Family Time

The Morgans were the average family of four. Dan Morgan brought home the bacon after a hard day’s work at the slaughterhouse, and Karey Morgan, his loving wife, stayed home and looked after their two teenage daughters, Codi and Ashton.  

When the sun got closer and the days got longer, the family packed up the tents and kayaks to go on a weekend long camping trip. When they were young, the girls counted down the days like it was Christmas, but now they were teenagers and camping was no longer something they looked forward to. 

The campsite was in the valley between two hills, large enough to be confused as mountains. There was a lazy stream that flowed down the middle and connected two ponds, forming an hourglass shape. It was secluded and privately owned by the direct descendants of the original tribesmen and settlers. 

“This is maybe one of the only places where the natives and colonists lived in complete harmony. That peace, harmony, and natural serenity cannot be found just anywhere.” Dan Morgan said aloud, as if someone in the car asked. 

Nobody asked, but they did not complain either and so he continued, “They were not completely at peace in the beginning, when natives saved two pilgrim families that had been banished. One of the families respected the indigenous people and were banished for providing aid to a neighboring tribe, but the other family held no regard for anyone and certainly not for people they saw as savages. That family hid their ill intentions well until the night they tore through teepees and murdered more than half of the tribe. 

‘The rest of them were saved by the fire power offered by the father and sons of the more respectable settler family. 

 ‘A fire fight went on long into the night until the entire treacherous family was put down. After the carnage the chief demanded that the surviving white family surrender their arms, relocate far away, and remain out of sight or suffer the consequences. They peacefully obeyed, but some within the tribe thought the chief was unfair to their saviors and tried to change his mind for a long time.  

‘The chief had a change of heart after the flood that came years later. Heavy rains carved the stream that connects the two ponds and he saw it as mother nature physically bonding their people together, and he did not want to be the one to go against the force of nature. 

‘This was all happening at the time of what the white man called ‘manifest destiny’, and history taught us that term was to make the genocide of the natives seem like God’s work. Rare events when the white and native people came to terms of peace usually ended in treachery and death, but not in this case.  

‘Our camping spot has a rich and pure history of bonding people together for good.” Dan ended the story by briefly grabbing his wife’s thigh and smiling at the girls in the rearview. 

Karey patted his hand and gave a forced grin before going back to scrolling through social media while there was still reception. It was clear that his youngest daughter, Ashton, was not listening since she was looking out the window with a bulky pair of headphones over her ears.  

“You always tell us that story, but in all these years I have never met a member of the tribe. We see the guy that lives in the cabin and opens the gate for us every year, do they stay with him?” Codi, the first child, asked as she looked back at her father in the rearview mirror.  

“Bo just lives with his dogs as far as I know. I would imagine the tribe stays around the pond upstream where there aren’t any trails and it’s quiet.” 

“I would just think that if they lived out in the wilderness we would have seen or heard them by now.” Codi retorted in a matter-of-fact tone. 

Dan glanced at her through the mirror again while he decided whether or not to ask if she thought it was all just a campfire story. He expected to see the eldest daughter’s skeptical stare, but her eyes were looking down at her phone. 

He let out his aggravation as a shallow sigh and looked back at the road.  

They were approaching Bo Whitewolf’s cabin, located midway up the outer facing side of the mountainous hill. The last rays of the setting sun bounced off the metal gate at the bottom and blinded Dan. He cursed and raised his hand to shield his eyes. 

Karey chimed in for the first time in the eight-hour car ride, “I told you the sun was getting too low to stop for dinner.” 

He could have explained once again that setting up the tents and getting settled should not take more than half an hour, and that there was at least another hour of light, but Karey’s tone already said she did not want to hear it.  

Dan felt like his family was as divided as the natives and foreigners were in the old days. At first, he thought watching his little girls becoming their own women was a crying miracle, but now all three women in his life wee teamed against him. What saddened him most was that not even his beloved camping spot had the power to bring them all back together. 

