The Forest Cottage

12

It was a wet soggy night. The roads were slippery. Driving a car in this weather was

nothing less then taking a risk. The moon was nowhere to be seen as the sky was full of

heavy dark clouds.

On the radio the weather forecast was of more heavy rains and lockdown of sorts for

two days. Very bad timing Mia thought, to be out in this night and to top it hoping to stay

in a inn for two days. Why did she just not stay at home. After that fabulous interview

she had with that handsome charming man who was the CEO of that big multinational

firm. Mia was selected as his personal assistant. That was a bit of surprise for her. But

she always kind of not gave much value to herself. A part of her believed that she was

too good.

She was a beauty with white flawless complexion, deep dark brown enigmatic eyes,

silky straight hair and slim model type. She had a stiff kind of relation with her father but

she did not hated him. Her mother was a little like a friend to her. Sometimes she was

bit hot tempered. She had a few friends. A boyfriend who she was not much close to

and a friend Tina who she liked to be with.

Tina was a curly haired impulsive fearless happy type of girl.

As I don't have any option now of turning back I will just go n stay whichever is the

nearest inn here. In this middle of nowhere woods that I have come to now she said

aloud. Her mother had warned her not to go out for this two day weekend alone ! What

could go wrong. Only in movies all those things happen don't they.

The phone rang it was Tina she was asking her where she had reached. " I have come

to an inn of sorts I think" said Mia to her.

From far off she saw a white light of an inn. It was a two storeyed small cottage type.

Already it looked spoke and pretty isolated too. Mia shivered a bit because of the cold

rains and of some other dreadful feeling which she couldn't lay a finger on yet as to

what it was. Wearily she entered the inn. She was wet with the rains and the cold air made her feel  when he said that ?

" Are you alone " she asked. " No I have a mother and a sister" they stay with me he

said in the other other side of the cottage rooms.

After when she was lying in her bed in the room she couldn't fell asleep. Her mind was

telling her to get out of here as soon as possible in the morning itself. Mia looked

outside the window. It was raining more heavily and the tree branches were wildly

banging against the window.

She shivered inspite of being in a sweater and a blanket. How can she go from here in

this weather. The roads must be flooded. What had she gotten herself into this time !

She put on the radio. News bulletin was coming about some thing. The news woman

reporter was saying that in the farmy California woody side area. The police are still

searching for the serial killer who's been murdering girls and throwing their bodies out in

the woods with a mark of star sign sign on their stomach. A new five day old body of a

girl has been found. It's believed all the three murders have been done by this same

killer. He is said to be somewhere in the lonely foresty area near the highway. And

whose he exactly still no one has any clues"..

After hearing the report Mias sleep went out the window. shivery. In front of her at the desk was a man! Tall whitish with a short hair and a 

kind of cunning type of face. Again she was seeing too much into the situation she

scolded herself and went to the reception desk. The innkeeper c*m reception asked her

"do u want a room" in a thin shrilly weird type of voice. Mia,said yes.

"Here are the keys to ur room up and u can sign here. Would you want some tea and

something to eat, cheese chicken sandwich is what we have right now if you would like "

asked he. Mia said yes again I m hungry. " Are all the rooms empty she asked". " Yes he

said as it's a stormy night n very few people come here". She took her key & felt like

hurrying from there fast to her room.

After she reached her room she locked it carefully. After taking her clothes off she took

a hot shower. In middle of her bath she heard something. It sounded as if the main door

knob was turning. A chill ran to her.

Quickly she showered n came out n got dressed. There was a knock on the door. The

inn guy was there with her dinner n tea.

She took it . " Would you like to come down n join me for dinner , I can show you some

of my art paintings too" he asked. " Okay no problem I could do with some company "

said Mia and went down with him.

***

Down he showed her his room it really was filled with some dreary stuffed animals n his

paintings were also kind of haunting. They were more of a dark type nature with colours

showing storm in a sea n such .. Intriguing she thought.

