The Cabin

The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window. The flame flickered dimly in the dark as if calling out for help. The darkness all around was so dense that the little light stood out like a beacon.

“We’ve been walking like this for miles, I think it’s time we admit that we’re lost,” said Sandra. Her boyfriend, Tyler, was right behind her in the dark. Sandra was holding a flashlight that looked like it was as dim as the light coming from the cabin window. “I told you to bring extra batteries.” She had to smack the flashlight back to life every few minutes. It wouldn’t be long before it gave out completely and left the lost couple alone in the darkness.

“Alright, we’re lost, I admit it,” sighed Tyler, “Is that what you wanted to hear?”

“I think I see a light on in that cabin over there,” said Sandra. “I think we should check it out.”

“Are you crazy?”

“It’s not my fault you didn’t charge your phone.”

“Oh, and it’s mine that you chose not to bring yours? We’re getting really close to nature now, Sandy. Just like you wanted.”

Sandra gasped as a silhouette of a hooded figure appeared behind the candle.

“I think someone’s watching us,” whispered Sandra.

Tyler looked over Sandra’s shoulder at the shadowy figure. The shadow lifted an arm and seemed to beckon them over.

“You’re not seriously thinking of going in there are you?” asked Tyler.

But Sandra was already walking toward the cabin – seemingly in some kind of trance. Tyler tried to grab her arm, but she pushed him back with a force stronger than he’d ever felt. She continued her slow, unwavering march to the cabin. He watched helplessly from the forest floor as his girlfriend walked through the door that opened by itself. He heard a click as the door closed, then watched as the candle in the window flickered out.

***

Years passed and the cabin became a myth – the subject of stories told by campers all around the world.

“There really isn’t a cabin out there,” said Cole after his older sister had finished telling a particularly chilling version of a story about the legendary cabin.

“Oh, but there is,” said Jackie. “I’ve seen it.”

“You’re a liar!” said Cole.

As the fire went out, the kids and their parents all went to sleep in their tents. Cole could not fall asleep. The cabin was all that was on his mind. It was like it really was calling to him. He heard something outside his tent and froze. He could have sworn he heard someone call his name – now it just sounded like rustling leaves. He decided it was all in his head when he heard it again. This time there was no denying it.

“Cole…” said the whisper.

He decided it was his sister trying to scare him outside of the tent.

“Go away Jackie,” said Cole as loudly as he could without waking up his friend who he was sharing the tent with. The whisper continued – it really did sound like Jackie. Having had enough, Cole got up and quietly slipped out of the tent, grabbing a flashlight on the way out. He was surprised to see that there was no one outside trying to scare him. He walked around the tent several times to make sure of this.

“Over here,” said the whisper. It was coming from behind a large tree by the long path Cole and his family took to get to the camp.

“Common Jackie,” whined Cole. “It’s real, ok? I believe you.”

Cole turned the flashlight on and started walking toward the tree. He slowly peeked around it but found nothing.

“Can you please stop?”

“Down here,” repeated the whisper. This time it seemed to be coming from a little bit further down the path.

“Ok, I’m not playing this game anymore,” said Cole, turning around to walk back to the tent. He let out a small gasp. Where there should have been the campsite was the very same path he had just turned away from.

“Down here,” the whisper said again.

Every time Cole turned around all he could see was the winding path. Giving up trying to find camp, he started to slowly make his way down the path. The path was worn by years of people walking down it and was surrounded on both sides by thick vegetation. Tall trees shrouded in darkness surrounded him – the only light came from his flashlight and the pale moon. He was not surprised when his sister wasn’t around the bend. He started to suspect that his sister was not behind this trickery and was soundly asleep in her tent.

“Down here,” was all the voice said every time Cole made it around a turn or came to a fork in the path. Finally, the voice led him to a dead end.

“What now?” asked Cole, trembling.

The voice remained silent. Cole’s flashlight flickered. He was about to turn around when he heard the voice again. It sounded as if it was coming from the forest itself – as if every leaf, blade of grass, and particle of air spoke in unison. He knew what he had to do. Gathering up all the courage he had left, he began his trek into the dark wilderness.

Every tree seemed to be watching him – he knew they couldn’t actually see him, but they were very much aware of his presence. He walked and walked, following the whisper of the woods until he lost all hope of finding his way back. There was no path now, just the voice leading him on.

All of a sudden the voice ceased its endless murmuring, and Cole could see why. He had arrived. There it was. He couldn’t believe his eyes. One flickering candle stood burning in the window of the cabin. He gasped as his flashlight finally gave out. He tried in vain to bring it back to life. He gave up trying and fell to the ground sobbing. When he looked back up at the cabin he could see a figure standing right behind the flickering candle. It was a figure wearing some kind of cloak. The figure raised its arm and began to slowly beckon him over to the cabin. All of a sudden he felt his whole body move without him trying – it was as if he was being hypnotized. He walked steadily through the woods towards the beckoning shadow when he thought he heard a rustling close behind him. All of a sudden he was on the ground. He felt the spell cast on him break temporarily. He moved to see what it was that had hit him. It was Jackie! She must have followed him all the way down without him noticing.

“What are you doing?” she hissed.

“I don’t know...”

“We need to get out of here, now.”

They started walking the opposite way only to discover they were facing the cabin once more. The shadow remained unphased as it raised its hand again.

“Don’t look at it,” said Jackie. “It can’t hypnotize you if you don’t look.”

Cole and Jackie looked at the ground as they inched away from the cabin slowly. The only light was coming from the cabin window – the woods were so dense that even the moon was not able to shine through. The cabin loomed over them as if it had grown several sizes. They fell back as the wind howled. They lay there in terror, not able to move in fear of accidentally looking at the shadow in the window. The cabin shifted and warped as if it were a living being instead of a cabin made of wood. It was making a sound they have never heard before – an ominous vibration that shook their bones. The wind itself seemed to be pulling them toward the door which was now wide open.

“Don’t be afraid!” shouted Jackie. “It can’t follow us if we’re not afraid.”

Cole tried to focus his thoughts on anything besides the cabin as they got up and started to make their way through the woods. It was an almost impossible task. The wind became more violent as they moved against it, but soon they found themselves back on the path. They could hear the whispers of the forest as they ran. The path itself seemed to try to mislead them – twisting and winding in unpredictable ways. Cole could still see the beckoning shadow in his mind. Several times Jackie had to shake him out of his stupor so they could keep running. The camp was in view now as they stumbled over roots that seemed to be trying to trip them. They ran through the opening and fell to the ground.

“I told you it was real,” said Jackie.

Cole was still too out of breath to speak.

***

The next day the family was packing up to get ready for the long drive home. As they were driving through the night, Cole watched the woods speed past the car window. He couldn’t believe what happened the night before – it all felt like a nightmare. He looked at his sister who was sitting on the other side. He decided not to bring it up in front of their parents. Every light in every window they passed reminded him of the cabin. He wondered if the story his sister told them had actually happened to her. Sometimes he thought he could still hear the forest calling to him. Every time he closed his eyes to go to sleep he saw the figure standing behind the candle beckoning him.