The Thing in the Woods

The Thing in the Woods

By - Robert Aaron Goldsborough

         Everyone knew that it lived out there in the forest, but it seemed strange that no one wanted to talk about it; no one except the kids.  There had always been the stories of missing pets and missing cheerleaders that the teens would toss about that no one took seriously.  Until one day the high school's favorite cheerleader went missing.  She was a beacon in our little town.  Everyone knew her and liked her.  She was thoughtful with the young and respectful to the old.  She was also quite stunning and beautiful.  You would see her out with her friends at the movies or the mall and her looks would slow your tongue and speed up your pulse.  She was missed immediately that Friday night after our hometown team trounced our rivals at football.  The call went out: where's Emily?  Her parents banged on every one of her friends' doors, then they banged on all of their friend's doors.  There was no sign of Emily.  Her classmates gathered and whispered behind the adults backs about the forest.  The adults had no reason or concern to listen to these whispers and the kids knew it.

         At midnight a delegation of the bravest kids were gathered at the edge of the forest where the trees leaned over the south country road.  There were taunts and teases thrown about like paper airplanes and three were prodded into searching the dark woods.  I was ready.  I had my backpack stuffed with provisions and three flashlights with plenty of batteries.  I also had packed my insatiable crush for Emily.  Who could blame me?  Half of those who had formed the delegation were almost as in love with her as I was.

         Billy James, from my Algebra class took point position and one of the flashlights.  I handed Christie, Emily's older sister, my other spare.  The trees engulfed us as we passed through their border leaving the assumed comfort of the road behind.  The lights were narrow and dimmed in the darkness of the woods, but we strode in, intent on rescue.  We knew that the thing in the woods had Emily; how else could she just be gone?  The dry autumn leaves crunched under our boots and unsettled my stomach.  There was no way we were going to have the opportunity of surprise against this thing.  Maybe we would get lucky and find it before it actually found us.

         I kept glancing at my watch to alert Billy and Christie of the time.  I thought it was helpful since we were not making much progress even after an hour.  We did not even think as to where the thing would have dragged poor Emily into this dark wood, how could we even have been expected to find evidence that we were on the right trail?  Then Christie let loose a scream that stood every hair on my neck up on top of growing goose-bumps.

         "What the Hell Christie?"  Billy asked stunned and shaken.

         "That tree.  Up there, it's Emily's coat."  Christie said between gasps.

         Several paces or so ahead of us, about ten feet from the ground was a twisted bit of red fabric.  Billy held me up so I could tug it down.  The cloth was wet and slick in my grip, but I managed to wrench it free.  It fell on top of my head as I fell on top of Billy.  A cascade of brittle leaves and twigs showered down into our faces.  Christie picked up the red fabric and held it out for us to spot with the lights.

         "It, it is hers."  Christie spoke as if in a trance and then collapsed holding the jacket against her face.  We heard her soft sobs smothered by the coat.

         "It's her letter jacket alright, all red with the gold piping.  Look here's her letters on the sleeve.  But, is this..."  Billy's question faded as he pulled his hand away from the coat and the red seemed to stay clinging to his hand.

         "It's blood."  I said as quietly as I could, trying not to let poor Christie hear.  She did and lowered the coat showing more red smeared across her tear smudged face.

         "Blood?  We've got to go back.  Our parents will listen now, we have proof that she was taken here."  Christie said through her horror.

         "You can go back and warn the others if you want, but I'm staying and looking for your sister.  If this is her blood, she could really use our help right now."  Billy said looking sternly down at Christie.  I nodded and agreed that we should press on.

         We were by no means trackers of any kind, but we had assumed that if fortune had granted us the clue of the jacket, then maybe, just maybe fortune would lead us to Emily and she would be okay.  We did not dare discuss that Emily could be dead, that seemed unreasonable to us.  How could sweet, beautiful Emily be dead?  We just knew that she was in this dark wood scared and waiting for us, her hero's, to come and rescue her. 

