The sounds the things make as Ashley pushes through briar bushes and low branches make her spine feel like static. The constant sense that something is right behind her keeps her tense and frantic to escape, deciding for herself that she is all but dead before a column of smoke catches her eye. The steady black swirls give her hope and she runs faster toward them, screaming out Brian's name as the back of a tent becomes visible.
"Ashley?" He responds, moving towards her to be sure it is who he thinks it is. Just as he comes into her view, Ashley ducks under a branch and slams into him, knocking them both to the ground. Grass, bushes, and branches snap and twist as what was chasing her furiously retreats. "What the hell was that?" He questions as he rolls her off of him and stands back up, only to see the flora rustle about as whatever he follows with the tip of his nose disappears.
"Don't go in there!" Ashley clings to his ankle as Brian steps forward. "Don't!"
"What's going on now?" She turns to see three other familiar faces. Mike, Cody, and Linda all stand at the edge of the river bank with their backs toward the water.
"It got them! It-They-"
"What are you talking about? Where's Krista and James?" Brian tears Ashley's grip from his ankle and pulls her up before questioning her more. "What happened?"
"There's something out there! P-People o-or creatures! They got them!" Brian looks into each of Ashley's crazed eyes before turning to face Cody.
"You bring your guns?" Cody nods and marches off in the direction of his truck as Brian searches the woods from where he stands.
"What? No! You can't go in there!"
"Ashley! Ashley, just relax. Okay? Whatever it is, we'll handle it. Stay here with the others." Brian guides her backward and pushes her into a folded-out lawn chair, which Linda and Mike swarm to.
"Don't do it, Brian. Don't go! We all need to leave, NOW!"
"Shut it and try to relax!" His words sooth her as a straightjacket would and she tries to stand but finds both Linda's and Mike's hands holding her down by the shoulders.
"Hey, hey, just stay right there and tell us what's going on." Mike speaks softly and pushes a pair of squared glasses up his nose as he kneels alongside her. She ignores him a moment longer to see Cody toss a shotgun in Brian's direction. As he catches it, Cody pulls a pistol from seemingly nowhere and follows Brian into the forest.
"If we aren't back in ten, call for help or something." With these words, the two leave nothing but the sounds of their quick steps behind.
"Ashley, we're here." Linda kneels down on the opposite side of the chair and gives Ashley the eyes of a terrified puppy. "What happened out there?"
Ashley goes on to explain what had happened but can tell by the looks on their faces that only one of them believes it. Mike sighs as she finishes and gives her a look of pity as he stands back up. Linda, on the other hand, is glued to Ashley's trembling frame, seeing no reason for her to lie. Ashley sniffles and blinks away tears as she stares at her dirt-covered tennis shoes.
"Are you sure it wasn't just an animal? Maybe a cat?"
"A cat?" Linda glares at Mike with disgust lifting her upper lip.
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OddityVille: Harrowing Hills (Book Two)
Terror★Completed Story★ With a time-sensitive summer vacation underway, a group of acquainted coworkers set out to have an eventful weekend. The Harrowing Hills get them in the mood to explore claims of witches' practices and odd strangers, so they se...
