Noctivagant

"It was probably around 1:00 AM. My phone had long since died, and I realized that I was now stuck in these endless woods until either help arrived or I, by some miracle, wandered back to civilization. I was already on edge, but every little rustle or movement caused more and more adrenaline to flow through my body. I was really and truly lost. I stepped on a stick at one point and it snapped, scaring the living hell out of me.

Then, I saw something in the distance. A light? Maybe it was a streetlight, or someone here to help me. I rushed towards it, but it disappeared before I was able to reach it. I stood in silence for a moment, and then I heard leaves rustling. Behind me.

That was all it took for me to start sprinting toward where the light had been, or somewhere in that general direction. I couldn’ t tell what it was, but it was definitely alive, and it was definitely after me. A bear , maybe? I kept running, and so much adrenaline was going through my head that I wasn’ t physically capable of feeling tired in the moment. All my brain was telling me was to get the hell out of there. I looked behind me. There were two glowing dots, and they were getting closer. Whatever this thing was (I’ll just call it the Noctivagant* since it’ s one of those fancy words I saw in a book once), it had glowing eyes, and it was faster than me. It reached out what appeared to be a hand and grabbed me by the arm. I swung back to try to deliver a blow, but it grabbed my other arm and pushed me to the ground, pinning me underneath its body. I remember that its skin was very dry and wrinkly, and it freaked me out. After some tussling, I managed to kick this Noctivagant thing off me, and I sprinted away.

After realizing that I was getting nowhere and there was no end to the forest in sight, I hid inside a hollowed-out log. I think it lost me. Whew. After crawling out, my nerves were still shot, but I found my way over to what I thought was a small shack. Just before I got there, though, I was tackled again. I felt a sharp, stabbing pain in my abdomen. After kicking the Noctivagant off of me once again, I booked it toward the shack, and managed to barricade myself inside. Or so I thought. After some struggle, the creature managed to break through. It pushed me backwards into a workbench, and I hit my head, so I don’ t remember much past that. And now I’m here. What else do you want from me?"

Witness testimony (oral) regarding the incident on 10-04-2020 by John Doe

Case #17625, Buncombe County, NC, USA 28711

The witness has signed that they believe this statement to be true to the best of their ability.

This document contains neither the recommendations nor conclusions of the Investigative Task Force (ITF). It is purely witness testimony. This document is being loaned to your agency, and is not to be released outside of your agency.

*Administrative note: Noctivagant - one who wanders the night.

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Inspired by an incident that occurred while a man was stranded deep in the mountain woods at night, Noctivagant embodies the impending sense of dread that comes with the realization that you are not alone in a dim, seemingly never-ending landscape. Through its dark tone and rapid shifting between periods of intense adrenaline and anxious, suspenseful repose, this piece uses its volatility and density to emulate the natural fight-or-flight response that is evoked by the body when it senses and responds to impending danger.

Jacob Alan Smith

May 18, 2024

Recorded June 23, 2024

Vienna Contemporary Composers Festival

Lorely-Saal, Vienna, AT