What Are You Afraid Of?

By D. Eric Horner

The book is a collection of short stories. Each one a complete tale in itself of different situations that make people feel uneasy. These five stories touch on common fears. The fear of being alone, drowning, insects, wild animals, or some unknown lurking in the shadows. What are you afraid of?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: May 7, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490735498

D. Eric Horner

D. Eric Horner began his writing career in 2006 when he became disabled due to Multiple Sclerosis. He finds the mental strength to battle this disease through the creation of the characters and plots in his novels. With the use of talk-to-text software he has been able to turn his ideas into finished works. He lives with his dear wife, Kathy, outside the hustle of the capital city of Ohio near the quaint village of Alexandria.

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© Copyright 2014 D. Eric Horner.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

isbn: 978-1-4907-3551-1 (sc)

isbn: 978-1-4907-3550-4 (hc)

isbn: 978-1-4907-3549-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014908473

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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Contents

Dedication

Introduction

LOST

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

WATER

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

PREY

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

INFESTED

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

WOODS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

SUMMATION

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my friend Kevin. We may not share any DNA, but we’ve been brothers for 40+ years. Maybe one day I will write a book about our trials and tribulations, escapades, and highs and lows, on second thought maybe not. Thanks MAN!

Introduction

Fear, the word, can be used as a noun or a verb. As a noun, it means a feeling of anxiety or worry. As humans, we only need to satisfy three basic needs to survive: food, sex, and shelter. Then what do we fear? Do we fear the absence of one of these basic needs, or do we fear becoming one of those needs for another animal? As a verb, the word simply means to be afraid. Deep down, what are we really are afraid of? I’m sure you’ve heard that one of the most common fears is public speaking. I’m not talking about freezing up behind a microphone in front of your coworkers or friends at a function. The last time I checked, that won’t kill you. I’m talking about real fear. I’m talking about the kind that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up and covers your arms in goose bumps. I mean the kind of fear that only you understand because each of us is afraid of different things. I mean the kind of fear that you don’t even share with your closest friend because you don’t want to be ridiculed. Then what is it that scares you? Is it a character behind a hockey mask or maybe a mask of William Shatner? When you close your eyes, does fear even have a mask?

Perhaps your fears are more commonplace and not the things of horror movies. Are you afraid of walking in on a burglar? Are you afraid of walking home by yourself late at night or being in an unfamiliar neighborhood? Common phrases associated with someone who is afraid of a number of things might be She’s afraid of her own shadow, She’s a fraidy cat, or He’s a pussy. Either way, the individual being knocked usually cannot wait to prove that they are not afraid, and that’s usually when evil pounces. Unlike the movies where there is a distinct villain, what follows are stories about fear of the outcome, fear of the events, and mostly fear of the evil hidden in each story. I know that there will be people filled with machismo reading these stories, saying, If that happened to me, I would just do this or that, That doesn’t scare me, or If that was happening to me, I would just blah blah. All of us know people that fit this category. However, what if it was truly happening to them? How would they actually react? Even worse, what if it was happening to you? Put yourself in the characters’ shoes and in the situation. Then ask yourself, Would I be scared? Then wait for a few moments, turn off the lights, and ask yourself that question again.

Fear has been around since the beginning of time, in one form or another. What form is it that scares you? Does it even have a form, or is it a situation? Is it the blood and guts horror films that frighten you to your core, or is it the lead up to the knife actually being driven into someone’s sternum? Only you can answer these questions. I only know that you will be honest with yourself, and when you do, let’s begin.

LOST

Chapter 1

Let’s begin in the heavily wooded mountains of Northwest Pennsylvania, near Franklin.

The fire crackled loudly and smoke filled the campsite air. Two of the three couples that had spent the entire day hiking and enjoying the northern Pennsylvania woods were sitting quietly staring at the flames.

Robert, what are they doing in there? Tracy asked.

Have you guys really been married that long, Tracy? Steve, another camper, chimed in.

Smiling and drinking her beer, Tracy laughed. No, I just mean still. Those two have been going at it for a while.

Yeah, they have, and I can’t wait to let her know that she sounds like a motorboat while she’s moaning.

Melinda, don’t say a word. We came out here to get away from things and bond. Hell, I didn’t even bring a cell phone.

You brought one, didn’t you, Robert? Tracy asked.

Robert sat up straight in his lawn chair, reaching into the cooler for another beer, and answered, Me? No. I thought this was a get-back-to-nature thing.

I’m sure that Gary brought his. He’s such a nerd that he couldn’t go twenty-four hours without surfing the web.

Hey, Melinda. Why don’t you peek in their tent and ask him? I think they are taking a break.

Maybe you’ll get a glimpse of that hammer he’s packing.

