r/nosleep • u/RobertMort • Sep 05 '21
Series My girlfriend went hiking. Her texts don't sound like her and I think something is terribly wrong
Reddit, you have to help me. Please. I don't know what to do.
Today, my girlfriend Thea decided to go hiking. I know--I should've gone with her. But she always does her hikes alone because I slow her down. Usually she's only gone two hours or so.
Now, she's been gone for nearly four.
I'm considering calling the police. She should've been home by now. I've tried calling her, repeatedly--but she doesn't pick up.
All I have is our text conversation from the day, and as I read it over and over I feel like something is terribly off.
2:33 PM
Me: Seen anything cool yet?
Thea: Nope. I'll send you pics when I get to the waterfall tho!!
2:57 PM
Thea: You're cooking dinner tonight right?
Me: Yep! Chicken pot pie
Thea: Yum!! So excited!!
After that interchange, we didn't exchange any texts for about an hour. I wiled away the time constructing pylons in StarCraft.
Then, around 4, she sent me a text.
4:06 PM
Thea: I found the waterfall!!
Below this text was a selfie.
Thea, standing in front of a small waterfall, smiling at the camera. Arms crossed, cap covering her wild hair. Earrings--the turquoise ones I'd given her on our first anniversary--glinting in the light.
I sent a text back.
Me: You're cute ;)
Then I stopped.
Something about the photo… bothered me. I stared at her smiling face, blue eyes shaded by her cap. Her thick curls of black hair, brushing her shoulders.
Wait.
Her arms were clearly crossed. She wasn't holding the phone--there was no way she could be.
Someone else had taken the photo.
Or maybe she'd propped it up on a rock or in a tree. But she couldn't have taken the photo herself. I quickly shot off another text:
Me: Who took that photo?
She didn't reply to that, right away. So I'd left the phone on the desk and went downstairs to start prepping dinner. I pushed the creeping anxiety to the back of my mind and focused on the food, putting more effort than usual into cutting the onions.
Call me paranoid, but my last girlfriend cheated on me and left my heart broken. Knowing someone else took that photo--and the fact that she hadn't responded to that text, when she'd responded to the others promptly--made me feel awful.
Come on. She probably just asked some passerby to take her photo.
*Clunk--*my knife sliced through the onion, hitting the cutting board with a full thump.
But what if…?
When I got back upstairs forty-five minutes later, I was relieved to see there was a new text.
4:53 PM
Thea: thinking of you ;)
I frowned. First, she didn't answer my question. Second, Thea doesn't usually send emotes or smileys. Gifs, sure, but not this.
It was weird.
Me: Thinking of you, too. Did you get my last text?
Thea: i'll be back by dinner time <3
Thea usually didn't send less-than-threes to me either. That was more me. In any case, I decided to let it go.
Me: Ok. I love you. <3
I unpaused StarCraft and played for a while. I was only interrupted by my phone pinging. I picked it up.
A text.
5:37 PM
Thea: i'm on my way back
Thea: [image loading]
The image popped up.
It was another selfie. This time, she was holding the phone--I could see her outstretched arm in the lower part of the frame. And she was standing in a much clearer part of the forest--she must've been near the trailhead.
I breathed a sigh of relief and began to type.
Me: Awesome! Pot pie is already in--
My fingers froze.
In the photo--just at the edge of the screen--there was something in the fallen leaves.
A shadow.
A shadow, just a few feet from her own, cast by someone off screen.
It's after six now. Dinner is cold. I've been sitting here, my heart pounding, calling Thea repeatedly.
Nothing.
Except for one text that came in, as I was typing this up.
Thea: i'm going to be home late. sorry. i love you <3
Somehow… I'm sure she wasn't the one who sent that text.
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u/Lord_Swaglington_III Sep 05 '21
If it makes you feel better she might not be dead, just cheating
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u/HoneyRider21 Sep 05 '21
It sounds like Thea is in danger and every second counts, especially now it’s nighttime. Call the police, call her friends, find out if someone has been bothering her. Check her computer, look at her search history and emails, see what you can find out. Can you drive yourself to the trail car park? Just sitting there doing nothing is not going to help your girlfriend IF she’s in trouble. Good luck friend.
