The Nightwalkers

3 - Witness

Several hours later, the cold winter sun illuminated the snowy landscape. The brightening light outside filtered into the tent. The boys had remained frozen by fear all this time. Smedley looked gaunt. He had thrown up all over himself but didn't appear to have the strength or the will to clean himself. Silent tears rolled down his cheeks.

Still, they remained trapped in the tent, dread, and terror forcing them to stay. Each sat with his eyes shut and mouth miming silent prayers for deliverance. They daren't move or make any noise for fear of provoking whatever was outside.

Outside, the snow glittered over the landscape and decked the boughs of the great pines. It was a serene, peaceful, picture postcard scene, save for the blot - two lifeless bodies lying yards from a black tent.

Sometime later the twitter of birds nearby could be heard. Vincent surmised whatever evil Smedley had seen must have gone. "Is everyone okay?" his voice barely audible.

The controlled whimpering confirmed they were all alive at least. Vincent opened his eyes first, then the others followed.

The three younger boys turned to Smedley for leadership. Yet he looked an utterly pathetic spectacle, sitting there with his teeth chattering, eyes soaked, and dried vomitus on his sweater and chin. They waited for his instructions but he seemed paralyzed. When nobody seemed to want to do anything, Vincent reluctantly retook the lead once more.

"We need to get away from here," he whispered.

The others nodded in agreement but nobody dared take the first step.

Vincent realized it was down to him to lead them all out and back home to safety. That's what leaders did. But just as they readied themselves to scramble out of the tent, Vincent noticed a bloody note under a stone just outside the tent flap. He cautiously lifted the stone and looked at the scrap of paper. Vincent read it out loud.

'You lucky we already eat tonight. But we have scent of you - we see you soon for dinner, is promise...' The rest of the blood penned note was illegible.

The boys looked even more terrified. "They're coming after us," mumbled Finnieus.

"Who are they?" asked Clifford. "Who wrote that note? I thought you said it was a dog." And he looked at Smedley for an answer.

Smedley said nothing.

"Come on, let's go before whoever they are come back," ordered Vincent. Nobody was brave enough to risk going outside until Vincent took the first step.

Once Vincent was out, the others crawled out and then stood up looking about them.

"Are you sure about that dog?" asked Clifford. "There's no sign of it now, not even any paw prints."

"Well spotted Cannibal," said Vincent proudly.

Suddenly, Smedley heaved and vomited, collapsing to his knees. The others spun round and followed his horrified gaze. Then they all stared at the shocking spectacle. Though they were too far away to make things out clearly, there between the trees under the early morning mist that now wafted over the snow lay two frozen corpses.