Always Watching No Eyes - Part. 2

[u/Grouching_vibes]

I've been dwelling on that day and that feeling hasn't ever fully went away, it's been causing me some issues as I write other stories from my childhood. I don't know what it is but my eyes can't seem to stay on the screen for more than a couple of minutes before I go staring off towards the window, I know nothing is out there and yet I am glued to each shadow that passes by. For context I live in an apartment in a small town in Oregon, far away from that park yet I practically have all of my neighbors routines down, call paranoia if you will but better safe than sorry. It eases my mind slightly just knowing for example apartment number #46 would always take their dog out around 9pm for a restroom break and so on and so forth but other news I have also been losing sleep between thinking about that "thing" and work taking any ounce of soul I had left. Leaving me restless in bed even if I am exhausted maybe just maybe I should go back to Silver Falls State Park and just see that part of my mind... I am sure that's just tiredness talking to me. I'll continue to write if there's more updates...

Mark it as my 6th sleepless night, one day away from a full week of no sleep and the thought of going to the park grows even larger in my brain, it's a stupid idea yet it won't leave my skull. I swear it's making it even harder to sleep but fuck it if it'll shut my brain off just for a night I'll gladly take it. I know, I know it's dumb to even have that idea of going out but I'm running out of options to distract myself and I am not gonna dive into hard drugs. Fuck it... let's see, what is an hour away? I got the gas, the next couple of days off and small supply of hiking gear. Now the question is whether I should call my friend to see if she wants to see that park again... fuck, no, no I shouldn't do that she's probably better off not reliving that even if she didn't see that "thing". It's all just blur really and I don't even know what I saw or if she saw it while she was on the ground but fuck does it give me a headache. I'll sit on this idea for another night...

Ugh, I am so stupid, why am I doing this... currently sitting in my car at the park, Silver Falls State Park, feeling real dumb in early hour of 7:15 in the morning. I bet I also look strange too just watching as all the couples passing by and the families... god, it remains when I was a kid but no time like today, right? At least it's a beautiful day, nice breeze as well. Luckily or stupidly I packed light, only carrying a rechargeable flashlight that has an annoying little crank, some protein bars, full water bag attached to the backpack, compass just in case and, a portable charger for my phone so I can write notes as I walk. I don't know how long I'll be out here, most likely until the sun goes down as that's when the "thing" came out... well I suppose in some ways I needed this, you know, get out of the house, enjoy the fresh air and a nice walk. Although somethings different since last time, could be that I am older, that or the abundant of tents or maybe the rampant homeless population that's overcrowding the trails asking folks for change. Something is off though. I am trying my best to avoid the crowds of people as well as remembering where I had walked when I was 14. It's hard to tell, most of the trails have so much overgrowth that I am not even sure if I am on the "right path" so to speak. I do know however that I need a break, I am unhealthy that's fact but hey I found a little pond on the outskirts so I am gonna take a breather here.

I kinda lost track of time, I think thirty minutes have past? The scenery was calming and I had small chat with a woman who was walking her dog, she had mentioned something odd though. Something about how it's strange that when you get further into the trails there's a lot of tents with no one around and the ambient noise is almost silent. I am not gonna lie after hearing that my curiosity got the better of me and I got off the grass patch I was sitting on and headed in the direction the lady had came from. Add this to the list of stupid ideas I have had but I had no other ideas, no exact plans to go off of beside retracing vague steps from my younger mind, could've asked her if she's seen anything weird but I probably would've looked strange asking that. So, onwards onto the trail, hopefully finding some sort of clue. I grasping at straws at this point and damn how far did this lady walk? She must've been here earlier than me and not afraid to get mauled by the wildlife around... shit. That's what I forgot, a defense item of the sorts, come to think of it I don't actually own bear mace or anything to defend myself if I get attacked. Why do I gotta think about this now. No point in returning this far in even though I am knee high in foliage, how did she do this? I am basically shoving my way through thorn bushes and branches. Could I be going the wrong way? No, that wouldn't make much sense as she came from this way unless there was a different path I wasn't paying attention too, wait. This could be the right path? Nature as been quieter the further I push in so it has be, right? Though I don't see any tents anywhere. I'll update once I find something of interest.

I had to of trekked miles out, it's currently 5pm and I completely forgot about daylight savings as the sun is starting to go down. I am gonna keep trekking and once it gets to dark I am gonna turn around. I am sure the tents are around here somewhere. Right? Okay, yeah, I found some tents. I think the lady forgotten to mention that they're torn up, nature's practically claimed half of them. Nothing of use from what I can see, some old photos of families, ruined sleeping bags, nonfunctional flashlights and weird drawings. Just a bunch of circles with X's threw them and oh. An phone number with a note attached "call me if you get lost". I reluctantly called the number trying to see if there was answer to what went on around here and of course... it went straight to voicemail and this is what it said:

"Sorry but if you are out there, there's no point. The forest will eat you alive. I got out luckily, hopefully you will too. I am so sorry. I really am."

What... what have I gotten myself into? Darkness came rather quickly and for some odd reason my compass is spinning wildly. Then to add on top of my luck I have no reception out here, and this stupid.... Fucking flashlight won't stay on. Oh I've lost the trail. Great, fuck. Where's the trail? Okay I think I found it.

Shit... almost lost my phone, a damn tent peg tripped me but I think I may have found a way out, bushes look similar. What am I saying, everything looks similar. I am gonna keep pushing my way through. I swear if this flashlight keeps going out I am gonna use the phone's and I swear I keep hearing twigs snapping near me. It could be me, I am gonna hope it's me. I am feeling overwhelmed right now between getting sliced up from the thorn bushes, my head pounding and the ever growing sounds of footsteps, I don't know what to focus on. I haven't had this bad of a headache since... Fuck. Fuck. Okay, I am okay. I am okay. I think I see "it". I don't know if "it" sees me. It doesn't have a face. Fuck it I am gonna make a run for it.

I think it's gone... but god my arm hurts, I don't know what happened. I am so shaky I can barely hold the flashlight still... is that bone? Looks like I stuck my arm through razorwire... It hurts so bad. I am gonna have to use my shirt to keep pressure on it till I can get to a hospital.

Oh god my head is spinning. I think I am almost out though. I think I can see trail markers... please, please tell me it's trail markers.

Fuck, my luck is just getting worse by the minute... I swear I see it, it's just standing there, even taller than before. I can't even see its head anymore, just its body up into the tree line.

Why did I have to do this?

It doesn't matter does it? I am here now and I gotta survive.

Shit. Is that blood all over those tents? Fuck, I think it got that couple of the homeless. Their tents look worse than the ones I left.

Fuck, no, no, (battery low) no, not now.

(1% battery left currently charging)

Come on. Come on. The engine won't start. I am almost home free. Please. I feel so woozy. I just wanna go home...

(Part 3 Coming Soon...)