She looked out to the car windows to see the trees growing taller and taller. The mountains behind them started to cast vast shadows on the land. The road they were on started to cut from plains into the deep forests. Less and less cars seemed to pass and towns became a rarity among the trees. Tammy was driving. Her head was resting on her arm that propped up against he window. Pam was her passeger. Laid back asleep with her headphones blaring opera music into her crestfallen ears. They had left the last town about an hour ago and were driving up the coast to Portland, when they decided to check out the sprawling forests before getting into Oregon. Tammy looked around at the vast trees spanning over head and then at Pam. At least one of them was experiencing the forest. As Tammy turned her attention back to the road she noticed something up ahead. As she slowed the car and tried to flash her brights at it, the black mass stood still. As she got closer, it got bigger. She slowed the car to a halt. Four thin legs suspended a fur covered mass and what looked like a head of deer stretching into the air. It’s rack was twisted and sprawled out in all directions. Eyes that looked at her illuminated a deep red. It stared at her. She found the gear shift and pushed it into reverse. She slowly back the car up, but the massive legs stepped forward following her car.
“Pam” she whispered “Pam, wake up” she put her hand over to her friend and the massive beast seemed to respond to the gesture pulling even closer to the car. Could she out run it? How far was it to the last town? The eyes stayed locked on hers as if it was playing chicken. Her hand was still on her friend and she shook her slightly “Pam”
Pam stirred “What is it, are we there?” she pulled her seat foreword and rubbed her eyes. As she refocused her vision the beast sharpened.
“Oh my god” she yelled and screamed as Tammy tried to calm her. The beast opened its mouth. Teeth sharp and slender formed into a sinister smile. Tammy slammed on the acceleration and the car bolted backwards. She heaved her arm over Pams seat and kept her eyes on the road behind her. The hooves could be head cracking into the pavement as the thing kept pace with them. Her heart filled her ears and drowned out Pam’s wild screaming. She didn’t dare look back. They rounded a corner and the hooves stopped. Tammy turned the wheel spinning the car around and put the car in drive and took off back to where they came. She looked over at Pam who sat silent, her eyes wide open staring out the front of the car.
“It’s okay, we made it, we ma-“ Before she could react the smile came out of the forest green.
Inspired by Northern California