It sounds like an oversized grunting frog

It sounds like an oversized grunting frog. I don’t like it. I look over the tranquil lake. Layers of fog start appearing while the sun is slowly disappearing behind the mountains at the horizon. A shiver runs down my spine as a cold gust of wind hits my face. Another shiver runs down my spine when the grunting frog sounds again. It seems closer this time and from behind me, not from the lake. Maybe it’s a bear? I don’t actually know what a bear sounds like. They told me bears are rarely spotted on this trail though.

I look around me to make sure that I’m alone at this sudden dead end. In front of me is the lake and next to me is a cliff. The only way out of here is the muddy path right behind me. According to the map that I tried to memorize earlier the trail was supposed to follow the lakeshore more or less, but not end in it. I should’ve bought that map. Why did I think my phone would have service out here? Now I’m standing here at a dead end while my feet hurt, my knees hurt and all the muscles in my legs hurt! That massive backpack isn’t helping too. I have bruises on my hips and my stiff, whiny shoulders are giving me a headache.

There is nothing else to do than turn back and ignore the pain. I walk as quickly as I can, both because I don’t want that creepy sound to catch up with me and because I want to reach the hut before it is pitch dark.

Where is it?! That junction should be here somewhere! I walked an hour from there to the dead end and I just walked an hour back. Did I miss it? I look back. The lake is pushing the fog upwards. It is creeping towards me, slowly engulfing the moss covered tortuous trees. I collapse into some ferns. It is getting dark quickly but I need a break. The tree above me starts creaking as if it is speaking to me. I pull my knees towards me and look up. It must’ve been the wind that is pushing it against another tree. The same wind that is now whispering in my ears. I’m going mad! I have to get to the hut.

With sheer willpower I manage to get back up and instantly freeze. Something is rustling in the bushes not far away from me. Without taking my eyes off of it I slowly bend down to grab a rock from the path. The bush is covered in the shadow of the trees, I can’t see more than shapes. Then the grunting sound emerges again, not just from the bush, it seems to surround me. My whole body starts screaming, except for my vocal cords inside my suddenly swollen throat. I start running, blinded by panic.

I keep on running, unaware of where I am, unaware of the pain in my limbs and the weight of my backpack. I just run till I can’t lift my heavy boots any more and trip. I slam onto the rocky path. By the sound of it it must’ve hurt, but I’m too tired to feel pain...

I open my eyes and everything is dark around me. I’m cold but the dull aching pain in every muscle of my body tells me I’m still alive. I try to get up and end up halfway on my knees. With my sleeve I wipe the dirt of my face. Slowly my eyes adjust to the little light that the night still has to offer. Vague forms of trees and rocks, that’s all I can see. I listen for any strange noises, hoping it was all some hallucination due to my exhaustion. It is silent.

I manage to get up again and just when I want to take of my backpack to eat some food I see a light. Somewhere up the hill, through the trees, I see a warm yellow light. It is the hut! I’m almost there! My eyes fill up and tears start running down my cheeks. I grab my phone and use the flashlight to light up the path leading to the hut. I laugh as I carefully move my body up the hill, one tiny step at a time. Next time I will most certainly buy a map! And do some more training beforehand! Why am I always so reckless? I’m glad all ended well this time.

The light turned off again. I shine my flashlight on the building in front of me. It is a lot smaller than it is supposed to be. This one can barely fit four people. That is not the only problem: it looks abandoned. The patch of grass that is supposed to surround it has turned into weeds and brambles that try to overtake the hut. Two of the windows are broken and boarded up.

Somewhere down the hill I hear that awful sound again and I decide that I will stay the night here. I don’t care if it’s abandoned. At least I’ll be safe in there against whatever is out here. I work my way through the weeds and try to open the door. It doesn’t seem to be locked but it is jammed. I force my shoulder against it and almost tumble inside when the door suddenly swings open. It hits the shelves behind it and some metal pans and cutlery drop to the floor.

“Hello?”

I shine my flashlight through the hut. There is a wood stove in the corner and a counter with a sink next to it. Next to that are two bunk beds and…

My hart skips a beat and I press the flashlight to my chest to make it dark again. What was that on the floor?

“Hello?” I ask again, quieter this time.

There is no response. I take a step back and grab the door frame, ready to bolt. Then I point my flashlight to the floor in the middle of the room. Someone is laying there on their side with their backpack still on their back. Their face looks at the door. It’s a stained, gray and decaying face. The eyes are gone, sunk back into the rotting brains. The mouth hangs open, only held in place by some last stretches of skin. It lays in a dried up black pool of blood and bodily fluids. Barely have my eyes processed what I am looking at or the stench hits my nostrils. I have never smelled something so foul before in my life. I turn around and storm outside. My stomach turns over and I start puking. I’m feeling dizzy and try to stop hyperventilating. I look at my muddy boots while my hands rest on my knees. The sour smell of my own puke penetrates my nose and drives the stench of that decaying body out. My mind is going haywire and I try to focus on one thought to keep my sanity. The thought I pick is an awful choice: the body was wearing the same clothes as I. I can see it clearly in the picture that is burned into my eyes. Even the backpack was the same. Even the hair on that decaying head!

No, I must be going insane. I jump up as I hear that sound again, closer this time. I need some sleep. I need to be locked away form that sound. I will just drag the body out and lock myself in. Tomorrow everything will be better. I clench my fists en close my eyes, trying to find the courage to touch a dead body. A dead body that looks like mine. When I have found the last bit of strength in my body, I turn around and walk back inside. I shine my flashlight on the ground and freeze: the body is gone.