[ WP ] Since you were a kid , you and your best friend harbored a dark secret . You 're an adult now , and it 's all about to come out in the open .

We marched through the woods, a walking trail on Mount Shasta that's been a well-kept secret by the locals for ages. My best friend Joey and I have been walking this trail for as long as I can remember, and you never know what you're going to find in the woods. Last time, we found a nest of chickadees that had just hatched. Before that, we encountered a bear cub. Ran the hell away as soon as we spotted it. 
 
 And there's been weird stuff, too. One time there was a homeless guy who had been camping near our log bridge. We snuck out a few cans of beans to him. Another time, we found what we swore was a human finger, but when we went back for a closer look again, it was gone. 
 
 Thus far, nothing too interesting had popped up. Just a good romp through the woods. It was probably the last time we were going to be able to do this for awhile; I was going to college in Redding soon and Joey was heading off to LA in the morning to try to make it big. I did n't think he stood a chance, but hey, you never know. 
 
 Usually, our hikes are quiet affairs, unless one of us spots something interesting. And when Joey stopped at the edge of a familiar lookout, I figured he'd seen something. `` Hey, what'd you find, Joey?'' Silence. `` Joey?'' 
 
 Finally, he spoke. His voice was taut. `` I ca n't do this anymore, Dave.'' 
 
 `` Wha-?'' 
 
 `` We have to tell them about Sam.'' 
 
 I hardened. `` We agreed not to talk about Sam anymore. We ca n't do anything for him now.'' 
 
 He turned to look at me now, a wild look in his eyes that terrified me. `` It'll come out, Dave. When I get famous, people will start digging around in my past, and it'll come out.'' 
 
 `` That's ridiculous. Sam's not even connected to us. Besides, you're not even...'' I trailed off, not looking Joey in the eyes. 
 
 `` Not even what?'' His expression hardened. `` You do n't think I'm going to make it, do you? You do n't think I'm good enough!'' 
 
 `` I never said that, man.'' `` But you were damn well thinking it, were n't you?'' 
 
 `` Look, we're getting off topic! The point is, we ca n't tell anybody about Sam!'' I grabbed Joey by his shoulders fiercely, hoping the pressure of my grip would bring him back to reality. `` Do you know what they'll do to us? I'll be kicked out of the Navy before I can even join, and do you really think you'll be any better off if they find out about Sam *before* you're famous?'' 
 
 He hesitated at that. `` No... But... What do we do, Dave? What are we supposed to do!'' He was slightly hysterical at this point. `` I'm going to be in LA, and you're all the way in Redding-'' 
 
 `` Redding's only a few hours away. I'll come up every other weekend to visit my family. That should be enough.'' 
 
 `` But what if it's not? What if Sam *gets out*?'' 
 
 `` We ca n't tell anybody about Sam, end of discussion. Now, come on, let's go.'' 
 
 I marched forward, pulling the branches that hide our secret trail aside and glared at Joey. He hesitated for a second, seeming to fight with himself, before following. We walked in silence the rest of the way before we finally reached the end of the trail. We stood about a foot away from the deep hole, not daring to get any closer, and I took off my backpack at opened it. I pulled out the possum corpse I had found on the side of the road, and a chunk of meat I'd stolen from the freezer at home. Joey shuddered a bit as he removed what looked like a dead cat from his pack, and it looked like there were tears rolling down his cheeks. 
 
 I hardened again. About to tell Joey off, when Sam spoke from the bottom of the pit. 
 
 `` Feed me'' 
 
 I shudder, and remind myself again. You never know what you're going to find in the woods.
