Voices in the Dark

After six years of dating, Nathan and Olivia made the decision to spend a weekend away at a remote cabin tucked away in the Vermont woods. They needed the vacation, a chance to reconnect and forget the stresses of the city. The cabin was charming—rustic, peaceful, and encircled by tall pines that told the wind their secrets.

It was a quiet first night. They laughed about the memories they had created over the years, cooked dinner together, and drank wine by the fireplace. They moved to the bedroom as the fire subsided, hiding beneath the heavy quilt and feeling warm and loved.

Olivia woke up with a start in the middle of the night. It was too quiet, eerily quiet in the room. She looked around, thinking Nathan would be at her side, but the bed was empty. She sat up and rubbed her bewildered eyes. The door to the bathroom was slightly open, and the light was off.

Softly, she called out, "Nathan?"

No answer.

As she removed the covers and stepped onto the chilly wooden floor, a chill went through her. She walked around the cabin, looking in the living room and the tiny kitchen, but he was not there. She turned toward the front door, which was wide open and swaying slightly in the night breeze, her heart thumping.

Olivia called again, her voice shaking as she stepped outside. "Where are you, Nathan? This isn't amusing.

The forest, dark and boundless, towered over her. She turned toward the trees when she heard a slight rustling. Then she caught sight of him.

With his back to her, Nathan stood motionless just past the tree line.

A wave of relief washed over her, but it was tempered with anxiety. "Hey Nathan! She walked over to him and asked, "What are you doing out here?"

He remained motionless. He didn't respond.

There was a problem. Olivia took a deep breath and carefully drew closer. He turned suddenly as she reached for his shoulder. His eyes were wide and empty, and his face was pale.

"Nathan?" she said in a whisper.

There was a movement in his mouth but no sound. Then he muttered, "I heard something calling me," in a voice that wasn't quite his own.

Olivia shuddered. "Enter the house. I'm afraid of you."

After a moment of hesitation, he nodded rigidly and let her hold his hand. He had freezing-cold fingers.

Nathan sat on the couch back inside and gazed at the floor. He didn't seem to notice when Olivia wrapped a blanket around him.

She inquired, "Did you sleepwalk?" "Have you done that previously?"

Slowly, he shook his head. "It was... odd. A voice reached my ears. It was barely audible, barely a whisper. My name was called. I assumed it was you. When I went outside, I noticed something. However, I can't recall."

There was a thick silence between them. Olivia checked to make sure the door was locked. "Let's simply return to our beds. We will discuss it in the morning.

Olivia hardly slept, but Nathan concurred. She continued to look at him, waiting for him to move. The tension from the previous night felt almost like a dream when morning finally arrived.

Nearly.

In an attempt to get over their uneasiness, they hiked all day. But Olivia noticed something strange as the sun started to set. Throughout the day, Nathan had been silent, aloof, and his movements felt a little off. His demeanor was a little strange, and his responses were slow. He seemed to be making an effort to appear normal.

Olivia was determined to stay up that night. She listened to Nathan's breathing while she lay in bed. At first it was steady and slow. Then, however, something occurred.

A sharp breath. A murmur.

Then there was motion.

Nathan sat up suddenly before she could even react. His eyes were open but blind as he turned his head to face her. "It’s inside now," he muttered, using the same hollow voice.

Olivia's heart froze. Whispering, "What’s inside?"

With a shuddering exhale, Nathan slowly turned his head in the direction of the bedroom door.

By itself, the door creaked open.

Olivia wanted to scream, but she was too scared. Too tall, too thin, a shadow hung from the doorway. It flickered like a candle in the wind. Then it spoke, in her own voice, soft and sneaky.

"Come outside, Olivia."

Nathan did not respond as she gripped his arm. His skin was clammy and his body was rigid. The shadow drew nearer, oppressive in its presence. The headboard reached for her, its fingers lengthening, reaching for her face as Olivia scurried back, pressing herself against it.

Nathan then made a move.

He lunged at the figure with unnatural speed, his lips releasing an inhuman, guttural growl. Hissing, the thing backed away and vanished into the night. Nathan's body seized and he fell to the ground, struggling to breathe. Olivia ran to him and gave him a frantic shake. "Hey Nathan! "Awaken!"

When his eyes opened, they were filled with fear. Gasping, "It’s still here," he said. "We must leave. "Now."

Olivia snatched their bags without thinking. They left the cabin and drove through the night without turning around. Nathan didn't say another word until they were miles away.

His whisper was, "It wanted you." "It wanted you more, but it tried to take me first."

Olivia gripped the steering wheel more tightly. She was clueless as to what it was or why it had selected them. The fear in Nathan's eyes, however, told her one thing as she looked at him.

It wasn't finished.