The Entity

The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window. As the odorless translucent wax slowly trickled down the side of the slender candle and into the tarnished brass base, a long and equally slender finger also slowly slid down the window. At the ends of each veiny finger were pointy nails that were thick yet cracked and yellowed. Tiny pieces of dried flesh and fur sat rotting in the dark cracks. The entity let out a long, raspy sigh that bemoaned of hunger…a deep, ancient hunger that needed to be satisfied…yearned to be satisfied. The cabin was warm, and provided sanctuary from the fireball, but it was located in a remote area, with little population and therefore, lacked resources to food. The occasional rabbit or deer was growing old and boring. Rarely did it struggle or put up a fight. The entity’s nightly hunger was excruciatingly painful, and the cabin was a disappointment. The entity gracefully turned and slowly floated away from the window. Midnight was close at hand and rest was needed before hunting.

Mark begrudgingly rolled over and fumbled with the buttons on top of the alarm clock as he tried to silence its annoying screeches. “What the hell? I literally just went to sleep,” Mark thought, double-checking the time and kicking off the comfort afforded by his 800-thread count Egyptian cotton sheets his mother had given him for Christmas last year. “When you finally marry someone, she will be impressed that you have such nice sheets, Mark,” she had said. The words always echoed in his head with a snarky, mocking tone. Although the sheets were indeed comfortable, he wasn’t so sure they were so impressive given the nautical map theme that screamed “Run!” to anyone within eyesight of them. Comfortable? Yes. Impressive? No. Depressing? Definitely.

“I have to remember to bring my tools to the cabin today,” Mark thought as he showered and got ready for the long drive up the mountainside. It had been years since Mark visited the cabin which had unintentionally been abandoned, and he groaned at the idea of all the repairs he was likely to face. “Maybe I’ll take those sheets, too,” Mark said out loud with a mouth full of foaming toothpaste.

The sun was shining down intently as if it, too, were mocking Mark by showcasing him in a spotlight. “Finally getting around to visiting the cabin and doing some work huh, Mark?” the sun seemed to say. Mark dramatically slid his sunglasses on as if to silence the June Colorado sun’s taunting and its rays. “Take that,” Mark mumbled as he turned the key and headed towards the cabin.

The drive to the cabin was long, and Mark expected to arrive late in the evening. “I’ll just grab some dinner and call it a night and start first thing in the morning,” he thought. Mark couldn’t help but wonder if the bed in the cabin did need the sheets replaced. When the radio station Mark was listening to started to be intercepted by other stations, he knew that he was close. “I should be there in about thirty minutes it sounds like.” Mark turned off the radio and cracked his window to let the fresh, crisp mountain air into the car.

Mark flicked on his high beams to see the dirt road more clearly. The road twisted and wound up the mountainside for a good fifteen minutes. “Why didn’t we ever install any lighting up to and around the cabin?” Mark wondered. You really have to ask yourself why, Mark? When Dad passed it became your responsibility to keep up with the cabin. Mark squinted as he facetiously replied to himself out loud, “You mean the cabin I haven’t visited in several years? The cabin no one in the family could bring themselves to visit since Dad died over a pile of firewood?”

Mark flicked on his high beams to see his destination as he pulled up to the cabin. Once the car turned off, he was immediately caught off guard by a flickering glow of a candle in the kitchen window. It was the only light among the dense trees whose canopy blocked out the sun and the moon. Mark’s heart rate elevated slightly as he quickly assessed the situation, as it was certainly unnerving to find that someone had been, or was inside, the cabin. There were no other cars around and no other family members were supposed to be here. Candles don’t light themselves. Mark instinctively rolled up the window he had cracked and made sure his car doors were locked before deciding his next move.

Inside the cabin the entity heard the sound of something or someone approaching and saw the reflection of the beams of light coming up the dirt road. Delicious and tantalizing smells poured into the cabin through every crack and crevice. Venomous saliva began to build up, and the entity’s heart rate harmoniously elevated at the exact same time as Mark’s.

“You’re overthinking this Mark. You’re just tired from the long drive. That isn’t a candle in the window – surely it is just some sort of reflec…it’s NOT a reflection! It is definitely a candle and it definitely shouldn’t be lit!”

“Okay, just take a deep breath and relax.”

“I’ll just leave, get a motel room, and come back in the morning. If there is anyone in the cabin, he certainly doesn’t want to be surprised this late at night.” Mark paused at his unconscious use of the “he” pronoun and reminded himself of all the notorious female killers –even ones who specialized in wielding axes. What was it, thirty whacks? Forty? Mark quickly started the car.

