Chapter 12

A log cabin lies deep in the woods, in an opening found only through some soul searching. A place made from logs of oak, the wood's natural beauty radiated welcome for the travelers who had learned the forest's ways to make it this far. It is a small, one-room cabin lit up by happiness, the glow of which is visible miles away.

Inside, the cabin is cozy, with a fireplace radiating Gratitude's warmth. On one wall is a shelf with a collection of books, each volume in the group representing a stage of life – birth, childhood, teenage years, high school, college, career, etc.

There are two sets of the collection, each book with some pages and others waiting to get filled with the traveler's journey through the woods. In the middle of the cabin lies a bed covered in the softest cotton sheets and covers, inviting the travelers that have journeyed for miles to rest in contentment.

Jack and Rick have never really stepped into these woods, preferring to stay by the banks of the river passing by the woods, playing in the bright sunlight, admiring the glistening white rocks along the river bed.

They have heard about the cabin and people occasionally venturing to the edge of the woods but never entirely stepping in. They never felt the pull of the house calling to them, as many others have, especially since it is the only escape from the bear.

"We need to get out of this woods, Jack; who knows what more surprise visits one can expect?" Rick looked inside the cabin and saw a photo between the floor planks; Jack was placing his ear against the wooden wall to hear if he could hear the bear.

H turned around and noticed Rick staring at a photo, "What is that?"

"Im not sure; it's a picture of an Asian family," but what was it doing here? The date on that photo printed on top was that taken two weeks ago. Thats when Jack noticed a tape-recording camera beneath the bed; he had reached out to pick it up when there was this loud bang.

Rick jumped back as he heard the sound, "what is that?" He hurried to the window; as he looked outside, there were two bears. It was two black bears three feet high, about four hundred pounds; it was as if the bears could smell them on the inside, "this cabin is not strong enough to keep them out." Rick said in a panicking voice.

"If we survive this, I need you to keep level-headed, Rick."

"What do you suggest we do then? This is your brilliant idea, after all."

"How many bullets are in that pistol."

"I haven't used any, so there are still two bullets."

"I thought the pistol was loaded."

"I thought. Also," Rick replied

The bears strolled along the pathway, curious in her relaxed way. She brought the consciousness of the forest with her, the intelligence nature has. In the early light of the day, her fur was the color of a dark sky, and her eyes were black and bright. As it was taller than any man on its legs, he swayed as they watched them through the window.

It reminded Jack of his Grandpa waking after a nap, his brain active in its steady way, and his feet planted firmly on the ground. If he could talk to this bear, he wondered if he would have a voice similar to the caterpillar of Alice in Wonderland.

"What do you want from us?" He yelled out of the window as the bear used its paw and broke the glass; he then pushed his arm through the tiny window with his sharp claw, trying to scratch Jack.

Jack then reached for the bear spray and directly spat it in its eyes; as the bear growled, it pulled its arm out. Jack reacted fast; as soon as the bear pulled out its arm, Jack aimed it at the other bear and sprayed it in its eyes.

The two bears ran off; there were sounds of all sorts of animals around them, we have to cover up this hole, or we will freeze to death.

Jack pickup the two-square meter board that was lying on the floor and maneuvered it between the wood to cover the tiny broken window.

That was the only light they had coming into the dark cabin; if Nicole was not here in the house, there was no way she could survive in the woods; she must be dead long ago if she had been out here.

The night air became colder as the trees shattered against the sinking roof, which could barely hold the rain from entering the cabin. They covered as much leakage as they could. Jack suddenly remembered the tape when first playing it; it was dark like there was just a blank recording; he left it on for longer, and there was footage, it was footage of Nicole. The same Nicole that went missing a few days ago. Rick was standing by the broken window, trying to see if a bear was still around. Rick looked at Jack when he heard the tape-recorded; it was a familiar voice, "Is that Nicole?"

A sense of relief went through Jack, knowing she was alive. Jack said, "Yes, it is her; on the tape. Nicole explained she was lost and was unsure how she ended there; she could not remember what had happened. "Who am I?" She kept saying, "how did I end up here? There are sounds outside," Nicole is around here, "we have to find her. It's evident she has memory loss."

"What if we do not find her? We end up here another day. I can't stay a day longer in these woods." "Jack, do you always have to be such a coward? We will get through this night, and we will go out there looking for her at sunrise."

"Would it not be better to inform our local authorities?"

"If we do that, they might test her; they will find that she was almost murdered since DNA is all over her."

"You have a point." Meanwhile, back at camp, Angela is enjoying her new surroundings; it still hurts that she lost her mother, and she knows her family will no longer be the same, especially after finding out her blood brother is her half-brother.

While lying in her bed, Angela gets this sharp pain in her head. Suddenly everything is pitch black; she feels like she can't breathe as a light draws her into the woods. Angela sees Jack and Rick; they are in an old cabin. Jack is wearing a blue hooded top she got him last year for Christmas; Angela then hears a waterfall; as she looks around, everything seems blurry when she suddenly has a clear vision and sees Nicole running. While running, she is screaming for help, looking around, and it's pitch dark.

Angela sees herself searching for Jack when she hears a bear behind it, inches away from her.

No, this can't happen; she grabs a stick as the bear runs towards her quickly; she steps back and falls into a dark hole in a mountain or hillside. Is the opening large or a crevice she has to squeeze through? It is dry and dusty, humid, and moldy. She hears water dripping; it has some luminous lichen that gives the walls an eerie glow. There are bats and bat droppings (guano). The formations are stalactites and stalagmites.

There are bones of small animals scattered about There is an echo like a cave; the rocks feel rough and smooth. The inside is comparable to a geode.

Angela finds herself lost; as she turns around. All she sees is dark when she notices a set of yellow eyes staring right at her; Angela walks to the back and steps backward; the eyes are moving toward her. The darkness covers the formation of this thing walking up towards her; she reaches backward and finds herself against the wall. "NO!" She screams as her palms start sweating; her heart is racing, and she is in fear. Just then, she wakes up; it's midnight; she looks down on the bottom bunk. Her friend is still asleep.

She then remembers her brother is out in the woods as a sense of unease overcomes her; she can sense her brother is in danger; what is he doing out there? She prays it is just a dream, but her instincts tell her it's a warning. Angela is restless and unable to sleep; she needs to get out there to see what is happening; even though it is midnight, it feels as if it is the longest night till sunrise. "Help me," a voice from deep inside the forest, "Have you heard that, Rick?"

"Did I hear what?" "Quiet, listen," said Jack, "HELP ME," she must be close. "I heard that; it has to be Nicole;" Jack opened the cabin door, and there outside was a grizzly bear with its back faced towards them. "We are going to have to kill that bear," said Rick, "I know," said Jack; even though Jack loved animals, he had to save Nicole.