He made a sharp right onto the short gravel path in front of the gate that blocked the tunnel, the only way to get to the valley between the hills. By the gate was a long dirt drive that lead to Bo’s cabin and was usually guarded by his hoard of large dogs.  

“Where’s the dogs?” Karey asked her husband as he parked in front of the gate. 

Dan was just as confused to not see four or more dogs running up the hill to alert Bo. Still, he answered assuredly, “They must have already made their way up there.” 

It was not uncommon for the Morgan’s to wait a few minutes before Bo came and opened the gate, but after about fifteen minutes Karey leaned over and honked the horn. Another few minutes Karey leaned towards the wheel again, but Dan put his arm on it to block her. 

“Give him a second, this is not a resort.” He said as gently as possible.  

Karey had the look as if she was about to give Dan a piece of her mind, but right then they both heard Bo’s four-wheeler coming down the path. 

Dan wanted to say something snarky, but instead he silently cranked the starter. 

His wife sighed in annoyance when Bo parked and walked towards the truck instead of unlocking the gate, signifying he wanted to chit-chat.  

“He knows what time it is, I’m sure he won’t keep us long.” Dan said, responding to her sigh.  

Bo came up to the driver side and before Dan could roll the window all the way down, Bo asked if he would help him with the gate. This was unusual because Bo was the size of a tree trunk. 

Dan got out and gave Bo a friendly smile, but got a sober look in return. 

“I need to talk to you, Dan. It’s as difficult to hear as it is for me to say.” Bo said solemnly as he led the way. 

Dan was used to seeing a burly outdoorsman with confidence in his stride, not this shell of a man that was obviously worn out from the sixty years of manual labor that comes with living off the grid. He couldn’t tell if he was more worried about Bo’s health or what he trying to say. 

“Something isn’t right. I don’t know what it is, but it just isn’t right out here.” Bo said as he leaned against the gate, not looking over his shoulder at Mr. Morgan’s reaction. 

Bo went on, “I’ve opened this gate about ten times since the season warmed up, and nobody was left yet. Usually, I would take that as a compliment that people want to stay so long, but nobody came in with a camper hitched to the back. Not even the craziest outdoor enthusiasts would want to tent camp out here for weeks at a time.”  

Bo paused to let Dan take in what he was saying, and to key open the padlock around the gate’s latch. 

“I see where you’re coming from. Have you checked out the sites?” Dan asked, stepping up to help swing the gate open. He tried not to sound condescending, but he was not totally sure if he was successful.  

Bo awkwardly chucked before responding, “No, can’t get myself to go out there. The dogs disappeared and ever since I have just been too scared to go out alone.”  

Both men lunged to get the gate moving on its rusty hinges and then walked it until it was pushed against the inside wall of the tunnel. 

‘I’m scared for ya’ll too. I don’t think your family will be safe out there.” Bo said sternly, but the expression on his face showed genuine concern. 

Dan felt completely out of his element. He did not have much social skill and it was hard for him to find the words to respond to Bo, especially since it seemed like he was implying something unexplained or supernatural was going on. Dan held no belief for such things, but he did not want to completely disregard Bo’s warning in case there were dangers animals or something, and so he politely replied, “I would never knowingly put my family in danger. We would hurry out of here if you sure there was a mass murderer or dangerous animal on the loose, but it sounds like you’re not really sure. It’s a long drive back home and everyone was looking forward to camping at our favorite spot, so we would like to stay if you are not certain.” 

Bo put his hands on his hips and looked down the tunnel. The corners of his frown lifted into a grin and washed the worry and concern from his face. 

The man’s heavy hand landed on Dan’s shoulder, “You’re right! I’m just overthinking things.” Bo paused, and then looked at Dan’s trucks and said, “Yeah, y’all will be just fine.” 

Bo walked away and got on his four-wheeler without turning back. He did not seem upset but Dan was still unsettled by the sudden change in his demeanor. 

The passenger door popped open and Karey stuck her head out, “What was that all about?” 

Dan shook his head and lightly jogged back to the car. Karey asked again what they talked about when Dan got in and closed the door. 

