Arbor Demon Page #2

They're normally not

that aggressive.

I just... I wonder.

I don't know.

That's tight enough.

What the...?

What is it?

Is it a claw?

Looks like a fingernail.

We just need to get out of here.

We can't save him.

Ok? Look at him.

He's getting worse, but we do

need to get him out of here.

We need to get us out of here.

One of those four-wheelers

might be our only way.

Good, let's...

Go get on one now.

The trick is not injuring him

more on the way back down.

Look, look, maybe we can

just go and get help back.

Ok?

The ranger station's not far.

Ok. It's ok.

That thing is gone.

Don't even start.

I don't need to be right, ok?

I just...

I think we need

to get out of here.

- Dana:
Charles. Look.

- Charles:
What?

- You have an open fracture.

Movement of the broken bone

will increase pain.

Listen to me, you've lost

a lot of blood.

Dana, whispering:

Please! Please be quiet.

Hey! Sorry. Listen to me.

I know you're in pain

but you really need

to be quiet for me.

- Relax, we're gonna help you.

- Man:
We gotta get out of here.

I know.

Charles:
What's your name?

Sean. Sean Ramsey.

Charles:
My name is Charles,

and this is my wife, Dana.

I need you to take these.

They're gonna help

with the pain.

It's the strongest thing I got.

Dana:
I'd take 'em

if I were you.

You're lucky he's a paramedic.

Charles:

Now, tell us what happened.

What attacked you?

We can't be here.

Charles:
Just...

Tell us what happened.

A week or so ago...

My brother and some them boys

were coming up...

They come up here, just hunting.

I was supposed to be

with 'em, but I wasn't.

Anyway...

After about a week,

we started thinking

maybe they...

Stayed to hunt

for another few days.

Then a week turned into two...

We started worrying about 'em.

Then, uh...

Then they found my boy Kevin...

He was stumbling down

the middle of the street.

He'd been attacked...

Something attacked him.

He couldn't talk,

he was so scared.

Charles:

Then what happened?

What about your brother?

He never came back.

Kevin said he got attacked

by whatever it was.

The folks around town...

Started saying that

it was Kevin.

I knew better.

We came up here and we thought

we'd get retribution.

Get some payback on whatever

the hell it was

that did that to him.

It was a stupid idea.

Sounded more like a party.

Charles.

We were blowing off some steam.

Oh...

What happened to your brother?

Oh, can I get some more

of that water?

What was that?

Did you hear something?

I heard something.

Is it out there?

Oh!

Charles:
We can wait till

morning, get him out of here.

Dana:
I think we should make

a run for it now.

That's it, that's your plan?

Charles:

You got a better one?

Yeah, go ahead and shoot me now!

It's the best plan I got.

Just stop humming, ok?

Sorry.

Been doing it since I was

a little kid.

I might as well die

with a sweet tune in my mind.

You're not gonna die.

Brother hated it, too.

Don't move.

It's a bear.

Just kill us, already.

Shut up!

Sean:
Know how to use that?

You're better off letting me.

I know how to use a firearm.

Dana:
Did you hit it?

I don't know.

Might as well save your bullets.

Baby, turn the light off!

Oh, my god!

Big bad wolf.

Did you see that?

It saved us.

Sean:
No...

It's just more patient

than a bear.

You oughta save some

of them for better use.

What do you mean, better use?

Turn the light off.

Sean:
I mean...

Save one bullet for each of us.

In case we don't make it

till the morning.

You think we'll be safer

when we get to daylight?

No.

It's just easier to run from it

when you can see it

comin' at ya.

Whatever it takes,

we'll beat it.

Whatever it takes.

Whatever it takes.

I'm sorry.

But you don't have

what it takes.

Nobody does.

What are you smiling about?

Nothin'.

Think that thing wants

to finish you off.

Yeah, you're probably right.

Could have ripped this tent

to shreds and it didn't.

Maybe it's scared.

Sean:
It's just messing with us.

Quiet.

Like a cat.

A cat messing with a little bug.

Can you please just stop?

He's just waiting to see

what our next move is.

So...

What...

Are we gonna do next?

We're gonna just

wait till the morning.

Get one of those

four-wheelers out there.

God, good luck with that.

Are any drivable?

Maybe.

- Charles, scoffing: Maybe?

- I don't know.

Do you think one of them

can still drive?

Four-Wheeler can only carry

two people.

So, what's your plan? Huh?

You gonna take off

and leave me here, huh?

I can do it.

You're gonna run halfway

to those four-wheelers,

and that thing

is gonna tear you in half.

Hey. Do you have

any more of those pills?

Charles:
We need to save some.

Sean:
Can I bum a smoke?

A cigarette?

Yeah.

They calm my nerves.

We don't smoke.

Do you guys have anything

to eat?

Chocolate or strawberry?

Oh, oh.

I'll take chocolate.

Oh, no, no, wait, wait.

Strawberry.

Ha ha!

What are you guys,

like health nuts or something?

Yeah, something like that.

Sean:
Healthy.

So, what brings you

up to the woods?

We might as well get

to know each other.

It's our anniversary.

No sh*t, huh?

Come out to the wilds

to get wild.

Answering the call of nature.

Jesus Christ.

God, you're a charmer.

Sex is natural.

Actually, this is...

Where I proposed to Dana.

No kidding?

Romantic.

Not a lot of romantic guys

walking around these days.

You know.

Never a dull moment

with this guy.

Me and my wife...

My ex-wife...

Uh...

We never did anything romantic.

You got yourself one hell

of a decent guy there.

I know.

You ok?

You can sleep.

Yeah.

You take it.

Dana:
Just relax.

It will soon be morning.

I'm sorry.

"Nails," huh?

It's a stupid nickname.

Tough as...

Oh. Tough as nails.

I suppose I owe you

a thank-you.

You shouldn't thank me,

you should thank my husband.

I was fine leaving a man behind.

Sean:
Yeah,

he could have left me

out there to die, but he didn't.

He tries to do the right thing.

You, not so much.

He complained about

my singing, but...

I'm guessing you think

it's adorable.

Right?

Sure.

How long have you two

been married?

Two years.

That's not very long.

No. We've been through

a lot, though.

That's about how long

my wife and I made it.

Look here. See that?

Right there,

she got a matching one.

Think hers might have been

a little deeper.

Marriage is complicated.

Yeah.

Well...

Mine was kind of simple, really.

She left me and took

my daughter with her.

Should have seen that coming.

Yeah.

You remind me of her.

Your wife?

My ex.

You're very pretty.

You have the same...

Blue eyes.

Wanna see a picture of her?

I got one in my wallet.

Help me out. It's...

My arm isn't working

all that good, really.

Could you just give me a hand?

Take a look at her.

I won't bite.

She's pretty.

Yeah.

You must still like her if you're

carrying around her picture,

wearing the ring.

Yeah.

Well, you know...

How old's your kid?

Nine.

You ever see her?

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