Cabin of Lost Hope

The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window. This was no ordinary cabin. The cabin didn’t really exist honestly. Some say it only appears on a full moon. Others say that it’s a myth. The truth of the cabin is much more complicated than that. If you do find the cabin, it’s likely the last time you will see Earth.

This very real tale starts with a group of hikers. Anna was the founding member of the group and only really got into hiking over the past few years. Laura was the most experienced hiker. She had done many challenging hikes throughout her life. Sam was the third member to join the group. They were not as experienced as either Anna or Laura but had a lot of experience camping. The last and newest member of the group was Cindy. Cindy wasn’t the best hiker, but Anna had feelings for her and asked the group if it was ok to invite her.

Anna had planned the perfect hike. It was one that Anna, Laura, and Sam had hiked many times in the past. Knowing that Cindy was not as experienced as the rest, a well-known hike was the best option to make sure that everyone was safe in case something went wrong. The gear was all packed, food prepared and dehydrated, water bladders cleaned and filled. Everyone met at Anna’s house after work on Friday.

As it so happens that this Friday was the thirteenth, but do not concern yourself too much with that. For Friday the thirteenth was known to be a day of horror and death. However, the cabin has no understanding of time. The cabin does not wait for special days, or astronomical events of the planets and the stars. No, the cabin... well... you will soon find out.

“We’re here!” Sam shouted overenthusiastically blasting everyone's ear drums. Everyone else shouted “Yay!” with the same enthusiasm as Sam to show their excitement and support of the trip. Everyone rushed out of the car. Sam and Laura grabbed their packs and poles and got situated to make the trek. Anna grabbed Cindy’s pack and helped adjust all the various straps on the bag to make sure that it was comfortable. Anna was staring a little too long into Cindy’s eyes and Cindy returned the stare.

Off they went. The four of them ready for adventure. Not knowing what lies ahead. For this was not any normal weekend. It was the weekend the cabin would appear. Now you may be wondering what is so special about this cabin? You will soon find out young listener.

“No one is here today! This is awesome!” Exclaimed Sam as they were not the best with people. Everyone else was also relieved since this trail is normally full of hikers. As the hike continued, they were all excited by the various wildlife that ran past them. Squirrels, chipmunks, and deer mostly.

“We need to come here more often when the trails are empty. The wildlife is so much more active.” Laura said excitedly. She ran ahead of the rest of the group to get to the campsite before everyone else so that food would be prepared by the time everyone else arrived. Laura didn’t mind walking alone. A good hike by herself in the woods was the perfect way for her to unwind after a stressful work week.

But this was not because of the lack of people. The animals felt something in the air that the four hikers could not and were running from fear of what is coming. The further into the forest the hikers went the thicker the air got. It almost felt heavy. But this heaviness that they were feeling was attributed to the long day, and the heavy packs they carried. So naïve to all the signs that told them to turn back.

They all arrived at the campsite greeted by Laura with dinner all ready. After dinner Sam, Anna, and Cindy went to get ready for the night. While Sam was setting up their hammock for the night, Anna was hoping that her clever plan would work. Anna went through Cindy’s pack and pulled out the two-person tent that Anna packed for Cindy.

“I wasn’t sure if you are claustrophobic or anything, so I packed you a bigger tent.” Anna said innocently. Sam and Laura went out to start looking for some firewood while Anna and Cindy worked together putting the tent together. After a bit of a struggle and some good laughs the two of them had finished setting it up.

“Would you mind helping me setup my tent?” Anna asked Cindy knowing full well that she didn’t pack her tent on purpose in hopes of sharing the two-person with Cindy.

“I didn’t pack my tent.” Anna said, her acting skills needing work. Laura and Sam looked at each other and just rolled their eyes at one another realizing that Anna planned this.

“That's terrible. I guess the only option is to both sleep in the same tent.” Cindy said with a heavy sarcastic tone. "Was Cindy hoping for the same thing?" Anna asked herself.

It was getting late, and everyone was settling in getting ready for bed. It was going to be a cold night in Autumn. So, everyone was layered up to make sure that they would be warm throughout the night. Sam had on their famous beanie with cat ears that they bring on every camping trip. Laura was dressed in all merino wool. Probably her most prized possession are those merino wool clothes. Anna and Cindy didn’t have any special nighttime outfits like Sam and Laura, but they were both very excited to be sleeping next to each other. Both making sure not to seem too excited.

