The Wendigo

“Here it is guys.” Jason said, after he had examined the site. “Alright, who has the tent?” The other three flash worrisome looks at each other, then back to Jason, “You never told us...” Ethan began, but was cut off.

“Hah, just kidding. You should’ve seen the looks on your faces, absolutely priceless. It’s right here. Gimme a hand, will you?”

The four work together and unpack and begin setting up the tent, when the sun threatens to set.

“Uh oh. Hey guys, sun’s setting. We’d better get a fire going.” Eric warns. “Yeah, you’re right Eric, how about you and Al go pick us up some firewood? There should be some stacked nearby. Just keep heading north, you’ll see it. Me and Ethan will keep setting up the tent.”

“Alright. Come on, Al.” Eric calls, grabs a flashlight, and sets off in search of the wood.

“Take a compass too, just in case you get lost. Be sure to head straight north to find the wood, so that the camp will be straight south.” Jason calls as a reminder.

“Already got one with me.” Eric called back, and disappeared into the thick of the woods. Albert follows closely behind.

Darkness grows all around them, the flashlight offers little comfort, and both are eager to get the firewood and get back as soon as possible. Crickets chirp with delight, frogs croak, and bats shriek, which heralds the approach of nightfall.

Soon, the sun’s faint rays flutter behind the horizon, and stars begin to appear, one by one, until the sky lights up with glistening dots of light. Tonight was a New Moon, Eric remembered, meaning little light will be available to illuminate their way aside from the stars and, of course, their flashlight.

“I think I see it.” Eric says, relieved. “Yep, that’s it alright.” Agrees Albert. “Good, grab an ar...

... middle of paper ...

...in to reload his gun and keep running at the same time, so that he could get another shot off. “Not far now. Just a little farther.” Jason had said this several times, and the others were beginning to worry. “What does ‘Just a little farther’ mean?” Eric asks “We’ve been ‘not far now’ for a while.” Jason shouted back “I’m telling you, it’s right...through...HERE!”

Suddenly, light appeared straight ahead of them. It was Jason’s dad’s floodlights. They had finally reached the edge of the forest, and at last hope rekindled in them. Safety was only a few steps away.

They all sprinted towards the woodline, and once they crossed, kept going until they had approached the street. When they did, they looked back, and saw two glowing red eyes, heard a dark, hideous laugh, and a shriek. Then, it was gone. The Wendigo had vanished back deep into the woods.

They were safe.