As they were sitting n chatting a deep muffled type moan filled the cottage. " What was

that" asked Mia. Her hand trembled and her cup was going to fall out of her hand. " It's

nothing just some sound of animals nearby in the forest area here. We are in the woods,

don't forget that" said john the inn keeper. Did she heard a hint of warning in his voice Mia woke up with a start. Where m I she thought then she remembered she was a in the  towards her. He was a rugged crazy looking long haired type of man. The petrol pump 

was also empty.

He told her to come with him inside the office area after filling her tank. As there was

some problem with the card. What now thought Mia n went with him. She was carrying

her maze spray in hand in case u never know what this man was up to.

When they reached his office the petrol pump guy came near her close n tried to say

something but before that only she sprayed on him. him. " Are you mad " he shouted.

What the hell are you doing. She tried to run away but he grabbed her arm n told her

that the reason why he called her here because he wanted to warn her that a,man was

hiding in her backside of car. " What oh no really " exclaimed Mia. " Yes ! " he replied.

" I m so sorry bit let's check it both of us " said Mia and went put with him.

By the time they reached the car. Both of them did a thorough check up. No one was

there. Mua got some doubts about it all. She just satin her cat and went away. Unable to

make anything out of it.

She just kept driving on listlessly. It was six pm in the evening and the storm had gotten

more worst. No matter how hard the wind wipers were working she just couldn't see

anything at all. Her mobile battery was also over. She just kept driving on. Only one more

hour and she will be home.

At last somehow she reached her house. She almost stumbled in her hurry to get

outside of the car. Her Her legs were cramped because of such a long drive. Mia rang

the doorbell incessantly. Her mother opened the door.

She exclaimed " Mia where were you been , you are all wet come inside fast " n she

closed the door.

After she had changed into dry clothes. " I'm ravished " she said. "Yes I'm getting u hot

chicken soup n bread wait it's getting ready " her mother said. Her father was reading

the newspaper.

" You shouldn't be out by urself in this weather , we were so worried " her

father said. " I know " replied. of nowhere with a creep innkeeper guy! She hurriedly got up. She saw the alarm 

clock by the bedside it read 11 am in the morning. Outside it was still raining heavily and

was dark like late evening.

How will I go out in this weather she thought but i have to go. Her phone buzzed it was

her mother she had called to check on her. " I'm fine and I am coming back don't worry,

about the weather I will make it " said Mia.

She got dressed up n took her mini luggage n went down the reception area. It was

empty. Where has the inn guy gone. She turned back n knocked into someone. It was

the inn keeper. " Where u going miss ? " he asked. " I have to go home I can't stay here

anymore. " " No you can't go in this storm " he scowled. " Of course I can go n I will "

said Mia.

" Ok as u wish " said he. The way he said it it sounded more like as if he was sending

her a death wish.

She hurried out of there. " By the way the petrol pump is one mile away from here n god

knows if it's open " he said. Mia rolled her eyes n went out. The rain hit her like a whip

lash as soon as she was out.

Somehow she made to her car n sat it. She started the engine. It just won't start. Again she kept trying and it started. She drove away from there. I hope I make it quickly she 

thought. She switched on the car radio. Some music channel was playing. Then again a

news came in between after ten minutes. This time it was a warning for all citizen to

stay at home n not venture out in the storm and to add a killer was on the loose so all

were advised to firmly lick their doors in the night.

Mia laughed a self pitying one. " N here I'm adventuring out in the storm with a serial

killer out somewhere there " she said aloud. She felt hungry she had not eaten anything.

At least she had taken some coffee to drink. It would have been better. After driving for

one hour the petrol pump came. She went in to fill in the fuel. A man came rushing towards her. He was a rugged crazy looking long haired type of man. The petrol pump was also empty.

He told her to come with him inside the office area after filling her tank. As there was

some problem with the card. What now thought Mia n went with him. She was carrying

her maze spray in hand in case u never know what this man was up to.

