Camping in Forest | The Ink Well Prompt #64

This was to be a relaxing trip. It may have been with a few other choices. Instead of bringing my own tent, I had to camp in the woods. I have no idea why. That wasn't me. I haven't been camping since I was a child, and I won't be again. If I survive.

It started very well. It started as a nice trip to a forest to get away from humans. Clearly, that didn't work.

It was straightforward when I arrived. When it became dark, I put up my tent and built a great fire to cook some hot dogs. It grew dark shortly. The sun had set, the stars were out, and the woodland was unusually quiet. No birds sang, no crickets chirped. I got up to look around but found nothing. In my tent, I put out the fire. I haven't camped in a long time, but I don't recall the forest being this way.

_Image

I slept with my flashlight close. Despite my best efforts, sleep overtook me.

Soft, almost imperceptible footsteps pacing outside woke me up during the night. The jungle was so silent I wanted to scream to break it. Listening hard was hard work for me. I don't recall anyone camping here. I didn't suppose anyone lived within 10 miles of my choice, but that's impossible, but someone did. I kept thinking they were lost and needed help. How do you approach someone sleeping in a tent for directions without seeming threatening? I tried to ignore the fact that pacing outside didn't help either.

I also tried not to think about being alone in the woods. No one would notice I was away for three days because I am scheduled to return. I silently searched my luggage for my knife and bear spray, even though there would be no service. The footsteps went quiet because I wasn't quiet enough.

I suddenly feared the worst. Silence till the footsteps returned to the woods. That made me feel better. Maybe it was just a scared animal. That made perfect sense, my mind was clearly exaggerating. That is, until the silence was broken, stopping my heart.

“Hey,”

Strange how such a simple word worried me so much. There was no way someone was there, I knew it. No one else was in the wilderness for miles, so how else would someone shout out? When I realized how long they could have been circling me while I slept, I felt worse.

My gaze shifted to the tent's door, which I could see was sealed shut from the outside. It's simply a zipper, and if they can't pull it open, they'll need a knife. That was a new fear for me. How about armed?

“Hey,” I said.

_Image

The same word. There was no denying it now, someone was out there trying to get me out of my tent. My mind was whirling, trying to figure out what to do. I considered cutting a hole in the back of my tent, but decided against it. They would have heard me if they had heard my luggage. I could've made a dash for it and parked. It was simply a five minute walk away. I knew I could do it.

“Are you?”

Fear grips my hands as I clench my knife. “Want?” My voice is a little shaky and my sentences are rushed, but the point was made.

That's when I heard “Hey are you there?” The voice seemed to move, but I couldn't determine which way.

I inhaled deeply. I had two options: stay put and let them have all the advantages, or go out there and fight. It wasn't actually a question. My hands shook as I grabbed for the zipper. I started unzipping it with my headlamp ready. As soon as the flap went down, I would flash my flashlight in the person's face, causing astonishment. That would have let me get to my automobile.

I mentally counted to three before leaping out of the tent and shining my flashlight. But that didn't work out. Instead, the flashes from my headlamp looked like something from a nightmare. Tall but hunched. Skin pale and thin, as though overstretched, yet that wasn't the scariest thing. No, it was the face. Its eyes were black and beady, it had no nose, and its mouth was open, exposing its razor sharp fangs.

I just sat there, dumbfounded, waiting to wake. Then I realized I had to leave. I ran through the woods towards my car, knowing the countdown had begun. It was me versus it. I had a flashlight, a knife, and a lighter in my pocket. With no defense tools, I assured myself that I would win since I didn't want to think about the consequences.

_Image

On the forest floor, I heard a scream that wasn't human. A tiny win was that it sounded like it hadn't moved to catch up with me. That thought lingered until I heard a twig snap behind me. It was beside me.

I ran through the woods until I was nearly out of breath. I kept going despite my tears. I saw red through the trees, which meant I was close to my car and safety. I pushed myself through the last trees. I then realized I had not heard any footsteps behind me. Is it really gone? No, that's too easy. I was afraid to acknowledge that it didn't even try. It would have gotten me by now if it wanted to. A little branch smacks me in the face as I sprint to my car. I had the keys and the door was open. That left getting in and driving away.

A bony hand tightens around my ankle, bringing me to the ground. My hands searched my pockets for my knife, but I had dropped it. I looked over and saw a little bottle of bug spray at eye level. I pulled it from my car's door cubby and hoped my lighter was still in my pocket. I hit it as the thing towered over me and sprayed insect spray, blasting flames into the air.

It yelled, and I rushed to lock my door and start the automobile. It tried to stop me, but I kept pressing the pedal, screeching out of the parking lot, leaving a nightmare.

---

---

The End

Thanks for reading, Have a great day!

---

https://images.ecency.com/p/3W72119s5BjW4PvRk9nXBzqrPWMsMTjNrXDPFFf11Me3xJu2FYAtZ1bFbvoF8BV4Jvf39axwiTNRZ9CsVGpdLBDvqA7jzfww3N2FxWmttUQLjn59xwxU29.webp?format=webp&mode=fit