Siren Head

7:26 PM

Being a park ranger is the most terrifying job you could possibly get. I didn't know this when I first applied. I thought it would be a piece of cake. I'd just sit up in the watchtower, keep nearby campers in check, and look out for any forest fires. After all that is what I read in the job description. What it failed to mention was the otherworldly terror that roams these woods in Maine.

The sun was starting to set by the time I reached the watchtower. The ranger I was relieving watched me from the tower. He was tall with dark skin and an athletic build. He smiled at me as he descended the spiral staircase of the watchtower. "Hey you're the new guy right?"? he asked shaking my hand.
I nodded smiling.
"I'm Andrew", he said.
"I'm Mark", I said.
"You ever do this before?"
"Nope. This is my first day."
"Come up with me and I'll show you what to do".
A few minutes later he was showing me around the cabin. He showed me the maps, the gun rack, how to use the radio. He wrote down channel numbers I could use in case of a wildfire or other emergencies. As he talked I looked up at the surrounding forest. The landscape was beautiful. As my gaze swept across the trees, I noticed one tree looked a little abnormal. I saw what looked to be two cone shaped branches protruding from the top of the tree.
"Mark? You listening?"
I snapped out of my gaze.
"Yeah. Sorry. I got it."
He finished his instructions and wished me luck before leaving the tower. After he left I looked back to where I saw the awkward tree. But it was gone. I scanned the trees but it wasn't there. I thought that was really bizarre. Was I just imagining it? I knew I had seen it. I decided that it wasn't worth worrying about and proceeded with my shift. Everything changed at nightfall.