Night Predators

The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window.

"Hurry up with the rest of the equipment meatheads, it's starting to get dark already, we need to set up the tents while we can still see". Marlon shouted.

"How far are we away from the campsite anyway. We seem to be walking in circles". Sheena was sure they had already passed by this huge oak tree.

Truth to tell the trees all looked the same. It was a cool summer's day now waxing somewhat closer into evening. The green leaves were romping and singing a riotous song with each whoosh of the gusty bracing wind. The trees and wind danced and swayed in tandem sending leaves flying playfully here, there and everywhere. Underfoot, fallen limbs and twigs of assorted and varying sizes crackled, snapped and cracked as everyone walked. Animals were heard scampering for safety with each crunch of the woody carpet on the ground.

Looking back, and yelling loudly Kent hoped everyone could hear him. "Can we have a body count campers"?

"Yell your number in order".

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven........twenty one. All were accounted for.

An owl, perched regally upon a limb atop the large juniper tree, quietly and curiously observing the visitors from her perch as she hooted overhead. Looking up they could see the grey form outlined against the tree in the moonlight.

"Kent, are you sure we are not lost"? Marcie asked nervously. "It's getting kinda dark and I'm really feeling tired".

As they passed by a tight clump of trees there was a sudden movement among the limbs high above. Birds could be seen fleeing the trees, as if something had spooked them out from their sleepy perch amidst the bosom and protected arms of the forest. A large deer scampered across the path followed closely by two awkward baby fawns.

From the corner of her eye Jess noticed tree limbs bowing as if an invisible form sat on it bending it low.

"What was that"? Jess asked, her voice sounding panicked.

"What was what"? someone asked.

"I didn't hear anything"! Another camper chimed in.

There was a frightened shriek, as if an animal was hurt.

Suddenly they all heard a low guttural growl, then a sickening crunching sound, followed by a crack like bones snapping. A headless misshapen body fell with a bloody thump from above, almost knocking over Jasmine and Gary. Jasmine opened her mouth to scream but Gary clamped his hand over her mouth and dragged her towards the protection of the trees.

"Oh my God, there is blood on me", wailed Janice.

"Run"! shouted Kent. "There is a cabin up ahead, follow me"!

They ran, stumbling along the unknown pathways as the trees overhead reverberated with the movements of tree limbs creaking and leaves falling like rain showers. Something was in the trees, it was following them, an invisible and silent, sinister presence that they could not see.

Behind them as they ran, someone screamed. No one stopped to find out why. There was confusion and terror giving wings to the feet of the campers who did not know from what they were fleeing. But from the shelter of the huge oak behind which they hid, Jasmine and Gary saw camper # four lifted effortlessly off his feet, and into the air, screaming, arms flailing and oddly, as if lifted by invisible hands, disappear into the thick leaves of a tree.

"What are we going to do, we can't see what is out there"? Jasmine was crying quietly not wanting to be heard.

"Let's find somewhere to hi....". Before Gary could finish his sentence, a body thudded to the ground before him as he was grabbed and jerked violently into the air. Something was dragging him as it swung through the trees with superhuman strength. Like a ragdoll dragged in the wind, he had no chance against the unseen enemy.

Poor Jasmine, in terror for her life, and losing all sense of reason, plunged headlong into the pathway, chasing after her friends even though they were way ahead of her, running for their lives. Something grabbed at her, but with arms flailing wildly and fear propelling her forward, she somehow managed to escape the groping appendage of her predator as it tried to capture her. She screamed like a banshee as she ran, and it appeared she had eluded the grasp of horror.

Maybe she could get to the cabin that Kent mentioned, although she had no idea where she was heading.

Meanwhile, up ahead people were screaming as the beings in the trees were swinging from limb to limb, tree to tree, plucking their friends up one by one, sucking them dry and tossing their lifeless and broken bodies among the fleeing campers, as if they needed them to be terrified enough to stop running. Or maybe fear was the whole purpose of this blood thirsty and murderous game of these night predators.

"Help me # eight shrieked, suspended for one moment in time and space before her body, dripping blood upon the confused and sobbing friends was tossed to the ground.

More and more heartbreaking screams were heard, someone tried to reach for the legs of # five as she was being lifted from the ground, but was only savagely knocked to the ground, passing out senseless.

From seemingly out of nowhere, the cabin suddenly emerged, like a fog had lifted, exposing it's alluring facade. A burning candle in the window beckoned the terrified runners like a lit beacon from a lighthouse.

With the invisible hounds of hell moving boisterously and noisily through the trees, scaring the living daylights out of them, what was left of the group ran for the cabin. As the last of their numbers ran in the door, they slammed it shut. Loud thuds could be heard, as if bodies were being slammed into the building. Again and again they threw themselves at the cabin while the campers cowered inside.

Jasmine watched from behind a huge rock. She had not been able to catch up to the others quickly enough, so she had hidden within view of the cabin after she saw them run inside. She saw then tilt headlong into the void and slam the door. Another owl was heard hooting in the distance. The thudding against the cabin paused. Jasmine picked up a large tree limb from the ground and flung it with all her strength towards the sound of the hooting owl.

