Rogue
Somewhere in the remote north woods of Michigan's upper peninsula. A campfire illuminates the dark woods with a reddish orange glow. Sparks pop in the center, while embers and smoke lift into the star filled sky. The crescent moon reflects off a quite little creek. However, further down the hill the waves of Lake Superior could be heard crashing on smooth stones. Above the only tent was nestled between the trees. An owl gave the couple company with his song. Near by crickets and other insects could also be heard.
In the tent the couple sat with a bord game between then, in the center of the tent. They each had a small roll of foam with two sleeping bags and pillows. A red rusty old lantern lit the tent along with a few flashlights. Outside was two chairs with a small wheeled cooler between them. Brigitte was play the blue side, while Corbin was playing as Red. It was Corbin's first time playing Stratego so Brigitte was taking it easy on him. It was also his first time camping in the upper peninsula.
Strangely the owl had gone silent, along with the other sounds of the forest. Only waves against the rocks could now faintly be heard. When the two realized this, Corbin suggested they listen to the radio. Brigitte tool out a small hand crank radio from her backpack. She gave it to Corbin who looked over it oddly. He cleared the dust off the solar bar and looked at Brigitte, not knowing how to use it. Brigitte smiled and pointed to the side of the radio quietly made a circular rotation. Corbin laughed at the realization and began to wind up the radio until it turned on. Static and muffled voices came from the radio until Corbin found the only station that was barely coming through. The two continued their game as a fractured voice came through the radio.
"It looks like tomorrow will be in the high to mid seventies." Some static and cracking noises followed. "The bodies of three poachers in Ontonagon County are still missing, after police discovered a trail of dead animals and the poachers ravaged camp." More static. "Sports," nothing followed as the radio died. Corbin picked the radio up to wind it up again but Brigitte stops him. "It's ok, I don't want to listen to the radio anymore. It's not working. Hey can you go get me another drink from the cooler?"
"Ya sure, I'm going to add some more wood to the fire too. Looks like it died down." Corbin gave the radio to Brigitte and gave her a kiss before leaving the tent. Outside he picked up a marshmallow from one of the chairs and ate it. He opened the cooler and reached into the cold ice water, pulling out two drinks. Walking back over to the fire, Brigitte winked at him and slowly zipped up the tent. Corbin picked up a large piece of wood and threw it on the fire. The impact sent up flashes of embers and smoke that parsley illuminated a seven foot creature that stood upright on the opposite side of the campfire. The large log quickly smothered the fire as the last light revealed a reddish brown creature grinning at him. Before Corbin could move the creature jumped across the remnants of the fire and tackled him to the ground. The sound of two bottles shattering on stones alerted Brigitte. She got out of the sleeping bag. Unzipping the tent window she called out for Corbin several times over. Their was no answer.
She slowly unzipped the tent and looked around without leaving the tent. The moon and stars were now covered by smoke. The campfire had only a few coals left with the long smothering the rest. She could barely see anything but the shattered glass a few feet away. She could see the outlines of the trees but the smoke began to burn her eyes. She whispered for Corbin again as she slowly moved outside. Before she went any further she had a gut feeling that something wasn't right. She quickly turned back for the flashlights. When she turned to go back outside she suddenly stopped. Her heart almost stopped as her face was inches away from the head of the creature. She was petrified at the sight of it as she looked into it's green eyes. It snarled and growled at her as it's teeth still had pieces of flesh between them. The hair around it's mouth was drenched in blood. As tears fell from her face the creature tackled her into the tent as it bit her neck and clawed her side. The struggles tore the tent and knocked over the lantern causing a fire. Brigitte managed to drive her thumbnail into the creatures left eye and scratched it's face. It stumbled out of the destroyed tent in pain as it held the left side of it's face. It stood upright the fire revealing its anger. As it prepared for its final attack, another creature jumped from the shadows and threw the first creature into the darkness. Brigitte rolled out of the tent before the flames could reach her. Away from the fire she could see the creatures fighting. The new creature was taller than the first and much faster she could barely see what it looked like. The fight end as fast as it started. The first creature was defeated as the other creature beheaded it. The creatures body fell to the ground a few feet away from Brigitte. The last thing she saw was the other creature standing over her with the first creatures decapitated head.
