The Skinner

”The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night a candle burned in the window”. I listened to the monotonous voice of the “Top 13 scary forest stories” story teller drone on. I’ve heard this one already, hopefully this guy comes out with something new soon. I thought as I looked down at my phone to skip to a different podcast. I like to listen to scary stories on long drives, but lately nothings been doing it for me. I slowed my car down from 60 to 40 as a road sign read “SHARP CURVE AHEAD”. Driving down the snakey forested road adorned with memorial crosses draped in flowers and dressed in lights, 8 in total. They served as 8 extra warnings for those driving down this road, it’s funny how fast things can change. Huh “change” that’s what I’m out here for. I’ve never gone on a long trip alone, without my family or my boyfriend. I just wanna feel like I can accomplish something by myself and I crave feeling comfort in independence. Hopefully, this weekend is gonna help me with that.

“WELCOME TO RUIDOSO” read a large blue sign shrouded in towering spruce trees that swayed in the wind. A cluster of dark storm clouds enveloping the afternoon sky. I love the rain we never get much back home, but something about the way the clouds poured the mountains made me uneasy. “Arrived” blurred out the robotic voice of my gps taking me out of the trance that the foggy mountains had pulled me under.

I opened my car door got out and stood scanning the street filled with cabins, a candle on every window sill. What the hell? I thought to myself as I remembered the story I listened to earlier. Life imitates art I guess? I quickly let the thought escape my mind and turned to face the gorgeous cabin I rented for the weekend. A sigh of relaxation left my lungs as I admired the log cabin that would be my home for the next two nights.

I grabbed my bags and unlocked the door using the code my host had sent me, and set my bags down. I was welcomed by a strong cinnamon scent, the place had wide head to toe windows in every room except the bathroom. Which made me mildly uncomfortable thinking about how anyone could sneak a peak. I began unpacking in the bedroom when I noticed through the window which faced the back yard a decrepit abandoned cabin behind my own.

It was blackened by a fire that had gone on at some point in time. Despite whatever had happened to it, half of its frame still stood strong. In what was left of what I assumed was the kitchen, stood yet another candle on a plate. It’s golden glow illuminating the bottom half of the cabinets. So many candles, maybe someone in the community had passed and this was a vigil of some sort? It felt strange that someone had left a burning candle in a cabin that had already succumbed to its fiery death. The person who lit it probably wasn’t far and would be back to snuff it out soon I’m sure. I continued to settle into the cabin I texted my parents and my boyfriend to let them know I had arrived safely. I received similar “I miss you” and “I wish you had let us come with you texts” back from them. I kinda wish I had too, loneliness was creeping up on me, I’m not used to doing anything on my own but I knew I had to do this at least once in my life.

I pulled the pink Polaroid camera I had packed out of my bag and put in fresh film. I left out the sliding glass door of my room that led to the backyard to snap a few memories of my solo trip. I walked through the tall grass closer to the abandoned cabin to take a photo of the tree line behind it and the sunflowers that grew along the edge. “Snap” and the flash went off, my dads really gonna like that picture he loves plants. If he were here he’d probably tell me exactly what the trees behind the flowers were. I aimed my camera at the eerie cabin to the right of me “snap” my camera whirred and no film came out.

This had happened before, it was jammed. Dammit! The only person who knew how to fix it was my boyfriend I’d have to wait till I drove back home for him to fix it. My trip felt more lonely by the minute I decided I would go back inside and call my boyfriend. I layed the only picture I was able to take, still developing face down on the night stand. The scenery was beautiful but it was hard to enjoy without the people I loved it almost made me feel guilty. We talked for a few hours, it was nice like he was here with me.

I suppose I got so comfortable I had dozed off I woke up to my phone pressed to my face my boyfriend Ramon, still on the other line snoring. I kissed my phone and hung up I looked out the window. A light coming from the other cabin burning bright, it was the candle. How was it still on? Why was it so bright? God, was it bright. The light cascaded across the forest creating waves of light. It hurt my eyes. I can’t sleep this way.

Surely whoever lit it forgot about it, they wouldn’t even notice if I went out and blew it out. As a matter of fact I’m sure they’d be grateful. I put on my sandals, unlocked and slid the glass door open the cabin was only about 20 feet away I walked cautiously towards it. Making sure there was no one inside like a homeless man who set up shelter for the night. As I got closer there wasn’t, there were no doors or windows the kitchen was exposed to the open air. I turned my phones flashlight on, kneeled and blew the candle out.

