November 30, 2025 • 16 mins
On a quiet Indianapolis night, a seasoned reporter follows a police tip into the dark woods, uncovering footprints, eerie growls, and a mystery that may be bigger than he ever imagined.
IN THIS EPISODE: “Hairy Situation at the Forest Preserve” by Keith Conrad
MORE Stories Like This: https://www.auditoryanthology.com
=====Originally aired: November 30, 2025
EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/hairysituation
ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.
#WeirdDarkness, #BigfootSighting, #IndianaBigfoot, #CryptidEncounter, #Sasquatch, #SomethingInTheWoods, #Cryptozoology, #ScaryStories, #HorrorPodcast, #TalesFromTheBlueLine
IN THIS EPISODE: “Hairy Situation at the Forest Preserve” by Keith Conrad
MORE Stories Like This: https://www.auditoryanthology.com
=====Originally aired: November 30, 2025
EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/hairysituation
ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.
#WeirdDarkness, #BigfootSighting, #IndianaBigfoot, #CryptidEncounter, #Sasquatch, #SomethingInTheWoods, #Cryptozoology, #ScaryStories, #HorrorPodcast, #TalesFromTheBlueLine
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
The following is the story I narrated for the Auditory
Anthology podcast a few months ago. If you'd like to
hear the fully produced version with music and sound effects,
I've pleased a link to the full version in the
episode description. And if you're a fan of classic sci
fi stories from the fifties and sixties, or quirky, short,
creepy stories, you want to subscribe to Auditory Anthology, which
you can do at auditoryanthology dot com. The newsroom at
(00:31):
WGRC Indianapolis was unusually quiet for a late night. The
fluorescent lights buzzed softly overhead, and the distant hum of
computer monitors filled the air. Ben Reid, a seasoned TV reporter,
sat at his desk, nursing a cup of lukewarm coffee
and scrolling through the evening's headlines, hoping for a last
(00:52):
minute story to liven up the night. That's when the
police scanner crackled to life, cutting through the stillness.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Dispatch to moll units, We've got a ten ninety one
e out near the forest Preserve, civilian reports seeing a
large unidentified creature possible animal attack.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Ben's ears perked up, his fingers hovered over the keyboard.
As he listened more closely, the dispatcher continued her tone professional,
but slightly strained.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Civilian is claiming possible bigfoot sighting. Repeat. Suspect is described
as large, hairy, and walking upright. Caller is reporting heavy breathing,
strange noises. Suspect allegedly chased the civilian into the woods.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Ben almost spit out his coffee. Bigfoot. He leaned forward,
turning the volume up. It wasn't every day you heard
something like that on the police scanner. The voice of
Officer Jenkins crackled over the scanner.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Next dispatch, Missus Jenkins, I'm on scene now. It's pretty
dark out here, but we've got some strange tracks in
the mud. Whatever this thing is, it's a big stand by.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
There was a long pause. Ben's heart raced as he
scribbled on a notepad beside him. This was either going
to be a wild story or a complete bust, but
either way, it was too good to pass up. The
scanner buzzed again. This time it was the voice of
Chief Parks, sounding less than thrilled drinkins.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
What exactly do you think we're dealing with here? Because
I'm getting calls from city hall and if this turns
into a circus, I'm holding you responsible. Chief. I'm not
saying it's.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Bigfoot, Jenkins replied, sounding nervous, But.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
There's something out here. I swear she's the civilian into
the woods. We've got tracks and some kind of growling noise. Stayfoot,
Parks grumbled, I'm on my way.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Ben didn't need to hear anymore. He grabbed his camera
gear and his jacket, already half out the door as
the scanner continued to buzz with nervous chatter between officers.
This was exactly the kind of story he needed, and
if it turned out to be nothing, well, at least
he'd get a good laugh. But if it was something,
(03:17):
something more, he couldn't resist the pull of the unknown.
The drive to the outskirts of Indianapolis felt longer than usual,
with the roads stretching into darkened patches of woods, illuminated
only by the flicker of Ben's headlights. As he pulled
up to the scene, the atmosphere shifted. The police had
(03:37):
cordoned off part of the woods, and a few squad
cars were parked along the gravel road, their lights flashing silently.
