*Ghost Puppy*

1

We were walking through the woods. Just a normal day on a normal camping trip. We came out here to Battle Ground to get out of the city, take some time and refresh our spirits. What we didn’t know is that we would not be out in the woods alone this time.  We had been hiking up this hill for nearly an hour when we decided it was time to stop for lunch. There was only a half hour to rest before we had to start again. If there was any hope of getting back before night fall. We slid our backpacks off our shoulders as we sat down on a log. The log was in a small clearing next to a stream, we sat facing the stream, which was crystal clear. We had packed simple peanut butter sandwiches for lunch, which were now smashed and miss-shapen from being at the bottom of our backpacks all morning. 2

“It’s so beautiful out here,” I said turning to Jay.3

“I don’t know about beautiful, but have you been getting the feeling that someone is watching us, because I have all day,” he looked over at me with questions in his eyes4

“I suppose I have but there is no one else out here. At least I haven’t heard or seen anyone following us.”5

Out of the corner of my eye I noticed something moving. I looked over to where the movement was coming from, sure enough there was a little dog pushing his way through the under brush of the forest. He looked hungry, like someone had left him out here for days, maybe even longer. 6

“Jay, look at that, your follower is nothing more then a lost dog.” I gave a weak laugh, “Come here boy.” I said as I pulled a piece of sandwich away to give to the dog. 7

I watched as the dog started to walk towards me, there was something strange about this dog, he just didn’t look right. The dog was moving slow, heading straight for the large tree that was in front of him. He never changed directions, he just kept moving forward. He was about a foot away from the tree, when he disappeared into thin air. 8

“What the hell, where did that dog go?” I jumped up from the log and looked around. “Tell me you saw that dog disappear?”  I stared at Jay before realizing he was just as confused as I was. I could feel my body start to tremble, what was going on here?9

“I dunno what just happened but why don’t we get moving we need to get back before dark anyways,” Jay stood up picking his back pack up and returning it to his shoulders. By the shaking in his hands I knew he didn’t feel right about this.10

“Yea alright” I got up a little disappointed and followed him up the hill it was about another two hour hike before we would reach the top. With frequent breaks to stop and look around at the scenery it took us three hours to get to the top. What we saw when we got there was breath taking.  Just beyond the peek of the hill was a beautiful lake and with a cascading water fall. The water looked like millions of diamonds sparkling in the sun. I saw something moving again out of the corner of my eye. Thinking the mysterious dog was back I turned around to look. To my surprise it was a girl, only this was not a normal girl she was floating just above the ground, abnormally pasty with what looked like darker stains on her night dress. Could that be blood? I thought to myself. I didn’t notice it then but now that I think about it, I could see through that dog just like I can see through this girl. I soon realized that this was no girl; this was the spirit of a girl, a ghost. My heart dropped into my stomach as this realization hit me. My mouth turned instantly dry and every pore in my body opened drenching my in sweat.11

“Jay…. look… there…. “I grabbed Jays arm spinning him around.12

Jay’s mouth dropped as the girl moved closer to us. She was saying something or rather mouthing something, but I couldn’t make out what. Her arms were behind her back, I saw her bringing her arm out. It was like watching a movie in slow motion. My eyes caught the glimmer of the knife just before, she raised it over her head and came charging at us. I screamed, as my body tensed up. I didn’t think I would be able to move from this spot. Jay grabbed my arm pulling me behind him. I stumbled before catching my feet and we ran like hell down the side of the mountain. Suddenly I heard a bark; I pulled away from Jay so I could stop to see what was going on. My heart was still pounding in my chest.13

“Jay, look at that” 14

“Holy shit, that’s the dog from earlier. It’s stopping the girl.” His jaw dropped open in disbelief. 15

We watched in amazement as the dog attacked the girl. Barking and growling at her, she turned and vanished just as fast as she came. Our bodies were still shaking and dripping with sweat. Neither of us said anything as we tried to piece together what had happened.  What surprised me most was this was no large dog; it was about the size of a beagle maybe. Why would anyone be scared of this dog? After what seemed like hours  I noticed the dog was still standing in front of us.   16

