<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0E29W9_1GpglLs700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0E29W9_1GpglLs700" width="803" height="839" ><figcaption>A short story from Parallels Magazine written by Sky Doll.</figcaption></figure><h2>From the journal of Gregory Whitmore:</h2>December 10Due to the unusually large amount of snow we received last night, I am unfortunately trapped in my cabin for the foreseeable future. I have enough food and alcohol to last at least another week, if I ration it well. My only fear is running out of firewood, which I only have approximately three days’ worth. For now, I will simply hope the weather clears enough for me to forge a path to town.December 13It has finally ceased to snow; however, it is far too cold to make any attempt to get to town. Although it has lasted longer than expected, I am running quite low on firewood; this concerns me.In addition to the lack of firewood, I have also been hearing strange things in the night. Sometimes it is a faint knock on the door, sometimes it is the sound of heavy breathing by my window. Perhaps it is simply my isolation getting to me. Nevertheless, I am on guard. Who knows what wild animals are out in this forest.December 18I managed to make it outside to reach my firewood supply, but I am running out of food. The strange noises at night have increased in frequency as well, and I could have sworn I saw something moving behind the trees when I went outside. Of course, it could simply be paranoia, but I am almost certain I am not alone in this forest. Whatever the creature may be, I fear it may be as cold, hungry, and afraid as I am, which may make it aggressive.Tomorrow I am going to attempt to reach town, as food supplies are dwindling.December 19I heard a voice from somewhere deep in the trees. I was on my return trip from town when I heard something that resembled human speech, but not quite. It is difficult to describe, but it sounded as though someone was speaking made-up words with a garbled voice. I did not stick around to find out what it was. My need for self preservation triumphs over my curiosity for what lurks in the woods.On the positive side, I have acquired at least another week’s worth of food and firewood. It was wonderful to re-enter society after over a week of isolation. As a pillar of the community, I am sure everyone was lost without me. I look forward to when the weather gets even better and allows me to once again make my daily treks into town.December 20The weather was considerably nicer today. I decided to go hunting; I must not let my fear prevent me from enjoying myself on my own property. Besides, if I come across anything dangerous, I have a shotgun with me. Why I did not come up with this before, I have no clue.Once outside, I spotted a snowshoe hare that looked just a tad bit… odd. Its ears were disproportionately large, like they were a sketch drawn from memory. Its eyes stared into my soul, unnaturally purple, with a primal fear in both its eyes and mine. I aimed my shotgun at it, and it dashed away into the snow-covered landscape.December 21I spotted a strange deer outside my window last night. Its antlers were far too complex, and its legs far too long. It had the same purple eyes as the snowshoe hare from yesterday. I am now focusing my journal entries on tracking my experiences with this creature.December 23The continual sounds at night disturb me. It is no longer just heavy breathing and the occasional knock at the door. I can hear garbled attempts at speech from whatever lurks in the shadows.December 26Entries have been scarce and simple as of late, but there is nothing really to report. It’s always the same sounds at night, and the occasional odd-looking deer, hare, squirrel, et cetera. That is all.December 28It was a man. I do not know how to describe what I saw today. I was walking around town, and I saw a man who I just knew was that creature. His limbs were just a bit too long, his hands had extra fingers, and when he turned to look at me, his eyes were the same purple hue I’ve seen so many times before. I fear what it might do to attempt to impersonate me, should it end my life.December 29Whatever this monster is, it’s tormenting me. It takes a different form each time, but I know it’s the same creature. Its eyes have the same unnatural purple hue, and its body is always disproportionate to whatever it’s trying to imitate. It runs away each time I bring out my shotgun, but it always returns. I hear it at night, too. It raps on the door more and more every night, and rambles on with nonsensical sounds outside my window.Perhaps it is madness, perhaps it is not. I have lost too much sleep to care.December 30I fear I am going mad. I see this creature in its many forms quite consistently at this point, and each time, I am filled with a sense of dread unlike anything I have ever felt before. Perhaps I am dying, and these sightings are merely hallucinations. It fits no description of anything I have ever read about; I’ve been doing my research on the local fauna. I dare not speak to my fellow townsfolk about it, for fear of judgment and tarnishing my good reputation with rumors of insanity.December 31I sit alone in my cabin tonight, toasting to the new year in hopes that my torment will end. A wolf howls somewhere in the distance. It may be a real wolf, it may be the mysterious creature. Who knows, and who cares? If I died alone in this forest, would anyone notice? Will my status in the community matter, when all that is left of me is rotted flesh and bone? If the monster catches me, will the townsfolk launch an investigation to hunt it down? Or will they find a body lost to madness and illness, convinced it was running from a shape-shifting monster that did not exist?January 1Perhaps I had a bit too much to drink last night. I checked my journal this morning to find a rather depressing entry I don’t quite remember writing. I’ve awoken with newfound clarity in my mind, though; the drinks certainly helped me sleep for once. So far, a good sign for the new year.January 2It continues to taunt me in the forest. I know I’m not simply going mad from isolation; I’ve been going to town consistently whenever the weather is clear. It cannot be madness. I will not succumb to monsters of my own making; it must be real. Something is taunting me in these woods, and I’m going to find out what.January 3I did not sleep a wink last night from all the racket this thing keeps making. I’m sick of it. I’m going to hunt it down. I’m going to kill it.The Pinevalley Press, Obituaries SectionGregory Whitmore was found dead and buried in the snow on January 4. A search team was sent out to find him after an avalanche occurred on January 3, destroying his cabin and burying him alive. He was found 50 feet from his cabin with his shotgun buried nearby. These journal entries were found among the wreckage in his home. Pinevalley village has lost a respected man.</div></body>

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Due to the unusually large amount of snow we received last night, I am unfortunately trapped in my cabin for the foreseeable future. I have enough food and alcohol to last at least another week, if I ration it well. My only fear is running out of firewood, which I only have approximately three days’ worth. For now, I will simply hope the weather clears enough for me to forge a path to town.

Creature Feature: Journal of Gregory Whitmore

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Due to the unusually large amount of snow we received last night, I am unfortunately trapped in my cabin for the foreseeable future. I have enough food and

Creature Feature: Journal of Gregory Whitmore

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