Standing there in the dark forest I know that I am not alone. How could I be when I know that there are creatures out here with me that can kill me? I am not talking about just bears, mountain lions or other carnivores that would love to sneak up on me and butcher me like a piece of choice cut meat.
I am talking about the Shadow Monster. This creature is not really a creature at all, but many people consider it one. Really if you look up the shadow monster online you will find blurry pictures of – what else – shadows.
No one knows for sure what the Shadow Monster looks like because no one if actually able to get a photo of the creature. The Shadow Monster is almost like Bigfoot, a unicorn or a Yeti – all elusive and only shows themselves every so often.
Of course we all know that people will argue that all of those creatures don’t exist either.
Now here I am in the forest, the moonlight shimmering through the branches of the trees. I can hear owls hooting and mice scurrying around on the forest floor trying to get back to their home and away from the owls or animals that would love to have them as a snack. Every so often I will hear some sort of sound that makes my heart race and me break into a cold sweat. After a few minutes I will then hear the sound of wolves howling, telling each other news that I wish I could understand.
For a moment I debate going back to my car that is safely parked at the edge of the forest. I know I could, but I don’t want to chicken out.
You see, me coming out to the forest alone was not my plan. It was a crazy dare that I accepted because I don’t want to be known as a chicken among my friends and the entire school. The dare consisted of me driving out to the forest and going into the heart of it alone, only armed with a camera so I could try and capture the Shadow Monster on film.
Letting out a sigh, I scan the dark forest hoping that somehow the trees will disappear and the moon will be beaming down on me, making the forest not seem to frightening.
Spinning on the heel of my worn out combat boot, I start to walk back towards my car. I figure that I could just come out another night within the next week and complete the dare. After all, I got this dare over a week ago and I was chicken up until this night. If I see nothing tonight then if I come back another night might produce the same result.
I get no further than a couple feet when it feels like the temperature has dropped a couple dozen degrees. Pulling my thin hoodie closer around myself, I start to hear my teeth chatter. Willing my teeth to stop, I pick up the pace but soon stop when an eerie shape forms on the forest floor, making me almost do a double take.
Gasping, my eyes turn into saucers and I fumbled to retrieve the camera out of my pocket. No sooner do I have the camera out and ready to snap a picture when the shape is gone.
Confused, I lower the camera and stare at the patch of grass where the shape was. I try to recall what the shape looked like. It looked human and that was the scary part. I could make out a head, shoulders, torso and limbs. I was able to remember all of that in my mind, but not get a picture.
Frowning now, I shove the camera back into my pocket and head to my car. This time I get no further than a few steps when the shape comes back. Coming to a stop, I stare at it and don’t try to get my camera out this time. Not letting myself blink, I start to form words in my mind and before I know it I am actually talking to the shape.
“What are you?” I ask with my voice hoarse from the drop in temperature and the lack of fluids.
“You know what I am”
“Do I?” I ask, answering the shape.
“Yes, you do. Stop being so daft and tell me what I am.”
