"Sammy, I'm a lady and a lady needs a proper romantic setting". That talk was always in my mind. Her adorable face, sweet smile and charming blue eyes would always be in my memory. And also, the moment when I always caressed her long-brown hair could never be forgotten even though swallowed by the time. Time kept running. The sky blushed because the sun came out from the siege of ash clouds by lighting up its shine, and began to swell to the great dimension of the rising moon. While on the way, I could not deny that I had completely fallen for remembering that moment again. Last year's incident pressed on me, squeezing out all the little light that was left inside of me. I felt like a fallen leaf in summer which fell at the wrong time. I felt that there was no more light in my life. The eternal light that always guided me had disappeared. Maybe our story was only been a few years, but memories were created beautifully. No words could explain the way I was missing her so much.572Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ363cDScMLg
Along the road, the sceneries were only of pine trees and mountains on Blackwood Mountain, signaling we would get to a lodge owned by my lady's family and her sister, Alicia. The bus stopped signifying we had arrived. So, Catherine and I got off the bus. When we set foot just after getting off the bus, the climate outside was very pleasant as usual. The raindrops covered the road and reflected sparkling light on a wet road. I was embraced by the fresh clean scent of gentle rain on this forest. The petrichor aroma really gave us a feeling which could bring back memories of that moment. It was because a little rain was showering this forest when we were on the way. Well, Catherine and I were close friends so we went together. Catherine was good looking. She had a beautiful body, blue eyes, tied back-blonde hair and tall body. She was diligent and confident, but sometimes irreverent. From the road to the lodge, the way was quite afar. When our steps would reach to the gate, Catherine looked at me worriedly.
"Sam, do you think we can get through this after what happened last year?" She enquired.
I just stunned for few seconds, trying not to remember it as when we were on the bus, and then I emphasized what the purpose of coming here.
"I know, it's gonna be tough for all of us after what happened last year, but now we're here, aren't we? We must get through this. We come here for Alicia. She asks us to come on the anniversary, so it means she needs us and of course we come here for the sake of Ashley" I explained.
The hiss of the cold wind whispered as if welcoming us. The twilight was beautifully reflected on a puddle of water. The path leading to the lodge was covered by wet fallen leaves. We continued our steps. A huge lodge was seen as grand as a palace in the middle of the forest. From this path, along which we walked on, the sunset was blushing between the pine trees as if enveloping the lodge and reflected a shimmering light on the wet tiles. In the front of the yard, there were benches and tables under a tree, facing directly into the valley and mountains. At there, there was Laura who was looking at something.
"O my cutie Laura! Surely you're waiting for us, ain't you?" Catherine slightly surprised her.
"Oh hey buddies! Ha-ha big-headed! I'm just looking at these beautiful views" Laura replied while hugging Catherine.
Laura was Ashley's best friend. She was the same age as Ashley, a year younger than me and the others. She had blue eyes, short blonde hair with bangs, and she was not tall. Beauty, cuteness and innocence glowed on her face. Well, Laura was cynosure. It was because she was a confident, cheerful and humorous person.
"So, have the others arrived?" I asked.
"Yap, they're inside, you two are the last" Laura answered.
"Alright, let's go inside. It's getting cold outta here" I persuaded.
The sound of the wood trampled when we were entering the lodge. The lodge itself, while having a log chalet exterior, was designed to be state of the art with a majestic interior outfitted with modern fixtures and plenty of space. This lodge was designed spacious with 2 floors and a basement by using a high quality of wood and brick. Therefore, if a storm invaded, this lodge would still stand mighty. The interior was still the same as before. There was no change, but still elegant like a royal residence.
"Yo! What's up party people!" I hollered while entering the lodge.
"Heeey, everyone!!" Catherine supported in greetings the gang.
The others immediately looked toward the door, for there were Catherine, Laura and I who had just arrived. Dany walked approaching. Dany was my best friend. He was a little fat but tall, using cap and he had a short hair. He was humorous, brave and inquisitive.
"What's up man! Hahaha" Dany hollered to me.
"Oh man, Dan! Seriously? You look like a bear now! Hahaha" I replied while embracing him.
