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The original was posted on /r/nosleep by /u/Weird-Suggestion-152 on 2024-10-03 18:06:11+00:00.
The atmosphere in the ranger station had become stifling. My encounter with whatever was lurking in the woods, the Wendigo, or whatever it was, loomed over us like a dark cloud. We patrolled together now, never venturing into the forest alone. Daniel insisted on this, but it was clear that tension between him and Earl was mounting with each passing day.
Earl was a no-nonsense type, and all the talk about the Wendigo was getting to him. He masked it with tough talk and hard looks, but I could see through it. Daniel, on the other hand, was quiet, reflective, and unnervingly calm. It was the kind of calm that made me wonder if he had already made peace with the idea that things weren’t going to end well.
We still had a job to do, though, and we couldn’t just sit in the station. Outside though, the usual sounds of nature were gone, replaced by an oppressive silence. Not even the wind seemed to move anymore. I often found myself glancing between the two men, feeling like I was caught in the middle of two fighting parents.
One afternoon, after busting up a beaver dam, we were on our way back to the station, when we came across another mutilated deer. “It’s another one”, Daniel said. Earl knelt beside the remnants, his face twisted in frustration.
“We’re chasing shadows out here,” Earl muttered, standing up and wiping his hands on his pants. “This ain’t no Wendigo. Probably just some damned bear with a grudge.”
Daniel, standing a few feet away, was watching the tree line, his eyes scanning the distance as if waiting for something to emerge. When Earl’s grumbling grew louder, Daniel finally spoke up.
“You know it’s not a bear, Earl. You’ve seen the tracks.”
Earl shot him a sharp look. “I’ve been doing this for thirty years, Daniel. I know a bear when I see one. I don’t need you filling the kid’s head with your bullshit legends.”
Daniel’s expression remained calm, but there was a hard edge in his voice when he responded. “This isn’t about legends. It’s about survival. The Wendigo is real, and it’s hunting us.”
Earl stepped closer to Daniel, his face contorted with anger. “You think I’m scared of some fairy tale? I’ve faced real predators, real threats. This thing, whatever it is, it doesn’t scare me.”
Daniel didn’t back down. “That’s your problem, Earl. You’re not scared enough.”
The tension between them was thick, and for a moment, I thought one of them might throw a punch. I stood there, awkwardly silent, my eyes darting between the two of them, unsure of what to say. Finally, Earl snorted and stormed off toward the station.
“I’m done with this shit,” Earl muttered. “You two can sit around talking about monsters and fucking fairy tales all you want. I’m going to bed.”
That night, Daniel and I stayed by the fire, the flickering flames casting long shadows on the floor. The silence that followed was suffocating, but eventually, I broke it.
“Do you really think we’re being hunted?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Daniel didn’t answer right away. He poked at the fire with a stick, watching the embers rise up the chimney before he finally spoke.
“Yes,” he said softly. “I think the Wendigo has chosen us. Once it sets its sights on you, there’s no going back. It’s patient. It waits. It wears you down.”
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “And how do you stop it? I mean, how do you kill it?”
Daniel’s eyes shot up to meet mine, and for a moment, he didn’t say anything. Then, he shook his head. “You don’t.”
“There has to be a way,” I pressed, desperation creeping into my voice.
Daniel looked away, staring into the fire. “Legends say there is, but it’s dangerous. You’d have to trap it first, and that alone is nearly impossible.”
My pulse quickened. “How do you trap it?”
Daniel hesitated, as if debating whether or not to tell me. After a long pause, he sighed and leaned forward, lowering his voice. “The Wendigo fears fire. You’d need to lure it into a trap with something it wants, flesh. And once it’s close enough, you’d have to burn it. But it won’t be easy. It’s smart. It’ll know what you’re trying to do.”
A chill ran down my spine. “So we use ourselves as bait?”
Daniel nodded grimly. “It’d be the only way.”
We spent the next few days preparing the trap. It was a plan born out of desperation, but it was all we had. We set up in a narrow ravine deep in the forest, a place where the trees were thick and the ground uneven. We dug a deep pit and filled it with kindling, creating a makeshift pyre. The idea was simple, lure the Wendigo into the hole, ignite the fire, and hope it would be enough to kill it.
