Chalet of Bloody Corpses

The five hikers had stopped for some quick skinny dipping. Helga had started it, claiming to have forgotten her swimsuit, but Chad had given the idea wings as he stripped down. He hit Charlie with his underpants, challenging the normally shy young man into the water as the more adventurous boy dove into the water. Helga grinned as Charlie quickly stripped and swam out to Chad, while Melissa stayed on shore. Thomas, always a victim of peer pressure, joined the other three. Melissa took some cajoling, but she eventually gave in, putting her cowboy hat on her clothes before diving in.

They were drying soon enough, but the five took a long break from hiking the hot trail, revitalizing themselves in the cold water.

* * * * *

In the summer woods, the mix of sexual curiosity and youthful exuberance worked to summon a being with its own curiosity. The woods were but a few dozen acres with the greater forest, but the locals knew to avoid it at all costs. A cycle as old as the woods themselves would soon repeat, as a Viking hunter found his way to the chalet in the middle of Onda Scogar.

* * * * *

The road away from the swimming spot had been smooth and soon led to a chalet surrounded by the woods. Chad held Helga’s hand tight. Charlie and Thomas were playing a riddling game, laughing at the sophomoric riddles employed. Melissa studied the woods, the beauty of the trees fascinating them.

Chad and Helga stopped outside the chalet. There was a sign, but neither Chad nor Helga recognized the language. Chad turned to the other boys. “Hey, Charlie! Think you can read this?”

Charlie’s smile died as he became serious. “Maybe.” He walked over to the sign and studied it for a moment. “I haven’t seen runes like this since freshmen year.”

Thomas walked up to Charlie. “You can do it, Charlie. You have the egghead for it.”

Charlie flashed him a smile. “Okay. It’s an old tongue, but it looks like, ‘Enjoy the night before Hel embraces you, and the feeder of the ravens will see to your journey, barring the wishes of an unburnt stick of fen-fire.’ Weird wording.” He expectantly turned to Chad.

Thomas charged past them. He grabbed at the door handles, pulling them. He turned to the group. “It looks pretty good, and we do need a place to sleep.”

Helga smiled. “And the sign did say to enjoy ourselves.” She pulled Chad into the chalet.

Charlie looked at Melissa. “This is a lot better than a cold tent!” He walked inside, pulling Thomas in with him.

Melissa looked at the woods one more time before putting her thumb in her belt behind the huge belt buckle and entering the chalet.

* * * * *

Hrald smiled as he saw the five enter the building. He knew they would find wood to build a fire, bread and meat for a small feast, and beds enough for each to slumber or not, depending on their desires. The woods would soon have their blood.

* * * * *

After spending some time getting the fire going, cooking and eating some dinner, and grabbing some of the best beer they had tasted in months, the five enjoyed some time playing cards. Soon enough, however, they paired off. Helga rifled Chad’s hair and pulled him away from the others, disappearing into the darkness of the house with a lantern. Melissa grabbed her pack and another lit lantern, wishing to find a shower to get rid of the layers of dirt and perspiration she had acquired during the day. Thomas and Charlie were left on their own with a single lantern and house to explore. They smiled at each other, and reached for the lantern, but Thomas’ reach was longer. Thomas took the lead, but Charlie kept close to him.

* * * * *

Chad and Helga quickly found a deserted room. Helga took a moment to look around; the room was large and fully furnished, with all of the furniture made of oak. There was little decoration, but that was fine; it had an incredibly fluffy bed covered with quilts and fur skins. She smiled at Chad and pushed him into it. She fell on top of him, and the two quickly fell to kissing each other like they were trying to devour the other. Helga removed her shirt and Chad stared for just a moment at her large breasts. He then quickly started removing his clothes. She, meanwhile, had slipped under the covers and motioned for him to join her. He did, and the two returned to trying to devour each other.

* * * * *

Melissa had found the shower, and placed the lantern on the hook. She pulled out her toiletries, placing everything on the sink but the soap and shampoo, which she placed in the shower. She pulled out her towel and handcloth. Satisfied, she turned on the water to let it heat up and then stripped. Smiling at the steam coming out of the shower, she walked in and began lathering up. She scrubbed briskly for a few moments, and then leaned against the wall, letting the water beat a tattoo into her tense shoulders. Her tenseness quickly joined the dirt and grime in the shower drain.