In this main room, there was Hannah who was sitting on the sofa near the fireplace. Hannah was Alicia and Catherine's best friend. She was using eyeglasses and she had a long-black hair, brown eyes and tall body. She was intelligent, resourceful and thoughtful.
"Yep, you're right Sam, but I like his style this time. O my cutie bear, come to me, lemme hug you!" Laura said while approaching Dany.
We were just laughing. As always, Laura's jokes always succeeded to make us laughing. Catherine and Hannah's expressions and gestures looked cheerfully.
"Home sweet home!" Alicia cheered while going down the stairs from the second floor.
Alicia was Ashley's elder sister. She had a short-brown hair, blue eyes and tall body. Alicia was a loving person, but she was also a sensitive and complex person. Certainly, all of us were classmates and pals. This cozy feeling made us decidedly happy and felt so lovely as we were gathering together. The chatters and jokes were a sunny smile that appeared after the rain rolled down the cheeks. With the warmth of the fire from the fireplace and the warmth of togetherness, it was like the light of the morning, diffused in the evening and made the day worth living as if forgetting about what happened last year on that bad day.
The nature showed its habits, darkened, signaling of night had come. This lodge was still dark because the dark god devoured the light in this lodge as the sky, which was like a velvet cloak covered in sequins, was starting to cover up this forest. The trees casted a creepy shadow as if coming and starting to infiltrate this room. The fireplace and lantern were the main lights in this family room. We were still gathering in this room while talking and joking to each others, but did not realize that the condition was getting dark.
"Well, guys, you don't wanna stay here all the time right? So, Sam, can you go to the cabin to check on supplies there? Oh yeah, before it, there's a generator in a hut. I forgot to turn the generator on, so that's why the lights here ain't working. So, you gotta fire up the generator to brighten the streetlights and all the areas in this lodge" Alicia demanded.
"These are the flashlight and the cabin's key. You can go with Laura if you want" she appended while giving the flashlight and the key to me.
Spontaneously, Catherine protested Alicia's statement in a slightly unwilling tone.
"Wait! Why did you ask Laura instead?! While I can do it with Sam!" Catherine objected.
"Sorry, Cate, but you've never been there, have you? Umm, I mean, Laura knows the way to go there. She also knows the situation out there" Alicia explained.
"And so? Do you think if Sam goes with me then we'd get lost? Then later there will be a bear pounced on us? I'm clearly sure that it won't! After all, Sam knows the way to get there too!" She protested.
Alicia looked at her and tried to explain, but Catherine still could not accept Alicia's decision.
"Ah I see, Catherine, you have a crush on Sam, don't you? So, you feel jealous" Alicia said.
Catherine felt offended by Alicia's words. She seemed objected.
"Huh!? What makes do you think so?" Catherine responded with defying tone.
Catherine and Alicia stared each others. Catherine's gaze looked cynically. She gave Alicia a stern glare like a wolf was lurking its prey. The warmth atmosphere of togetherness and sound of jokes suddenly vanished. Their egos were scattered, welcoming the shadow of the trees which slithered through the sidelines and the reflection of the window panes as if coming to possess their bodies. This tension was heart-pounding like being pierched by the wind which blew in to this room. Dany and Laura looked at them worriedly, but not for Hannah, as always she was being wise.
"Okay, stop it! It's done, alright? Remember, we don't come here for this okay? So, Alicia, let Sam decide who's gonna go with him to the cabin" Hannah arbitrated.
I had no problem if Laura or Catherine went with me to the cabin, but Laura let Catherine left with me to the cabin. Then, Laura went upstairs with Alicia to the second floor, while Dany and Hannah were still sitting on the sofa near the fireplace. The nature was already dark. At the same time, Catherine and I went outside to go to the cabin. Catherine looked embarrassed to speak. Perhaps, it was because she had argued like she was having a psywar with Alicia. Therefore, I was joking with her, so she could forget about it. Gladly, I succeeded. Her expression returned cheerful and her bad mood feeling was gone. She smiled and laughed.