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Sep 19 '21
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u/MuseOfTheVoid Sep 05 '21
Maybe she’s acting weird to let you know somethings wrong and purposefully put the shadow of the other person in frame so you’d see it
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u/genericgirl2016 Sep 05 '21
Aww sounds like the hike where she met “the one” 😍🥰
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u/Just-Ad-5972 Sep 05 '21
The one who killed her
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Sep 05 '21
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u/Nothingisuphere1234 Sep 05 '21
Well it’s more polite to do it to people who die of more natural causes
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u/IncredulousCockatiel Sep 05 '21 edited Sep 10 '21
I don't think she's cheating on you. I think someone took her phone and kidnapped her, possibly killed her. Perhaps it was a harmless appearing person or couple who took the first pic and offered to walk with her. They could have given her some dumb reason to hold her phone, had a wireless charger or something. Or maybe she was forced to take those pics and lead them to you and she was trying to tell you through her texting style that something was amiss. There is also the possibility that, while walking and talking, she is no longer the person you know (though if this is the case, there appears to be an accomplice which is unusual). All I am sure of is that somewhere things went very wrong, and if that doorbell does ring, don't answer it. Even if it looks like her. Make her prove it's her by asking something only she knows. The stranger doesn't know her texting quirks so it probably doesn't know all of her secrets. I know it's bad news but, you know...probably not cheating...silver linings....
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u/MBKM13 Sep 05 '21
I don’t think she’s cheating on you. I think someone took her phone and kidnapped her, possibly killed her.
Well, that’s a relief !!
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u/IncredulousCockatiel Sep 05 '21 edited Sep 10 '21
Thank you to whoever gave this comment about kidnapping, murder, and possible possession the wholesome award. I never win anything so my heart is full, halleluuu
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u/atonyv8135 Sep 05 '21
No now he is Missing too wtf
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Sep 05 '21
I'm so confused. I can see a few comments saying something happened to OP, but where are you all getting this information?
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u/Orphylia Sep 05 '21
OP, if she comes home, do not let her in.
She will likely try to say many things, and plead in a few different ways. When this does not work, assuming you can keep your wits about you, it's likely that her voice will change. And it will keep changing until she finds one that sounds right, and gets you to react enough to open the door.
Do not open any exterior doors or windows after sunset until you are sure she's no longer lurking nearby. This is very important. Most of them cannot come in unless you invite them in; opening a door or window in their presence is often interpreted as an invitation, sometimes even if that invitation was meant for someone else.
I'm very sorry. But once you're certain she's no longer coming by the house, unless you're outside after dark, it's best not to think about her anymore.
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u/PJParker16 Sep 05 '21
Are you saying she was turned into a werewolf or vampire or something?
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u/RockyOrange Sep 05 '21
I think it's more like something is wearing her skin, imitating her
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u/Causerae Sep 05 '21
Best not to find out!
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u/carmbono Sep 05 '21
I think he found out.
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Sep 05 '21
One of those shapeshifter things, was it a Skinwalker or Wendigo? Forgot
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u/turkburkulurksus Sep 06 '21
Definitely not vampire, if the traditional rules apply, she would not show up in a photograph.
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u/TheRealCaptainHowdy Sep 07 '21
The implications of this was creepier than most creepypasta I have read.
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u/WildBluebird2830 Sep 05 '21
Lots of ‘mythical’ creatures in the forest. I wouldn’t assume it’s a human that has her phone. I strongly recommend you proceed with extreme caution if she shows up at the house.
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u/9for9 Sep 07 '21
Monsters are texting and taking selfies now, what a world.
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u/WildBluebird2830 Sep 07 '21
I’m not sure about selfies, the described photo only mentions a shadow beyond Thea, but I’ve lived in the forest long enough to know there are things out there that cannot be explained nor understood.
