Catherine

When he finally did, it was a whisper, soft, like he was remembering something. I can hear it under the ice, he said. I asked him what it sounded like. He smiled, too wide, and said, My voice. When I woke up that evening, Danny was gone. The cave was quiet. Too quiet. Near the back wall, drawn in something that looked like blood mixed with ash, were words I'll never forget. It wants the warm one.

I was alone. And I think whatever was down there had decided I was next. I didn't move at first. I just stared at the wall. It wants the warm one. The fire had burned out. The cave floor beneath me was so cold it hurt to breathe. My hands shook. Not from the cold, but from something deeper. Primal.

I was alone. And I think whatever was down there had decided I was next. I didn't move at first. I just stared at the wall. It wants the warm one. The fire had burned out. The cave floor beneath me was so cold it hurt to breathe. My hands shook. Not from the cold, but from something deeper. Primal.

like my body already knew i wasn't alone anymore danny was gone that part had sunk in but i wasn't sure if he'd walked out on his own or if something had taken him i grabbed what gear i had left my pack the flare gun three actual flares my flashlight and unblocked the entrance

like my body already knew i wasn't alone anymore danny was gone that part had sunk in but i wasn't sure if he'd walked out on his own or if something had taken him i grabbed what gear i had left my pack the flare gun three actual flares my flashlight and unblocked the entrance

i stepped out into the pale morning light it had snowed lightly while i slept just enough to blur tracks the wind was dead the lake stretched out gray and flat like a frozen sheet of steel no movement no sound no birds just behind me the cave let out a low groan not from shifting ice it sounded like a breath i turned and ran i followed what i thought were danny's prints but they twisted doubled back

i stepped out into the pale morning light it had snowed lightly while i slept just enough to blur tracks the wind was dead the lake stretched out gray and flat like a frozen sheet of steel no movement no sound no birds just behind me the cave let out a low groan not from shifting ice it sounded like a breath i turned and ran i followed what i thought were danny's prints but they twisted doubled back

veered into places that made no sense tight gaps in rocks cracks in the lake ice that no human could squeeze through whatever i was following it wasn't danny any more the sun barely broke the clouds casting long distorted shadows across the ice I kept looking over my shoulder, expecting to see him there, or it. Hours passed.

veered into places that made no sense tight gaps in rocks cracks in the lake ice that no human could squeeze through whatever i was following it wasn't danny any more the sun barely broke the clouds casting long distorted shadows across the ice I kept looking over my shoulder, expecting to see him there, or it. Hours passed.

Then, near a collapsed section of shoreline ice, I found the first real sign. A parka. Danny's. Half frozen. Stuck in the snow. His boots were still in it. No blood, just empty. And beside it, a print, one, just one. It looked human, but stretched, toes like claws, longer than my forearm. The ice under it had begun to melt, even in sub-zero weather.

Then, near a collapsed section of shoreline ice, I found the first real sign. A parka. Danny's. Half frozen. Stuck in the snow. His boots were still in it. No blood, just empty. And beside it, a print, one, just one. It looked human, but stretched, toes like claws, longer than my forearm. The ice under it had begun to melt, even in sub-zero weather.

I backed away slowly and nearly fell through a soft patch. When I looked back, the parka was gone. I knew I couldn't stay out in the open. I needed higher ground, or at least a spot where I could see what was coming. I climbed up a frozen ridge near the edge of a broken cave, flares in my chest pocket. As I crested the top, I finally saw it.

I backed away slowly and nearly fell through a soft patch. When I looked back, the parka was gone. I knew I couldn't stay out in the open. I needed higher ground, or at least a spot where I could see what was coming. I climbed up a frozen ridge near the edge of a broken cave, flares in my chest pocket. As I crested the top, I finally saw it.

Down below, slithering between shards of ice and drifted snow, was a thing. Seven, maybe eight feet tall when upright, but it moved mostly on all fours, emaciated, pale, limbs too long and bent the wrong way, like an insect mimicking a person.

Down below, slithering between shards of ice and drifted snow, was a thing. Seven, maybe eight feet tall when upright, but it moved mostly on all fours, emaciated, pale, limbs too long and bent the wrong way, like an insect mimicking a person.

its head looked human almost but its mouth hung slack and split too far back on both sides its eyes were gone just black sockets and on its head a crown of twisted antlers like dead branches strung with bits of fur and tendon it stopped moving and turned its head toward me. Even without eyes, I knew it saw me. It let out this sound, like a person inhaling and screaming at the same time.

its head looked human almost but its mouth hung slack and split too far back on both sides its eyes were gone just black sockets and on its head a crown of twisted antlers like dead branches strung with bits of fur and tendon it stopped moving and turned its head toward me. Even without eyes, I knew it saw me. It let out this sound, like a person inhaling and screaming at the same time.

Then it charged. I panicked and fired a flare, mist wide. The thing ducked and twisted under the arc, impossibly fast. I ran, not back to the tent, not back to the cave. I just ran across the lake, praying the ice held. The sun was higher now, which helped. In the distance, miles away, I saw a snowmobile. Bright orange. A Coast Guard rescue unit.

Then it charged. I panicked and fired a flare, mist wide. The thing ducked and twisted under the arc, impossibly fast. I ran, not back to the tent, not back to the cave. I just ran across the lake, praying the ice held. The sun was higher now, which helped. In the distance, miles away, I saw a snowmobile. Bright orange. A Coast Guard rescue unit.

My beacon must have finally transmitted through a gap in the clouds. I waved my arms, screamed, fired a second flare. The rider turned toward me, and that's when I heard it behind me, bare footsteps slapping across the ice. Close. I turned. The Wendigo.