The cold wind rustled through the trees. It felt as if it was piercing into the body. The cabin was near the mountain, so we walked uphill. The sound of crows whispering sweet nothings was heard among the pine trees. This path leading to the cabin was still wet and covered by moist fallen leaves. There was a wooden bridge crossed the river where the water was flowing soothingly. We stopped for a moment on it. Catherine played a song on her cellphone. Added with the sound of splashing water below us, it made a romantic impression. This made us felt like a couple.
"Awww yeah, I'm so damn psyched right now. Well, how far is this cabin anyway? I hope it's the coziest and most romantic place!" Catherine cheered.
"Haha, oh yeah, Cathy, it'll be so much fun while we're there, I hope so" I reacted.
After some time, we continued walking. The air was getting cold with the mountain mist which began coming down to cover up this entire forest. We passed a tree with a police line which was still stuck on it.
"Oh, police tape, I think it's from Ashley, the police would clean it up" Catherine said.
"Well, they never closed the investigation" I replied.
"Whereever she is, I hope she's happy that we're all always thinking about her. You know that we aren't only best friends, we're one family, Ashley will always be in my mind" I appended.
"Me too Sam, that's a nice way of thingking about it" Catherine responded.
After a moment, we kept moving. The howling wolves began to tell stories. We were caught in the middle of a mountain mist group-hug, but this flashlight could still fight through the mist. A hut was seen in the shade of the mist. We went in and turned on the generator, so the street lights lit brightening the path. The darkness slightly reversed its power by the light. After that, we continued walking to get the cabin, and after walking for some time, finally we arrived. We entered the cabin. It had a fireplace room and bedroom on the back side, but the lights here were not working even though the generator was already turned on. It was still under the cover of the darkness. Catherine sat on the sofa right in front of the fireplace.
"Brrrr, oh boy, it's getting cold and there's no light here. Sam, can you light the fireplace for me? Please" She requested.
I ignited the lantern for mood lighting and the fireplace to warm us.
"Ah, yeah, perfect! Thanks, Sam! I think you're an expert in handling a lady. Well, yeah, you know, a lady really loves a nice cozy fire bathed in atmospheric mood lighting and you did it for me" She said while smiling.
Cold as the condition was, from the standpoint of the both of us, in this room, its hold-over warmth was a godsend to our thoroughly chilled body. I sat right next to her and we talked to each other. Catherine was smiling at me. Her smile was as big as the sun. I knew that Catherine was head over in love with me, so I treated her as she was my new lady. She was really flying high. Under the perfection of light from the fireplace and lantern pouring a mood lighting, where warmth was the purpose, it was melting the cold ambience in the body. Her blue eyes gleamed. Catherine took the cue that she yearned to express the feelings which surrounded in her heart.
"Ah, umm, well, I'm always in the mood for you, darling" Catherine confessed about her mood to me.
Night was getting late. Her gesture became clumsy. She seemed like she wanted to say something but was ashamed to say it. Well, I looked into her eyes. We stared each other and our position was closer to each other.
"Umm, I've been thinking about this all day" Catherine said while we were cuddling up.
In this room, with a tickling whisper of the cold wind, we were alone together. Trapped in the embrace of darkness ringed with the perfection of a synthesis of the warm light that was sprinkled from the fireplace and the lantern pouring the mood lighting, the warmth became very pronounced in this body. As I treated Catherine as she was my new lady, I seemed to feel what was in her heart. The touch of her love felt so real and so strong especially when we were cuddling. Maybe I made her always crave for my cuddle which felt like touching the stars.
"Maybe, I know how to handle you and I hope you think so, my love" She appended while looking at me.
When we were going to enjoy our moment, suddenly, 'PRANG!!', the sound of shattering glass was heard in the back bedroom of the cabin. It spontaneously shocked us. I tried to assure Catherine that she was safe and no need to fear. I scurried to check it. As I thought, the window in the back room was broken and there was a stone lying on the floor. While I was in the bedroom to check it, suddenly, 'PRANG!' I heard sounds of broken glass and door.
"AAARGH GOD!! AGH! SAM HELP ME!! " Catherine screamed.
