The night creature

It was a cold dark February evening, as I anxiously drove down the dirt road. The snow and the wind began to pick up and the road was starting to drift. My name is jake and I needed to get to my uncle John's house. He was terminally ill, and I was his beneficiary. He had never married and had no children, and he was like a father to me.

Hospice care had come in and his health had taken a turn for the worse. His nurse had called me saying he had not much time left. I left early from work to go see him one last time. It was a three hour drive to Uncle John's house. Uncle John worked hard as an engineer for forty five years and had been retired for ten years.

He was engaged for quite awhile, he was madly in love with his fiancee Joy. I remember her when I was a young adult she was a sweet loving lady, and she always made him smile. She always treated me and my sister Victoria very nice. She would spoil us rotten with milk and homemade cookies when we visited.

It was a sad day when Joy died, she had died in a car accident. She was a nurse, and had worked a long shift. Unfortunately she had drifted off to sleep and drove off the road and into a tree. My poor Uncle John had never recovered from her death. He rarely smiled he stopped taking care of himself.

He had fallen into a deep depression he became a bitter and angry person. A year after her death he tried to date other woman, none of them worked out. He had became an alcoholic. and was on the brink of losing what little bit of life he had left.

I happened to be a life coach and worked with alcoholics and drug addicts alike. I moved in with him to help him out. It was hard to see him struggle so, the family had given up on him. My mother called him a dirty drunk and there was no hope for him. I saw something in uncle John that others didn't see in him.

It was a struggle at first, he loved his hard liquor , and had bottles hidden everywhere. Over time I figured out his hiding places, and broke the bottles. Uncle John was furious, and on more than one occasion kicked me out. However, he would always call me back before I would reach my car.

It was a long, hard difficult and bumpy road, but finally he broke through his addiction. I remember when I could trust him enough, to return to my family. He still missed Joy very much, but he found other ways of coping other than drinking. I remember when he celebrated five years of being sober.

The whole family came, he had been accepted back into the family. I remember He had smoked a brisket, It was the best brisket I had ever tasted. I was so proud of him, and what he had accomplished. He cried when I told him Joy would have been proud of him. Sadly a year later he had become seriously ill.

Despite him not drinking anymore, years of drinking had taken it's toll on his body. He was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver, it was terminal. It seemed unfair, Uncle John fought so hard to conquer, the disease of Alcoholism. Now he was fighting a losing battle from another.

I shook my head as I continued down the road,it seemed the weather was taking a turn for the worse as well. I let out a curse "darn weatherman said it was not supposed to snow until tomorrow." My car was getting buffeted by the wind. The snow was starting to get heavier it was getting difficult to see.

I loved my uncle, but why did he decide to live in the middle of nowhere? He loved living in the wilderness. which is nice unless you are trying to get there during a storm. At least it was not much further to Uncle Johns house. I smiled finally the snow started to slow down, and I could see better.

I let out a gasp as a deer ran out in front of me I swerved my car and managed to miss the deer. Unfortunately I lost control of the car I yelled as I headed towards the trees, then everything went dark. I woke up startled, after several seconds I got my bearings straight. The airbag had deployed and cold air was rushing into the car.

I looked around me The windshield had been smashed, then I felt pain in my legs. They were pinned, I struggled to pull myself out but to no avail. I reached into my coat pocket and pulled out my cell phone. I turned it on then it promptly turned off. I had forgot to charge it, I let out a curse "how could I be so stupid" I yelled.

Well this was not a good situation I was in, I was trapped in my car and without my cell phone. I tried to look out my window, I looked to see the road. It was too dark there were no lights and the wind and snow had picked up again. It was rare to see other vehicles go down this road, so the chances of being discovered were slim.

I was on my own, I shivered as it seemed it was getting even colder. I had to do something or I was going to die in this car. I started to pull my legs again, somehow I needed to free myself. I threw open the door and tried to pull myself out. I screamed in pain as I pulled with all my might, my pants started to rip.

To my surprise I managed to get free. my legs throbbed in pain, as I got to my feet. I was able to pop the trunk and found a small flashlight. I looked down at my legs, my pants were torn. Blood trickled down my legs, thankfully they did not seem to be broken. I opened my luggage and pulled out another pair.

I felt my legs burn as I changed my pants, it was so cold, but I managed to get the new pants on. I fumbled around, and found some hand warmers, at least my hands would not freeze. It felt good when I put them in my gloves, at least there was that comfort. I moved my flashlight around to see my surroundings.

It was then my flashlight went out "you have got to be kidding me", I yelled. I fumbled around in the trunk, I managed to pull out a blanket, a bottle of water and an energy bar. I had them towed away in case of an emergency. Unfortunately even with those things I was not going to last long in this bitter cold.

I just had to follow the road north another ten miles or so, i figured as long as I kept moving I would be fine. The wind picked up and so did the snow. "Come think of it where was the road" I asked myself I could barely see a foot in front of me. So I started to walk in hopes I was following the road.