The air was heavy with tension, Ben parked his car
and grabbed his camera, slinging it over his shoulder. As
he approached, he spotted Officer Jenkins near the edge of
the woods, his flashlight flickering as he spoke to a
group of other Officersnkins was young, visibly nervous, his eyes
(04:02):
darting between the trees, as though expecting something to leap
out at any moment. Jenkins, Ben called, jogging up to
the officer. I heard the call on the scanner. What's
going on out here? Bigfoot? Jenkins glanced at him, his
face pale under the harsh beam of his flashlight. Man,
I don't know. We got a call from some guy
(04:23):
claiming he was chased by something. Said it was huge, hairy,
walked on two legs. I thought it was a joke
at first, but then we found these. He pointed the
flashlight downward, illuminating a set of large, deep footprints in
the mud. They were oddly shaped, much larger than any
(04:44):
normal humans, and they led straight into the woods. Ben
knelt down, aiming his camera at the footprints. They certainly
looked strange, but the skeptic in him couldn't shake the
feeling that this was all just a misunderstanding. It made
for a good story. And you heard something growling, Ben asked,
(05:05):
standing up and wiping the mud off his hands. Jenkins
nodded quickly. Yeah, it was coming from the woods. It
was low, almost like, I don't know, like something big
was out there. Ben raised an eyebrow. Something big. Huh.
And you're sure it wasn't just a dog or a bear,
(05:26):
Jenkins shook his head. Too loud to be a dog
and a bear in Indianapolis, and not likely. Before Ben
could ask more questions, the gruff voice of Chief Parks
interrupted them. Read I should have known you'd show up here,
the chief said, walking over with a scowl on his face.
His presence immediately commanded attention, and the officers straightened up
(05:48):
a little. What are you doing out here? Parks continued,
eyeing Ben's camera suspiciously. I don't need you turning this
into some tabloid garbage. We're dealing with an animal, not
a Ben smirked. I'm just here to report the facts. Chief.
If it's just an animal, I'll let the viewers know.
But if it's something else, Parks rolled his eyes. There
(06:12):
is no something else. It's a wild animal, plain and simple, now,
keep your distance and let us handle this. Ben wasn't
so sure. There was something in the way Jenkins had
spoken about, the growling, the size of the footprints. It
wasn't just a wild animal to him. But Ben knew
(06:33):
better than to push Chief Parks too hard. He get
the footage he needed, then figure out the rest. As
the officers spread out, shining their flashlights into the dark trees,
the tension grew, the wind rustled through the leaves, and
every little noise made the group of officers jump. Ben
followed closely behind his camera, at the ready, waiting for
(06:55):
the moment when something, anything, would reveal itself. The deeper
they went into the woods, the more uneasy everyone seemed
to become. There was a strange stillness in the air,
and Ben couldn't help but feel like they were being watched. Then,
from somewhere deep into trees, there was a loud crash,
(07:17):
something big moving through the brush. Everyone froze. Ben's heart
raced as he pointed his camera toward the source of
the noise, but all he could see were shadows and
the faint low of the officer's flashlights. Jenkins Parks barked
his voice, low, get your men ready, something's out here.
(07:38):
The woods seemed to close in around them as they
moved deeper into the darkness. Flashlights cut through the shadows,
flickering across the trees, but no one dared speak. The
crashing sound had stopped, leaving only the unnerving silence behind.
Ben's camera was rolling, capturing every tense moment, every flicker
(07:59):
of doubt on the officer's faces. Suddenly, another rustling sound
echoed from the underbrush, this time much closer. Ben's pulse
quickened as he zoomed in on the source of the noise.
Officer Jenkins clutched his flashlight tightly, his knuckles white as
he aimed it toward the bushes. Chief Jenkins whispered, I
(08:21):
think it's coming this way. Parks raised a hand, signaling
everyone to stay still. The tension was palpable. No one moved,
no one even breathed, as they waited for whatever was
lurking in the woods to reveal itself. The sound grew louder,
accompanied by a low, growling noise, and then, with a
(08:42):
burst of leaves and twigs, something emerged from the bushes.
Ben's heart leapt in his chest, expecting the worst, but
what stepped out of the underbrush was far from terrifying.
It was a dog, a huge, shaggy, mud covered dog,
dragging a tattered blanket behind it. The creature that had
(09:03):
spooked the officers so badly was wagging its tail lazily,
clearly oblivious to the fear it had caused. The growling
was nothing more than the dog gnawing on the blanket
as it chewed, the noise amplified in the stillness of
the woods. Ben blinked, trying to suppress a laugh as
he turned the camera toward the officers. Jenkins looked utterly baffled,
(09:27):
his mouth hanging open in disbelief. Chief Parks, who had
been ready for action, just sighed, shaking his head. That's it,
Parks muttered, the exasperation clear in his voice. That's our bigfoot.
