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The original was posted on /r/nosleep by /u/lost_ghost2920 on 2024-12-26 03:01:52+00:00.

First of all if you haven’t read Part I or Part II go do that, or else you won’t understand.

I’m sure now, it has to be a skinwalker. Or a changeling. Something that takes people and wears them like masks. Everything I’ve found online points to this. All the weird stuff at the campsite, the way Kane’s been acting, it all fits. It all fucking fits.

I can’t sleep anymore because I know what this means for Kane. He’s gone. Really gone. I’ve spent hours desperately searching for answers, clicking through endless forums and websites until my eyes burned from the blue light. There was this one thing, this tiny sliver of hope about a Navajo healer who might, MIGHT, be able to help, but who am I kidding?

Once they take your face, it’s gone forever. And hell, maybe I’m wrong about everything. Maybe it’s not even a skinwalker. The internet’s full of lies and I’m losing my mind trying to separate truth from fiction. I don’t know what to do anymore. Kane’s gone.

Back to the story, you know how in part I, I said shit had gotten a lot worse, yeah let me catch you up the rest of the way. Kane had left last night, that’s when I went on my internet frenzy of collecting information. I still can’t figure out what it wants with my family. This is a long shot.

It seems as if whatever entity or force took my friend’s face was completely unprepared for the complexity of human relationships and the myriad of connections that come with it. As time passed by, more and more people began to notice the oddities surrounding my friend’s disappearance.

Whatever it may be quickly became aware of the growing suspicion surrounding his behavior. Initially, I believe it was merely trying to learn the nature of human life, perhaps learning how to mimic emotions and social cues in order to fit in. But now it has shifted its focus.

Now, I can’t shake the feeling that it’s on the hunt once more, seeking its next victim, its next face to wear like a mask. The uncertainty is what chills me to the bone. Will it target Kane’s family?! Or perhaps my own family, who remain blissfully unaware? The thought of it preying on an innocent stranger is equally disturbing. The possibilities are endless.

What had me is stumped is what drives a creature to abandon the wilderness? Perhaps the shadows of the forest no longer satisfied its hunger, hunger can drive animals to odd things.

That morning, desperation drove me to some questionable choices. I found myself following instructions from the darkest corners of the internet, stumbling around my house with burning sage like some cut-rate exorcist. I even caught myself browsing sketchy websites for silver bullets, and when you’re seriously considering buying ammunition from someone called “WolfSlayer420,” you know you’ve hit rock bottom.

Kim noticed something was wrong before I even worked up the courage to tell her. During our phone call that afternoon, while the bitter smell of sage still hung in the air, her voice carried that edge of worry I’d been dreading.

“You’re not yourself,” she said. I tried to play it cool, brush it off with a laugh, but you can only pretend for so long that your world isn’t unraveling. The truth kept clawing its way up my throat, demanding to be heard.

I hesitated, my voice barely above a whisper. “Kim, I need to tell you something. It’s going to sound crazy, but I think something’s seriously wrong with Kane.” The words tumbled out, a mix of fear and desperation.

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, I wondered if she was still there. “What do you mean?” Her tone mirrored the turmoil brewing inside me.

I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. “I don’t know, exactly. But ever since we went camping, he’s been… different. He’s been stalking my family, watching me, saying things that don’t make any sense.” My voice cracked as I forced out the words. “Kim, I think he wants to hurt me.”

The silence that followed was oppressive, weighing heavily on my chest. And then, a soft laugh drifted through the phone, sending a chill down my spine. It started as a gentle, amused sound, but quickly escalated into a maniacal chuckle that made my blood run cold. “Shawn, don’t be silly. Everything is perfectly fine.”

My heart sank, a sense of unease creeping over me. This wasn’t the Kim I knew. “Why are you acting like this?” I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady.

“YOU’RE the one acting weird, Shawn,” she shot back, her tone dripping with malice. “Not me.”

I felt a shiver run down my spine. This wasn’t Kim. It couldn’t be. “Kim, this isn’t you,” I said, trying to reason with her. “Did Kane do something to you?”

“Shawn, everything will click soon.”

