Short Story: Boy in the Woods by Brent Yargro

Note: Finally, another short story has returned here after a short void without it. This story comes in by Brent Yargro. Check it out, enjoy it and share it on Facebook or Twitter or whatever.

Rated E for Everyone

Got a short story that has to do with the paranormal or horror? Send it to me at scaredsheetlessncn@hotmail.com and remember to put in the subject, "Short Story," so I'll know you're not trying to spam me. Kind of like the recent one I got about "hot, lonely women" wanting to talk to me. -Sighs- If only...

Please note: I did not change any of the grammar, spelling, or anything. The only thing that might have changed is the format, but that's Blogger, not me.

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Boy in The Woods

by

Brent Yargro

 

 

            The rain was pouring down harder now, but I just kept going, I kept running, far, far away. I didn't know where I was going, I just needed to get away, I had to, my boots echoed in muted thumps each time they pounded the pavement. With each step water sprayed my legs and face, I was soaking wet and running, I was so completely hopeless. Hearing a faint whisper of my name, I stopped and snapped my head around, looking for its source, no one was there, I kept running. I heard a screaming and turned to see a car was hurtling at me. I'd accidentally ran into the road. I'm going to die I thought, I stood still paralyzed by the headlights. I closed my eyes and watched, nothing. “You stupid girl, get out of the road, I almost hit you,” screamed the driver at me. I gave a smart wave and dashed off, still running, that was close. I kept running.

            I ran until the rain stopped. Lucky for me it wasn’t that far. I stood still at the end of the street. I could hear the sound of the water hitting the pavement, I noticed the water dripping off my clothes. I was tired and soaking wet. Time passed and I just continued to stand there. Finally I started to the edge of the street, and I noticed that it ended abruptly at the edge of the woods. I started walking, soon the trees grew taller and the underbrush grew thicker. On a normal day I would have been afraid that I would get lost in the woods, but not today; today wasn't normal. With a surge of courage and a sense of curiosity I went forward. I bent down to re-lace my boots and then adjusted my hair, if I was going to go exploring I had better be ready. With my boots tied and my hair free from my ties, I set out to go deeper into the woods.

             Stepping over fallen trees and over small creeks. I took in my surroundings, I was surrounded by trees and their glistening green leaves and the newly changed red oaks. As I continued walking I couldn't help but notice the bright yellow wild flowers growing on the forest floor. With rays of sunshine on my face, I began to smile for the first time in weeks, the longer I walked through the forest the more at peace I became. My worries  could not reach me here, I was safe. I began to wonder aimlessly through the forest. Soon the sky began to darken, changing from blue to orange, a glance at my watch told me it would be night soon. I turned around, trying to follow my footsteps back to the street that I came from.

            The leaves were crunched down in the direction I came in, giving me a rough path to follow. A broken branch here, a foot print there. I had  to be on the right track. Earnestly I made my way back through the woods, not really thinking about anything. A cool breeze kicked up from the night, I shivered. Wrapping my pump jacket tighter around me. I tried to fight the cold feeling. As the sun sank deeper into the sky, my fear began to kick in.

            I could no longer see the path. I was aimlessly wandering through the dark woods. Panic set in as I hunted for my phone. I should have thought of this sooner. I'll call someone for help. Reaching into my back pocket, I rolled out the phone  The screen was dark. My fingers pounded at the buttons, my attempt was in vain. The phone had died. I was alone, in the woods at night, with no connection to the outside world. How could I have been so stupid?

            It was a clear night, cold, and windy, and I was chilled to my bones. My clothes are dripping with rain and sweat., they clung to my body and did nothing to keep me warm. With a dead cell phone and these damp clothes, I was not prepared to spend a night in the woods. As the rain picked up I started to panic. My face, neck and hands were exposed to the harsh weather and with each gust of wind, I started to go mad. Think!

          I thought to myself that I had to stay warm, think of something! I was starting to panic again, so I did the first thing that came to mind, I decided to keep moving, so with my arms out in front of me, I stumbled through the dark forest, “Keep going”, I kept saying to myself, until I was chanting it.  Then all of the sudden I was falling, I was falling downward, my body slamming into small trees, and rocks. I kept tumbling down the slope, here and there my body was being cut open. I hit the ground with a final 'thud,' I rolled to the bottom, no longer bouncing. My descent had been stopped by a large tree, I was filled with pain and bruised, and I knew, as a fact, that I was bleeding in half a dozen places. I laid there and then an odd sense of warmth had engulfed me, and I settled in the compost.

            Minutes passed, maybe hours. I struggled to keep myself awake. Any scrape of comfort I had left was gone, along with my hope. My head was spinning, and my vision was blurry. I ached every second that I struggled to keep my eyes open, all I wanted to do is get to sleep. In my condition it would be unwise. I feared sleep and death were one and the same. Using every ounce of energy I left, I let out a single word, “Help.”

            Leaves rustled next to me, was I hearing things? The sound moved closer, “Hey!” yelled a voice, “ Are you okay?” Focusing all my energy on my right side, I tried to make out the figure in front of me. It appeared to be a boy, tall and ghostly, pale in the moon light. I felt myself being lifted up, “ Its okay, It'll all be okay,” he whispered to me, “here, take my jacket, you're freezing.” I felt a faint tugging sensation as my arms were pulled through the sleeves of his jacket, the warmth. All I felt was a sense of well being. It felt nice, “ You can close your eyes now,” he told me, “Don't worry I've got you.” The last thing I remember before the darkness engulfed me was a bright white smile.