The Cabin

The fire crackled as I looked into its depths, lost in the millions of shades of red. Only when Ellie elbowed me did I look up and realise, AJ - the camp instructor - was setting up a story.

‘Tonight,’ he began, ‘I shall tell you the tale of a family who came across this house, many years ago.’ 

He gestured to the house at my back. I glanced back at the looming structure and immediately chills rushed through my body, like icy cold rapids.

‘On a morning like any other’ he continued ‘a family of 6 drove down this very drive and approached the front door…

The family all had looks of opportunity upon their faces. All but one. The eldest, Aaron, was not keen on the idea of moving. Especially not to a house so far away from all his friends. But he still plastered on a smile, if not for him, for his younger siblings: 7-year-old Jess and the 4-year-old twins, Tommy and Beth.

The door was quickly opened by a woman with a wide smile. ‘Hello, welcome-welcome, Mr and Mrs Jacob, please, come in!’ Beth immediately took a liking to the lady. Following and gawking up at her.

That was when the woman’s friendly facade faltered.

But she picked it up just as quickly as it dropped.

‘Why don’t these little…munchkins go and play outside?’ She practically shoved the kids out. Aaron was not pleased. He shoved his hands deep into his pockets and pushed around the toe of his shoe in the dirt before deciding to take a seat on the front step. All the while, little Beth ran around the front yard with Tommy.

Jess shouted out at Aaron, who was still sulking on the step ‘Wanna play hide and seek?’ Aaron grumbled back a simple ‘no’ and so off the kids went. Jess started to count ‘1, 2, 3…’ and Tommy looked around frantically, before his little gaze finally landed on a hollowed-out tree stump. He clambered up the adjacent tree, almost slipping as a branch snapped under his foot. Catching himself just in time, he continued his ascent. When he finally reached the top of the stump, he wrapped his little fingers around the edge and flung himself over.

Little Beth was found easily behind a bush, but neither girl could find where Tommy was. Assuming he was off doing his own thing, they moved on to play something else.

Jess ran around chasing birds and finding animals, while Beth sat down and collected flowers.

All the while, Aaron sat on the front step, wishing to be anywhere but there. He sat his head in his hands until he felt someone sit down next to him. He lifted his head and looked next to him at Jess.

She met his eyes and promptly said, ‘I’m bored.’

Aaron sighed and rolled his eyes. Of course, she was. Just as he was about to make a smart remark, a possum jutted out in front of them.

Jess’s eyes lit up, and she scurried after the possum. It darted underneath the house. And where the possum went, so did Jess. She dropped to her knees and squeezed herself in. It was a tight fit, but she was determined to find the possum.

She got so far in, and it was so dark she didn’t know which way was out. She tried to shift herself to go back in the direction she thought she came from, but couldn’t move. Pounding against the floor over her head, she screamed for help.

Unfortunately, her screams sounded like they were coming from everywhere as they echoed around the valley.

And the pounding?

Well, the parents in the house heard. ‘What was that?’ they asked the realtor.

With a smile, she replied, ‘Just the plumbing, you know these old houses are like that.’ They laughed and shook it off.

Unbeknownst to them, their daughter below was suffocating in the tight area, the air no longer reaching her lungs. Her screams died off as she attempted to save her breath and get out. Tears streaked down her face as she sniffled, and her hands explored the floor for any grip to haul herself out. No luck. Every time she got some sort of a grip, she just ended up with a handful of rocks. She let out one final bloodcurdling scream before she went limp.

Aaron’s head shot up at the sound of a scream. It was Beth. She was thrashing around in the pond. She tried to call for help, but every time her mouth opened, it filled with water. She kicked and splashed around trying to get out, but to no avail.

His parents thundered down the stairs and threw open the front door just as Beth went under.

Aaron was screaming, and his parents rushed to the edge of the pond, looking for any sign of bubbles.

They found none.

His mother was in tears, and his dad was pacing, shaking his head in disbelief.

The realtor stood in the doorway behind Aaron. Her forced smile fading.

Aaron’s dad approached him ‘Where are Tommy and Jess?’

Aaron looked up at him and stammered, ‘I don’t - I don’t know.’ 

His dad growled and started shouting out for them, but received no response.

The realtor hurried inside and called the police, who promptly rushed to the scene. One officer confirmed that Beth was dead as the others fished her little, clammy body out of the pond.

Other officers searched the perimeter to find the other two kids. They had no luck until they found Jess’s scrunchie just before the darkness beneath the house.

