Deep in the forest lies a mysterious place called Pine Hollow, where the tallest pine trees stretch high into the sky and the air is thick with the scent of sap. Because few dare to visit, the ground is slick and covered in moss, dotted with scattered pinecones that lie undisturbed.

Every Halloween, as the forest changes from green to orange and the air turns crisp, villagers gather around crackling bonfires to share spooky stories. One of the most famous tales is about the Phantom of Pine Hollow, a shadowy figure that haunts the pine trees. Tall and spooky, it appears whenever the pumpkins start to glow.

Legend has it that anyone who wanders into Pine Hollow after dark hears eerie clanking and groaning. If they’re not careful, the Phantom might lead them astray, leaving them forever lost in the forest’s twists and turns. Some believe the Phantom is the spirit of a giant who once protected the woods, while others think it is a mischievous trickster who delights in scaring unsuspecting visitors.

One Halloween, a group of brave friends—Olivia, Nellie, and Otto—decides they will finally solve the mystery of the Phantom. They believe it is just an old story meant to keep kids from wandering into the woods.

As night begins to fall, the trio lights their jack-o’-lanterns at the edge of Pine Hollow, hoping to lure the Phantom out. Then, with their flashlights ready and butterflies in their bellies, they step into the forest. They wander deeper and deeper, where the trees are thick and their branches stretch out like fingers.

Nellie grips Olivia’s sleeve tightly, and Otto’s eyes go wide as they hear a crunching noise approaching—it’s pinecones cracking!! Their hearts pound!

Suddenly, a big, shadowy shape appears right in front of them. It’s tall and covered in a tattered cloak, with long arms swaying as it stomps through the trees. The figure lets out a low, spooky moan, and something jingles like old wind chimes. Groooooan… clank!

Fear grips them, and the friends bolt through the trees! Nellie and Olivia are almost out of sight when Otto slips on the moss and falls. Alone now, he glances back just as the Phantom draws near… but then—The Phantom suddenly trips over a tree root, flailing its arms as it struggles to regain its balance.

Otto blinks in surprise; it doesn’t look like a ghost at all! His confusion quickly turns to amusement as he watches the “Phantom” slip again, falling backward over a log. The cloak tumbles down to reveal… Bigfoot!

Olivia and Nellie are almost at the edge of the forest when they hear Otto laughing. They stop, puzzled, and decide to follow their tracks back to him. As they get closer, their fear disappears when they see Bigfoot clumsily tugging off the last piece of the sheet and trying to untangle some jingling wind chimes from his fur. He gives them a shy shrug, and his big, goofy grin says everything—it was all just a silly TRICK!

Bigfoot points back toward the woods, inviting them to join in on his Halloween fun. Excited, they follow the friendly giant back into Pine Hollow, where Bigfoot has set up a delightful Halloween surprise. Twinkling lights hang from the trees, and glowing pumpkins with cheerful carvings of squirrels and rabbits line the path.

As they walk, Bigfoot proudly shows off his decorations and offers them some of his famous Cinnamon Bark. They politely decline, thinking that bark is better on trees than for snacks!

The kids can’t stop laughing as Bigfoot walks them back to the village, the wind chimes still clinking around his waist. From that night on, whenever Halloween rolls around and strange noises echo from Pine Hollow, the kids smile, knowing Bigfoot is out there, up to his old tricks again. His secret is safe with them.