Dark Encounters

Chapter two: Encounter

I am not sure what had awoken me to begin with, but I found myself sitting upright in bed. My head c****d to the side, listening. For what, I’m not to sure about that either.

All I knew was that I could hear something moving outside. Like heavy paws padding along the ground, and low chuffing noises. Something I just couldn’t place, but I certainly could feel the little hairs rise on the back of my neck.

My bedroom door creaked open causing me to jump slightly. Betty stood uncertainly beside the door. “Did you hear it as well?” She asked me.

I gestured for her to join me in bed, “it’s probably just the wind.” I tried to reassure her, but it felt like I was trying to reassure myself instead. We sat in my bed, and I’m straining to hear anything else.

Silence.

I helped Betty get comfortable and we snuggled against each other, ready to sleep, when we heard another sound. This time however, it was more like a growl. I felt like it was right below my window, sniffing about.

I winced a bit, my chest tightened, and I could feel something trying to claw its way out.

Not good.

“Stay here.” I told Betty. I then slipped out of bed and on tippytoes I silently walked through the house. Everyone, except for Betty and myself, were still asleep. Even Larry, who had fallen asleep in the armchair. There’s also a certain advantage to living on a big property and everything is to do with the metal lockable gun cabinet that sat on the far side of the lounge room. This is where he keeps the rifles and shotguns and their ammo.

He had made a point of showing us how to shoot and how to care for them. Right now, though, I need at least one of them and he usually has the key hanging close by. The question is, where’d he put it.

“Hmm, where’d you put that key?” I asked myself.

My head shot up from where I had been rummaging through the phone table’s draws. I could hear the horses screaming in terror and their hooves banging on their stall doors.

Abandoning the gun cabinet and I silently walked to the front door. Because we never really lock both the wooden and the screen one it was easy to just pull it open a tad. I pressed my face up against the screen door, trying to see if anything was outside.

I couldn’t really see anything, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t anything out there. So, I unlatched the screen door handle and pushed outwards, popping my head out and looked around.

Still nothing, shrugging my shoulders I decided to risk it. Maybe there wasn’t really anything and my mind was just making it all up. I stood half inside and half out, ready to haul arse back inside if need be. A gust of chilled wind rushed in, blowing the door open wider and making me shiver.

Outside was still dark and the breeze had a cold edge to it. I scanned the darkest parts of the yard, willing something to appear, and it did. A small movement, slinking in between the shadowy places.

I took another step forward, leaving the safety of the doorway and winced. I clutched at my chest, breathing hard, that damn clawing sensation returned.

I squinted through the night, to the shadowy places near the barn and saw something that was black, blacker than the night around me. I made a quick choice and really truth to be told, whatever that lay underneath the surface that scratched endlessly at whatever bound it, shoved me outside. My subconscious willed me forth and my feet took me to the barn entrance.

I hadn’t even realised I’d crossed the courtyard, barefooted, crunching onto the loose stones. Some sort of instinct told me to freeze and I did. The black shadow swung its massive head to stare at me with its golden eyes. For some reason, it felt like I could feel the hatred it had. Simmering just below the surface.

“What is it?” Betty asked, whispering.

I hadn’t even realised she had followed me outside.

“Julie?” She asked, when I didn’t answer the first time.

“Why didn’t you stay in my room? Like I told you!” I hissed at her. I didn’t want to take my eyes from the black shadow or their golden eyes. But I ended up turning to face Betty, she looked frightened. Her skin was a pale shimmer in the moonlight, and in truth, I was terrified as well. I grabbed her hand and escorted ourselves back towards the safety of the house and inside. I looked back once and the figure wasn’t there.

The night life had come back alive again and now I’m starting to notice a pattern. It was as if nature itself was telling me that whatever that was is now gone.

I scanned the area one last time before allowing Betty to pull me into the house and I relocked up.

I allowed Betty to stay with me for the rest of the night. I’m pretty sure i won’t be able to sleep after that.

I awoke to the early morning light streaming through my window and I suppose I did end up falling asleep after all.

Betty lay dozing on the bed next to me and I carefully rose and slipped out. Quickly getting dressed. I pulled on my everyday jeans and my long-sleeved shirt over my head. It was just after 6am and it’s also time to do the early morning chores.

I made myself toast and made my way out, eating on the way. I looked back once; Larry was still sleeping the armchair.

The morning sun hadn’t come up yet, but the horizon started getting lighter and lighter as the morning wore on. The morning breeze chilled my skin.

I crossed the short distance to the barn, kicking at the stones as i went. The feeling came crashing back and I paused.

Something felt wrong, the usually close door stood ajar and I stopped mid-stride.

Was the door open last night? I couldn’t remember. I stood motionless, a few feet away from the opening. Very unsure if I should proceed or not, an involuntary glance around and to my relief saw nothing. Shrugging off the feeling and I continued onwards to the entrance of the barn and again I stopped mid-stride. The morning air wrapped me in a cocoon of chill, my blood turning to ice.

It didn’t really, but at that moment it sure felt like it.

I could feel the blood in my veins pulse quicker, as my heartbeat sped up.

It’s just not my day today.

My scream, if there was one got stuck in my throat and I would have imagined that it would have filled the stillness of the morning.

But it didn’t.

Instead, I heard hoof beats in the background, behind me and could only assume that Daniel had come to visit. Only because he’s like the one guy I knew who would ride his horse everywhere.

I pivoted on the spot, sneaking a glance at him, confirming my assumption. But probably the worst idea ever, never turn your back on a predator.