Author's Note: As this story contains a specific, chapter based story-line, the first option choice is considered the 'canon' choice for the story. Please refrain from using the first option choice, as that is reserved for the primary storyteller (Mr. Domino) at this time. Please feel free to use the other story options to tell your own version of the this story. Thank you.
Hollison County. It sits somewhere in the Pacific Northwest, just close enough to civilization that it does not lack for modern comforts, yet far enough away to be considered isolated from the rest of the state of Cascadia. Getting lost in the vast wilderness of the Northern Range state park is a very real danger for the unprepared. Especially so in the forests surrounding Owl Creek, your home town.
You are Logan Reed, a local 19 year old enjoying your complete and absolute freedom of summer vacation after graduation. You're of average height at 5'9, you're physically fit with blonde hair and blue eyes, and you're part of the 'popular' group at your high school. OR were, at least, given that you're no longer IN high school.
You've got a full ride scholarship to Cascadia State University starting in the fall, so you're not overly concerned with getting a job just yet. Instead you've chosen to enjoy the moment and spend time with your friends from school, most of which you'll never see again once you all go your separate ways in the fall. This goes doubly so for your best friend Keanu Palmer, who you've known since both of you could walk. And despite trying to coordinate getting into CSU together, Keanu was eventually woo'd by a very lucrative football scholarship to Ohio State.
So before you end up separated forever, you and Keanu have been living the high life, partying whenever possible, hanging out around your small town and goofing off in general. That's how you both ended up in your current situation.
Both of you had been invited to hang out at a bonfire at Stacy Jensen's house, which sat right on the edge of the state park. There was nothing really unusual about it, you'd been there plenty of times before, but it was no big secret within the group that you had a thing for Stacy, though you never acted on it. You caught a ride in Keanu's vintage Camaro, a largely rusted piece of junk that he kept saying was going to restore, and when you both arrived it was just chilling out and getting your low key drink on with beers that Peter Lincoln had...'liberated' from his dad's stockpile. Erika Hinkle, Jordan Jones and Chris Penworth, your other friends slowly turned up at the evening dragged on. Jokes were had and all around it was another great night to be alive as the full moon illuminated the night. When the alcohol took hold and you all began daring each other to do things is when it all went wrong. Keanu had just taken your own dare and did a perfect back-flip off a nearby log while holding his beer. While you were all cheering, Keanu returned to the fire circle and handed you tally marked scuffed rock that the group was using to keep score in this ridiculous and meaningless game.
"That's right! Showed up your ass!" He laughed.
"Yeah yeah" You joked back/ You drained the last of your beer and tossed back by the cooler that Peter had smuggled them here in, listening to it clink against the other bottles that had steadily accumulated during the evening. "So, what do you guys want me do?"
Silence and the crackling fire was all that responded for a few moments. You'd all been doing pretty juvenile things and the game was starting to get boring.
"Well..." Stacy started, before furrowing her brow, "Let's make this one count for all the marbles! Last one gets the rest of the beer in the cooler!"
"Hey!" Peter started to protest but he was quickly shouted down by the rest of the group.
"Logan, I dare you to take that rock and put in on Barnabas Point tonight!" Stacy said, and another hush fell over the group.
Barnabas Point was near the head water of Owl Creek, a craggy outcropping of rock that stuck out over the gorge where the large, ice melt and spring fed lake became the actual creek. It was deep in the woods, and while not dangerously isolated, going there at night would be rough. Not to mention dangerous. It wasn't too far from Stacy's house but it still made for a decent hike. On foot, on the designated trails, it was at least two hours round trip. At night, at least an hour more both ways.
"Uh, Stace?" Erika said, looking from you to her more than a little drunk friend, "I don't think that's a good idea..."
Stacy huffed and stood up, her small frame wobbling a bit, "Well I think it's a good idea! WE get to leave something that will be there forever! Something from all of us! And then Logan can camp out there and then when the sun comes up we'll all go out together, take and We'll take a big picture and put it in something and mount it out there with the rocks!"
Silence again fell across your group. Erika and Keanu eyed you worriedly while Stacy looked as though she was on the verge of either crying or getting really, really angry. Peter. Jordan and Chris were all silent as they watched the exchange. And you had to admit, she did have a point. There was something...powerful about leaving part of your group behind at a place where it was very unlikely to ever get disturbed again. Not to mention there was still at least twelve beers left in the cooler.... But at the same time, you didn't really want to go out. One of the trails ran very close nearby and it and the other trails leading to the Point were often safe from bears and moose, but you could never predict wildlife.
"You guys are jerks..." Stacy sniffled and she started walking towards her house, leaving the bonfire behind, the mood of the night having gone from enjoyable to buzz kill in a mattter of seconds. And you hated buzzkills, especially if you were involved.
"Stace, wait up!" You said, rushing across the short distance to grab the girl by the shoulder, "I'll do it. You're right, I think it'd be really cool to leave a piece of us out there! But I'm not going on the trail at night without any hiking gear, ok?"
Stacy sniffled again but the tears held back. You removed your hand from her shoulder and she gave you a big hug.
"Thanks, Logan" She said, giving you a squeeze, "It just gets to me that this is the last summer we'll all be together, I just want to make it special"
"Yeah, I know the feeling" You replied
"OH GET A ROOM!" Keanu mockingly yelled from the fire, breaking the tension and sending the group into a fit of laughter and catcalls. He was a good guy, a good friend, and he gave you a mock punch on the shoulder when you and Stacy returned to the fire. He grinned as you made a dramatic deal out of it, but then fixed you with a serious stare. "I'm down with this, but we both know it's a bad idea to go out there ALONE. So if you go, I go.. That way when you wind up IN the creek I'm there to pull your drunk ass out!"
Another round of chuckles as everyone looked over at Stacy.
"Yeah, okay!" She said, her face beaming and red, though from the beer or the fire you couldn't tell. Okay, so you can use mine and Peter's backpacks,"
"HEY!"
"Which Peter is HAPPY to donate. We'll give you guys some walkies, and some water and food just in case! KEanu, do you need to use my backpack?"
"No, I still have mine in my car, I'll just go get it" Keanu said.
"That sounds like a plan, Stace!" You say. Knowing you'll have supplies makes this dare much less challenging. Preparation was always important.
"Yeah, then all you have to do is watch out for the Wackerknobs" Peter said, he face dark,
"What are Wackerknobs?" Jordan asked. The 'new girl' of the group, she'd moved into town a couple of years ago and had yet to hear the local legend.
Keanu rolled his eyes, "They're boogeymen that are supposed to live in the forest, based off some old Native American legends. Some bat-monkey things made out of leather and wire and the only people who have ever seen them are the local druggies. It's a tall tale. They jump on you and, depending on which junkie is telling the story, they either bite you, fuck you, and they feed off of it like a vampire or something. The druggies are the only ones who have ever claimed to see them so it's probably just someone's bad trip."
"Then you've got nothing to worry about" Peter said, folding his arms and glaring at you and Keanu for a moment before getting up and retrieving his backpack from his truck.
It takes about half an hour but soon you and Keanu are loaded out with supplies to make the trip and are standing in front of the dark wall that is the tree line, your flashlights beaming into the vegetation.
"And if either of you comes out before sun-up, I get all the beer!" Peter hissed. You were pretty sure the it was the inebriation talking, but there was a sinister tone to his voice that you hadn't heard before Stacy had hugged you. Was he jealous? You didn't bother asking and simply nodded. With a wave, you both stepped onto into the woods.
Neither you or Keanu had any idea what the two of you were walking into.
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