Terror in the Woods

Up until the past two years, I lived a relatively average and normal life. I had a car, house and job. My employment was at a machine shop. Although it was not the best job in the world, it did pay the bills.

Unfortunately for me, I fell upon many financial hardships when my full time career became a part time affair due to a slow economy. Because of this, it was only a matter of time until I lost everything. First it was my car and then my house. Since I had lost contact with my family many years ago and the fact that I had no friends because I had always kept to myself, there was nobody to turn to for help. As a result of this I became homeless.

Let me tell you, two years of being homeless was pure hell. In the winter I was in and out of homeless shelters and in the summer I lived out on the streets.

My living quarters consisted of a small stretch of woods between two abandoned buildings. This is where I also slept every night. I also wish to mention here that sleeping in the darkened woods at night heightens one’s sense of awareness. No matter how much of a deep sleep you are in, the slightest noise will force you wide awake in a moment’s notice.

So, there I was, falling asleep on my tattered blanket when I abruptly opened my eyes to a snapping branch inches away from where I lay. My focus was blurry but I could still make out the blackened outline of a person towering above me. This darkened silhouette dropped to one knee while gazing down at me.

Heart pounding, I could not believe what my eyes were telling me. Rapidly blinking to clear my vision, I was correct in what I saw. This shadowy image of a man had absolutely no face! As the figure lowered his head closer to my very own I realized that there was some kind of a cloth concealing the intruder’s identity.

Before I could even blink, my eyes shifted to the strangers right arm as it raised in the air. A hatchet was clenched tightly in the man’s fist.

The instant that the sharpened blade came crashing down towards my head my mouth opened wide to scream.

To my dismay, no sound came out.

Mr. X