Stay Out of the Woods: Strange Encounters, Volume 10: Stay Out of the Woods, #10

By Tom Lyons

The woods have fascinated outdoor enthusiasts for millennia. Thousands seek solace in the beauty of nature while exploring the lush forests of our planet. But sometimes, folks find something that doesn't want to be found—dangers that should only lurk in the corner of your eye. If you buy this book, prepare to be shocked, scared, and even terrified.

These are your survival stories, your terrifying encounters, your impossible tales with the most frightening creatures on Earth no one wants to believe because they're too terrifying—and they don't like us.

The Stay Out of the Woods series offers readers a uniquely different, chilling, and unfiltered perspective about the most bizarre, dangerous, and unexpected encounters with nature's most elusive creatures.
 

Get it now.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tom Lyons Books
• Release date: Mar 15, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224125807

Book preview

Report #1

In modern times, nature is used to help calm the mind and combat stress. It can be so effective, making it easy to neglect how dangerous it can be.

Good morning, Mr. Lyons,

I’m contacting you to inform you of something I watched happen to my buddy, Phil, while we were on a camping trip in Florida eight years ago. I had taken him out to the Everglades to help distract his mind from his recent divorce, for I worried he might drink himself to death without the supervision of someone who cares for him. The separation from his wife had already done a number on him, but he went utterly berserk once the court granted her full custody of their baby boy, Nathaniel. The child was about 18 months old, and Phil never stopped talking about him since the day he entered his life. I couldn’t know all of the reasons why his spouse had left him, but I still sensed it was a tad extreme to take that child away indefinitely, regardless of how hard he was struggling with his vice.

I’m worried I’m tainting Phil’s image by revealing those details, but it’s necessary to help make sense of what happened to him during his final moments. The truth was that he was a good guy, and no one could convince me otherwise. Therefore, I don’t believe he deserved what happened to him. But enough of my opinions; I’ll let you judge for yourself.

Early in the afternoon, we pulled up to a spot that looked like a prime camping location. We had a nice view of the swampland just beyond the edge of the woods, and I thought it looked like the perfect place for my friend to attempt to decompress.

We had a great first night, considering what Phil was going through. We stayed active, walking all over the area, spotting some rare mammals and amphibians, and even talking about Phil’s recent drama in a therapeutic fashion. I got the sense that he was making noticeable mental progress by trying to look at things in a new light. But unfortunately, shit hit the fan the following day.

I woke up to Phil sobbing early that morning. His crying was barely loud enough for me to hear it over the moderate rain, for our tents were about ten yards apart.

Hang in there, buddy, I called out, wanting him to know I was awake and willing to talk if he wanted. Everything is going to be A-okay, you’ll see.

No—no, it’s not! he angrily replied. I could immediately tell by his tone that he was nearing rock bottom. Still, I didn’t panic because I had recently read that it’s critical for people undergoing difficult times to reach that point sooner rather than later instead of lingering above it. They need to get to a position where they can begin ascending. I supposed that’s why the expression it’s only up from here exists. I was thinking carefully about what to say to him when I heard Phil unzip his tent and storm out.

I probably already would’ve been outside if it hadn’t been raining. It would’ve been better to speak to Phil at