A scream pierced the night. There was a sharp rapping on the door, then a thud on the front porch. The door latch rattled harshly.
Sarah’s heart thumped wildly in her chest. Josh leapt from his chair, whirling to face the door. He snatched a pocket knife from his pocket, fumbling to open it.
“Get back!” He turned and mouthed to her, and on instinct, she complied.
She dropped near the edge of the bed, face flush, clutching the trekking pole she had grabbed off the table. She watched her husband, Josh, as he padded in his sock feet stealthily toward the door. In a quick motion, he traded his pocket knife for the fixed blade hunting knife from his pack.
Josh neared the door. The latch rattled loudly again, making them both jump. Sarah wanted to call out at her husband.
Stay away from the door.
She trusted his abilities to defend them, but a trained killer could be on the other side. Portions of the podcast she had been listening to played at double-speed through her mind, like subtle reminders of what their news story would sound like. Would they become the next victims on a crime podcast?
She forced the voices from the podcast out of her mind. They would return, but hopefully not tonight. Strangely, as she did, another voice spoke delicately within her, like a ripple of wind through the trees. Strangely, it wasn’t a panicked voice–or one of dread. No. It was the gentle sense of peace speaking within her.
She heard a noise on the other side of the door. Was that a whimper?
“Josh.” She called out hoarsely. His hand was on the door handle, his knife poised and ready.
Removing his hand from the door, Josh turned to face her, his expression one of fearless determination. He mouthed the word “what?” to her, and gesturing with outstretched hands.
Sarah stood, gathering her courage, and moved toward the door where Josh stood. Despite her husband’s silent protests, she now stood beside him. Leaning forward, she very carefully cupped her ear to the weathered door. Outside, very muffled, she thought she heard someone crying.
Sarah motioned for Josh to listen as well. Josh reluctantly leaned his own ear against the door, and listened. They locked eyes. Josh scowled.
Sarah understood that scowl all too well. Her husband was a compassionate man, caring and sincere. But, he was also wary of his surroundings.
Could this be a trap?
After several moments, Sarah motioned for Josh to open the door. She wasn’t completely satisfied with her decision, but for some odd reason, the peace she had felt earlier remained. There was no explanation, no reasoning for opening the door for a stranger while they were miles from any road, at night, in a remote cabin. Not to mention they had been warned by a ranger that an unknown individual had been noticed hanging around the cabin as hikers came through.
The ranger didn’t say anything more than that, but it was a warning nonetheless. A hiker–perhaps several, had reason to report the individual. Did that mean whoever it was was dangerous? Not likely. But not impossible.
Against his better judgement, Josh unlocked the door, his other hand on the latch. He braced his body against the door, giving himself just enough to open the door just a crack.
Outside, the crying stopped, and there was movement. Someone sniffled loudly, and a body pressed against the door.
Josh clicked the latch, allowing the door to open a few inches. It was pitch black outside. It was impossible to see anything.
“Hello?” Came a feminine voice from the outside.
Again, Josh and Sarah locked eyes. If this was a trap, it was an elaborate one. This sounded like a young woman in her late thirties to early forties. And she didn’t sound threatening at all.
“What do you want?” Came the gruff reply from Josh. He refused to let down his guard just yet.
“My name is Sarah. I need help.”
Josh glanced at his wife. Sarah? Another Sarah was here?
“What’s your last name?”
The sniffling started again. “I-I was camping just a little ways from here and was attacked by a bear. Please let me in. I think it was following me.”
Josh ignored the fact she didn’t answer his question. The woman seemed to be truly upset. He softened.
His wife, Sarah, nodded to him. Josh let the door open a little further so he could get a better look at the woman.
She was an attractive woman in her mid-forties, with shoulder-length brown hair and full cheeks. Her grey long-sleeve shirt was torn at the neck, where smears of blood spread from both sides of a long scratch.
Josh let the door drift open, where he and Sarah could see the woman fully. She was pooled in a heap on the deck, her ripped, mud-stained pants telling the tale of her panicked run. She had lost a boot along the way. As she cried, she rubbed her ankle above the sock line, glancing behind her every few moments in terror as if the predator in waiting was just beyond the cabin steps.
