The Black Forest

Chapter 2 The Wake

Morning came sooner than I expected. I had got home last night around 10:00; however, it seemed I only had gotten a few hours of sleep at the best. I rolled over and took a look at my digital clock as its illuminated display read 9:30 A.M. I couldn't believe that I had actually worn myself out that much. I've had days I've worked on housing projects that have taken a 12 hour shift, and woken up refreshed at 5:30 the next morning. For some strange reason I felt more tired at the moment than on those days. I scratched my head and sat up on the edge of my bed, and assumed it was simply the stress of moving. Slowly I made my way into the bathroom and washed my face with warm water, then looked up at my reflection. I ran my fingers through my blonde hair and wiped the sleep out of my blue eyes before heading out into the kitchen. Elsa was in one of my flannel shirts and in her panties that were barely visible below the back of the shirt. She was cooking breakfast and the smell was greeted with open arms by me. I snook up behind her and wrapped my arm around her waist.

"Morning beauty," I half mumbled as I still struggled waking up. Even though we both spoke German, we talked in English since Elsa was teaching me to do so.

She smiled flashing her white teeth. "Morning babe, didn't sleep too well huh?"

I moaned in response. "I have no idea why. I guess it was the move."

She turned to face me and gave me a concerned look. "Don't you remember baby? You were investigating some animal that was scratching at the wall by our window."

I raised my eyebrow in confusion."No. I don't seem to recall."

She went back to tend to the eggs and sausage and turned the burners off. "You were up several times last night. It seemed to never go away."

I leaned back against the kitchen table. "What time did it finally stop?"

"Around 5:30." She slid the sausage and eggs on two plates and set them down on the table. 5:30 was the hour that dawn started to break, so it might have been a badger.

"I'll go take a look after breakfast." I poured myself a cup of coffee and sat down and ate in silence. Why didn't I remember waking up last night? I never had something like that happen to me, so it troubled me why my mind had failed me.

After breakfast, I walked out along side my cabin and kneeled down to take a better look at the scratches. I knew immediately something was wrong. There were no tracks leading to my bedroom window....As for the scratch marks....they where 15 cm deep. No badger would be able to make cuts that deep. I stared for the longest time confused at what could have done this, then gave up trying to and walked back inside stumped.

"Elsa? I can't explain what I saw out there. There were no tracks leading to our window, but there were 15 cm deep scratches in the wood."

She looked at me with a look of horror. "But....how?"

I shook my head in uncertainty. "I have no idea. But obviously it's gone. Maybe we won't have to deal with this vandal again."

She stared at the floor for the longest time, trying to piece it together I'd assume. "Maybe...."