The challenge of survival

Hunger drove it out into the forest to hunt. It was getting weak but it didn't have to take shape yet.  It would be able to take a meal without physical change; as always.

Mikki hiked alone and loved it. The silence and serenity had become her recharge from her draining everyday demands.  This was a new trail;  not her usual tromp along the shaded logging roads or the gnarled, dead marshes. It would be an extreme challenge to trek down winding creek beds out near the abandoned tannery and then on around glacial lake.  It would be rigorous and she was nervous; but excited.  The first day wasn't bad.  It was tough on her joints but that was the way the  rock beds were.  It was always unsteady and harsh; jamming and twisting her knees and wrists.  Some of the smaller creeks were still swollen from heavy rain, adding the element of slippery.   More than once she dunked in and got wet, having to deal with heavy soggy clothes and the warning of a chill.  When it came time to camp, she was dog tired. Everything  set up normally.  She relaxed,  enjoying the clear quiet night.  The moon was full and brilliant, acting as a lantern.  The stars were not shy in the least, choosing to wink and sparkle in the swift, light cloud cover that danced in the soothing, sweet breeze.  She wished she could have frozen time and stayed there. She fell asleep to the soft creeping of animals near by.

It watched; sneaking around her tiny flimsy tent.  Not yet though. It planned to toy with her. 

The morning was brisk and dark when she woke. Breakfast was quick but leisurely compared to breakdown of camp.  She had a big day ahead.  Mikki sighed and shrugged on her closest companion; "Nag", her pack. She headed out on to the trail.  She was only a couple of miles in when she heard the rustling.  It seemed to float all around her.  She paused; listening and watching.  Whatever it was, either beat her at this "stand still" game or had moved on.  She dismissed it.  But a couple of hours later, Mikki felt a chill creep under her skin.  She again took stock in her surroundings, making sure to have her spray in hand.  Bears and coyotes were common.  Whatever it was stumbled and romped off to her left, out of sight or hidden in the thick brush.  She began to sing and make noise, hoping to discourage it.  Fear planted itself in the back of her mind and warned her to hurry.  Picking up her pace, she was looking forward to getting around the inlet, closer to an old shelter she had heard about; maybe people.

It was during her lunch break that she felt threatened. Parked on a sloping rock near the inlet, she felt the temperature drop. Shadows ventured in; heavy, ominous. And then she heard it; not exactly a growl or a groan, but a noise that slithered through the wind and tickled the back of her neck.  Mikki shivered, turning sharply to see branches and leaves dipping and twisting. Rushing to get packed up, she accidentally dropped her spray, hurrying on.  She checked her phone and even though there was no signal sent a time stamp with an update: She would not be going to the other side of the lake; cutting the trip short by a day or two and ending at the ranger station.  Regardless, she was two days in and had no choice but to get passed the old tannery, across the creek and then down the mountain.  It was still three days. The rampage in the woods slowed and stopped.

She kept on another hour until she got to the tannery.  It's big waterwheel lolled to one side; the once  hulking building now cowered under ravenous, indifferent forest growth.  Careless saplings poked out its window eyes while eager shrub stuffed its gaping doorway of a mouth.  Mikki would have liked to taken time to explore it but a thick, almost sick urgency pushed her on.  She sang nervously with a dry cracking voice.

Four miles farther, she was forced to stop because of aching trembling legs.  Her shoulders pinched and cried from "Nag"s unrelenting weight.  Wanting more than ever to stay ahead of her threat though, Mikki forced herself to make it quick.  It wasn't quick enough because whatever it was, surged forward stomping  closer.  Mikki grabbed her pack and ran, trying to slip it over her shoulders as she dashed down the trail.  Its snarl was low, hungry; angry. Miki tried to see over her shoulder but could only catch the snapping of branches and shaking of leaves. It seemed big and heavy.  She turned to refocus on the trail , hoping to put space between them but the exposed tree root decided otherwise, snagging her boot.  She went down hard, Nag eagerly mashed her face into the mud that covered the rocks. She heard a thick crackling sound and felt a hot slash across her nose and cheek. A heavy shadow loomed over her.  A hot breeze curled heavily along her neck.  Then she melted into the mud hoping not to feel or see any more.

