An Abandoned Cabin

The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window. It was strange that it was there. As he remembered both of the cabin doors were locked. From the outside with old heavy padlocks that he knew weren't easy to break. The police had made sure of that. And Ash felt compelled to double check them to be sure they weren't broken or something like that. To be sure that no one had broken in recently. As there had to be a reason for the candle in the window. But, both of the padlocks were perfectly fine. Neither looked like they had been recently messed with. Or had been touched since the day they were placed there. It only made him more curious as he continued to walk around the cabin. Looking at the windows that were on the first floor. Thinking that maybe one of them had been broken into.

Either he was going to find broken glass or an unlocked window. But, he found neither of these things. The windows were all intact and looked like they hadn't been touched in years. Only serving to further confuse the man as he stopped at the front of the house. Staring up at it as he debated his next move. This was the strangest thing he'd seen in a couple of months. How in the world had the candle get into this old cabin? There just was no plausible idea in his mind on how it could have gotten in there. Not without the glass being broken or something like that. Just how in the world did someone get the candle inside and lit? Looking at it, Ash asked,"What kind of thief puts a lit candle in a dusty old cabin?"

"...do I call the cops or not?",he added. Figuring it would be kind of silly to call the cops over. As it was just a lit candle in the old cabin. Not someone dying or actively breaking in. It really would be a waste of their time and effort. Besides, he doubted that any of them would really care about it. Quietly, Ash searched his pockets for something to help him open the window. Anything that could move the little lock so he could open it. His fingers brushed against the knife that he always kept on him and he smiled. It wasn't really ideal to use on a window lock. As he'd only ever seen the guys on Supernatural open a locked window that way. But, he really didn't have much choice.

Well, he did have several choices. None of them were as much fun as breaking into an old cabin. One that seemed to have been broken in already.

Taking it out, he carefully slipped the knife out of its sheath and into the right place. Moving the tip of the blade right into the lock. Taking a deep breath, he pushed it hard into the lock until it moved. Then he pulled the knife out of it and back into its sheath. Smiling widely at his stroke of good luck. Gripping the window, he pushed it open as far as it would go. Which wasn't all that wide but, it was wide enough that he could get into the cabin. First thing he did was blow out the candle to avoid burning himself. Carefully slipping his foot through and then another as he balanced himself on the windowsill. Vaguely resting his body weight on the table the candle was on. Fearing it would collapse under him if he did. And once he was inside, he squinted his eyes in the relative darkness. There didn't appear to be anything out of the ordinary in the dirty place. Well, from what he could tell there wasn't anything out of the ordinary. All there was left was a couch, two chairs, and an old bearskin rug.

The couch and chairs were covered with some white sheets. And the bearskin rug looked like it had seen better days. From what he could see in the dark that was. Turning to the candle, Ash got out his trusty lighter from his right pocket. Opening it up and flicking it before relighting the candle. Soon as he did, he lifted the little wax item up in its metal holder. What light it gave wasn't much but, it was better than stumbling around in the dark. Looking around the room, he mumbled,"Sheryl would totally love this place."

"Spooky, dusty, and looks like Grandma's house.",Ash muttered. Walking through the living room before heading through the house. Checking each room for any signs that someone had been there recently. So far, he'd found absolutely nothing. No footprints in the dust that clung to everything. Nothing had been moved from their proper place. Not even a sign of a rat being around. It just seemed so strange to Ash that there was nothing. Just how did this candle get into the abandoned cabin? Who could've left it there and for what purpose? Aside from possibly burning the whole cabin down.

While Ash stood in the hallway near one of the bedrooms, there was a loud crash. One that dragged him out of his thoughts as he twirled around towards the noise. Running towards the room that he had left not that long ago. Doing his best to make sure that his only light source didn't snuff out by accident. Once he got into the room, his stomach dropped to the floor. The window that he just had just come through was now shut. Shut and somehow relocked. His heart raced as he stared at the window with wide eyes. Unable to understand just how in the world his only means of escape just relocked itself. Then started to calm down. It wasn't that terrible. All he had to do was move the lock and fling open the window if he wanted. He wasn't in any real danger in the cabin. After all, it was just himself in the dusty old place. So what harm could really happen to him?

Taking a deep breath, he set the candle down on the table. Gently reaching over to grab the little lock and attempted to move it. But, it wasn't moving. No matter how much strength he put behind his attempts, he couldn't move it. Causing him to inwardly panic as he stared down at the thing. Just how in the Hell wasn't he managing to move it? His thoughts were racing as fast as his heart was. And while he kept trying, he heard a creaking noise from somewhere above him. At first, he thought it was just the cabin settling. After all, the place was old and abandoned. It hadn't been properly maintained in years, creaks were bound to happen. Then, they sounded less like the house settling and more like heavy footsteps.

