SC EP:1243 I saw something I'll never forget

John writes "Hey Wes, I'm writing from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. I've been a regular listener for several years. When I was 14, back in July or August of 1994, I took my small scooter down a rough dirt road used by the local power commission to access power lines. About half a kilometer in, the terrain got too difficult to keep going, steep dips and uneven ground, so I shut the bike off to take a break. It was a warm, sunny day around midday. Out of nowhere, everything went completely silent. The best way I can describe it is like someone put ear protection over me. I had never experienced anything like that before. As I looked back down the path I had just come from, I saw something I'll never forget. About 500 feet away was a creature that looked somewhat like an African lion, but… not right. Its eyes were solid black, and it had a full mane around its head. I couldn't see its hindquarters clearly because they were partially obscured by trees and brush. It was on all fours. The closest comparison I can make is that it resembled what some people describe as a Dogman." At that point in my life, I was a paperboy with excellent eyesight, and I saw all kinds of dogs on my route regularly. This was not a dog. I was absolutely terrified. There was something about it that felt wrong, almost like it didn't belong in this world. I can still remember its mane moving slightly in the breeze and the intense, predatory stare it had locked on me. After about 10–12 seconds of just staring at each other, I tried revving my little 70cc bike, hoping to scare it off. It didn't react at all. After another several seconds, it slowly backed into the woods without ever breaking eye contact. That's when it hit me, I had to go back the same way I came. There was no other way out. I was genuinely afraid it might circle around or ambush me if I stayed any longer, so I made the decision to go. I sped past the spot as fast as that little bike would take me, pretty much expecting it to come crashing out of the woods at any moment. About seven years later, I told a friend who lived in that area about what I saw. He told me his father had reported seeing something very similar around that same time. For context, I later spent 10 years working as a police officer and have seen a number of unusual things during that time, some of which might be worth sharing as well. One other detail that's always stuck with me: around that same period in my life, I had also experimented with a Ouija board, and that led to an experience that still bothers me to this day. I'm 45 now, and it's something I've never fully shaken. If this is something you'd be interested in, I'd be happy to talk more. Best regards,"