by Tobias Wade
“Julie’s dead. I—I saw her body,” Max says. “That thing tore her throat out.”
“Oh, god,” I groan. Even though it’s too dark to see anything, I squeeze my eyes shut. Unwanted images flash through my mind. Images of my friends lying dead and deformed in the forest. “What about the others? Did you see anyone else?”
I feel her shake her head then she says no. “I think we’re the only ones left,” she tells me. “We have to get out of here.”
“I can’t. My ankle’s broken,” I confess.
“Oh, Alex,” Max moans. Her hands slide down my body until she reaches my ankle. I cry out in pain when her fingers touch the bone sticking out of my leg. “I’ll help you. Come on, let’s get you to your feet.”
She heaves me up. I sway as unconsciousness threatens to envelop me again. “I can’t put pressure on it,” I gasp.
“You’ll have to,” Max says. “We’re dead if we don’t get out of here.”
A twig snaps to our left.
“I think we’re dead anyway,” I say. With tears pouring down my face, I shove Max away. “There’s no use in both of us dying. Get out of here, Max. Save yourself.”
“I won’t leave you,” Max protests.
Another twig snaps, closer than the last.
“You’ll die if you stay.”
“Alex…”
“Go, Max. If you get out, you can warn others not to come here. No one else has to die.”
“Alex, I—“ Max hugs me. “I’m sorry.” She turns and flees, hopefully not looking back to see if the wendigo is following.
I lean against a tree. A branch pokes me in the back and I turn to pry it off. Smaller, leaf-filled twigs poke my hands, but I don’t care. I take the pocketknife out of my jeans and whittle one end of the branch into a sharp point as best as I can manage in the dark. A pocketknife may not be any good against a wendigo, but a long, sharp branch will certainly slow it down.
I don’t see it step out from behind a tree. Not even the stars can be seen this deep in the forest. But I feel it—a presence standing in front of me.
“I’m not afraid of you,” I say, trying—and failing—to sound brave.
A moaning growl sends shivers down my spine. I recall Max’s story. Ahanu had said he was hungry. Max had said wendigos had an insatiable desire for human flesh. No matter how much they ate, it was never enough.
With a cry, I suddenly strike out with the branch. It sails through empty air. I flail it all around, trying desperately to stab the creature. When the branch doesn’t make contact with anything I scream in frustration. I know the wendigo is near but my makeshift spear doesn’t hit it.
The creature crashes into my side, sending me sprawling to the ground. Somehow, I manage to hold onto the branch. I stab out as I fall. The branch strikes something and the creature screams in pain. A smile spreads across my face. All breath is knocked from my lungs when I land. I lie on the ground, gasping for air, and sparks dancing across my vision from the pain in my foot.
Then the creature is on me. Fire spreads across my shoulder as the wendigo bites into me. I scream when its mouth tears at my stomach. I bury the tip of the spear in the wendigo’s side. The creature roars and claws at my arm. Flesh and muscles rip. My arm falls uselessly at my side.
In a blind fury, the monster slashes at my prone body with its clawed hands. Pain erupts all over, searing hot one moment and numbing cold the next. My voice cracks with relentless screams. Tears cascade down my face.
The last thing I hear before the creature bears down on my throat is one word uttered in a guttural voice:
“Hungry.”
AJ Horvath
Imagination
Mary ran into the room where her daughter, dwarfed by her new “big girl” bed, sat straight up shrieking in terror. Mary grabbed her screaming daughter and held her close, “Honey, it’s okay. Shhh. Shhh. It’s okay.” It was like Lily didn’t see her. She stared straight ahead at the foot of her bed. Holding her daughter at arm’s length, she took in the small girl. Her blonde hair was mussed and cold sweat ran in rivulets down her face. She was pale and cold but the scariest part was her eyes. They did not see Mary; the blue eyes stared off as if in another world. They were wide and filled with fear. Shaking Lily gently, Mary spoke sternly, “Baby girl, wake up. It is just a dream.” She tried this a few more times until finally the little girl rubbed her eyes.
“M-mommy, what are you doing in here? Is everything okay?” the small girl asked, her voice hoarse from the screaming that had been occurring for the past ten minutes.
“You don’t remember, baby? You woke me up because you were screaming.” Mary explained, gently stroking her daughters head.