Catherine was screaming loudly. Her terrified scream never left her lips. I rushed back to the fireplace room, but Catherine has gone. Someone forcefully pulled her out. I took a sniper rifle which was attached on the wall. Then, I immediately dashed to chase her. I vaguely saw her being dragged forcedly. I was aiming and 'BANG!' I shot, but missed, 'BANG!' I still tried to hit it. The mist made it difficult for me, and 'BANG!' my shot hit it. It left Catherine and disappeared in the mist into the forest. Catherine was shocked and fragile. There were claw wounds on her hand and forehead. I held and led her to the lodge in order to save her.
The others panicked as I shouted to open the door. They asked what had happened to us. I explained that there was a maniac terrorized and tried to kill us. Catherine was very gasped and traumatized. We treated her and stayed for some time in this living room while waiting for her to feel better. I exchanged the rifle with a gun stored on the table because the bullet had been used up.
Subsequently, Hannah suggested basement was a safe place, so we got down to the basement. It was late at night, the time showed 1.43 a.m. In the lodge, the electricity was on, so it made us a little peaceful, but when we got down the stairs, suddenly the electricity was extinct. Darkness made our steps unorganized, but luckily Hannah brought a flashlight. Arriving at the basement, it was very dark. I checked everyone, but I felt we were incomplete.
"Wait! Where's Alicia?" I asked them.
Dany and Hannah did not know because they were in living room. We looked at Laura because she went to the second floor with Alicia at that time. Laura professed that she discerned through the window there was someone went out through the back door while she was on the second floor. At the same time, we heard footsteps in the next room. Because of mixed feelings, we became uneasy at this kind situation. Dany checked it, but suddenly 'BAM!' the door closed, set apart us from Dany. I tried to open it but locked.
Unexpectedly, there was a clown in front of us. The girls screamed, spontaneously we ran to the next room. The basement was spacious, there were many shelves and several rooms. It was like we were playing hide and seek in the maze with the clown.
"RUN!! RUN!! C'MON OVER HERE!!" Hannah screamed.
We ran looking for way out. When we passed the door to reach the next room, the door immediately closed. Laura and Catherine hadn't passed the door yet and were locked in that room. We heard they screamed. At the same time, I smashed the door powerfully.
"Don't move! if you don't want these girls dead!" The clown spoke in heavy voice and threatening tone.
The clown captured them, threatening with knife near their necks. They cried in fear. The situation was astounding. I pointed a gun and shot him, but had no effect with him.
"HAHAHA! You think you can kill me? HAHA You're fool Sam! Fool! Now, choose who will you save? Catherine or Laura" The clown intimidated.
Cautiously, I put the gun and spoke to release them, but the clown pointed the knife to their necks. Hannah told him to calm down, and asked to tell who he was and what he wanted from us. The clown followed our requests and opened the mask. We were shocked that it was Alicia.
"HAHAHA! Shocked? DAMN YOU ALL!! Guys, remember about last year? When my lovely sister ran into the forest after seeing you were cheating with this girl? Catherine! DO YOU REMEMBER SAM!! Now, for vengeance! THIS INSOLENT GIRL MUST BE DIED!! She intimidated.
She dropped Laura and would stab the knife to Catherine's neck. When Alicia would stab the knife into Catherine's neck, Dany rushed from behind and 'POW!' he hit Alicia with a wooden beam. Immediately, Alicia fell down and fainted. Hannah and I instantly embraced them and we bound Alicia. Afterwards, we went straight away from basement and ensured it was locked.
We tried to leave this place. There was only one main path which passed when we came, but the gate was damaged, might be damaged by Alicia. There was also a fallen tree blocking the path, so we couldn't pass it. It was 3 hours until dawn, we returned to the lodge and stayed on the back side. We made a plan how to leave this place. Hannah found a map and saw a radio tower not so far from the lodge. We didn't want to waste time, so to make this quick, Hannah and Dany went to the radio tower, while I would supervise and protect Catherine and Laura.
While waiting they returned, we still couldn't believe it would happen like this, that Alicia tried to kill us. The beautiful atmosphere that we hoped, turned into a mess. I talked to myself, this mess, it was my fault. I made Ashley ran into the forest and she never came back. The time showed 4.10 a.m. The sound of howling wolves shouted each other like a song which was vocalized by two different people. Catherine spoke sobbingly.
