The Cabin

She fell asleep the moment her back touched the bed. She was in a deep sleep and was dreaming about that one summer vacation when she and her parents were spending their weekend in the cabin. She was twelve years old. She hoped Joseph came with them but his family had other plans. However, her father told her that they would visit on the day before they leave. Today was THAT day and she was sitting on the stairs waiting for Joseph and his parents to arrive. Today was Friday. Tomorrow, Saturday, was the time when they would all go back home together.

They arrived when it was almost lunch time. She remembered it vividly. Her mom quickly began cooking spaghetti and chicken for lunch. Joseph's mom started to make peppermint tea while his dad started to bring in logs for the fireplace. Her dad started unpacking the food they brought and put them in the fridge. The raw chicken and pork were put in the freezer just beside the fridge. The day was perfect at the moment. The cabin suddenly smelled like home and felt happiness she had never felt before.

She went outside and started picking up flowers for the vase on the middle of the table and for the vase on the fireplace. She was humming her favorite song when she felt the hair on the back of her neck stood up. She felt as if someone was watching her from behind. She turned around to see who it was but there was no one. All she could see were the pine trees smoothly bending and dancing along the mountain breeze. That afternoon was peaceful. She could the wind softly bustling the leaves of the trees. She dismissed the feeling and finished picking up the flowers. She then started running towards the cabin and slammed the door. She had no idea why she did this. It was as if her intuition told her to go back as quickly as possible. She was panting when she was inside the cabin putting the flowers that she picked in the small vase.

“What’s happening? Why are you running,” her mom asked.

“Is there anybody else in this part of the mountain,” Amanda asked.

Her mom paused for a while, thinking. “I think I saw some college students at the first campsite. That was half way from here. Why?”

She was about to answer when her dad said, “Do not go out in the evening no matter what you hear. Alright, dear?” She saw her dad looked at her mom with a concerned look.

She noticed that her mom tensed up and went back to her cooking. “Why, dad,” Amanda asked her father.

“There are some souls out there in the woods that are seeking revenge,” he answered.

Curious about what her father meant, she was about to ask him another question but her mom stepped right in. “Let’s have lunch!” She smiled and called Joseph and his parents over. The kitchen became lively as both of their parents chatted endlessly about their trip before they arrived at her parents' cabin. While they were all chitchatting, Amanda remained silent all throughout lunch and kept on wondering what her father meant earlier.

Whatever it was, it was surely forgotten when Joseph's mom started to ask her about what school she would be attending for middle school. This thought had been since forgotten over the hearty meal of chicken and mashed potatoes. The adults were planning on what to do before going home tomorrow.