The Watcher

She had always looked forward to the three weeks her family spent vacationing at Blue Lake every summer, a humble little campground where tents and motorhomes littered the grounds amongst the small modest cabins, one of which her father would reserve for the following year on the last day of their stay. The anticipation of arriving made the trip seem longer than usual. Blue Lake was one of her favorite places and she had been excited. Why then, was she experiencing a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach, just as the soft glow of lanterns emulated from the tents and the smell of campfires filled her nostrils?

Something just did not feel right...

Usually the first one out of the car, she hadn't budged since they pulled in. Her Mom and Dad and her two brothers were busy unloading the car, she could hear them conversing as they moved about. The ride had been long, and she was tired, she tried to shrug it off as this being the reason. "You asleep in there?" Her father said as he popped his head in the SUV. Startled, she made her way out of the vehicle, as she retrieved her duffle bag from the back she felt an urgency to run as fast as possible to the safety of the cabin. Passing her brothers who were busy setting up their tent, she didn't respond when asked if she was sleeping in the tent, as she had almost every night, of every vacation, at Blue Lake in the past.

She felt the need to sleep as close to her parents as possible. What was wrong with her? She couldn't shake this strange dark feeling lingering in the pit of her being. Maybe, if she slept, she would feel better in the morning. If she could only sleep, she lay awake most of the night, feeling as if someone was watching her! She was tempted to wake her father, it took every will that she had to refrain from doing so. Comforted by the warmth of her dog sleeping alongside her, her body finally rewarded her with a few hours of uninterrupted sleep. She woke to the familiar smell of embers hissing and bacon on the grill.

It was a beautiful sunlit morning that offered the promise of an exciting day ahead. She sat enjoying her breakfast on the edge of the swimmer's dock. A soft breeze flowed over the lake bringing with it the scent of raw undisturbed nature as she viewed the picturesque cove with its high straight cliffs, separated midway, by a landing that gracefully arched its way to the water. She loved this spot, at times wild horses would make their way down to the landing and quench their thirst. The sight was beyond beautiful and one of the reasons she loved this lake. "You going cliff diving with us sis?" the words interrupted her serenity and brought her back to the moment.

She gave this some thought and decided to stay at the cabin and watch her brothers dive from her side of Blue Lake. While they set off in the small boat across the lake she filled her float with air and set off as well to get some sun. It wasn't until the lul of the lake and the warmth of the sun on her skin allowed her to totally relax that she noticed a feeling in her being of uneasiness, feeling as if someone was watching her, it chilled her and gave her goosebumps on her warm skin. And again she felt an urgency to return to her cabin. In her hurry to do so she toppled her float and found herself in the water, she was filled with unexplainable fear and for the first time in all the years she had swum in this lake, she feared the darkness of the lake and the vulnerability of not knowing what was below her feet.

Panicked, she realized she had to gain control or she would drown for heaven's sake! Pulling herself together she relaxed and began to swim to shore when from her peripheral vision she could see a fleeting form, large enough to be noticed, move swiftly from the overgrowth near the cabin. Was this her imagination? What was wrong with her? As she came out of the water she realized she was running, with urgency, to what she perceived to be the safety of the cabin. Once inside she locked the doors and windows and with all of her senses on alert, she changed into shorts and a tank top and just sat there, doing nothing but waiting, waiting for any one of her family to return. Alone except for the uneasy feeling in the very soul of her being.

Someone was watching her!

How she wished they would have left her dog with her, but apparently he had accompanied her parents on their outing. For sure, he would alert to any danger she thought. She just wanted her dog. The cabin was beginning to swelter in the heat and she was uncomfortable she thought about turning on the fan but it made so much noise she would never be able to hear if someone other than family tried to enter. She didn't feel right in her skin and wondered how she would tell her family of her unreasonable fear, after all, she had no hard evidence just a feeling and a real or imagined view of a fleeting form that was gone the instant she saw it.

