The air is thin and sharp, biting at my lungs with every breath. The sun, a pale orb in the vast sky, struggles to pierce through the dense foliage, casting long, eerie shadows that dance across the rugged terrain. I’m here, hiking the popular trail in the Canadian Rockies, following in the footsteps of a group of tourists who went missing a week ago.
Their abandoned campsite, a hastily pitched affair with remnants of half-eaten food strewn about, tells me they didn’t just decide to leave. Something happened to them. Something sinister. I’m Detective Sarah Michaels, a seasoned hiker and an expert in the wild, and I’m determined to find them. But as I trek deeper into the wilderness, the unsettling silence and the oppressive weight of the mountains start to play tricks on my mind.
The trail, once clear and well-worn, now becomes a maze of overgrown paths and hidden crevices. The wind howls through the trees, whispering secrets that I’m not sure I want to hear. Shadows seem to creep closer, forming distorted figures that lurk at the edge of my vision.
I stumble upon a small clearing, where a dilapidated cabin stands, its windows like empty eye sockets staring out into the darkness. A shiver runs down my spine as I approach, the creaking of the old boards echoing like a death knell. I push open the door, and the stench of decay assaults my senses.
Inside, the cabin is a mess, strewn with cobwebs and debris. A chill grips me as I notice a trail of blood leading from the back room. I cautiously follow it, my heart pounding in my chest.
In the far corner, I find them. The tourists, their bodies lifeless and pale, their eyes wide with terror. Their faces are frozen in masks of horror, their mouths agape in silent screams.
A wave of nausea washes over me as I realize what happened. They weren’t simply lost or injured. They were attacked. By something that left behind no trace, no sound, no witnesses.
The silence of the mountains seems to deepen, the shadows grow longer, and the air thickens with an ominous presence. I know I’m not alone. Something is out there, watching me, waiting for its chance.
I turn and flee, the cabin fading into the darkness behind me. My path is unclear, but I run blindly, fueled by fear and adrenaline. The mountains close in around me, a menacing fortress of towering peaks and dense forests.
I stumble and fall, my hands scraping against the rough ground. I lie there for a moment, catching my breath, my heart a drumbeat in my chest. I can’t stay here. I have to keep moving.
I push myself up and continue my escape, the darkness swallowing me whole. I can’t see more than a few feet in front of me, but I know I’m going downhill. The slope gets steeper, and I lose my footing, tumbling down a rocky incline.
I crash into a tree, the impact knocking the breath out of me. I lie there, gasping for air, my body aching. The cold seeps into my bones, and I start to shiver uncontrollably.
I’m lost, injured, and alone. And I know that something is coming for me.
Last Updated on December 14, 2023
by DaF Books