Earl, despite his earlier protests, went along with the plan. His gruff exterior had cracked, and I could see the fear in his eyes, though he tried to hide it behind tough talk. He was desperate for it to be over.
“Just make sure you don’t screw this up, Tom,” Earl muttered as we set the final touches on the trap. “We only get one shot at this.”
Daniel stood nearby, quiet as always, but there was a tension in him that I hadn’t seen before. I knew he was nervous, even if he didn’t show it.
The sun began to set, casting darkness across the forest. The air grew colder, and the wind picked up, carrying with it the familiar scent of decay that made my stomach churn. We took our positions. Daniel and I stood near the pit, while Earl waited a little further back, his rifle at the ready, just in case.
For a long time, there was nothing but silence. The forest was unnervingly still, as if holding its breath. Then, from somewhere deep in the woods, came the sound of footsteps, slow, deliberate, and not human.
My heart raced, and I gripped my gun, my eyes scanning the darkness. Daniel and I stood by the hole, waiting for our opportunity to light the fire. The footsteps grew louder, closer, and then, I saw it.
The Wendigo.
It moved between the trees with an unnatural grace, its long, gaunt limbs twisted and pale. Its eyes glowed with an eerie light, and its mouth hung open, revealing sharp, jagged teeth. The sight of it made my blood run cold.
It was huge, much taller than I had imagined, with a skeletal frame that seemed barely held together by its rotting flesh. Its stench filled the air, a sickly-sweet smell of decay and death. It moved toward us, and we waited in anticipation as it drew closer and closer to the hole. Just a little bit further, I thought to myself. And, for a moment, I thought our plan might actually work. But, just as the Wendigo was almost on top of the hole, Earl raised his rifle.
“Earl, no!” Daniel shouted. But before he could fire, the Wendigo moved, fast, impossibly fast. It darted toward Earl, its long arms reaching out with terrifying speed. Earl screamed, a guttural, panicked sound, but it was too late.
The Wendigo slammed into him, knocking him to the ground. Its claws tore into his flesh, ripping him apart with horrifying precision. Blood sprayed across the forest floor, and Earl’s screams were cut short as the creature’s jaws closed around his throat, tearing it out in one swift motion.
I froze, my body locked in place as I watched in horror. Earl’s body convulsed for a moment before going still, his blood pooling beneath him. The Wendigo stood over him, its mouth smeared with blood, its glowing eyes locked onto me.
“Run!” Daniel shouted, grabbing my arm and yanking me away from the scene.
We bolted, sprinting through the trees as fast as we could. The Wendigo let out a bone-chilling screech, and I could hear it crashing through the growth behind us, its footsteps fast and relentless.
We ran, the forest a blur around us. My lungs burned, my legs screamed in protest, but I didn’t dare stop. The sound of the Wendigo’s pursuit was right behind us, its screeches echoing through the trees.
Then, Daniel stumbled.
I turned just in time to see him fall, his foot catching on a root. He hit the ground hard, and before I could reach him, the Wendigo was upon him.
“Go!” Daniel shouted, his voice hoarse. “Get to the station!”
I hesitated for a split second, but the sight of the Wendigo tearing into Daniel’s flesh sent me into a blind panic. I turned and ran, Daniel’s screams echoing in my ears as I sprinted through the forest.
I burst through the door of the ranger station, slamming it shut behind me. My hands were trembling, my breath coming in ragged gasps. Blood smeared across my face and clothes, not mine, but Earl’s and Daniel’s.
I stumbled to the radio, frantically calling for help.
“Mayday! Mayday! This is Ranger Carter! We need immediate help at Pine Creek Forest! There’s something out here, something killing us! Please, send help!”
There was static for a moment, and then a voice crackled through the speaker. “Copy. Stay where you are. Help is on the way.”
I dropped the radio and collapsed onto the floor, my body shaking with fear and exhaustion. The fire in the hearth flickered weakly, casting shadows on the walls. The station felt too small, too vulnerable. The Wendigo was out there, somewhere in the darkness, and I could feel it, like a predator circling its prey. My body trembled as I stood in the middle of the room, trying to figure out what to do next. The fire crackled softly, offering little comfort. I grabbed the rifle from …
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