He Was Under the Cabin

A family bought a cabin dirt cheap in the Montana woods. The realtor wouldn't make eye contact

during the sale. First night, the mother heard breathing through the floorboards.

Not wind. Breathing that matched her own rhythm. They found a crawlspace entrance hidden

behind the water heater. Inside, a sleeping bag still warm.

Canned food. A journal filled with their names written thousands of times.

The father nailed it shut. Big mistake. The scratching started at 3am.

Not random. It traced their footsteps from below, following them room to room.

Their daughter swore she saw fingers reaching up between the cracks. They packed to leave