“I just remember the two men.” She answered leaning into her mother. “Two men?” she asked, her body jolted by fear.
“Yeah mommy. They were big and tall, they were all black like the shadows in Peter Pan, but they weren’t funny like Peter’s was,” she told her mother nonchalantly. “I don’t like them. They make me feel funny,” she added with a frown.
“Well baby girl they aren’t here anymore and mommy will protect you. Go back to sleep sweetheart. You have school in the morning,” she said to Lily, who was already starting to fall back asleep in her mother’s arms. Spending a few precious moments with her daughter was just what Mary needed to calm down from the strange turn of events of the past hour. With a four-year-old life didn’t slow down very often. Gently repositioning her daughter in her bed, Mary kissed her softly on the forehead and made her way to the door. Turning at the doorway, she paused her hand over the light switch, hesitating, still haunted by the little girl’s mention of the two shadow men. Kids, she chuckled to herself, trying to make herself feel better. The laugh came out strangled, but she hit the light switch and made her way back to her bedroom, exhausted from the long day at work. Hitting her pillow, she closed her eyes and fell into a deep slumber.
The alarm came too early for Mary as she dragged herself from the warmth of her bed. Walking on autopilot she made her way to the bathroom, stopping in front of the mirror to take in her worn-out reflection. Her dirty blond hair showed a restless sleep and the bags under her eyes seemed to be weighed down more than usual. Rubbing her face, she walked over to the shower, turning the knob to warm up the water, the joys of third floor apartment living. Walking down the hall, she popped her head into her daughter’s room to find the small girl still asleep, an angel if she had ever seen one. Smiling to herself, she made her way back to the bathroom, removed her clothes and let the warm stream of water ease her aching muscles. Being a single mom was tough, working double shifts at the local diner just to make ends meet. Her morning shower was one of the best moments of the day, topped only by the evening hour or two she got to spend with her daughter Lily before she had to go to bed. Breaking from her shower reverie, she quickly dressed and decided, after looking at the clock, that she would let her hair air dry today. Walking quickly towards Lily’s room, she found the small girl awake and talking with her favorite teddy bear, Mr. Huggins. “Good morning baby girl. How are you feeling?” she asked, noticing the bags under her small daughter’s eyes.
“I’m okay. Just sleepy. Mr. Huggins says he wants to go to school with me today to protect me,” she responded, holding the teddy bear close.
“What a gentleman,” Mary said, the dark memory of last night breaking through her morning haze. “Just for today, but he needs to stay in your backpack during school, okay?” Mary allowed. “Let’s get you ready.”
Allowing Lily to pick out her outfit, the two made their way to the bathroom to brush her blonde bed head. Finishing up their morning hygiene ritual, the two made their way out the door and into the busy city street. Mary kept a closer than usual eye on her daughter as they joined the constant flow of people on their way to their various destinations. The strange event from last night still fresh in Mary’s mind, she kept Lily close. The two made it to Lily’s scho
ol without incident, which also served as her daycare as Mary typically worked longer than the standard work shift. Lily ran up the stairs, turning at the top to give her mother a big grin and an exaggerated wave that filled Mary’s heart with love and fueled her for the day. Watching her disappear behind the large oak door, Mary set her sights on the next three-block walk to the diner that she had called her second home for the past five years. Coming in the back door of the homey diner, she smiled at Tony, the large chef that cooked all the stick to your ribs comfort food that the locals craved.
“Hey Mary, looking good as usual,” he called out, saluting her with his flat spatula. “You too Tony,” she said laughing. She could look like hell and Tony would still compliment her; it was something she always liked about that sweet, teddy bear of a guy. Coming out of the kitchen, she saw Shari taking an order down the counter from a handsome young man with a scruffy beard. She turned after writing down his order and met eyes with Mary, smiling she fanned herself in reference to the handsome man down the counter. Mary laughed, “Hi Shari, looks like a good morning so far, huh?” She winked as she tied the apron around her waist and grabbed her order pad.
The day flew by and Mary’s feet ached as she finished her shift. She tiredly removed her apron and set out to pick up Lily. Mary’s eyes lit up as she saw her smiling daughter come out of the school. Her bright blue eyes were ablaze with youthful joy and love for her mother; Mary could feel it and it filled her with such happiness. The little girl skipped down the stairs and leapt into her mother’s arms, embracing her as tightly as her four-year-old arms could. Reveling in the warmth of her hug, Mary put her at arm's length and said, “You ready to go home?”
