Proof I am back to writing, my current opening for a work in progress tentatively titled Bigfoot of the Swamp Fox Trail.
“Woo. Woooooo,” carried on the night wind.
Jase snapped open his eyes, trying to focus on the blue nylon tent side and lay still. Listening intently, he heard a single knock on a tree somewhere outside. His wristwatch showed it was only 1:43 in the morning.
Two answering knocks sounded further in the distance. It was going to be a long four hours to dawn. Lying there awake and unmoving, Jase decided instantly to cut his camping trip short.
“Ahhhhwooooooooooaaaahhhhh.” The call was closer than the last one.
“I don’t friggin’ believe this is happening. I just wanted a couple of days to myself, hiking and camping through the weekend,” he muttered. “No, I have to set up camp in the middle of Bigfoot Central!” Jase hunkered down into the sleeping bag, squeezing his eyes shut.
He could hear the ground leaves rustling and low grunting now. The things were getting closer. Jase squeezed his eyelids tighter and held his breath. It was as if even that little movement would call attention to himself. Jase was transfixed by fear.
Snap! He twitched and opened his eyes hearing the branch break behind his tent.
Grunting and breaking sounds came from the front of the tent as a massive shadow was cast on the tent panel. The fire was burning enough to throw the huge silhouette of a bipedal creature onto the zippered tent flaps as it rooted around the campsite.
“This is not happening,” Jase said to himself. He reached out to retrieve his Smith & Wesson Model 59 handgun. The 9mm was his only camp companion, with it in his grasp, Jase’s fear turned to grim determination. Slowly unzipping his sleeping bag with his free left hand, Jase inched his way out of comfort and towards the front of the tent. Squatting by the zippered opening, he quietly pulled back the slide to chamber a round and clicked off the safety. Crash! There goes the camp table and stove. The creature’s shadow passed in front of the tent again as Jase paused with his left hand poised to unzip the flaps and the gun held at the ready.