[ WP ] A man living with just his dog in a cabin in the wilderness is awoken one night by his dog 's unceasing growling . To reassure himself he takes his torch and sweeps it across the tree line . There 's something there .

Neil pointed the flashlight at the darkness and it quickly receded, leaving behind trees and bushes with long, pointy shadows. Neil looked around. Nothing. Perhaps Yelper just decided to wake him up for no apparent reason. Or perhaps a deer was passing by. 
 
 It was two in the morning, and Neil wanted nothing more than to head back to sleep, but Yelper was still standing there next to him on the porch, growling at what appeared to be an ordinary night at an ordinary forest in the middle of a very ordinary nowhere. 
 
 Neil sat down next to him and listened to his heavy, fast breathing. Perhaps the old guy just had a nightmare, or perhaps a deer has indeed been around. Yelper was curious of all living things, especially when those living things were running away from him, granting Yelper an opportunity to happily chase them through the undergrowth. He didn ’ t seem very happy tonight though. 
 
 Neil looked at the dog once again. Yelper was definitely far from happy. He looked at the forest with the kind of an intense hatred that Neil had never before suspected in him. 
 
 Perhaps it was a bear. A big beast, and a dangerous one at that. Neil had never come across one, and he did n't fancy the idea of starting now. He lifted the flashlight up again and pointed it towards the spot where the darkness seemed to be somewhat thicker. 
 
 It didn ’ t go away. 
 
 Neil blinked a few times and squinted his eyes, trying to make out what exactly was casting the shadow that the flashlight had the trouble of illuminating. There was nothing there. Only the shadow itself. 
 
 Yelper growled louder. Neil blinked once again and pointed the flashlight straight in the middle of the strange dark spot. The flashlight, as if accepting its defeat, blinked a few times itself and went out. 
 
 This was strange, Neil thought to himself. He had replaced the batteries only a few days prior. Turning around, he walked into the house and flicked a switch, illuminating the whole of front porch with a warm yellow glow, then walked out again. 
 
 The shadow was n't there anymore. Same went for Yelper. 
 
 Neil looked around in disbelief. He didn ’ t hear the dog running off, and surely it was not a welcome development even if he did. He turned his head trying to see if perhaps Yelper was behind the corner. 
 
 The darkness was staring at him. 
 
 Neil dropped the useless flashlight and ran, ignoring the fact that there was surely no such thing as a moving darkness. He didn ’ t like his chances all that much. 
 
 The house was empty and quiet as Neil locked the front door, panting. He ran from room to room, flicking switches and illuminating the place. It was a warm night, yet he was shaking in cold sweat. 
 
 He didn ’ t dare to look outside as he closed the curtains and sat down on the couch, panicking. 
 
 The lights in the next room went out. Neil screamed and jumped up, throwing himself in the general direction of the cupboard. 
 
 The kitchen was the next room to go dark. Neil could feel the darkness smiling. 
 
 It was right over his shoulder as he threw a can of oil on the floor followed by at least a dozen attempts to strike a match, hands shaking, lips trembling with fear, praying, cursing, calling for help. 
 
 He stood outside, looking at the house, trying to remember how he had managed to get out. The house was ablaze with fire. The torrents of flames rose up to the dark and cloudy sky. 
 
 Morning met Neil standing in front of what was left of his home, laughing maniacally. The darkness had receded, leaving behind a broken man and smouldering ashes.
