The Return by Anthony M. Strong

Author:Anthony M. Strong [Strong, Anthony M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: West Street Publishing
Published: 2016-02-02T22:00:00+00:00

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The tent was dark now, the fire having burned down to little more than glowing embers. Even so, Sally was glad for the slight red light that filtered through the thin tent walls.

Next to her, Ben slept, his chest moving up and down in rhythm, a loud snore escaping his mouth on each exhalation.

She pulled the sleeping bag up and huddled down into it for warmth, briefly considering changing back into her clothes, and out of the thin negligee she’d pulled on after their fun. She couldn’t be bothered though. It would require getting up and rooting around for the clothing, and she might wake Ben. So she lay there cocooned within the layers of fleece and nylon, listening to the breeze rustling the outer shell of the tent, and the fire crackle and pop as it consumed the very last of the wood.

She closed her eyes, thinking of Ben, and how good he’d felt. She could not believe it was only three months ago that they met, it seemed like so much longer. She sighed and stretched her toes to the end of the sleeping bag, relishing the warmth. She was about to drift off, was almost asleep, when something pulled her back.

She opened her eyes and lay there, listening, ignoring the gentle snores of her boyfriend. What had she just heard? It was a small noise, but out of place. Alien. It came again, a shuffling sound, as if someone was out by the fire walking around, and trying to be quiet about it.

She sat up, her ears straining.

From somewhere out by the fire it came, just like before. A strange clicking, knocking sound.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Sally’s eyes flew wide. She reached over and found her boyfriend’s prone form. She shook him. “Are you awake?”

He snored and shrugged her hand away.

“Ben?” She tried again. “Please wake up.”

For a moment she thought he was still sleeping, but then he rolled over and looked at her with half closed eyes.

“What is it?” He sounded groggy. “What’s going on?”

“There’s someone outside the tent.”

“No there isn’t,” he mumbled. “Go back to sleep.”

“Ben.” Sally hissed the word. “I’m serious.”

"Alright.” Ben sounded irritated. He sat up and rubbed his eyes. “What did you hear?”

“I don’t know. Noises.” Sally bit her lip. “Out by the fire.”

Ben rested on his elbows and together they listened, but the only sounds were the chirping of crickets and the lapping of the waves at the lake’s edge.

“I don’t hear anything,” Ben said finally.

“I swear. I heard it.”

“Like earlier in the restroom?”

“Yes. Just like that.”

“Jesus Sally. You’re just freaking yourself out,” Ben grumbled. “There was nothing in the restroom. You’re just hearing animals. We’re in the woods.”

“No, I’m not.” Sally glared at him.

“This is the last time I bring you camping.” Ben laid back down and pulled the sleeping bag up to his chin.

“Dammit Ben,” Sally said, suddenly wishing she hadn’t let him have his fun with her earlier. It wasn’t her fault that Ben didn’t hear anything. If he’d been awake a few moments earlier he would have heard it just like her.

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