Thread by @gr3gory88

I'm sorry I haven't said anything in a while. I've been staying in a motel about an hour outside of town. When I left the house that night, I just kept driving until I felt like I was far enough away to feel safe.

I called a locksmith but they weren't able to come out right away, and there was no way I was going back to the house without new locks. So I've been waiting it out here until I can go back. Basically doing nothing. Jumping at every little sound and feeling crazy.

Finally, a couple days ago, the locksmith called back and said he'd come out, so I checked out of the motel and got in my car to drive home. It was a pretty long drive back, and the closer I got to the woods the worse I felt.

In my head I knew going back was wrong, but I can't just leave for good. I don't know. I can't explain it. I can't leave. I don't expect anyone to understand. I don't even understand.

Anyway, I drove past town and reached the woods, where the roads get worse and harder to drive on. They get twisty as you drive up to the house, and you have to be careful not to hit deer. I almost always see a dozen or so deer on my drive, but today there were none.

Not a single deer in sight. In fact the woods seemed a lot quieter than usual. I could've been imagining it, but something definitely seemed off. I was almost ready to turn around when something darted across the road.

It was so fast that I wasn't sure I saw it at all. I panicked and swerved off the road and into a deep groove by the roadside. By the time I realized what had happened the thing was gone.

I have no idea what it was—it was just a blur. But it wasn't a deer. It was red. Red like blood.

Worse, my car was stuck. It's my mom's old car, this weak little two wheel drive, and I couldn't manage to get it out of the groove. I sat there for a long time trying to figure out what to do.

I knew it wasn't a good idea to walk the rest of the way but if I didn't, I'd miss the locksmith and I'd have to either spend the night in the house with old locks, or go back to the motel, which I couldn't afford.

I wasn't too far from the house, so it made the most sense to walk the rest of the way and call a tow truck from home. I needed to meet the locksmith, anyway. So I got out and started walking.

Once I was outside, I realized I'd been right about the woods seeming quieter than usual. I couldn't even hear any birds. It was dead silent. My footsteps seemed so loud. Every twig that cracked under my shoe sounded like a bone breaking.

I was periodically checking my phone's GPS to make sure I was heading the right way. I had just rechecked my route and was about to put my phone away when I saw something that made my heart sink.

It was another one of those artifacts. Like the ones I'd seen on my first day here. But it had one of my gloves tied to it, from the rainstorm last week. When I left my clothes by the fire to dry, there was a pair of gloves with them.

I knew that woman had taken my clothes that night, and this just confirmed it. I also knew I'd find the rest of my clothes before I even saw them. And sure enough I found more of those artifacts not far from the first.

I found my other glove, my socks, and a bandana. Everything from that night except for a sweatshirt I'd been wearing.

I left them alone this time. I didn't want to touch them. All I wanted to do was get back to house, get the locks changed, and call a tow truck. I started jogging a bit, wanting nothing more than to get away from those stick things.

But after a while I started to think that I should've been home already. I slowed my pace and took out my phone, but it wouldn't calibrate this time. It couldn't seem to locate me in the GPS.

Still, I could hear the lake off to my left, which meant if I kept walking alongside it I should get to my house eventually. So I kept moving and tried not to think about getting lost.

I must've gotten turned around because I was walking for what seemed like ages. I found myself in a part of the woods that seemed unfamiliar. I had no idea where I was. And then suddenly I saw something off in the distance.

Something bright white, almost seeming to glow against the dark trees.

I couldn't figure out what it was from a distance, so I went closer, trying to be as quiet as I could. When I actually got close enough to see what it was, my mouth literally fell open.

It was eggs. Huge eggs. All in a cluster, like a nest.

They were enormous. It's hard to explain their size, but you can sort of see them in relation to my boot here.

I felt like I was dreaming. Before I even knew what I was doing, I touched one. I couldn't help myself. It was warm. I had a sudden urge to smash it and see what was inside, but then just as quickly decided against it.

I felt sick, like I was going to throw up if I didn't leave right away. I left the clearing and tried to listen for the lake, then headed in that direction.

I got to the lake shore and felt a little better. Since I was out of the trees I had a better view of my surroundings, and I was able to pinpoint my house a ways down the shore. I never thought I'd be so happy to see it.

The rest of the way back I felt like I had vertigo. I couldn't make sense of everything that had just happened. I still can't. I reached the house and somehow felt a little better once I was inside.

The locksmith arrived a little bit later and changed out the locks. I watched him work in a daze. I also had him install deadbolts. I called a tow truck and they got my car out of the ditch. But now I'm alone again and I can't stop thinking about what I saw.

I can't figure any of this out. I don't know what's happening. I know I should leave but I just can't. I can't. At least nobody can get inside tonight. At least I'm safe inside.