Rise of the Darkness — CHAPTER 37

Lucas' POV:-

There is a mystery lurks in the dark woods where no one dares enter. The town keeps skeptical about the mysterious creature living there. No one dares face it, fearing they might suffer the luck of some. Little by little, people have been disappearing, without leaving any clue as to where they end up or how they disappeared.

Town's folks suspect the creature is a Wendigo. A monster with human characteristics or maybe a spirit who has possessed a human being and turned them into the monstrous being they are today. It is said to invoke murders, cannibalism, and insatiable greed.

One of our own was the first one to disappear and we suspect he might be the one who had turned into one of those monsters, making other people end up with the same fate, but there has not been any proof of it. Gary Hebert was the town shy boy who everyone would make fun of. He had to stay quiet while bullies in school would make his life a living hell. One day he decided to walk into the woods and no one has ever seen him since.

My name is Lucas Harrison. I am considered the best tracker and hunter in the town. Not only animals but also Paranormal beings. All-day and all night, people in our town searched, lighting the way with flashlights and lanterns. Searching with dogs and carrying shotguns. It all seemed like a horror movie waiting to happen.

We didn't have any luck finding him, so we had to put a stop to the search. Years had gone by and no sign of the poor boy. It was all quiet and peaceful, until one night we could hear loud screams coming from the woods again. Later those screams turned into waves of laughter.

"Teenagers at it again," I thought as I was reading the newspaper while sipping my coffee. The diner was empty today, with only a few people scattered all over the place. I heard the bell, indicating a new customer was in.

He searched the whole diner when his eyes fell on me. He walked over and sat down in front of me. "Can I help you?" I asked with curiosity. He was fiddling his fingers and I could tell he was nervous by the way he was shaking and I noticed drops of sweats falling through his forehead.

"Yes, sir. I need your help. My brother and his girlfriend have gone missing since last night. And I am afraid they had gone to the woods alone. I am aware of how dangerous these woods are and I am afraid they might be in danger" he mentioned.

I shook my head and took a deep breath. Those screams I just heard, can that be them? Impossible, if they have gone missing since last night, they must be dead by now. Those screams must be someone else's. For years foolish kids have been venturing into that dangerous place, despite the warning coming from everyone in town.

"I am not sure I can do anything to help. Have you tried the Sheriff?" I asked while taking another sip of my coffee.

"Sir, I have tried. They won't listen to me. They dismiss me every time I try to tell them what happened. They don't care. I have heard about how good of a tracker and Hunter you are and you are my last hope. Please help me find them" he said on the verge to cry.

"What is your name boy?" I asked, studying him.

"Gerald Johnson" he replied.

"Well Mr. Johnson, I am not sure how much help I can be. This town has searched for missing kids back and forth and no luck. It's like they disappear from thin air" I said, folding my newspaper and standing up from my booth while leaving a couple of dollar bills and walking out. The kid following me.

I light up my cigarette and take a whiff while the kids still stand next to me. I look down at him and raise my eyebrow. "What are you doing kid?" I ask.

"I am going with you sir" he replied, zipping up his jacket and taking a small knife from his pocket.

"Do you think that knife will save you?" I laughed, but gotta admit, the boy had good intentions. I decided to send him home while I searched for his brother. He didn't want to leave, but I had to force him. I prepared my shotgun and headed in. I hoped to find them. As I was walking in, I could hear nothing but silence. The silence was never a good thing. You never knew when something might jump and attack you.

I walked for miles, but nothing. No sign of anything or anyone that might have come here. I reached a cave and I hoped they would be here, thinking they got lost and waited until daylight came to go back. I entered that cave, and a strong smell hit my nose. Blood and fear mixed together.

They must have been here. I entered deeper in the cave and I could see blood smeared in the stones and walls. I kept searching, but couldn't find anyone, not even bodies. It was getting pretty late so I decided to stop the search for now and go back home. I would resume it again in the morning. That kid depended on me, but I doubted anyone would turn out.

As I was changing to clothes to sleep, I saw from the corner of my eyes a big figure. I looked up and I could see it running away. I quickly went outside and followed it. I was able to make out what it was. It looked like a giant deer standing in two legs, with big antlers and it had hands with claws on them and its ribs were showing. It was a scary creature. No one has ever seen one up close, they all heard stories about them. I went in to get my jacket and shotgun and decided to follow the creature into the woods once again.

My feet dragged me again to that cave. I didn't go in this time, but I decided to call the creature out.

"Gary? Is that you boy?" I called, my instinct told me he was there and he was the creature causing all these disappearances. I stood there for a few minutes, shotgun in hand ready to aim at him in case he attacked. I could hear some growls, and I was prepared. The Wendigo came out of the cave and walked slowly towards me. His eyes were Scarlet red and his mouth was drooling and I could see blood all over his body.

"Gary? If that is you in there, please listen to me. If you are the one kidnapping all these kids and eating them, tell me" I said, knowing he can't even speak and he won't tell me.

"Come on kid. Tell me where they are. Their families are desperate and anxious"

All he could do was look at me and walk even closer. He was just a few inches from me and his size was incredible. He was easily over 7 feet tall and it's appearance up close was intimidating. I wouldn't give in to fear. I stood in front of him waiting for a response. I didn't get any and instead, he walked away from me and into the cave. At the entrance he stopped and looked at me, motioning for me to follow. I did against my better judgment and walked into that cave with him.

We walked deep into it, the cave getting colder and damp every time. As we were getting deeper I could hear whimpers. They were here? He guided me to where the sounds came from. And when we got in, there they were. All the missing people huddled up together, and I was sure Gerald's brother was here too along with his girlfriend. They were cold and scared.

"What is all this?" I asked the Wendigo but he ignored me and kept walking away "answer me! why are all these kids here?"He looked at me and growled. I walked to the kids and tried to get them out but the Wendigo stopped me, hitting me so hard I ended up against a wall. He stood in front of them and I could see their faces.

"Why are you keeping them here? What is it about them that you can't let them go?" I asked. He slowly shifted until he was in his human form. It was indeed Gary Hebert. But he was not that teenage kid anymore. He was a man. I felt that I failed him, and the whole town did too. We should have not given up on him. We should have kept searching for him until we found him. That poor boy must have been scared out of his mind when he found himself in this precarious situation.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked again, to which he replied...

"Witchcraft."