Heaven's Peak

by Miguel Estrada

The crunchy sound of the leaves beneath his feet was satisfying. With each step, Rudy Everett jumped to avoid the puddles that had filled the forest the night before. The trees sobbed around him, thick drops falling on his head.

Rudy imagine all sorts of situations: a giant hiding in the earth’s depths, who had been awakened from his long sleep, or perhaps the voices of the forest’s spirits, whispering.

The man’s arms stretched grotesquely to his knees, and his body was covered by a long black coat. His face hidden behind a black-eyed mask that seemed to be embedded in his skin, no, rather, it was as if the mask was part of his skin.

That creepy image was the last thing the boy saw. After that, complete darkness.

but having a conversation with him was like trying to pull out a tooth.

“How many people have disappeared in the last five years, Sheriff?” Norman asked, sliding the photo back. He didn’t want to look at it any longer. “With the Everett’s kid, twenty-seven.”

“Name’s Cleyton. Lieutenant Spencer Cleyton. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

Lia was fifteen, only a year younger than Sofia and they looked pretty much

For some reason, he felt compelled to look at the ceiling. What he saw left him paralyzed. A humanoid figure hung from it on four legs.

One of the masked men was on all fours, suspended on the ceiling of the tunnel, like a lizard. Another had what appeared to be two large appendages coming out of his back, like large, hairy spider legs.