         It was well after two in the morning when we stumbled across the small brook that wound its way through these woods.  Billy laid down on his belly to drink while Christie washed the dried blood and tears from her face.  I have to say that Christie was not as attractive as her sister, but she was not far from her looks.  I stared at her while she washed trying to see the lines in her face that matched her sister's.  I must have upset Christie because she splashed me with the chilly water and brought me out of my trance. 

         "Hey, look at this."  Billy stood up holding a leather purse.

         "Oh my god, its Emily's!"  Christie screamed.

         "We must still be on the right trail then."  Billy said.

         We followed the stream for another hour before we had to stop and rest.  I had ham sandwiches in my backpack and handed them around.  We all munched greedily and satiated our sweet-teeth with the chocolate bars I had.  We were energized and ready for whatever lay ahead.

         Billy was the first to hear Emily.  A hundred or so yards ahead of us, across the stream he heard heavy breathing; labored breathing of a female in pain.  We slowed our movements to as silent an approach as we could muster.  The leaves' crunch sounded even louder against our strained ears.  Christie cleared the space the quickest and stopped with a gasp.  There, as naked as the day she was born, was Emily.  A red rope lashed her upright to a tree.  She had a red bandana tied around her head covering her eyes.  She did not seem to hear Christie's steps or gasp.

         "Emily?"  Christie whispered.

Emily remained quiet except for her ragged breathing.

         "Emily.  It's me, your sister, Christie.  Can you hear me?"

Emily twisted her head towards Christie's voice and pulled a broad smile across her face.

         "Christie?  What do you think you're doing here?"  Emily's voice sounded sinister and uneven.  Christie stepped backwards into Billy's arms.

         "Who else did you bring out here with you Evan?"  Emily asked me.

         "Oh, just Christie and Billy."  I answered.

Billy stared at me with the same eyes he stared at his difficult algebra problems with.  I guess, in hindsight, this was another problem that he was going to have a problem with.

         "Do they know yet?"  Emily smiled in my direction.  She was always beautiful, but never more so than when she was tied up and playing helpless.

         "Evan, what's going on here?"  Billy asked, still holding up Christie.

         "Well, you see Billy-boy.  It's that time again."  I smiled and advanced on the naked beauty tied to the tree.

         "What time Evan?  What the hell are you talking about?"  Christie's eyes got bigger with every syllable she said.

         "Time for the thing that lives in the woods to be free."  I said through my own smile.  Emily started to laugh and I had to laugh with her.  Billy's eyes were widening in his impending shock.

         "Oh, don't worry so much, guys.  We're not going to hurt you."  I said.

Something was approaching fast through the dark woods.  The sounds of crunching leaves began to get louder and louder.  Billy dropped Christie and began to run the way from which we all came.  The thing veered off course to intercept the fleeing boy.  After a minute Billy screamed and then there was silence.  Emily giggled behind her bandana.  I wanted to see those eyes.  I walked up and pulled the bandana away.  She looked into my eyes and closed her mouth for a kiss.  I gave her what we both wanted.  We had always been more than just pawns of the beast, we were lovers.  To make sure that our love would stay, the thing in the woods had promised us forever; as long as we did it one little favor every decade or so.  The sound of crunching leaves started to advance towards us again and Christie screamed.

         "God, sis, I wish you wouldn't do that."  Emily said.

         "What is that?  Where's Billy?"  Christie asked through sobs.

         "Billy's dead."  I stated and went in for another one of those kisses.

A dark form, the size of a sofa, crawled between the trees and into Christie's flashlight beam.  I turned my light off, closed my eyes and remained mouth to mouth with Emily.

         Everyone was excited to see Emily and me the next day, even Billy's parents.  We were welcomed back with open arms and broad smiles.  They were just glad to see that we had not deserted them.  They needed us after all.  They always did, no matter what the price.  The thing had brought these people here and promised them all what they wanted; as long as they knew the price.  It never took them long to forget about those that had to be sacrificed anyway.  We would be placed in new families and start the game all over.  They were always so glad to see us again and again; and they always will.