Chapter Text
THIS WEEKS VICTIMS
The road was desolate as they drove through the forest, only the highbeams of their car lit the way for them. The air was cold, the moon was half full and the stars were standing out brightly against the night sky.
"We're lost, aren't we?" Katy said, putting down the fanfic she was read on her phone.
"No, babe," Corry answered, "We're on Fox Run Road, the cabin should be down a dirt road a little up ahead." He said as he vaguely gestured toward the dark road ahead of them.
"Fox Run?" She exclaimed, "No, no. The listing says the cabin's address is on Fern Road." She showed Russel that was in the passenger seat and supposedly in charge of the GPS.
"Ah man, shit. I knew I read something wrong." Russel had at least the decency to look ashamed.
"So we're lost, in the woods, at night, miles away from civilization, just great!" Zara complained.
Why had they invited her on this trip? Katy thought as she looked out the window.
She just wanted to flirt with Russel the whole weekend. That girl doesn't respect the term 'a man in a committed three year relationship.
Zara doesn't even like nature, she can't even stand sitting on a picnic blanket on the college lawn.
"This is so not how I wanted to spend my vacation time." Zara grumbled.
"Chill Zara, its fine we'll just turn around and-"
"But I'm tired, and I'm motion sick," Zara interrupted, "Can't we park and get some air?"
"That does sound nice." Katy couldn't believe that she was for once agreeing with Zara on something.
Corry then spotted something further up ahead. A dirt road on the left side of
the main asphalt road, into the forest. "We could park there and stretch our legs." He said as he was turning for the
rocky red dirt road.
He put the car in park and was the first to open the doors and let the cold mountain air in.
Zara stepped out and drew in several breaths followed by Katy who looked into the surrounding woods.
The woods were swallowed up in the darkness, you could not see more than a few feet ahead of you.
"Looks like a horror movie out there." Russel said opting to stay in the car.
"Russel! Don't say that!" Zara whined.
Katy rolled her eyes.
Russel just laughed, but suddenly stopped. "Guys, what's that?" His voice, no longer playful.
He shook as he pointed a finger straight ahead of them.
The headlights lit up a female figure in a white billowing dress, her face shadowed by the brim of a hat.
Light hair danced in the wind obscuring her face.
She could almost feel the woman looking at her.
The air felt heavy, like the woods itself was breathing. Anticipating. Watching.
The figure didn't move. It stood a couple feet in front of them, not even shivering in the cold breeze.
"Who- Who's there?!" Corry shouted.
The figure gave no sign of acknowledging them.
It suddenly turned and casually walked out of the beam of the headlights.
Katy grabbed Corry's sleeve with shaky hands. "Corry, I-let's get out of here. Now!"
But before they could even take a step back toward the car. A strong tempest
blew up around them. The previously quiet forest now sounded like a great beast that had awoken from its slumber.
The only audible sound was the hissing of leaves, the howl of the wind and the snap of an ancient tree trunk.