Its fall vacation for college students. Emma anticipated the break for two weeks. She couldn't wait any longer to spend time with her on and off again boyfriend Adrian. The two had a complicated history but managed to salvage a relationship. Emma wanted to use this break as a way to rekindle an old romance. Four years past since she had seen Adrian. She wondered how they might interact considering their age; they're no longer high school sweethearts. Adrian purchased a white ford industrial van where he intended to live. Adrian lived life at his own pace as a free spirit and a vagabond. Emma always admired Adrian for the unconventional life he led. She was the hard working woman hell-bent on success. Emma thought Adrian could lighten this intensity in her and provide some fun. Thursday evening Adrian arrived to set up camp. Adrian planned to pick Emma up tomorrow morning. Emma felt old emotions emerging for him. She had so many questions and yearned to see him in the flesh because pictures no longer sufficed. Soon she would be reunited with him and could see his physical form. She spent the night listening to music drinking wine and reminiscing. Adrian was an integral part of her adolescence. Emma wondered if the attraction would still be there tomorrow. She remembers his bright blue eyes close-set and interrupted by his large nose. Regardless of his abrupt features, he had appeal; she was not the only one to take notice. He had golden hair kept at various lengths. Adrian was always in shape. Sometimes his bold personality clashed with hers. Above all, she remembered how he made her feel. Every time she laid eyes upon him the butterflies fluttered in her stomach. She liked the way he carried himself with confidence.

Emma studied his face in her mind that night. She wondered if he did the same. Friday morning Emma receives a text saying he will be to her house in 30mins. She threw together a bag with enough clothes and food for several nights. Only the essentials for winter camping made the cut. She heard the horn honk outside, clutching her bag she walked out the front door. Adrian was in the driver's seat with his head hanging out the window. He flashed a nostalgic grin and wrinkles formed around the edges of his sunglasses. Emma mimicked the expression before sprinting toward the car. She opened the passenger door and climbed into the seat. "I am so happy to see you," said Adrian. "It has been so long," replied Emma. Adrian extended his hand for her to hold. Emma wrapped her fingers around his and reclined into the seat. Adrian put the van into motion. The vehicle climbed up the LaVerkin twist bound for the Kolob Terrace road where they would camp. "So what would you like to do today?" Asked Adrian. He was always spontaneous and flexible leaving Emma to lock in the plans. Emma looked over at him with doting eyes. "I think we should set up camp, go for a hike around the area, and then come back to eat and build a fire," she said. "Okay that sounds good to me," he replied. Finally, they arrived at the dirt pull out for the BLM campground. They found a spot under a cottonwood tree next to a shallow creek. After parking the van, Emma realized the vehicle was fully equipped and prepared for the night. Adrian had built a bed in the back alongside drawers

stocked with belongings. Emma saw there was nothing left to set up; she hoped her sleeping bag combined with the bedding would be cozy enough. "Hey, how about that hike?" said Adrian. "Yes, let's go," replied Emma. Emma walked behind Adrian on the paved road where they would meet up with the trailhead around the corner. After they turned the bend, they found the gate to the trail entrance. It was a dirt path that followed a wash. Mountains of ancient lava were on either side of the course. The molten frozen in time dripped like shattered glass across crumbling sandstone. Ashen sand coated the ground, and cotton wood's shaded the route. The remains of October lingered multicolor leaves withering at the base of the trees. Emma was all too happy to share the beautiful scenery with Adrian. The trail was long eating up most the day but leisurely not strenuous. Emma and Adrian walked engaged deeply in conversation. Hours had passed, and the day was waning. They made the trek toward the campsite hoping there would be enough light left to build a fire. After returning to the site, Emma began gathering wood. She stockpiled it next to the rocks placed in a circle. This makeshift fire pit would work just fine for them. Emma sat down in the nylon chair twisting the cap off a bottle of water. Adrian performed the ritual of crafting a flame. Once the wood took to burn Adrian looked at Emma between the flicker. When his eyes met hers he parted his lips. "I almost forgot how beautiful you were," he said Emma could feel the heat, not from the fire, but her blushing cheeks.

