Short story: Something Lurks Near Us: The Mystery

Day 14

Since my arrival in this place, I have noticed with trepidation how my provisions are dwindling day by day. My calculations on the amount of food I could take with me have proved to be insufficient. Moreover, during the journey, I was forced to abandon some of it to lighten the weight of my pack, thus allowing me to traverse the dense jungle and steep trails. Drinking water has run out; I now find myself needing to drink directly from the nearest river.

Exhaustion has set in, as this journey on foot has been strenuous. Mosquitoes and other insects have harassed us relentlessly, both day and night, to the point of resigning ourselves to their annoying presence.

Our clothing is scarce, as is our footwear, so we take careful care of what little we have left. The weather, capricious and unpredictable, has gone from scorching sun to cloudy and rainy days. In the face of these adversities, we have sought refuge in the tent, which fortunately has withstood the onslaught of recent winds. This shelter is our bastion against everything that stalks us, except "it" that prowls at night, close to where we are.

"It", an indefinable presence, whose sound does not resemble that of any known creature, echoes ominously in the atmosphere... and in our minds. Its form is an enigma; no one has managed to see it clearly. However, one of the young men, awake at dawn, claims to have glimpsed with his flashlight the silhouette of a tall being, with a human gait. He could not, or did not want to, describe more, because terror persuaded him not to inquire any further into the encounter.

The alert is general. Skepticism no longer has any place among us, especially after coming across the remains of animals torn to pieces in a savage manner. The possibility of a bear being responsible has been ruled out; the tracks found do not correspond to those of such a beast.

Night is approaching, and with it, uncertainty. I take advantage of the daylight to write these lines. Our flashlights are almost exhausted, and we only have a few shotguns and ammunition. What will the darkness have in store for us this time?

Day 15

The previous night was a litmus test for our sanity. The sounds that "it" emits intensified, creating a cacophony that seemed to want to tear the veil of reality. In an act of desperation, we lit campfires around our camp, hoping that the light and heat would deter the creature from approaching.

But to no avail. Something moved in the shadows, something that seemed to toy with us, lurking on the periphery of the light. The braver among us fired into the air, trying to frighten the entity. We only achieved a momentary silence, which was soon broken by a howl that was neither human nor animal, a sound that chilled our blood.

In the morning, we found strange footprints around the still warm ashes of the campfires. They were too large to belong to any animal of the forest, and had a shape that defied all logic: as if they belonged to a bipedal being, but with features that did not belong to this world.

Now, as I write these words, I feel the gaze of "it" upon us, as if it were reading my thoughts. Paranoia has settled in each of us, and the line between reality and madness is blurring more and more. We don't know what "it" is, but one thing is certain: we are not alone in this forest, and whatever is lurking around us is waiting for the right moment to reveal itself.

Day 16

The situation has become untenable. "It" is no longer content to lurk; it now dares to approach the tent, brushing against it with what appears to be claws or elongated fingers. Panicked cries mingle with morning prayers and pleas.

We have decided that we must act. Tonight, some of us will venture out of camp, armed and determined to confront the creature. If we do not return, let these words serve as a warning to those who may encounter them: in this place, something lurks near us, something that does not belong to this world... and it hungers.

Day 17

Darkness hung over us like a heavy cloak, laden with foreboding. The volunteers, armed with shotguns and flashlights of trembling light, entered the blackness of the jungle, leaving behind the fragile shelter of our tent. The rest of us, with bated breath, waited for some sign, some shot that would indicate an encounter... or a confrontation.

The hours passed slowly, each minute an eternity. Suddenly, a piercing scream broke the silence of the night, followed by a series of gunshots. The sound of fighting reached us, distant but terrifying. Then, as abruptly as it began, everything ceased. Silence reigned again, a silence even more ominous than before.

At dawn, with the light gradually revealing the secrets of the night, we found the volunteers... or what was left of them. Their bodies, disfigured and mutilated, lay scattered among the vegetation, as if a supernatural force had torn them apart. There was no trace of the creature, only the chaotic tracks it left in its flight.

Day 18

Fear has transformed us. We are no longer the same explorers who came to this place with hopes and dreams of discovery. Now, we are survivors, marked by the terror of the unknown. The decision is made: we must leave this cursed place.

We pack our backpacks with what little we have left, leaving behind the remains of our fallen companions. There is no time for burials or ceremonies; "it" could be watching us, waiting for an opportunity to attack again.

We begin our march, uncertain if we will make it out of this jungle alive. Every noise, every movement among the trees, makes us jump and prepare our weapons. But "it" seems to have granted us a truce, or perhaps, satisfied with its hunt, it has let us go.

Day 19

Civilization never felt so far away and, at the same time, so longed for. After days of grueling marching, we finally reached the edge of the jungle. The sunlight, filtering through the treetops, had never been so welcome.

We looked back one last time, into the darkness that had consumed us during those hellish days. We don't know what "it" was, or if it will come back to haunt some unwary traveler. All we know is that we have escaped with our lives, though our souls will forever be bound to that place of mystery and death.

Source of the images

Image created with Starryai.