Paranorma: Paranormal. Supernatural, and Horror Short Stories by C.W. - HTML preview

Chapter 25 

Hiking Horror 

It was dusk and Lanie and Jackson were hiking up the mountain, they had less than a mile from reaching the top of the mountain a devilish monster jumped from out the thick, lush, green evergreen trees. Lanie screamed, Jackson turned around to see what the fuss was, he saw what Lanie was screaming at and his eyes got big. The devilish creature lunged at him, but Jackson ducked and rolled to the ground and the creature ran off into the forest shrieking. “Oh, my goodness what was that?! Lanie yelled to Jackson. I don’t know but almost liked a demon or devil, Jackson answered.” All they knew it was the scariest thing they ever had witnessed. Then, for a moment they both thought about the urban legend that has been told through every local in town of South Jersey and the New Jersey Devil is said to inhabit Pine Barrens. The creature is often described as a flying large, winged, bat like creature with a face of a horse and a head of a dog, and body of kangaroo with hooves, not only could fly but walk and run as well. Most locals say the New Jersey Devil has been resting for nearly 250 years and this legendary creature is said to prowl the marshes of Southern New Jersey and said to emerge and eat feasting on animals and once in while human flesh. There was a local man who claimed to see the New Jersey Devil, he was camping in the mountains of Pine Barrens and he was attacked by the New Jersey Devil and he mysteriously disappeared. Now some say he went crazy and checked himself into a mental institution, others say he was devoured by the New Jersey Devil, locals say they still see his ghost haunting the mountains and the town. No one really knew what happened to that man. Lanie and Jackson finally made to the top of the mountain just for before dark and decided to set up camp for the night, they pitched the tent, Jackson started a fire, and Lanie was getting the hot dogs ready for roasting. Little did the couple know that was another couple camping a couple miles away just through the woods. Lanie and Jackson were just finishing dinner and now were roasting marshmallows and were just talking when…. all of sudden they heard a startling scream that caused them both to jump, they took the flashlight and looked around the dark woods but saw nothing. In the woods where the other couple was staying, they being attacked by the New Jersey Devil, the couple was screaming and yelling. The girl was watching her boyfriend be torn apart in front of her, she screamed in horror and ran, she looked behind and she see the creature following her hearing the loud flapping of its huge wings behind, it swooped down trying to grab but she ducked and rolled to the ground and quickly got up and hid in the safety of the thick evergreen trees, she stayed there and waited till the creature was gone. She ran and ran until she came upon Jackson’s and Lanie’s camp, she ran up yelling frantically, “help my boyfriend has been devoured by some devilish creature and just as Jackson was about to help the poor girl the New Jersey Devil swooped down from the sky and lunged at the girl knocking her down and tearing her apart with its sharp claws. Lanie and Jackson stood there in fear just watching. The creature just stood tearing the flesh of the young girl and ate at piece by bloody piece, until nothing was left of her. With one nasty, creepy, evil, howl it picked the bloody girl and flew off into the night. Lanie and Jackson both looked at each other in horror wondering how long it would be before they would be next, watching the poor girl die in front of them was horrific. They had to make through the night alive and through the next day and get out of the woods and get to safety. It was going to be a rough night and neither of them would be getting any sleep; they thought their best move would to keep moving so they packed up their tent, food and belongings and began walking through the woods and back down the mountain listening and watching as they moved hoping the creature was long gone and away from them. The New Jersey Devil was stalking them quietly moving from tree to tree watching them and waiting to make its move. The couple keeps moving through the dark, dense forest until they reached an opening to a cave, they ran it and Lanie and Jackson closed the opening off with a boulder and ran inside. They had settled in the for the night hoping to get some sleep, they huddled together for warmth and laid a big, warm, blanket over them and slept through the night. Lanie woke up in a panic, was morning, and she couldn’t find Jackson anywhere, she yelled for him, her voice echoing back to her in the caves. Jackson woke early exploring the caves for another exit, Jackson came running to Lanie.” There you are you scared the living hell out of me. Lanie exclaimed hugging Jackson tightly. I thought the creature came and grabbed you! Come on! Jackson said grabbing Lanie’s hand I want to show you something.” Lanie grabbed Jackson’s hand and he led her to another exit to the cave that was blocked off by pieces of 2x4’s. Lanie and Jackson went to grab their belongings and headed back to the exit. They heard movement in the cave, and it was coming closer and they heard the sound of hooves on the cave floor, it became louder. They began they began ripping off the wood piece by piece and throwing it down on the ground as quickly as they could and ran down the trail and kept running looking behind them every step of the way, they followed the path through the trees that lead back to the hiking trail. They ran down the trail and followed river which lead to a ranger’s cabin praying the whole way they would make there safe and sound, but then they heard a swoosh from out of the trees and out the creature it let out a blood curdling scream and swooped down low enough to the ground and reached out for Lanie, she screamed, Jackson turned to look, he raised his gun and shot in the wing, it shrieked as it fell to the ground with a loud “THUD”, Jackson ran over to Lanie making sure she was ok, and he picked her up and they continued running to the safety of