"How I missed those big beautiful blue eyes," he said. "I missed your long body, and how it's sculpted like art," he cooed. Emma beamed despite his somewhat cheesy compliments. She sat forward gazing into his eyes allowing strands of her dark brown hair to fall forward. It was only 8:30 the night was young, but all the sunshine had burned off. She could barely see Adrian kneeling by the fire staring at her. His face illuminated by the amber glow of the fire and distorted by the shadow of the moon. Emma wanted to entangle herself in his embrace and forget about the passage of hours. She desired to lay beside him, suspended for a time, only they recognized. Adrian stood up and walked over to the vacant chair beside Emma and sat down. They watched the stars and spoke gently to one another as the flames slowly surrendered. The residual coals pulsed a dull smolder. The two admired the sky until midnight. Emma felt sleep pull at her eyes, but Adrian wanted to go for a drive. "Hey, how about a drive to the lake?" Adrian said. "Well the moon is bright maybe the lake would be pretty." Emma responded. Adrian proceeded to pour sand and water on the remaining embers. The coals hissed and exhaled smoke eventually forfeiting the ability to resurrect a spark. They both got in the van and pulled out onto the paved road. The van traversed up the winding route. As they climbed elevation, the view changed. The vehicle passed pastoral sights leaving the public view far behind. They traveled by agricultural fields growing wheat that rippled like smelting gold. The trees transformed into Aspen's and the red mountains drew closer. He turned the music on Emma requested the Neighborhood's "I love you" for the background sound. The enjoyable outing became the forsaken night. An unsettling wind blew through the valley, and all the lighthearted

felt abandoned. The moon now appeared large and white its stolid face hanging eerie in the sky. The frigid air was intrusive seeking flesh to grip. The van's window barely cracked to clear the steam from the breath shared between them. The rouge of midnight was a deep black like coagulated blood. The only light the blanched moon mirrored off the wet ink of the lake. The industrial van had dim lights bouncing off the dirt road. Emma extended her hand to grasp his; he slows the motion to indulge at the moment. "Isn't this a beautiful night?" Adrian said She didn't vocalize her opposition; instead, she grinned. Emma's face offers an agreeing smile a generous white lie. He stops in the middle of the road to steal a kiss. He throws the car into park and begins to lean toward her. The feeling of romance had abandoned Emma something besides passion stirred in her chest. There was a slight shudder whispering through her. Adrian mistook the tremor for nervous arousal. Emma politely refused his advances. "Does anything about this night feel unusual?" Emma said He gave Emma a confused look "what do you mean babe?" Says Adrian Emma's eyes scan the surroundings, but they cannot pinpoint the object of fear. She looks back at Adrian. "I just think there is an uncomfortable stillness tonight," she responds He looks at her with a sly grin. Adrian loved to scare Emma because it meant he could hold her in reassurance. Fear was always thrilling to them because it was an excuse to get closer. He could display his masculinity and quiet her hysteria.

"Are you scared?"Adrian asks "No of course not; let's just drive around the lake and head home?" Emma replies "I thought we could park for a while?" He says "I am not in the mood, sorry," she says The trepidation was building it cultivated in the pit of her stomach. Adrian throws the van into drive the momentum propels the wheels forward. He wanted to ignite her fear playfully. Only this time she reeked of genuine horror. There was a clicking ringing in her ears. The low quaver sounded like strange white noise. Emma's hand searched for the volume dial on the dash. Adrian looks over at her. "What's wrong?" Adrian says "Don't you hear that static from the speakers?" Emma questions. "No, what are you talking about?" "Babe, are you feeling okay?" "Your acting weird?" He replies. She didn't want to draw more attention to the odd behavior, so she dropped it. "Everything is just fine; you know how I am about sound quality in music," Emma said. "Yeah, you are a freak for your music," Adrian says in a joking manner. The clicking refused to cease that's how she knew it did not come from the music. Emma's brain developed an odd association between the sound a sensation. Emma's spirit was clawing its

way out to escape the loudening clicking. Emma shrieks in pain the clicking was too traumatic. Adrian slams on the breaks in panic. He looks over at her screaming. "Emma, what's wrong, what happened?" Adrian yells The clicking mutes his words. Emma can only see him mouthing the words all their meaning inaudible. "Huh, what did you say?" She shouted. By now his eyes were wide with terror, and he made big gestures waving his hands around. The edges of her vision begin to blur, and she can hardly make out the scene. His words were muddled gibberish his voice undistinguishable. All her senses suffocated, and she was choking on terror. She felt as though ten minutes had passed, but it was only 3 minutes. When Emma came to Adrian was tearing up. "Oh my god, what happened, are you okay?" She exclaimed. "I could tell that you could not hear or see me." "I was so scared for you babe," Adrian says By now he was holding her in his arms, and the hot tears streaked down his cold cheek. The van pulled off the side of road tucked in a cluster of aspens. There was a clearing between the trees, and the lake was shimmering like a puddle spilled oil. Emma held on to Adrian feeling his body billow with each soft sob. The sound of her rapid palpitating heart drowned all noises. Emma's breaths were desperate gasps clutching for air, as it stung her throat, and she sobered. When they parted from the embrace, he wiped his eyes. He returned to the driver's seat looking at Emma with distraught concern. The anguish left her face dispelling his concern. "I cannot explain what just happened to me," she said.

