The shapes and shadows around me all looked horrible. Big shadows could be a person, or worse, Mothman with its blood-drenched mouth and horrifying massive body.It’s hungry, I thought. So,sohungry because no one has gone missing yet this year. It would be the type of hunger that drove something to tear into living things before even ending their life.
My eyes latched on to one particularly big shadow. It was shaped like a monster would be. Taller and wider than me.Big. My eyes watered as I refused to blink.
I stood catatonic, my eyes burning into the dark shape, waiting for it to move. I shook my head and took a step back. I was being ridiculous. I just needed to turn around and run back to camp. It should be right behind me. Hopefully right behind me.
Before I urged my body into action, the big shadow shifted.
Flight or fight punched me in the gut and the next thing I knew I was running and screaming so loudly that the entire forest was likely listening to my shrill cries of terror.
I burst through the treeline and nearly crashed into the wooden picnic table. I came to a sharp standstill and panted. Which was enough silence for me to hear somethingrunningbehind me in the woods. Something big and loud, feet stomping at a fast, frantic pace coming at me louder and louder.
Every inch of skin broke out in goosebumps as I barreled to my car, gasping for breath. My muscles burned, my skin felt electrified.
Stomp, stomp, stomp.
It felt as if hands were reaching out for me and every little half-second counted. I could feel a dark shadow at my back. A person, a thing. I didn't know what it was but it was after me and I could hear it panting.
I grabbed the handle of the door and flew inside the car. Caspian grunted loudly as my body suddenly toppled on his. I scrambled around all elbows and knees, making Caspian grunt and groan some more as I abused him in my panicked haste. I reached out and jerked the door shut, locking it immediately. Then I flung myself around the entire car, pushing the locks down on all of the doors.
Without hesitation, I scrambled up to Caspian, burying my face in his chest and clinging to his shirt.
“Ava? What’s wrong?” His soothing voice washed over me. His arms wrapped around my body, holding me to him. He could feel me shaking.
“There’s nothing out there,” I hissed to myself, not sure if that was true at all.
“What’s wrong?” Caspian repeated, sounding concerned while he held me tighter. I shook my head and wrapped my arms around him, calming myself down. When the adrenaline finally leaked out and I was left an exhausted puddle, I talked. His hand smoothed down my back just like it used to, eliciting a shiver that had nothing to do with fear.
“Racoons were out there messing with me. They were screeching, trying to scare me for their entertainment,” I grumbled in anger.
“For their entertainment?” Caspian asked in amusement.
“Yes,” I hissed, finally lifting my head from his chest. It was so dark I couldn’t make out much. “And they stole our food.”
“Shit,” he sighed in irritation.
“I tried to get some back but then I was in the woods and there was a shape—”
“A shape?”
“Yes, a shape. A scary shadow shape. I got freaked out and ran. Didn’t you hear me screaming?”
“I was dead asleep. Flinging your body on top of mine woke me up though,” his voice turned teasing at the end. I rolled my eyes in the dark and began to detach myself from him. Once we were lying side by side I realized Ireallydidn’t want to be alone. But also, the car was really uncomfortable. There was no padding underneath us, and the hardness bit into my bones.
“Aren’t you uncomfortable in here?”
“It’s okay,” he dismissed.
“Can you sleep in the tent with me?” I blurted out. I no longer cared about any weird sexual tension. I wouldn’t be able to calm down unless I had him next to me. He shifted around to face me and I could make out the briefest outline of his face.
“Of course,” he said with a soft voice. His hand came up and brushed my cheek. I felt myself relax a little more.
Caspian got out of the car and confirmed there was nothing there. Then we packed tight into my tent, two sleeping bags underneath us and sharing a thin quilted blanket. The bare skin of our legs brushed against each other.
Everything was quiet outside. The buzz of wildlife picked back up but I heard no more raccoons—likely they were growing fat bellies on our groceries somewhere under a log.
“Did you think it was Mothman?” Caspian asked. I could feel the heat of his body at my back. I was faced away, eyeing the edge of the tent, and trying to ignore the wetness between my legs.
“I don’t want to talk about that.” I was angry at myself for letting a stupid story about a monster get to me. I felt Caspian shift around, then one of his arms slid around my waist as his chest pressed to my back. My breathing picked up but I tried to act cool.
