Mark looked into the fire. Alexis was talking a long time just to run to the bathroom. Raising the last bottle of beer to his lips, he drained it of the last drops. The night sky was clear, but the tall trees blocked the other mountains from his view.
There was a rustling behind him, and Mark began to smile and said, "About time, girl." But the slow smile vanished from his face as he heard a deep booming voice.
"WHERE IS THE BOOK, MARKUS?"
He froze for a few seconds then threw the empty bottle into the bushes.
"I know that's you, asshat. Quit being a douche, and get lost before she comes back," Mark angrily hissed at his little brother as Joe rose from the bushes.
"Damn! I was hoping to at least scare you. It's your own fault for getting that creepy book... You really set the tone for our trip," Joe said half playfully, half warily. That book gave him a bad feeling. He couldn't explain it, but he knew it was bad news. Joe watched as Mark touched the coat pocket with an odd look on his face.
The tension between them was cut by a piercing scream. Joe didn't have to see who it was to know it was Alexis. Mark took off, grabbing a hunting knife and calling her name. Joe looked for the keys to their Jeep and realized that Mark had been the last one to use them.
Cursing under his breath, he followed his brother. His brother had stopped up ahead. Joe felt a lump on his throat as he saw his brother's horror-struck face. He looked up the path where he saw Alexis on the ground, still screaming. Her leg was broken; the bone had cracked through the skin.
Standing next to her was something Joe could only describe as a living nightmare. It looked like some kind of freak experiment. Its body was human... Or at least humanoid. Except for its legs. Fur covered most of its lower limbs, and out of its, no, his head sprouted antlers. As it turned to face the brothers, Joe nearly crapped a brick when he saw the glowing, red eyes. And that didn't even cover the smell, as if someone had put rotten eggs and fertilizer in a bag and left it to ferment. That was how awful this thing smelled. Not that Joe had much time to take it all in. The creature had turned to face them, almost as though deciding which one to attack first.
"Run," whispered Mark as he started to approach the creature terrified. Alexis still screaming as she reached toward Mark.
Joe ran to the closest shelter he could think of: the public bathrooms. He grabbed a rock before he slammed the door shut. A loud snap echoed through the forest, and he could hear his brother let out a sob. Joe realized in a panic that he could no longer hear Alexis' screams. That thing was going to kill them all, but if Mark could make it to the car, he could get help.
Joe opened the door, and screaming for his brother to run, he threw the rock at the creature. Mark ran toward the car, and Joe felt relieved until the creature turned its horned head to him. The rock had just stunned it, and now it was pissed. Joe ran back and slammed the door shut.
As it ran toward the door, Joe could hear its loud footsteps. It banged on the door and howled and screamed.
"LET. ME. IN." It could sound out the words, but it sounded off, almost strained.
Joe put his entire body into holding that door tightly in place, then it abruptly stopped. He knew it had likely gone after his brother and could only hope that he'd bought Mark enough time.