She woke to the sound of her mother as she shook her gently, "You're soaked in sweat, why are you locked in this hot cabin?" her mom didn't wait for her to respond, instead, she suggested that she take a quick shower and help prepare dinner, it was getting late and everyone would be hungry. The shower was wonderful, she felt as if the tepid water not only washed off the remnants of the day but also that uneasy dark feeling that kept manifesting in the pit of her stomach. She felt refreshed as she joined her mother who was busy shaping meat patties and placing them on the fire. She was hungry and looked forward to dinner. Her brothers arrived famished; alongside them was Buster their dog.

All was well...Or so she thought...

After dinner, they added wood to the fire to roast marshmallows and to ward off the swarms of mosquitos that descended on all at the first sign of dusk. As she sat enjoying the familiar sound of the crackling fire, she watched as the flames flickered as they rose to new heights, suddenly she froze in fear, she could swear when the fire flickered she could see someone standing in the growth across the grounds...watching... for an instant her fear gave way to anger. She surprised herself with her outburst "Who are you and what do you want?" she could swear she saw him snicker, a sinister smile that actually made her feel sick. Buster began to bark as her father came from the cabin "Who are you yelling at for Pete's sake?" he asked. She pointed across the grounds "Do you see that man over there dad?" Of course not! He was gone that quick! But where had he gone she wondered?

"What is going on with you Missy!" He always called her "Missy" when he encouraged or comforted her. "You haven't been yourself since we arrived?" Not sure what his reaction would be, she explained the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach and how she has felt as if someone was watching her. "And dad, I swear I saw someone in the overgrowth and again just now through the flames of the fire!" Her father looked at her with some concern as he brought to her attention the fact that they were at a public campground, where there are many families and individuals all over the grounds, at any given time, engaging in a number of activities. Ending his consolement with "How about we just keep an eye out and you relax and enjoy yourself!" "Stay close to your brothers and let's not let this ruin your vacation ok!" She agreed with him, but at the same time felt that he had made light of the whole situation, frustrated she followed him to the cabin and readied herself for bed.

She got to thinking that maybe she was overreacting, after all, she thought, dad is right this is a public campground with a lot of busy people. She vowed to shake it off and start enjoying her favorite place on earth as she snuggled up to Buster and quickly fell asleep. It was the middle of the night when she woke, suddenly, eyes wide open, fear gripped her and sent a shiver through her body, she was afraid to move, for fear if she did she would see him again. She could actually hear her heart beating as if it was about to jump out of her chest. If she could find her voice she would wake her dad. And If I did what would I say? She thought. Buster hadn't even alerted, he was still asleep beside her, she wasn't even sure what woke her! She was, however, sure of the fear that engulfed her whole being.

She knew it wasn't her imagination, afraid to sleep, she lay awake listening to the familiar sounds of the night. She closed her eyes and began to beg for protection until exhaustion overtook her and she could not open her heavy eyes.

She woke to the sound of her father and brothers gathering their fishing gear, she found some comfort in the smell of bacon and sausages on the grill. Her older brother greeted her "Mornin Abby, you look like crap!" "You coming fishing with us?" Well that's a nice start to my day she thought, she loved to fish, it was a family tradition, of sorts. "Yes, I am" she replied. She figured it would take her mind off of everything and she wouldn't be alone. "Well, come on, eat so we can get going, I'll meet you all at the boat" Her dad chimed in as he and her mom headed towards the launch where the boat was docked. "Grab the oars boys!" he yelled. Oars in hand Charlie and Andy followed closely behind, she hadn't noticed that Buster, having done this on many a vacation, was leading them all...

And she was alone at the morning fire...

The sun was just coming out and already felt warm against her skin. She quickly finished eating, grabbed her bathing suit, and called for Buster. He didn't come.. she called again and again. The hair on the back of her neck stood up, a sensation she had never felt before. Her stomach turned, she thought she would lose her breakfast! She was alone and someone was watching her, in her heart of hearts she knew it! Someone was watching! It gave her goosebumps and shivers and she began to hyperventilate. She headed for the front door of the cabin, stepped off the porch to make a turn towards the boat, and he grabbed her from behind, the nasty smell of dirt and sweat engulfed her senses as he covered her mouth firmly, and began to drag her, quickly, away from the cabin.