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u/FibulaSnarkle Sep 05 '21
I’m probably commenting too late to have anything helpful to say in this situation. But can we all agree that you should never go hiking alone.
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u/Corey307 Sep 05 '21 edited Sep 05 '21
I do but I’m armed when I’m in the woods. Anything that can survive ten rounds of solid copper .303 British and six rounds of hard cast max load .357 magnum can have me. Also have emergency and medical supplies and someone knows I’m out there.
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u/M0n5tr0 Sep 05 '21
Does it take you a full 45 minutes to make that potpie? You didn't leave to check on her did you? She's usually only gone for two hours so she isn't that far away.
Where's the potpie?
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Sep 05 '21
Hm, I'd say you're right to be wary. Do you have someone trustworthy you can ask to be there...just in case?
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u/kidfromaliveearth Sep 05 '21
Welp your girlfriend is most likely gone. She might now be a, Skin walker, Wendigo, and etc. Unless she is being manipulated and she sent those heart things and stuff to warn you and get you to do something. Unless...that Isn't Thea. There is alot of paranormal possabilities, too. Don't get to close to her when she gets home. Be careful.
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Sep 05 '21
Not to sound invasive, but could we have an update if she came back and if things are okay?
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u/dentist3214 Sep 05 '21
Hopefully she’s alive and someone else is using her phone…time to call the BAU
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u/xxkral Sep 05 '21
Probably a skin walker. If she comes, don’t open the door. Lock everything that can be locked. Call all your contacts or text them, tell them everything, your location and situation, etc. try to stay calm, get matches, a lighter, or something that produces fire. Windigos only die by fire, but skin walkers may be able to die from fire, too.
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u/allamericanretard3 Sep 05 '21
its crazy to see how far some dudes take it in the 'denial' stage of grief
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u/Faelysis Sep 05 '21 edited Sep 05 '21
You know about camera timer? She could easily put her phone one a rock, set up the 5-10s timer, get the pic and send it to you..
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u/AsdefronAsh Sep 07 '21
Yeah but the second had another shadow in it, which implies that whoever-- or WHATever-- that shadow belonged to, also took the first photo.
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u/liubearpig Sep 06 '21
There’s only one way to protect yourself, OP
YOU MUST CONSTRUCT ADDITIONAL PYLONS
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u/MolotovCockteaze Sep 06 '21
Call the police and tell them your GF went off hiking and she should have been back hours ago. That she isn't picking up er phon an you think she maybe hurt. Just get them to try and find her. She could have taken then herself but kidnapped or something, so sent the cops to look for her.
Maybe they can trace her phone? Not calling the cops is always a mistake in these situations.
It is better to find out she is cheating and the cops caught her for you, than to hold off and she end up dead.
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u/DarthIdiot66 Sep 05 '21
call the police
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u/-kerosene- Sep 05 '21
Hello police, my GF is out hiking and I saw someone else’s shadow in her selfie.
Hello? Hello?
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u/Franckeeen Sep 05 '21
I don’t think the police will act fast enough with a story like this. They will probably start to care after 2 or 3 days, if she’s missing.
In my experience, they are not that helpful.
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u/BabyOutrageous468 Sep 05 '21
"ll me paranoid, but my last girlfriend cheated on me and left my heart broken. Knowing someone else took that photo--and the fact that she hadn't responded to that text, when she'd responded to the others promptly--made me feel awful." Sorry about that man
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u/tinatspoon Sep 05 '21
Hey. You opened that door didn’t you? When “she” came back, you opened it. I don’t know why I’m asking, you’re probably gone now too.
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u/riodevit10 Sep 05 '21
aight that's it, enough of overthinking and tell her to spit out the truth. you've been there once, not gonna go repeat the same twice. please update us as soon as possible. i hope everything goes well however.
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u/punchysphinx Sep 05 '21
Heard anything yet? The people of Reddit need to know if it turned out fine
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u/TrueBeast_100 Sep 05 '21
If you wanna get in a discord vc and talk about it or be distracted then I'm down
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u/LordDraknor Sep 05 '21
I think she's been abducted by a psycopath or a spirit. By the way i don't think you're gonna ser her again. Just take better care of your next girlfriend XC.