It was the pain that woke her; searing and thumping across her face, down into her neck.  She wondered if she'd been mauled by a bear.  But rolling over she realized that couldn't have been true.  She was no longer face first in the muddy embankment.  Mikki was actually back at the tannery.  She only knew this because of the eerie scratching a few branches made against random panes.  Mikki blinked and looked around. She was alone. Sitting up brought new agonies. She moved slowly, testing her muscles.  They were not in the mood to be bothered.  She stood and looked around for Nag ~ she had been gutted.  Bits of Mikki's pack were strewn and shredded over the debris covered floor.  All she had was what few emergency items she carried around her neck and in her pockets.  She cautiously stepped toward the door; peering out into the thick green wood  The sun was beginning to say goodnight. Her steps were slow; silent at first.  As she cleared the first bend in the trail, Mikki began to run.  She begged her heavy boots to move.  She pumped her arms and fell into a rhythmic breath. Her lungs burned and her heart thundered between her ribs but she kept running.

The moon was not so generous with its light this night. She struggled against the forest; feeling the sting and scratch of branches and bugs. Still she ran, until her legs simply collapsed under her, refusing one more step. Then she dragged herself off trail under a broken sycamore tree.  She pulled the emergency tarp from her pocket and wrapped herself in it.  She huddled and prayed.  Sleep assaulted her quickly.

It watched and waited; amused by her resolve.  It began to invade her mind; chewing slowly like jerky at her sanity.

Mikki slept; almost two days slipped by her, due mostly to her injuries but also because of it's attack on her.  The beast kept her from fully regaining consciousness. It was hungry and needed her to survive.  It sat and watched; laughing and leering over her at times, sending her horrible, grotesque dreams; all part of its plan, pattern and ritual.  In the poor girl's head, her brain began to struggle.  It saw and presented horrifying images; insane preposterous scenarios that felt all to real to the wobbly injured hiker.

When she finally accepted consciousness, her body was weak, dehydrated, hungry. (exactly what the beast needed) She crawled from under her tarp on all fours and searched the trail.  Nothing.  A wave of relief followed by stabbing pain washed over her.  She found a sturdy branch and began to use it as a cane to walk as quickly as possible.  She pulled at some thistle flowers and other edibles, closing her eyes to the bitter crunch of a bug or two.  She hated it but was grateful she knew who in the bug world could sit on a buffet and who couldn't.  Mosquitoes whined around her head, carving at any exposed skin.  She batted spiders and tugged ticks but kept walking.  The trail faded away.  She lost sight of the markers.  She tried not to panic and checked her compass.  The glass was broken in her fall and the needle was bent and limp.
She swore and fought tears.  She strained her ears and listened for it.  Nothing.  But she knew it was close.  She could hear it in her head; laughing.

"Do it.  Give up. You can't make it around the lake.  You don't even know where you are."  And then the visions would come.  Promises? Threats? She wasn't sure but they were all dark red and there was ripped flesh, exposed bones and shrieking.  Lots of shrieking.

"No." she shook her head firmly. Holding her fingers up to the sun, she figured she had about three hours left.  She listened as she walked and finally heard what she wanted: rushing water. Mikki staggered over and began to follow the bed. It had been dark for a while when she finally convinced herself to stop.  Rummaging and discovering an old can, she placed one of her water tablets in and lit a small fire to boil it.  She knew she would be sick but she had to drink.  It was delicious and sweet.  She drank too fast and cramped.  The bugs got worse. She could almost feel the parasites taking hold.  Fever simmered low inside her battered body.  Her stomach and intestines punished her for the water.

The leaves rustled but it didn't come in to view.  It sighed; settling in.  Mikki tried to sleep but it circled her all night, making sure she couldn't rest.  Her brain felt like it was fraying.

That was just what it wanted.

Unsure of the day or location, Mikki got up and began to wander.  She kept alongside the creek heading south west (she guessed).  If she was right, she would be near Buck Hill by morning.  Tears swiped clean streaks down her dirty cheeks; swollen and infected by bugs and her wipe out. She was almost home.

