Everyone has, at one time, or another witnessed something that they can’t explain. Maybe felt the presence or heard voices of someone or something when alone. Or, perhaps seen something in the woods that, in their mind, shouldn’t exist. Imagine hiking along a favorite trail, just you and your Labrador, when suddenly, an eight-foot-tall creature covered in dark hair from head to footsteps into the trail in front of you. Your dog, usually scared of nothing, cowers behind you, whimpering. The creature notices you, turns, glowers and charges. You have no way to defend yourself. You close your eyes praying, knowing that you’ll be torn to shreds any second and there is nothing you can do to stop it. The next thing you know, you realize you’re back at your car, and hours have passed that you can’t recollect. Maybe you have gone to bed exhausted, fallen asleep only to awaken paralyzed? You are fully awake but frozen and held down with a crushing weight on your chest? You can see, feel and think, but you can’t move or speak. Did it feel like there was a presence of someone or something staring at you when suddenly it was gone just as quickly as it came? Have you ever driven a dark, lonely road when you look up into the night sky and see a shimmering light, one that moved in ways that defy the laws of physics? Thousands of eyewitnesses claim very similar events. Others have had similar experiences but cannot recollect the details or the passing of time. The human mind can repress traumatic events in the name of self-preservation, often leaving vague impressions coupled with vivid glimpses of past events. The encounters within are actual events that are not just interesting but shocking and terrifying. I have been fascinated by these stories of cryptid and paranormal encounters. I hope you enjoy these actual encounters as much I had interviewing the witnesses.