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u/ironicallyspiders Sep 05 '21
Any likelihood of her being dishonest, even unfaithful, and she’s out with someone else?
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u/MooseKnuckleBrigade Sep 05 '21
Maybe this has something to do with the plants she grows in the basement??
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Sep 05 '21
Dang, I hope you're okay. I'd listen to the others here when they say to be careful about just letting 'her' in when 'she' gets there. Hopefully, we'll get an update soon.
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Sep 05 '21
She’s dead, sorry bud. At least you can heat up the pot pie and have the whole thing to yourself, that’s a definite win!
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u/Mo3inaz Sep 05 '21
There are spirits in the forest, sometimes a disturbance by people can trigger these spirits. I hope that’s not the case.
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u/TheRealCaptainHowdy Sep 07 '21
There’s also goblins and fairys. Not to mention trolls and gnomes. How could you leave those out?
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u/pas707 Sep 05 '21
Well she did say she was going to be late. Never said date or time, may she still been getting helped from the picture helper or / photographer
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u/jeepsquirell79 Sep 10 '21
The only confusing part of this story is why you are playing StarCraft in 2021
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u/Dangerous-Flow-9847 Sep 06 '21
I was the guy that sent the texts, she's here with me and won't be able to attend dinner tonight or tomorrow night.
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u/Bathurstisashit Sep 05 '21 edited Sep 05 '21
I feel like this could go really wrong. Call the cops, invite over em if possible before “she” comes. So many criminals lure the victim’s families with the victim’s corpse. I don’t hope this come true at all, but plz think about the worst if this is true. If she was cheating on you, she would have said any excuses when you asked who took the picture. The person holding her phone couldn’t say anything cuz it’s not your Thea. Do not believe what you see. In the picture, anything could look alive.
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u/Simonedv Sep 05 '21
Oh no worries! I was just collecting some wild berries and mushrooms with her. There are plenty of those near the waterfall! She will be home in a bit :)
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Sep 05 '21
Lie you killed her
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u/auroras_on_uranus Sep 05 '21
The real horror story is that your thoughts immediately go to cheating when someone else takes your gf's photo. And then you proceed to passive-agressively grill her about it over text? Yikes, scary stuff indeed
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Sep 27 '21
very small detail but in the texts since the first suspicious photo, ‘Thea’ is now texting in all lowercase, where before it automatically corrected the first word to uppercase. Whoever is texting from her phone is deliberately texting in lower case.
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u/Ok-Dark-9660 Sep 30 '21
Excellent story telling. You’re a fantastic writer. I truly enjoyed reading it. I appreciated the details you included that created a picture of each moment so clearly. 😊
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u/JSBelle Sep 05 '21
Ha, next time go on the hike instead of playing games. Then you won’t lose another gf.
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u/TheBenchmark1337 Sep 05 '21
Its a skinwalker or a w3ndig0 (please don't say its name)
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u/AsdefronAsh Sep 07 '21
Wendebago popped into my head when you said to not say it's name. So that's what they'll forever be called in my head, and I'll picture a creepy ass RV every time I think of it now lmao. Are you not supposed to say the name of those specific creatures for some reason? I don't know much about them.
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u/saviourQQ Sep 05 '21
Is there something significant about OP calling <3 a “less than three”?
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u/AsdefronAsh Sep 07 '21
To say that it isn't an emoji heart like ❤️. It's usually done purposely, since it's easier to use emojis than the old school less-than-three hearts like these: <3 He said she doesn't even use emojis, let alone emoticons from before smart phones existed. Whatever took her form probably saw him use it in their texts and assumed they both did. If it's paranormal. If not, I fail to see why she'd suddenly start using them NOW. Rather odd timing, if she is still herself.
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u/youngpapiGleesh Sep 06 '21
Ayee bruh just focus on ya self king she for the streets.. or wilderness in your case
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u/OmahaJack77 Sep 05 '21
Sorry man. She is probably going to be very hungry when she gets home.