His wife was the overly superstitious type and he did not want to give her any more ammunition for a fight about not camping. Karey would have ripped Dan out from behind the wheel and drove them all straight home if she heard Bo’s warning. 

“I guess the dogs disappeared not long ago and it’s made him a little uneasy. He didn’t want to scare us off, but did want us to be cautious.” Dan answered while letting the vehicle slowly roll into the tunnel. He stopped and got out again before Karey responded.  

Dan closed the gate, locked the padlock, and then got back in the driver seat. He expected his wife to complain and urge that they go home, but Karey was already talking to the girls about travelling in pairs and the other safety rules. This conversation was as common as the trip itself, so both girls were not paying any attention. Dan almost wanted to tell them to listen closely to their mom, but he thought better of it because he did not want Karey to think they were in more danger than he had led on.  

He wondered if they really were getting into trouble. Bo was right about it being strange for tent campers to stay so long without leaving. The only way out is through the tunnel, and to get out of the tunnel Bo comes down and unlock the padlock.  

“I think you should set up camp by yourself while me and the girls get a fire going.” Karey demanded coolly. 

Dan just nodded in agreement. He thought it might actually be a great idea to get everyone stuffed on s’mores and let them crash happily on the air mattresses they did not have to blow up. 

The truck followed the winding road that would take the Morgan family to their favorite spot near the pond downstream. As they drove along, Dan could not help but look around at the other sites. He noticed a few tents scattered about, but nobody was in sight. Bo’s voice echoed in the back of his mind and he had to remind himself that just because there was nobody in sight did not mean nobody was around. 

Dan turned onto a short dirt path that ended near the embankment of the water. He was not thrilled to see another camper had pitched their tent about a hundred yards away, but he was thankful for the opportunity to disprove Bo. 

Karey was even less pleased to see a neighbor and sternly suggested they go somewhere else. Dan would have agreed if he had not seen an old man lounging in a lawn chair outside his A-framed tent. He was facing the water, slouched over with his face submerged in his bushy white beard. They were parked too far to tell, but it looked like he was asleep. At least, Dan hoped he was just asleep. 

There was no way he could explain his paranoia to Karey. The best excuse he could come up with was, “There’s not enough time to drive around trying to find a spot if I’m getting everything together on my own.”  

Dan shifted the truck into park and cut the engine off and looked over at his wife. 

She stared at him for a moment and then got out in a huff. Their daughters followed her towards the edge of the woods, and he knew Karey was bad mouthing him by the way her head bobbed. 

Over the last few years, Codi and Ashton’s excitement diminished and turned into hatred, but Karey always hated camping. She only came along because Dan turned it into a family outing, and she punished him for it by making him drive the entire way.  

He could not stop thinking about the good ol’ days while he set up their tents. Dan could not believe it, but he was actually missing Cody’s stubbornness, determined to put up her own tent no matter how long it took. Ashton would try to do the same but always came to her dad for help when it got dark. Now, the sunlight was almost gone and he was left alone with just the comfort of memories.  

Dan was able to set everything up in minutes before it was completely dark. He spent most of his adolescence camping with his brothers so he was an efficient outdoorsman, despite being a homebody. 

It took the girls a little longer to gather all the wood because Ashton carried one armful and then went down to the beach. Dan felt sort of at fault since he set out the lawn chairs before everyone done.  

“I’m going to go check on our neighbor.” Dan whispered to Karey as she shaped the firewood into a pyramid. She looked over her shoulder at the old man, in the same position he was in when they pulled up. 

“You think something is wrong?” She asked, not even attempting to lower her voice so Codi would not hear.  

Dan looked at his oldest daughter, thankful for the first time that hear hears were stuffed with earbuds and her eyes were glued to her phone. Codi had had a morbid personality and he knew she would run over there if she overheard there might be something wrong with the guy.  

“No, I don’t think so. Just want to be friendly.” Dan answered, giving his wife a quick peck on the cheek. 