Everyone was soon fast asleep. It had been a long day, and everyone was tired. An even longer day tomorrow. But this night was not about getting sleep. No this was the night that the cabin was coming. The ground which the cabin would be arriving needed to be cleared. The trees started to move. Slowly every root in the trees moved through the ground making its way through the Earth in anticipation of the cabin. The grass worked in unison around the site to remove all leaves, branches, twigs, rocks, pebbles, and stones. Within two hours the ground had been cleared of everything. There was nothing but a dirt path that was shaped in the outline of the cabin.

A bright light erupted from the center of this newly cleared space. What appeared to be a lightning bolt a couple meters long frozen in space. It was a tear in reality. For this cabin did not come from this world. But it was not the first time that this cabin had come here. For the Earth had remembered the presence of the cabin, and the Earth had waited for its return. Moving itself in preparation of this day.

Are you starting to understand the depth of this cabin? The Earth itself fears the wrath of the cabin. It would move trees, and rocks just not to upset this cabin. If you dare to hear more, then I will continue. But be warned, this tale may be too much for you. You have been warned, and if you find yourself staring at an abandoned cabin in the woods. It may be too late for you.

The hikers woke early in the morning to start on their adventure to the next campground. It was decided that the group would eat breakfast first and then head out on the long hike. Laura excited for the hike to come went to go look for a good view to watch the sunrise, while the group waited for the morning fog cleared.

“Everyone come quick! You have to check this out!” Laura shouted with enthusiasm to the others who were still half asleep. They walked through the thick fog over to the cliff where Laura was.

“This is so beautiful!” Cindy and Sam both said in awe. Anna had no words. In front of them the sun was starting to peak over the horizon breaking through the thick fog that had accumulated over night. The light reflected through the dense clouds at the bottom of the valley in a spectacular display of color. As the sun continued to rise the fog slowly started to fade out and you could make out the beautiful colors of the landscape that lie below.

As everyone watched, Anna and Cindy slowly moved towards each other when their hands bumped into each other. But neither of them reacted to this. Slowly they both moved a finger in between the other fingers seeing how they reacted. Before their fingers were fully entwined with each other they were interrupted abruptly by a loud noise.

“Time to eat.” Said Sam practically with the sound from their stomach alone. Everyone started walking back through the fog towards the campsite. Unaware of what they were really walking towards.

“Is everyone still here?” Laura shouted concerned. The fog was getting thicker and thicker the more they walked. The sky started to darken. They started to lose sight of each other.

“Here!” Everyone replied. Anna and Cindy were right next to each other and couldn’t see each other. Anna felt around and grabbed Cindy’s hand to make sure they didn’t lose each other. “Follow the sound of my voice. It’s too thick we need to group up.” Laura said to everyone. She kept talking waiting for everyone to find her. Anna and Cindy bumped into her first. Then Sam shortly after. The four of them standing in a circle holding hands unable to see each other. The sky getting darker and darker each second.

“The tents should be right around here. I want to grab our headlamps.” Laura said now leading the group through the fog. It was only a few more feet and the hikers emerged from the fog. Excited to be out of the thick fog, they all felt relief.

“Where are we?” Asked Cindy very concerned. “And why is it dark out?” The group was relieved to be out of the fog that they didn’t have time to see where they were. It was indeed nighttime, and their campsite and gear were nowhere to be found. The fog was only cleared up in a small area. It was a perfect circle of fog. Right in the center of the circle stood the cabin. The paint had all but disappeared. The siding was clearly rotting away. The roof was barely held together, and almost all of the shingles were gone. Just the rotting plywood remained. The trees had mostly disappeared from the circle. There was one massive tree near the center of the circle that was heavily leaning to one side as if the tree itself tried to move away from the cabin, but because of its size could not.

"Is that a cabin? I didn’t know that there any on this trail.” Sam said concerned.