Steve and Robert attempted to do a high five when Steve tipped over in his chair. He sat on the pine needle-covered ground, laughing hysterically about spilling his beer.

Very funny, Steven. Are you okay?

Wiping his eyes and gathering himself, Steve went on a different tangent instead of answering his girlfriend’s question.

Maybe it just looks so big because he’s so short. I mean, if you put my dick on a body that small, I would be John Holmes.

Tracy and Melinda looked at each other and laughed.

Hardly, the girls spouted in unison.

Steve and Robert are both the outdoor types. They each enjoy camping, boating, and hiking; and they have been friends for as long as they can remember. They look almost like brothers too. Robert is slightly taller at six foot two, with dark hair and a heavy beard. The six-foot tall Steven doesn’t have quite the same beard, and his hair is not as black, but in high school, the football players told every girl they ran into that they were brothers. For the most part, it worked. The chicks fell all over themselves trying to impress the two jocks.

Tracy is a slender five foot three former cheerleader that still has some spirit. Her athletic body is perfect for a weekend like this. Melinda, on the other hand, would prefer to stay in a hotel, but she figured Tracy got Robert to pop the question by doing all of this tomboy shit. Maybe it would work for her. She’s taller than Tracy, with short dark hair that she has tucked into her ball cap. She and Tracy had been friends since graduating, but before that, they really spent no time with each other. I guess you could say they had different interests. Melinda was more of a party girl in high school, but then without the intense peer pressure to influence, the pair may have really become good friends. The other pair was comprised of Gary, a short, stereotypical nerd that Steve and Robert looked out for throughout high school. His newfound girlfriend, Michelle, is definitely not the outdoor type. She stands about five foot five and is a little on the heavy side, so outdoor activities are very strenuous for her. She is certainly more at home, living the city life in Pittsburgh, but Gary talked to his steady girlfriend into a weekend outdoors. From the sounds of their humping, Michelle has found something she likes about the wilderness. The couples finished their beers, and Steve found a tree before going through their tent to relieve himself, and Robert followed suit.

Tracy and Melinda called the men show offs and complained loudly about having to hike to the rest area. Despite promises from both men that they would not watch, the girls took off. The communal bathroom and shower house was about fifty yards away; however, it seemed further in the dark Pennsylvania nigh, with all the twists and turns of the pathway. The women held hands, not just for safety, but also for balance. The silent campground, except for the chirping crickets, frogs, and soft mumblings of other campers, added to their uneasy feeling. You would think that being intoxicated would give you a feeling of invincibility, but in this case, it didn’t. Maybe it was the darkness closing in around them, but the two did not converse much along the way until Melinda spotted the carcass of a recently killed raccoon. The varmint was torn to shreds; its insides splayed out onto the asphalt path.

Goddamn, Tracy, what was that?

Looks like it used to be a raccoon.

Melinda agreed and nervously asked, What do you think could have done that?

It could have been anything. Maybe a fox or a cat of some kind. Remember the Penn State Nittany Lions? Well, they live around here. Come on! We are almost there.

We should have just gone back at the campsite. Those two would not have watched.

Melinda, I could care less if they watched if I just had to pee, but you know."

The dim, yellow light on the side of the shower house beckoned each of them in. The screen door squeaked loudly as Tracy pulled it open. It was not helping with the combined stench of the old bathroom and the cleaning supplies mixture, which was hanging heavily in the air.

Pew! it’s awful in here. I’m going to do my business, and then I will meet you outside.

Tracy heard the door squeak open and then slam shut behind her, and she knew her friend had left. While taking care of what she had to, Tracy read the scribbling on the back of the stall door. She thought silently to herself that there was everything from phone numbers and addresses and what sexual acts they would perform to warnings about snakes rising up to bite your ass. However, she paid particular attention to one warning, and it read: This forest belongs to Felix.

She tried rationalizing the warning anyway.

Are they talking about the cat? Is there a large puma roaming around this forest? That would explain the shredded carcass. It looked worse than a student’s failed biology project.

Tracy started thinking back to the carcass and the precision in which it was carved.

Her mind flashed to other possibilities—all of which involved a madman escaped from one of the nearby prisons. She could feel her skin getting hot and her heart trying to pound out of her chest.

There’s no way that was a predator, she reasoned. The cuts were too straight, and it was lying so close to the walkway. It was like it was supposed to be found by someone. Maybe it’s a warning to just go home. Maybe there aren’t really big cats roaming on these mountains. Maybe that is just a rumor made up by the escaped inmates, killing these poor animals or, worse, people!

Tracy finished up, but by then, she had talked herself into an ax murderer roaming this forest. She washed her hands and pushed the door open slightly with a creek. She stuck her head out before committing fully.

Mel, she whispered for her friend, are you out there? It’s so dark. I can’t see anything.

