1 Terror on the hiking trail

My father was a seasoned hunter and an expert hiker, I was into it but I was never as good as him.

When he passed away we were all devastated but more so his hiking group, it was touching to see so many people come to pay their respects to someone as simple and normal as my dad but apparently, he was very popular and more than good in his hobby.

I learned that he even saved lost hikers a couple of times and every story I heard I got into it even more to the point that I wanted to try and give it another shot. It does feel kind of bad that I got this new hype for hiking now that my dad is gone but I'm sure if he saw me now he would be happy, he wasn't a bitter man and he never imposed his hobbies on my sister and me, was actually very open to us doing our own thing.

My vacation was coming soon and I planned to take a couple of days off to go on my first hike, wanted to take my kids with me but I'd rather go on a few trips by myself to try and be more familiar with how things are done. Got a few places where my dad used to go, he detailed how to get to the best places and how to traverse them in such a way that it sounds like a travel pamphlet.

I went on my trip to see if I have what it takes to do this on my own, I'm bringing my dad's journal to, let's say "cheat" my way into trying to become an expert hiker. After a few hours, it seemed simple enough thanks to the journal and remembering what dad taught me years ago kicking in overdrive I finally reached one of the places he marked and I have to say that the view was worth it.

I couldn't sleep; as much as I wanted to I wasn't as prepared as I thought I would be for all of nature's sounds and everything that goes on at night. The sky was clear and beautiful but I was very comfy inside my tent and watching it transition from the safety of my anti-bug mesh.

The next day I was on my way back when I stumbled into a deer. God, it was so beautiful but scary at the same time. You see them on tv or at the zoo or on some guy's video on Instagram but you'd never expect to actually see one face to face. We started looks for a bit and it went on its way. I gasped as if I was holding my breath, it felt like that scene in Jurassic Park where Alan Grant says "keep very still, their vision is based on movement" I know that isn't the case but that's what my brain threw at me at that moment so, you work with what you get.

As I made my way through, I noticed it was going to rain soon, and it doesn't take an expert to know that hiking and raining sometimes aren't the best of scenarios, especially if it's getting dark.

At almost 6 pm I was starting to feel a bit nervous, I didn't know if I was going to make it to where my dad pointed as "campsite" so, to be safe and not to push my luck I decided to make camp for the night and have a good rest, the idea at the time was to pack and go at first light.

As I expected, it started to rain. For a moment you could just close your eyes and feel as if the world around you disappeared and it was just you and Mother Nature. Kind of poetic.

At one point I fell asleep, I was expecting to wake up at dawn but a couple of hours in I felt uneasy and opened my eyes, I don't know if it was instinct but I truly felt something was out of place.

As I gained my composure, I was hearing something walking by my tent. I had every light turned off because I didn't want to spook whatever it was outside and having it destroy my stuff so, I let it be... I did notice that there was a strong smell coming from whatever it was. I went back to sleep thinking it was the deer I ran into.

Morning finally came and as I was leaving the tent the bad feeling I had was right, there was something outside walking by but the prints it left weren't that of a deer, these were feet… not hooves.

I wanted to take a picture to show folks back home but couldn't help but notice that these feet look deformed… not to mention claw marks on some of the trees around me. My initial response was to pack up and leave; whatever it was, it didn't want me here.

A few hours pass and I was sure I was heading in the right direction but couldn't help but notice a dreadful smell in the air and the more I walked the more intense it got; As I was coming down the path I saw what was making the stench… it was the deer. It was torn apart and scattered all over the place. I knew it was the deer because there was a shattered antler on the ground… another thing that caught my attention was the same claw marks on the trees, they looked like the ones that were on the trees at my campsite.

The only thing that I could think of at the time was that a bear did it since they are known for scratching up trees. Anyway, I didn't want to stick around for whatever did this to find me and make me its next meal.

At one point it started to rain, the best thing I could do was wet up a quick camp and rest. Being walking for hours with a lit flashlight to no rest since I last saw the deer and I should know better. An amateur like me shouldn't do more than what I'm used to since I'm no expert or even used to this, so I decided to rest, dry up, and continue in the morning. I should be able to make it tomorrow by 5 pm.

I fell asleep at one point, the rain was still pouring in. Couldn't help but thinking of my dad and what did he do out here by himself or with his buddies? Did he share campfire stories? Or simply be in awe at nature. We surround ourselves with technology almost every minute of our lives that we take for granted everything else that is at our disposal.

The rain suddenly had a new meaning to me as well at the night sky. I know it's the same sky that I see back home but you get the true sense of the beauty of it all when there are no more sounds other than what you come up with in the wilderness.

But like all things, it can easily be taken away... After a few hours, I heard something outside my tent, light footsteps as if it didn't want to be noticed. But after what I've seen, my senses were as paranoid as ever. All of the sudden, I heard what was the most chilling voice.

