Dusk had already fallen by the time they hit the road. The sky at Pike’s Peak would be full of stars at this hour, conjuring the same calm feeling as looking out over an endless ocean. In the car it had the opposite effect. Lisa felt more than a little claustrophobic as the tunnel of tree trunks and shadows zipped past the windscreen, broken only by bends in the road and the odd sight of roadkill; a racoon carcass here, an unlucky squirrel there — nobody talked about that side of the great outdoors, it kind of put a dampener on the whole romance of the place. 

There were no other cars on the road. In between summer and ski season, the national parks didn’t get too many visitors. And most people stuck to the campgrounds listed in Colorado: The Mountain State, heading back to their homes or hotel rooms before the sun set. Paul had decided to treat her to one last view before they returned to the city. They had hiked up to a ridge above their tent and sat watching the yellow sun descend over the trees and creeks below.

“Jesus Christ!”

The Toyota lurched as Paul slammed on the breaks. By the time the station wagon came to a halt, the deer had already bolted off into the dark of the forest, leaving nothing but asphalt illuminated in the headlights.
The car idled as the couple caught their breath. Lisa let out a puff of air and gave her fiance a reassuring squeeze on the leg as her heart pounded in her chest. 
“Thank god it was me driving,” he chuckled, “you know what you’re like behind the wheel.”
“Asshole!” She gave him a playful slap on the shoulder. He was always teasing her about her driving ever since she scratched the bumper on her way out of work. They looked at each other and burst out laughing.
Paul exhaled. “I’ll go check on the roof rack, make sure nothing’s come loose.”
“Good idea, I’ll give you a hand.”

Lisa reached for her backpack on the seat behind her and unzipped the front pocket, taking out two torches and handing one to Paul. She left the passenger door open and stepped out into the cool air. The car protested with a persistent ding as the warm light spilled out onto the road.
“Looks like the bikes are secure, how’s the tent?” she asked.
Paul gave two tugs on the guide ropes. “Nothing loose on this side. Let’s get back on the road.”

They got back in the car and shut the doors with a clunk. Paul slotted the keys in the ignition and went to start the engine when Lisa grabbed his hand.
“Stop. What was that?”
“What? I don’t hear anything, it must be your imagination.” he said.
“Just be quiet for a second. Crack the window.”
“Do you want to make it back tonight or not?”
“Just do it please? It’s probably nothing.”

Paul sighed and wound down the window. They waited in silence for a few seconds.
“See? Nothing. Now, it’s only 40 miles back to Denver, we can–”
The screech was louder with the window down. Lisa couldn’t tell if it was human or animal.
“What the fuck is that?”
“Could be a fox,” he said, “or, I don’t know, sounds like a woman screaming.”
“I don’t like this. We should see if someone’s out there.”
“You’re right. Stay here and wait in the car.”
“No, I’m coming with you.”
“Are you mad? Someone’s gotta stay with the car.”
“I guess you’re right. Don’t go too far, okay?”

Paul walked through the beam of the headlights and out into the forest. She saw a small circle of light as he clicked on the torch before he disappeared into the thick cover of ferns and branches. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She kept thinking about that awful noise, how unnatural it had sounded. It was high-pitched like a whistle but loud and wailing as if it cost great effort to produce. If it was a person that made it, she dreaded to think what must have happened for someone to make it. Were there bears out here? Traps? And what was someone doing out in the woods anyway?

It was the buzz of her phone that made her jump.
“Babe? Is everything okay? Did you find it?”
“I found something,” he said, his voice crackling through the speaker, “do me a favour and pop the trunk would you? I’m headed back up.”
He hung up before she could ask any follow up questions. He had sounded strange on the phone, not scared but excited maybe? She did as she was told and unlocked the trunk of the car.

It wasn’t long before he emerged from the undergrowth into the pale glow of the headlights. He was carrying a dark mass in his arms. It was too small to be a person but that fact alone did nothing to put her at ease. From where she was sitting, it looked like a shifting ball of dark tendrils.

He came around the side of the car and dropped the thing in the trunk.