"I don't know either, but whatever just happened was horrifying to watch." "I felt like I was watching my girlfriend experience immense pain." He said "I am okay now let's just go home?" she replied "Yes I agree, let's get the hell out of dodge," Adrian said He let out a big sigh as he pulled the gear stick into drive. Emma faced forward in the passenger seat, out of the corner of her eye a pallid figure darted between the trees. Two thoughts competed for truth, but a gut never lies. Her mind screamed; it's a projection of your imagination. The second thought rebutted it's a cryptid. Emma turned her head in the direction of the milk silhouette shifting through the aspens. She squinted zeroing in on the ominous creature. Its long ape-like arms stretched out, and its stark body resembled a naked man. It was no man, never could a man move so swift as this beast. The beast stopped dead in its tracks elongating its posture until its form stood straight. The creature turned its head, and she felt its hollowed sockets pierce from miles off. The clicking returned to her skull sharp pain shooting through her eardrums. Emma felt this entity embedding in her psyche and burrow holes into her soul. She was in too much shock to notice the van had not moved. "Drive, Now!" She yelled in savagery. She could not contain fear. "I can't the car won't budge," Adrian said. The engine sputtered and revved, but refused to lurch forward. In absolute panic, "Do something!" Emma wailed

"I am doing everything I can!" He defended. Emma jumped into action rolling up the windows and locking the door. All that she could think was to pray. The returned clicking muffled the words in her head. Emma closed her eyes for a second, but the cryptid was waiting when they peeled back open. It was standing in the same position where her mind left it. She felt burning sensation water her vision. How could it have such a physical effect on her when it was so far away? Adrian screams profanity and furiously pulls on every lever in the car tampering with all the pedals. He is frustrated and terrified but incapable of creating a solution. Suddenly the lights go black, and the car dies. Adrian drops the f-bomb and slams his fists into the steering wheel. Emma's mind goes blank from fear when she hears the volume on the radio turns louder. She glances at the receiver before looking back up to find the figure gone. "It's gone, where did it go?" She says out loud. "Where did what go?" Asks Adrian. She realized that her shock did not allow her to explain to Adrian what she saw. She looks over at him and says "You will think I am crazy if I tell you." She says "I guarantee I won't." "This night is what is crazy." He says "I saw the rake." Emma proclaims "The what?" He says.

Emma begins to explain the Rake to Adrian. Adrian remains silent and confined to the driver's seat. Emma looks over her shoulder to the back of the van where the bed lies. She is uncertain where the Rake is and if the van will ever come back to life. Right now she is exhausted, and the idea of sleep has her focus. Emma motions to crawl to the back of the van and sleep off the horror; in the morning it will just be another bad dream. Her eyes fixed on the bed as she shifts her weight forward peeling her back off the pleather seat which outlined in sweat. Before committing to the walk to bed, she sees it. The Rake is in the corner, where the panels of the vehicle meet it crouched. Her body tensed with lightning speed, ice crept up her spine, her skin pulled tight raising in bumps. One look at the creature, she could tell he came for blood. The Rake had forsaken the night. She saw the pale silhouette with its knees tucked to its chest a slight bending arc in its back where the vertebrae poked against its thin skin. The beast was lean and long its hands the needles that stitched the air striking as violent as a sewing machine. Within seconds Emma saw more of this cryptid than she wanted. Emma changed direction opening the passenger door sprinting from the vehicle. Her legs became her brain thinking for her screaming run and don't stop. Adrenaline shot through her body allowing her to pump her legs and arms at full capacity. Her feet slapped the paved road jarring her knees. Only when she had run a safe distance one mile down the road, full sprint, did she realize Adrian's absence. Adrian! She screamed her shrill voice split the air. The creature had lunged at him from the back of the vehicle. Adrian ripped from the van laying on the ground beside the witnessing lake. Adrian writhed in pain as the rake drove his needle fingers into Adrian's abdomen. The Rake was a sewing machine striking intermittently with speed and precision. Adrian's body was thrashing searching for an escape. The struggle would not last as most of his blood was now outside him, from the disembowelment. Emma could not hear

Adrian's blood-curdling screams at her position. She could not listen to him bargaining for life and his desperate cries for help. Emma spared from the sights and sounds of Adrian's struggle. Instead, she saw yellow headlight beams striking the road, traveling towards her. Emma opens her mouth to scream and waves her hands in the air. The car approaches she sees the decal it's a DNR law enforcement truck.