Good evening, and thank you for sharing my story.

This encounter still troubles me to this day. It was the summer of 2010 and I had recently turned 13.

My family thought it would be a great summer for a cabin trip, a departure from my usual Boy Scout camp adventures.

We embarked on a journey from our home in Florida to South Carolina, where my grandparents from

Canada would meet us. The cabin we had rented was nestled in a serene location, offering a breathtaking

view of the lake and even its private beach. My excitement knew no bounds as I was the first

to jump out of the car upon our arrival. However, my initial enthusiasm was met with an

encounter that would haunt me for years to come. As I explored the surroundings, I came across a man

who seemed to be in his late 50s, the owner of the cabin.

He greeted me with a warm smile that gradually morphed into an uneasy grin.

This strange reaction caught my attention, but being a shy kid, I decided to move along and

continue my exploration. My curiosity led me to a peculiar circular pit beneath the cabin. It was an unsettling

sight, but it didn't initially bother me. I then spotted a treehouse under construction by the

owner down at the beach. Ignoring his warning to be cautious, I ascended the ladder. The top of the

treehouse was riddled with protruding nails,

but I managed to find a secure spot to stand and gaze back at the cabin. The wood cabin,

while appearing old, exuded an air of sturdiness. It boasted a spacious porch and outdoor storage

underneath, where my attention was drawn once more to the enigmatic

circular pit. It was unlike anything I had ever seen in the woods, resembling a colossal

spinning ball dipped into the earth. I pointed it out to my father, and the owner, who was still

present, casually remarked that a bear used to nest there but had long moved on.

His explanation didn't sit right with me, considering the strange appearance of the pit.

...