The Forest Cottage

16

Camp Killer 

The wakefields house was quiet.  Liz and Jessica were twins. Both of them blonde and pretty.  Their father Ned had gone to an out of town meeting and they were alone in the house at night.  Their mother Nancy too had gone to their grannys house. 

" Which movie should we see Liz " Jess asked.  " Its too late in the night lets just go to sleep. Did you check all the doors are locked " Liz told.  She was the sensible of them both while Jess was the impulsive one.

" How about nightmare on elm street movie..  Did you heard at college Lila was saying that a man is, trying to break into houses in our locality. One girl she was alone and called the cops when she heard noises downstairs. But he had gone by the time they came."

Jess said.

" Im sleeping and not interested in ur this topics.  And tomorrow we are going camping remember so have to prepare too " Liz said.  " Yes i forgot that. It would be so fun in the middle of woods with freezing weather and above a sky full of stars. Its nice Tod too is coming. " Jess said. But Liz already was fast asleep. " Really in two minute you slept too " jess said. 

Jess went down stairs to check the doors and saw that the backdoor was wide open and was, rattling with the chilly blowing storm wind. Suddenly she felt a bit afraid.  What if that intruder was outside. Quickly she ran towards the door.  In the darkness from the bushes some movement of a shadow could be seen. " What was that now " Jess wondered as a shiver ran through her.  Jess bolted the door and went upstairs. And heaved a sigh of relief as she went to sleep. " Maybe i had not locked the door properly " she was wondering. 

Next morning Tod,  called up.  " " Here its Tod " Jess said as she handed the phone to Liz. Abd went to arrange her things. " Im coming up with Winston are you both ready with the camp stuff " he asked Liz.  " Yes we are all packed up. Jess is taking her make up purse too along!  " Liz told and both of them laughed at this. 

" Yes by the way Lila is also coming but she was worried about the mosquitoes in the forests " Tod said.  " Lets put Jess and her in one sleeping tent then.  But are you carrying a gun or something. Its wilderness anything could be there.  Professor Neil told not go that much far in the forests " Liz, was worrying.

" It's not that far and Bruce he is, also coming " Tod said. " This two are more then enough. You know how they both argue most of the time " Liz said.

Later they were ready as Tod came with his jeep and they all left for camping. As their car drove through the forests road. Lila from the backseat said " its so much green here see. Bruce have you brought ur camera to take pictures.  " " Yes i have " he said.

Tod said " Better take care of the compass Winston. We dont want losing our way in the jungles ok. Winston was a nice looking spectsy guy who tried to made people laugh with his jokes. . " Where is it,  the compass i dont find it here. I think i have misplaced it" Winston said. 

All of them were shocked.  Suddenly Winston started laughing and said  " i was joking i have it. "  "  Its already 5 pm in the evening soon it will be night so dont you think we should hurry up and find a, spot to set up our tents " Liz said.

" It was a, lame joke " Jessica said angrily.  " But this forests are looking too much lonely type in the twilight dont you all think so

" Lila said. " Dont you try to scare us now " Bruce told.  " And Lila there must be wild animals too think " Jess was saying. " I shouldn't have had come only " Lila said but Bruce told her " dont worry i have brought my gun. Bruce was the handsome dark haired friend of Lila. 

After some time of driving. Tod stopped. He was a well built old best friend of Elizabeth. " I think i have found our perfect spot for camping.

" Really its nice,  see there a lake nearby too " Jess squealed.  " No dipping there who knows what kind of fishes are there " Liz warned her. " You are a bore at times " Jess replied to her.

They all got out with their stuff as Tod parked the jeep. " Lets start putting up the tents before it gets dark and i and Bruce will go and get some wood to burn a fire " Tod said.  At this Liz told him" Don't go too far out in the woods as you may get lost in the darkness. And its already getting very chilly here too. A fire would warm us all. " Suddenly Liz started shivering. " Its too cold here we should have brought double sweaters with us " she said.  Soon the guys came. Tod and Bruce with some woodsticks. " Here are the sticks lets start the fire to keep you girls warm " he said. 

As they lit a bonfire and later were sitting around it. " The sky is full of stars, and see that full moon. Only in forests you can see this so clearly " Jess said.  " From our window also i can see it " Winston said.

" Lets share some stories then " Bruce said. ' I have heard rumors that a, serial killer prowls here at night " he said. " Shut up Bruce " Lila said.  " No im not joking really i have heard it " Bruce replied.

" Guys did you heard that sound of an axe hitting a tree. Who could be here in middle of nowhere at 10 pm in the night " Liz said with a, shiver. " Maybe its the rumoured killer " Winston said. " Just let us go and retire in our sleeping tents " Jess said as goosebumps came over her. There was silence all around them. 

Tod was the first one to break the silence. " Its okay dont worry i will keep a watch at night. " " After the long drive you must be tired so you too go to sleep " Liz argued.

" And zip the tent up " Jessica said. So they all made their way to their tents.  Lila was saying " I had told you guys to drop this idea. Now i won't be able to sleep in the night. Who knows whats out there .. " " You should have stayed and not come only. The killer is, better then having to listen to ur complaints now " Bruce told her.

" Both of you stop fighting and silently go to sleep now " Winston said as he entered the guys tent.

In the sleeping tent it was the girls and in other the boys. At 2 am in the night as all were asleep Liz heard some noise and woke up. Of someone walking on branches. Right outside their tent. Some shadow of a man could be seen from the moonlight falling outside.

Liz froze.  Someone was hovering around their tent.  And it was not an animal but a man. Should she wake up the others.

She shook Jess up. " Its someone our there wake up Jess" " You are dreaming go back to sleep " Jess said sleepily. While Lila did woke up and Liz told her that someones outside and not to make any noise.

Lila kept a hand on her mouth to prevent herself from screaming.  " And the guys tent is far away across from us!  Call them fast " Lila whispered.

" Ofcourse its showing no network here see.. " Liz showed Lila her phone. And from outside a hushed maniacal laughter came echoing.