A high school friend of mine called me recently. I haven’t heard from him in years, so it surprised me when he called. He mentioned that he was in trouble and needed my help. He didn’t say what he needed help with, but I assumed it was something paranormal since he called me.

We agreed to meet at a diner he was familiar with. I entered the dinner and told the waitress I was meeting someone. Without looking up from her phone, she pointed towards a table at the far end of the restaurant. The man was faced away from me, but I knew it was Jacob by his blonde shaggy hair. When I approached the table he turned around and waved at me. I barely recognized Jacob as he had a large scar on his face that wasn’t there before. The scar started at his forehead and traveled across his face down to his jawline. He noticed me staring.

“This is why I called you,” he said, pointing at his scarred face.

“How did that happen?” I asked, sitting down across from him.

“Well, me and my buddy went hunting. Then we thought we saw a deer.”

“What do you mean you thought it was a deer?” I interrupted.

“It had horns, but wasn’t a deer! I don't know what it was, but definitely not a deer,” Jacob answered, “Henry shot at it and then it stood up on two legs. It started running towards us so I ran away, but Henry stayed and continued to shoot at it. I heard him scream and headed back to where he was, but I didn’t see him. Then that thing jumped on me and clawed my face. I’m lucky I got out alive!” declared Jacob.

“And your friend, Henry?” I asked.

“He’s missing, the cops can't find him,”

“If what you are saying is true, your friend might be dead.” I added. At this statement, Jacob abruptly stood up.

“He ain’t!” he shouted. “I know he is alive and I’m going to find him whether or not you’ll help!”

After his meltdown, I decided to help Jacob find his friend. If he goes into the woods alone, then there might be two people missing and this will make my job harder.

A few days after our meeting Jacob and I went to the woods where his friend and he were attacked. Jacob had a bulging backpack slung over his shoulder and his hunting rifle by his side. “Can never be too prepared,” he said, smiling and giving me a thumbs up. We searched the area where Jacob said he saw the creature. I found nothing but a tree with claw marks embedded deep into the bark. This could have been from a bear as far as I knew, Jacob disagreed. He was wild to find Henry; Jacob was walking much faster than I was and frantically searching for the lost hunter. I admire Jacobs’ loyalty to his friend, it’s something I wish I had. But I’m afraid if I go missing, no one will search for me.

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We continued our exploration deeper into the woods; I was afraid we would get lost as everything seemed to blur together. When I voiced my concern Jacob mumbled something about him having a map. My feet were growing tired and I was done looking for someone who I thought was dead. I caught up with Jacobs' long strides and stood in front of him.

“I know you want to find your friend, but we need to go back! I don’t want to be stuck out here in the dark,” I hissed.

“We have to continue, I need to find him!” Jacob urged.

“He’s gone! We aren’t going to find him!” I snapped.

Jacob didn’t reply, he just stood there looking at the distance with this sad look on his face. I thought I overstepped and was about to apologize. Then I noticed that he was looking past me, his face grew white and his eyes filled with fear. Jacob slowly raised a shaky finger and pointed behind my shoulder. I heard a low growl, and I knew what was behind me. I whispered at him to grab his rifle and started to slowly turn around. Several yards in front of us was the vile creature. It was a tall, cadaverous being with long limbs and an almost human-like structure. Its massive horns scrapped at tree branches as it slowly paraded towards us. Behind me I heard Jacob fumbling with his bag and starting to load his rifle.

I kept staring at the creature, afraid of what would happen if I looked away. I felt Jacob tap something against my hand, I grabbed the item keeping the beast in my sight. I raised it to my face to see that it was a large knife. I usually use violence at the last resort. But this case was different, this monster was different. I gripped the knife tightly, my fingernails dug into my palm. Jacob stood beside me, rifle in his hand, aiming at the giant. It was closer now and I saw the bloody matted fur where it was shot before. “Aim for the head,” I whispered. He raised his rifle slightly at my request. The horrid monster stopped a yard away from where we stood it’s hollow eyes staring at its prey.

It lunged at us, clawing Jacobs' side. He dropped his rifle and fell to his knees, consumed with pain. Next thing I know the beast was on top of me, its foul breath clogged my nose as it growled in my face. I shouted in agony as its dagger like claws pierced through my shoulder. The monster ripped its claws out and raised the bloody daggers above its head ready for the killing blow. I knew that this was it, I had to act. I took the knife that Jacob gave me and stabbed the creature where I expected its heart to be. It let out a loud whine and fell to the ground beside me, the knife still embedded in its chest.

I ran over to Jacob and wrapped his wound with the first aid kit that he had in his bag. I slung his arm over my non injured shoulder and dragged him back to my car. Then I drove us both to the hospital. Jacob was rushed to surgery and I was treated for my wound. I told anyone who asked that it was a bear that attacked us. I was discharged from the hospital yesterday but Jacob still remains. He has now succumbed to the fact that his friend is most likely dead. I doubt neither of us will ever step foot in that vast woods ever again.