"Sam, honestly, something that pulled me in the cabin, it wasn't human. I saw it. it has long hands, long legs, claw and fang. At first, I wanted to say it but you know, I'm so scared" She said.
On the other hand, Laura was reading a book stored on a bookshelf. She read that there was a creature more dangerous than wolves and bears in these mountains.
"Oh crap! Oh crap! Guys look at this! Evidently, in these mountains there was a creature named Wendigo, its shaped like humans, but its characteristics the same as Catherine said, and these monsters only hunted at night. Oh god! Hannah and Dany are in danger!" Laura panicked.
Catherine and Laura cowered. I steadied them and assured that everything would be fine. Abruptly, 'Rawrrll!' we heard a very shrill screaming sound as if trembling this entire forest and these mountains. Afterwards, we heard Laura and Dany screamed.
"OPEN THE DOOR!! OPEN THE DOOR! NOW!! Hannah and Dany shouted loudly.
I rushed to open the door, I saw they dashed to get here. 'Rawrrll!!' I heard that sound again.
"C'MON!! HURRY UP GUYS!! FAST!!" I yelled.
They succeeded coming in. I quickly closed and locked the door after they came in. We steadied them, and after they felt a little peaceful, I asked what was chasing them.
"There was something outta there. I saw a monster, I didn't know where it came from. When we were in radio tower, it attacked us. We were talking and telling everything to the rangers. The tower swayed, tilted and then tumbled down!" Hannah professed with gasping breath.
"Dany and I fell with the collapsed tower, I hung to the fence and almost fell down to ravine, but Dany saved me and we succeeded to get out, but the monster chased us" She appended.
Their faces still looked panicked and shocked, especially Hannah, who was usually calm with whatever happened to her, was very shocked by this, while Dany could only be speechless.
"But how about the rangers? Did they receive our help message?" Catherine asked.
"Yeah they will pick up us outta here, but we have to wait until dawn" Dany answered.
Laura became convinced that what was chasing Hannah and Dany, was the creature referred to the book she had just read. They were very confused at that time as if there was no way out of this place, but I still encouraged them to survive and assured that there would be a way out while waiting until dawn because it was 1 hour until dawn.
The situation felt better. Laura resumed reading the book. She told us that the book said there was a mine close to this place, but the story seemed to be covered up. In the 70s, there were 18 miners trapped and contaminated by chemical compounds from the mine and damaged their nervous system. While Laura was reading a book and explaining about the creature. Suddenly, 'Rawrll!' the shrill sound was heard again but this time sounded very close. 'BAM!', 'BAM!', 'BAM!' Added by the sound of door being broken down.
"Oh crap! it's gonna enter this lodge! Run to the fireplace room! NOW!" I demanded hastily.
The sound of the door crashing was heard quickly as the sound as war drums. We rashly ran to the fireplace room. When we arrived at fireplace room, unexpectedly, there was Alicia aiming us with a gun. We didn't know how she could get out from the basement.
"NOW! All of you can't get away from me!" Alicia intimidated.
"NO! DON'T SHOOT! There's a monster chasing us! Alicia! DON'T!" We yelled frantically.
Alicia was still aiming us and the creature entered this lodge. We were in a dead end.
"TAKE COVER!!" I yelled.
We ran split up to hide and find a cover. She tried to shoot us, but at the same time there were 2 monsters in this room and jumped from wall to another wall to find a gap to attack us. It distracted Alicia's attention, so she shot the monsters. I saw a shotgun attached on the wall and a gun stored on the table near the stairs to the second floor. I took it. "BANG!" I shot a monster which was jumping and would attack me. I was very distressed because I had to avoid Alicia, but I also had to fight the monsters, so I tried to persuade Alicia.
"Alicia! We must kill these monsters together!" I shouted to Alicia.
She nodded. Surely, her fear removed her revenge, so Alicia and I fought against the monsters. Seeing Alicia and I were fighting, Dany didn't want to just hide. He wanted to help us.