Almost immediately I heard my dads voice “Elliiiii” I checked my phone to make sure I hadn’t accidentally called him. I hadn’t… the voice came through the wind again but this time It was louder and it sounded like someone had taken my dads voice and reversed it on a record player “ELLIIIIIIIIII” I ran back to my cabin immediately, breathing heavily eyes wide with fear. What the fuck was that?!!! I grabbed a large knife from the kitchen and sat behind the bed waiting for whoever or whatever was outside.

I sat shaking and staring at the window I had dropped my phone during my panicked running. All I could do was sit and wait until dawn. Hours passed and the sun was rising over the mountains I gave into my exhaustion and fell asleep. I look at the clock beside my bed 11:00 am. I see the Polaroid I had left on the night stand the day before. I flip it over and examine it, to my horror a creature that looked like a 15 foot tall man but with hooves, broken limbs, and the face of a goat hunched over and hiding behind the trees in what looked like a back bend.

I tossed it on the floor in shock when I remembered. My phone! I scanned the forest ahead, I had dropped it right outside the door I cautiously slid the door open and quickly picked it up.

I tossed everything I had unpacked back into my bag. I’m getting out of here. As I packed my bags into my car an old man in a rocking chair called out to me harshly. “GIRL!” I turned around sharply and flinched as I was still in shock. “You turned out the candle in black cabin last night didn’t you?, I heard him last night, The Skinner” He said in a deep fading voice, he was an olive skinned man, blind in one eye a pale blue film over it the other eye brown. I’m sorry I don’t understand? I said shakily “We leave those candles out to keep him in the forest he doesn’t like the light, what do you think happened to my eye?” He pointed at the blue eye and made a slashing motion “If you know what’s best for you, you’ll go turn it back on and leave”

Just then an older woman with kind brown eyes and short brown hair came out from the door beside him “Miguel!! What have I told you about scaring the tourists off, this town needs the money!” He sunk into his chair and mumbled something under his breath. “I’m sorry my names Lydia my ex husband is the town grouch I hope you’re enjoying your stay” Um yea I am thank you my names Eli sorry for the bother… was all that I could muster out. I turned to walk across the street to my car I heard them arguing behind me. I slipped into the safety of my car and took one last look at the cabin.

On the right side of the wood near the front window 3 uncomfortably large scratch marks sat. It’s was almost like whatever did that was trying to tear the wall off the frame. Yea that does it, I’m leaving. I reversed out of the drive way and I was on my way I stared at my broken Polaroid camera that I had placed on the passenger seat. It had saved me, if I hadn’t seen the picture I probably would have chalked what I heard up to some very vocal wind. I called my parents to let them know I was coming home early, I didn’t tell them the full story just that I was feeling to alone and I was going back home. It was only a 4 hour drive I would be there by 9 pm.

“Okay Eli we love you be safe” my parents said I felt relief. An hour passed into my drive I was close to being out of Ruidoso I look to the side of the road to see the same 8 crosses. All of the sudden “POP” My tire went out I skidded to the side of the road trying to gain control of my little Volkswagen Jetta before crashing into a tree. I heard a familiar voice in the woods. “GIRL!” It was the old man’s voice was he out here? “You didn’t turn out the lighttt” I heard in a disturbing sing songy mimic of the old man’s voice same as last night. I heard large branches snap and footsteps from just a few feet away and scratching on trees.

What stepped out shook me to my core it was the same thing from the picture but this time it wore the old man’s face, it grinned with blood soaked teeth “Eliiiiiii” I screamed as I tried to open my car door but it wasn’t working. “ELIIIIIIIII” It screamed louder. It got to my car.

The skinner ripped the roof off of her car as it shrieked it took a whole bite of her head, before taking the rest of her body with it into the forest and she was NEVER. SEEN. AGAIN. The kids around the campfire screamed. The childrens father chuckled “Alright kids, that’s the last scary story for tonight we have to be up early tomorrow to catch those big fish” He said. Dad the skinner isn’t real right? “Of course not baby just don’t turn out that light” he winked “Jorge stop scaring the kids come on” said my mom. I turned to look into the forest afraid and walked a little closer seeing something shiny. I walked closer a damaged pink Polaroid camera.