She could feel the warmth of her bladder releasing as the contents flowed down her legs, she was struggling, but he was stronger, she lost her shoes in the struggle, the bare heals of her feet scraped along the rocks and gravel of the dirt road as he pulled her into the overgrown field on his way to..,

"Who knows were?".

Everything was happening so fast, she couldn't get her bearings, her mind was racing! She bit his dirty hand and he hit her, he hit her so hard he knocked her out. When she came to, she found herself bound at the wrist and ankles, thrown over his shoulder, head bouncing off his filthy back as he moved along. He had tied his foul-smelling nasty bandanas tightly around her head, she was unable to scream, or see where he was taking her.

"Where's Abby boys?" their dad asked as they loaded the boat."Eating her breakfast," Andy told him nonchalantly. "She'll be here any minute" he added. "Well, I want to get to my line in while the fish are hungry, what could be taking her so long?" he added. As soon as the words came out of his mouth his frustration turned to fear. "One look at her husband's face also sent fear through their mother as she begged to know what could be wrong. "Andy, you stay here with your mother, do not leave her for any reason, you hear me son?' Their father yelled as he signaled to Charlie to come along. "Buster come!" he commanded.

He begged all the way back to the cabin that she would be there, but to his horror, she was gone! With Charlie and Buster on his heals they circled the cabin like madmen, there in the gravel, was what he swore were drag marks, filled with fear and rage he went back to the cabin and grabbed his hunting rifle, "That son of a bitch took her Charlie, come on!" In shock, Charlie followed behind him. Buster, as if he knew, was far in front of them. They followed the marks in the gravel, until there in front of them, lay her shoes, thinking the worse, they made their way to a field, her dad could barely make out a path through the overgrowth. "This way!" he signaled to Charlie.

He plopped her down hard on the ground as if she was baggage and squatted next to her, she could feel his hot breath and smell the rot of his filth. She refused to cry and give him that pleasure. As he removed the bandana she looked him square in the eyes. His puffy face, made his eyes look as if he was squinting at her. His face was creased with dirt, and covered with stiff bristling hairs that almost concealed his rotting teeth. His grin was crooked and he spat at her as he expressed "what a pretty little thing" she was. She sat unwavering, commanding herself to show no fear, and stared back at him.

"Well, we ought to get acquainted, don't ya think Missy" he called her Missy, how dare he call her Missy! The anger rose within her and she spat at him! This only seemed to entertain him, and he went on to tell her how he would have his way with her, he informed her that he was not sure how long he would keep her, but he liked her spunk! "When I tire of you, oh, and I will," he said. "No one will ever find you in these hills, that's just the way it is!" He added as he stroked her hair. She was trembling in fear as she maintained her defiant gaze. She looked past him and forced herself not to make a sound or change her expression as she saw Buster, moving with low, long, silent, strides, coming at him from his backside, and then Buster pounced! Clenching his filthy neck and shaking his head as if he was a rag doll. The look on his face was total shock and horror as Buster had his way with him!

Charlie and their dad could hear Buster's long. low guttural growls and barking in the distance. "He found her Charlie, he found her!" their dad whispered as he drew his gun. Within a short distance, they came upon them, they could see by the blood and gaping wounds that Buster had done his job and done it well! Her dad set the barrel of his gun right between his eyes, "Don't move or I will shoot you, you son of a bitch!" he commanded. He didn’t move, instead, he did something that sent chills through Abby’s dad’s body and shook him to the core! Through the blood and sweat and filth, the corners of his rancid mouth began to turn upwards, and he looked directly into her dad’s eyes, and he smiled! A sinister kind of half-smile. It was all Abby’s dad could do to refrain from pulling the trigger and putting him out of their misery, permanently! He stood fast over him and refused to give him the pleasure of a reaction.

Buster was jumping and crying and licking Abby’s tears that now flowed freely down her face, all the emotions, she had been restraining, came flooding out of her, every muscle in her body began to relax, and the tensions of the past two days no longer existed as Charlie held her and hugged her, wiped her tears, and unbound her wrists and ankles. She surprised herself at what she did next! She looked her assailant square in his bloodied face and said:

"And when we tire of you, Oh, and we will, no one will ever find you in these hills, it's just the way it is!"