* * * * *

The boys quickly found themselves in a large room. Thomas noted the branches of spruce and pine, looking at them quizzically. Charlie noticed his puzzled expression and smiled as he punched Thomas. “Dude, it’s a sauna.”

Thomas swung the lantern around. He noticed a pile of rocks above a wood stove, next to a pile of wood and a full bucket of water with a ladle in it. “Huh. Guess it is.”

“Feel like doing some old-school relaxing?” Thomas smiled and nodded. Charlie grinned back as he pulled out his key ring with the firestarter, presenting it to Thomas. “See if you can find the dressing room.” He began the process of creating a fire in the wood stove.

Thomas walked around the perimeter of the room and walked into a small room. “Hey! Found it. There are even some towels here.” He walked back into the room. “This place has everything but reception.”

Charlie smiled. “Yeah. Sort of nice.” Charlie stood up. “The rocks will be ready in a few moments.”

Thomas pointed to the dressing. “So then it’s time to get naked.” The two disappeared into the dressing room.

* * * * *

Hrald opened the door and closed it without the wood rubbing. He walked into the main room: The fire was still going and the meal was still out. Hrmphing at the lack of manners, he paused for a moment to listen to the sounds of the house. He heard the sounds of furious love-making down the hall and the sound of the shower. His brow furrowed for a moment, but he noticed the slight glow in the sauna. Smiling, he had but to decide which was the first sacrifice. He walked to the bedroom, pulling his seax knife from its sheath on the way.

* * * * *

Helga was on top of Chad, but the two were holding each other close even as their bodies writhed under the covers. The door opened and closed. Chad managed to flip Helga over. Helga screamed when she saw the Viking warrior in the room with them, muscular and wearing little but breeches and boots; his beard and hair in braids.

Chad held her down. “Sorry about being too rough. Should I have not done that?”

She pointed at the warrior, her finger following him as he leaped. Two feet of Viking steel went into Chad’s back, came out of his chest, and pinned Helga to the bed. In moments he had pulled the corpses out of the bed, trussed them up, and taken them into the main room. He looked skyward for a moment then headed back down the hall.

* * * * *

Hrald opened the door to the sauna and steam assaulted him. The boys had apparently fallen asleep; he was mildly disappointed. However, his imperative was clear, and he walked over to the boys. His brow furrowed for a moment as he debated how he wanted to do this, but the furrow quickly disappeared. He tossed the brunette across the room into the wall. The boy hit the wood solidly, the pain of the impact waking him. He woke the redhead, letting Charlie see his leering face as Hrald slit his throat. The boy grasped for his throat, but he would quickly drown on his own blood.

The other boy was on pure instinct. He jumped to his feet and ran for the door. So he has life in him yet. Hrald tossed his knife. Thomas was pinned against the wall, trying to pull out the knife as Hrald slowly walked over. He allowed the boy one final moment to realize what was going to happen. He then pulled out the seax and then stabbed him.

In moments, the two had joined the pair in the main room.

* * * * *

Melissa had just left the shower and pulled the towel around her. She started brushing her hair. When she heard someone leaving the main room, she figured it was just the boys; she smiled at how easily she had been spooked. She nonetheless decided to open up a pocket of her backpack just in case. The pocket’s contents had all of the proper paperwork; she was still amazed at how easy it had been to get all of the proper permits. She returned to her brushing.

The door opened and Hrald walked in. She reached inside the pocket, pulling out the Sig Sauer 9MM. Hrald smiled, respecting her spirit even as he knocked the pistol away. He stabbed her stomach and pulled the blade upwards; he could give her a warrior’s death. He leaned in as her life slipped away.

He whispered to her. “None of you were unburnt sticks of fen-fire; had but one of you been chaste you would have all survived.” He let her body fall to the floor. He noticed the cowboy hat and smiled. Her body quickly joined the others. He then put all of their bodies in a circle just outside the chalet, their belongings in the center. As the sun rose, the bodies disappeared as a murder of ravens swarmed them. When the ravens flew off, only the bones and their belongings remained.

He walked into the woods, fading into the shadows as he went.

* * * * *

A few days later, someone would see the bones and the pile of belongings. He would give the bones a proper burial behind the chalet, and the belongings would be divided among those who needed him. He smiled as he pocketed the firearm. The hikers had been told of Onda Scogar, the evil woods. They should have listened.