Footsteps

Chapter 1

"How do you always end up winning this game?!" Connor threw his last cards on the table, revealing only cards with numbers. Next to him sat Jenny, she shook her head and her wavy blonde hair hit her face. "I guess I'm just a pro at this." Mika chuckled and shrugged with his shoulders. He gave the two a thumbs up, trying to motivate them for another round. "I don't think I can play another round without a break.." Jenny sighed and rested her head on the table. Connor stood up. "Yeah, let's have a break. I will make some tea. Mika? Could you get some biscuits from the drawer behind you?" Mika nodded while Jenny collected all of the cards and put them aside, to make space for the plates and cups. Connor came 10 minutes later back from the kitchen, with a tea kettle. He started pouring tea in all three cups."I still don't get it, how you manage to live up here. I mean, didn't your mum offer you to stay at their home?" Jenny asked after burning her tongue at the first sip. Mika holds the cup between his hands to warm them. He looked curious at Connor as well. "Well, I didn't want to be so close to the city. And this is pretty cheap and the landscape is kind of cool!" He started drinking his tea too, and looked at Jenny and Mika. "Sounds valid I suppose. Thanks for letting us stay here for a while." Jenny smiled and agreed with Mika. It was winter holidays and they wanted to experience the snow as best as possible. Both of them had come with their own cars. An hour of talking and laughing went past. "I just realized, that I need to bring the trash out... You two can wait in here, it won't take long." Mika and Jenny nodded and watched as Connor took the trash bag and went to the door.

It was currently snowing again. Connor slipped in his boots and started walking towards the trash cans. He opened the plastic trash can and threw the bag inside. The sound of snow crunching was heard with every step he took. He liked walking back on his own footprints, it was a kind of challenge for himself. One, two, three and— six? No, that can't be right... Connor counted the footprints again. There were more then before. Though, they didn't go the direction of the house, they went from the house to the forest path. He went back inside; Mika and Jenny were still there. They looked a little confused at Connor. "Are you alright?" "Yeah... Though, I will check something real quick."

The two looked even more confused and just watched Connor getting a flashlight and putting on his coat. Without another word, Connor disappeared outside again. It wasn't that dark yet, but taking a flashlight never could be wrong. The snow had stopped already,so the other footprints were visible. Connor followed the footsteps and started to walk on the forest path. Every step he took brought him deeper into the big forest. Just now he realised, that he never actually explored the area. Well, Connor would only need to follow his own footprints back. After walking for maybe about 20 minutes, Connor found himself on a big area with less trees. That was the end of the foot trail. It had gotten darker,  so he used his flashlight to look around, trying to find any clue of a person. "Hello?" It echoed through the place. A loud "HELP!" echoed back to Connor. He started to panic and looked around even more. There was no one to see... The sound of sticks and branches breaking went trough Connor's ears. He hesitatingly looked around. A kind of clickering seemed to emerge from behind. He slowly turned around and his flashlight shone at something tall and... black... Saliva dropped on the snow and Connor's head lifted up, staring directly at the bloodshed eyes and big yellow teeth. A loud howling scream came out from his throat. The screaming stopped after just two seconds. Connor's flashlight fell on the snowy ground.
___________________________

"What is taking him so long? Did he get lost or something??" Mika sighed and gave himself and Jenny new cards again. "What if he went downtown to buy some things? It could take long." She looked at her cards and tried to put on her poker face; she had good cards. "Wait yeah, you're right. Though, if he doesn't get home by 7pm, we should go and check." He saw Jenny nod and laid out his first card. Another 30 minutes passed. Still no sign of Connor. The two stood up and put on their winter clothes. Jenny took the house key and locked the door behind them. "Look, aren't these Connor's footprints?" Mika kneeled down and confirmed Jenny's discovery. Jenny would walk in front of Mika. The deeper they went, the more the forest started to feel strange. "Why would he go this way?" Jenny wondered after walking for 20 minutes straight. "Great question. I can't answer that." Mika turned the flashlight on his phone on, it had gotten pretty dark. Just like Connor, the two found themselves on the area with less trees. Jenny used her own flashlight to look around, while Mika inspected the footprints. "Do you see anything? Wait, isn't that Connor's shoe?" Jenny stepped closer to the loose shoe on the ground. It definitely was his. Mika started to look worried at her. Mika's light revealed the legs of Connor. In that same moment, the scream of Jenny followed by vomiting. Mika looked at shocked at Jenny. "This... This isn't real..." He fell on his knees next to the body of Connor. The snow around the body had already coloured red. Jenny couldn't even get a word out. The view was horrifying. Connor's lifeless body laid in the snow, without his head. The spine was looking out of the neck. Mika also vomited. He was shaking while trying to call the police. The operator was on the other side. "Hello. This is the police station of Alaska. What can I do for you?" "I-..my friend- his.. his head..." Mika was stuttering really bad. Jenny's panicked crying and screaming could be heard in the back of the call. "Please calm down. Where are you and what happened?" The woman at the other side spoke calm and soft. His breathing got slower and Mika managed to get a grip of himself. "We're in the forest up in the chugach mountains.. Our friend... Is dead.." Typing on the keyboard from the operator were the only source of sound next to the breathing. "Officers are on their way. Please stay calm and wait at the current location. Do not hang up on the call yet." Jenny looked at Mika. "..." They both stayed quiet until the sirens started to get louder and closer.