“You’rrrrrre nottt gooooing anyyyywhere,” the entity rasped through maroon-stained lips that were thinly laid over teeth made for shredding flesh… thick flesh, thin flesh, hairy flesh. The peeling around the sweet fruit. The entity abruptly sliced through the air with its right hand and the car shut off and its headlights went out. The entity subtly smiled at the panic it could sense.

“I hearrrrr your hearrrrrrrt beeeeeattinng,” hissed the entity as its eyes shifted to pitch black and back.

It was a strong heartbeat. Saliva once again pooled in the entity’s mouth at the thought of blood being amply pumped through every limb of this animal’s body. “Yessss, thisssss animallll willlll dooo nicccccelyyyy,” sibilated from the entity’s lips as it hungrily made its way to the front door.

Mark had just placed his hand on the gearshift when the car shut off – headlights and all. Confusion and an unnerving feeling rushed through him as he tried frantically in vain to get the car to start.

“C’mon…..c’mon….what in the world is going on?” Mark said in a quiet but panicked voice. Nothing was happening. Not a sound. It was as if the car had every ounce of life sucked out of it.

The entity slowly and stealthily floated towards the car.

Mark sat in the car in utter darkness. He couldn’t even see the steering wheel in front of him or make out the cabin. Just the eerie light from the candle flickering in the window. The moment was extremely unsettling. Little beads of sweat began to form across his forehead like tiny clear pearls in a strand. He grabbed his phone, which also was completely dead. Life seemingly sucked from it too. He strained his eyes to see the cabin and the vicinity of the front door. “Wait, was the front door open or closed?” he wondered, checking his car doors once again to make sure they were locked.

Mark blinked his eyes repeatedly. Was that a figure at the front door or were his eyes playing tricks on him? He stared towards the cabin, desperately trying to see anything. He checked the car locks again, not trusting them as if they had a mind of their own. A putrid stench enveloped the air, and Mark felt himself gag. The disgusting smell was overwhelming, and he involuntarily dry-heaved. Leaning in closer to his car window, he was positive he saw movement, when all of a sudden, three loud booms exploded against the side of his car. Bang! Bang! Bang! Mark let out a blood-curdling shriek and jerked his torso towards the center of the car to try and center himself in all the chaos. The noise began circling the car with varying degrees of intensity.

“Holy shit!” Mark yelped. “Who is this? Please stop! Sttttoooopppp!”

As if he was in control, the banging suddenly stopped. Mark jerked his head back and forth, trying to hone in on the source of the banging. “If this is some prank, it isn’t funny!” he cried out. “I have already called the police!”

Mark sat in silence long enough for his strand of tiny sweat pearls to break formation and race down his forehead when, all of a sudden, the horrifying sound of metal being gouged and scraped began circling the car. The sound was as equally disturbing as nails on a chalkboard. The scratching intensified. Was that a giggle? He frantically tried to start the car. He could feel his blood pressure rising, causing an almost unbearable pounding in his chest that he could feel in his ears, while listening to the car handles being jostled vigorously. The noise abruptly stopped, and Mark sat in total darkness, listening to his labored breathing, trying unsuccessfully to be silent. Minutes, and soon hours, passed as he sat quietly in the dark, left alone with nothing but his thoughts. Was it 800-thread count Egyptian cotton or was it 1000-thread count? An owl hooted in the distance, and Mark checked the door locks again, careful to not accidentally unlock them.

The entity sat quietly outside the driver’s door and picked pieces of black paint from its nails. This play time was rather enjoyable and necessary. Fully oxygenated blood mixed with adrenaline was a treat, and a treat was certainly on the menu for this lovely evening. The entity laid back in the dirt and gravel and closed its black eyes while simultaneously making a dirt angel, relishing at the thought of the warm and ample treat that awaited. The sweet smell coming from the car was distinctive and overwhelmingly appetizing. A wave of sudden realization washed over the entity as it laid there in the soothing dirt, gravel, and grass. Where did this animal come from, and might there be more?

Mark stared at the candle flickering in the window. The only sign of life outside the confines of the car that had become his jail. Did whoever it was leave? Mark moved his hand slowly to the ignition to try and start the car. Nothing.

Mark realized his entire body was soaking wet. How long have I been sitting here? Mark resisted the urge to lurch from the car and run – run just as fast as his legs could carry him. All the way down to the end of the driveway and onto the main road. Would there be anyone passing by? Even with it being a main road there were rarely any passersby. What if the person was waiting for him down the drive? No, it was best to stay put. But that smell. That awful, nauseating smell of rotten flesh. And the heat. Even though it was pitch black it was excruciatingly hot. Mark reached down and grabbed his cup from the late lunch he had on the way up to the cabin and took a sip of melted ice. Soon, the cup was empty, and the annoying sounds of sucking droplets out of the bottom of a paper cup with a straw ensued. Warm water never tasted so good.

