Page 11 of Squatch Out!
I glance down at the ground where the proof that he jacked off in front of me is splattered across the dirt floor.
No one is ever going to believe this.
In fact, if this ever gets out, I’m going to end up as an internet meme.
The minutes stretch, and when it doesn’t look like he’s going to come barging back into the cave, I slowly make my way to the entrance where a thick camouflage tarp is pulled back, letting in the harsh wind. It’s pitch-black outside. There isn’t even a sliver of the moon visible, and the dim light from the lantern behind me makes it seem even darker.
Leaning out of the entrance, I look down at the narrow ledge that disappears into the darkness. Finding my way off the mountain at night is off the table, unless I want to take theexpress way down. With trembling hands, I pull the tarp closed, securing it so the wind—and hopefully the bigfoot—won’t blow it open again.
With the wind dampened, the small space begins to warm a little, but it’s still barely above freezing, and all I’m wearing is my hoodie and jeans. The blanket I had around my shoulders is probably still in my camp chair.
I fold my arms across my chest to ease some of my shivering, unsure if it’s from the cold or if it’s shock that’s setting in. My thoughts are a jumbled mess. I can’t stop thinking about how Bigfoot looked as he stroked himself in front of me. I should feel horrified.Disgusted.
Instead, a shiver runs across my skin, and my breath hitches when I recall his intense eye contact that sent a rush of liquid heat soaking into my panties just before he came. Shaking those thoughts away, I kick some loose dirt over the mess he left.
Maybe hiding the evidence will make it easier to forget it happened.
Forcing my thoughts from Bigfoot, I take in the small cave he brought me to. It’s set up like it’s prepared for guests and not at all like how I would imagine a bigfoot lair would look. There is a human-sized camp bed against the far wall. Next to that is the row of shelves I was pressed against, with an assortment of necessities.Human necessities.Matches, a lighter, a first aid kit, tools and a flashlight. Then there are baskets filled with canned and nonperishable food and bottled water. On the other side of the cave, tucked into the opposite corner, is a small camp stove. The chimney is secured to the ceiling, and it disappears into a hole that must lead outside.
Rubbing my hands together, I drop to my knees before the small stove. The glass door opens easily, and the inside has been cleaned out so it’s ready for the small pile of wood and kindling neatly stacked beside it.
I’ve just gotten a small fire going, when a loud snapping sound has me spinning around to where the tarp flutters wildly in the wind. I’m expecting an angry bigfoot, but when nothing comes crashing through the entrance, I let out a relieved sigh and make my way over to the camp bed. Tucked under it is a plastic container with bedding that has been vacuum-sealed. I force myself to focus on making up the bed, rather than the fact I was captured by a monster and brought up into the mountains.
When I’ve set up a cozy place to sleep, I tiptoe over to the tarp and peek outside once more. There is still no sign of the bigfoot, or anything else in the darkness. But I can’t shake the worry that he’ll come back.
Making sure the tarp is secured across the caves opening, I turn back to the shelves, I search through every bin for something I can use as a weapon in case I need to defend myself. I suppose it’s too much to hope for a gun, not that I know the first thing about shooting one, but I do find a hunting knife with a blade as long as my hand.That’ll do.
The adrenaline I’ve been running on is long gone, replaced by a bone-weary exhaustion. I add more wood to the stove and toe off my shoes so I can slide into the still freezing bedding. Clenching my teeth together to keep them from chattering, I tuck the knife under my pillow and then reach over and turn off the lantern. The flickering flames through the glass door are bright enough to chase away the oppressive darkness as I tuck the blankets under my chin and burrow in for the night.
After a few minutes, my cocoon finally starts to warm up, and soon I’m actually quite comfortable. Except that I’m trapped in a cave, on a mountain, with a monster outside somewhere.
With nothing else to do but let my mind spin wildly in the darkness, all the fear I’ve been holding back pushes to the front of my mind.
What if he comes back?
What if something else tries to break in?
Reaching under the pillow, I wrap my fingers around the knife, which makes me feel a little better. I wish I hadn’t left my cell phone inside my tent. There’s no reception up here, but at least I could play some games to distract me.
The guys must be frantic!
I hope they are okay. I saw how the bigfoot knocked them away when they came to my rescue. Tony especially looked like he took a pretty hard hit. Have they reported me missing? I wonder what kind of story they would tell the park rangers. I let out a sad little giggle, imagining them trying to convince them that a bigfoot stole their friend.
Hopefully someone will come to my rescue in the morning. I latch on to that, instead of worrying about being attacked in my sleep, but I still toss and turn while my mind races and overanalyzes everything that happened, like what I should have done, and what I need to do next. It must be close to morning when my lids finally grow heavy enough to stay shut and I slip into an exhausted, fitful sleep.
CHAPTER SIX
SEAN
The walk down the mountain calms me enough that I’m able to shift back by the time I reach my brother’s cabin. The windows are all dark, and I briefly wonder what time it is as I burst through his front door.
“Owen!” I shout, flipping on the living room lights. “We’ve got a problem.”
My older brother is already standing in the doorway of his bedroom, wearing nothing but a pair of black boxer briefs and holding his sat phone against his ear. His eyes are squinty with sleep and his dark hair, streaked with silver, is sticking out all over his head. Whoever he’s on the phone with must have woken him up just before I got there.
“What in the hell is going on—” he barks into the phone just as his head snaps up to look at me. “Oh, fucking hell,Sean!” Owen squeezes his eyes shut. “Dude, why are you naked?” He pinches the bridge of his nose and grumbles into the phone, “Hey, I’m gonna have to call you back. Sean just got here.”
From across the room, I can hear the frantic voice on the other end.
