Chapter Twenty-One
The day had been going so well, the morning was beautiful and even though I was sore I felt like I was moving fast. As the day keeps going though, it becomes clear that I’ll be spending another night in the forest. The thought fills my stomach with dread, but the sun is already halfway down, so I don’t think I’ll have a choice.
The shadows are starting to become longer and more dramatic, and any peace I was feeling throughout the day is almost gone.
It’s only made worse by the fact that I haven’t been able to get rid of the smell from the deer’s skull.
If anything, the smell has grown in potency, like I’m walking into a rotting part of the woods.
As I’m losing myself in thoughts of despair and fear of another horrible night, I don’t notice that I’ve taken a couple steps into an empty clearing.
When I look up, the first thing I see is standing in the middle of this huge empty area.
It is a giant human-shaped effigy. I trip over my next step, not expecting to have been met with something this unusual.
What is this? I need to get closer so I can get a better look.
As I slowly walk into the open space, I notice the lack of trees.
It’s like someone came in and cleared it out.
The further I walk the more I see it’s really just a big patch of dirt with some dead or dying grass scattered around.
I look back up toward the figure, my mind having a hard time processing what it is.
It has humungous antlers that look like they are disappearing into the light fog hovering high up in the air.
I’m too far away to make out the details but from here it looks to have been built with an untold number of different branches.
They have been twisted and sculpted into this otherworldly form.
I need to see it. I feel in my bones that someone has put this here for me to find.
Maybe it’s another sign. Just for me. I move faster, almost running toward it, steps I don’t feel in control of.
The closer I get the more it towers over me and I’m able to pick up on more details.
Sections of its body look to be covered in a layer of moss and mushrooms. Nature itself is fighting for a piece to call its own. It’s actually quite beautiful.
I start to feel weird. My stomach is twisting and my head pounds in a painful rhythm, but I can hardly focus on the sensations.
I’m transfixed by its face which doesn’t have a mouth, only two gaping holes left in place for the eyes.
It looks like it’s staring down at me. Fear and intrigue are fighting for dominance as I move so close I can reach out and touch it.
I see something stuck between two of the branches; I warily reach to pick it out.
It doesn't come out but moves enough that I’m able to see that it’s a tooth.
I pull my hand away with a full body shiver.
When I look back at the twisted statue, I see clearly now there are bones and teeth stuck between all the branches and twigs. I want to convince myself that they belong to animals, but I already know it’s not true.
As I move around, I see a fist-sized hole in the side of the structure.
Once I get in front of it, a slight glint catches my eye.
I don’t know what comes over me, but I reach my hand inside.
It barely fits, but I squeeze my fingers together so I can force my hand in further.
The tips of my fingers are just barely able to grab onto what feels like some sort of small chain.
I slowly pull out a small, gold necklace and my eyes widen and my breath catches.
As clear as day, the heart locket with the cursive M is staring back at me.
The same one I carefully placed in the Bible and put in my own bag.
My mind can't make sense of it. How can this be here?
keeps repeating in my broken mind. I drop it in disgust, not wanting to hold something the creatures have touched.
Before I have time to understand what’s happening, a scream echoes through the clearing. “Haaaaaanna!” It’s long and drawn out. Every time I hear these noises, they sound less human.
Suddenly, a strong wind blows through the field, cutting off the sound of the screams. My hair whips around my face as I desperately try to keep it out of my eyes.
My eyes dart back and forth, trying to find what’s shrieking at me.
As I step to the side of the giant effigy, I see it.
My nightmare is standing in the shadows of the trees at the far end of the clearing; standing tall and still, its arms hanging limp next to its emaciated looking body.
I can see it breathing; its hot breath blowing out a cloud of steam in the cold air surrounding us.
I take a step backward, and in my next blink the creature is hurtling toward me on all fours.
Without hesitation, I drop the sleeping bag and turn, running full force toward the trees on the other side.
I don’t know why but I know that if I can just make it to the trees, I’ll be safe.
I pump my arms as hard as I can, the backpack slamming up and down on my back, reminding me of how much faster I could be if I dropped it but I can’t afford to lose it.
My legs burn but I don’t slow down. I push past the pain in my side and my pounding heart but it’s still gaining on me.
I can hear its loud, huffing breaths behind me.
Its footsteps shake the Earth behind me, but I’m close.
Just a little further, a little faster. I muster up every ounce of determination as I lean forward and force my legs to move quicker.
I can sense it’s almost closed the gap between us.
I can almost feel its sharp nails cutting through me.
Right as I think my heart is going to explode, I burst into the trees.
Forgetting my new rule, I instinctively look behind me.
The field is empty but before I can slow down, I collide with something.
I bounce off it and fall to the ground. Once again, the wind has been knocked out of me.
I roll onto my side and lay on the ground, gasping.
I want to get up and start running again but I can’t.
Right as I’m sure I’m going to suffocate, a huge gush of air rushes into my lungs, and I start coughing.
Choking on the air that’s trying to save me.
“Where the hell did you come from?” A scratchy voice says from above me.
“Are you okay, ma’am?” Confused, I look up slowly, not knowing what to expect.
Standing over me is an older man, dressed in hunting camo with a gun slung over his shoulder.
I blink a few times, not knowing what to do or say.
My body and mind are in shock–-so much has happened in the last few minutes.
He holds his hand out to me, and I warily take it, letting him pull me up.
“Do you need help?” All I can manage is a nod before I burst into tears.
“Whoa whoa, it’s alright. Come here, come sit down. ”
Still holding onto my hand, he gently pulls me toward a tree stump and helps lower me down onto it.
As I try to pull myself together enough to say something back to him, he carefully takes hold of my backpack, pulling it off me and setting it on the ground.
Then, he kneels so he’s face-level with me, giving me a reassuring smile before handing me his water.
I grab it, gulping it down greedily and then feeling slightly embarrassed.
I look up at him, forcing myself to meet his eyes.
“Th… thank you,” I say quietly. The words sound weird coming out of my mouth with how little I’ve been using my voice.
Once I start speaking though, I can’t stop.
I need to get it all out so I sit there and tell him the entire crazy story.
I don’t hold back any details and he never interrupts me.
He only stands with his arms crossed, pacing at times but always listening.
I can see he’s really paying attention and that he cares because he stops occasionally making eye contact with me before nodding and encouraging me to keep going.
When I get to the end of the story, I slouch forward, tired and weary.
The emotional toll it’s taken out of me by reliving it in my mind, scares me.
“I promised I would go back for him. We need to go get the police or somebody.” More tears slip down my face as I feel my whole body start to shake, the adrenaline is finally wearing off.
“We will, I swear and I hate to say this but… there’s no way we can go tonight.
If what you are saying is true, then the things you’re describing are out here right now, and that, combined with the sun being so close to setting…
Well, we wouldn’t last two minutes. I have a hunting shack just a mile walk from here.
It’s not much but it’s warm and it has a bed.
You look like you’re about to fall over where you sit.
Now I’m not going to tell you what to do and you can go if you want, but I’ll just say this–you getting further lost out here or getting deathly ill yourself isn’t going to help save your Luke.
You might not care about a random, old man’s opinion but do me a favor and humor me.
” My first thought is that there’s no way I can wait.
I’ve lost too much time already but as I look into the eyes of this stranger, I see kindness and wisdom.
My gut tells me I can trust him. My mind tells me I don’t have a choice.
I look up at him and nod, “Okay.” He smiles as he pats my leg. Then he grabs my backpack and slings it over his own shoulders before reaching down and pulling me back up. He gives my hand a gentle squeeze before dropping it.