The sun would be up soon, and that meant the entity had to act. Being out in the deadly ball of fire was not an option. Acting decidedly on an idea that the entity deemed a stroke of genius, the entity slid under the vehicle and latched itself onto the undercarriage using its long, strong arms and spired fingernails -- the same yellowed, cracked fingernails that slid down the kitchen window earlier in the evening. The entity closed its eyes and rested, settling in for a comfortable ride. Pushing away pangs of hunger in anticipation of a more substantial feast. Besides, the whole cake was certainly better than just a piece of cake. Drool pooled and ran down the side of the entity’s mouth which was slightly ajar, revealing a snakelike tongue. The entity’s eyes rapidly darted back and forth under its weathered and jaundiced-looking eyelids.

The cabin was fully functional, but it wasn’t equipped with all of the modern conveniences one would expect in a hotel or even a seedy motel. The cabin had been in the family for many years and was nestled between some dense trees at the top of a long, dirt road. There was no good reception, so phones and television were never going to be a realistic modern convenience. Mark thought of the plethora of board games that were stacked high in the hall closet. Games that provided hours of laughter for family Summer vacations. Vacations that abruptly ended when his dad was found slumped over some freshly cut wood with his axe still in his hand. Wood that was meant to warm the cabin for game night. Mark felt himself tunneling deeper into a depression and shook his head to clear his thoughts. Hours passed as Mark played an entire lifetime of memories at the cabin over and over in his head, often nodding off in short spurts before jolting awake in panic mode.

The first ray of light shone through the trees and hit the front windshield. Mark jolted awake in a panic, causing a sharp pang in his neck. Great – that’s going to take forever to go away. How long was I out? In the early morning light, Mark could see that the front door to the cabin was gently swinging open. The foreboding candle was also out. That visual was quickly underscored by the LED time that displayed on his phone as it sat attached to the plastic holder affixed to the middle air vent. Now fully awake, with more adrenaline pumping through his veins, he hurriedly turned the key in the ignition with a flurry of “please, please, please, please, please, please” spewing from his mouth -- like a kid on Christmas morning in anticipation of the one gift. The sweet, beautiful sound of the car starting caused him to yelp and come alive. So much so that he could feel his bladder waking up and also yelping for relief. When was the last time I went to the bathroom? Has it been 24 hours? The same putrid stench was in the air, and he wondered if his underwear held a surprise. He threw the car into reverse and maneuvered the car around and sped down the drive, careful to not hit any trees or cause any flat tires. The entity took in a deep breath and smiled at the fresh smell of blood infused with adrenaline and waited… for good things.

Mark sped down the side of the mountain, aiming to put as much space as he could between himself and the cabin. Once he was able to calm down only then did he recognize the faint smell of urine and the sensation of sitting in pee-soaked clothes. Mark chuckled as he pictured himself getting out of the car to file a police report.

No officer, I didn’t ever see anyone, and I was ultimately able to drive away without issue. And yes, yes, that is urine. No, no, that putrid stench isn’t me. I already checked. I can’t explain it.

Mark drove the long trek home, oblivious to the stares from people in cars passing him and obviously not recalling the events of the past night. Exhaustion was setting in, and he was struggling to remain alert. He pulled into his driveway just as the sun was setting and let out a resounding sigh of relief as he embraced the comfort of being home… away from whatever terror was squatting at the cabin. Was it even human? He nervously opened the car door as if fully expecting to be attacked. Phone in hand and wet jeans in tow, he turned to the car as the door was shutting, and terror gripped him right in his tracks. His legs began to go numb, and he instinctively stumbled back several steps. Across the entire length of the car were deep gashes and scratch lines that no doubt ran around the entire car. There was no way to pass that off as having your car keyed. Whatever had happened, he had the answer to his question. It was not human. He hurried into his house, locked his door, and tripled checked that it was secure.

Once inside, Mark ran to his bedroom and grabbed his gun. It wasn’t anything fancy, just a Springfield Armory XD MOD 2. It fit nice in his hand and offered an added layer of security with its grip safety. Up until now, the gun had sat safely stored away, and Mark wondered if he even remembered how to use it. Mark carried the gun with him to the restroom as he prepared to take a shower before filing a police report. Perhaps he was overreacting. He never saw anyone or anything, so it could have been a bear, right? A bear could have made those deep gashes. But don’t bears make noise? They certainly can’t light candles. And they can’t jostle door handles. Mark showered, scrubbing hard to get rid of the putrid stench that had followed him and calmed himself down, reasoning that a bear was responsible for last night’s brief reign of terror. The bear had to be totally unrelated to the lit candle, which likely also had an explanation. Mark laid down and pulled the luxurious nautical map-printed sheets and matching comforter over his body.