There was an ominous silence for a few seconds while the predators paused to assess the situation.

The trees overhead creaked and groaned as if a huge load was bending their boughs as they raced towards the sound of the log falling. As soon as she felt safe enough, Jasmine ran for the cabin. She reached the door, turned the handle. Nothing. She knocked lightly, not wanting to attract the wrong attention.

"It's Jasmine, please let me in". Then she yelled in terror and fright, " please they are coming back:. The trees reverberated, swayed and bent, as something raced through it's branches, heading back towards the cabin.

Someone unlocked the door and yanked her inside, but not before one of the invisible beings flung itself in behind her. Another camper slammed the door, locked it quickly and backed away. More loud thudding sounded again outside. Maybe they would eventually knock the cabin over. It did not appear to be a particularly firmly built structure, was the thought uppermost in everyone's mind.

Looking around, terrified Janice started to cry, "Is this all that is left of the group"?

Kara yanked her over to where she was and hugged her while the thing stared them over.

"Watch out, back up against the wall". Marlon advised the terrified campers.

The thing standing before them had the form of a human, it stood erect, with a large head and face like a giant ugly bee, having bulbous eyes and a hairless scaly head. No ears were visible. A wide mouth showed giant snakelike fangs. It's humanlike hands had menacing looking claws and it bared it's enormous teeth.

Suddenly, without obvious explanation, the apparition started to writhe in agony. Backing towards the door the monster screamed in agonizing pain, then unexpectedly it's body started to smoke and glow before exploding, sending blood, bones and flesh plastering over everyone inside the house.

"Ugh", Kara grunted, making a disgusted face and frantically brushing gore off of herself.

Everyone was wiping and swatting at themselves, trying to cleanse the dripping gooey mess from their faces and clothes.

"What just happened. How come we couldn't see it outside but we can see it in here"? Kara asked.

"That is strange, maybe we should let them all in".

"Not on you life, no we are not. They obviously cannot enter here, or they would all have done so already. There is nothing stopping them from breaking down the door and coming in". Kent was adamant about his view on the subject.

"What is that on the wall over there"? Picking up the candle, Gene walked to the corner where something was written on the wall. They had not had much time to look around the cabin.

Beware all who would venture here

Upon consecrated and hallowed ground

"What does it mean consecrated and hallowed grounds"?

"It's kind of when you watch the movies and evil ghosts or something can't enter a church or blessed building", said Kent.

"Is a graveyard considered consecrated ground"? Kara asked.

"How is that relevant right now"?

Kara shrugged, "Just asking".

"But surely these are not ghosts". Gene said in his most proper English accent.

"Oh, so then, it is to them what kryptonite is to Superman only way worse".

"That's the geeky version, but yes". Everyone was chiming in on the sign.

"Maybe they can't come in unless you invite them in, or the door is open. I mean this one only busted in behind Jasmine.".

"By now they must be aware that whenever their kind comes in, they never come back out". Said Marlon.

"Maybe, but their bloodlust may be stronger than their reason".

Gene was stomping on the floor, "Well we can test that, and hope and pray that we live to tell the tale".

It had been quiet outside for a while, but the thumping started again.

"What do you mean"? Everyone chimed in.

"There is a hollow sound here, I'm sure there is a compartment down below, help me lift this huge box from here".

Sure enough, after much grunting and groaning, they got the box off and found a lever that opened to a fairly large space below the cabin floor. Gene jumped in and checked all around.

"Kara, Jasmine jump in, Marlon, Kent, hold the trapdoor open for me, I will open the door and jump in, pull the bear rug over the door to hide it, then we can close it. It will take them a minute or so to enter, they will be cautious but their will to drink our blood will be stronger than their fear".

Their plan was executed without a hitch. They all settled in and waited.

The few minutes felt like forever. Nobody spoke. A loud creak of the floor sounded slightly muted from their lowly abode. Everyone held their breaths.

A guttural voice started to speak. "Maybe we should just wait for more of their kind to venture into the woods".

"They speak", whispered Kayla.

The sound of many footsteps sounded on the cabin floor above their heads. Then the blood curdling screams started, followed by what they imagined was exploding flesh.

For a while there was total silence.

"Cut.". "You guys can come out now to finish the final scene" Was heard from above.

"Roll, scene three"!

Gene cautiously raised the hatch to peek into the room. He saw no one, just pieces of flesh and goo dripping from the walls. Opening it all the way, he stepped out, reaching down to help the others out.

One by one they exited the cabin. It was almost morning, they had been in the cabin a long time. They looked around furtively, then hurriedly made their way out of the woods.

"Great job guys". The director did an air high five to all.

The film crew was packing up as they got ready to leave the area. They loaded up the trucks and equipment and the actors all trudged wearily to the huge RV. A great and tiring days work.

Be careful what you wish for. For as they made ready to leave, the trees started to bend and sway as if large bodies were moving rapidly in their direction.

Someone screamed and a large thud was heard as a body fell from the sky all broken and bloody.

N.A.