Dan walked towards the man, eyes fixed on the on thick beard that cushioned his chin and rested on his chest. It was getting dark but there was just enough light for him to see the man’s hands were hanging loosely off the chair arms at the wrist and his scrawny legs were outstretched, but not did seem to be offering much support.  

“Hey there!” Dan called out, hoping the old man would jump out of his deep sleep. That hope quickly turned to fear when the man did not even flinch in response. 

Dan still did not see any signs of movement and did not hear any sounds of life. He was just a few feet away from the stranger when the old man’s torso was suddenly flooded with light, revealing several slashes that went from the right shoulder all the way across to his left hip.  

Shocked and frozen in place by horror and confusion, Dan saw inside the massive mortal wounds. 

There was nothing. The beam of light shined right through and all he could see was a bloodied void.  

The light flicked away from the body at the same time as Dan heard Karey’s fading footfalls. He turned heel and sprinted away too, shouting out to his kids in unison with his wife. 

“Codi! Ashton! Girls, get in the truck right now!” Both frantic parents called out.  

Dan struggled to run and pull the keys out of his pocket. They slipped from his grasp and landed in the small jumble of sticks he was trying to maneuver around. He skidded to a stop and fell to his hands and knees, blindly scrambling through the twig pile. As soon as Dan felt the cool metal, he pointed them in the direction of the truck and smashed the unlock button repeatedly.  

He heard the rapid beeps and clicks of the doors unlocking, but did not hear or see his family. The whole site was silent except the keys jingling in his hand as he ran up to the truck.  

“Let’s go guys, load up!” Dan hollered to break the unnerving silence.  

No answer. 

Dan jogged around the truck, scanning the tree line and beach for his wife and daughters, but did not see anything besides the mutilated man’s camp.  

A sound came from the wilderness surrounding him. 

He quickly realized that he was hearing a pack of wolves or coyotes, and it sounded like they were getting closer to the edge of the trees. Their yips and snarls got louder, paced with the rustling of leaves and fallen branches on the forest floor 

Dan counted about half a dozen dogs emerge from the trees. He was almost relieved because he recognized them as Bo’s dogs, but they were still behaving aggressively. It was too dark to tell if they were coming towards him or not, but he backed up anyway. 

He looked towards the beach when he heard dragging sounds, and saw a handful of dogs pulling Karey and the girls into the water by their limp limbs. Dan jerked as if he was about to lunge into a sprint and save them, but his feet stayed planted. As much as he wanted to de heroic, their torn clothes and dead silence told him they were far gone. 

Dan fell to his knees and let out a cry he did not know he was capable of. Through the blurriness of the tears he watched the dogs go beneath the surface of the water with his family, leaving behind a wake of their blood.  

His body crumpled to the ground and he sobbed heavily. He tried to pick himself up, but he was weighed back down by the heaviness of being helplessly alone.  

Dan suddenly remembered the other pack of dogs looked over his shoulder at the woods, but there were only trees. He turned and checked the dead man’s campsite, halfway expecting not to see him either, but instead he saw Bo coming down the dirt road on his four-wheeler. 

After spotting Bo, he heard a pattern of high-pitched whistling and thought that Bo was trying to signal him. Dan sat up enough to wave his arms in the air, but then suddenly shot to his feet when he heard the rustling sounds coming from the woods again.  

This time the sounds were loud and intense, and then the pack burst from the woods charging towards Dan. 

At first, he did not move because he thought the dogs were obeying some kind command given by Bo, but he quickly realized the snarling beasts were intending to attack him.  

He sprinted towards the water and right before his shoes got wet, he thought about what he just saw the other dogs do. Without any more hesitation, Dan marched into the waters and prayed these dogs were not suicidal swimmers. 

When it was too deep to run, he dove in head-first and swam almost ten strokes before slowing down to look back. When he did, he saw Bo leaning into the bed of the truck. 

“Bo, what are you doing? Call off those damn dogs!” Dan shouted, out of breath and treading water. 

