Night (One-shot)

Night

AN// I wrote this for a Wattpad Amino contest for the new year: #NewMe2017
This was much fun to write. Enjoy!

***
Thump,
               thuMP,
                              THUMP.
The sound of footsteps grow louder. I breathe heavily. I can't hide for much longer. It's going to find me.

I peek through the bushes. I don't see it. I can't hear it. I quietly stand up and begin to tiptoe away from the trees and foliage I was hiding in. I pick up speed, keeping my footsteps light. Maybe if I can make it out of this cursed forest, I'll be safe.

I gulp. Stephanie and Robin didn't make it out.

We were camping; I was the third wheel. When you're with a couple, that usually happens. Even though I knew Stephanie hated it, I  couldn't help myself from staring at my best friend. Robin is one of the most attractive guys I have ever seen, with his sandy blonde hair and rare green eyes. I could never compare to him, with my dark hair, pale brown eyes, and an ugly face with overly sharp features. I know it might be wrong for me to look at him when I have a girlfriend back home, and especially wrong when you add the factor that I'm a guy.

We had a fire going and the tents were already set up. Stephanie and Robin were cuddled up across from me, and I was wrapped in a blanket. My phone didn't have service, and I had groaned. Maybe too loudly, because a flock of birds in the trees flew away. Later, I'd learn that I'm not the one that frightened them.

Robin had just laughed before beginning to tell a story about a black demon with white eyes, an evil spirit that inhabited this forest. He said that last year, a group of hikers went missing. He said they found scattered body parts. Only one girl's body was found mostly intact, and she had a huge gash in her chest and she was missing a leg. Robin mentioned that when they found her, her eyes were still open. They were glossed over with death, but she had a look of pure terror written on her face.

Stephanie had laughed and flipped her brown hair over her shoulder nonchalantly, but I was scared. What if this demon thing found us?

Robin assured me everything was fine, but once we went to bed, I learned it absolutely wasn't.

Stephanie and Robin got the larger tent, as they were sleeping together. I had heard Stephanie get up. "I'm just going to pee."

"Aw, hurry back." Robin whined.

She was gone for a few minutes before we heard an ear-piercing scream. Robin and I practically flew out of our tents to go find her. Instead, what we found was blood spatters and one of her ugg boots.

"Robin, we need to get out of here."

Robin was still in a state of shock. I'd grabbed his hand and dragged in through the woods, trying to remember the path we'd taken. It didn't even occur to me we left all of our stuff back at the campsite.

"Stop. Let go of me." Robin said suddenly, pausing. "I need to go find Stephanie."

I sighed. "Robin, if it hasn't occurred to you already, she's dead. Sorry to put it bluntly, but if we don't get the hell out of here, we'll be next."

Robin nodded, and took off. I raced after him, and we zig-zagged through the trees and bushes.

Once I realized he wasn't with me, it had been too late to save him. A severed limb whacked me in the back and knocked me over. I gagged at the smell of death, but I had to get up and get away. I could see a seven foot figure far back in the trees, and I knew it would be occupied with Robin's corpse for a while.

I'd gotten pretty far ahead of the thing when I found a great temporary hiding spot. I figured I'd hide and rest for a bit and hope it doesn't find me.

And that brings us back to now. It's behind me, but I can see the end of the forest up ahead. I can reach it if I keep going. My legs are burning and I can barely breathe, but it's so close. The road up ahead has cars crossing it, and I can see Robin's white car parked out by the beginning of the forest's trail.

The thing makes a groaning noise, and turns back to the heart of the forest.

It is then when I realise I won't be able to start Robin's car unless I still have my keychain in my pocket. Robin gave me a spare key. He had one to my car, too. I fumble in my pocket for a while, pulling out my phone, a pack of gum, and finally my keys.

Robin won't be needing his car now, I think to myself. I pull out and start driving back home. We should've never went in that cursed forest. I guess now I'll have to talk to the police and fill out a witness report for their deaths. What'll I do without him? I feel tears start to fall down my cheeks, and I swerve the car. I can barely control the car as my vision is completely blurred by tears. This can't be safe. I try to pull over, but words appear on the windshield.

You left us. You were supposed to come with us.
-Robin

"No!" I choke. My car swerves more, and I fight to control it.

You got away. But we won't let you go on. Join us.

Blood starts to drip down the windshield, and I can't see the road. My car swerves off course and crashes into a telephone pole.

I can't see anything. Blinding pain sears through my body. I can't move. I think my car is on fire. It's hot.

I hear a voice speaking. "I can't wait to see you again." I think it's Robin.

My mind goes quiet and I float into complete, numbing darkness.