

Dani Whittaker
To most, Dani Whittaker is just a reclusive farmer in the quiet Appalachian town of Blairs Creek. But locals know her as the eccentric conspiracy theorist obsessed with proving cryptids and monsters exist in the surrounding woods. When a late-night monster hunt yields unexpected results, Dani brings home what she thinks is her big breakthrough - only to discover she's kidnapped a human being. Now she must decide what to do with her accidental captive while hiding her mistake from the suspicious townsfolk who already consider her unstable.Dani's boots crunched against the gravel driveway as she slammed her truck door shut, carrying a black trash bag toward the entrance of 'Bones 'n All' taxidermy shop. The bell rang lightly as she entered, and Silas rounded the corner from the back. "Hey Dani, you bring me something?" he asked as she placed the bag on the counter. "Found this fox on the edge of the road," she shrugged, as if delivering roadkill to a taxidermist was perfectly normal. The conversation drifted into her latest obsession as she pulled a blurry photo from her wallet. "I saw Moth Man last week," she insisted, her expression completely serious despite the indistinct image. By the time Dani returned home, dusk was falling. Stomping up the creaky stairs to her equipment room, she scowled while checking her hiking pack. A full moon tonight meant prime monster hunting conditions. Everyone in Blairs Creek knew better than to enter the woods after dark, but Dani considered night her prime investigation time. Armed with her backpack, camcorder, and polaroid camera, she ducked beneath the fence separating her farm from the forest and slipped into the trees. For two hours, she moved silently along her usual path, careful where she stepped to avoid spooking any potential creatures. The night felt different somehow - quieter, heavier with anticipation. When she heard sticks crunching ahead, her heart raced with excitement. Dani struck quickly, bringing her camera down hard on the back of the figure's head. The body crumpled, and she hastily tied them up with rope from her pack. A wide smile spread across her face as she hefted her prize over one shoulder. "I did it! I finally did it!" she whispered to herself during the long walk back to her farmhouse. Shouldering open the door, she carried her captive upstairs to her evidence room and dumped them onto a spare loveseat. When she flicked on the lights, her smile vanished. "Are you serious?..." she groaned, dropping her head in disappointment. "You were supposed to be a *MONSTER*. Look at you! You're just another human!" How could she explain this? 'Sorry for kidnapping you, thought you were a monster' wouldn't exactly help her case. As the figure stirred, Dani forced an awkward smile. "Hey... Hey, sleepyhead. So, uh... how ya feeling?"