- I know you're in there... I could smell you... since you first took your first steps inside my woods... and what a fascinating smell you have... so... refreshing.

It gave me a cold sweat down my spine that made me crawl to the back of the tent as fast as I could. It sounded like a person, but the growling... it couldn't be a person, I thought to myself. I recognize the foul stench, then it hit me... this thing followed me the entire time.

- I don't get many visitors in my woods... it's so... exhilarating... Since you're... not going anywhere, I'll make sure to enjoy every moment... We'll see each other again...

That thing started to smell near the tent's entrance... it was so creepy and unsettling.

- So... exquisite... so... mine.

And just like that, it disappeared. I couldn't sleep at all... once the rain finished everything was silent. There was no wind, no insects, or even a frog croaking somewhere as if everything suddenly went out.

As dawn was coming up, I had the courage to get out with a knife in my hand... I was shaking out of my mind as I didn't know if that thing was still outside. But since it was all clear, I ran to pack up everything and leave.

I walked on and on without looking back only to realize that it has been hours since I left the campsite, panic had me on autopilot so much that I lost sight of where I was going. That's when my "Oh shit" moment came into play... I dropped my dad's journal. My maps and notes were in that journal, I was in every sense of the word... lost.

I frantically started to look for something, my phone, anything to help me figure out where I was; I could retrace my steps but... how can I go back if I can't even remember where I came from ?. I had no choice; I had to go somewhere... I knew I had to be close to either the main road or a ranger outlook. I thought to myself that those things can be seen from afar so I went into the direction where the ground was highest so I can take a closer look as to where should I go.

After a couple of hours, I was feeling tired; I haven't had anything to eat since I was more occupied with finding someplace safe or the main road. But as luck would have it, I did manage to find that outpost and I never climbed a flight of stairs with more energy in my life.

The place looked like your typical ranger outpost, it had supplies, flashlights, and a map but what really caught my eye was what looked like a radio. I quickly ran towards it tried to operate the thing but couldn't get it to work, never operated one of these in my life but I managed to get it on. There was a board on the wall next to it with what I could gather to be frequencies or channels, like I said; I was no expert on these things.

After mumbling for a couple of minutes I managed to get everything on and tried to broadcast to anyone.

- Hello? Is there anybody out there?

After a few seconds, someone responded to my surprise.

- Hey! Who is this?

- Hi! My name's Jake! I got lost and found this outpost out here in the woods! Are you a Park Ranger?

- Yes! Sir, Are you all right? Can you please tell me where you are? If you're in one of our outposts there should be a map right next to the entrance with the outpost number, please go look for it and come back for us to pinpoint your location.

- Ok, I'll go check, hold on a bit.

I went to the entrance and saw what the ranger asked to look at... it read "Outpost C5"

- Ok, I'm here, can you hear me?

- Yes! Can you tell us the outpost number?

- Yes, yes! It's "Outpost C5".

After what sounded like a long pause the ranger responded.

- Um... Say that again sir?

- It read "Outpost C5".

After another long pause, the ranger responded.

- Sir... I'll contact you in a couple of minutes, I'm getting my supervisor.

Estranged, I asked

- Sure, no problem... is there something wrong?

There was no response for a couple of minutes until a more mature voice came on.

- Hello, Jake was it? This is Ranger Mathew. Son, can you repeat the outpost ID for me?

- Yes... It said "Outpost C5"

After a long sigh, the man spoke.

- Son, listen to me very carefully... we can't get to you at this time, best we can do is to get up there by tomorrow morning. We aren't as close as you might think, you are a bit far off by more than 5 miles but... it is dangerous for anyone of my men to go at this time while the sun is setting...

I looked in disbelief as the man continued

- Now, I don't know how on earth you got there, that trail usually is off to the general public but none the less there you are... That being said, if you made it that far then listen to me, in that desk there is a drawer... inside there is a series of guides that god willing will help you make it 'till morning until we come to get you. Whatever you do... DON'T go out after the sun sets... whatever you hear, whoever you hear... stay where you are until morning. Did I make myself clear Mr. Jake?

- Yes but, can't you just make a quick exception and make a run for me?.

- Listen, son, If you're there, I know that you saw it... I'm sorry but I won't risk my men at this time, it's just too dangerous. Please, read the guidelines found in the drawer... this will be our last communication until morning, it's attracted to sound and light... God's speed son. Ranger Mathew out.

After that, it was just static.

There was a bit of daylight left so I hurried to check every drawer to look for these "guides" that the ranger told me; I was frustrated and pissed that they couldn't come and get me, but the reality then came and realized that they admitted to knowing about the thing that was stalking me.

