Is This Smart? (Under editing and revising)

Chapter 17

"Come on. The cabin isn't too far from here." Jennifer informs us, as she steps away from us and into the darkness, just outside of the circle of yellow light shed from a lamp post towering high over our heads.

Before I follow her out into the darkness, I shakily interject, "B-but-- wouldn't you like to know what is out there first? I mean, before we go? Like... Animal wise?"

Sensibly, Maggie turns to me and explains, "Well, I do not want to wait here and find out."

She has a point, but honestly, I don't want to go wandering around in the woods, in the pitch black darkness no less, and not having any clue what things we are getting ourselves into.

"Oh, well, there could any number of different animals out there. Who know." Ann pipes in, "But, there are most likely some skunk, deer, elk, bear, raccoon, possum, moose... You name it."

This brings a scary thought to the front of my mind. Snakes. Poisonous snakes, to be exact. I know next to nothing about animals, so I decided to bring up that subject, once we begin our trek. Eventually, I decide to bring it up, "How about snakes? Do you think there are, like, lots of them? Poisonous ones, specifically?"

I'm not surprised at who answers my question. Ann. Of course she would. She is the animal expert, after all. She is the exact opposite of me, she knows animals like the back of her hand. She informs me confidently, "Oh, I'm sure there are poisonous snakes up here." Then, she keeps rambling on about snakes, their habits, where they live or how they survive and so on.

But, I don't hear any of it. I'm so frightened that I can barely hear anything at all. Well, anything but our footsteps and the rustling leaves. Those are the only sounds I hear. That is, until a familiar voice interjects, "Stop it! You're going to frighten her to death!" Jennifer. She is always coming to my rescue.

I respond with, "Too late. I'm already frightened. Quite frankly, I am surprised I haven't had a single heart attack yet."

We continue on our way to this cabin in semi silence. The only sounds are the rustling of our feet shuffling leaves, which are scattered over the rough path. I hate it. The darkness. The pain. The memories. The trees crowding around me. The silence, which we have been traveling in for some time now, closes in. Jennifer, who is leading the group, stops.

"Does anyone have a flashlight?" She asks. Maggie grabs for her lanyard and passes it up to Jennifer. "Thanks, Maggie." She says, then she points the light in front of her.

Maggie replies with a short and quick, "Yep."

"Are you sure we're going the right way?" Ann asks cautiously.

Then, we continue into a thick forest of pine trees, clumped as close together as sardines. After what seems like days, we eventually hear Jenn's tired voice call out with as much enthusiasm as she can muster, "Found it."

It's very hard to see in the dark, but, as far as I can tell, this cabin looks like the last one, just like Ann told me the night we had pop and pizza and that pillow fight.

The cabin, well, it is nearly the same as the one back in Washington. Not a single window. We walk around, looking for a door. When we find it, Jennifer mutters something, but I miss it.

Next, I definitely hear what Maggie has to say in response, "You mean, you don't know how to get inside? So, it isn't unlocked?"

Calmly, Jennifer constructs a reply, "Uhh... No. While Ann and I were here yesterday we found out that this cabin seems to be some kind of historical cabin. Sadly, I am not sure much more about it though."

Then, Maggie shoots back another hurtful comment , "And... You're just breaking in for us? What are we? Criminals?"

"We do need a place to stay." Ann says, cautiously placing her hands on Maggie's shoulder. She continues with her voice full of sarcasm, "Would you like to sleep on the street or at a local Walmart? I'm sure the displayed beds would be comfortable and I don't think the security would mind it either."

Beginning to calm down a bit, Maggie solemnly admits, "Okay, you are right. But, well, I just don't want to get caught or anything."

Jennifer expertly begins to pick the lock with one of her hair pins. Eventually, it pops open and the door swings freely. "There!" Jennifer exclaims.

We all follow Jenn inside and explore. Well, everyone except me. My knee hurts so much, and honestly, I just want to sit down. So, Maggie helps me to a spot near the wall. I lean against the rough wooden slabs. From were I am sitting, I look around. There are chairs, a small table, photos on the walls, a fireplace with a mantle, and a flat platform, which is very low to the ground and covered with a checkered cloth. "Hmm... What could that be?" I think to myself. After looking around some more the others begin to make arrangements for sleeping. We all are sleeping on the ground. A blanket is spread out and we all settle in. Maggie on one side, then me, Jennifer in the middle, and Ann on the other side. I'm exhausted. The moment my eyelids close, I'm nearly asleep, but suddenly, I am woken up by a thought! It comes to mind what that platform on the floor is. A cot! Why aren't one of us sleeping on it? I mean, if it really is a cot, that is. Who did it belong to?

Unable to keep my sinking eyelids open any longer, the thoughts just vanish as I fall into a refreshing sleep. But, what's going to happen to us? I guess I'll have to wait to find out.