The dog, completely unaware of the scene it had caused,
wandered up to Jenkins and nudged his leg with its nose,
(09:49):
still dragging the blanket. Jenkins, who'd been terrified moments earlier,
now burst into laughter, bending down to pet the dog.
Ben couldn't help but join in, his chuckles spilling out
as he kept filming. You know this might be the
best bayfoot sighting I've ever seen, he joked, zooming in
on the dog's mud covered paws, which had left the
(10:12):
massive footprints and the ground. The officers, relieved by the
absurdity of the situation, began to laugh as well. One
by one, the tension melted away, replaced by a sense
of embarrassment at how serious the entire thing had been taken.
Jenkins scratched the dog behind the ears, still chuckling. You
(10:33):
had us all scared for nothing, didn't you, buddy. Parks
crossed his arms, trying to maintain some level of authority
in the face of the ridiculous scene. All right, let's
get this mud out of here and clean up, and
let's not tell anyone we got worked up over a dog,
all right, Ben spurred as he lowered his camera, already
(10:54):
knowing this would make for an unforgettable broadcast. The police
officers slowly dispersed, laughing off the night's events and heading
back to their squad cars. Chief Parks gave Ben a
nod before he left, muttering something about not turning this
into a circus on the morning news. Soon it was
just Ben and the quiet Woods again. He backed up
(11:17):
his camera gear, still grinning at the absurdity of the
bigfoot scare, and took one last look at the darkened trees.
As he slung his camera bag over his shoulder and
turned to leave, a soft rustling sound came from the
woods behind him. Ben froze, listening intently. It wasn't the
same noise the dog had made earlier. This was heavier, slower,
(11:43):
like something large moving deliberately through the underbrush. He glanced
over his shoulder, squinting into the darkness. Jenkins. He called,
half expecting one of the officers to have returned. No answer.
The rust grew louder, and Ben felt a prickling sensation
crawl up the back of his neck. His instincts told
(12:05):
him to leave, but curiosity got the better of him. Slowly,
he turned on his camera, aiming it toward the noise.
For a long moment, there was nothing, just a quiet,
eerie stillness of the woods, And then, in the faint
beam of his camera's light, something moved. It was massive,
easily seven or eight feet tall, with broad shoulders and long,
(12:29):
heavy limbs. Its body was covered in thick, matted fur,
and its eyes glinted in the darkness Ben's breath caught
in his throat as he tried to process what he
was seeing. It was too far away to make out clearly,
but there was no mistaking the size or shape of it.
It wasn't a person, and it definitely wasn't a dog.
(12:52):
The creature stood still for a moment, watching him. Ben's
heart rased as he fumbled with the camera, trying to
adjust the focus. The air felt thick with tension, and
for the first time that night, he wasn't laughing. Suddenly,
the creature let out a low, guttural sound, a noise
that reverberated through the trees and sent a chill down
(13:12):
Ben's spine. It turned and disappeared into the shadows, moving
with an eerie grace for something so large. Ben stood there, stunned,
his camera still rolling, but unable to capture anything more
than the fading outline of whatever had been watching him.
(13:33):
For a long moment, he didn't move. Then slowly he
lowered the camera and let out a shaky breath. Maybe,
he muttered to himself, I won't mention this parts on
the news. Ben stood there for a long moment, his
heart still pounding in his chest as he stared into
(13:55):
the dark, silent woods. His camera was still rolling, capturing
nothing but shadows and the eerie stillness of the trees.
Whatever he had seen, or thought he had seen, was gone, now,
vanished into the underbrush as quickly as it had appeared.
Taking a deep breath, Ben clicked off the camera and
(14:17):
slung it back over his shoulder. He had no explanation
for what just happened, and part of him wasn't sure
he wanted one. As he walked back to his car,
the image of the creature's hulking shape lingered in his mind,
the size of it, the sound it made, the way
it moved so fluidly, disappearing into the night. Ben had
(14:40):
always prided himself on being a skeptic, but tonight the
night had shaken him and away he couldn't quite explain.
When he reached his car, he glanced back at the
woods one last time. The police had left the lights
from their squad cars fading into the distance. The area
(15:01):
was deserted now, and an unsettling quiet had settled over
the scene. For a moment, Ben thought he saw something
move between the trees, a shadow, a flicker of motion,
But when he blinked. It was gone. As he drove
back toward the city, his phone buzzed with a message
from his editor, the usual late night instructions to make
(15:24):
sure the footage was ready for the morning news. Ben
smirked thinking about how the headline would play out. Indianapolis
Bigfoot scare turns out to be local dog. It was harmless,
funny even, and it would be the perfect feel good
story for the early morning crowd. As far as the
world was concerned, Bigfoot didn't exist. The scare had been
(15:48):
nothing more than a stray dog and a good laugh.
