The Pine

The year is 2005. Frank Kalaway is an explorer. He has explored forests, highlands, and deserts. He has formed blogs and videos on how to survive in these areas and the animals that lived there. The only difference between those times and now is that he knows what he is looking for now. He was told that the creature has recently been more active than in the past. He went into the woods planning to stay 5 nights. He was in a hot zone where a lot of activity had occurred.

The First Night

Kalaway had made his camp during the day and had walked a mile into the woods. He felt like it was a safe place to set up camp and would allow him for a quick exit if things got too dangerous. Armed with a flashlight, a machete to clear the brush, and a flare Kalaway set off into the night looking for signs. He hacked his way through the underbrush and marked trees as he went. He was stopped by a distant howl of a deer being attacked. The howl and cry made Kalaway’s skin crawl, but he kept pushing. As he walked he turned the light up towards the tops of the trees. He was looking for marks. Much like he had, but made by claws, more importantly, the claws of the creature that Kalaway was searching for.

As it got later in the night Kalaway decided that it was time to turn back towards camp and decided to turn his flashlight up one last time. That is when he saw them. The claw marks on the tree. They were fresh and had a charred look on the edge of them. That was enough for the first night. Kalaway had enough evidence to keep looking. He knew he was in the right place.

The Second and Third Night

Kalaway found nothing on the next two nights. He didn’t see anything but felt like there were eyes on him.

The Fourth Day

Kalaway woke up to what sounded like a horse flaring its nostrils. It was steady. It was close. Kalaway didn’t bug in his sleeping bag. He laid there staring at the door of his tent. Then he saw the shadow. Its legs were that of horse hooves. It stomped in front of his tent. *Stomp* *Stomp* *Stomp*. Kalaway held his breath. He watched as the shadow crossed the front of the tent. *Stomp* *Stomp*. It paused. The creature paused right before it reached the edge of the tent. Kalaway saw the creature turn. It was turning to face the tent. Kalaway was running out of breath. Afraid that a sound would spook the creature. Kalaway knew that a spooked creature was a dangerous one. *KAW!* The creature lurched around. And then took off. The wings battered the tent as the creature flew towards the sound. Kalaway let go a sigh of relief. He decided that tonight was going to be his last night in the woods.

The Fourth Night

Kalaway walked quietly this night. He had his flashlight and machete with him as he began his hunt. He had adjusted to the forest around his area so he kept his light off. Hoping to catch something moving around him. He walked a long way into the woods before turning on his flashlight. He could feel the eyes again tonight, but something felt different. He could feel two hot spots on his back. Like it was trying to burn straight through him. Kalaway whipped around and shined the light into the treetops. Nothing. There was nothing there. He noticed though that the had a glow to it. A red glow was coming from underneath the bark. As if the trunk of the tree was on fire. Kalaway no longer felt like he was just being watched, but as if he was being hunted. Kalaway started back in the direction that he thought camp was. He picked up the pace as he went. He could feel the spot on his back getting hotter as he went. The pace picked up until he was in an all-out sprint. He sprinted back towards camp, but he couldn’t see the glow of the campfire. The trees started to all look the same for Kalaway as he ran. He felt like he was a complete standstill as he ran. Kalaway tripped and the flashlight fell in front of him. Kalaway crawled quickly towards the flashlight. The light was the only thing giving him any sense of comfort. Kalaway felt completely helpless. He reached the flashlight and turned around and pointed it towards the treetops. He saw it. The horse face. The eyes glared at him. Kalaway saw the legs of the creature tensing as it was getting ready to pounce. Kalaway scrambled for the machete at his waist. That was when it pounced. Kalaway tried swinging the machete but the blade broke when it hit the skin of the creature. Kalaway felt the claws reach into him. Everything went black.

Don’t tempt the Jersey Devil.

This is a story of fiction based on the Jersey Devil. There is no record of Kalaway ever existing and no knowledge of this story being based on an actual story or experience.