3 Chapter 2: House In The Woods

After half an hour of walking around in the woods, I'd mark down everything I could, even drawing a small route on a piece of paper I brought along. I had to make sure to be careful as deer season was starting. To some hunters, that wood-tale never bothered them or they never believed it. After another half-hour in these woods, I stumbled across an old worn out log cabin. I made sure to mark it on the paper and walked towards it.

As I walked up the stairs of the porch, it made a loud creaking noise that made me flinch. I never enjoyed any creaking noises of any kind. But after all that, I give a few knocks at the door

"Is anyone in there?" I asked. I heard nothing and peaked through the window that was right next to the door. It looked empty on the inside but I didn't want to break into an old house and get in trouble.

As I turned around, I almost fell on my back as I saw someone on the first step of the porch. They start to walk up the porch and lends out a hand to me. I grabbed it and they helped me back up.

"Sorry for being on your property," I exclaimed to them.

They chuckle, "Nothin' to be sorry about. Just some curious kid checkin' out an old home." I looked at them and noticed it was an elderly lady, looking around to be in her eighties.

"Why do you live in the middle of these woods?" I asked her.

"I always love this forest. 'Em rumors ain't gonna stop me from livin' in these woods."

"And you live all by yourself?"

She shakes her head, "My husband is around here somewhere collectin' wood."

"Does he know about the tale?"

"Just like everyone else in this town."

I couldn't help but chuckle, "You can say that again. No one in this town doesn't know about the folks-tale."

She smiled at me and walked past me as she opened the door, "Care to come in? I know it a bit old 'n rusted but it's somethin'."

I shake my head, "No thank you. I have something else to do before I can rest."

She nods at me and chuckles, "You're out lookin' to see if 'em tales are real, aren't you?"

I nod, "How did you know?"

"Not too many people wander in here that don't wear 'em huntin' jackets and rifles."

"Hunting season is starting soon."

"It's annoying these times of days. Always gotta hear 'em gun fire every second of the day."

"Must be rough heaving to sleep through that?"

"Not when one of us starts firing at 'em. That'll show 'em to stay away from our land."

"They do get annoying after a few years of hunting."

"Don't mind me askin', what's your name?"

"I'm Gariga, and you?"

"The name's Bosques."

"It was nice talking to you Bosques, but I need to head back before night falls," I say as I turn to leave.

"It was nice talkin' to you too. Be safe now and be careful of 'em hunters."

"I'll make sure to not be like any of those deer." We both exchange a chuckle as I wave at her and start to walk back to the town.

Another hour goes by as I finally make it back to the town and see my papa's police car in our driveway. I set down the backpack behind one of the trees before walking in. Papa was sitting on the couch, knocked out, and still in his uniform. I rub his shoulder slowly, trying to get him up. He didn't.

I thought for a moment and decided to run to get my backpack. When I got to it, I heard something run off and saw that it was opened. I looked inside and saw nothing was taken. I zipped up my pack back up and headed back inside for the night, making sure to lock all the doors.