“Yeah,” Lily answered enthusiastically, “Can we have chicken nuggets for dinner?”
“We just had those this past weekend,” Mary argued playfully. “Puh-lease” Lily begged with her eyes wide, lip protruding slightly. “I don’t know,” Mary said with a false apprehension. “Oh, come on, Mom. Please,” Lily begged further. Sighing, “Oh I guess so,” Mary relented. “Yay,” Lily exclaimed, dancing in the sidewalk as they made their way home through the street.
Heading home, the sidewalks were much less crowded and Mary found herself letting Lily have a bit more freedom than in the morning. She enjoyed watching Lily spin and explore on the remaining two blocks to their small apartment. Lily raced up the stairs to their front door and Mary’s feet slowed her down as she followed behind. “I wish I could bottle up some of that energy,” Mary thought to herself.
Lily ran to the living room and turned on the television, the annoyingly catchy tunes of Daniel Tiger blared in the apartment. Mary kicked off her shoes and set her purse on the bench, getting up with great effort. Walking wearily, Mary opened the freezer and grabbed the bag of chicken nuggets and set the oven to preheat at 350 degrees. With a groan, Mary bent and pulled out the baking tray, the other trays clanking as she freed it from the cupboard. Dumping the rest of the bag on to the tray, Mary sat while she waited for the oven to indicate it was ready. She closed her eyes and tried her best to meditate and clear her mind. She was interrupted almost immediately by the beep indicating the oven was ready to receive the nuggets. Putting the food in, she set the timer for ten minutes and sat back down, hoping to relax for a few moments while dinner cooked. Her meditation was going well, her breathing slow and deep, but suddenly her chest tightened as the image of two dark man-like shapes entered her mind's eye. Already on edge, the sharp tone of the timer made her jump and she shakily retrieved the pan and set about getting the paper plates and ketchup for their dinner.
Lily ate with gusto, eating more ketchup than nuggets. Mary ate like a bird, barely finishing a handful of nuggets, her mind still plagued by thoughts of the shadow men. The rest of the night went by in a blur and bedtime came quickly for the two. Lily put up her usual fight and Mary hardly had the energy to get the girl through her night time routine. Teeth brushed and pajamas on, Lily ran and leapt into her bed, Mr. Huggins in her arms.
“Mommy, will you stay with me until I fall asleep,” she asked, her eyes showing a slight fear. “Sure baby,” Mary replied, gently stroking her head. Sleep came quickly for Lily and Mary got up, joints creaking and protesting her every move. Like a zombie, Mary haphazardly got ready for bed. She was practically asleep when her head hit the pillow, all thoughts of the day forgotten.
Mary leapt up from her bed, her feet taking her to Lily’s room before her brain really realized she was awake. The scene was exactly the same as last night. Lily, hair mussed and feathery, sweat dripping, mouth in an O of terror, eyes wide, screaming at the top of her lungs.
Mary’s eyes swept the room, expecting to find the men her daughter had been screaming about, but there was nothing. After a few minutes, Lily calmed down enough and fell back into a deep sleep, her energy depleted from the trauma of this night’s encounter. Mary went over to the windows, locked and secure, but she just had to check. The closet was also clear, well, as clear as one could be with a four-year-old. Her games, play clothes, and dolls covered the interior with her clothes hanging neatly above. Mary checked the window again, just to make sure, shaking it in its frame without the slightest movement. Slowly Mary made her way back to her bedroom, before turning around and setting herself up in the rocking chair that was left over from Lily’s nursery set up. It wasn’t comfortable but it gave her some comfort being right near Lily. She fell into a fitful sleep and awoke as the light of dawn peeked through Lily’s window.
Calling into work, Mary thanked Tony for being so understanding and told him to get Jana, the waitress on duty for pulling a double. Lily was her first priority. Ever since Lily’s father left them, Lily was all she had. She had sacrificed everything to bring her into this world and she would do everything she could to keep her safe.
