The Forest Cottage

19

The 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.

In night Lila screamed. " There was some shadow of a, man outside i really saw it " she said. " Fast lets wake up the guys " Jess said. " Call Tod fast " Jess told Liz. " But its showing no network." " Now what we do.. " Lila, was saying. 

But the man outside went away.  As all the boys came scurrying towards them at their screams. 

" Whats it why you screamed " Tod asked.  " There was a, man outside our tent maybe the axeman " Liz said. " Hes gone now, dont worry i will sleep here and Lila you go and sleep in my tent " Tod said.  " Don't worry i have a gun " Bruce said. 

As all them of them again slept back in their respective tents. Liz was peering out through the tent window. " in four hours it will be morning and we will go away from here " Tod said as he slept. " " There still four hours more Tod cantbwe go now only. "  " No because its too late in the night and I'm feeling sleepy " Tod said and slept." " What if he came back again "Liz said still sitting near the tents window. I m surprised how she is  sleeping after all such commotion " Liz said pointing towards her sister Jess. 

The next moment. Tod got up and sad I have to go and pee I will be in a minute. " Ru crazy you can't go out there " Liz said. " But do I have any other option " he asked. " Take Bruce along with you the its risky going out there alone. The killer's out there " Liz told him. " Okay I'm going and waking him up " Tod said and went out.

Liz saw him enter the boys tent but after a few moments later he came out alone. " That fool what he's doing " Liz said. Ten minutes had  passed Liz was worrying as Tod still had not returned. " I had told him not to go alone. "

There was a commotion. All of them got up.  Bruce,  Winston and Lila. " Whats it what happened " Bruce asked.  " Tod as gone missing somewhere and has not returned " Liz, said.  " Let's take some flashlights and search for him " Bruce told Winston. 

Lila patted Lizs shoulder " See i had told you not to come here so far in the woods but you people wont hear me out. Tod can take care of himself dont worry ..  " 

They all went in groups searching for him calling out his name.  After some time.  " Look i see someone lying on the ground " Winston said and they all rushed to see it was Tod unconscious. " Pour some water on him fast " Jess said. 

Winston sprinkled some water on him.  Tod got up slowly. " We have to go from here theres a man with an axe here.  He hitted me on the head. And ran away.  Im sure hes somewhere around here and coming back " Tod was, saying. 

" Ok let's pack the tents and get back in our car and drive off from here " Liz, said. Bruce said " I will drive the car. " As they made their way back to their tents and starting removing it.  Lila  went towards the car and screamed. 

" Whats it Lila " Winston. " The car tyres punctured see " she pointed towards it.  " How can that be " Jess  said.  " That man only must save done it " Tod said.  " Remove the extra tire and fix it then fast. You know how to do it dont you Winston " Bruce came and told. " I will do it " Tod said.

They all ran. Towards their jeep.  All of them got inside and Tod started it. But it was not starting.  " I think its a tyre puncture. Bruce can you fix it fast " Tod said. 

Bruce jumped out and started fixing a, spare tyre.  " Hurry up any moment that man can come " Liz, said. 

After it was fixed.  They all got inside and Tod started the jeep.  Again it was starting. " I think you dont know how to drive only  " Jess said angrily. 

" Look that axe mans coming " Lila pointed towards the trees.  All of them froze.  Then with a jolt their jeep started. As Winston turned around and saw the killer running behind them. 

And they got away from there.  " What time it is now " asked Lila.  " Its night only " replied Jess looking at her mobile.  " Next time no camping in the wilderness. I had told you not to come out so far deep in the forests " Liz told. 

It was very chilly weather and the moon was still up in the sky as they all made their journey back to their town.