The Unknown

Melissa had two kids: Peter (14) and Mina (8). Her husband, Terry, was a soldier who was killed in action four years ago. As expected, the family went through a challenging grieving period, but when things started feeling more normal, Melissa decided to get a dog. It was a mongrel, and Mina named him Dorito after her favorite snack.

Upon finding their normalcy again after grieving, Melissa and the kids were a happy family. Birthday parties, special weekend outings, some school shenanigans here and there... Terry was a fond and happy memory, not one filled with pain and regret. Peter had always wanted a pet, but Terry was against it. He believed the kids needed to learn responsibility before taking on a new family member (in Terry's eyes, a pet was another family member, almost like another child). Peter would often slack off on his chores, frequently getting him in trouble. Besides that, his grades at school weren't very good. Terry wanted to see Peter doing better so he could reward him with the pet he had always wanted. Ultimately, they all loved Dorito, but Mina spent more time with him by far.

One afternoon, as Mina and Peter returned home from school, they noticed the house was awfully quiet. Every day, as they got home, Dorito would start barking excitedly just before greeting them. The TV would be playing an afternoon news broadcast while Melissa would be in the kitchen preparing dinner. The fact that there was no barking and no TV on was strange, to say the least. Peter and Mina went to school and returned home on the school bus. They usually got home around 4:00 P.M.

"Where's Dorito?" Mina asked, confused by the quiet. "I've got an even better question. Where's Mom? And why was the front door unlocked?" "It was unlocked? You don't think Dorito ran away, and Mom went looking for him, do you?" "I would any other day... not today, though. Mom said to be extra sure not to go anywhere after school today besides home." Peter stated.

"Why?" Mina naturally asked. This entire conversation occurred immediately after they entered the front door. Peter's succinct response was, "You know why." Peter's answer evoked a conversation that Melissa had with her kids many times. They lived in a small town on the outskirts of Kentucky, beyond the Cumberland River. Their house was on the edge of town, near the forest separating safety from the great unknown.

"Never, ever, under any circumstance, enter the forest." Those were Mom's words to Peter and Mina. She didn't bother explaining why, though. They already knew. Every year, some kid or teen would wander around the forest and disappear, never to be seen again. Everyone in town would talk about it, saying, "He/she was claimed by the Unknown."

No one knew what the Unknown was. It didn't make any sounds, and there wasn't any physical form that could describe it. No description helped the townsfolk be wary of and stay away from it. All those who encountered it were never heard from again.

"So what are we supposed to do, Pete? If Mom's looking for Dorito, maybe we should help!" Mina urgently said. "We don't know for sure if she's looking for Dorito or why she isn't here... Let's just do as Mom says and stay put, OK?" Peter's response was meant to end any further discussion, but Mina wasn't satisfied with his resolution idea.

While Peter went to his room to play video games, Mina could not resist the urge to head out looking for both her Mom and Dorito. Normally, Mina would do what her mom said and steer clear of the dreadful forest, the alleged house of the Unknown, but as she got near the edge of the forest, she could hear the faint sound of Dorito barking.

Mina's heart was pounding in her chest. It wasn't only her mother's warning, but teachers and classmates alike... everyone in town said to stay away from the forest. But none of them had a dog they loved that was lost, like Dorito. 'What if I tell Pete I heard Dorito in the forest? No... he won't let me go to him, and he'll stick to what mom said. Funny how a stickler for the rules is such an average student...' Mina's mind was thinking not as fast as her body was moving. Despite her crazily fast beating heart, she went into the forest, following the sound of Dorito's barking.

Peter played for about two hours on his Nintendo Switch until he got hungry. He went downstairs to raid the fridge while wondering what his little sister was doing. He made himself a PB&J sandwich in the kitchen, then looked in the living room, expecting to find Mina. When he didn't see her in the living room, he thought she was in her room. "Mina!" he called out. He took several quick bites out of his sandwich as he went up the stairs. By the time he arrived at his sister's room door, he had already finished his sandwich. To his surprise, though, the door was wide open, and Mina was nowhere to be seen. At this point, he started to panic a little.

"Mina, where are you?" he shouted outside the house door. "Mina!" he insisted. "Over here, Pete!" Pete heard Mina faintly replying from a considerable distance away. The sound came from the forest. After hearing her respond, his fear was changed to anger. "Mina! What are you doing in the forest? You know what Mom always says... get back here!" he said with a sense of urgency and anger. "Mina, don't make me go over and drag you back here!" "I found Dorito! Come see the new trick I taught him!" she faintly shouted from a distance.

Peter was quite angry at his sister and went to the forest, following where Mina's voice seemed to come from.

Sunset had passed, bringing darkness all around town. A car suddenly pulled up in the driveway. Melissa had arrived with grocery bags. She had gone out to run some errands and decided to take Dorito with her. She got in the house expecting to see her kids but was met with deafening silence. Dorito didn't enter the house. He remained at the door, growling toward the forest. After Melissa checked the kids' rooms and didn't find them, she got really worried. She went outside with Dorito, noticing his strange behavior. "Mom! We're here!" she faintly heard Peter's voice from the forest.