Camping on Government Land

This occurred a few years ago and I have shared on other forums before. I'm a big fan of the outdoors and often go camping and hiking. I started off camping in Provincial Parks and designated campgrounds but wanting the freedom to do what I wanted, privacy and remoteness I looked up some government owned land to go camping. So after travelling a few hours away from the big city and down some remote fire roads we found a spot to camp. There was 3 of us on this trip Moe, A.C and myself. We parked the car off in a clearing in the woods and then hiked in further to camp by the numerous lakes in the area.

We had a great time hiking, exploring and just sitting by the lake. This is up in the Canadian shield so it was rocky, tons of trees and shallow lakes. After dinner we were still up for an adventure, so we decided to go on a night hike. It was close to midnight by this time and hiking in dark dense forest with no trail to follow we figured would be exciting. Especially after telling ghost stories earlier around the campfire we all had ghosts on the brain. Moe was leading the way in the dark dense forest breaking a path for us with A.C in the middle and myself bringing up the rear.

We were far from any civilization and the closest paved road was perhaps a good hour away. Not sure if you have hiked at night in unfamiliar woods before but it is unnerving when all you can see is the flashlight beam 6 meters ahead of you. Every few seconds I would glance behind myself since I was bringing the rear and felt vulnerable to an attack from behind. I definitely wasn't the only one who was unnerved, A.C was hiking with his 4 inch knife in his hand for quick access as he calls it.

We got to a clearing that was adjacent to another dirt road and decided to make a fire here and just relax for a bit. We sat and ate some snacks just enjoying the peaceful night. As we were sitting there we saw headlights from a car coming towards us from the dirt road. We figured it might be locals who may own some of the cottages in the area or something and thought nothing of it. As the car got closer we saw that it was an older truck and it was creeping along on the dirt road. Once the truck hit the clearing area where we would have been visible to the passenger in the truck due to the campfire, the truck stopped.

While this is going on we were wondering what was going on. At this point the truck turned off its headlights and started to slowly reverse on this one lane dirt road upon seeing us. As the truck backed further beyond the trees and we couldn't really see it any more, it stopped and the sound of a door opening and closing echo thru the night. A.C who is naturally on edge was a little scared so we put out the fire and move towards the tree line so we weren't out in the open and easily visible in the clearing. I scrambled on my stomach and just watched the direction where the truck was in the trees.

At this point we started hearing foot steps of someone walking quietly in the woods. A.C was starting to panic at this point and we discuss possible scenarios of why someone would get out of the truck upon seeing us and try to stalk us. We could no longer see or hear the truck but the fact that it stopped and sounds of door opening had us on edge. We decided to make our way back to camp deep in the woods. As we are making our way back A.C and myself see a light flash for a second and then turn off about 20 meters away. We were all hyper alert to danger at this time and I thought it was someone turning on there flashlight briefly to see something.

I turned back toward A.C and see that he's running back toward the campsite. That freaks me out a lot, and for some reason I imagine myself left out here alone with god knows who, so I start running after him. I figured Moe felt the same way about being left alone because he takes off running behind us. I was scared to death that A.C would fall over a stump or lead us over a cliff into a ravine but he stayed on the trail Moe had broken for us, all the way back to our camp.

But he kept running.

He was running back along the trail we'd taken the day before, up away from the lake toward the fire road where we'd parked. It was clear to me now that A.C wasn't going to stop until he was back in the car and heading back to the city. I was the only one with keys to the car though, but I threw my vote in with A.C and, judging by the sound of his running and panting, Moe agreed. We ran flat out through the woods for another 15 or 20 minutes before we got to the clearing.

Finally the trail opened up into the clearing where we'd parked. I ran to the car, got the door unlocked and jumped into the driver seat, One of the guys rapped on the trunk lid for me to open it, so I popped it and heard them throw their gear in and slam it shut. I expected the passenger and back seat doors to open right after that. Nothing happened though, and after a few seconds I realized that it was completely silent in the clearing. In another minute the only sound I could hear was my own heart pounding.

Then the light flashed again, at the edge of the clearing maybe 50 yards in front of me. A moment later I saw it flash again, then realized it wasn't ahead of me, but in my rear view mirror. And that flash was a lot closer. I had no idea where A.C and Moe had gone, but I was too scared to find out, so I started the car, threw it in gear and turned on the lights as I accelerated.

Ahead of me, just in front of the trees at the clearing's edge, was what I'd later swear was the same old truck. Laid across the hood were what looked like two sets of tan coveralls, streaked with lots and lots of blood. I turned hard right, skidded onto the fire road, and drove as fast as I could back toward the last paved road we left. It was a good hour away, but I made it in about 40 minutes.

I turned onto that highway and drove as fast as I could until I got to the first town. It was just a few buildings and a service station with a scattering of houses. I pulled off at the gas station just before 11pm, as the old man was about to close up for the night. I ran in and asked to use his phone. I called the RCMP and told them what had happened, and the dispatcher said "Damn. Okay, stay in your vehicle and someone will be there in about 20 minutes."

I hung up, thanked the old man and went back to my car. I was surprised that the RCMP expected to be there so quickly, because there weren't any towns around big enough to have a station. I was glad I wouldn't have to wait long...

And then it occurred to me that I hadn't looked in the trunk.

I sat very still as cold sweat rolled down my face and neck and bathed me in abject fear. All I could do was stare down the road at where I'd come from, wondering if A.C and Moe were still out there, if they were looking for the car, or if they weren't so lucky. I was still thinking that 15 minutes later when the light flashed a couple hundred yards down the road. Then a few seconds later it flashed again, but much closer. When it flashed a third time it seemed less than 10 yards away. For some reason I thought I was about to die.

Suddenly the whole car was bathed in light from above. I screamed out of pure shock, then I looked up at what I then recognized as a helicopter spotlight. The RCMP had been in a goddamned hurry to get to me, and they were still almost too late. The old truck peeled out of the lot, those two bloodstained tan coveralls tied to a bar behind the cab and fluttering behind it like war banners, or ghosts.

Four officers got out of the helicopter and bundled me into it, after taking my car keys and telling me they'd take care of it. They flew me back to the main office where they took me to a room for questioning. It wasn't as friendly as I thought it would be.

By the time I was seated in the interrogation room, the officers back at the service station had found the bodies of A.C and Moe in the trunk of my car, folded and twisted in horrifying ways in order to fit better. Considering the bad shape they were in, it seemed almost like an afterthought that they were also completely skinned. Those tan, bloody coveralls weren't coveralls after all, and judging by the blood patterns in the trunk, they were probably still alive when I started my mad ride.

They also found the old man on the floor behind the register, A.C's 4-inch knife completely imbedded in his right eye, and my fingerprints all over it.

So now I'm here in the psychiatric wing, awaiting trial. I'm pretty sure I would be convicted, but that won't happen. I'm leaving soon, you see. The flashes of light are very close now, just at the edge of the front lawn. I only hope these drugs they have me on make getting skinned alive more bearable. There are a lot of very sick people here, and I'd hate to wake them up in the middle of the night.

/r/nosleep Thread