Ones that were moving slowly and deliberately. Almost as if the person knew that Ash wasn't going anywhere. That they had all the time in the world. Looking around, Ash hurried over to the couch and crawled under it the best he could. Fixing the sheet to make it look like he hadn't just dove under it. Holding his hands over his mouth to stifle the sound of his heavy breathing. Not that long later, the footsteps got closer and closer to the room he was in. Causing him to freeze as he listened to the person come in. Their breathing was heavy as if they had ran for miles and not walked downstairs. Or that the person had asthma. Either way, he wasn't letting them find his hiding spot. And for a moment, there was no noise in the entire room. A few seconds later, he felt something wrap itself around his ankle. Causing him to scream at the top of his lungs. Pulling himself from out from under the couch as the best he could. Clawing at the wooden floor as he turned to look at what was holding him. All he saw was a mummified hand gripping his ankle tight as possible.

Despite looking so fragile, it was inhumanly strong. No amount of yanking could get it to release its grip on him. He slammed the back of his heel on it as hard as he could. Disgusted with the sound of broken bones as he kicked the hand until it broke enough to release him. Hurriedly getting to his feet, he backed up to the window. Putting his hand up to try to pry open the lock once again. All the while, he watched what was attatched to the hand slip out from under the couch. Freezing at what he saw before him.

A tall humanoid creature pulled itself from out from under the couch. It had unnaturally pale skin that looked fragile and was tight against the bones inside of it. Sunken and bloodshot grey eyes stared at him. There was a few tresses of white stringy hair hanging around its face. Making it look like some strange version of Gollum from the Lord of The Rings. He didn't want to stick around for the creature to start talking. Or for it to try and grab him once again. Turning fully to the window to try prying it once more. Pushing the lock as hard as he could and barely paying the creature anymind. It didn't seem to care that Ash was trying to escape it. Nor did it move towards him just yet. At the fifth try, it started moving towards him. Letting out a strange wheezy cackle as it raised its arms towards the frightened young man.

While Ash tried to think of what to do, he heard someone shouting from behind him. His eyes darted behind him and he saw his older sister, Sheryl standing outside. Holding something in her hand. It only took him a second to realize that it was a giant rock in her hands. And even less time for him to realize what she was intending to do. He quickly ducked under the table as his older sister threw the rock through the window. Glass spraying everywhere but, Ash was grateful he hid under the tiny table to avoid it. Watching the creature getting the shards lodged into its body. The rock that Sheryl threw hit in square in the chest and knocked it onto its back. Ash barely paid it any mind as he got to his feet and climbed onto the table. Punching the glass as best he could to get it wider. His older sister helped him the best he could. Both of their hands were bleeding but, they didn't care. All they cared about was getting Ash out of the cabin. While they did this, there was a sound of something moving behind him. The creature was getting up, it was getting up and he knew it was going to grab him.

Making his heart race as he tried shove himself through the gap. Soon as he got half-way out, the creature grabbed his ankle once again. Causing him to scream at the top of his lungs. Sheryl grabbed his shoulders immediately and started yanking him backward. Snarling as she shouted,"LET HIM GO! LET HIM GO YOU RE-ANIMATED BEEF JERKY!"

If it weren't for the terror, Ash would've laughed at that line. Instead, he reached for his knife and pulled it out. Without thinking, he drove the object deep into the creature's wrist. The creature immediately let him go while screaming at the top of its lungs. Something cold and liquidy squirting onto him as Sheryl quickly yanked him through the broken window. Both landing in a heap together before they turned to the cabin. Watching as the creature thrashing around and knocked the candle off of the table. A second later, there was flames dancing around the cabin and the creature as it screamed in pain. It continued to scream as the flames licked up the inside of the place. A few seconds later, the whole place was engulfed in fire. That was the siblings cue to leave as fast as they could.

Which they did.

Both hurriedly got to their feet and sprinted through the woods. And as soon as they were half-way through the place, Sheryl stopped him. They tried catching their breath as his older sister got out her phone. Dialing the police to tell them that the abandoned cabin was on fire. Hanging up before turning to Ash, she demanded,"The Hell were you doing in there?"

"I just wanted to see if someone had broken in is all...there..there was a weird candle in the window.",Ash admitted. Feeling like a moron for even doing what he did. And Sheryl gave him a look that suggested she thought the same. Then he thought for a moment before he asked,"Wait, how did you know that I needed you?"

"I didn't.",she answered. Then she went on to explain that she saw him hiking. And that he had forgotten to grab his keys to their cabin. Along with his phone that he had left charging in his room. Giving both to him, Sheryl stated,"I guess it's a good thing you're kind of a dumbass."

"Otherwise, you would've gotten eaten by Kate Moss.",she joked. Trying to defuse the situation with a little humor. Ash tried to not laugh as he stared at her. But, his own stupid sense of humor got the better of him and laughed. Shoving both items into his pockets before they started towards their cabin. Smiling ear to ear as he agreed,"Yeah, and its a good thing you found that rock too."

"I owe ya, Sher.",he stated. His sister nodded her head as they walked along. Gently wrapping an arm around her little brother's shoulders. Smiling a little, she informed,"Yeah, you do. You're gonna do the dishes for me for the next month. And take out the trash."

"Yeah, that's fair.",Ash agreed. Both heading into their cabin to treat their wounds. Silently vowing to never tell their parents what they just seen and did.