A Ford Victoria crown car, parked at the sidelane of a highway. Inside the car were two police officers who appeared tired, obviously the late night shift was taking a tole on them but they had no choice, this was their job. One of the officers was struggling to get through a level of a game on his phone, he was visibly annoyed at how difficult he was finding this to be especially after exceeding past other levels of the game easily.
The other officer was holding a plastic cup, which held a steaming hot coffee , best for keeping him awake, just what he needed to get through this unusually long and strenuous night. They disliked night shift but it couldn't be helped since they were both rookies and this was a compulsory task.
It was late ,so there were fewer cars on the road, mostly people returning from work, parties but so far everything seemed normal, until. A call came from the two way radio on the driver's front deck. It was the voice of an officer from their headquarters, his voice unclear at first till they listened closely, immediately shutting down any form of distraction and noise so they could clearly hear what the person from the other line was trying to say.
"Hello, hello? Come in officers, this is an assignment for any officer who is receiving this, if you are 10kilometres and less from the tiki forest located south from the city's third highway, an accident just occurred and you are required to provide assistance. I repeat, to provide assistance. The crashed vehicle is a red Nissan , though other information has not been provided which means you are to check it out to clarify. ".
The voice stopped, with a static noise being replaced. Though unclear about the information, they decided to drive there to check it out. Anything was better than sitting here all night.
The first officer gulped down his coffee before starting the vehicle , driving to the location. The tiki forest was less than 2kilometres away from them and they should be there in less than 10 minutes.
The thought of people injured in the vehicle and probably bleeding to death made them worried . Could they make it in time?
They got to the Forest and immediately had an idea where the vehicle might be as they were visible tire tracks leading inside the forest. Even the rail by the side walk was broken. Seemed the car crashed through it before going into the forest.
Unable to continue with their vehicle. They stepped out and ventured there on foot.
As the two police officers cautiously walked into the dense forest, their mobile flashlight as the only means of aiding their sight, their senses heightened with a mix of trepidation and curiosity.
It was really late , The moon cast an eerie glow, filtering through the thick canopy of trees, creating an otherworldly atmosphere.
They had been called in to investigate a car crash site, but as they delved deeper into the wilderness, a sense of unease began to settle upon them. A feeling which they were unsure of but still made them uneasy.
Strange noises seemed to echo through the trees, and an icy breeze sent shivers down their spines.
The officers exchanged skeptical glances, then one of them said
"We can get the job done faster if we split up and cover more grounds".
The other looked at him in bewilderment
"Spl.....spl....split up?.. in this creepy forest?" he said ,his voice trembling
"Yes , of course. Is there an issue boy?".
He asked , one brow raised in enquiry.
"It's just , this forest is scaring the shit out of me and going alone? what if I get attacked or something?"
The first officer appeared skeptical and didn't really get why his partner was afraid.
"Look, we came here to do our job, I don't know about you but I work better when I don't have to look after someone else but myself, do you understand?"
He swallowed his saliva before answering in a low but audible tone."Yes, I understand "
Though they had resumed on the same day, one of them had already exerted his dominance and it was becoming a habit for him to lead his co partner .
"Good, now you check over there and I'll check this part of the forest, if you see anything, Call out my name". He was already walking away into the forest
The second officer was left alone , going to the opposite direction in search of the crashed car.
With each step, the forest seemed to become a twisted labyrinth, concealing secrets they could not comprehend.
What was this strange feeling he was getting. It was not normal but there was little he could do. His partner had already gone to the opposite direction. Maybe this job wasn't cut out for him. After all the only reason he applied was so he could support his mother and his three sisters .
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Shadows danced menacingly, and rustling leaves appeared to be the footsteps of unseen entities.
This was no ordinary crash scene; it was a realm where the line between the natural and the supernatural blurred.
His training urged him to dismiss such notions, but for how long? There wasn't even any sign of the car anywhere. He had no idea what he was even doing and it annoyed him . God dammit!, why did he agree to come here? He had his gun ready, just incase anything were to happen. Though he was authorized to only shoot in self defense and only when he had no other choice.
As he pressed on, he couldn't help but wonder if there was something more at play, something beyond his understanding.
Then he heard his name being called out, LOUDLY. It was his partner, his voice echoing through the forest. Without thinking at all, and grateful he didn't have to keep wandering alone, he dashed towards the voice of his comrade. Was he in danger? Did he find the car?.
Walking through the last branch, he got to where the voice came from . He saw his partner standing motionless with his arms by his side. It seemed like all his energy was drained out from him. He appeared tired and that alarmed him. What happened? He thought. He slowly walked up to his side to get a glimpse of what made his fellow office freeze up .
He saw the red Nissan turned up side down which each passenger, a few feet away ,scattered in different direction. He wondered if they were dead or alive. Maybe that was why his partner stood there motionless. Maybe he knew they were dead and he couldn't do a single thing to help.
Walking past him towards one of the victim
He wanted to be absolutely sure he was dead. His conscience would not let him if he knew they were alive and he did nothing to help.
The person on the floor was a blonde male. He looked to be in his early twenties, but upon getting closer, what he saw made him almost throw up whatever meal he had eaten before. He jaw was bleeding profusely and was hanging loose with thin parts of his skin keeping it from falling to the ground. He wasn't expecting this. Could an accidental really have caused this. He wondered if the other three people who laid motionless were in states similar to this. He checked the pulse of the blonde guy hoping that he could still be alive despite his condition but nothing. He stood up slowly, looked up to the moon before looking back at his partner once more. Then he walked around the tumbled vehicle checking for any details or information that could be significant in the future .
