Dead Ahead

Paul went forth and found some parts for his craft that he just crash-landed. Unfortunately, it was no safe place he landed. He was alone, no one to be seen, as it was all dusty and windy around. With such a condition he was in, he knew he had to stay cautious and prevent from getting himself killed.

“This is Pilot Paul, asking for immediate backup, I crash-landed in an unknown coordinate which I sent, I never recognize this area I am on as it appears nothing on my radar,” he said on the radio from the craft.

But there was no answer and he continued for several minutes yet nothing. As it was getting darker and no signs of any help coming, he decided to rest for the night. Fortunately, the craft was not on fire he could stay beside it as a temporary shelter.

“There has got to be something that could warm me up around here, or else I would freeze to death,” he said to himself as he went looking for firewoods near his crash site. The forest was thick and dark around, though the evening sun was setting only the light shone on the crash site, the rest was just plain dark. Unable to see, he brought his flashlight and his firearm just in case something might threaten him.

As he walked through the thick forest gathered some woods, he placed it on metal debris from the craft and dragged him with it...

Branches were heard breaking not far from where he is, Paul thought it might be someone who lived there and could help him, but for an instant, he realized there were no lights around. What kind of person would go out around dark in the forest without lights, so he shone his flashlight towards the sound but something creepy he began to notice is that the footsteps the ‘something’ was making were four steps at once as if it was an animal, so he decided to turn off his light and take cover.

He holds his gun with him, the steps were getting close as the branches kept breaking, a creepy crooked sound the ‘thing’ made, scared the hell out of him, he never heard such creepy sounds in his life, as if it were the screaming of a thousand souls all at once, his heart pounces fast and hard, his fear was on top.

“What should I do, I was never trained for this,” he thought, all he was able to do for now was taking cover on the huge bark of the tree, he waited hoping for it to go so he could escape and return to his craft, but it just wandered around like it knows he is around, the steps only got closer. Without further more thinking he tried pointing his gun behind his cover and tried to pounce on it, but someone grabs him pulled him back to his original spot, and covered his mouth as well other body parts, so he won’t move.

“Shh, believe me, you wouldn’t want to do that” the stranger whispered, the pilot agreed and ask him to ease out.

“Who the hell are you?” he whispered while keeping his gun cautious on to the beast.

“Who am I is not important, what’s important we get the hell out of here” the stranger whispered and added, “come on, this way slowly, I think I know the way.

Paul followed him while looking back to check on the beast, he saw a glimpse of it and it was all dark around it, had pointy fingers, and the only thing that could be seen from it is its bright red eyes and shiny white pointy teeth, it smiled a very eerie gruesome expression.

“Don’t look at it, the more you look at it, the more it knows where you are” the stranger whispered and reminded him, “the beast feeds on fear”.

Paul was just confused about what was really going on but for the sake of his life and safety he just followed him, he knew something odd about the stranger, the way his clothing looked somehow old and messy as if he was lost for a very long time.

It was almost night,

Little light was to be seen, the stranger kept walking and he just followed. The pilot just wanted to speak out because it seemed safe now, but the stranger just gave him a shut-up sign.

Finally, they stopped, the stranger now then talks.

“Look, I have been lost in this forest more than you do, and god knows how long I have been here, but finally I knew the way out of here and safe from the beast, you see that dead-end ahead over there” the stranger pointed to a spot where the sun could be seen, Paul nodded yes.

“Now we run!” the stranger started running towards it, Paul stood confused.

“Are you stupid! Look behind you!” he said. Paul looked back and saw the beast coming fast towards him laughed a creepy tone while it chases, Paul instantly ran and shouted to the stranger... “Why didn’t you told me earlier!” he said.

He ran fast as he could that now he is side by side with the stranger, they are now almost near the dead end. The beast kept chasing them and tried grabbing one of them but luckily both were finally outside the forest, the beast just disappeared into ashes and nowhere to be seen.

“That was a close one right” the stranger laughed.

Paul tempered, “why didn’t you told me earlier!”

“hey, be grateful I saved you,” the stranger said. Paul was too weak he lied on the ground.

“and...whatever you do, never come back here again, no matter what you think” he reminded Paul.

“why would I ever be coming back here...” Paul said while taking a deep breath, lying on the ground.

Not long after, a helicopter flew above them and spoke through the loudspeaker to stay put to be rescued. Paul was brought on the chopper and was examined by the medics, he got up as soon they were done examining him and was strange to see where the other person was, he asked the medics but they told him that he was alone by the time they got there, Paul disagreed and told them to go back and get him, they convinced him once more that there was no one around with him, he leaned on the seat of the chopper as it flew back towards the base, he questioned himself multiple times...

Who was he with the whole time?