Curiosity

The crisp fall air whistled through the trees as it blew in from the north. The sun slowly started to set as Todd and vanessa finished their afternoon hike. They were both ecstatic to finally have a day off to get back to nature. As they started to turn back for their car, Todd noticed something in the distance that made him uncomfortable. Through a clearing on the trail, he could see a small open field.

Todd reached for Vanessa’s hand to gain her attention. Slightly startled she turned to him. She could see by the look on his face that he was uncomfortable. Todd pointed his finger to the clearing. In that clearing stood a torn, and tattered tent. It was not unusual for people to find spots to camp on the trail. The trails were long, and those who loved the outdoors would sometimes spend days out there.

This sight though was unusual to see. Especially this late in the year. Vanessa asked Todd if he felt they should take a closer look. He nodded in agreeance as he started to step in that direction. Vanessa followed him slowly. As they approached the tent, Todd further examined the area. He noticed animal tracks. Various types from small to large. Nothing out of the ordinary to be in the woods.

One set of tracks did stand out to him though. What seemed to be rather large cat prints. Suddenly Vanessa screamed. Startled by this, Todd quickly turns and pulls Vanessa into him. As she is shaking in Todd’s arms, she draws his attention back to the tent. He starts to grow an unsettling feeling as he finally realized what had Vanessa go into such a panic.

The tent had been torn in what seemed like a struggle. Spots of blood splattered all throughout. Todd quickly got Vanessa away before they inched any closer. Unaware of what they might come across. Once he had gotten Vanessa back to the trail. He quickly acted to calm her down. He pulled her tightly against him. Assuring her that she would be okay. Once she had eased up some, they quickly made the walk back to the truck.

They made it back to the truck just as night fell. Once safely loaded and back inside, they started to discuss what each of them had seen. The temperature outside dropped drastically as the sun settled the rest of the way down. Todd knew he they had to get home. Slowly they headed from the woods back to the highway. The Ranger stations were all closed for the night. Neither of their phones had service to call out to report what they had found.

Todd was more concerned with the condition of Vanessa, who he could tell was not doing well mentally. Although his findings were serious. Vanessa was his main concern. After finally returning home, he made sure she was okay. As they eased into bed that night. Vanessa was restless. Todd could tell she was still in shock. So, he spent the rest of the night easing her to sleep.

The next morning Todd slowly eased up out of bed. Trying not to wake Vanessa who had just fallen asleep not quite an hour before the sun started to rise. The events from their hike had left her terribly upset. Todd had spent the whole night comforting her to the point she could finally rest. He eased into the kitchen to sit down at the counter. He knew the right thing to do was contact the sheriff’s office or the ranger station, but his curiosity made him want to check it out on his own.

He pondered over the idea as he sipped his morning coffee. He finally decided he would go back by himself. Just in case the situation was not as bad as his mind led him to believe. Although the idea of leaving Vanessa behind bothered him. He knew she needed the rest, and that she had already been traumatized enough. If what he might find was as bad as he thought it might be. He did not want her to suffer through anymore.

Todd leaned in and kissed Vanessa on her forehead as she laid there sleeping. He whispered he loved her softly then headed to the door. Not to shock her with his lack of presence when she awoke. He had left her a note telling her he had some arrands to run, that he wanted her to rest. So, he would take care of everything and be home that afternoon.

Todd knew he needed to move fast. So that his adventure would not take him long. As he made his drive back to the trails. He carefully planned out everything he needed to do. As he grew closer to arriving, he became more anxious. Not knowing exactly what he was going to come across. He was filled with anxiety as well as excitement in fulfilling his curiosity.

As he arrived, he thought to himself one last time whether what he was doing was right or wrong. Todd pulled up and parked. Removed everything he needed from the truck. Then he took off down the trail. Looking for the opening to that field again. The thought of Vanessa crossed his mind. Wondering if she was resting well. He could not get it off his mind just how upset she had become.

