Barney Claymore

Short story thriller.

Desert canyon

He stood there right in front of me holding a pic ax. Jacob quickly grabbed my arm and pulled it. The ghost of Barney Claymore really does exist, I thought.

Jacob and I ran from the mine and headed to the car. There was no sign of Mindy and Roy though. Did he get to them or did they get lost, I wondered.

When Jacob tried to start the car, it wouldn't turn over. As he kept cranking the key, the ghost of Claymore suddenly appeared in front of us.

“Jacob, hurry,” I yelled.

Claymore raised the pic ax and slammed it through the windshield. I screamed and rushed out of the car. I ran as fast as I could and just kept running. I had no idea if Jacob got away or not. And I didn't even know where I was now.

There I stood somewhere in the dark desert. The crescent moon barely lit the way. I couldn't believe what was happening. The old miners legend was real.

“What was that?” I whispered as I frantically looked around.

I dug my cell phone out of my pocket and turned on the flashlight. All I saw around me was dirt and rock, at least for now. Thankfully Claymore didn't follow me, I thought.

The air got colder as the night progressed. Should I keep walking with the hope of finding someone or should I go back, I wondered. I had no clue if I even ran in the right direction. I stopped and looked back.

All I saw was mostly darkness. And it was eerily quiet until I heard a howl. I glanced around with fear that whatever howled would sniff me out. What am I going to do?

I sat down near a very large rock to think. Maybe if I wait here until daylight, I can find my way back. Then the howl of whatever was out there got closer to me. I scooted closer to the rock and prayed that the creature wouldn't find me.

It felt like forever, but soon the howl was again in the distance. I glanced around and then shined my flashlight. All I saw was rock thank goodness. Was I imagining all this or am I really sitting here in fear for my life, I wondered.

I soon snapped out of it when I heard a hiss. I shined my light around the ground and saw a patterned snake slither past me. This desert is frightening, I thought. I then turned off my flashlight to save the battery and sat in complete darkness.

“How do I get myself into these messes?”

I sat in silence and rested awhile. I was cold but couldn’t do anything about it. I was also on high alert though because I didn't know what else might be lurking. Was I going to see the light of day again or am I going to die out here?

Because it was quiet I rested my head against the rock. I didn't realize it but I fell asleep for quite awhile. When I awoke the sky had begun to lighten.

“I made it through the night,” I said.