I went for a run and saw an old woman sitting alone in the park, asking for my help. She looked frail, dressed in a long coat despite the summer heat. She waved me over gently, her voice barely above a whisper, saying, “Please… can you help me get home?”

At first, I slowed down, instinctively stepping closer. But something felt… off. Her eyes weren’t desperate — they were calm. Too calm. Her tone didn’t match the situation. It was like she was reading from a script.Suddenly, I got this strong gut feeling — leave.My stomach tightened. The hairs on my arms stood up. Everything in me was screaming, “Get away.”So I made up a quick excuse, nodded politely, and jogged off, trying not to look back.

An hour later, I’m home, sipping water, when the news comes on.
“Breaking news: Authorities are searching for a group suspected of luring people into isolated areas using elderly decoys. A similar incident happened just today at a local park, where witnesses say a woman was seen asking strangers for help before disappearing into the woods. Police believe she wasn’t alone.”