That’s when they found Jess. They had her dragged out from underneath the house, too, her pale skin gone purple. Her hands were bloody, and her fingernails torn and covered in dirt. The only missing kid now was Tommy.

The police called for backup in order to conduct a search party; while Aaron was asked the last time he saw his younger brother.

The last he could remember was when Jess invited him to play hide and seek.  So, Tommy must be hiding. Aaron told the police exactly that.

Later that evening, Aaron and his parents unlocked their car, and put on their jackets and layered up their clothing for the search party in the frigid winter air. After all, they all knew the first 48 hours were the most important in a missing persons case.

The only question was, where to look? Was Tommy still hiding, or was he lost in the Konadalilla National Park?

The police decided to start further out and make our way back inwards towards the house, just in case Tommy had gotten further than we thought.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have any luck. It was really late, and we were struggling to see. We had to pack up for the night. The whole party was solemn as we trudged back.

As Aaron walked back, he scanned the surrounding area when his gaze finally snagged on a hollowed-out tree stump, just within the vicinity of the house.

Exactly where Tommy would go for a hiding spot!

He shouted out for others to come and help him check, just in case.

They split open a gap in the stump, and there he was. A frozen, glassy-eyed Tommy.

We pulled him out and carried him into the house, where paramedics confirmed he was dead. The cause, hypothermia. We were too late!

I looked around the campfire, at the kids with looks of utter shock, and some of fear and then back at AJ’s face, bewildered.

AJ met the eyes of everyone around the campfire before concluding the story, ‘and the Jacob family? They left and never returned to Mapleton again.’

Everyone was speechless, even Ellie, which was shocking, as she was never quiet. Someone spoke up ‘But, how do you know?’

AJ smiled psychotically. ‘Because I’m Aaron!’

Heart of the Flames

The fire crackled and burned, like the deepest pits of hell. Just watching its flames lick up the surrounding shrubbery, engulfing everything in its path, was deeply satisfying.

I was in a trance, walking slowly towards the ever-growing fire. I grew unaware of the things around me, my focus was entirely on the heightened flames. The smoke seeped into my lungs, burning my throat on its painful journey to my lungs. I wheezed, doubled over, and coughed until all the air in my lungs had dispersed. Then, and only then, did I feel the burning at my legs. I straightened, and ran, the fire was not far behind, I had to make it to safety. I could barely see anything, my vision clouded by the smoke, as though I was running with a blindfold. I could just make out the ground in front of me, until I tripped.

I tumbled into the undergrowth, getting my clothing caught on everything. I scrambled to get up, only to realise, that my foot was stuck. The fire creeped closer and closer, like a tiger stalking its prey. I tugged, trying my hardest to escape, but my effort was wasted. Sweat poured down my forehead, and I was giving up.

There was no hope left for me. 

The Storm

The air was stuffy, the radio crackled in the background of my thoughts. Thick beads of sweat coated my forehead, and the aircon had burned out hours ago. My head throbbed in pain, it was only getting worse. I sat up the slightest bit so I could look out the window. Did my eyes deceive me or was that - "Snow" my thoughts were interrupted by my best friend Calyb.

I looked over, awe coated my face. "Pull over" I demanded "now."

The next thing I know, I am halfway out the car standing in the ever growing snow. I welcomed the cold, winter air. Frozen drops of sweat litter my forehead, and I am amazed at the sight that is to behold, the icy wonderland I had always dreamed of, but my admiration was short-lasting. I turned my attention to the blackening sky with a gasp. A storm was coming, and we were about to get stuck in it. Calyb stepped out of the car slowly, his gaze on the rumbling clouds. We looked over at each other, fear slowly engulfing us.

"We have to go…now" I exclaimed hurriedly. He nodded and we slid into the car.

Would we make it out?

What We Once Were

My cheek screamed from where his hand connected with my face. I desperately wanted to put my cold hands to it, but decided against it, as I didn’t want to show signs of weakness in front of him. Calyb. The one person in life that I can’t bear to stick up to. A wretched mess of a boyfriend. My lip trembles and my vision begins to blur, and that’s when I know that he won’t just stop there. His arm began to rise, just as the sound of footsteps trailed around the corner. Approaching the sidewalk out the front of the restaurant. Voices grew nearer, at the same pace as his arm was continuing to climb. My eyes were shut tight, every muscle readying itself for what was expected.

The voices trailed off, and all of sudden, I was pulled into an embrace. My eyes fluttered open, my palms pressed up against Calyb’s chest. His face was buried in my hair, and his hands were encasing me in a blanket of warmth. I relished the moment, having never experienced anything positive from him, not since the night he changed. I grasped the old memory of him with force and inhaled his scent, cedar wood and leather jackets. 

