Friends in the Woods

The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window. The pair of teenagers eye's widened at the sight as they got closer to the cottage. Built easily two hundred plus years ago, the decrepit cave boasted decaying logs and cracked windows.

"I didn't even know this place was habitable," Sav uttered.

"Or that anyone would want to light a candle and have to look at that mess," Riley replied.

Surveying what little they could of the front rooms through the large windows, goosebumps suddenly announced themselves. Even from the edge of the driveway, the house appeared to be alive. Shadows painted the inner walls in cadence with the whispers of the wind. While nobody appeared to be in those rooms, there was a sense of fullness, of life in the cabin.

Sav and Riley not being quite old enough to drive or venture far from home, relied on their backwoods adventures as a means of escape and entertainment.

"There isn't a car parked anywhere around," Sav winced, knowing that made the situation even more creepy. Her fingers clenched in a fist. Who lit that candle?

Riley squinted as she seemed to read Sav's mind. "Probably just a place to party."

Sav wiped the stray hairs from her forehead. "Some party, there isn't even music or alcohol induced yelling." Her eyes trailed the length of the house landing on a large hole in the dirt. The mound next to it suggested it was as fresh as the presence of life on the property.

Riley's sneakers crunched the gravel driveway as she trudged ahead of her friend, eyes wide, glinting in the moon glow. "I know this night doesn't end without us checking this place out."

"I don't know what's more sketchy, the abandoned/not abandoned haunted cabin, or the fresh grave for God knows who, dug by God knows who..."

"Or what," Riley smirked. "Oh come on it's probably nothing, just a prank." Without waiting for a reply she skipped to the front door and jingled the door knob. To both of their astonishment, the rusty door creaked open.

Practically jumping out of her skin, Sav lunged at Riley. "Close that door and let's get the hell out of here. We can't really go in there!"

Riley mock dusted herself off. "Okay, okay." Her eyes glinted as she smirked. "Or not!" she yelled as she dashed into the foyer.

I'm not really going to follow her, am I? Coyotes howled in the distance. An explosive breeze left Sav teetering in her sneakers. But I also don't want to be out here alone! Clutching the keyring in her pocket as she would a knife, Sav timidly strolled in after Riley. Scanning the modest living and dining rooms sparse sixties era furnishings led way to a smattering of tacky taxidermy pizes.

Footsteps echoed on the hardwood from the hallway. They couldn't have been more than several yards away. In response Sav nearly tripped over herself dashing out the front door.

Once outside, the girl found herself gazing at the massive hole in the dirt. Down in the corner lied but one small object. It wasn't the sight of a one-eyed tattered teddy bear that ripped a gasp from Sav. The bear was named Scruffles by Sav twelve years ago before it was thrown away.

"Even though everyone responds with the same shock, it never ceases to amuse me,"

Chanting whispers assaulted Sav's ears. About a dozen people garbed in thick ruby colored robes inched forward. Their faces cloaked in darkness until they lifted their hoods in unison. The faces were familiar but not quite recognizable. Sav's eyes navigated to Riley's unapologetic expression, searching for answers.

Riley nodded at the uniformed group. Their right hands raising one by one as the melodic crooning reached its pinnacle.

Sav averted her gaze as though a little child fearing punishment. The cavernous pit loomed directly in front of her feet. There was no doubt in her mind that the crater was a grave.

Riley gestured with her arms, attesting to its girth. "If it makes you feel better, this wasn't my idea. Nothing personal," she muttered as she stood next to Sav. "I just do the dirty work. Your parents chose you."

Two small hands hammered with practiced force against Sav's shoulders. The pit knocked the wind out of her.