When they reached his office the petrol pump guy came near her close n tried to say

something but before that only she sprayed on him. him. " Are you mad " he shouted.

What the hell are you doing. She tried to run away but he grabbed her arm n told her

that the reason why he called her here because he wanted to warn her that a,man was

hiding in her backside of car. " What oh no really " exclaimed Mia. " Yes ! " he replied.

" I m so sorry bit let's check it both of us " said Mia and went put with him.

By the time they reached the car. Both of them did a thorough check up. No one was

there. Mua got some doubts about it all. She just satin her cat and went away. Unable to

make anything out of it.

She just kept driving on listlessly. It was six pm in the evening and the storm had gotten

more worst. No matter how hard the wind wipers were working she just couldn't see

anything at all. Her mobile battery was also over. She just kept driving on. Only one more

hour and she will be home.

At last somehow she reached her house. She almost stumbled in her hurry to get

outside of the car. Her Her legs were cramped because of such a long drive. Mia rang

the doorbell incessantly. Her mother opened the door.

She exclaimed " Mia where were you been , you are all wet come inside fast " n she

closed the door.

After she had changed into dry clothes. " I'm ravished " she said. "Yes I'm getting u hot

chicken soup n bread wait it's getting ready " her mother said. Her father was reading

the newspaper.

" You shouldn't be out by urself in this weather , we were so worried " her

father said. " I know " replied.  As she sat down to eat she said " N u won't believe I was almost stuck with a weird inn 

owner in his lodge ".

" Have not you heard the news about that serial killer in that woody area. And you went

off on an adventure in just that zone. What were u thinking "her mother said.

" It's okay I'm now home " Mia told.

And now on Monday for my new day at the company it's so exciting .. she thought.  While sleeping Mia reminisced about her meeting with the interviewer, he's name was Eric. He was in his mid thirties tall , athletic built black straight hair dark brown eyes 

very handsome to look at and very forbidding too.

Just for a lark she had applied and had got selected. Had heard about him in

the newspaper's about his many so called fake girlfriends.

While waiting for the interview in the reception area. She looked around it was a big

white coloured bit warm vibe giving office. And she was not sure about her selection n

she cared less about it though. There were so many fashion magazines lying around on

the table. But the one that caught her eye was about some new model who was on a

cover. He looked so cute thought she.

The receptionist told her to go inside. She went in. He was kind of stiff n a bit rude in the

interview at first but later slowly he was showing a warm side of his as the interview

went further.

Wouldnt be a bad experience working for him. If he always keeps this side of his she at the end of it he told her to join the firm. She was bit surprised. Only a bit not much.

***

The next day she was to report for a fashion shoot. As the company had hired a model

to shoot for their new campaign. She got ready n reached the sets. She had worn a

light pink top blue embroidery jeans n her hair was done in a bun. Eric was already

there.

He saw her n gave her a smile. His smile was so very nice n genuine she thought. " She mused. you stay here n supervise the shoot, I'm going to make one important conference call " said he n went.

" Oh no it's that same magazine model guy " exclaimed Mia n went to the photographer

to tell him to take more pictures. After the shoot the model guy came to her n told " I

thought you were a model too" to Mia.

She laughed " No I'm his assistant". They both introduced themselves , his name was

Tod. They talked for some time.

" So are you dating someone " he asked. She felt surprised by his question n said no.

" Then will you be my girlfriend ". She was staring at him agape.

Tod laughed "I mean act as my girlfriend for some days. I wouldn't mind if u were my

real by the way ". Mia blushed a bit at this.

" Y u want me to be ur girlfriend but ". " You see there's a psychic ex friend of mine.

She just won't leave me, shes stalking me wherever I go. And she knows that I m not

deep with anyone do if you act as my girlfriend maybe she will get discouraged ".

Mia started to falter a bit when she said " but u can't get any other girl to act y me " . "Y

not u " he said.

