Hutch drove the car to a stop at the edge of the brush, the engine's rumble fading into the serene sounds of nature. He looked at the sign accompanying it on the left, the wooden marker weathered and partially covered in moss. He pointed, "That's the trail to the cabin." I leaned forward, using the front seats as leverage, "Does that mean the challenge starts now?" The excitement in my voice was palpable. Wade, who was sitting in the passenger seat, turned and recorded me with his high-tech camera, its lens glinting in the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees. "No, man. It starts when we make it up to the cabin."

Jason, sitting in the backseat next to me, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, guys. We can't fake this challenge. Five days, not four days and twenty-two hours." Hutch sighed, leaning back into his seat. "Fine by me, I'm used to surviving without electricity for months at a time." His tone was casual, but there was a hint of pride in his voice. Wade pointed his camera at Hutch, capturing the moment. "Oh, what a tough guy we got here. Anyways, I'm going to get a shot outside the truck, but first..." He looked at me with a grin. "Aaron, sit back in the seat. I'm going to get a celebratory picture." Corny, man, but I get it. Wade placed the camera down softly on the dashboard, then took out his phone. We all squeezed into the frame, smiling wide. He snapped a picture, the flash briefly illuminating our faces. This challenge can be fun, too.

We looked down at our feet, where our bags lay on the ground. Each of us had a sturdy, weathered backpack, packed to the brim with gear. Hutch explained, "This is our survival equipment. Ten days of rations in case something happens, and many survival items. I'll explain what each of them are as we are 'surviving.'" We all nodded, acknowledging the seriousness of our adventure. The car doors creaked open, and we stepped out into the crisp air. The scenery was beautiful, with trees lining every inch of the small logging road, their leaves whispering in the gentle breeze. The dense shrubbery limited our view to about fifty feet, adding an air of mystery to our surroundings. I couldn't imagine what it would be like at night, the darkness amplifying every sound and shadow. The others began taking off their urban shoes, replacing them with sturdy boots suited for the rough terrain. I followed suit, feeling a bit out of place but also excited by the change of pace. I rarely wore boots, and it felt oddly satisfying to lace them up tightly. As I adjusted my boots, I noticed some brush about twenty yards away moving unnaturally, as if something had sprinted past it. What the heck was that? Fear momentarily overtook me, but then a gust of wind rustled the leaves, causing the eerie movement. Oh, just some damn wind. Really scared me for a second. Hutch's voice broke through my thoughts, "Hey, are you guys ready to follow the trail?" His tone was a mix of enthusiasm and authority. We all responded nearly in unison, "Yes, Hutch!" The adventure was just beginning.

We all stood on the side of the car, eyeing the short few hundred meter trail to the cabin. The path was narrow, with dense foliage on either side. Hutch hoisted Wade's bag onto his shoulder, freeing Wade to handle the heavy camera with ease. Wade started recording again, and Jason took on the role of narrator, his voice clear and enthusiastic, "Hey, guys. We're going to be following this trail to the cabin now. We're going to time-lapse it for your viewing experience." With that announcement, we began our trek up the trail. The incline was slight but noticeable, and with a bag weighing about twenty pounds on my back, it quickly became a test of endurance. The camera recorded our progress, capturing our labored breaths and the determined looks on our faces as we made our way up. About two hundred meters in, the footage would show us panting slightly, our steps faltering under the weight of our packs. The trail itself was far from clear. Rocks and various obstacles littered the path, making each step a careful calculation. Despite the challenges, we pressed on, motivated by the thought of reaching the cabin. Finally, we emerged from the dense trees into a clearing. The sight of the cabin, rustic, greeted us.

"Holy crap, the cabin looks old as hell." I muttered under my breath. The structure stood as a testament to time, made of wood that seemed at least half a century old. It had two small, dusty windows, and the porch was decrepit, its wooden boards sagging and splintered. What a sad state of affairs. Trying to focus on the positives, I noted that the logs didn't look weak, and despite the rain yesterday, the roof showed no signs of leaking. Wade captured some good footage of the house, panning slowly to emphasize the cabin’s rustic charm. Then, he turned the camera on me and asked, "What do you think, Aaron? Will you be able to survive?" I answered with a straight face, "No!" The simplicity of my response caused everyone to burst into laughter. Hutch, cutting through the laughter with a serious tone, declared, "No, that's wrong. We will all survive. I guarantee it." His words took us by surprise. Hutch hadn’t been part of our group for long, but his reliability and confidence were undeniable. Wade, still chuckling, added, "Yeah, guys. I'll help out too!" I patted Hutch on the shoulder, appreciating his steady presence. "You're a good guy, man."

