Fear The Light

Through the night

My eyes snapped open with the sound of a loud growl. Rashly I wiped the tears from my eyes, quickly regretting it when they began to burn. My fingers clutched the rope edge as I peeked over just enough to see what made the growling sound. Squinting through the branches, I slapped my hand over my mouth. My silent scream echoing in my brain as I stared below at Sarah and four others on the ground. Their twisted appendages swinging at each other as loud monstrous growls sounded between them. She was by far outmatched by the other three. The tallest one had dark skin, a broken hunched spine, and a twisted head. The second was a short woman with ivory skin, a hunched back, and a wild blond nest of mud and debris. The third was a large muscular man with tan skin, a hunched back, and only one arm. The growling and fighting grew and persisted for several hours until the sun began to burn the sky leaving streaks of violet and crimson. I shrinked low and tried my best to stay hidden as the light faded; and with it the growling as well. Soon enough the sounds of the forest returned. The sun had long since set and the forest had begun to come alive with each passing moment but I stayed quiet. Quiet and as un-moving as the tree that held me. The strong feeling of mistrust in the unknown swelling within my chest.

Eight days later ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had soon realized that whatever those things were; they never came out during the night. So a little each night I strayed farther and farther from the tree in search of food and clean water.

My hiking boots crunched the dried sticks and leaves beneath me as I hurriedly scuttled around. I scavenged for food only once a night, never at the same times in case I was, in fact, being watched. I had over the course of my stay in the tree fort become almost nocturnal. My eyes scanned the darkness around me as I squatted down by the stream, quickly filling the four plastic bottles and my large hiking water bottle. A swift breeze fluttered in the treetops bringing an unusual sent of smoke. I stared at the moon for a moment calculating the amount of time I would have. Four or five hours still, it was still early into the night I should be fine. I made pace down the riverside, making sure to keep clear of the muddy slope. After about three hours the smell of burning pine tinged my nose and my heart thundered inside my chest. The thought of safety and a savior crossing my mind.

I stared in disbelief.
It's the same.
Torn tents, the sour stench of blood and rotting flesh. I covered my mouth and nose with the sleeve of my navy blue sweater as I cautiously stepped closer. I pulled my dim flashlight from my pocket and flicked it on. My hands shook as my palms grew sweaty, and the hair at the nape of my neck stood up. I swallowed hard, pushing past the sight before me and stepped into the little makeshift camping area. I stepped softly, one foot after the other; my breath coming out shallow through my sleeve. I spotted a couple hikers bags and tested the weight; not too heavy. Latching both to me I sped up as I scavenged around for food and other useful things. I briefly glanced in each tent. With a drop in my stomach my gaze locked on a small mangled body; barely recognizable. I ripped myself from the appalling scene after I mouthed a quick prayer. Swiftly I rummaged through the last tent, grabbing whatever I could and stuffing them into my bag before exiting the tent and headed back the way I came. I stopped near the still dying fire, remembering something Henry once said "When animals smell smoke, they run away, because it means danger but when a person smells smoke they run towards it, because we associate it to safety but that isn't always the case."

Instantly I felt a cold sweat coming on and I knew I needed to do something. If those things were setting a trap then it would follow me back but maybe if the fire spread it would cover my tracks and mask the way I came.
I tried my best to justify my actions a moment longer as I lit a long stick and touched each tent and anything else I could burn along with it. I tossed the branch aside and broke out into a run as the flames nipped at my heels. The grass and weeds were dry. Too dry. And now my plan seemed to put myself at risk. Rashly I looked at the sky tracking how much time I would have but I was quickly running out. I only had another two hours. I pushed my feet harder, glancing back at the ruby flames behind. It's fiery tendrils sizzling out as it licked the damp moss and dewy grass. I spotted the large oak tree, the sensation or relief filling me; followed by the sickening dread as my eyes flickered to the brightening horizon. My legs were growing weaker by the second, my lungs burned, my eyes watering with fearful tears, desperation drowning all need for rest. I scrambled up the neighboring tree to the oak climbing up twenty feet before I through myself off and into the oak tree. I didn't have time to jump and stretch for the lowest branch of the great oak. Panic instilling me with strength I scurried up the tree, weaving through branch's not caring about my raw hands. Finally, I stopped at the small opening, yanking off the bags I shoved them through; as I squeezed in after them. Quickly I cover the opening with my makeshift camouflage door. My chest heaved as I gripped my sweater with white knuckles. Soon my breathing mellowed and my eyes grew heavy; carefully I dragged myself to my small bed and shut my eyes and with it came the silence, the sun, and the distant scent of rain. Flashes of twisted bone, mangled flesh, and the smell of blood littered my mind as I fell into sleep.