“Nope. Nuh-uh" Anna said abruptly. “I’m out. Cabin in the woods, creepy fog. This is every horror movie ever.” She said scared. Everyone looked at each other and nodded in agreement. They looked back at the wall of fog, grabbed hands and proceeded to walk into the fog. Seconds later they emerged from the fog in the exact same spot they walked into.

“Under no circumstances is anyone allowed to go near that cabin. We are not about to become the next horror movie. Everyone agreed?” Asked Anna sternly. Everyone nodded. Then a candle started burning in the window. Everyone stood frozen with fear. They all were thinking the same thing. If they go near the cabin. Something bad is going to happen to them. A guy with a chainsaw, a killer clown, supernatural demon. All the standard horror tropes.

Then suddenly when it felt like everyone was so scared that they were about to pass out, the door slowly opened. The hikers ran into the fog knowing it was pointless, but they knew something terrible would happen If they went near the cabin. It was a feeling that the cabin gives you. True fear. The hikers ran and ran, but soon their vision was fading. They were feeling tired and weak.

“This is not how I die!” Shouted Anna as she slipped into unconsciousness.

This is my last warning. From here on out, the hikers will endure torment, pain and horror unlike any have known before. If you wish to stop this story do so now. For knowing the following details of this story, you may find yourself waking up inside the cabin.

Sam was the first to wake up. They sat up feeling groggy and unsure of their surroundings. They remembered the fog in the woods. But this was not the woods. They looked around wide eyed and started feeling around for someone until their hand contacted Cindy and shook them awake.

Cindy woke up dizzy and lost. Not fully understanding having been woken up abruptly. She looked around and noticed that they were inside the cabin. An old worn-down cabin with broken floorboards, and roof falling apart. Three doors, the main entrance, and what appeared to be two bedrooms. Unable to properly process and terrified she ran over to Anna and tried to shake her awake.

Anna and Laura woke up at the same time. Anna being thrown back and forth as Cindy shook her. Both Anna and Laura needed a second to adjust to their new surroundings. Old and discolored red bricks were falling apart somewhat forming the outline of what used to be a fireplace. A table with a missing leg and a single chair sat over in the opposite corner.

The other side of the room was a dusty covered recliner. It was brown with what might have been leather at some point in the past. Behind the recliner in the window was a single lit candle. The only source of light in the entire cabin.

Once everyone had realized where they were no one made a sound. Everyone was too scared to move. How did they end up here? They all looked at each other and slowly stood up. Laura was the first to make a move. She motioned to the front door. Everyone nodded in agreement. Luara made a move towards the front door. Moving as slowly as possible. Everyone else followed behind.

Laura, making sure not to make any sound with each step, reached from the doorknob. She opened it to reveal the light of the day. The fog had cleared, and the sun was shining on a beautiful day. Everyone felt a huge relief rush over them as they went to run outside and far away from the cabin as they could. They didn’t care how or what had happened, but they were now free.

As Laura started to run out the door she was instantly turned around and crashed into the group causing everyone to fall to the ground. The door slammed shut with a loud thud. Sam jolted upwards and went for the door, but it wouldn’t budge. The door itself started to merge with the cabin. Sam pulled and pulled, but it was no use. The crack from the door had completely disappeared merging with the wall. Sam clenched onto the handle with all they had until that too disappeared. Looking at the wall now you never would have guessed that there was a door.

Everyone just stood there. Staring knowing that the only way out had just disappeared. The realization of what just happened was sinking in. Cindy dropped to her knees, and she started crying. Anna knelt down to try and comfort her, but Anna too was on the verge of tears fearful that they weren’t going to go back home. Laura and Sam start looking around the room for anything. They didn’t know what they were looking for, they just didn’t know what else to do.

A chill started to creep into the room, and the temperature started dropping. Sam went to the pile of old wood next to the broken fireplace. They looked to check if the fireplace was open so that if a fire was started the smoke wouldn’t suffocate everyone. As Sam knelt down in front of the fireplace Laura walked over.

“We don’t know what is happening here. Doing anything alone is dangerous. I'll hold onto you as you check the fireplace.” Laura said to Sam concerned. Hearing this Sam felt relieved and nodded at Laura in agreement. Sam was terrified to check but felt better knowing that Laura was holding onto them and had their back.

