48 Hour Short Story Contest

Word Count: 418

It was after the fire when a few clues were given as to what, who and why Cabin Twelve went up in flames. It was on an October evening, around eleven, when apparently the fire began.

From what the innkeeper said, Tim Robbins had just arrived that day from town and was hoping to spend the weekend at Lake Peaks and was happy to lodge once again at Cabin Twelve. It was his favorite cabin, for it held many happy memories, including his marriage to Penelope. There was sadness, too, within the cabin, for Penelope spent several of her last days there. The cancer in her brain had spread quickly, and that last view of Lake Peak gave her a peace and calmness that brought a special beauty to her last days and being with Tim.

The following day after the fire, they found Tim's charred body underneath the cabin, in a crawl spot directly under the front patio. It was strange, though because it looked like someone had placed him there, for he was laid out in a uniform manner, with his arms and hands placed close to his body.

Bob, a local transient first found the body, and said that he saw something strange behind the cabin. He said he saw some kind of creature, lurking about and it looked like the creature was crawling on the ground, as if looking for something. Of course, no one believed him, because he was drunk most of the time and was always making up stories..

The park ranger, who showed up the next day, also found something strange lying next to the body--a pair of large scissors, and a letter underneath Tim’s left shoe.

The letter revealed the following words, "Can't take the loneliness anymore. Forgive me, mom and dad; I just can't live without Penelope."

What was really sad was what the park ranger found when he first saw the body. There was, what looked like, a very old and large chipmunk sitting upright on his short, hind legs, gazing sadly at Tim’s body. The ranger said that the “little guy” wouldn't budge for the longest time and acted as if he was protecting the body from some "thing" or some "one."

The chipmunk only left when the ranger shooed him away but even then before disappearing, he turned toward the dead body gave a last look and then disappeared, as if disintegrating in the air!

So sad how some people end up. So very sad!


Ann