Mary set the phone down and took a sip of her coffee. She needed to call the doctor next, but needed to wait until they opened at nine. Lily walked into the kitchen, rubbing sleep from her eyes, Mr. Huggins hanging from her hand.
“Mommy…?” she questioned as she made her way towards Mary. “Yes, baby girl? How are you feeling?” Mary replied, pulling her daughter up on her lap.
“I’m just sleepy. Can we have smiley pancakes?” she asked with a grin. “Smiley pancakes!” Mary exclaimed, smiling at her daughter. “I guess so. Why don’t you pick out your clothes while I make them? We’re going to have a mommy-daughter day today.”
“Really?” Lily exclaimed, her eyes going wide as she looked at her mother.
“Yes, we are, but you gotta get dressed first. I will get the pancakes started,” Mary replied, watching her daughter practically race to her room, Mr. Huggins trailing behind her.
Going to the fridge Mary grabbed out the milk, butter, and eggs, setting them on the counter. The rest of the ingredients were easy to grab as pancakes were one of Lily’s favorite foods. The smiley pancakes stared up at Lily as she settled into her seat. Her smile matched the one on the plate.
“Eat up baby girl,” Mary said as she grabbed her phone and dialed the doctor’s office. Luckily, they had an opening that afternoon, so Mary cleaned up the breakfast dishes and Lily squealed with excitement as they headed to the park to play before the appointment.
“All right Lily, open your mouth up real wide and stick out your tongue for me,” Dr. Johnston said, shining the light down the little girl’s throat. “Thank you, Lily, you have done awesome. Mommy and I need to talk, nurse Amanda will take you to the prize chest for being such a good patient, okay?” Dr. Johnston said to Lily’s joy. She grabbed the nurse’s hand and practically pulled her out of the room.
“Well she certainly seems healthy by the looks of that,” Mary laughed, trying to lessen the tension that had been building in her chest.
“I would have to say so,” Dr. Johnston said, looking down at her chart. “She appears completely healthy, no issues physically that I can find; however, I do think she may be experiencing night te
rrors. Night terrors are when a person may scream, have intense fear, or may even flail or sleepwalk unintentionally. They have no idea they are doing it, and like you said she wakes up with little to no recollection. I would recommend you take her to a psychologist just to make sure there isn’t anything else. Many young kids get night terrors and then they go away after a period of time. My daughter had them for two years and then they just stopped. They are scary and I understand why you wanted to have her checked out. I will put a referral out to Dr. Miller and have her office contact you to set up an appointment tomorrow. Does that sound okay to you, Mary?” she asked.
“Oh yes, thank you so much. It has just been so hard doing this on my own since her dad left. She is all I got, and I hate to see her dealing with this even if she doesn’t really remember it that much,” Mary said shaking the doctor’s hand.
Making her way to the waiting room, Lily smiled up at her mom with a small plastic ring on her hand. “Look at my new ring Mommy. I got it from the prize chest!” she exclaimed, waving her hand around frantically.
“That is quite lovely Lily. Why don’t we head out and go home? I am exhausted. What do you say we order pizza and have a girl’s night?” Mary asked as they headed out of the doctor’s office.
“Pizza!” Lily exclaimed, “Can we watch Bambi, oh and will you paint my toes? Oh, and can we have popcorn,” Lily rambled on and on. Mary just nodded and laughed at her daughter’s antics. When they got home, Lily ran to her room returning with her arms filled with blankets, half of them trailing on the floor behind her. “Come on Mommy, let’s cuddle while we wait for the pizza.” Lily said, patting the couch. Never one to dismiss a cuddle request, Mary made her way over and burrowed into the blankets with Lily. After watching Bambi and finishing a medium pizza from Formaggio’s, Mary had painted Lily’s toes blue, her current favorite color. Lily’s eyes drooped as she tried to convince Mary to watch just one more movie, but Mary didn’t have to fight long as Lily passed out just minutes after. Mary carefully carried Lily and the mound of blankets back to her room. Laying her down gently, Mary laid the blankets over her, making sure she was properly covered. Mary thought about sleeping in the rocking chair again but her back was killing her and the doctor had said episodes like this were common. A niggling sense of fear ate at her, but her tiredness and sore back won out and she made her way to her room. She peeled off her clothes from the day and jumped into her pajamas. She was asleep before she hit the pillow, her last thought was of Lily.
