The Black Maw

FILE: RURAL-INCIDENT-112-97

Document Type: Sheriff’s Report (Handwritten)

Recovered From:                  County Archives, Montana

Date: December 18th, 1997

Incident Location: Halver Farm, Five Pines Road

Classification: Unexplained Fatal Incident

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT — Document #1

Written by: Sheriff Amos Lyle Date: Dec 18, 1997

December 12th Mrs. Halver called again. Said she heard “pacing” on the roof. Third time this week. I told her it was probably raccoons. She said raccoons don’t breathe like that.

Sent Deputy Givens out there. Nothing found. Just scratch marks near the windows. Likely the dog. They’ve got that mutt, Buckley. Big thing, half-shepherd.

December 13th Mr. Halver found four of his chickens dead. Not eaten. Just crushed. Like someone stepped on them with a steamroller. Coop was still locked.

Buckley won’t go near the coop now. Apparently he’s been hiding under the porch, whining. That dog used to bark at thunder.

December 14th Neighbors, the Klines, reported hearing howling. Long, low howl. Said it made their youngest cry in his sleep. Sounded “wrong,” they said. Said it came from all sides.

I don’t like this. Could be a bear, maybe rabid. Could be some sicko messing around.

December 15th Halver’s youngest, Nate (9), was found outside the house barefoot at 2AM. Said he was “following the dog with the big mouth.” Family said Buckley had been locked inside all night.

Nate drew the dog for me. All black. No eyes. Just a mouth too wide for its head, filled with blunt teeth. I don’t like it.

December 17th House burned down. No survivors.

Coroner says it looks like a gas explosion, but there’s no record of any gas hookup. Power was off for the winter. Furnace wood-burning.

They pulled five bodies. One unidentifiable—burned too bad. Might be Buckley.

Only thing left from inside was a half-burned notebook. Cover was scratched through like someone clawed it. Only legible page had that same damn drawing. The black dog with the round mouth.

December 18th Neighbors are saying they’re dreaming of it now. The “Black Maw.” Some say it stands outside their windows. Some say it sits at the foot of their beds and says things backward.

I’m not including that in the official report. Not yet.

But I’m keeping my rifle loaded. And I locked the shed. Don’t know why. Just felt like I should.

Sheriff Amos Lyle                County, MT

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