She heard nothing from her friend and nothing on the other side of the door, except an owl hooting. She pushed herself to exit the safety of the concrete block restroom, thinking she was safe no matter how bad it smelled. She took one step in the direction of their campsite, and then she felt someone grab her upper arm abruptly and spin her body around. She closed her eyes tightly, thinking the worst—she was the next to be slashed. A hand covered her face tightly. She tried to scream, but nothing came out. She felt herself being manhandled and backed up against the exterior of the bathhouse. Then she recognized the voice of Robert.

Ahhh, he yelled loudly, scaring the hell out of Tracy.

You prick! You almost scared me to death! What the hell are you doing?

Sheepishly, Robert answered, I was just having some fun. For Christ’s sake, lighten up!

It’s not funny.

The others went to bed, and I just thought I would walk you back. But the hell with it. Walk yourself! I thought that we would come up here, do some hiking and drinking, and just hang out. But you have to be a bitch don’t you?

Realizing that she had no one to walk her home—well, to her makeshift home—Tracy apologized.

I’m sorry. I saw that sliced up raccoon and all the warnings written on the stall, and I guess I was a little spooked.

A little. It’s a good thing you went to the bathroom because I would have scared it right out of you.

Ashamed a little by her overreaction, Tracy knew how to make up. She gave him a kiss and allowed her hand to drift toward his crotch. She gently rubbed it and got the reaction that she was after from her boyfriend.

That’s what I’m talking about. I thought that I was going to be the only one in the group not to get any. I mean, even that nerd Gary is getting laid.

Oh, my poor baby Robert. It’s been so long, she whined, mocking him.

Well, we’re going to have to get after it quickly because they want to leave early tomorrow for our hike, so let’s go.

Chapter 2

The three couples broke camp, preparing for their day of hiking. Surprisingly, the couples were not disappointed by the steady rain falling from the sky. They had packed appropriately and had some rain gear, but only enough to keep them dry for a while. Gary and Michelle were the last to fold up their tents and probably the least prepared for a day of walking in the rain. It was hard to tell what time the rain started falling last night, but the trail was definitely muddy, which would make hiking a challenge. Gary clapped his hands together to signify that he was ready, and the group ventured up in the Green Mountain. They walked the defined trail with its base of natural stone, talking about last night’s events.

Good morning, cowboy, Robert teased the tech guru.

I suppose that you’re not calling me that because of my hat.

If that’s what you want to tell Michelle, that’s okay with me.

Then what do you think I mean? Hey, do you have GPS capability on that cheap phone of yours, Robert?

I didn’t bring my phone. I figured that you had it covered with your iPod thingamajig.

In a nasally and nervous voice, Gary replied, That’s not what an iPod does. Someone has to have their phone with them.

Tracy jumped into the conversation, shaking her head and mentioning how stupid these guys are.

The one time that you geniuses need your phones, you don’t have them.

You’re right, Tracy. I remember the one time that Steve and I were getting busy, and his phone rang, and that jackass answered it! I shut him off for a month to for that one.

So nobody has their phone—big deal. The pioneers and early settlers didn’t have cell phones and look what they accomplished. It’s really not that big of a deal, I mean look at this path. It’s kind of easy to follow don’t you think?

Everyone agreed with Steve despite the hole in the pit of their stomachs’ call is being cut off from their precious elegy. The group pressed on up the mountain. As they walked, each of them pointed out the different natural wonders, from birds and small forest creatures to a field full of wild rhododendrons. Michelle was beginning to lag behind a little, but both Steve and Robert seemed to be moving a little faster up the hillside than they really needed to. An observer would note their labored breathing, even Robert and Steve, but neither of the leaders wanted to admit that they needed to rest. The mountain was beginning to get steeper and more densely covered with trees. The path’s rocky base was disappearing and turned to mostly mud and grass. The group could see a clearing up ahead with a small overhang, and Steve recommended they stop there. The overhanging rock provided some much needed relief from the steady rain. Once the entire group made it to the makeshift cave, the men checked their water supply.

I can’t believe how thirsty this makes you, Gary lamented.

Yeah, me either, especially in this rain. We’ve been walking continuously for about ninety minutes without a break. Where’s the fire? Michelle asked, dropping her backpack with a huff and sitting on a rock.

I don’t think that we want to be out here in the middle of nowhere when it gets dark, Michelle, Gary offered up, trying to settle his girlfriend down.

Man, this is nature at its best, Steve offered up, filling his lungs with the mountain air, and continued, I mean, smell that air. Look around. There is nobody from miles. You could yell at the top of your lungs, and no one would care. Isn’t that great?

To prove his point, Steve let out a yell that Tarzan would have been proud of. No one answered back to his yell, and that made him very happy, only him, as he was starting to lose the others in the group. Michelle, Tracy, and Melinda had something to bitch about. Michelle complained how tired she was, Tracy whined about being cold, and Melinda took a deep breath just like Steve had asked her to and started coughing.

