Shadow of the Beast

The Cabin

A week into my stay with my aunt, I was already noticing changes. Nothing major, nothing that I could really put my finger on when looking in the mirror, but the fact that my jeans didn't cut into my belly as much as they did before, and my shirts were a little looser around my arms, all gave me faith that my hard work was paying off. 

Aunt Kate had bought me a major kit of lotions and potions, face washes and cleansers and who knows what else. My breakouts seemed a little less angry, but the skincare routine she had me made me consider starting my jog an extra half hour earlier just so that I could fit everything into the day. She had taught me a few tricks with makeup, and when I looked in the mirror after she'd given me a mini make over, I actually liked what I saw. I guess this was what my mother always saw, a pretty girl with big blue eyes, pale skin and dark hair, but I could only see it clearly when my aunt had spent 20 minutes expertly applying expensive foundation and eye makeup to my face. 

I definitely felt more at home with Aunt Kate. She was more easy-going than my mother, and would listen to my problems, which probably sounded terribly trivial to her, and give constructive advice and tough love. I needed it. My mother had always been so focused on not hurting my feelings that I didn't feel like we had an honest relationship. 

The weeks continued to roll by, and jogging became my every day escape. Unlike on the first day, when I'd wanted to snooze my alarm, I actually found myself sitting on the edge of the bed, lacing up my sneakers, when the 'wake-up' alarm would suddenly go off. I'd taken to it like a duck to water; every day I ran a little faster, and a little farther. I'd had to start getting creative with my route, so that I'd keep my heart rate up for long enough according to my fitness watch to record as a valid workout. I would have to eyeball some 'landmarks' (usually a toadstool, or a tree with strange markings, or a large puddle) so lead me back home. I'd tried using the GPS function on my phone, but past a certain point in the woods there was no reception. Getting lost was an adventure though, and exploring the beauty of nature was something I thoroughly enjoyed. When you haven't always had the best relationship with people, being completely along with your own thoughts, the sound of the breeze rustling through the trees, and the early morning birdsong is the best therapy you could imagine... But being alone and hearing nothing but silence is the scariest thing in the world. 

One morning, I went out, bright and early and wearing the new gear we had bought the day before. I had looked in the mirror that morning and noted, with glee, that my arms seemed more toned and my body had worked itself into a smooth hourglass shape going back to school in a week and a half was going to be amazing. Aunt Kate and I had planned a big shopping trip for the weekend, and I was going to dress to impress, and finally feel like one of the 'pretty girls'. Today, I wore a tank top with pride, and everything was perfect until I stepped through the mouth of the woods. 

It was quiet today, eerily quiet. I heard sound of the breeze wailing through the trees, 'it doesn't usually sound that creepy, does it?' I thought to myself. I realized that it was the lack of birdsong that made it sound so strange. It should have alerted me to the fact that something strange was going on, but I just told myself that maybe the birds were somewhere else in the woods today. 

I carried on down my usual path, and where the path forked, I took a left and carried on going. I'd run this route a few times, and it had some good uphills for the days I felt like a challenge. I carried on going, and must've zoned out, because I suddenly found myself in a clearing, and just at the bottom of a small incline was an old, abandoned looking cabin. 

I felt confused, I was sure I'd been this route before, and I'd never seen a cabin. I stopped and looked around, trying to get my bearings. I heard a strange sound, a low grumbling sound, or was it a growl? Where was it coming from? It seemed to come from all directions, and it shook me down to my core. It continued, and then I felt it. A deep, sharp, searing pain in my left shoulder. I instinctively reached for my shoulder with my right hand, and it felt warm and wet. I pulled back my hand to see what was on me, and there it was. Deep, crimson red blood. The growling disappeared, my world started to spin and my vision went dark, as I passed out and crumpled to the ground.