Chapter 15: The Bridge of Bones
The forest was silent as Georgia, Martin, and Boris approached a ravine. A narrow bridge, constructed of old, crumbling bones, spanned the gap. The sight was macabre and foreboding, sending shivers down their spines.
“This must be the Bridge of Bones,” Boris said, his voice barely above a whisper.
“The map mentioned it as a shortcut, but it didn’t mention how treacherous it would be.”
Martin stared at the bridge, his face pale.
“We have to cross that?”
Georgia took a deep breath.
“It’s our only option. We need to get to the other side before nightfall. The Wendigos will be out in full force soon.”
Boris nodded, stepping onto the bridge first. The bones creaked under his weight, but they held. “Be careful. Step where I step and keep your balance.”
Georgia followed closely, her heart pounding. The bridge swayed slightly with each step, the bones shifting beneath her feet. Martin brought up the rear, his eyes darting around nervously.
Halfway across, a bone snapped under Boris’s foot, causing him to stumble. He regained his balance quickly, but the noise echoed through the ravine.
“That didn’t sound good,” Martin muttered, glancing behind them.
Boris looked back at them, his face grim.
“We need to move faster. Stay close and watch your step.”
They continued across the bridge, the tension growing with each step. Suddenly, a chilling howl echoed through the forest, followed by the unmistakable growls of the Wendigos.
“They’re coming!” Georgia exclaimed, her voice tinged with panic.
From both ends of the bridge, the Wendigos emerged, their glowing eyes and grotesque forms sending waves of fear through the group.
“We’re trapped!” Martin shouted, drawing his makeshift weapon—a sturdy branch he had sharpened into a spear.
Boris brandished a torch he had prepared earlier.
“Hold your ground! Use the fire to keep them at bay!”
The Wendigos closed in from both sides, their snarls growing louder. Boris swung the torch, keeping the creatures at a distance, but their relentless advance continued.
“We can’t hold them off forever!” Georgia yelled, gripping her own makeshift weapon—a heavy stick wrapped in cloth and doused in oil.
Martin thrust his spear at an approaching Wendigo, but the creature dodged with unnatural speed.
“We need a plan, fast!”
Boris glanced around, his mind racing.
“We need to break through! Use the fire to push them back and make a run for it!”
Georgia nodded, setting her stick alight with Boris’s torch. The flames flickered and danced, casting eerie shadows on the bone bridge.
“On my count!” Boris shouted.
“One, two, three—go!”
With a collective cry, the trio charged forward, waving their burning sticks to fend off the Wendigos. The creatures recoiled from the flames, their snarls turning to screeches of anger and pain.
Georgia swung her stick at a Wendigo blocking her path, the fire singeing its fur. It hissed and backed away, giving her enough space to advance.
“Keep moving! Don’t stop!”
Martin jabbed his spear at another Wendigo, driving it back. He looked over his shoulder, ensuring Georgia and Boris were still behind him.
“We’re almost there!”
Boris led the way, his torch blazing brightly. The end of the bridge was in sight, but the Wendigos were relentless, closing in from the sides.
“We need to jump!” Boris shouted, realizing they wouldn’t make it to the end of the bridge in time.
Georgia’s eyes widened.
“What?”
“No time to argue! Jump to the ledge!” Boris pointed to a rocky outcrop on the side of the ravine, just within reach if they made a desperate leap.
Martin didn’t hesitate. He sprinted forward and jumped, his arms outstretched. He landed on the ledge, scrambling to find a foothold.
“I made it! Come on!”
Georgia took a deep breath and followed suit, her heart pounding. She jumped, her hands grabbing the ledge. Martin reached down and pulled her up.
Boris was the last to jump, his torch still blazing. He landed heavily but managed to hold onto the ledge. Martin and Georgia helped him up just as the Wendigos reached their end of the bridge.
The Wendigos howled in frustration, unable to follow them to the ledge. Boris, Georgia, and Martin climbed higher, finding a narrow path that led away from the ravine.
“Keep moving!” Boris urged.
“We need to put as much distance between us and them as possible!”
They hurried along the path, the sounds of the Wendigos fading behind them. The forest grew thicker, offering some protection from their pursuers.
After what felt like an eternity, they found a small clearing and collapsed, breathing heavily.
“That… was too close,” Georgia panted, her face flushed from the exertion.
Martin nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. “But we made it. We’re alive.”
Boris leaned back against a tree, his expression serious.
“This won’t be the last time we face them. We need to stay vigilant and be ready for anything.”
The group took a moment to catch their breath and collect their thoughts. The Bridge of Bones had been a harrowing experience, but it had also shown them the strength they had when they worked together.
Georgia looked at the others, her resolve hardening.
“We can’t let fear control us. We have to keep pushing forward.”
Martin smiled, his eyes filled with determination.
“Agreed. We’ll face whatever comes our way and we’ll do it together.”
Boris nodded, a sense of pride in his voice. “We’re a team. And as long as we stick together, we have a chance.”
As they rested in the clearing, the horrors of the bridge began to fade. They had survived another encounter with the Wendigos, and with each battle, they grew stronger and more determined.
After a brief rest, they began to plan their next move. Boris pulled out the map, tracing their path with his finger.
“We need to head towards the ancient burial ground. It’s the next place marked on the map and could hold more clues about the amulet and the Wendigos.”
Georgia and Martin nodded in agreement. The cemetery was their next destination, another step in their perilous journey.
As they set off once more, the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the forest floor. The events of the day had tested their limits, but they had come out stronger.
“We’ll make it through this,” Georgia said, her voice steady.
Martin took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
“We will. Together.”
Boris led the way, the amulet safely tucked away in his bag. They walked with a renewed sense of purpose, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
The forest was dark and filled with unseen dangers, but they were no longer just surviving—they were fighting back. And with each step, they grew closer to ending the Wendigos’ reign of terror once and for all.