Sarah rushed out to help her. Josh stood back, watching the scene behind them, though it was too dark to make out but only the tall, black silhouettes of the closest trees. He still held his knife, scanning the perimeter as best as he could.
“We need to get her inside. Sarah, take one of her arms. Help her up.”
“She’s hurt. Josh, do we have any first aid supplies?”
“Of course.” He said, bending down next to the other Sarah. “Can you stand?”
She nodded, the tears subsiding.
Josh placed his arm underneath the her arm to help her up. Together, he and his wife lifted as gently as they could, until she was upright. She tested her ankle by putting weight on it.
“I think I’m okay to walk a little.” She said, continuing to glance behind her.
They helped her inside, where she sank onto the empty mattress.
“I was just about to head into the tent, when I heard something bashing against a tree, like it was trying to knock it over.” She began, telling them the story without being prompted. Sarah immediately set about firing up the camp stove and making some tea with water retrieved from the stream. Josh dug through his pack, looking for first aid supplies.
“It was only about fifty yards away. I shined my flashlight on it, catching it off-guard. It was a huge brownish-black bear. I think it was trying to get something out of the tree.”
Josh found the first-aid supplies and handed them to his wife. Sarah finished up the tea, and handed their visitor a steaming cup. Then she wiped the blood off her neck, dabbing carefully around the wound.
“I’m surprised the bear attacked you. There are only black bears in California.” Josh said, noticing that door to the cabin was still standing open. He let the end of his sentence drop, making his way back to the door to re-lock it.
Sarah shook her head, tearing off a bandage and applying it to the other Sarah’s neck. “No, I read they have been reintroducing Grizzlies here. It was in the news last year.”
“Whatever it was, it attacked me. I’ve been camping out here for several years. I’ve never even seen a bear until tonight. It was weird, like it was rabid or something.” She paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. “When I shined the flashlight on it, it charged me. I was near the tent, so the only thing I could think of was to get inside. I managed to get the zipper closed just as it got to me.”
Sarah’s heart raced. She and Josh had camped in Alaska in tents before during one of their hunts. There were a few nights she had to sleep alone. A bear attacking through the tent was a nightmare scenario that had dominated her mind on many occasions.
The other Sarah continued. “The bear got caught up in the tent. I found a small hole in the tent fabric and ripped it open, crawling out as quickly as I could. I was able to get quite a ways away before I found that the bear had gotten free and was chasing me.”
“That must have been awful.” Sarah said, looking down at Sarah’s swollen foot. “You are going to need to get that checked out.”
She looked down at her foot grimly. “I figured as much. I was hoping I could get here for the night and worry about finding a way back down tomorrow.”
Josh was suddenly annoyed. This was one of the things his father had drilled into him every time they stepped foot into the woods. “Always have someone else with you in case you get hurt,” he would say.
“Why were you alone?” He asked her.
Sarah continued to gaze at her hurt foot. “I always camp alone. I don’t know anyone that will go with me.”
Josh wanted to lash out, to tell her how dumb it was to be out so far without a partner, but he refrained. Maybe she didn’t have anyone that would go with her. If that were true with him, would he have gone out alone too?
Instead, he dug through his pack for the satellite communicator. Fortunately, there had been a sale at Cabela’s the other day and he had picked it up last minute. He would use it to send a message to get her help. Even in the best conditions, there was no way they could carry her seven miles back down the trail to the car. So much for a relaxing weekend in the mountains.
“I’m going to step outside to get a better signal. I think we will have to figure out how we can all three sleep in here tonight.”
Unlocking the door, Josh stepped outside into the night.
“I’m sorry.” Sarah said quietly. She had been able to calm herself down, though her ankle throbbed terribly.
“It’s okay. I’m just glad we were here to help.”
“But I ruined your night.”
Sarah glanced at the empty can of Cheez Whiz she had brought for her husband. “We had fun. It was nice coming up here.” She reached for her sleeping bag, and unrolling it, spread it out on the mattress. She urged her to lay back.
“You can get some rest. I’ll let you know what Josh finds out.”
Watch for the final episode, Part 4 soon!
Wow, I’m loving this story and am very intrigued by the new character! Can’t wait to see how it wraps up!