Once darkness set and the fireball was finally gone, the entity gently let itself down from the car’s undercarriage and let out a guttural, shallow sigh. The ride had been longer than he anticipated. The entity stealthily moved out from under the car and quickly surveyed his surroundings. Yes, this location will do nicely. Location, location, effing location. The entity took a deep breath in and shivered at the beautiful smells coming from all directions and then made its way up the front steps. Sensing no movement inside, the entity turned the front doorknob, which was locked. In an effortless and very swift movement, the entity shifted forms into a gray cloud of fog and seeped through the cracks in the door. Once inside, the putrid gray fog darted from room to room, surveying its surroundings, before approaching its prey. The animal was lying down and emitting a rumbling sound repeatedly, which the entity almost found soothing. Drool pooled in the entity’s mouth, as it had waited long enough. Play time was over.

The entity stood by the animal a bit longer to take in its mesmerizingly delicious scent. Its eyes widened and turned pitch black. Drool slipped from its mouth and landed on the print of a ship’s wooden steering wheel next to a compass. In a move that was nimble and quick, the entity unhinged its jaw and bit down ever so firmly into the neck of the animal. The animal yelped, flailed, and threw its limbs in all directions and then fell limp in the bed to the sounds of gentle sucking and slurping. Oh, the sweet, sweet nectar.

Mark felt a burning sensation in his neck as something with substantial weight bore down on him. The overwhelming metallic scent of blood engulfed the room. His head, turned to the side, could see the Springfield Armory gun sitting peacefully on the side table, just out of reach. Mark tried with all of his might to fight off his assailant but felt his life slowly slipping away as his energy and will to live were waning. He stared at his sheets thinking how comfortable they felt and thought how pretty the sheets looked in red. Definitely 1000-thread count. After a slideshow of images of Mark’s life summed up in sixty seconds played before him in slow motion as his life was being sucked from him, Mark went limp to the soothing sounds of slurping and gurgling and ran towards the white light. Dad? Is it really you?

The entity stayed with the animal for several hours. So much sustenance. Much sweeter than the hairy rabbits and deer. Yes, the wait was worth it. The entity meandered to the back yard and lay in the soft grass, making grass angels. The hunger had dissuaded but was not fully satiated. The entity sat up bolt upright and turned its head towards a forest of trees running along the back of the row of houses. So many sweet, delicious smells were coming from that direction. Saliva ran down both corners of the entity’s mouth as it cocked its head left and right. The entity wiped its arm across its mouth and headed towards the forest; headed towards the sweet smells that were a million times stronger than the animal lying in the bed.

Through the dense forest, the entity could see a flickering light, much larger than the candle in the window at the cabin. The entity floated across the carpet of reddish needles towards the light. As the light grew larger, the entity could hear screams and laughter coming from what sounded like a herd of animals. Beautiful sounds of screams and laughter, which meant beautifully oxygenated and adrenalized blood. The entity listened intently to the campers’ different voices and tried to match each voice to its candied scent. The sweet aromas were intense, and the entity literally rolled its eyes up in the back of its head at the sheer ecstasy it was feeling…almost intoxicating. The entity’s eyes turned pitch black, and its razor-like claws poised themselves to move quickly.

“No more scary stories! Can we make the s’mores now? I’m scared to death and need to go pee!”

“Wait – just one more story. Please? Scott hasn’t had a chance to tell his story!”

“Bruh, I am freaked out and won’t be able to sleep tonight. Gimme a sec and I’ll go to the restroom with you.”

“We won’t get our badge until we have each told a story. Just one more!”

The campfire burned bright as the campers, unprepared for the bloodbath that was about to unfold, laughed and enjoyed themselves around the campfire. An unassuming gray fog enveloped the campers.

“Oh my God, who did that? So gross!” [wretching sound] “It was Jason!”

“Ewwww, do you smell that?”

“What is that disgusting smell?”

Bloodcurdling screams intensify as, one by one, the entity quickly sucks the life out of the herd of animals.

“Helllp meee!!!’

“Look out!!!”

“RUUUNNNN!!!!”

“Holy sh--!!”

A calming silence fell over the campsite. Several long and sharp, pointed sticks were strewn around the campfire. The entity marveled at the irony of this as it lay in the warm pool of blood that had accumulated by the fire, and began making blood angels. The feeding frenzy that had ensued had left him exhausted and too full to walk. Nap time was calling.

“Yesssss, thissssss locationnnnn willllll doo nicccelyy.”

The fire crackled and popped as the entity sat upright, basking in the warmth and glow of the campfire’s dancing flames.