The year is 1995; the Virginian forest, in its late summer glory was a cathedral of green and gold; sunlight dripping through the canopy, painting dappled patterns on the mossy floor; for Sarah, 23 and fresh off the plane from Britain; having travelled from Lancaster to Virginia; it was a scene ripped straight out of a postcard, this was her first proper trip to America, a leap of faith fuelled by her budding romance with Michael.
Michael was 29, a Philadelphia native – he had a disarming smile and kind eyes, he had promised her a peaceful escape from the city’s clamour; he spoke fondly of this particular stretch of forest, a place he had frequented as a boy, a sanctuary of towering pines and whispering leaves.
He wanted her to see the America he knew, the America that existed beyond the brochures used by tourists.
The air was thick with the scent of pine needles and damp earth; Sarah, dressed in jeans and a light fleece against the slight chill, inhaled deeply “It’s breathtaking Michael” she said; her Lancastrian accent lilting through the stillness
He grinned, pleased “Told you, this is my happy place”
They walked comfortably in the silence for a while; the only sounds of their footsteps against the soft earth, the occasional chirping of a bird; Michael would point out different things, tell stories of his childhood adventures in these very woods, and generally filled the air with an easy warmth, it was what had drawn Sarah to him in the first place.
But, as they ventured deeper there was a subtle shift; it went unnoticed at first, but it had begun, the birdsong seem to dwindle, the air had begun to grow heavier, and an unsettling quiet had descended, Sarah had noticed it first, the prickling sensation on the back of her neck “Is it always this…., quiet?” she asked, trying to keep her voice light
Michael paused, listening “Yeah, usually” he said “It’s actually part of what I like about it, so peaceful” he shrugged, but Sarah saw a flicker of unease in his eyes, he hadn’t noticed the complete absence of sound until she had pointed it out
They continued walking, but the serenity had been shattered; a twig snapped behind them, loud and distinct in an unnatural silence; they both turned, but saw nothing – just the dense, unyielding well of trees “Probably just a deer” Michael said, a little too quickly
They walked on, faster now; their earlier ease replaced with a growing tension, then, another noise – this time a low rustling in the undergrowth to their left, again, they stopped and scanned the trees; again – nothing
“Okay, that’s a little strange” Michael admitted, his voice losing its confident edge “I’ve never heard anything like that here before”
Sarah’s heart was beginning to pound “What could it be?”
Michael shook his head, his brow furrowed “I don’t know; maybe a bear?” he glanced about “But they usually make more noise”
They again picked up their pace; their initial hike now turning into a brisk walk bordering on a job, the forest seemed to be closing in around them; the tree’s taller and more menacing, the shadows deeper and more oppressive,
Then they heard it – a distinct snap of a branch, much closer this time, followed by a heavy thud; it was definitely behind them, and most certainly moving in their direction “Run” Michael urged, grabbing Sarah’s hand and pulling her forwards
They didn’t need any further encouragement; adrenaline surged through their veins as they sprinted through the trees; their feet pounding against the uneven ground, they didn’t look back, didn’t dare to – all they could hear was the sounds of their own ragged breathing and increasingly erratic noises behind them, branches snapping, leaves crunching and something else – something that sounded like heavy footsteps, but not quite human.
Fear, cold and sharp pierced through Sarah – she hadn’t expected this, America was not meant to be like this; and it certainly wasn’t what she expected for their first real date.
They stumbled and weaved between trees, branches tearing at their clothing, the forest floor a treacherous obstacle course; the noises behind them grew closer, faster and more insistent, whatever was chasing them was gaining ground.
“We’re almost there” Michael gasped, pointing towards a break in the trees where they could glimpse the clearing where they had parked the car
They burst out of the treeline and into the sunlight, the sudden brightness was disorientating – the car was right there, a beacon of hope in the face of their terror, Michael fumbled with the keys, his hands shaking so badly he almost dropped them.
Finally, he managed to unlock the door; they scrambled inside slamming the doors shut – locking them with trembling hands; Michael turned the key in the ignition, the engine spluttering to life; he threw the car into reverse and peeled out of the clearing, tired spitting gravel.
As they sped away, Sarah finally dared to look back; the trees stood silent and impassive; a wall of green hiding whatever horrors lurked within; her eyes strained as she searched for any sign of what had chased them, but saw nothing.
They drove, both of them breathing heavily; their bodies shaking with adrenaline – Sarah couldn’t speak, couldn’t process what had just happened, she kept replaying the sounds in her head, the snapping of branches, the heavy footsteps….
Michael finally broke the silence, his voice hoarse “I.., I don’t understand” he said, shaking his head “I’ve been coming here my whole life, and I have never experienced anything like that before”
Sarah reached out; took his hand a moment, her touch was tentative “It doesn’t matter” she said softly “We’re safe now”
But were they? – As they drove further and further away from the forest, a gnawing sense of unease remained; what had they encountered in those woods, what had chased them and why?
Back in the forest, deep within the shadows of the trees a pair of eyes watched as the car disappeared down the winding road; they were eyes of an unnatural yellow, burning with an ancient unknowable intelligence – the creature attached to those eyes stood motionless, a silent sentinel of the woods, its presence an unspoken threat to those that dared trespass on its domain.
It watched until the sound of the car faded away – then slowly, turned and melted into the darkness, leaving only the whispering leaves and an unsettling silence in its wake.
Written By: Westley H.
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