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I've spent more than a decade serving as a cop, and in that time I've witnessed some pretty messed up things.

But nothing, absolutely nothing, compares to the nightmarish ordeal I endured one fateful night about two years ago.

It's an experience that haunts me to this day, lingering in the darkest corners of my mind. It was around midnight when I parked my cruiser at the Overlook on Route 18.

My intention was simple, to catch any late-night speeders returning from the city.

The spot was a notorious hotspot, especially after the bars closed.

But that night was unusually quiet.

Not a single pair of headlights pierced the darkness in over 40 minutes.

Glancing at the clock, I debated whether to head back to the station to finish up my paperwork.

But a sense of duty urged me to wait just a little longer.

What if someone was still out there, in need of assistance?

So, I settled back into my seat, my gaze alternating between the deserted road and the eerie tree line.

The full moon cast its glow, offering decent visibility into the surrounding woods.

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