‘Why can’t it always be like this?’ I murmured. He pulled away slightly and brought his forehead to mine.

     ‘You know I hate it when you murmur Sierra, speak up,’ he breathed. 

     ‘Why did it have to end?’ My voice trembled with every word. 

     ‘Don’t ask stupid questions, you know what you did!’ Calyb snarled.

Tears flooded my eyes, he jerked away, nodded at the people staring, and tugged me. I was dragged all the way home, whimpering. Calyb threw the door to his apartment open and tossed me onto the couch. He began swearing around the room, throwing things around and muttering to himself about ‘that damn attention seeker.’  When his breath was coming in short pants, he collapsed on the armchair beside me. I hugged my knees to my chest.

     Calyb sighed, ‘why do you always have to bring attention to yourself?’

     I shrugged; my voice wavered, ‘what are you talking about?’

     ‘Sierra, Sierra, Sierra,’ Calyb tsked, ‘always so oblivious.’

I released my legs and slumped into the couch, ‘oblivious, how could I not be, when you tell me literally nothing anymore?’ I grumbled.

‘Care to repeat that, Sierra, dear?’ Calyb shot me a snarky look.

  ‘No’ I rolled my eyes and stood. ‘I should get going, I’m expected home.’

  ‘I don’t think so.’ Calyb’s threatening growl followed me, right before I was engulfed in darkness.

Behind the Glass

The door creaked open ominously, and a random breeze blew through the house, whipping Ciara’s hair. Her hands trembled as she let go of the door, letting it swing shut with a ‘thump’ behind her. The house was eerily quiet, the slightest of noises making her jump. Building up the courage, she stepped further into the house, eager to know what lies beyond. 

She crept through the hall, looking into each room, each one of them empty. She came to the end of the hall, the last room was practically empty, except for a dressing table on the far wall. Ciara made her way cautiously over, her anxiety lurking at the edges of her mind. The dresser was bare except for a handheld mirror, resting lifelessly. Her hand unconsciously reached for it, and when her hand met the handle another gust of wind ripped through the room. She shielded her eyes and dropped the mirror.

She opened her eyes and screamed at a sudden sharp pain in her leg, looking down to find swarms upon swarms of assassin bugs. Her worst nightmare. They engulfed her body like flames and the pain was unbearable. Tears stung her eyes, and she sprinted, hoping to escape the swarm.

Hope was not long lasting, the poison was spreading too fast, her body, trying to fight the poison, couldn’t take the intensity of the run and she tumbled. Ciara dragged herself back up, hobbling around for an escape. THERE! A large entryway appeared on the edge of her vision, her desire to escape the only thing that kept her running. As she got closer, she could see what was on the other side, it was the room, the glass to the mirror the only thing separating her from this nightmare of a reality. The doorway was in reach, it was just beyond her grasp when it shattered.

The heel of Mateo’s boot crunched. He lifted his foot and found a handheld mirror, now shattered. It was a shame; it was a gorgeous mirror. ‘Ciara would have loved it’ he thought, ‘where is Ciara?’ He called her name into the empty house, the only response the faint screams emanating from the shards of the discarded mirror.

If Only

My heart thumps in my ears, it always does when I'm on the job. My teeth flash in an evil grin, along with the knife in my hand. Bloodied tears run down her face as I carve into the rest of her family. I turn to her, she's good looking, shame she has to go too. Blood spatters the wall behind her and her scream is deafening. I linger a little, appreciating my work, giving it my own little flourish. It won't be long till the cops turn up, so I'm a little sloppy, but it’s not like they deserved any better. As the thought goes through my head, my heart begins to ache, a rogue tear sliding down my face as reality hits me. It doesn't normally hit this early; it should be happening while I'm all alone, prepared for it to come. But it hits while I'm escaping, hard. I clutch my chest and let out a string of curses. Why does it have to hurt? I stumble out the back door and run, I can hear the sirens in the distance, closing in. I've never been caught, and it'll goddamn stay that way. I reach the tree grab a branch, moaning in pain. My back thumps against the tree and I slide to the ground, regret lacing my veins. It never hurts this much; it shouldn't hurt this much. I scrunch my nose and breathe heavily, the pain fading agonisingly slow. My breathing slows, my ears thankful for the silence. I damn this curse of conscience. Keeping me from everything I could even begin wanting. Tears slide down my cheeks, creating little rivers that carve down my wind burnt face. My hair is plastered to my forehead and cool sweat trickles down my neck like rain. If only…if only…if only…