Cold Lake River
by Carter Nolte
It was a Thursday on the second week of June. Our class was 2008 and we had just graduated from Washington Highschool. My friends Tom Molany, Jimmy Rook, Charlie Larkin, Nick Secrest and me, Billy Cambel are going on a camping trip to celebrate graduation.
“Let’s go guys” Charlie yelled from his truck. Charlie’s truck was a red Chevy that his parents had got him for his 16th birthday. It could hold five people in the inside and in the back four people could fit. We all finished packing our bags and hopped into the truck. “ Don’t scratch the paint, Jimmy, “Charlie told him as everyone was done putting thier stuff up. I was in the back with Jimmy, while Nick, Tom and Charlie were inside. We headed off to Cold Lake Woods.
About a mile away from the camping site we entered a secluded winding road with thick trees on both sides. The sun was setting and the sky darkened. You could barely see the orange red clouds right above the rim of the tree branches. Jimmy fell asleep and Nick was driving now so Charlie could take a break. As the sky got darker we got closer the camp site.
“Hey guys, there’s the river, “ Tom pointed at it as he said. I could see everyone except Jimmy shifted their heads up to see the river. Nick took a right turn and the truck came to a stop.
“We’re here.” he said.
“ What’s this? “ Tom asked looking at Charlie with a confused face. There was an iron gate that read “DO NOT ENTER UNLESS AUTHORIZED”
“ I don’t think we should go in there, “ Jimmy said, still tired from just waking up from his sleep.
“ It’s all right , this is where my brother said he and his friends would always camp,” Charlie replied to them getting out of his truck and unhooking the gate. He hopped in the back with Jimmy and me hitting the side of the truck signalling Nick to go. We drove up the hill.
Around 10:30 is when we got up there. It was a small clearing with trees surrounding. There was a small path at the far end. We started setting up the tents and got all our food and bags in them. It took a while to do this but when we were done everyone passed out and went to sleep. As I layed down and pulled my sheets over me I attempted to close ,y eyes but they were opened by a small crunching noise that was dry leaves getting stepped on. I only heard it that once that night and went to sleep.
“Get up guys we’re going hiking!” yelled Charlie waking up everyone. As we got up and out of our tents I saw Charlie already dressed and ready to go while NIck, Tom, and Jimmy were just were just getting up.
When everyone got ready we headed towards the open path at the end of the clearing. We were in a straight line walking up the hill because it was a thin path. My feet made sloshing sounds on the wet ground. There was the sound of crickets and woodpeckers in the distance. Small drops of rain landed on my head falling from the trees above as we went on up. We came upon a pond that was hidden under a small layer of fog.
“Who wants to fish?” asked Nick as he grabbed a tackle box from his bag and started setting up his fishing line. There was a small wooden dock going over the pond that was covered in moss.
“ It doesn’t look like anyone has been here in a while,” I pointed out.
“ It looks fine to me,” Jimmy said. They walked closer to the pond and i was still unpacking my stuff. I heard the noise of breaking branches coming from the woods. I looked over at my friends then back at the rustling in the woods and a figure emerged.
“Hi there, “ it said. Everyone turned to see a kid about the same age as us who was wearing a red baseball cap and weird looking clothes.