Just then , a hand grabbed him. He turned round sharply to see his partner pale face looking at him. "We need to get out of here,"
"But , we haven't gotten a clue who this people are , are we just going to leave them like this?"
"NOW!". He said, raising his voice.
This wasn't the man he arrived with moments ago, he seemed different and he acted different.
Dragging his hand away , he wanted to know what he had seen or heard that made him like this or was he greatly terrified of dead bodies?
"Tell me why?! Or we are not leaving here!".
Without saying a word , he pointed to one of the injured victim on the floor. Why that person in particular? He was a red hair , muscular and quite attractive but was also in similar terrible state. Then he looked closer, and finally he noticed it. It was was clear but somehow, in-between all this, he didn't notice it. It was more than what he could ever imagine.
There was a large claw mark on the chest of the guy and a deep hole where his heart used to be . Whatever this was, it sure wasn't a result from this car crash. Could it be a wild animal? And could his heart really be gone? Is there some kind of heart eating creature in this very wood were they stood unaware what laid behind this forest. Looking over his shoulder, he nervously asked
"What do you think did this? Some kind of wild animal or something?".
"Are you mad ?!!" His partner snapped. Don't you see the size of those claw marks, it's bigger than three bears combined. And what animal steals heart?".
He had a feeling that he was going to say those words but a part of him really wanted that not to be the case.
"Let's leave here now!".
He said, even louder this time. He was beyond terrified and he wasn't even trying to hide it.
Then they heard a rustling coming from behind them. Immediately turning to the direction with their guns pointed, they didn't want to be caught unawares.
"Who's there!!!!?".
Nothing. He repeated but still ,nothing. They looked at each other nervously then began to slowly amble towards the rustling noise.
Then someone came rushing out of the forest with his hands in the air. They panicked and almost shot their loaded pistols but upon hearing the person's voice, they stopped. It was a shirtless guy who looked quite ripped for a slim person. He had tattoos all over his body and piercings too.
His hands were stretched up like he was surrendering and that made the officers confused but they still pointed their guns towards him trying to find out why he was in this forest and especially close to where an accident just occurred.
"Young man, who are you? And what are you doing here by this time of the night? Do you have any idea what could have happened if we didn't hold our fire. You could get really hurt you know?".
The guy was panting heavily and traces of sweat appeared on his face . Was he running away from something?
The first officer puts his gun down and carefully walks up to the boy. The second officer still had his gun pointed at him. He was really suspicious of him but didn't want to say . Was he the one who cut out the red hair's heart out.
He didn't seem to have any weapon on him but what was he running from or why was he even running in the first place?.
"I was out on a stroll up ahead and something attacked me and my friends.
Wait? He wasn't the one responsible for this accident or did he know anything about it. Then him being here was just a crazy coincidence then.
What if what attacked him and his friends was the one behind the claw scar they saw earlier .
"What's your name kid?" Officer Ben asked placing his hand on the boy shoulder empathically.
"My name is Kenneth sir". He quickly replied. He was still panting.
Glancing to his partner. He gesticulated for his partner to stay here while he goes to Kenneth and his friends. On their way , he asked questions about how the creature looked like and why his friends decided to take a stroll this late which Kenneth answered honestly.
Left alone once more, he couldn't believe officer Ben left him again. What was he thinking? There's a creature out there and he's going there alone. But what made him uncomfortable was this shirtless guy . He had an aura that made his stomach tighten. The same feeling he got when he first entered this forest.
But then it dawned on to him. Kenneth wasn't wearing shoes either . That was peculiarly weird . The thought of how the red haired guy was badly mauled with his heart cut out flashed in his mind and that made him immediately run after his partner. Something was definitely wrong and he had a strong feeling they had to leave this forest no matter what.
They shouldn't have gone far since they went out of sight for only few minutes.
In the dense, mysterious forest, the police officer forged his way through the undergrowth. Dressed in the imposing uniform of justice, his eyes gleamed with determination, every sense on high alert. His fragile , slim frame hinted that this was closely similar to a crash course taken to get this job.
Crackling twigs and rustling leaves followed in his wake as he tirelessly loped in search of his friend, a monstrous, man-eating creature was definitely out here. With each passing step, his focused gaze scanned the surroundings, unfazed by the eerie silence that enveloped the forest.
In one hand, he tightly gripped his trusty firearm, its cold metal companion offering solace and reassurance. The weight of the weapon mirrored the responsibility he carried on his shoulders, to protect his community from the sinister threat lurking amidst the ancient trees.
Despite the potential peril at every turn, he pressed on. Each step taken with calculated caution, he navigated the treacherous terrain – never underestimating this unknown creatures ability to strike from the shadows.
Time and again, the officer defied fear as his heart was pounding fiercely in his chest. The possibility of getting killed never entered his mind,
Then he heard strange noises and he immediately hid behind a tree, his heart pounding like a drumbeat. His gaze, wide with terror, bore witness to a scene that would haunt his very soul. Silhouetted against the moonlit sky, a nightmarish figure, it forms indistinguishable to darkness itself, prowled through the midnight hour.
The feral growls filled the air, a chilling symphony of malevolence that sent shivers down his spine. And then, as if orchestrated by a malevolent force, a flash of movement caught his attention.
His eyes widened further, his breath caught in his throat. Before he could react, he watched in gut-wrenching horror as the darkness enveloped the unfortunate soul, the gnarled jaws of the creature consuming him with a terrifying brutality. His partner was being eaten alive as he helplessly watched.
The grim tableau played out before him, etching itself into his memory, a chilling reminder of the existence of unspeakable horrors that lie hidden within this forest.
Then it stopped, dropping the body it was devouring. It knew it was being watched . He smelt him.
its fog like form grew massively ,almost tripling in size and slowly turned towards his direction.