Chapter 5: The Party

The second night is full of surprises

Chapter 5:

The fire roars as we all sit around it cooking hotdogs. Dad and I were pretty tired from our climb. I tell mom and Zach all about our adventure. Zach looked jealous but he understood we had to play it safe and give his ankle some time to rest. I can't wait to climb with him one dad. The sun is starting to set by the time we finish eating dinner.

"And a one, a two, a one two three go" dad shouts as everybody starts to sing me the birthday song. My cheeks start to blush.

"Thank you guys so much. I love you all" I reply as I sit there wondering if I'll receive any presents out here. "It's been an amazing birthday so far." I see my dad going through his big backpack. He pulls something long out wrapped in wrapping paper.

"I can finally get rid of some of this weight" dad laughs as he hands me my gift. "We have some more stuff for you when we get back home. You might not need this here but you'll definitely get some use out of it one far. Be careful unwrapping it."

I carefully unwrap it. It was my very first ice axe. I couldn't believe it. "Thank you guys so much!" I run around and give everybody a big hug.

"To keep all of the excitement going" mom says. "I have a big announcement to make. I know me being sick a lot recently has been very hard on everybody. I've been kind of distant and very moody. Well it's been very hard on me keeping this is a secret but I wanted to wait for the perfect time to tell you guys. I'm pregnant! You guys are gonna have a lil sister!"

"That's awesome news" dad shouts as tears of joy fill his eyes. "I love you so much hunny. I was worried for quite awhile but this is the best news ever!" He hugs her and gives mom a big kiss. Zach and I rush up to give her a big hug as well.

"I was thinking since Daniel was the first son maybe we can name her Danielle, but we have plenty of time to think about that" mom says with the biggest smile as we all embrace her before sitting back down.

Life is beautiful I thought to myself. Everybody was full of smiles and happy. It was a great moment that I hope to remember for a long time. It was starting to grow dark out. Insects were chirping and the small waterfall by the lake was calming. The wood cracking in the fire made this a really special moment. The darker it got the more everything started to change.

Out of no where it started to get very quiet. The bugs stopped chirping which made the fire cracking louder. I look around confused and notice that there were no stars above us. Then it had returned. The sound from the previous night was back. I had forgotten all about it after such a good day we all had. The blaring of the horn sound ripped across the sky. At least what sounded like horns. It so kind of sounded mechanical but terrifying like the sound of my favorite Japanese movie monster. A bright orange light appears right above us as the object starts making a pulsing humming sound. We have no time to react as a beam of light comes down from it and surrounds mom. Dad, Zach, and I fall backwards in our seats just outside of the beam. I see tears rolling down mom's face. As we stare in disbelief.

"Josh, what's going on?" She cries. "Help me!' she yells at him trying to stretch her hand out. She slowly lifts to feet above the ground. The humming gets constant and louder. Dad leaps for her. There is a large flash of light and he lands hard on the ground where she was. Mom was gone.

"Sarah!" he yells on his knees. His hands in the air in the spot where she was seconds ago. Tears rush down his face. Zach and I start to cry as well. This can't be real. This can't be happening. Dad sits there sobbing in his hands. I see two small lights rushing up the trail. I grab the ice axe for protection and stand in front of Zach. As they get closer I notice they are just other hikers with headlamps. They were a young couple. A girl and a guy covered in tattoos wearing a shirt that said Darkly on it.

"Hey are you guys alright? We heard some weird sound then saw a crazy light from our campsite down by treeline up here. We were on the train with you guys but took a side trail and camped at a different spot last night. My name is Patrick and this is Ashley. Is everything ok" the male hiker ask.

I was speechless for a moment till I was finally able to get some words or. "They... They took her... They took our mom" I barely got out.

"Dad slowly starts to rise up and clears some of his tears away from his face. "I'm Josh and these are my children Daniel and Zach." He points towards us. " We came out here for a little trip and something just took my wife" dad sobs. "We were celebrating Daniel's seventeenth birthday and she told us she was pregnant and now she is gone." He falls down onto his knees. He can't control his emotions. "A bright light came down and then she vanished."

A faint humming sound fills the air. We all look over toward the large patch of trees. A blueish hue was coming from behind them.

"Hey Ashley, let's go check it out" Patrick tells Ashley and they start to head that direction.

I look over at Zach. "Watch over dad" I tell him. I chase after the couple but keep some distance. As they approach the trees I can see movement behind them. "Hey guys be careful" I shout at them. I try to hurry and catch up.

Ashley screams a blood curdling scream as they both race back towards me. Then I see them. As they slowly step out from the trees. Skinny creatures with large heads. The hair on my arms rise into the night sky and I feel nauseas. I turn and run with them as they rush around me. We all run like hell back to the camp.

"It was terrible! We have to get out of here. Those eyes. Those terrifying large eyes. I can't get them out of my head" Ashley cries.

I strap my ice axe to my backpack and put it on. "Zach, how is your ankle?" I ask him.

"It's a little sore but we have to get out of here. I'll manage." He rolls his ankle around. "I'll be fine."

"Dad, we have to go now" I tell at him.

He gets up slowly. Still emotionally shaken. "Where can we go? The train won't return till tomorrow" he replies.

"We can hide in those old buildings by the treeline" Patrick tells us. " Hurry they are getting closer."

Patrick was right. Not only were some coming from the patch of trees but some were standing on the big rocks by the lake where the waterfall is. Their dark silhouettes pointing towards us. We grabbed some more gear and headlamps and started running towards the treeline as fast as we could. The thin air made it hard but we can't slow down. We had no time to follow any rules as we crushed yellow flowers underneath our feet. We had to get away from the campsite as quickly as possible. We see the young couple's tent as we get closer. We're almost there.