Chapter 1
Underneath the vast dark skies lies a dirt road with a ’04 red Corolla cruising lazily along the path. Thomas Kotch, a nervous, average-looking seventeen year-old, sitting uncomfortably in the passenger seat, and Samantha Harris, a sprite, beyond beautiful, eighteen year-old in the driver’s seat. A pop song plays in the background. Thomas can’t quite make out what the song is. Samantha mouths lyrics bobbing her head back and forth to the rhythm with both hands on the steering wheel.
Samantha shoots Thomas, whose attention is out the window, a side glance and the corner of her mouth perk to a small grin. “What are you thinking about?” she asks.
“What?” Thomas said, being brought back inside the car.
Samantha giggles.
“Um...nothing.”
“Nothing?” she said flirtatiously. “You can’t be thinking of nothing. One’s gotta be thinking something,” Samantha said with another giggle, her full lips coming into a smile.
Thomas relaxes. Samantha is certainly a charming individual. Her emerald green eyes, a perfect small nose which slightly curves up at the tip, her clear skin complexion, and soft chestnut hair that reaches just past her shoulders; it’s a wonder why she agreed to go to this party with him. “I guess I’m just nervous,” Thomas said.
“And why are you nervous, Thomas?” she said. Thomas catches those green eyes that stuns him each time he looks into them.
“Well, I, uh-I…” Samantha giggles. It’s probably because she is the most beautiful girl in the school, nay, the whole county. Thomas refocuses. “I just don’t wanna say anything stupid, and dumb, heh, and I realize those are practically the same thing, and-”
“Thomas," Samantha interrupts him. "I think you’re a handsome man. And I know you’re smart. Mrs. Gugger always goes on about the papers you turn in. And well...you’re not like all the other guys who go after me. They’re brash and they reek of overconfidence. You...seem very nice,” Samantha said with severe sincerity.
Thomas blushed. “Uh, thank you.” Thomas now wears a toothy smile.
“So what do you like to do?” Samantha asked.
“Well, I like to read,” Thomas said.
“Really? Ha, I don’t know why I’m surprised. What’s your favorite book?”
“Eh, I don’t wanna sound pretentious but I have always been a big fan of The Catcher in the Rye. Something about the main character, Holden Caulfield. While kind of a bum, I can really relate to him. Or at least his perspective.”
Samantha nods her head thoughtfully, engaged with Thomas’s answer. “Interesting. Wanna know mine? Favorite book?”
“Sure.”
“Twilight,” after a quick pause.
Thomas opens his mouth to reply and ends up holding his mouth agape.
“I’m kidding,” Samantha said bursting with laughter. Thomas huffs with relief. “I totally had you, hah. Did you really think I had such bad taste?”
“I don’t know, maybe,” Thomas said.
“Well personally, I’m offended you would think so low of me,” she said playfully. “In truthfulness, it would have to be The Scarlet Letter.”
“That’s a good one,” he replied surprised.
“There’s something so inherently about...love. I dunno. I’m gonna make myself sound stupid,” Samantha said.
“No, no. I get where you’re coming from,” Thomas said.
“It’s okay, Thomas. Not everyone can be smart like you.”
Looking ahead the dirt road Thomas sees a light illuminating a gate off to the side of the road: Peter Bowden’s house, the location of the party. Approaching the light, the gate is surrounded by teenager-owned vehicles.
Samantha continues to drive pass the gate.
Thomas looks back at the gate confused. “Isn’t that Peter’s house back there?”
“Yes,” Samantha said with a mischievous grin, comically raising her eyebrows.
“Ha, okay. Um, are we not going to the party?”
“I don’t know about you, but I’m having a good time. And I don’t want to spoil that by being surrounded by a bunch of drunk idiots.”
Thomas nods then grins. “Okay.”
“Besides, there’s this really cool place ahead. I thought it’d be a good spot to hang out. Just the two of us,” Samantha says this time with a wink.
Thomas contemplates for a moment. “Are you taking us to Pecan Hill?”
Samantha smiles. “Didn’t take you long to figure it out.”
“Well,” Thomas said with a shrug.
“I think it’s a lovely place, and dare I say, romantic.” she said, eyes grown with sarcasm. “And when the sky is clear, and the moon out and can see the whole county. It’s beautiful.”
The nervousness comes back to Thomas. His stomach begins to plummet. “What are we gonna do there?” Thomas asks with a little quiver in his voice.
Samantha can sense his uneasiness. “Whatever you’re comfortable with,” she said reassuringly.
Thomas drops his head and grins feeling ridiculous.
“You’re so cute.”
The car came to a sudden stop and the engine died out with a sputter as Samantha yanked the keys out of the ignition. She gives him that looks like she’s been giving all night. “C’mon,” she said as she hops out of the car. Thomas follows suit.
Samantha is waiting for him on the hood of her car. Thomas sits next to her.
Below them was the vast countryside stretching for miles. Hills and vistas shaped the landscape and the only signs of life were dots of lights in the valley indicating that it was the town of Willow Springs.
“Wow, I’ve never felt so...small,” Thomas said, taking in the view.
