Sunday, June 7, 2026 - 00:40 AM
A short introduction to in what kind of shit we are.
Ever since I was a kid, people have disappeared around here. No trace. No explanation. Just gone.
Over the years, folks have come up with all kinds of stories about it. Some blame the Appalachians and all the weird stuff people say lives out there—the Mountain People, secret cults, things like that. Others say there's nothing supernatural going on at all. They think it's just people running off into the woods after catching some strange illness or losing the will to keep going.
Whatever the truth is, there's a motel near the edge of town called 'The Rainy Lodge'. The owner keeps a record of every disappearance that's happened since 1938.
The count is 562.
The last one was last week.
It was my friend, Andy.
Three weeks ago, we went exploring in the forest, and yes, I knew it was stupid, but with Andy it was hard to say no. At some point, we got separated. While I was looking for him, I kept hearing scratches in the trees and noises, I tried to convince myself they were just bears or any other animal.
But deep down, I knew better.
When I finally found Andy again, something was wrong. He wasn't just shaken up or injured. He was terrified. The kind of terrified that sticks to a person. I tried talking to him, but he barely answered my questions and kept acting strange. I tried my best to talk to him the coming weeks, but he was so close off...
Then Monday came.
He never showed up to school.
And somehow, before anyone said a word, I already knew why.
It's tough to talk about it, but I have to do this. For him.
- Ada