Sam leaned in and looked up the chimney. Sam could start to feel a slight breeze. It was very dark inside, but Sam thought that they could see out of the cabin. It was very faint, but there was a tiny hint of a night sky.

“Looks clear, we should be good to start a fire.” Sam said still looking up the fireplace. They slowly backed out of the fireplace, Laura holding them tightly.

A loud bang made everyone turn around so quickly that Anna sprained her neck. The door to one of the bedrooms slammed shut.

“It was just the breeze everyone.” Sam said voice shaking. “I could feel a breeze when I was looking up the fireplace.” Sam tried to laugh but everyone could tell that they were uncomfortable and had a hard time believing what they said.

The other bedroom slammed opened. Everyone’s gaze shot over to the now open door. The candle was directly across from the room so it should have shed some light. But the room remained dark. An aggravated sigh was let out originating from inside of the room. Everyone froze with fear. Was there someone in there?

The floorboards creaked from in the room. Almost as if someone was walking. The door suddenly slammed shut. Laura screamed and immediately covered her mouth. Everyone stared angrily at Laura. The door opened just a crack. A red light appeared through the dark. Then another. Then disappeared for an instant. Almost as though they were eyes.

The door suddenly slammed open, and a loud roar originated from inside the room. It was so loud everyone was stunned. The utter fear that filled the group was beyond anything that anyone has ever felt. Death was in the room, and the hikers could feel this thing standing over them. They could feel heavy heaving down their neck. A hot and heavy breath going down their entire back. The smell originating from behind them was too much to handle but there was nothing that they could do. They were all about to die and there was nothing that could be done.

Anna and Laura started breathing heavily. Mind running a million miles a second trying to just think of how not to die. Every instinct to survive tried to kick in, but the fear from this creature stunned them in place. They couldn’t move. There was something in the room and it was angry. It’s coming. It’s coming. It’s coming.

The door slammed shut. The breath from behind them stopped, and the smell disappeared. They all looked at each other. Except Cindy. Cindy was curled up on the ground in a ball eyes and face soaked from the tears running down her face. Everyone gathered around her.

“We’re gonna get through this.” Anna said to Cindy trying to comfort her.

“No!” She shouted shoving Anna back. “We are all going to die! There is something in there and it is going to kill us! We are trapped in here and we are all going to die!” Cindy exclaimed going insane. She flung her arms in the air standing up rapidly.

“Cindy calm down.” Laura tried to tell her.

“How can I calm down?” She screamed and started pounding on the wall where the door used to be. The others tried to grab her and hold her down, but Cindy was too far gone. Lost to insanity. Suddenly, she stopped. Her arms dropped to her sides as if she no longer could use them. Eyes wide open.

Anna waved her hands in front of Cindy calling out to her. But it was too late. She was lost. She collapsed to the floor. Her lifeless body making a loud thud as it hit the ground.

“Cindy! Cindy! Cindy!” Everyone shouted scared and concerned trying to wake her up. But it was no use.

“She’s dead.” Said Sam shocked after checking her vitals. They all backed up when Sam said this. Disbelief washed over all of them. It wasn’t possible. Cindy had died? But how?

“What just happened?” Laura asked extremely confused as to the events that just transpired. Anna was falling into despair. But then she remembered the monster in the bedroom. She got angry.

“This is all that thing's fault!” She shouted in anger through tears. She jolted upwards and rushed to the bedroom door. Sam and Laura screamed out to Anna and tried to grab her, but she was too quick. Anna was out of reach of her friends. She reached out and grabbed the handle of the door. Sam and Laura ran over to try and stop Anna. But it was too late she threw the door open.

Anna ran into the room, but there was nothing there. No monster. It was completely void of anything. Just an empty room. Laura and Sam pulled Anna back into the main room and closed the door. Anna started crying. Sam and Laura hugged her to try and comfort her. But Sam and Laura were also terrified.

Why was there nothing in the room? Everyone heard the noises and saw the eyes. But there was nothing in there. What was going on? What is with this cabin? But they did not have time to rest and recover. The fireplace erupted into flames. Everyone jumped back in shock and terror.