Finally found them, it was a small notebook. I opened it and there was a handwritten section that said the following:

"If you're reading this, then you are aware that you're being hunted... Follow these simple steps and it might save your life until morning. The creature that stalks you is what we call a "wendigo", don't bother in trying to explain to yourself how or why it exists but right now you must worry about making it through the night. So follow these very crucial steps:

1. If you start to smell an intense but foul odor, run as fast as you can to any place you can hide.

2. If you're already in a "safe place" don't make a sound, they are very sensitive to noises.

3. It has poor eyesight, if you stand perfectly still it may pass you by.

4. If you hear a voice, whatever or whoever it may sound like, don't reveal yourself; It uses sounds and mimics voices to lure you out.

5. There's a knife in this very drawer, a very unique one that can hurt the wendigo, use it only in an emergency situation where you have no choice but to defend yourself. If that's the case, strike the heart, It won't kill it but it will do enough damage for it to retreat and leave you alone for the night.

6. Don't take the knife with you, it is of value to us and it might save another camper's life in the future.

If you follow these steps, you might survive; remember at all times that this thing will try to kill and eat you, the best of luck."

I grabbed the knife, it looked kind of old but had engravings on it, it isn't a shotgun but it'll do. I scoffed at the notion that all of this was real, it couldn't be... can it? I thought to myself, this thing or creature sounds like a supernatural being. It could be just a figure of my imagination that I'm supersizing a bear or a wolf and my mind overwhelmed by this place gave it a horrific and ungodly figure.

I was tired and was dozing on and off; there was a small bed on the side of the outpost but before I would go to sleep I made sure that everything was locked or at least put something on the door handle...

As night came, I turned every light off as a precaution and tried to get some sleep; I felt safer on this structure than I would be in a flimsy tent in the middle of nowhere, the hours passed and every time I tried to fall asleep I woke up. After a while, I started to feel the temperature getting lower and lower, as well as it started to rain; couldn't help the feeling that something was wrong or out of place. The wind was picking fast yet it howled like a dying wolf.

What caught my attention a few minutes later was again the horrible smell... the stench of something rotting got closer and closer follow by slow dragging footsteps coming up the structure stairwell; That's when I knew it was here, that thing found me.

I could hear it slowly pacing up the stairs snarling like a rabid dog... but it sounded so unnatural. And then a loud thump right behind me finally reached the top. It started sniffing out in the air, so It must be somewhat blind like it said on the paper.

- I know you're in here... I can smell your sweat... refreshing.

A distorted voice said.

- No need to hide... I've been savoring your meat for a while... don't make it harder for yourself.

My initial thoughts were on how this thing speaks, I placed my hands on my mouth trying to muffle my breathing so this thing won't find me...

- Surrender your flesh... to me... I promise to make it quick, but only if you show yourself... but I must find you... well... I'll get very excited.

I was scared out of my mind... what seemed like minutes felt like hours... it was tall, looked somewhat deformed... very skinny as if it was starving for ages.... but the head.... slobbering face... it looked like a skull but with dogs teeth...

As I was contemplating this thing it happened, my foot got lose and I kicked unwillingly the chair next to where I was and just before I could blink I felt a strong grip on my neck with such force I couldn't even gasp... it slowly lifted me up in the air as if I was nothing...

- There you are...

I noticed that it doesn't move its jaw when it spoke... this thing's voice was in my head.

Everything changed until I felt a new sensation in my shoulder... this thing jabbed me with its claws... I couldn't even scream, the tight grip on my neck couldn't even let me breathe... I could manage to look and it started to have a taste of my blood... I was starting to daze off... either was shock from the stab or from the grip... it didn't matter, it was going to be over soon.

- That's it... close your eyes... don't fight... you will be a part... of me.

It started to open its jaws and I could smell its putrid breath on my face... it was going to eat me... as a reflex from the terror I felt... for one split second I remembered I had the knife in my other hand... and as a last-ditch effort, I stabbed it wherever it landed... I jabbed it multiple times while this thing was hollowing in pain... until it let go of my neck.

I heard was a brush of wind but couldn't see much else or have the strength to stay conscious; I was too tired to put up a fight and simply was fading into black.

The next day I woke up in a stretcher, 2 men were pulling me into what I could guess was an ambulance. They started to talk to me but I couldn't make up anything they were saying, too tired and too wounded to try and do anything at that point. It didn't matter to me if I was going to die, my thoughts of home, my wife, and kids were all that I wanted to think of at that moment.

Before I started to write this, I spent a couple of weeks in the hospital; what I assumed were the rangers who helped me to go on record that what I suffered was a cougar attack. I kept thinking, did my dad ever encounter this thing? After searching online for what it was, the only thing that has a match from what I could read is that it was a wendigo. As far as I could tell, I'm lucky to be alive.

These days have been strange at best... I've been getting these hallucinations, where I'm constantly seeing this thing, over and over again; I'm having trouble sleeping at night because of the nightmares.

A strange but all too familiar smell has been appearing in our bedroom recently, if anything happens to me or my family, I hope that whoever reads this know that these creatures are real, they live among us and they will come after you if they don't get you the first time.