“Thank you boy” I said as I kneeled down to the dog. 17

The dog nodded as if he understood what I was saying, but he refused to come any closer, so I stood up and looked at Jay. We slowly made our way back down the hill to the spot where we were camping, our hearts returning to their normal rhythm with each step. I could hear our puppy following us all the way down, but I let myself relax, ghost or not this puppy saved our lives. I wondered to myself what happened to this girl and the dog. Why did the dog hate her so much? I had thoughts spinning around in my mind. Was this all just dream? I never really believed in ghosts, but from the feelings in my body I knew it was true. When the camp was in sight I finally broke the silence.18

“Jay did all that really happen?”19

“I think so; I don’t think we could both dream the same exact thing do you?”20

When we got back to the tent, we were both in agreement that it was time for bed. In silence we changed and crawled under the covers, Jay zipping us in for the night. The thoughts of the day slowing draining from my mind as sleep took over my body. 21

I was only asleep for what must have been two hours before I was startled awake by a barking dog, I looked over at Jay as my body started to shake, my heart beating up to my throat. Reaching over to him I pushed him to see if he was awake. 22

“Jay get up… JAY.”23

Jay mumbled something inaudible that let me know he was awake; I waited for him to hear the dog that would really wake him up. A few seconds later I saw Jays body shoot up in the sleeping bag, I knew he had finally heard the dog. “What the hell is going on out there?”24

“Jay go see what is going on,” I said. After the only response we got was another loud growl. 25

“Why do I have to go I didn’t do anything? Maybe it’s just that dumb puppy howling at the moon”26

“Yea well that dumb puppy already saved our lives once today. Now go see what is going on, plus no dog would bark like that if it was nothing.”27

“Alright, alright, chill I’m going.”28

Jay moved to the bottom of the tent, throwing the covers off to the side he slipped his sandals off. I pulled the covers back over me to keep warm. “Wait it stopped, I’m coming with you now.”29

“Sure you come with me once you think everything is safe.”30

I knew Jay was only joking with me. He would have never let me go out there if he thought I would be hurt. Jay was rocking back and forth on his heals as he crouched by the front of the tent. It didn’t help seeing that he was nervous too. My body was already shaking uncontrollably. As I was putting my sandals on and joining Jay at the door I heard the dog start to whimper. 31

“Hurry up Jay, maybe he got hurt.”32

“What if someone or something is still out there Lilly, you need to stay here, just in case.”33

“Fine, but please hurry back,” I watched as Jay went out the tent. Sitting down I started rocking back and forth, waiting to hear from him. Waiting to hear anything, but it had gone deathly silent. 34

“Oh shit” I was suddenly startled out of my trance, I was trying to ease the nervousness. I jumped up and out of the tent looking around for Jay. 35

“Jay, Jay where are you? What’s wrong?”36

“Over here by the fire pit, you have to see this.”37

I joined Jay over at the fire place, taking small steps, and deep breaths. I was shaking so bad it was hard for me to walk. Once I was next to Jay I followed his gaze down to the stump. “What…” my mouth dropped open in shock and horror. The dog was there clawing at the stump and whimpering. 38

“Jay… is that… that’s the…”39

“It’s the ghost girl’s knife, but look there is a piece of paper under it.”40

My mouth was going dry; I couldn’t do anything but stare at the knife and the piece paper. Why did she leave it here? What she going to come back? The questions ran through my mind over and over again. I took a few deep breathes trying to calm myself enough to talk, I couldn’t even feel my stomach, it was in so many knots, I ran my hands along my pajama pants drying them off. 41

“Jay… I think… maybe we should just go home.”42

“Yea,” Jay was lost in thought, I could tell he wanted to pick the letter up, just like Jay always wanting to investigate, doesn’t even care that she might come back. 43

That night we packed all our camping gear into the back of the truck. As we were leaving I noticed the dog running after our truck. We couldn’t stop and take him home. He needed to be here in cast the girl attacked someone else, plus how would you care for a ghost dog? The whole night we didn’t say a word to each other. We just let our minds think about everything that happened. 44

We never returned to that camp site. The night seems nothing more then a distant memory. But every once in a while I could swear I see the dog, that saved our lives that night.45