"Sam! Throw the gun!" Dany shouted.
I threw the gun to him. This lodge turned into a battlefield. The sound of gunshot and screaming monsters blared out. This room turned like a broken ship, scratch marks on the walls. We took cover behind pillars and walls, peeked to shoot and then hid again. Our shots seemed had no effect to the monsters. Their skins were thick even shotgun couldn't assassinate them.
"Dany! Alicia! You must get out with the others! I will sacrifice my life to become a decoy, so you can leave this place with the others!" I yelled
Dany denied my decision, but I thought this was the only way so the others could get out.
"Take care of them!" I said while squaring off to run.
I rushed from hiding towards the middle and immediately distracted the monsters.
"NO!! SAMM!!" Dany yelled.
Hearing Dany shouted at my name, suddenly Catherine came out from her hiding place. Hannah and Laura tried to stop her. Dany who was close to her prevented her to return to the hiding place. Instead of both the monsters aiming at me, the monsters on the contrary pointed towards them. Alicia dashed to help them while shooting the monsters and knocked out one monster. Unexpectedly, the other one caught and threw her to the wall passed of gas pipeline.
I ran towards them and shot the other one, so it was thrown off and knocked out. We hurriedly hid back to the room and I told no one came out while I would check Alicia's condition. I was approaching to Alicia. She drooped very fragile and helpless, so I guided her to the others during the two monsters still knocked out due to our shots hitting them, but when I led Alicia, the monsters awoke. We immediately hid behind a chair near to the wall.
"Sam! Just let me be, you must get out from this place! See the gas leaking from the gas pipe?" Alicia said sobbingly while hiding with me.
Certainly, I strongly rejected her decision because she intended to burn and blow up this whole room even this lodge to slay the monsters. It was such a crazy idea.
"Look at to my eyes! Sam! I'm so fragile! Sam, I'm sorry, I know I was wrong, I upstaged all of you. You all are my best friends, honestly you are my family, even big family!" Alicia appended while holding back tears.
I still insisted on rejecting her decision and insisted to bring her out of this place together because helplessness wouldn't make me left my family, but she still didn't want to go with me and remained very convinced that her decision was right and wouldn't fail like what I did before.
"This is the time and the chance I can meet again with my lovely sister, so just let me be Sam! I'm terribly sorry. I hope you can forgive me. Please tell my apology to them especially Laura and Catherine and also please tell that I love them!" She appended while convincing me.
She couldn't hold back her tears. Her tears slowly flowed down her cheeks carving a new path which it never been through before. Surely, it was so tough for me, became witness of 2 of my families gone, last year and now. I couldn't believe that she was determined to do that. I tried to hold back my tears, with heavy heart, I stepped leaving her while saying goodbye to her.
The monsters awoke and screamed. The shrill sound heard as if damaged the ear. Alicia tried to approach the gas pipe by sneaking up to avoid being discovered by the monsters. At the same time, I was also sneaking up to get the hiding place with others.
"Oh god, fortunately, you comeback Sam! But, where is she? Where is Alicia?" They asked.
I was just speechless and petrified, but the others were still asking the same question, asking about Alicia. With heavy heart, I tried to explain.
"Alicia, she only wants you forgive her about after what she has done. Especially Laura and Catherine. We are her family and she loves us. She loves you all!" I said while holding back tears.
They still couldn't understand about what I said. At the same time, Alicia shouted telling us to run. We saw the monsters immediately were aiming and approaching her. I quickly told them to run and go outside.
"RUN!!" I shouted.
We rashly ran out. The others made it out and I was the last one. Before I left, I stopped for a seconds at the door, I saw Alicia for a second before continued running. The monsters were jumping towards her and 'BOOM!' She shot the gas pipe by the gun. I was a little thrown because of the explosion. The room was engulfed in flames. The flame was burning fiercely. I couldn't hold back my tears. We were crying and shouting at Alicia. They just realized my words that Alicia would sacrifice herself for all of us.
The time showed 6.00 a.m. It was dawn, the sky turned blue. The sun rose from the eastern horizon. The day had changed. The rangers came by a chopper and rescued all of us.
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