the ranger’s cabin. They reach he cabin, and pound on the door yelling for help. “HELP, HELP, PLEASE”. Lanie yelled. Jackson was pounding on the door. The ranger opened the door, what’s all the ruckus he shouted out, but then he fell silent his eyes became wide and his mouth fell open. Before Lanie and Jackson could reply the creature was reply they both heard swooshing above them they looked up and ducked, the creature swooped down and grabbed the ranger, he screamed out, Jackson aimed the gun at the creature and shot it in the leg, it shrieked out and flew off into the sky carrying the ranger with him. The couple ran into the cabin slamming the door behind them. Jackson grabbed the radio and clicked it on and turned the knob to where he finds a clear station and began to talk, “ranger down, ranger down, been attacked in the mountains of Pine Barrens and we’ve been attacked by a creature, at ranger station 35 send help, out, send reinforcements. A voice came through saying, what’s going on out there? Jackson grabbed the radio and said, been attacked a devilish creature it already killed two people, plus the park ranger and attacking us twice, the voice on the other end said sending units now be there within the hour hang tight, over and out.” Lanie and Jackson settled themselves in the cabin, they barricaded all the doors and windows and searched for food. They found some water and some granola bars and whatever was left from their stash of food. In the corner of the cabin by the fireplace stood a bookcase and within that bookcase were many old books and one of was an old book on the New Jersey Devil, Lanie grabbed it from the shelf and blew off the dust and she opened and began to read it, it talked of the origin of the beast and how it became about; In 1735 Mother Leeds was in labor on stormy night while her friend gathered, a mother named Jane Leeds was pregnant with her thirteenth child and she ended cursing that child in frustration. The baby was born normal but eventually that child changed into a hideous creature which is known as the New Jersey Devil or Leeds Devil, the folklore claims that Jane was a witch, and the father was the devil which is how the Leeds Devil came forth. It ended up hurting a bunch of people before it flew out the chimney of the house into the pines, it says it attacks animals but it has attacked humans as well and they it can be killed is by cross like stake blessed by priest and doused in holy water and stabbing the beast in the heart.  “Oh, my stars”. Lanie said out loud. What? Jackson asked. I found a way to the beast in this old book come here and read this. There is priest that is related to a priest in this book that led to the death of the original creature. Lanie exclaimed. That makes so sense, that would mean that the original creature is dead and wouldn’t be alive today. Jackson explained. Unless it somehow survived all this time after 250 years.  Jackson comes over and reads what Lanie was pointing out to him. Now. Jackson announced one of us needs to make to the car go into town and get this priest and everything we need. Jackson announced. Ok. Lanie answered. You stay here wait for help and I’ll go, I’ll fine on my own. Ok. Jackson agreed. I love you. Stay safe. Ok. She spoke. Grabbing Jackson and kissing passionately I’ll be as soon as I can. Jackson took a minute and looked around for a weapon for Lanie, he pulled opened the desk drawer and pulled a semi-automatic and here are some bullets. Here he said. You know how to shoot one of these? Switch the safety, load your bullets here on the side of the gun close it switch back gun aim and shoot. Go.” Lanie left grabbing some water and closed the door behind her. She made her way down the long trail; it was a three or for mile walk back down the mountain and she wanted to get there before dark. She picked her pace checking behind her every step of the way. Meanwhile, on the top of the mountain there was opening to a huge cave no one knew about and folklore claims that was the beast’s lair, inside the cave was dark and smelly and, on the cave, floor were animal bones and human bones. There in the back of the cave was a small nest, where the creature was resting and somehow this devilish creature was somehow related to the one that died 250 years ago and is now living today. The creature had no idea of what its fate was as it laid there and slept, now full the creature would be remain dormant or so it thought. Back at the ranger’s station, Jackson was awaiting help and wondering how Lanie was doing. Sometimes he couldn’t believe how brave and strong she was, it made him so proud of her. Not many girls that Jackson has dated are like his Lanie, most are all of them are too girly, or selfish, conceded, or too skittish. He wondered why he even dated those girls at all. Lanie was the type of girl he loved, strong, brave, confident, kind, selfless and caring. If they made it out this nightmare alive, he was going to marry that woman, that’s what he focused on as he waited for help. He waited for about an hour when he heard tanks rolling up the mountain trail, then he heard yelling and the ruckus from the tanks awoke the sleeping creature. It was groggy, and grumpy, and was growling, drooling, and hissing as it made its way out of its lair and took flight to the air and was heading straight for the army, it dived bombed the soldiers, and the tanks aimed towards the creature’s direction trying to knock it out of the sky. It took out every soldier it possibly could leaving the soldiers bloody and torn up, most of the soldiers lost their live when they were tossed in the air or dropped from a high altitude and was dropped on impact. The creature left a bloody mess in its wake, and no one was left alive except the ones in the tank but when they tried to run the beast would tear them to shreds. Jackson was hiding in the cellar of the cabin when everything was going on and he was to come out and see what was going on, he prayed that Lanie was away from all of this chaos. He opened the door and popped his head out and surveyed the mess, he looked at all the dead soldiers, officers, sergeants, it a bloody mess. It made him sad and I