But Ben ben knew better. As he pulled onto the highway,
the lights of the city glowing faintly in the distance,
he couldn't shake the feeling that something was still out there,
lurking in the woods, watching, waiting. He wasn't sure what
(16:14):
it was, and maybe he never would be, but for
now he had a story to tell, just not all
of it.
The following is the story I narrated for the Auditory
Anthology podcast a few months ago. If you'd like to
hear the fully produced version with music and sound effects,
I've pleased a link to the full version in the
episode description. And if you're a fan of classic sci
fi stories from the fifties and sixties, or quirky, short,
creepy stories, you want to subscribe to Auditory Anthology, which
you can do at auditoryanthology dot com. The newsroom at
(00:31):
WGRC Indianapolis was unusually quiet for a late night. The
fluorescent lights buzzed softly overhead, and the distant hum of
computer monitors filled the air. Ben Reid, a seasoned TV reporter,
sat at his desk, nursing a cup of lukewarm coffee
and scrolling through the evening's headlines, hoping for a last
(00:52):
minute story to liven up the night. That's when the
police scanner crackled to life, cutting through the stillness.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Dispatch to moll units, We've got a ten ninety one
e out near the forest Preserve, civilian reports seeing a
large unidentified creature possible animal attack.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Ben's ears perked up, his fingers hovered over the keyboard.
As he listened more closely, the dispatcher continued her tone professional,
but slightly strained.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Civilian is claiming possible bigfoot sighting. Repeat. Suspect is described
as large, hairy, and walking upright. Caller is reporting heavy breathing,
strange noises. Suspect allegedly chased the civilian into the woods.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Ben almost spit out his coffee. Bigfoot. He leaned forward,
turning the volume up. It wasn't every day you heard
something like that on the police scanner. The voice of
Officer Jenkins crackled over the scanner.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Next dispatch, Missus Jenkins, I'm on scene now. It's pretty
dark out here, but we've got some strange tracks in
the mud. Whatever this thing is, it's a big stand by.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
There was a long pause. Ben's heart raced as he
scribbled on a notepad beside him. This was either going
to be a wild story or a complete bust, but
either way, it was too good to pass up. The
scanner buzzed again. This time it was the voice of
Chief Parks, sounding less than thrilled drinkins.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
What exactly do you think we're dealing with here? Because
I'm getting calls from city hall and if this turns
into a circus, I'm holding you responsible. Chief. I'm not
saying it's.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Bigfoot, Jenkins replied, sounding nervous, But.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
There's something out here. I swear she's the civilian into
the woods. We've got tracks and some kind of growling noise. Stayfoot,
Parks grumbled, I'm on my way.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Ben didn't need to hear anymore. He grabbed his camera
gear and his jacket, already half out the door as
the scanner continued to buzz with nervous chatter between officers.
This was exactly the kind of story he needed, and
if it turned out to be nothing, well, at least
he'd get a good laugh. But if it was something,
(03:17):
something more, he couldn't resist the pull of the unknown.
The drive to the outskirts of Indianapolis felt longer than usual,
with the roads stretching into darkened patches of woods, illuminated
only by the flicker of Ben's headlights. As he pulled
up to the scene, the atmosphere shifted. The police had
(03:37):
cordoned off part of the woods, and a few squad
cars were parked along the gravel road, their lights flashing silently.
The air was heavy with tension, Ben parked his car
and grabbed his camera, slinging it over his shoulder. As
he approached, he spotted Officer Jenkins near the edge of
the woods, his flashlight flickering as he spoke to a
group of other Officersnkins was young, visibly nervous, his eyes
(04:02):
darting between the trees, as though expecting something to leap
out at any moment. Jenkins, Ben called, jogging up to
the officer. I heard the call on the scanner. What's
going on out here? Bigfoot? Jenkins glanced at him, his
face pale under the harsh beam of his flashlight. Man,
I don't know. We got a call from some guy
(04:23):
claiming he was chased by something. Said it was huge, hairy,
walked on two legs. I thought it was a joke
at first, but then we found these. He pointed the
flashlight downward, illuminating a set of large, deep footprints in
the mud. They were oddly shaped, much larger than any
(04:44):
normal humans, and they led straight into the woods. Ben
knelt down, aiming his camera at the footprints. They certainly
looked strange, but the skeptic in him couldn't shake the
feeling that this was all just a misunderstanding. It made
for a good story. And you heard something growling, Ben asked,
(05:05):
standing up and wiping the mud off his hands. Jenkins
nodded quickly. Yeah, it was coming from the woods. It
was low, almost like, I don't know, like something big
was out there. Ben raised an eyebrow. Something big. Huh.