" So some very interesting thing going on here between u two " Eric had just came.

There was some unreadable expression on his face

" Nothing we were just talking " Mia replied. " I will think n tell u " Mia told Tod n went

with Eric.

" You better don't get too chummy with the like of him ". Eric told her as He seemed bit

jealous to her. For some unknown reason she found ot funny.the night she was bit exhausted n with a blanket and a nice novel had sat down to read before sleeping.

Tina called up. " So how was the day ". Mia told her everything. "It must be fun "Tina

said. " I'm happy that you reached home safely that day when u had gone for that two

day weekend ride to that cottage inn".

Oh that Mia thought she had totally forgotten about it in her busy day. But now when

she remembered it , it seemed like that psycho killer n she were connected in some way

but how. Was she imagining too much. A feeling of uncertain fear filled her.was a very busy day in the office. Mia was going through some folders and  . " Come inside the cabin " Eric said. She followed him.

" For one week I'm going to this mountain cabin of mine for some reason and you

have to come along with me ".

" Why but.." she was just asking when he cut her off n took a incoming call. What a

boor he is she thought.

She told her mother about the trip. Her mother too was shocked. About the suddenness

of it. She called up Tina and told her about it. As always Tina tried to console her by

saying that " don't worry , maybe you will like it. And yes I will join you there to keep u

company wait in two days as I too have nothing much to do here as such " . Mia said "

you are sweet really sure come n stay with us, I'm sure he won't mind it".

Who cares even if he does said Tina.

****

After two days Mia was all packed up with her bags. She had done a light luggage. It

was mid afternoonn was a sunny warm day outside.

Eric came with his car. She sat in and they rode along. Her mother waved both of them

goodbyes.

Half an hour went it was all silent in the car. He didn't seemed to be in the mood to talk. "

No he replied I have some lot of work to do so I'm not much in the mood to talk " he

said. " Very well Mia thought.

They stopped at a roadside inn for coffee. The owner came out to greet them. He asked them where they were going. Eric replied him.

The owner was a fat man in his fifties with a heavy moustache. He said , '" ok you are

going to that cottage is it yes, but be a little careful as there are talks of some maniac

on the loose here " he said.

Mia rolled her eyes oh no not again this.

****

The cottage itself was a lovely sight to look at. Very quaint one storeyed but spacious n

comfy from inside. Outside there were many rose shrubs surrounding it.

" I like it " exclaimed Mia. " I m glad you do " said Eric. They both went in n

unpacked their bags. " U take the upper room " he said.

Mia went in her room it was lovely as the house. From the window the whole rocky type

road n beyond it the woody area could be seen.

What was that far away .. it seemed like a blinking light on top of some cottage of sorts

it was pretty far away but not that too. Walkable distance of half an hour or so. Was it

that inn I had been to .. she shuddered at the thought. That inn gave her the creeps for

some unexplained reason. Whatever, ignore it.

From down Eric said " I'm going to town to get some things u stay in the house " .. "

Yes ". she replied. She laid down on the bed and closed her eyes for five minutes.

What could go wrong here by the way she pondered.

She was beginning to like Eric a little bit. When he was not in an angry mood he showed

a caring side to him. Evening started to befall. Eric had returned. He had bought pizzas n

coke and lots of other household things which they may need for their stay here.

After dinner both were sitting n watching some show on TV. It was some soap opera of

sorts. Pretty interesting it was. The door bell rang. " I will take it " Eric said.

He opened the door there was a sheriff standing outside. He said, " Good evening I I. came to know that the most famous business man has come to our area for some days 

so I thought i would just pay you a customary visit ". " U r welcome come on in , this is

my personal assistant. As I have some land dealings here so I had to come here for a

few days " said Eric.

Mia looked at the sheriff he seemed a pleasant warm man. They offered him some tea.