Todd finally arrived back to the clearing, only to find himself shocked. Everything was gone. The tent was no longer in the distance. Thinking to himself that maybe the wind had blown it over. He continued to walk towards where it originally rested. To his surprise he found that everything was gone. The sight was completely clean. Not even remnants of the campfire remained.

Completely puzzled Todd closely examined the spot one last time. He finally noticed a set of boot prints. Although his gut told him to just leave it be. He decided to continue his investigation. He followed the boot prints to the other side of the clearing and off into the woods. This area was one he was unfamiliar with. It was not part of the normal hiking trails him and Vanessa would walk. Todd thought to himself one last time that he should turn around. His curiosity on the other hand told him to continue.

After walking more then a mile, the prints had led him to the remnants of an old farmhouse. Due to the condition of the home. He could tell that no one could possibly reside inside. He continued searching the area. he came across an old barn. By the looks of its condition, he was amazed it was still standing. Todd slowly stepped to the doors of the old barn. Grabbing the old handles to give them a tug.

When he tugged the doors, they swung open. Upon opening the doors, he had managed to spook an old barn owl. The barn owl took flight, causing Todd to fall backwards from fright. After realizing that he was safe. He continued to slowly make his way into the barn. He found nothing inside the old barn to his disappointment. He took one last look around before turning to go back.

Todd made the long walk back to the truck still puzzled. Wondering how everything could just vanish without a trace. How there were no signs at all from the day before. Once he reached the truck, he was completely exhausted. The lack of rest from the night before, mixed in with the mental exhaustion of still not having answers. Todd started the drive back home to Vanessa.

Seeing that it was still rather early. He decided to stop for breakfast. He quicky grabbed what he needed and finished his drive home. He pulled into the driveway and shut the truck off. Taking a minute to regain his thoughts before walking inside. As he stepped into the front door Vanessa met him with a look of surprise. Vanessa told Todd to quickly put everything down on the counter and come to the living room. Confused Todd did as Vanessa asked.

As he walked into the living room Vanessa pointed at the news that was currently on television. Todd proceeded to sit down on the couch and put his arm around her. It was currently on commercial, so Todd still had no idea what had her so worked up. He was glad to see her in a better mindset then night before. He wanted to tell her what he had discovered, but first he wanted to see what she had to show him.

Finally, the news came back on as she told him to look. On the news was a video of the tent. Along with the story of what had happened. The man who had been camping there met an untimely demise with a curious mountain lion. For the safety of hikers and campers. The mountain lion was tracked and put down. Todd thought back to the tracks he had spotted right before Vanessa had gotten panicked. Along with the destruction of the tent. The spots of blood.

It dawned on him that someone else must have noticed it yesterday. It just took some time for them to get everything cleaned up. Seeing as how the area was off the trail. Todd figured that local law enforcement did not think to tape off the area. figuring it was to keep travelers from freaking out over the incident. After all, who would want to continue using the trails if they had to fear for their lives?

It all made sense to Todd. Everything finally added up. Feeling relieved, but sad. Todd began to tell Vanessa the trip he had made earlier. How when he arrived, everything was gone. How he had continued to search. How he had found the old farmhouse and the barn behind it. When he finished his story, Vanessa looked at him with a face of disappointment.

Vanessa told him that although she was upset that he had made the trip back alone. She was happy that he was alright. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged his neck. Telling him to never venture off like that alone again. He softly kissed her lips and agreed. Todd was glad to have his curiosity put to rest. After all, that is not something you stumble across every day.

After everything was done and settled. Todd thought to himself one more time about that little adventure. How everything added up except for one small detail. Why were there only one single set of boot prints leading off into the woods to the old farmhouse? Shouldn’t there of been more if they were searching the area? Most importantly, why did they stop at the old farmhouse? Maybe some things in life are better left unanswered. After all, Curiosity killed the cat.