A town named Winter

Todd

All the guys are asleep. I stayed up a bit to watch and keep the peace. The last thing I need is a bad review online if I let something happen to any of the girls. I would never find work again. Though, the ear-full I would get from the wife would be much worse. I could almost hear her now. I must miss her because I swear I can hear her calling for me outside. Clearly I'm overworked.

In the stillness and calm of the night I hear the crunching of snow. It's almost like heavy footprints. All the men are inside. I highly doubt any of the girls would make that much sound. I get up slowly and calmly grab my flashlight. It's probably a moose but that wouldn't explain the woman's voice that sounds so familiar. I slip my boots back on and peek out the door. It's dark. The only light in the cold night is the moon reflecting off of the blanket of snow.

My head snaps to the right. The footsteps are coming from the outskirts. I sneak out into the snow trying to get a glimpse. As I walk I hear it walk. I stop. It stops. It's like it knows I'm here. I don't want to scare it away. I know it's close. I can hear it breathing now. I slowly hold the flashlight up and face it towards the pitch black shape I can see. Before the beam of light can touch the figure it vanishes. It was quicker than the blink of an eye. I point my flashlight around the area that I heard the creature. I drop the angle and notice markings in the fresh snow. They are similar to the hoof prints Alex showed me earlier today.

The odd thing is that they just end right there.

As I stand there pondering how this is possible, I hear a sound behind me. How could this thing disappear in front of my eyes and then teleport behind me? It's getting closer. I can feel a warm, moist breath on my neck. I'm too scared to move. I am frozen to the spot. Based off of the tracks, this moose... no not moose. Something different. This creature is fast and large. If I move I could trigger it into attacking. I stay as quiet and still as the dead.

"Todd."

My eyes widen. What is my wife doing here? I lose myself in a moment of fear and confusion. I turn around to face her voice.

It is not a moose. It is not my wife. I only have a second to process the pain before a scream claws itself from my throat.