out.
The happiest memories of my life happened in this small cabin where I spent so many summers. Taking a deep breath, I carefully adjust my bag onto my back.
Just a day’s travel … just a day. I can do this. I can beat him.
Peeking out the door, I look at the surrounding trees—up and down. There’s barely any light yet, and the shadows are still pitch black. I don’t know where he hides or camps … but I’ve never been able to hear or see him. Not that I’ve looked too extensively. I felt like stumbling into his camp would be too much like wanting to strike up a conversation. No, thank you.
When he doesn’t appear to be in the vicinity or up in any of the trees, I take a cautious step out onto the stair, cringing as it creaks. Fuck. Oh, well. I haven’t walked out before because I knew that coming out with my backpack on and overflowing would be a dead giveaway of what I was doing, but here I go.
Trying to act casual, just in case he’s out here watching me, I made a brisk beeline for the trees, practically running. I don’t know who I’m kidding though. He could follow me the whole time, and I’d probably only see him once or twice.
Although, it’s almost as if he wants me to see him. More and more over the last four days or so, he’s shown up. Never far away, he’s stepped out from behind trees and even the cabin once in broad daylight. If I was hoping he was a ghost, I feel like that really ruled it out. Don’t ghosts normally come out at night? Sure, they’re see-through like him most of the time, but I guess I’ve always thought of ghosts as night-time apparitions.
I must admit that as the days have dragged on and he hasn’t tried to tie me up and drag me out of here, I’ve definitely been thinking that he might be a local who lives around here too? Is it possible there are other people hiding out here in the woods despite the government's warning that this area is off-limits until Hengill settles down? I’m sure if there are, they have exactly the same reason to be here that I do. They’re probably hiding from someone … or wanted by the authorities, and from looking at the size … the sheer mass of this guy … he could be wanted for just about anything. He’s huge.
My crazy heart finally starts to settle down after about half an hour of walking, and I slow my steps, trying to listen for anyone following me. Faint light starts to rise up from the east, cutting through the dappled canopy, making everything have a beautiful haze of green in the sunrise.
No … nothing.
Hours into my hike, I feel like I’m making good time. It’s super hard to tell without a watch, but the sun is now high overhead. I’ve been hearing rushing water for over half an hour now, so I know I’m close. It’s a bummer, but I’m going to have to get pretty wet.
I’m thankful my internal radar has brought me back to the normal spot I cross. This is about as low as the water’s going to get, but I’m still soaked to my waist by the time I shuffle across the rushing river. Halfway out of the forest.
Stopping for a quick drink out of my canteen and confirming nothing is wet in my pack, I hear some rustling in the underbrush. A little farther away I hear the faint, dull sound of footsteps. They don’t sound like anyone purposeful, more shuffling, and sporadic, which has me taking a moment to move my body sideways into a thick green patch of bushes, dragging my backpack behind me.
There’s a slight rise up ahead over where the noise is coming from, and it takes a moment for me to even realize as the first mass comes over the rise … that it’s human. Covered in dirt, and what I’m starting to think might be blood, the person is crawling, utilizing mostly their two arms and one leg. That’s not all though.
Just as I’m wiggling into my backpack and securing it tightly onto my back, I debate coming out of my hiding spot. As I watch another person come into view, I freeze instead of creeping off. I can see this one's face. Their eyes … they’re different. White with no pupils,