And you're sure it wasn't just a dog or a bear,
(05:26):
Jenkins shook his head. Too loud to be a dog
and a bear in Indianapolis, and not likely. Before Ben
could ask more questions, the gruff voice of Chief Parks
interrupted them. Read I should have known you'd show up here,
the chief said, walking over with a scowl on his face.
His presence immediately commanded attention, and the officers straightened up
(05:48):
a little. What are you doing out here? Parks continued,
eyeing Ben's camera suspiciously. I don't need you turning this
into some tabloid garbage. We're dealing with an animal, not
a Ben smirked. I'm just here to report the facts. Chief.
If it's just an animal, I'll let the viewers know.
But if it's something else, Parks rolled his eyes. There
(06:12):
is no something else. It's a wild animal, plain and simple, now,
keep your distance and let us handle this. Ben wasn't
so sure. There was something in the way Jenkins had
spoken about, the growling, the size of the footprints. It
wasn't just a wild animal to him. But Ben knew
(06:33):
better than to push Chief Parks too hard. He get
the footage he needed, then figure out the rest. As
the officers spread out, shining their flashlights into the dark trees,
the tension grew, the wind rustled through the leaves, and
every little noise made the group of officers jump. Ben
followed closely behind his camera, at the ready, waiting for
(06:55):
the moment when something, anything, would reveal itself. The deeper
they went into the woods, the more uneasy everyone seemed
to become. There was a strange stillness in the air,
and Ben couldn't help but feel like they were being watched. Then,
from somewhere deep into trees, there was a loud crash,
(07:17):
something big moving through the brush. Everyone froze. Ben's heart
raced as he pointed his camera toward the source of
the noise, but all he could see were shadows and
the faint low of the officer's flashlights. Jenkins Parks barked
his voice, low, get your men ready, something's out here.
(07:38):
The woods seemed to close in around them as they
moved deeper into the darkness. Flashlights cut through the shadows,
flickering across the trees, but no one dared speak. The
crashing sound had stopped, leaving only the unnerving silence behind.
Ben's camera was rolling, capturing every tense moment, every flicker
(07:59):
of doubt on the officer's faces. Suddenly, another rustling sound
echoed from the underbrush, this time much closer. Ben's pulse
quickened as he zoomed in on the source of the noise.
Officer Jenkins clutched his flashlight tightly, his knuckles white as
he aimed it toward the bushes. Chief Jenkins whispered, I
(08:21):
think it's coming this way. Parks raised a hand, signaling
everyone to stay still. The tension was palpable. No one moved,
no one even breathed, as they waited for whatever was
lurking in the woods to reveal itself. The sound grew louder,
accompanied by a low, growling noise, and then, with a
(08:42):
burst of leaves and twigs, something emerged from the bushes.
Ben's heart leapt in his chest, expecting the worst, but
what stepped out of the underbrush was far from terrifying.
It was a dog, a huge, shaggy, mud covered dog,
dragging a tattered blanket behind it. The creature that had
(09:03):
spooked the officers so badly was wagging its tail lazily,
clearly oblivious to the fear it had caused. The growling
was nothing more than the dog gnawing on the blanket
as it chewed, the noise amplified in the stillness of
the woods. Ben blinked, trying to suppress a laugh as
he turned the camera toward the officers. Jenkins looked utterly baffled,
(09:27):
his mouth hanging open in disbelief. Chief Parks, who had
been ready for action, just sighed, shaking his head. That's it,
Parks muttered, the exasperation clear in his voice. That's our bigfoot.
The dog, completely unaware of the scene it had caused,
wandered up to Jenkins and nudged his leg with its nose,
(09:49):
still dragging the blanket. Jenkins, who'd been terrified moments earlier,
now burst into laughter, bending down to pet the dog.
Ben couldn't help but join in, his chuckles spilling out
as he kept filming. You know this might be the
best bayfoot sighting I've ever seen, he joked, zooming in
on the dog's mud covered paws, which had left the
(10:12):
massive footprints and the ground. The officers, relieved by the
absurdity of the situation, began to laugh as well. One
by one, the tension melted away, replaced by a sense
of embarrassment at how serious the entire thing had been taken.