made him feel like it was his fault. Lanie was two miles down the mountain when she saw the army come through then she heard all the ruckus, and she ran and hid. When it was safe, she came out and continued walking as she picked her pace. She had one more mile to go and she’d be out of the woods and into the safety of the car. She followed the trail which went downhill past a valley of trees and continued on, she got thirsty, so she grabbed her water bottle and took a sip and walked on and she thought about Jackson and how he is holding up, praying he was okay. If something ever happened to him, she’d never forgive herself. Jackson was all she had her parents died in a car accident and she was the only child and her extended family lived to far away and barely came to visit her. Lanie loved Jackson so much he was her rock, her everything. They been together since college, and they met through mutual friends and they hit off and been together ever since. Lanie hated the thought of her man being all alone held up in the cabin with the creepy ass beast lurking around. How long would it be until it got Jackson, or someone else? That beast seems to be on some sort of rampage and it’s singling out human beings. I thought they ate animals occasionally. She thought to herself. That thought totally gave her chills and made go even faster she had to do this Jackson his life was kind of on the line.  It was four o’clock when Lanie finally made down the mountain and out of those god forsaken woods, and there it was Jackson jeep, she took out the keys and started the car it purred like a kitten, she gets in, puts on seat belt, backs up and peels out the parking lot and heads to town as fast as she could. By five 0’clock Lanie made into to town and headed straight for the church. She parks the jeep and heads in. The priest was in office when he comes out to greet Lanie. “Hi, child how can I help you? He asked. Hi. I’m Lanie and I’m in desperate need of your help sir, we’ve been attacked and so have other people, umm. she stuttered... the creature got them; it devil creature thing. Oh, my child I’m so sorry to hear this. I heard you can help, are a relative of the one who killed beast 250 years ago? Yes, I am. The priest answered. Do you have a cross like stake doused in holy water and blessed? Do you know of the origin of the one who killed the evil beast? The priest queried? No, I don’t. Oh ok, the priest said. Lanie you are a descendant of the one who killed the beast, it was your great, great, great, great grandmother. You are the one who has to kill the beast and no other. Me? Lanie asked. Why me? Because you the great, great, great, great granddaughter of the of the one who killed the original beast. How did this beast the one that’s here now, is the same beast? Lanie inquired. I believe. The priest paused. That somehow it mated with another one and a baby hatched except now it’s all grown up. So? Lanie asked. Does that mean there’s two? Not really sure. The priest retorted. All I know is that at the top of the mountain is the beast’s lair, could there be two that survived all these years it could be possible. The priest explained. How is that possible? Lanie asked. The because the creature part devil is immortal, however it still can be killed. Are you to get started Lanie? The priest enquired. Yes, I am. Lanie countered. Lanie and the priest went into the basement of the church and began the blessing. She watched the priest go to a wooden closet and he pulled out a cross that was in the shape of a stake he began saying a prayer of it then doused the whole thing in holy water, then the priest began blessing Lanie marking her forehead with ash in the shape of a cross, and handed her a shield, and asked her if she had faith and believed in God and she said yes. Then, my child. The priest said. You are ready. May God be with you, bless you, and keep you.” With that the blessing was over and Lanie thanked the priest they both left the church. The priest got into Lanie’s car and buckled his seat belt and Lanie did the same. They sped off back up to the mountains. Jackson was getting worried about Lanie it was dark and he knew the beast would be on the prowl, he was a sitting duck, at least he was safe. Lanie was flying down the highway as fast as she could trying to get back to Jackson, it was dark so she knew the beast would be active and she worried for his safety. After twenty minutes of driving, they finally made it back to the parking lot except for Lanie didn’t park she drove up that steep hiking trail and headed to the top of the mountain, she parked the jeep. Grabbed the stake and the shield and the priest followed behind her, they crept into opening the cave and there inside they found the beast sleeping, Lanie got ready and braced herself with the shield and raised the stake in the air. The beast was stirring and was waking up, it opened its red glowing eyes. It saw Lanie and the priest and growled and hissed, and lunged at Lanie, she fell back and the beast landed on top of her the priest yelled, “NOW” Lanie plunged the stake into the creature’s heart it shrieked loudly, and began to thrash the priest began saying a prayer that send the beast back to hell once and for all. In all the noise and chaos Jackson came out the cabin and ran to the top of the mountain to find Lanie and the beast. “Lanie are you ok? Jackson shouted out. Yeah. She answered. I’m fine. I was just killing the beast. She countered. Jackson looks at her with big eyes and his mouth dropped opened. What?! He exclaimed. I’m the one that is supposed to kill the beast. Lanie returned. My girlfriend the hero, with that he kissed Lanie passionately. Lanie turned around and the beast was gone. “I’m done”. Finishing a prayer that would send the priest yelled out. “Where did it go?  Lanie asked confused. I sent it back to hell, the priest announced. Lanie, Jackson, and the priest took one last look at the mountain and headed back to the jeep; they all headed back to town where Lanie and Jackson got married in that very church and settled in the town and started a family and lived happily ever after, the New Jersey Devil was never seen or heard from again.