A hearty laugh emanated from within the fire. The fire grew in size and heat. The laugh getting louder and louder. Louder and Louder. Bigger and Bigger. Hotter and Hotter. Flame tickling at their feet. All three jumping in pain from the heat. Slowly the flames started to climb up their legs and reached their arms. Burning.

The three screaming out in pain. The fire biting at them eating their flesh. They stood unable to escape the fire that was everywhere. The group was crowded into a corner facing the wall to try and keep the flames from their face. Fire burning their backs. The fire continuing to laugh at the hikers as the burned alive.

The hikers were screaming at the top of their lungs. Fire about to completely consume the three of them. All three closed their eyes knowing this was the end. As soon as they all did so the laughing stopped. They opened their eyes, and the fire was gone. Nothing remained of the fire that consumed the entire cabin. The cabin was completely intact. The hikers' skin and clothes undamaged from the flames. It wasn’t real?

“This is insane!” Laura shouted laughing through her tears. “It's not real. It’s not real. It’s not real.” She kept repeating while curled up in a ball on the ground. Frantically Sam and Anna tried to snap her out of it. They shook her, slapped her, anything they could think of to try and stop her.

Laura stopped. Eyes wide open, arms limp. Her lifeless body fell onto Sam. Sam freaked out and pushed it off them.

“What is happening!” Exclaimed Sam to Anna terrified. They were hyperventilating.

“Look at me!” Anna shouted at Sam. “Breathe. You need to breathe.” She said trying to get to Sam before it was too late, and Sam was lost.

Scratching sounds started coming from the other bedroom. They continued and spread out to all over the cabin. The scratching sound was coming from every direction. Increasing in volume. More and more scratching. Then it stopped.

“Anna I can’t do this.” Sam said crying. “I can’t do this.” They continued repeating. Anna and Sam were losing their minds. The fear that had set in was only ever increasing. The torment of the monster and the fires and now this scratching was driving them insane. The insanity of the situation, and the insanity of the inability to do anything. It was too much to bear. From the cracks in the floorboard's legs emerged. Millions and millions of tiny legs started poking through. Millions of spiders started crawling all over the cabin. Headed directly towards the two remaining hikers. Each leg could be heard moving across the room in a giant stampede of sound. As if a heard of bulls were charging at them. A tiny screech from each of the spiders as they ran towards the two remaining hikers.

They both tried frantically to get the spiders off of themselves but there were too many. They were completely covered in spiders from head to toe. Sam screamed and screamed doing everything they could to get the spiders off. Running around the cabin waving their arms all over the place. But there were too many.

Anna on the other hand remained calm. She realized that this was just a trick of the mind. The spiders were not real. She closed her eyes thinking that as soon as she did, they would disappear.

“Sam close your eyes! They aren't real!” Shouted Anna trying to calm down Sam. Anna could still feel and hear the spiders crawling all around her. Feel every leg that touched her skin. Sam was still screaming and running around the room.

“It hurts! It hurts!” Sam shouted.

Then Anna could feel the spiders start sinking their teeth in. Small at first, but then bigger spiders, and more painful spider. Anna just kept her eyes closed.

“This isn’t real!” She kept yelling out trying to calm down Sam. Sam continued to scream out in pain. Then silence. Anna no longer felt the spiders that were all over her a second before.

“I told you they weren’t real!” Anna exclaimed and opened her eyes just in time to watch Sam’s body fall to the floor. Sam was dead. Anna was the only one left. Anna was all alone in the cabin. Alone.

Alone.

Alone.

The horrors did not end. They kept coming. More intense, frightening and real than the last. Anna was determined to make it through this and get out of the cabin alive. She continued to keep her eyes shut and wait for the horrors to end. But soon, she was no longer able to close her eyes. Or maybe her eyelids became see through. Either way she had to witness everything that came. Until finally the candle in the window went out, and the cabin disappeared. The Earth moved back to where it was before this cabin of horror appeared, and the hikers were lost forever.

Did I not warn you of the horrors of this cabin? It feeds off fear and despair. Showing you the things, you are afraid of most until you break. Driving you to insanity. There is no monster, or demon, or ghost that you can fight. Only your own fear. But no one can overcome their own fear. It is human nature to be afraid. Be afraid of the things that go bump in the night. The cabin of fear will always win.