I gasped. “I don’t know. I thought…” My voice trailed off. I had a sick, heavy feeling in the pit of my stomach.
“You had it when Sean and Arjun left,” Hannah said. “But when we came back to the house, I don’t remember you carrying it.”
“Oh, wow!” I shook my head. “I’ve got to go get it, Hannah. I can’t leave it overnight in the woods.”
“No-!” she cried. “Alex, listen to me. You can’t go out there.”
“I have to!” I cried.
“But the woods aren’t safe at night,” she protested. “They really aren’t safe.”
I turned away and ran down the hall. I pulled on my jacket and found a flashlight on the floor of the hall closet. I tested it a few times. The light was steady and bright.
“I’ll be back in a few minutes,” I shouted up to Hannah.
“No-please, Alex!” I heard her call down. “Listen to me! Don’t go into the woods tonight! Wait for me to get dressed. Just wait for me-okay?”
But I couldn’t leave my camera out there to be ruined.
I closed the front door behind me and stepped out into the light of the moon.
I began trotting along the side of the house toward the backyard. Heavy black clouds covered the moon. The night air felt colder than I’d thought. Wet. I zipped my down jacket as I ran.
I glanced at the Marlings’ house as I jogged past. Nothing to see there. The back window had been left wide open. But the house was completely dark. Not a light on anywhere.
The grass was slick and wet from a heavy dew. I felt a splash of cold on my forehead.
A raindrop?
I groaned as I thought of my camera, sitting out in the woods. It was such an expensive camera. I prayed I could find it before it started to rain.
Several tiny animals scampered silently past my feet.
I stopped.
No. Not animals. Fat, dead leaves. They scuttled over the dark grass, pushed by swirls of wind.
I lowered my head under a tree branch and entered the woods at the back of the yard. The old trees shivered and creaked.
The steady WHOO of an owl, far in the distance, made me think of my aunt and uncle. They were here with their cameras somewhere in the woods. I wondered if I would run into them.
I followed the twisting path through the trees. Another raindrop fell heavily on the top of my head. Rain spattered the ground.
I stopped when the bent tree came into view. The tree I had photographed with Hannah that afternoon. I played my flashlight over its curved shape.
“At least I’m heading in the right direction,” I said out loud.
I stepped over a fallen tree branch and moved deeper into the woods. The trees began to hiss, the leaves shaking in the rising wind. I could still hear the owl’s steady WHOO WHOO in the distance.
My flashlight dimmed, then brightened again. Its thin circle of light made a path for me between the trees.
“All right!”
I cried out when the light swept over my camera case. I had set it down on a flat tree stump. How could I have forgotten it there?
With another happy cry, I picked it up. I actually felt like hugging it. I was so happy to have it back. I checked it out carefully, turning it under the flashlight.
I wiped away the few raindrops that clung to the top. Then, cradling it under one arm, I started back to the house.
The rain had stopped, at least for a moment. I started to hum happily. I wanted to skip all the way home!
The camera meant more to me than anything. I promised myself I’d never leave it anywhere again.
I stopped humming when I heard the angry sound.
An animal snarl. A fierce, throaty roar.
I dropped the flashlight.
The creature roared again.
Where was it? Where was it coming from?
Right behind me!
I bent and grabbed up the flashlight. My knees suddenly felt weak. A cold wave of panic swept over my body.
I heard loud animal grunts. Another angry snarl.
I forced myself to move. I had to get away from here.
A clump of fat shrubs rose up in front of me. Clutching my camera case, I darted behind them. And dropped to my knees.
Hidden behind the bushes, I struggled to catch my breath. To stop my heart from thudding so hard in my chest.
I couldn’t see around the fat leaves of the bush. But I could hear the animal’s grunts and growls. I ducked lower, hoping I was completely out of view.
Hoping it couldn’t smell me.
And then I heard the crash of heavy feet on the ground. A high wail of anger, like a cry of attack.
A frightened bleat rose up. So high and tiny. A terrified cry-cut off quickly.
Snapped off.
Leaning into the shrub, my legs trembling, my whole body shaking, I heard a struggle.
So close. So close, I felt I could stand up-reach out-and touch the attacker and his prey.
So close, I heard every grunt, every frightened cry.
A thud. A growl. Another tiny, helpless bleat.
A loud ripping sound.
Wet chewing. The slap of jaws. More rapid chewing. An animal burp. Another ripping sound.
I shut my eyes, picturing what was happening right in front of me.
I heard a thud. Then silence.
The hiss of the wind seemed to grow louder.
A hiss… then silence.
I opened my eyes.
I stood up shakily.
And heard heavy footsteps. Twigs and leaves crackling under heavy feet.
The footsteps approaching rapidly. Coming my way.
Coming for me. The creature-the hungry creature-was moving toward me.
“Ohhhh.” A low cry of terror escaped my throat.
Gripping the camera case tightly, I spun away from the clump of shrubs. And started to run.
I heard animal grunts behind me. Heavy-breathing pants.
I didn’t glance back.
I ran deeper into the woods. I thought I heard the splash and trickle of a creek on my right. Wolf Creek? I didn’t stop to see.
A branch scratched my cheek as I scrambled past it. Pain shot over my face.
I raised one arm to shield myself as I ran.
Ran blindly. Ran through the darkness.
Where was the flashlight?
Oh, no. I’d left it behind in the bushes.
It was of no use to me, anyway. I was running too fast to keep to the path.
I lowered my shoulder and pushed my way through a patch of tall reeds. They snapped back, slapping me wetly as I shot through them.
My foot caught on a half-buried rock. I slid off it, somehow keeping my balance.
I leaped over an upraised tree root-and kept running.
Over the harsh gasps of my breath, I listened for the heavy, thudding footsteps behind me. The animal growls.
Was the creature still chasing me?
I grabbed a smooth, damp tree trunk and stopped. I hugged the trunk, struggling to keep my legs from collapsing, struggling to catch my breath.
I turned and gazed back.
Nothing there.
No growls. No grunts. No bang of heavy feet on the ground.
I sucked in breath after breath. My lungs burned. My mouth felt so dry, I couldn’t swallow.
I’m okay, I told myself. I’m safe-for now.
I gazed into the deep darkness.
And the creature hit me from behind.
“Hunh-!”
I uttered a startled groan. And dropped to the ground.
I spun around to face my attacker.
No one there.
Nothing.
“Huh?” A shocked cry escaped my lips.
I started to scramble to my feet-and saw what had hit the back of my head.
A bird’s nest. A dried-up, broken bird’s nest. It must have fallen from a tree limb above my head. Probably shaken loose by the gusts of wind.
“Oh, wow.” I shook twigs from my hair. Then, cradling the camera case under my arm, I gazed around.
Where was I?
Trees up ahead slanted as if leaning against each other. A low mound of rocks stood at the edge of a ridge of tall reeds.
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