“I have no control over them. Besides, they want to watch.” Bo hollered back. He continued, “I told you there was something going on, Mr. Morgan. I didn’t want you or your family involved because y’all are good folks, but you wouldn’t listen. I know from where you are swimming it doesn’t seem like it, but it actually turned out for the best.” 

Dan was so shocked he almost stopped paddling. He did not believe what he was hearing, but he did believe what he was seeing.  

Bo had untied the kayak and tossed it up onto his shoulders. Dan watched in horror as Bo walked right up the dogs sitting side by side on the shore, and nothing happened. The animals that killed his family did not even flinch when Bo brushed passed them. 

At that moment everything came together, but Dan felt like he still had to ask. 

“Bo, what do you me…what are you do…”. Dan was cut off by the splash caused by Bo tossing the kayak into the shallow water and jumping in. 

“What I mean is that those are not living dogs that chased you out there, they are tribesmen. Some are the tribesmen that I told you were treacherously killed over a hundred years ago and some are the last of the tribe that were murdered by drunk hillbillies. They were killed over fifteen years ago, but I told nobody so I could perfect the reincarnation ritual to bring them back to take their revenge. It took a lifetime, but I was able to bring them back and balance the scales! 

‘The problem is, the older spirits have been vengeful far too long and do not feel as if enough white man’s blood has been spilled. They believe the land is cursed and the only way for it to be broken is to give it more blood.” Bo explained calmly as he methodically rowed the kayak. 

Dan was already swimming away, and dove beneath the surface when Bo finished talking. Once he was completely submerged, he turned ninety degrees to the right and then swam underwater until his lungs cramped. As he pushed his body to the limits of drowning, he was realizing everything Bo had said made sense and now was far too late to come to that recognition. Of all the things that were said, Dan truly believed his death was sure to come either at the hand of the new and insane Bo Whitewolf or his pack of hell hounds.  

Gasping for air and flailing his arms in a desperate attempt to keep his head above water, Dan did not see how close the kayak was.  

“Drowning is painful, Mr. Morgan.” Bo said as he swatted at Dan’s head with the wooden oar. He missed by inches, and then shouted in frustration, “You’re going to die no matter what! Accept my kindness or you will regret it.”  

Dan braced his legs against the kayak and pushed off at the same time as Bo was standing up to get a better reach. The big man wobbled and so did the boat, but neither capsized. In an aggravated counter attack, Bo swung the oar over his head and brought it down onto the back of his fleeing victim. Dan screamed and swallowed a gulp of water as he back bowed inwards. He could feel the shape of the oar burning into his flesh, the fiery sting spreading all the way to the tips of his fingers and toes.  

His body was so frozen in pain that he had to stop swimming and turn onto his back to stay afloat. 

“Why don’t you just kill yourself! Instead of innocent people, be a man and take yourself out!” Dan shouted in anger.  

Bo smiled and responded, “It would be an honor, but then there would be nobody to lure people in.” 

Dan helplessly watched as the wood paddle came down on him again and again. He instinctively crossed his arms, but they did nothing to protect him from the impact. The bones of his forearms splintered with the first blow, the second came quick and was lighter by consequence, but his chest was still exposed and cracked under the force of the paddle. What little air was left in his lungs escaped in a one groan. Before he could catch his breath, Bo stabbed the end of it against Dan’s throat and pushed down as if he was spearing a fish.  

He tried to keep the water out by sealing his lips, but pain of his lungs constricting became so unbearable that his mouth instinctively opened. His airways quickly filled with water and he franticly squirmed to try and get out from under the oar. 

It was no use. Bo kept the pressure on Dan’s neck, put his weight on top of the paddle handle, and pushed down. 

With his body flooded with liquid instead of air, Dan Morgan helplessly descended into the deep dark water. He could see Bo looming over the kayak, smiling at his work, but eventually the man was too distorted by the rippling water and his tunneling vision.  

The last thing Dan saw was the night sky above him, and he watched the stars brighten and fall around him while he sank to certain death.