The Chupacabra

It was late and you were setting up camp, the only light being a dim lamp inside the tent. You were laying out the sleeping bag when Leonardo's sudden voice fills your ears.

"Ess, did you hear that?"

You look at him with a confused expression painting your face.

"Hear what?"

Leo continued, "Sounded like a panicked scream. It came from over there."

He swiftly turned around and pointed into the woods, barely visible with the lack of light.

"Well you can look if you want but I'm going to bed."

In the back of your mind, you knew it was a bad idea to let your best friend go in the forest alone, but you were just so tired.

And with that, Leo left. The sound of footsteps crunching in the dry leaves fading, soon replaced by the loud singing of crickets and frogs.

You layed down and immediately fell asleep in a peaceful bliss.

It was only five minutes later when you awoke to a blood curdling scream of horror. But it wasn't just any scream. It was Leo's scream. Not only that but he was screaming your full name, something he only does when in trouble.

Deciding not to wait any longer, you squirm your way out of the sleeping bag, stumbling over almost every step in your hurry. Then, you hear it again, this time raspier and much louder, which you didn't think was humanly possible.

"Essmereldaa."

You make it out of the tent, forgetting a lamp in your rush. You weren't going to waste time  getting it though.

So you start sprinting. You run as fast as your little legs will carry you, unable to see without a light, the only thing guiding you the yells of your name.

You run into thorns but keep going. You can't turn back now. You are scattered head to toe with cuts, bleeding onto the forest floor but you can't feel the pain through your adrenaline.

As soon as the blood starts gushing, the voice starts again, more desperate.

"Essmerreldaa."

After what feels like an eternity of running, you finally see a light. It's Leo's lamp! You struggle through the bushes, panting and sweaty.

You look up to see... nothing?

There is only a single lamp, sitting in the middle of the clearing, light flickering as if dying.

And suddenly, it all comes crashing down. The adrenaline wears off as you are crying in pain, blood dripping onto the once green grass, now covered in a shade of shiny crimson red. You cannot contain the sobs as your eyes fill with tears.

You are lost in the middle of the forest, the only light a lant-

You don't get to finish your spiraling thoughts as a set of fangs dig deep into your neck. You thrash but are too weak. You are scared. You don't want to die.

You go limp, barely conscious as the feeling of lightheadedness clouds your thoughts. The last thing you hear is the echo in your head screaming,

Essmmerrelldaa