The Year Was 1980

It was dark outside, Id just drank my 12th beer for the night. Slightly buzzed, I call out to my girlfriend Erica from the cabin balcony. ERICA! No response. The party had died down, and I was ready to take her back to my place. I call out again. ERICA! Nothing. Damn, where is that girl.. Stumbling down the porch stairs, I go out into the woods to find her. The temperature was dropping and I could start to see my breath. I flicked my lighter as I entered a thick row of pitch black trees. I began to pick up on her scent, cheap hair spray and cherry perfume. I knew I was getting close. ERIC-OH SHIT! I yell as I tripped over several rocks and brush. I lost balance and slammed my chest into the ground. Few seconds passed before I brushed myself off and shook out the disorient. I flicked my lighter back on and kept moving. In the distance I saw sheer movement. As I approached, I noticed a dark red trail as if something had been dragged behind somewhere. I kept advancing in thoughts it was a dead animal.. or maybe some failed science experiment. Either way, the smell of my girl, Erica was getting stronger. I knew I had to keep going. Though, at this point I decided to move in stealth, as I could feel I was not alone in these woods. In my mind, the sooner I find her, the sooner we could test out the new hot tub we installed at my house. All of a sudden, I feel a brute tap on my shoulder. I grab the knife in my pocket as I turn around. There I was face to face with what looked like a deranged woodsman wearing a paper bag on his head. He had holes cut out for eyes, and was drenched in deep dark red. Drunk and fearless, I enter a primal stance. Knife in my right fist, and making distance with my left. I let out deep guttural breathing to let him know I was willing to do whatever it was I had to do to find my girl. The woodsman stood there, and began to laugh as he said words Id never thought Id hear... "I killed her".. A loud echo rang in my chest as my heart dropped. What? I replied... The man pointed down. As I looked, I saw Erica's legs contorting beneath the bush. At that moment, a loud war cry excavated my lungs. I wasted no time charging at the man who murdered the love of my life. I gave him no chance to react as I dug my dagger into his throat. We tussled until he eventually gave out. His body lay limp and lifeless just like my girl. After the commotion, Erica jumps from the bushes, screaming my name. JOSH! OH MY GOD, JOSH. WHAT DID YOU DO? Immediately sober and confused, I asses the situation. Looking at Erica, the blood dripping from my hands, and the corpse I just created. JOSH! YOU KILLED HIM! Taking a closer look at the body, time completely stopped. The man I had just ended, was none other than my best friend, Mike. Erica began banging her fist into my chest. YOU SICK BASTARD, IT WAS JUST A PRANK! Looking down I seen the fear in her eye. I grabbed her to de-escalate. Erica, I thought- GET AWAY FROM ME, she yelled before I could finish and sprinted off. I then went over to the body, removing the paper bag from his head. It was surely what used to be known as Mike Bartley, My best friend since daycare. I will never forget the look of Mikes lifeless eyes, that darted deeply into my soul. Not a day goes by I don't think about what happened that night.