Alcohol and Entrails

submission for our July Flash Fiction Contest

Marty Hemming’s eyes opened at a strange sound. He saw a man peering into his tent. He quickly grabbed his gun from in front of him and aimed it at the man.

“Aieeeee!” Screamed the man, throwing his hands up and falling backwards.

“Who are you?” Marty asked sternly. “What are you doing in my tent?”

The man was… crying?

“I’m-hic-Jonah. Jonah Mackenzie. Please-hic-don’t shoot! I saw your-hic-tent and wanted to make-hic-sure you were okay! The-hic-gun scared me and-hic-made me gasp!”

Marty realized it was dark outside and checked his phone. Dang, did he forget to set his alarm? Well, at least the random guy woke him up.

“Alright, Jonah, why are you in the woods at night?”

Jonah’s tears began to dry. “Well, I… uh… I’m squatching. I’ve heard about all the recent disappearances and I just know it’s Sasquatch.”

Marty sighed. This was certainly an unexpected surprise. But, not an unwelcome one. He needed to wake up anyway.

Marty collected his supplies and got out of his tent.

“I’m officer Marty Hemming. I’m here investigating the disappearances.”

Marty stretched his hand toward Jonah and helped him get up. 

“Are… are you going to arrest me?” Jonah asked.

Marty chuckled. “Have you committed any crimes?”

“Uh, not that I know of,” he replied.

Marty was about to answer, but they heard a strange thump behind a tree.

“It’s here,” Marty said. “Turn your back toward mine. Now.”

Jonah complied. “It’s Sasquatch?”

Another thump resounded, but in the opposite location.

“No, it’s a hidebehind,” answered Marty. “It hides behind things until it sees a good time to strike. I’ve been on its case recently. Stay with your back toward mine.

Marty drew his pistol and scanned the area in front of him, looking for any movement.

Another thump, but in a different location. Then a low and slow growl…

Jonah began hyperventilating. 

“Calm down,” Marty said, trying to soothe him. “If we stay in this position, I don’t think it will-“

Jonah fell over. He had fainted.

Almost as soon as he hit the ground, Marty saw a blur move from behind a tree and disappear on the opposite side. And Jonah was gone.

“Dammit.”

He pulled his flask out and flung a little alcohol out toward where he saw the monster disappear. After a few moments, a strange sneeze-like sound came from that direction, followed by the sound of running. 

The hidebehind was scared by the alcohol and began running. Marty’s research paid off.

He began running after it. It likely either hid in trees or made its home in a cave of some sort. 

The hidebehind was fast. Thankfully, even though it had run too far ahead for Marty to follow by sound, it left heavy footprints in areas of dirt. After running for about five minutes, Marty came to a cave. He turned off his flashlight and drew his gun. He could smell the pungent stench of rotting flesh emanating from inside.

Jonah was likely either still passed out or dead, so he wasn’t worried about accidentally shooting him. He crept up to the side of the cave entrance and peered in. He couldn’t see anything in the darkness.

He waited and listened. He heard nothing from inside the cave. 

Marty steeled himself and decided to enter. Flashlight in one hand and pistol in the other, Marty illuminated the cave. Close to the entrance was Jonah. He appeared unharmed, thankfully. 

But further back, he saw some other bodies lying down. Marty drew closer. He could see the bodies of his two co-workers that disappeared when he was at the park with him a few days ago, and other missing persons, all with their stomachs torn open. 

His research was correct- hidebehinds ate entrails. 

He went to approach Jonah and check his pulse. But as he bent down, he heard a growl behind him.

Marty quickly turned and fired his gun. With a yelp and a thud, he knew he hit his target. 

He got up and quickly ran to where his target was and shone his light on it. It was a strange looking shaggy dog. The body looked as though it was more dog shaped than human shaped, but it must’ve stood on two legs, given how high Marty had aimed his gun. 

He went to examine closer, but then it was gone. Slowly, it melted into a puddle of brown slop. 

No evidence. How was he going to explain a cave full of disemboweled people and a puddle of dog sludge to his boss, who already didn’t believe the disappearances were from a mythical forest monster?

He was definitely getting fired.