“It’s pretty amazing, huh?”
Thomas shakes his head awestruck.
“The town somehow looks even smaller from up here,” Samantha said. “I can’t wait to graduate high school, go to university. Live in the city where things actually happen. I’m tired of being here in nowhere, Texas,” Samantha said. She sighs and carefully places her hand on top of Thomas’s. The pair both share a glance at each other. “I’ve got to admit. It’s quite the view.”
A mischievous smile reappears on her face. “You wanna see something cool?”
Thomas’s eye furrow. “I thought this was it?”
“Yes, and now, there’s another cool thing, if you’re down?” Samantha teases.
“Yeah! Of course.” The two hop off the hood and Samantha takes the lead while Thomas follows. “Say, how many times have you been up here?”
Samantha is heading for the fence. “Um, I dunno. I first came here when I was a freshman. A bunch of seniors took me out here.”
“Oh.”“Don’t worry, I didn’t let them do anything to me. I’m still as innocent as ever,” she said before laughing as she climbed over the fence.
“Um, is this legal?” Thomas said on the other side of the barbed wire fence.
“Thomas, we’re fine. Trust me,” Samantha said earnestly.
Thomas’s heart flutters in his chest. “Okay,” he said, climbing after her.
“C’mon on it’s this way,” she said, digging a flashlight out of her jacket and turning it on.
Despite being with the most beautiful girl which he had extremely strong feelings for, Thomas can’t help to fight the nervousness in the pit of his stomach. His mind, which should be focussing on Samantha McCluer, is busy telling him they should go. It might be because he’s never trespassed before. Maybe, it might be because of certain activities Samantha was insinuating. Nevertheless, Thomas was clearly uncomfortable.
“Thomas, you okay?” Samantha asked, stopping in her tracks.
“Um, I dunno.”
“You don’t have to worry about getting in trouble. My friends and I’ve been here plenty of times before. And I guess, it’s a little spooky out here but…it’s just us. Nothing’s gonna bother us, okay?”
The opposing thoughts in his head told him he should suggest that they turn back. Although, he couldn’t ruin this night with Samantha. “Right. Sorry-” deep sigh “-let’s keep going.”
Twigs and dried leaves cracking beneath every step, and the occasion owl, was the only sound in the ambience of the woods. The trees seemed to get thicker and taller and the terrain harder to keep balance. Thomas was beginning to wonder if Samantha was lost. “We’re almost there,” she said as if reading his thoughts.
“There it is,” Samantha said proudly. A cabin. No, a shack. Thomas was unimpressed. “Wait until you see what’s inside,” she said, again, somehow knowing what he was thinking (was Thomas that easy to read?).
Samantha worked her way down toward the entrance waiting for Thomas. “Ready?” she said, grinning with excitement. She pushes the door open and skips her way in. Thomas couldn’t see anything, the shack was consumed with darkness. He could hear Samantha fiddling around with god-knows-what.
“Found it,” she proclaims, lighting up a lantern.
Then he sees it.
The small shack held an assortment of items such as a mini refrigerator, a twin sized bed, a number of board and card games, a 24-inch screen television, a burner, a heater, a cooler, various posters, tapestry, Christmas lights, a record player, multiple vinyl records, a wooden chair, two steel chairs, a loveseat and a sofa. Samantha, from somewhere, connects a cord bringing power to anything that demands it.
“This is pretty cool,” Thomas said, finally realizing why Samantha would take this trek just to get here. “Where do you get electricity from?” Thomas asked, amazed.
“Marissa’s parents have a house out here. The road is still closer but let’s just say a lot of extension cords,” she said with a laugh.
“Well, that can’t be safe.”
“Probably not, but it works. Amirite?” Samantha plopping on the loveseat. “Wanna sit down?” she motioned to the spot next to her with her hand. Thomas sits down.
Even when sitting next to Samantha, alone, Thomas can’t fight the dreadful thoughts in his head. He thought finding their destination would bring him some comfort, ease his mind, but it did not. Not one bit.
“Are you still nervous?”
“I guess a bit, yeah.”
Samantha places her hand on his thigh. “Is this gonna be your first time?” She switches from cute and playful to seductive in a heartbeat. Thomas can’t speak.
“Yes,” he barely said, still thinking they shouldn’t be here.
“It’s okay,” she whispers into his own lips. He can taste her sweet breath.
The lights then disappear without even a flicker leaving the pair in the dark. Thomas jumps off the loveseat. “What was that?” clearly disturbed.
Samantha rises from the loveseat as well taking a few steps behind Thomas. “The generator probably gave out. Wouldn’t be that surprising.”
Thud. Something smacks into the side of the shack prompting Samantha to clutch onto Thomas. “Okay...that was weird,” she said.
They stand there in silence. “I’m gonna check it out,” Samantha said.
“Hold on,” Thomas said, gripping her wrist. “You don’t know what’s out there.” Thomas realized he maybe was overreacting; he however, was still unnerved.