We entered the cabin and took in the interior. The layout was simple and utilitarian, with four beds positioned at the back of the cabin. Each bed had a small space around it, enough for a bit of privacy but nothing more. The right and left walls each held a nightstand, though the two middle beds were too far to reach them easily. A window was situated above the bed on the far left, offering a picturesque view of the surrounding forest. The right wall in the middle of the cabin was lined with a shelf, which held a few framed pictures and some basic tools, including a few handheld lamps. Each were gas powered, and there was a sturdy wooden table with four chairs stood in the middle of the cabin, clearly meant for our meals and gatherings. Although there was more to the cabin, such as a small kitchenette and a wood-burning stove in the corner, these were the essentials that immediately stood out. It was clear that the cabin was built for functionality.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Hutch shoulder-checked me, but I knew it wasn't out of malice. He was just naturally rough around the edges. He placed his bag on one of the beds and began unpacking it, holding up each item one by one for us to see. "This is a Firestarter," he said, clicking the switch and demonstrating how it ignited a small flame. "click the switch and it lights a quick flame in front of you." Next, he held up a multi-tool, explaining, "This is a multi-tool. It's a middle-of-the-road tool with a fair amount of uses. It has a knife, folding scissors, toothpick, nail file, and a magnifying glass." He then showed us a spray bottle. "This is insect repellent. Spray only a bit around your skin when bugs bother you." He held up a toothbrush and toothpaste with a wry smile, "You know what this is." Hutch continued with explanations for four more essential items: water bottles, blankets, a tarp, and a first aid box. Each explanation was straightforward.

Finally, he concluded, "The rations are self-explanatory. Wade has also brought some board and card games for entertainment. Anyways, now that you know this, let's look at the map that's on—" He stood up and walked over to the shelf, "—the shelf right here."

He held the map up to face us, unfolding it, then pointed towards a river winding through the dense forest. He said, "This will be a good spot to record. There's also some spears I brought just in case, and we can use those to fish." His voice was calm and authoritative. Jason interrupted him, his tone slightly impatient, "Hold on bro, it's my YouTube video. I will decide what we do." Hutch gave a mean stare to Jason, as if Jason insulted his very existence, his eyes narrowing and jaw tightening in a silent challenge.

Jason let up, raising his hands in mock surrender, "Just kidding bro. You're the survival expert. But let me make one thing clear, after we go to that river and partake in that activity, it's my turn. We should each get a day to choose what to do." Hutch nodded, his expression softening as he took a deep breath to ease the tension, "Yeah, you're right. Sorry, I got carried away." Jason stated, clapping a hand on Hutch's shoulder to emphasize his point, "Nah, man. It's cool. Like I said, you're the survival expert. For now, how about we get acquainted with the cabin and play some card games?" Hutch's face lit up, the earlier tension forgotten, replaced by genuine enthusiasm, "Yeah, that'd be nice."

The next few hours flew by as we played Old Maid, blackjack, and a few other games on the sturdy table. Wade diligently recorded each game, and Jason proposed that the winner of the most games would decide our evening activity. In total, we played six games with five rounds each. I managed to win three games, a testament to my skill and perhaps a bit of luck. I was a great player in more ways than one. As night descended around us, I suggested, "Let's tell some scary stories on the porch outside." Jason groaned jokingly, "Man, that porch barely held our combined weight. But hey, it's your call, so I'm game." Hutch grabbed the lantern, asking, "Are we ready?" I nodded, and we settled into our chairs on the porch. There were four chairs, each perfectly suited for one of us. Hutch placed the lantern on the railing and took the largest chair. That guy weighed over two hundred pounds of pure muscle—he knew how to pick his seat.

I started the first story, "So-" but my stomach growled loudly right after the first word, making me feel queasy. "Sorry, guys. I feel a bit sick. I'm going to the outhouse." I excused myself, placing a hand over my stomach. Wade cautioned, "Yeah, be careful." I descended the porch steps and walked along the side of the house towards the outhouse, which stood near the tree line at the back. The night air was cool and quiet, with only the occasional rustle of leaves breaking the silence. As I approached, the old wooden door of the outhouse was ajar. A few feet away from the outhouse, the trees closest to me rustled suddenly, their branches swaying in an unseen breeze. "That's eerie." I chuckled nervously to myself, trying to shake off the unease. I glanced towards the source of the sound, my curiosity piqued despite the chill running down my spine.

What I saw froze me in place, a sight I wish I had never encountered.

Hiding behind a small bush, I saw it standing upright and imposing. It was an eight-foot-tall behemoth of a creature, its muscular frame pulsating with life. I could almost trace the veins beneath its skin, a documentation to its sheer power. Thick hair covered its entire body, giving it a primal, almost beast-like appearance. Actually, no. Not almost, it's a damn beast. Its chest protruded outward, a symbol of its dominance in the moonlit night. Its eyes were unnerving—piercing white orbs that seemed to glow in the darkness. I blinked hard, trying to clear my vision, convinced I must be hallucinating. Instead, as my eyes refocused, I noticed its pupils dilate like those of a cat, adjusting to my awkward movement.

I yelled aloud, "What is that?!"