The Trip of a Lifetime

“The trees are so much bigger out here” I said as I looked out the passenger side car window. We were driving from the airport in the cab we just got, the lady driving was rude, she barely even looked at us. But we’re out of there, and officially on vacation! The flight was long, I tried to sleep but the man next to me was a talker, I’m too nice my girlfriend says but that’s what keeps the world a better place. Besides the man kept buying me drinks which is why I’m looking out the window, I might hurl “And greener, this place is beautiful!” says Kenny. Were finally in the pacific northwest, our bags are packed and were headed to Mt Hood. We have a week out here and four days spent in the mountains! Kenny has family out here so we’re staying with his aunt the first night and then we’re off to breathe that crisp forest air. We made it to his aunt’s house, she was so warm and welcoming I felt right at home. After a nice meal of homemade beef stew and a shower I was ready for bed, I bid them good night and off I went fast asleep in no time.

I woke up in a panic, the room unfamiliar, where am I? I thought as my senses start to adjust There’s a soft buzzing coming from the florescent lights above me, my arms and legs are secured to this hospital bed it seems but this doesn’t feel like a hospital. It’s too cold, I try to move my head but that secured too. “Hello?” I call but no answer… HELLO! Again silence. Suddenly a man is standing above me, he covers my mouth as I go to scream once more. “Shut up! They’ll know your awake and then they’ll make you forget. You mustn’t forget, it’s not safe, RUN! Something pokes me and I’m out again I awake in bed extremely well rested, its 6:00 A.M what a crazy dream I thought as I smelt the coffee. I jump out of bed and run to the kitchen where Kennys aunt Gloria, is standing in her long silk lavender colored nightgown and matching slippers, she seems so frail yet strong and intimidating at the same time. a soft smile forms as she bids me good morning. “Kens not up yet but you’re more than welcome to join me for some bean water” she says with a chuckle. I follow her outside to the patio.

The air is fresh and moist, the coffee warm and delicious, you can see the sun glisten off the morning dew as the birds sing their welcome to the day. "It sure is nice of you to let us stay here" I say. “Kenny and I have been planning this trip for a while now and im so excited its finally happening”. “You two boys be careful out there, I hear stories all the time about hikers going missing in those woods. These aren’t like the mountains you have on the east coast these are real mountains, inhabited by really big creatures, I’m sure you’ve heard of bigfoot.” She says, I chuckle “Ha bigfoot, please, he’s just a myth, if big foot is real then I hope I see him. Ill take a photo and become rich!” Gloria shook her head and looked deep into her coffee. Almost as if she was trying to see the bottom of her cup through the black liquid it now held. “Like I said, just be careful, please.”

Its now 10:00 A.M and we are on our way to the mountain, Gloria let us use her car since she doesn’t drive anymore, she’s 75 now and hasn’t driven since she was 70 and got lost driving home. They found her a day later parked in a parking area 15 miles from the house. We made it to the mountain after about 2 hours of driving and we couldn’t wait to get on the trail. As we loaded up our packs Kenny and I discussed our route, where we would stop for water and lunch breaks, where we would camp, and which streams we will pass so we know where to collect water when we get low. All said and done the trail up and down the mountain shouldn’t take more than three days but were taking it slow since we haven’t done a mountain of this caliber before, so we planned for four days. We’re hiking Timberline trail, it passes 3 major landmarks and has snow run off year round so finding water shouldn’t be a problem. In total its just over 41 miles. Were all loaded up and ready to start our hike when I realize I left my trekking poles at the airport. They must have fallen out of my pack. “Just find a stick on the hike, it’ll serve the same purpose” says Kenny. I mock him but I know that’s what will happen. “Easy for you to say, you didn’t forget anything”. But he did, the compass. Well, how are we supposed to know where we’re going now? I ask “we still have a map, and the trails are marked, it’ll be fine.” He says in a not so reassuring voice.

We’ve been walking for hours, and I haven’t seen a single soul. Its day two in the woods, the first day went by so fast but now the excitement and newness has warn off, the woods are long and damp, flora as far as the eye can see, no roads, cars, people… “ hey are we on the right path?” I ask. “Yeah, we should be coming up on Cloud cap in about 5 more miles.” Ken responds. I don’t believe him though. And my body hurts, it must be from sleeping on the ground, and I kept having the dream about the guy telling me to run. Maybe that’s just making me paranoid. “There see, I told you were going the right way! That must be Cloud cap inn.” Exclaimed Ken. As I stumbled over the hill I saw what appeared to me as an abandoned shack in the middle of the forest. “I don’t think that’s it” I yell but Ken was already sprinting towards the front door. “I CALL FIRST SHOWER!” he yells as he enters the doors. I approach the building cautiously examining the weathered cedar shakes, the broken shudders hanging from the windows, how is this place still in business? I thought. I push open the heavy oak door and inside the place looks immaculate, it’s an open floor plan with two massive fireplaces at either side of the room, the carpet covers the hardwood floor, and drapes cover the windows. I look to the front desk, it’s the man from my dream?

“I told you to run.” He says as a loud bang comes from the room upstairs. Kenny screams *BANG* then silence, I run as fast as I can up the stairs skipping 4 steps at a time, I take a left, the hallway goes on forever, which room did it come from? “KENNY!” I yell as I’m racing down the hallway, I hear no response. “KENNY!” again nothing. I ran down stairs and there’s no one around. The doors are locked, and I can’t get out. I try for a window, but they’re boarded up from the inside. I ran back upstairs and tried those windows but to no avail. I’m trapped, but how? Why? Just as I ask this I hear a noise coming from the stairs I turn around and there I see it Kennys body, two gunshot wounds “It must feed” says a voice from the other end of the room, I turn to look, “Gloria?!” *BANG* my knee is on fire, I cry out in pain as the creature appears, I look into its bright yellow eyes, soulless and empty, its teeth big and sharp, lips stained with blood, “Why Gloria?” “ because I love him” she says as she points the gun straight at me, “and he loves me” *BANG* I fall to the ground, the world seems blurry, I see the smoke coming from the barrel of the Smith and Wesson, I see Kenny stand and take the gun from his aunt. Just as my eyes close for the final time. “I should have ran”.

THE END