The Cabin in The Woods

“The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window.”

Gilbert looked at the little faces before him, each reflecting the firelight. But none of them seemed truly afraid. Not yet.

He glanced over his shoulder once, knowing full well the slight path that led to that little cottage of which he spoke of. Knowing it, perhaps, a little too well.

One of the boys laughed as another’s marshmallow fell hissing into the fire. Only two had their eyes glued to Gilbert as they waited to hear his story.

Gilbert continued. “Years ago, two brothers camped here. They sat on these very logs and rocks, trying to build a good fire. The older brother told the story of the haunted cabin. That people were said to disappear if they went anywhere near. Of course, they didn’t believe the stories of this cabin. But they were excited anyways. And so, the two boys wanted to explore. But when they indeed came to the cabin, they saw a flickering light through the murky window. The younger brother grew scared. Laughing at him, the older brother went in. He never came back—"

“Tell us something actually scary,” complained one boy, frowning at his burnt marshmallow as the rest of the kids laughed. Only Lucas and Monty held excitement in their eyes.

Gilbert smiled. “Not scary enough? What if I told you this cabin was, in fact, in these very woods we camped?”

They looked at each other but shrugged. “So? It’s just a cabin.”

Oh, no, they were so wrong. “Why don’t we find out then,” said Gilbert, standing up, “if there is indeed a candle burning in there right now.”

One of them yawned, and several laughed. Gilbert laughed too, as if he’d been joking.

“Alright boys, let’s get some sleep then.”

“Aw,” Lucas protested, eyes downcast. “You didn’t even finish the story,”

“Probably because there’s no cabin out here,” chimed Monty. “Definitely not a haunted one anyway.”

Gilbert sensed their disappointment as the rest of the kids finished their marshmallows and joked around.

But he waited until they were sound asleep before he gently shook the two boys that had shown some interest in his story.

“Shh,” he said, motioning for them to get up quickly. “How would you boys like to actually see this haunted cabin for yourselves then?”

Lucas and Monty looked at each other, eyes wide. Lucas nodded heavily. Monty looked a little skeptical but Gilbert saw the excitement in his eyes.

“So it’s really haunted?”

“Why won’t we go and see for ourselves? Lucas, put out that flashlight! Let’s not wake the others.”

They grinned as they stood and snuck with Gilbert from the camp.

“Follow me,” said Gilbert, motioning towards the steep incline, and they trekked up the hill. That hill he’d climbed so many times, up the trail he’d formed over the many years.

Even so, he’d never gotten in sight of the house. Not since the incident.

Chills grew up his spine as they got closer. The boys were breathing heavily, whispering eagerly with each other. Until they came upon a sign that read, ‘NO TRESPASSING.’

“And here the boys stopped too,” said Gilbert, looking up past the little battered gate. He put his hand on the leaning door, and it screeched open under the pressure. “But not for long. Their curiosity only grew.”

“Um, is this someone’s property?” Lucas asked.

“Oh no, trust me, there isn’t a living soul in that place,” said Gilbert, finding it difficult to contain his own excitement now. He turned back, his eyes glinting wildly, as he asked, “Scared?”

“Aren’t you like a park ranger?” Monty questioned.

He’d committed to that job long ago, working for no other dream or future. Convincing the local school’s teacher hadn’t been difficult, taking these children on an educational hike, as well as a fun night camping. “Yes,” he said. “But I’m not a boring one. Now, mind you, none of you have to go any further. Because if we do continue, we will be on the property of this haunted shack. And as the two boys in my story did, we may just see a burning candle.”

Monty shrugged. “I’m no sissy.”

Gilbert grinned, as next, Lucas followed. And after that, Gilbert found he only had to keep up behind them.

Up the steep path, as the two brothers had done before them, until they saw a small, dark, silhouette of a building, huddled between the trees. His breath caught, but the story was not done.

“The older brother went up this way,” Gilbert whispered as they stood at a distance. “He walked to the house itself. He wasn’t found since. The rumors of this cabin were now that whoever enters becomes possessed. Or maybe, their soul gets taken away, by whatever ghost dwells within.” He took his eyes from the intent gazes from the boys and back up, past the bushes and shrubbery, to that little building nestled in shadow. “But you’ll never believe what it is the little boy found when he summoned the courage to go in.”

Gilbert remembered the darkness. The yearning for the candlelight he’d seen from the window. The hope that his brother might be in there. The musty smell, the spiders of fear that had traced his skin . . .

And then he’d seen the ghost.

A light lit up in the window, and Lucas gasped. Monty laughed, but it was a nervous sound. They shifted a little beside him, causing the leaves to crunch and rustle.

“And then he saw the ghost,” Gilbert continued in a whisper. “A dark being with no eyes and no arms. Just a wallowing dark mass in search of the next spirit, hungry, waiting to devour.”

He remembered the feelings of terror. He felt them now as he gazed upon the cabin and drew steps closer.

“The boy ran,” he said hoarsely. “But not before he recognized the voice, trapped inside the shadow. The voice, begging to be let free.”

Gilbert stopped walking. Lucas and Monty looked back at him. “The ghost was his brother.”

With this, they went on. They were by the creaking steps now. Gilbert opened the door. To nothing but the darkness.

Gilbert continued, though his words were more to himself. “His possessed brother would have to wait in silence and loneliness for the next person to enter. So that he could finally be free. That is the curse of this cabin. Confined to this cabin’s walls, the previously taken person waits in the dark. He lights a candle. He waits. Hoping for the next curious visitor to fall bait. And then, after taking the next soul, and only then, can the captured person be free. And so the cycle continues.”

They entered the house. The boards creaked heavily beneath their steps. Dust tickled their noses. Gilbert’s heart raced now. He eyed the door. He could run out and have it shut within an instant. He’d done this before, after all.

His strained voice so quiet it cracked, he finished the story. “Terrified to see the ghost was his brother, but grateful that he was not lost, the young boy fled. He survived. And he promised to return one day with another soul.”

Feeling heavy with emotion, from both sadness, joy, and fear, Gilbert welcomed the hovering shadow that appeared in the far corner, cast by the light, growing in size as it seemed to take over. “And now, after so many years, big brother, you will finally be free.” Gilbert turned to look at the boys, their eyes round. Now there was fear, as realization dawned on their pale faces.

“You wonder why I brought you here, kids?”