I jumped as a tree appeared in front of me, I looked back I could not see the car. I turned back and walked towards where I thought the car might be. At least it might point me in the right direction. However I could not find the car,"this is not good" I thought. I walked for what must have been two hours. I kept running into trees. I for sure was not on the road, and was walking aimlessly in the woods.

Thankfully over time the snow stopped I was deep in the woods so the trees blocked the howling wind. The sky had cleared and the full moon was high in the sky. That faint glow gave me some light to see my way a little. It was bitterly cold and the hand warmers I was using had turned cold as well.

In frustration, I pulled the hand warmers out and tossed them on the ground. I had no idea when the sun was going to rise, I had no idea where I was at. I was despite my continuous walking I was getting cold, I was in deep trouble. All manner of negative thought entered my mind , what if I never make it out?

I had visions of my family, and friends trying to find me with no avail. I had thoughts of someone coming across my skeleton decades later. I imagined the pain and suffering my family would feel as they found out I was dead. I could feel my tears freezing on my face, I had to find someone. I then tripped on a root and fell face first into the snow.

I spit out some snow that got into my mouth, and rolled on my back. I was exhausted, this is it I was going to die here. My eyes opened, apparently I had fallen asleep. It was still dark. I then realized something had woke me up. A "hoot" noise boomed across the forest The moon was shining in my face. Then a shadow came across my face I gasped and sat straight up.

I looked up at the tree in front of me and saw what caused that shadow on my face. It hooted at me again it was an owl I could make out its huge eyes. They looked down on me like creepy devilish eyes it looked like it was peering into my soul.

"Hello there" I managed to say through clattering teeth, it seemed to be getting colder by the minute. It hooted again as if was replying to me despite being cold I managed a laugh. Then I jumped as it left its perch and circled around me. It then perched in another tree hooted again, and to my surprise it nudged its head. It was like it was telling me to follow it.

I walked towards the owl and it flew further down to another tree. It did the same gesture with its head. Was I going mad was the cold making me delusional? I walked towards the owl it hooted again and then went to another tree.

For a reason I did not know or understand that owl was leading me somewhere. Either way following this bird was better than just sitting and freezing to death. Finally we made it to a clearing that's when the owl took flight. I could barely make out to where the owl was going it flew into an open window.

As I drew closer I realized it was an old barn! I walked up to it's massive door. With much effort it creaked in protest as I managed to slide open the door. I walked inside I jumped as the owl flew past me and perched on a beam. This must be the barn owls home I mused. I looked down from where the bird perched itself.

There was a bunch of straw on the floor "Thank you" I said to the owl as I gathered the straw. It made for a warm albeit an uncomfortable bed. At that moment comfort was secondary. I was warm and would survive the night. The owl hooted at me almost as if it said "you're welcome.

I awoke at the sound of the door creaking open, I stood up to meet the person opening the door. A gray haired old man with a farmers hat and overalls walked in. He jumped wide eyed and we stared at each other for a moment.

"Who are you, and what are you doing in my barn" he asked with a hint of anger.

"My name is jake Maxwell I am lost and"

"Jake Maxwell?" the farmer cut me off, "your John Maxwell's nephew"

"Why yes I am" I said with some relief."

"Im your uncles neighbor Bill Jordon We heard you were missing and I was about to join others to go looking for you. How the heck did you wind up in my barn. Its cold out and the wind was howling like fury last night.

I explained to him what had happened, and the strange owl.

He smiled "yes there is a barn owl that lives in my barn I keep a window open for it to come in. I figure it is nice to have one around to keep the field mice away. Kind of strange that an owl would have enough intelligence to lead you to safety."

"Well where are my manners come in the house and my wife and I can get you something to eat."

"Thank you no as you know uncle has not much time to live is there a way you can get me to his house?"

"Absolutely I was just going to get my snowmobile out" he pointed to a covered object in the corner."

Bill called his friends to call off the search. I looked around to see the owl but it seemed to have disappeared. Before I knew I was on the back of Bills snowmobile. In just a few minutes we were at Uncle Johns house. I offered Bill some money for his trouble he of course refused waved and drove off.

I opened the door and there was Uncle John laying on his deathbed. The suprised nurse told me that she could not beleive he was still alive. He aparently was holding on so he could see me. I sat next to him and held his hand.

"I am here Uncle John" His eyes opened then widened his eyes filled up with tears. He could no longer talk but the look on his face said it all. He started to relax and before to long he faded away and died. I kissed uncle John on the forehead.

I then started when I saw a Picture of Uncle John and Joy. Next to the picture was a porcelain figurine. It was an owl! Joy loved owls and that owl was the last gift she gave to uncle John. That owl looked like the owl that had saved my life.

I gaped at the figurine for a long time I pondered and pondered. Coincidence? I was not sure I looked up in the air and smiled "enjoy your time together Joy and Uncle John. And joy thank you for looking out for me and saving my life!"