Mia writes dark fantasy and horror stories that promote the experiences of women and otherwise underserved communities through the lenses of horror and dark fantasy. From next-door horrors to creatures lurking out of sight, Mia’s characters show us what the world can be like when we refuse to be silenced.
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THE CAMPING TRIP
by
Mia Faller
The moonlight barely shone through the canopy of trees above the campsite. Gwen took a slow drag from her cigarette, letting the acrid heat fill her lungs. She let herself take in the space, listening to the night sounds of peepers and the odd calls of an owl. She wondered if she could grow to love the sounds of the city as much as she loved this. If she’d be able to think of sirens, traffic, and people’s chatter as home.
Anywhere is better than staying here, her mind mused.
Looking at the fireplace, she poured the last of the water over the logs before taking a final drag off her cigarette and tossing it in the firepit. Her poor night vision made the darkness spark with imagined threats. You’re fine. Jill’s just in the tent. You’re safe, Gwen told herself as she grabbed her flashlight and turned it on. The cool metal casing felt comforting in her hand as she swept the beam of light over the ground.
A loud pop made Gwen spin to look behind her. She couldn’t tell what direction the sound came from. Even if it was a twig breaking, it had to be a large animal to make that much noise. Standing still, Gwen listened for another pop. The sounds of the forest seemed to drop off all together.
“Jill?” Gwen called, shining her flashlight at Jill’s tent, knowing her friend hadn’t got up since going to bed half an hour ago.
Gwen walked around the campsite, scanning the vacant campsites neighboring their own.
“Not many people camp this late in the summer. Too buggy. Too hot,” the receptionist had explained at checkin that morning.
The Hollow Bend Campground had always been Gwen and Jill’s camping spot. Somewhere in the past year, the campground seemed to have lost it’s charm. Gwen was wishing they’d booked a hotel stay before their college send off.
Another large crack of twigs breaking pulled Gwen out of her thoughts. It’s just an animal. Gwen thought.
Gwen walked to her car, double checking the food cooler was secured in the trunk. The tension of the moment seemed to dissipate as the peepers resume their trilling.
Rain started snaking through the trees, threatening to soak Gwen’s sweatshirt. She hurried to her tent, thankful the zipper didn’t stick this time as she carefuly manuvered herself inside. As soon as the tent was closed again, she peeled off her sweatshirt and sandals.
Her back touched the edge of Jill’s sleeping bag, nudging Jill’s foot.
“Sorry,” Gwen whispered into the darkness turning off the flashlight. Jill’s only reply was a soft sigh and the sound of her weight shifting in her sleeping bag.
The humidity in the tent made Gwen long for the cool rain. She felt her way to her sleeping bag, carefully shimmying up to the bag’s entrance before cocooning herself inside. She put the flashlight between them and killed the light.
The rain continued, pelting against the tent at odd intervals as it fell through the canopy of trees eventually lulling Gwen to sleep.
A scraping sound woke Gwen hours later. She turned on the flashlight. Jill was asleep next to her, her mouth open as she quietly snored.
The steady hiss of something scraping against the tent’s nylon shell filled the space again. Gwen shone the flashlight to the side of the tent. No shadows greeted her. She lay back down, forcing herself to take deep breaths as she listened for the sound again. When her mind was satisfied, she turned off the light and pulled the pillow around her head.
Gwen didn’t know if it was the rain or the slicing sound that woke her first. The wall of the tent was gone, letting the steady rain pour into the tent.
“Jill!” Gwen hissed reaching across to her friend’s sleeping bag. Grabbing the flashlight, Gwen flicked it on, illuminating the tent. Everything was soaked. Jill’s side of the tent was torn apart, shredded as if something had torn it apart. Jill lay quiet in her sleeping bag as if nothing was wrong. When Gwen pulled back the top layer of the bag, Jill’s eyes stared vacant. Her mouth hung open in a silent scream. Her neck was torn open as if mauled by a lion.
Gwen’s own screams were blunted by something heavy shoving her to the ground. Gwen’s arms shot up, trying to push away her attacker. Her hands met coarse fur, a barreled chest heaving with might. The scent of rotting meat overwhelmed Gwen’s senses as the creature licked at her neck, its tongue felt paper thin despite its strength. The sensation was almost comforting, conjuring her cat Monty to her mind. The creature stroked her hair with long sharp talon-like digits. Gwen’s body relaxed slightly at the touch.
Impossibly bright yellow eyes filled Gwen’s field of vision. Warm blood dripped down her face as the creature’s fangs settled against her skin. Gwen’s blood flooded down her face before she felt the razor sharp fangs consume her.