsaken will get you. I raised an eyebrow. The forsaken? Jordan, who usually didn't talk much, nodded. Spirits of people who walked the path and didn't follow the rules. They're stuck there forever, and if you make a mistake, they twist your wish into something terrible. My stomach did a little flip. It sounded like one of those ghost stories meant to freak people out, but I could tell they believed it. Caleb's older brother had supposedly done it, and he swore it was real. I didn't want to seem like a scared little kid, so I tried to act cool. So when does this blood moon happen? I asked, keeping my voice steady. Tonight, Maya said, her eyes gleaming with excitement. We're going to try it. For a second, I thought about saying no. Something about the way they talked about the path gave me

the creeps, but I didn't want to be the only one who chickened out. I'd already been feeling out of place since I moved here, and if I backed out now, they'd probably never let me forget it. I'm in, I said, forcing a smile. My heart thudded a little too hard in my chest, but I told myself it was just a story. Nothing was going to happen. Meet us by the old signpost in the woods, Caleb said, at midnight. As I walked home that evening, the clouds were thick, but I could still see the edges of the

blood moon starting to rise in the sky. The air felt colder than usual, and the trees lining the road seemed to loom closer, their branches like skeletal hands reaching for me. That night, I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, my stomach churning with a mix of nerves and excitement. The house creaked around me, and every time I closed my eyes, I imagined shadows creeping through the hall. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore.

I grabbed my jacket and my flashlight. It was time. Midnight felt a lot scarier than I thought it would. I crept out of my aunt's house as quietly as I could, closing the door behind me without a sound. The night air was freezing, colder than it should have been for early fall, and the thick fog that seemed to constantly surround this town

was heavier tonight, almost suffocating. The full-blood moon hung low in the sky, glowing a deep red through the mist, casting everything in an eerie light. It didn't feel real. It felt like something out of a nightmare. I made my way down the road toward the old signpost in the woods where we were supposed to meet. My flashlight flickered as I walked, and for a second I thought about turning back.

But I wasn't about to back out now. I was already this far, and I wasn't going to be the only one too scared to go through with it. When I got there, Maya, Caleb, and Jordan were already waiting for me. Their flashlights cast long, thin beams of light that cut through the fog like knives. Caleb was grinning like he'd just won a prize. Ready for the path of the forsaken? He asked. His voice filled with excitement. I swallowed hard and nodded, not trusting myself to speak. All right, Maya said, stepping up to the old, weathered signpost. It looked ancient, with faded lettering and a wooden arrow pointing into the dark forest. This is where it starts.

Jordan, quiet as ever, pulled out his phone and checked the time. It's midnight, he said. We have to do it now. Caleb explained the ritual again, even though we already knew it. Turn off your flashlights, close your eyes, and think of your wish. If we're worthy, the path will appear. I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the button on my flashlight. My mind raced.

Did I really want to do this? But before I could change my mind, the others turned off their lights, plunging us into complete darkness. The fog was so thick. thick, I could barely make out their shapes in the moonlight. Close your eyes, Caleb whispered. I closed them, even though it made my heart pound harder in my chest. I didn't want to be here.

I didn't want to do this. But what choice did I have? I couldn't back out now. In the darkness behind my eyelids I thought about my dad, how he disappeared on that boat months ago, how no one ever found his body. The ache in my chest grew stronger as I made my wish. I wanted him back.

I wanted to see him again, alive and well, like nothing had ever happened. The silence around me was deafening. No one said a word. The air felt heavy like it was pressing down on me. And then, without warning, the feeling changed. The ground beneath my feet seemed to shift. I opened my eyes, my heart racing. The others were gone.

Instead of the old signpost and the familiar woods, there was a path. A narrow, winding trail stretching out in front of me, illuminated by the blood moon's crimson light. The trees were closer now, their branches gnarled and twisted, reaching toward the path like long, bony fingers. I swallowed hard and clicked my flashlight, but it didn't work. I hid it against my hand a few times, but it stayed dead. I looked around, hoping to see Maya, Caleb, or Jordan, but there was no sign of them. It was just me, alone. I took a shaky breath, the cold air burning my throat.

There was only one way to go, so I started walking. I kept walking, the eerie red light of the blood moon casting strange shadows along the path. Every step I took made the air feel heavier, colder. The trees on either side of the trail seemed to press in closer, their twisted branches reaching toward me like they wanted to pull me off the path. The silence was thick. too thick. I could hear my own breathing, loud and shaky, echoing in the cold night air. Then came the footsteps. At first, I thought it was just my imagination. I stopped to listen,

but when I did, the footsteps stopped too. I held my breath, heart pounding in my chest, and waited, silence again. Maybe it was nothing, I told myself, just the wind or something. But when I started walking again, there it was, soft, but steady, like someone was walking just behind me. I spun around, shining my flashlight into the dark trees, but there was no one there. Only more twisted branches and shadows. I gripped the flashlight tighter, my hands starting to sweat despite the cold. Hello? I called out my voice shaky. No response, just the stillness of the forest around me.