“It was probably just a dog or maybe a bird?” They both know that’s not true yet Thomas lets her go. She slowly pushes the creaking door open. Samantha pokes her head out observing the woods. Nothing out of the ordinary. Samantha steps back inside and closes the door. “I didn’t see anything.”
They stood looking at each other. Any thought of hanging around is now abandoned. “You wanna head back into town?” She’s not even offering to go to the party.
Thomas nods.
The two go back outside. “What the…” Thomas kneels down to investigate footprints surrounding the shack. No. Handprints. “Samantha. What the hell is this?”
“Is that a...a hand?”
“Someone’s gotta be fucking with us.”
“Okay guys, real funny! Come on out!” Samantha shouts only for her voice to be echoed throughout the forest. Her arms are crossed. “Marissa? C’mon! I know it’s you!”
Another bang on the shack. Thomas jumps. His hands start to tremble.
“This isn’t funny guys!”
Ahead of them, handprints press into the soft soil slowly making its way towards the pair. The invisible creature begins to growl, sounding as if its throat has been cut oozing thick blood.
“Shit, Samantha, run!”
Thomas and Samantha sprint to the vehicle on the rock terrain, careful not to trip. The fear is inexplicable. No time to think. Just run from...whatever that was. Thomas looks back. He is a few feet ahead of Samantha. Fear is absolutely present in her eyes, wide with shock, confusion, and terror. He’s never seen this flirty, confident, outgoing girl so horrified.
She falls. Thomas quickly turns around and erratically helps Samantha to her feet. She falls into him. “Ow…” she whimpers.
“What’s wrong?”“I think I sprained my ankle,” Samantha said.
“Shit.” Thomas looks back where they were running from trying to figure out how in the hell he could even begin to gauge how far back the creature is. Then he sees the hand making its way towards them in long strides.
“Get on my back!” Thomas kneels down as Samantha proceeds to hop onto his back. Her full weight magnificently slows Thomas down only being able to get by on pure adrenaline. The muscles in his thighs began to burn and his knees ached.
They see the car. “Almost there!” he yells.
Thomas practically slams into the car, unable to properly stop his legs. Samantha slides off of him and limps to the driver’s side. Thomas enters the car slamming to the door and immediately locking the door.
Samantha and Thomas look at each other, breathing heavily somewhat relieved. Both unable to process what just happened.
The hand smacks the driver side window making Samantha scream. Handprints are now covering the windshield as Samantha struggles to find the keys in her purse. Thomas is hyperventilating.
Samantha takes the keys and sticks it into the ignition then proceeds to turn the motor. Nothing. “C’mon, c’mon!”
“What’s happening?”
“The car won’t turn on!” Samantha screams, tears beginning to stream down her face as she continually turns the ignition as the omnipresent hands continue to assault the car.
Thomas takes his phone out. No power. “Shit!”
The assault on the car is relentless and never ending. The window explodes, shards of glass covering the two. Samantha’s hair is then twisted and pulled. Her screaming grows louder as it’s obvious she’s being pulled out of the car. “Help! Please! Help!”
Thomas grabbed her waist as she is already halfway out the window, her skin getting cut from the broken glass. This force is much stronger than him easily beating Thomas, his hands sliding from Samantha’s bloody skin.
Samantha is slammed onto the road struggling to do anything, kicking and screaming. Thomas runs outside to her then realizes there is nothing he can do. He watches her body being twisted and contorted, her bones snapping and crunching. Her legs bending backwards exposing her flesh and bone. Yet it was the blood curdling screaming and the helplessness that stuck out to Thomas.
“Help! Please!” she yells, reaching a hand toward Thomas that is then bent backwards.
Yet he stood and watched. Terrified. Panicked. Absolutely powerless to this invisible force.
He runs. He runs far away down the road. Not sure where to go but to get away from that thing. His legs burned but the adrenaline and fear would not allow him to stop.
Headlights suddenly began to blind him. The truck came to an abrupt, screeching halt. Thomas still ran into the grill, his mind unable to process what just happened.
“Hey, you alright?”
“Oh shit! Look at his arms!”
“What happened?”“Do you need to go to the hospital?”
Finally, Thomas began to gather his thoughts. “Samantha! We have to help her! Get back in the truck!”
Everyone fumbled back into the vehicle then the driver pressed on the gas going as fast as he could on a dirt road. “What happened back there, bud?”
“Something- Fuck! I dunno what the fuck it was! It-it has her!”
The demolished car suddenly came into view. Handprints dented everywhere, the windows smashed open.
Thomas practically flew out of the truck, landing hard on the ground but was quick to his feet.
“What in the hell…” said one of the passengers
Thomas ran over to the car, then to the back, then the other side. “Samantha! Shit, Samantha!”
“Someone call 911.”
“Samantha!” Thomas kept calling out. “Samantha!” No answer. Thomas started to hyperventilate again. His mind is running a mile a minute, unable to process what just happened.
Thomas falls down onto the road. The men gather around him, bombarding him with questions that Thomas absolutely has no answer for. His vision begins to fade. Despite the grisly scene, and everything that had just happened, Samantha was gone but a pool of blood left behind.