The visions and voices became louder and more threatening.  It told her she had gone the wrong direction.  she was heading back to the tannery.  She would be lost and with her sickness getting worse, she'd be dead by morning.  It would be best to stop.  Just stop. It circled her again and again; taunting her with growls and guttural noises.  Sometimes it rushed up on her to make her run and wear herself out.  Other times it sat back to let her think she had made headway.  

Mikki's feet kept moving.  She did not sing, but whimpered and occasionally mewled "No" or spoke in half sentences as if she were talking with someone.  "I will ...."  or "I'm good.  You know I am."

When she heard the truck rumble up she laughed maniacally.  "You LOSE shithead! YOU LOSE!" She picked up her pace, limping and leaning on her walking stick.  She swiped at her face and smoothed her hair.  She heard voices.  She tried to cry out for help but it only came out as a choking squawk 

It charged at her afraid the people up the road would help her. Taking shape was strenuous; this demon was used to causing insanity and having its victims commit suicide or die to exposure.  It felt strength come in the form of flesh; thick heavy legs, spindly long arms with clawed gnarled fingers.  It craned its round head and strained its ears.  It had to focus its beady eyes against the light. What felt best was to stretch its jaw; rows of jagged tiny needles crammed into a line that was long and angled.  It unhinged as it yawned hungrily.  It began to run.  It was time to capture its prize.

Mikki hobbled as fast as she could with her mouth held in a scream.  She kept trying to shout with every breath to get the men's attention.  They were walking back to their truck.  They were going to leave!  She would die.  Behind her came the crashing of the monster.  In her head it chanted one sentence over and over with increasing volume: I am coming for you now Mikki.

"NO WAIT FOR ME!" she hoarsely wailed.  The men got in their truck and started the engine.  Mikki's tears became sobs.  The monster picked up speed and began to laugh; telling her it was too late.

The truck began to spit gravel and pull away.  Mikki was about twenty yards away.  She launched her stick like a javelin and began to run against the throbbing in her legs.  her head throbbed. She felt each step underneath her eyes.  Terror boiled under her skin at the thought of the little truck driving off. Mikki sucked in one last gulp; screaming from the bottom of her very soul: "JESUS CHRIST! HELP ME PLEASE"

The truck slammed to a halt; the passenger getting out and rushing toward her.  He was screaming for her to hurry. His pallor was draining into the ground as he gazed stunned at what was coming behind her. She prayed he would.  His arms were wide and waving frantically as if he was trying to catch her.  She prayed he would.

It made a desperate lunge for the girl, ripping and snaring her shirt.  She went down.  It could feel her grasping for the man's hands.  He was screaming; horrified; torn between saving her and running away.  The beast laughed and grabbed her boot.  The tug of war was on.  It sat back and began to pull; happily contemplating the man as dessert.  Humans called this fishing?  The demon reeled in the prizes.

But the third man drove the truck, looping around them, charging in to the wood straight at it. The man on the ground rolled and dragged Mikki to the side.  The truck smashed against the monster, startling it.  It didn't know what do to with the sensations of hurt or broken.  It screamed and tried to retreat but the metal giant backed up and took anothe bite.  It wailed and withered.  The second man grabbed Mikki and shoved her into the bed of the truck as he smacked at the back window screaming to hurry up and go.  The metal monster growled a heavy fueled warning and pulled back.  It began to speed off.  

It watched the prey disappear.  It marveled over its wounds and melted into the brush; to wait.  It only had to wait.  More would come and it would not be so lazy.  An angry whimper drifted through the wind to Mikki's ears.

"What the Hell WAS that? " her hero implored.

"The devil himself." Mikki said and held his hand. 

He shook his head and stroked her hair.

They lumbered on; to survive





This one took an awfully long time. I have gutted this several times and am finally happy with the result.  It's a little abrupt at the end and I see rambling in the middle but overall, I like the feel of it. I hope you do too.  Thanks for coming over and keeping me company. I could use it. Until next time, be good to you.