I didn’t hesitate. I hung up the phone, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. Who could I trust now? If my own girlfriend was under some kind of mind control, how long would it take for whatever was terrorizing me to claim everyone I loved?

I dove deeper into my research, desperate for answers. That’s when I stumbled upon more legends of skinwalkers, witches in animal clothing, with the power to manipulate minds and take on human form. I was in over my head, but I had no choice. I had to stop this before it was too late.

Every creak of the floorboards, every rustle of leaves outside, made me jump. I felt like I was being watched, always. The birds perched on the power line outside my window seemed to be staring at me, their beady eyes boring into my skin. Even my neighbor’s dog, once a friendly companion, now seemed sinister, its gaze following me wherever I went. I didn’t know how to escape this hell I was trapped in.

I was losing my grip on reality, and there was no one to turn to. I tried calling Joshua multiple times, but he didn’t answer. A creeping sense of dread whispered in my ear that maybe Kane had already struck, that maybe it had taken one of their faces, and maybe it was already too late. I tried calling Kane, but he didn’t pick up either. The silence was deafening, and my mind was racing with even more worst-case scenarios.

And then, a message from Diane’s phone. Kane’s mom.

“hi Shawn”

My heart skipped a beat as I hesitated, unsure how to respond. “Diane? What’s up?”

“haha"

“Diane?” I tried again.

“haha"

I knew then that my worst fears had come true. “Kane…?” I typed, but the text said “read” below it, and no reply was sent. The silence was yet again oppressive, a heavy weight that crushed my chest again. I knew that Kane had taken his mom’s face, that Kane and Diane were probably dead, with no chance of returning.

I collapsed onto my bed, knees pressed to my chest, and my face buried in my hands. The tears flowed like a river, and I wept for what felt like hours. I was losing control of my life, and I knew it. The thought of being helpless, of being unable to save my friend, his family, or even myself, was suffocating.

As I sat there, consumed by despair, I realized that these logs were my last hope. If anyone ever saw this, I wanted them to know the truth. Don’t go camping, if you do, bring sage, a silver bullet, and some gall, because that’s what it’ll take to survive whatever is happening to me.

I took a deep breath, wiped away my tears, and steeled myself for what was to come. I would do more research, try to find a way to stop this, no matter how slim the chances.

And then, my phone rang. Joshua. He didn’t say why, but he told me to come to the house immediately. My heart skipped a beat as I hesitated, unsure if I could trust him. But I knew I had to take the risk.

I snuck into my mom’s room and grabbed the gun she thought we didn’t know about, hidden in her underwear drawer. It wasn’t a silver bullet, but it was better than nothing. At least, if something happened, I’d be prepared.

I took a deep breath, feeling a sense of trepidation wash over me. What was waiting for me at Joshua’s house? Was it a trap, or a chance to finally uncover the truth? I didn’t know, but I was ready to face whatever was coming my way.

I’m writing this as I’m on my way to Joshua’s house, my heart racing with every passing mile. I have no idea what to expect, but I know it can’t be good. I’ll write more after whatever happens, but for now, I’m praying to whatever god is listening to keep me safe. I’ll need it.

Oh God, this is so much worse than I thought. I had just arrived at Joshua’s house, and my mind is reeling. There are five cop cars parked outside, and I can feel a sense of dread creeping over me. I got out of my truck, and that’s when Joshua came charging at me like a linebacker, tackling me to the ground. I felt my head hit the concrete, and a searing pain shot through my skull, like a migraine mixed with blunt force trauma.

As I struggled to catch my breath, Joshua screamed at me, his face twisted in rage. “What the fuck happened to Kane?! What do you know, you little shit?!” Spit flew from his mouth, hitting me in the face, and I felt a wave of fear wash over me.

The police officers rushed over, pulling Joshua off me, but not before he landed a few more blows. “Mr. Dunham, calm down!” one of them shouted, but Joshua was beyond reason. “You know something you’re not telling me! You see what he did to my Diane?! What’d you do to my son?!”

I couldn’t focus on the pounding in my head, not with Joshua’s anger and fear radiating towards me like a palpab…

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