This story is by Judith Chapman and was part of our 2023 Fall Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here.
Ted Dunken, a 5th grade schoolteacher, inched his way down a steep mountain pass one very dark and foggy night. He could barely find his dry camp just outside of Park City, Utah. He guessed visibility to be around 20 feet from his jeep’s front bumper. He approached the tent carefully, pulling up close before setting the brake. “Out Blue, we made it.”
With a whimper, the dog scrambled, hurling himself under the driver’s seat at Ted’s feet. Hair standing on end, he lay trembling, growling.
“Blue, what’s wrong with you?” concerned he leaped from the jeep. Turning on his heel to comfort his beloved friend, then he smelled it. The putrid stench of rotting flesh. Ugh, something must have left a dead animal up close to our camp. “It’s ok buddy, it’s an awful smell, isn’t it? Fear not, we’ll hunt the source down in the morning and get rid of it. I wonder what it is, not looking forward to that scene for sure,” he smiled, scuffing the dog’s coat. “Time for bed Blue. Let’s hit the sack. Do you have any clothes pins tucked up in that coat of yours? It’d be nice if you did. We’ll be lucky if I can make it through the night without puking.” He huffed with an eye roll and exaggerated frown.
Grabbing the groceries from behind his seat, he gasped with surprise at the sound of Blue trying to cram himself even farther under the seat. “Come on, you scaredy cat, tents straight ahead,” slapping his thigh and giving a quick whistle. A whimper, but still no movement. “Jeez, I can’t believe you’re going to make me carry your big butt all the way to the tent. The things I do for you. You’re never going to live this one down!” Laughing out loud, returning to his tune.
“There, ya happy?” Once back on his feet, Blue pulled his tail up under himself, and allowed his ears to fall to the side. With a deep growl, he bolted to the sleeping bag. Scratching for an opening, then darting to the bottom. Ted could see his bag shake as Blue continued to tremble.
“Wow dude, I have never seen you so wound up. You’ll feel better in the morning. How does eggs and bacon sound for breakfast? I bought a full dozen eggs, so I hope you’re hungry.”
Digging through his things, Ted found a book about the folklore and legends of the area. “The Skinwalker Ranch is in this state. Did you know that Blue? Kind of spooky to be so close, huh?”
“Watch out, here I come. Lucky for you, I’m short and this sleeping bag isn’t.” He laughed out loud. “Come on. No tail wag or anything, you know that was funny, admit it… Fine, be that way. At least you’re not trembling. That’s a win,” he said, patting the bulging bag.
“Did you hear that?” Ted whispered long after turning out the lights. “Does that sound like metal being scratched? I must have been dreaming. Nothing around here would do that. Nothing except a skinwalker that is. Nope, not going there,” he whispered to Blue, pulling the bag back up over his shoulders. “I knew I shouldn’t have read that book before going to bed. Damn it anyway! Is that smell getting worse? Is it just me? You’re not trembling or whining, guess it must be me,” he scoffed, rubbing his nose with the back of his hand, even more determined to get rid of that stinky whatever it is, in the morning.
“What’s that?” Ted asked, alarmed, sitting straight up in bed. “I know I heard something that time. Did you hear it, Blue? You’re shaking again, you heard it too. You should have warned me, what kind of watch dog are you, anyway? Should we turn on the light? Just listen for a while. Shhh, there it is again. Oh jeez, it sounds closer this time. Sounds like something walking. It’s coming closer to the tent. Get out of there Blue, you’re supposed to protect me.” Ted’s alarm was noticeable in his panicked whisper. Unzipping the sleeping bag, he jumped out, slamming his feet deep into his shoes. Blue scratched the bag, attempting to dig even deeper, whimpering louder than ever.
“I can hear it behind the tent. Shit, it’s sniffing the tent Blue, what should we do?” Panicked, Ted grabbed his walking stick. “This is maple, Blue. It’ll take care of him.” Aiming to reassure himself more than the dog. “Where’s my flashlight? He’s moving around to the front of the tent. Blue, help me damn it.”
“Found it.” Ted yelled, slamming the power button on. The light lit the screen just in time to see the enormous head of a wolf appear on the left side of the screen. “Get out of here!” He yelled at the top of his lungs, now shaking the flashlight jumped back and forth across the dark screen.
The wolfs head was massive. “Oh my God that things going to eat us! Blue, it’s huge, at least the size of a Shetland pony, maybe even bigger! Get out here.” Startled by the commotion, the wolf turned its head toward Ted. Staring at him, as if focusing on his next kill. The dead animal stench hit Ted in a thick wave, as if it were being sprayed. His eyes swelled, watering instantly.
In a squint he could see well enough to note the animal snarling, and what looked like yellow puss dripped from the wolfs fangs and lower jaw. Eyes flashing from brown to red in the flashlight’s beam. The animal leaped at the screen, meeting a solid smack to the face from Ted’s sturdy weapon. With a sharp yelp, the wolf leapt out of sight and was gone.
Ted sat up with his sleeping bag wrapped around his shoulders for the rest of the night, in a trance, rocking back and forth. With his flashlight covering the door, he was prepared for anything. The stench was almost gone, leaving a faint wisp that crossed his nose with the slightest breeze.
At daybreak, Ted picked up his dog and walking stick. Finding the two a heavy load, he cautiously picked his way toward the jeep. “What in the hell?” He screeched. Putting both the dog and weapon on the ground to get a closer look, he noticed the smell was back. Blue bolted for his hiding spot under the driver’s seat.
Bending down he examined the item more closely. “Is that what I think it is?” he asked himself out loud. “It looks like shredded animal hide, the rotting skin of a wolf. The color and texture are right, could it be?” His curiosity outweighed his fear as he searched for more clues. “Holy shit,” he bellowed. There, between his feet, he could see them as clear as day. The wolf’s footprints disappeared. A short distance away, the distinct tracks of a barefooted man emerged, leaving a hurried trail into the forest.
“Was it a skinwalker?” Ted had to ask himself. He would never know because he wouldn’t dare mention this to anyone. They would think him delusional, crazy even. He chuckled to himself, shaking his head. “I guess it’s our little secret Blue,” he whispered. Returning to the jeep in silence.
Leaving his belongings and that bizarre eventful night behind him, Ted’s life changed forever. His lifelong passion for tent camping in the woods was gone. He convinced himself that life was never truly what it seemed. He would never enter the state of Utah again. The entire state was just too close, too close to the Skinwalker Ranch. Way too close to the very real skinwalker he had left behind…
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