Page 19 of Insatiable Hunger

A high-pitched whistle peeped somewhere in the distance, causing me to stop in my tracks.Alaska?I stood still, listening, when a soft beep, followed by a wave of piercing static, echoed through the two-way radio.

“Hey guys?” Ruby’s voice carried through the walkie talkie. “Did anyone else hear that whistle? It was pretty intense, enough so that Jinx could kind of feel it. Cain, you better not be fucking with us.” I held the radio in my hand, staring at it as I waited for Alaska’s voice to come through.

Beep.

Static returned. “I—” Alaska’s voice was cut short, the sound of a disembodied laugh hidden within the thick, electric layer of static. My body jolted at the sound, the hair raising on the back of my neck.What the fuck was that?

Beep.

“I’m sorry,”Did she hear that laugh? “Can you repeat that? You cut out,” Ruby casually asked. It didn’t seem as though she had heard what I did. But how?

Beep.

Only loud static came through the other end. No voice. No words. Just looming static.

Beep.

“Alaska?” She didn’t reply to Ruby.

Beep.

“There must be something wrong with her radio,” Cain’s voice shot through. “Probably just the batteries dying. I did warn you guys—”

I pressed the button to speak, cutting him off. “Someone should check on her.” The ghostly laughter kept playing, stuck in my mind, making me feel uneasy. I already didn’t like the idea of her being alone out here, but now, the idea was extremely unsettling, especially after hearing that strange voice.

Beep.

“We’re not far; we can head her way,” Ruby replied.

I pressed the button again. “Let me know if you guys need me to head back as well.”

Beep.

“Calm down, Lazarus. We can handle it.” She groaned.

The radio fell silent.Yeah, not happening.

I placed the camera and stack of photos back into my bag and quickly headed back the way I came, quickening my pace.

I’m coming, dreamer.

Chapter

Eighteen

ALASKA

“Damn this thing,” I groaned, smacking the bulky radio before tossing the bulky radio into my bag. The batteries must’ve died, leaving it useless.Just my luck. Clouds slowly began to fill the sky, concealing the light of the moon and stars as darkness befell the land. “We should probably head back the direction we came,” I spoke to Alastair, my flashlight in hand. “If that was Lazarus who whistled, then he’s probably trying to find us.”

Alastair and I began our trek back down the path we had started on, the wind picking up as the trees swayed and dead leaves gathered around us, dancing in the cold air. I hadn’t experienced any additional paranormal incidents, aside from the unsettling feeling of being watched, which had sadly begun to feel ‘normal’ in this ancient little town. We continued, taking our time as we traveled back, observing the various tombstones and hand carved statues. The beam of my flashlight began to flicker as an odd feeling tapped my shoulder.

“What?” I smacked the plastic light, the golden beam flickering as I hoped for it to stop. I tipped the flashlight around to check the batteries when it suddenly began to surge witheach blink, the beam growing in brightness until the glass bulb popped, shattering in my hand. A faint sliver of neon green fire trickled from the broken bulb and faded into the air. The plastic handle burned, causing me to open my palm with a loud gasp. I dropped the flashlight, smoke trailing from the hot, broken bulb. Alastair looked up at me, his eyes glowing with concern. It felt as though something, or someone, was toying with me.

The feel of something breathing against my neck frightened me, my body whipping around to see who was there, but I was alone. There was nothing but a faint night breeze. Fear overcame me when I felt as though someone was standing directly in front of me

I see you.

The same disembodied voice from earlier in the night hissed, the weight of those words scratching against my skin. I could feel the color instantly draining from my face, my stomach sinking with absolute fear. Something was out here with me. Somethingevil.

---