“Steph. Wake up. I think I hear something.”
Stephanie didn’t open her eyes and let out a long sigh. “Of course you hear things.”
Eric sat up, letting a rush of cool air into the sleeping bag. Steph shuddered. “Will you cut it out? You’re giving me goosebumps.”
“No, really. I heard something.” Steph sunk deeper into the bag, seeking warmth.
“Yep, that happens.”
Eric lowered his voice. “I think it’s outside the tent.”
Stephanie didn't attempt to conceal her annoyance. “Well where else would all the nature be? Unless it’s inside the tent, I wouldn't worry about it.”
“I saw this show on cable about teenagers who would sneak around the woods, looking for campers. When they found a tent they’d sneak up and circle it and then just beat the shit out of it with bats and sticks. I heard some noises like that, lots of things around us.”
Stephanie laughed. “So you think we’re surrounded by maladjusted youth?”
“Don’t joke, Steph. People die that way.”
She shifted to her side, turning away from him. “No, no they don’t.”
“I saw it on…”
“Doesn’t happen. Now let me sleep already.”
He didn’t speak. He flopped back next to her, clearly dissatisfied. Outside the wind blew through the trees, slowly rustled the tent as if it were breathing. The crickets and cicadas buzzed in waves, rising and falling with a rhythm louder than a city. Stephanie started to drift off when Eric sat up again.
“What if it’s a bear?”
Her temper flared. “Godamn it, Eric. Enough!”
“I heard a bunch of them. It could more than one.”
“There aren’t any bears!”
“How do you know that?”
“Because we’re in central Illinois! There are no bears! No mountain lions! No wolves! Nothing!”
“But…” Stephanie cut his protest off before he could voice it.
“No! No more! There is nothing to be afraid of! The biggest things in this forest are deer! Big-assed, grass-munching, stupid herd animal, fucking harmless deer!”
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