When I breathe in like that, Steve, I smell something awful. It smells like death.

Steve shrugged it off, and both he and Robert were ready to press on. After some mild dissension, the rest fell in line behind him.

There is another stopping point about twenty minutes up the hillside from here. Let’s get to that point and have some lunch.

What? A granola bar? Melinda joked toward her husband. That will be satisfying.

Steve again shrugged off their sarcastic attitude, and he kept looking up the hill.

He didn’t want to say anything to the others, but he could smell the same thing Melinda did, and so could Robert. He came trouncing through the heavy bush beside the path to catch Steve.

Man, there is something dead nearby.

Yeah, I smelled it too. Maybe this is where one of those mountain lions stores his kills or something. I haven’t noticed tracks or anything. only that Michelle falls further behind the steeper it gets.

Can you blame her with all that action she was getting yesterday? I’m surprised she can walk at all.

The two finished laughing—more like giggling when Gary came over.

What are you guys laughing about? he asked.

Nothing, they said in unison, letting him know from experience that it was something.

I’m going to look around so I can watch Tracy’s ass climb the next part of this hill.

Robert smiled and nodded his head toward his friend.

Married guys… they’re all the same, he whispered under his breath.

Where is he going? Gary asked through his heavy, labored breathing.

He’s been going on up ahead. We’ll join up with him later. I think that he has to take a leak or something.

Melinda was the next to come back to Robert and ask the same question. Robert could not snitch on his buddy Steve and stopped the group and held up his arms.

Everyone, everyone, I have an announcement. Steve is going to take a leak. It seems like everyone is curious, so I just thought that I would tell you. That second resting spot is just up here a little way.

The group trudged on slowly, and Robert noticed that everyone had grabbed hands to get a steeper incline. Robert and Tracy were at the front of the human chain. The rock covered pathway was completely gone now, and some in the group struggled to keep their footing. The rain had picked up and had turned from a steady shower to almost a downpour. That’s when Gary saw the carcass.

Oh my god! he exclaimed, almost losing his grip on his girlfriend. What the hell is that?

Beside the trail lay a large, almost unrecognizable mammal of some kind. Its body had been slashed, and the insides oozed from its underside onto the path. It was obvious that’s where the smell was coming from. By compulsion, each of the hikers took a long look at the decaying carcass. The big question was why Robert didn’t stop for longer.

The group huddled around the dead animal while holding their noses and offering up what may have done that.

Melinda and I saw a raccoon that was sliced just like that back at campground. Wouldn’t you guys think that it’s some sort of big cat doing this?

Whatever did that is gross, Michel interjected.

Hey, Robert, don’t you think Steve should be back by now?

Yeah, Tracy. I thought that he would have joined up with us by now.

Do you think that maybe…

Come on, Tracy. That’s crazy. We would have heard something if that happened. He’s probably going to meet us at that resting spot. Let’s plow on. It’ll be nice to get out of this rain.

The group continued winding their human chain up the side of the mountain, toward the cave. The rain started to slow down and was replaced by heavy mist, and fog began to form. Neither Robert nor any of the other hikers could see more than ten feet in front of them. The path they had been walking on was now completely gone, and the group was beginning to get nervous.

Are you sure this is the way, Robert?

Sticking to his guns and not wanting to set off a panic, Robert confidently said that he was positive. With the rain subsiding, the flies came out. It seemed like they bit everything that was not moving.

These flies suck, Tracy announced while waving her arms frantically, trying to protect her head.

Everyone agreed, and Melinda was now getting very worried about her husband. He had banged on at least a half hour.

I can’t believe that you didn’t bring your cell phone, Gary!

Hey, Melinda, I wasn’t the only one you know. All of us have them, and most of us spend too much time on them, which is why I didn’t bring mine, okay?

Melinda could hear the anger in Gary’s voice and backed away.

I’m sorry, man. I guess I’m just worried about Steve, she apologized. Robert, shouldn’t we be at the resting spot by now?

Robert was unsure how to answer, especially when the rest of the group began asking the same question. Honestly, he thought that they would have been there by now too; but with the path disappearing and the low clouds settling in, he wasn’t positive where in the hell he was. He tried his best to hide his mistake, but Tracy knew him too well.

Shouldn’t we be there by now, Robert? she asked, and then it hit her. I don’t believe it. I can tell by the look on your face that we’re fucking lost!

Tracy knew Robert too well for him to get away with anything. He gathered his thoughts and his balls and replied harshly.

Look, we’re not that lost. This fog is messing with my sense of direction. That’s all. I’m pretty sure that if we just keep climbing uphill, the resting spot will be right up there,