Jenkins scratched the dog behind the ears, still chuckling. You
(10:33):
had us all scared for nothing, didn't you, buddy. Parks
crossed his arms, trying to maintain some level of authority
in the face of the ridiculous scene. All right, let's
get this mud out of here and clean up, and
let's not tell anyone we got worked up over a dog,
all right, Ben spurred as he lowered his camera, already
(10:54):
knowing this would make for an unforgettable broadcast. The police
officers slowly dispersed, laughing off the night's events and heading
back to their squad cars. Chief Parks gave Ben a
nod before he left, muttering something about not turning this
into a circus on the morning news. Soon it was
just Ben and the quiet Woods again. He backed up
(11:17):
his camera gear, still grinning at the absurdity of the
bigfoot scare, and took one last look at the darkened trees.
As he slung his camera bag over his shoulder and
turned to leave, a soft rustling sound came from the
woods behind him. Ben froze, listening intently. It wasn't the
same noise the dog had made earlier. This was heavier, slower,
(11:43):
like something large moving deliberately through the underbrush. He glanced
over his shoulder, squinting into the darkness. Jenkins. He called,
half expecting one of the officers to have returned. No answer.
The rust grew louder, and Ben felt a prickling sensation
crawl up the back of his neck. His instincts told
(12:05):
him to leave, but curiosity got the better of him. Slowly,
he turned on his camera, aiming it toward the noise.
For a long moment, there was nothing, just a quiet,
eerie stillness of the woods, And then, in the faint
beam of his camera's light, something moved. It was massive,
easily seven or eight feet tall, with broad shoulders and long,
(12:29):
heavy limbs. Its body was covered in thick, matted fur,
and its eyes glinted in the darkness Ben's breath caught
in his throat as he tried to process what he
was seeing. It was too far away to make out clearly,
but there was no mistaking the size or shape of it.
It wasn't a person, and it definitely wasn't a dog.
(12:52):
The creature stood still for a moment, watching him. Ben's
heart rased as he fumbled with the camera, trying to
adjust the focus. The air felt thick with tension, and
for the first time that night, he wasn't laughing. Suddenly,
the creature let out a low, guttural sound, a noise
that reverberated through the trees and sent a chill down
(13:12):
Ben's spine. It turned and disappeared into the shadows, moving
with an eerie grace for something so large. Ben stood there, stunned,
his camera still rolling, but unable to capture anything more
than the fading outline of whatever had been watching him.
(13:33):
For a long moment, he didn't move. Then slowly he
lowered the camera and let out a shaky breath. Maybe,
he muttered to himself, I won't mention this parts on
the news. Ben stood there for a long moment, his
heart still pounding in his chest as he stared into
(13:55):
the dark, silent woods. His camera was still rolling, capturing
nothing but shadows and the eerie stillness of the trees.
Whatever he had seen, or thought he had seen, was gone, now,
vanished into the underbrush as quickly as it had appeared.
Taking a deep breath, Ben clicked off the camera and
(14:17):
slung it back over his shoulder. He had no explanation
for what just happened, and part of him wasn't sure
he wanted one. As he walked back to his car,
the image of the creature's hulking shape lingered in his mind,
the size of it, the sound it made, the way
it moved so fluidly, disappearing into the night. Ben had
(14:40):
always prided himself on being a skeptic, but tonight the
night had shaken him and away he couldn't quite explain.
When he reached his car, he glanced back at the
woods one last time. The police had left the lights
from their squad cars fading into the distance. The area
(15:01):
was deserted now, and an unsettling quiet had settled over
the scene. For a moment, Ben thought he saw something
move between the trees, a shadow, a flicker of motion,
But when he blinked. It was gone. As he drove
back toward the city, his phone buzzed with a message
from his editor, the usual late night instructions to make
(15:24):
sure the footage was ready for the morning news. Ben
smirked thinking about how the headline would play out. Indianapolis
Bigfoot scare turns out to be local dog. It was harmless,
funny even, and it would be the perfect feel good
story for the early morning crowd. As far as the
world was concerned, Bigfoot didn't exist. The scare had been
(15:48):
nothing more than a stray dog and a good laugh.
But Ben ben knew better. As he pulled onto the highway,
the lights of the city glowing faintly in the distance,
he couldn't shake the feeling that something was still out there,
lurking in the woods, watching, waiting. He wasn't sure what
(16:14):
it was, and maybe he never would be, but for
now he had a story to tell, just not all
of it.
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