I kept walking, but this time faster. The path seemed to stretch on forever, winding through the woods like it was leading me somewhere I didn't want to go. The footsteps were back, closer this time. They followed me no matter how quickly I moved. I could feel something watching me, lurking just beyond the edge of the trees. My throat felt tight, and panic started to claw its way up my spine. After what felt like hours of walking, I saw something up ahead. A flicker of light. I hurried toward it, hoping it was Caleb. Maya or Jordan, but when I got closer, I realized it wasn't them. It was a small cabin, barely standing, with a weak fire burning in a pit outside. The cabin looked like it had been abandoned

for years, the wood rotting and covered in moss. But the fire was new, crackling in the stillness of the night. I hesitated at the edge of the clearing, every instinct telling me to turn around and run. But where would I go? The path behind me seemed. darker than ever, and the footsteps, they'd stopped, but I knew whatever had been following me was still out there. Suddenly a voice cut through the silence. You came to walk the path, didn't you? I spun toward the fire and saw him, a boy about my age standing next to the fire pit. He was pale, way too pale, and his clothes were old, tattered. His eyes were black, like there was nothing inside him. He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. You want your wish.

right, he asked, his voice low and strange. I made my wish too, but I stepped off the path. I took a step back, my pulse racing. What do you mean? He pointed to the trees behind me. They're waiting for you to make the same mistake. Step off the path and the forsaken will get you, just like they got me. Before I could respond, the ground beneath him seemed to open up like a mouth, swallowing him whole. One second he was there, and the next, he was gone. The fire went out, plunging the clearing into total darkness. My heart pounded in my chest and I stumbled back, my breath coming in sharp panicked bursts. I turned, staring at the path ahead, my legs trembling.

I didn't want to keep going, but I had no choice. So I ran, my legs burning with every step. The darkness around me felt alive, like the trees themselves were shifting, closing in on me. The wind picked up, howling through the twisted branches, and I could swear I heard whispers in the gusts, low, menacing voices calling my name. But I didn't stop. I couldn't.

The path seemed to stretch on forever, and every second I stayed on it, the pressure in the air grew thicker, heavier. I could hear the footsteps again, no longer soft but pounding now, like something massive was chasing me. It wasn't just one set anymore. It was many.

Whatever the forsaken were, they were close, and I knew if I stopped, they would catch me. Suddenly, the path took a sharp turn, leading me down a steep hill. My feet stumbled over the rocks and roots, and I almost fell, but I caught myself just in time. At the bottom of the hill, the trees thinned out, revealing a wide ravine, and in the center of it, a black, swirling river. The water looked wrong. It wasn't like any river I'd ever seen. It moved too fast, churning like a whirlpool, and the sound it made wasn't natural. It sounded like something deep and ancient, like a monster roaring beneath the surface.

My stomach dropped. The path led straight to the river's edge, but there was no bridge, no way across. I was trapped. I looked back up the hill. The footsteps were getting louder, closer. The whispers in the wind turned into a growl, deep and hungry. My breath came out in ragged gasps as I scanned the area, searching for any way out. but the only way forward was the river.

As I stood there, frozen in fear, the water began to ripple. Dark shapes started to rise from the riverbed, skeletal hands, black and twisted, clawing their way out of the water. They stretched toward me, their fingers long and bony, reaching for my ankles. Panic shot through me, and without thinking, I backed away. My foot slipped off the path, hitting the muddy ground, and suddenly, the voices in the wind screamed. The forsaken were coming. I could feel it. No! I shouted, scrambling back onto the path. My heart was racing so fast I thought it would burst. I had to do something or I was

going to die. Desperately I pulled out my flashlight, even though it had been dead for hours. My hands were shaking so badly I almost dropped it, but I flicked the switch anyway, hoping for a miracle. The flashlight flickered just once, and a thin beam of light shot out. It wasn't much, but it was enough. The beam hit the river, and to my shock, the water parted. A narrow glowing path appeared across the river, leading to the other side. I didn't think. I just ran. The skeletal hands tried to grab at my legs, but I dodged them, leaping onto the glowing path. My feet hit the solid ground, and I sprinted across, not daring to look back. The air around me was, was filled with screams, and I could feel the forsaken reaching for me, their icy breath on my

neck. But I didn't stop. The moment I reached the other side of the river, the path behind me vanished, swallowed by the darkness. I collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath, my entire body trembling. For a second, everything was still. Then, slowly, the fog around me began to lift. The whispers faded, and the air lightened, like the weight that had been pressing down on me was finally gone. I stood up shakily, clutching my cracked flashlight. In front of me was the edge of the forest. I could see the town just beyond it, and there, waiting at the old signpost were Maya, Caleb, and Jordan. They were laughing, talking like nothing had happened, like they hadn't disappeared. I stumbled toward them, my heart still racing.

Guys? Kaleb turned grinning. Nothing happened, huh? He said. Guess the legend's just a story. I didn't say anything. I couldn't, but I knew the truth. I had barely escaped.

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