After few minutes he talked and then got up to go. " It's a nice place , hope you like it

here but be little safe and lock ur doors at night in the nights. And please dont venture

out in the woods .. as you might be knowing unfortunately we have this some killer on

the loose here and still we don't know his identity as to exactly who hes " he said while

trailing off.

Half an hour had gone by. " I think we should just go and sleep early " said Eric and was

just getting up to go. When the phone rang. He answered it. It was the sheriff. In a

muffled voice he was calling him at the police station for some urgent thing which he

couldn't explain on the phone. Erica brows furrowed. He was between two minds

whether to go or not.

He kept the phone down. N said " I will make it quick n come. You know how this town

folks are " he said n took the car keys n opened the door to go. As soon as he opened

the door a lightening striked and clouds thundered. Rain started to pour in heavily. " Very

uncertain weather here " he said " but you don't worry, just go and sleep. And bolt all

doors ok " saying he went away.

Mia did not went to her bedroom n slept. She just sat there waiting for Eric to come

quickly. She felt like as if something was out there in the dark.  It was so dark outside and the rain was falling very heavily. Mia had checked on all the 

doors and windows. Eric had told her not to open the door for anyone. Till he arrived. 

She was sitting on the couch shivering. There was a sheer lightening and all the lights 

went out.

Someone was banging heavily at the door. She cautiously went to the door n saw 

through the peephole. It was a white faced all wet woman. She looked oddly similar. She 

needed some help maybe.

She called up Eric n asked him what to do. He told her not to open the door for anyone. 

Again the door pounded. She thought maybe that woman needed help n at last opened 

the door inspite of his warnings. With a knife in her hand in case she needed it.

After she opened the door the short cut haired woman looked like she was going to 

faint. She was all drenched up. She eyed her dagger. Mia kept it aside.

" Okay come on in " Mia said to her. " No it's about my mother she's very ill can you 

come and look at her " the woman said. " Where u stay ? " Mia asked. " That inn cottage

"

nearby. " Okay you are his sister the innkeeper's" "Yes "she said. So she went with her. 

A nag of doubt followed her as she went along. " Let me take a flashlight n raincoat " she 

said & they both went.

When they both got out of her car. The woman took her to the residence cottage. It was 

as spooky as she had looked at it the first time. More so with the storm lashing and the 

lightening throwing long dark shadows across it. They both entered it. After entering the 

woman quickly locked the door.

" Come with me " she said. Mia followed her to upstairs. The stairs were creaking with 

their weight and making loud noises inside the empty house. " In here " the woman 

said pointing towards a, dark lit room. " My mother is here ".

Mia entered the room. It was a very dark room almost empty. No living human could 

stay in such a place. What kind of woman she was Mia thought. Something was off about it too. Heavy smell of dead flesh was prevslent in the room. She felt like 

vomitting. " What exactly happened to ur mother " Mia asked.

The woman was eerily calm n did not replied her. Her whole being was screaming weird 

n danger to her. I think I have made a mistake by coming here like a fool thought Mia 

again.

On a chair facing the wall his mother was sitting. " Look mother someone's here " the 

woman said.

When Mia went near her n what she saw stunned her with disbelief, fear n feeling of 

dizzyness. On the chair was a old dead woman's body rotting!

Mia screamed. " Shes dead !" Yes she is n now u will too ". The woman suddenly talked 

in a man's voice. There was a steely maniacal glint in her eyes. Her whole personality 

had changed.

She removed her wig and it was no more a woman but a man. The inn keeper guy. He 

had led a trap to make her come here. He was the serial killer.

Then the sudden realization hit her with an alarming force. " Mia covered her mouth 

from screaming in fear. There's no sister and n mother you lied ".

"Yes but my mother told me to do all this " he said n with a knife came rushing towards. But the cops with Eric came and caught him. " How you knew i was here " Mia asked. " I saw the house empty and knew something was, wrong. So with the cops i came " Eric told her. " So alls, well that ends, well " Mia, said as thecops handcuffed inn guy and took him.