The Murdle

Fictional horror story

Camping is supposed to be fun, a nice callback to nature, a holiday for many who wish to get away from the world's troubles and city life. It is the classic campfire where people tend to share stories, roasting marshmallows and buffet foods for fun. Usually kids attend these events with their parents, typically fathers who teach them survival skills, even though this isn't really necessary in modern times. Sometimes it is simply nice to return to a more simple time, even if it's just for a week long break. However, it doesn't always turn out that way. On rare occasions, a camping trip can take an unimaginably horrible turn. You might remember forgetting your wallet out in the forests, or return home without your tent and other personal belongings, these hiccups are small in comparison to Simon's tale.

Simon was a 14 year old boy back in 2010, he was getting too old for camping trips with his family, as the teenager would much rather text random girls on his mobile phone. Even back then, over ten years ago, the youth were still cellphone addicts. Although they still played portable video games back then, on handheld devices developed by big tech companies. After one particularly boring night by the campfire, Simon got irritated by his father's repetitive stories; which he was telling to his younger brothers, who hadn't heard of them before.
"The ghost was the girl's mother!" Simon sneered, spoiling the story his father, named Ben, was telling his little brothers Jack and Todd.
"That doesn't sound so scary..." Todd moaned.
"It uh- it would've been if Simon hadn't ruined it!" Ben snapped, pulling a sarcastic frown, "now I have another story about 'The Mysterious Dog'." Ben spoke in a ghostly voice that made the younger brothers giggle.
"The dog is a ghost too!" Simon sneered.
"Go to bed!" Ben ordered.
"Whatever..." Simon groaned, storming off into the dark forest of night.
"No, son!" Ben gasped, standing, "don't go in there, it's dangerous!"
"Whatever..." Simon mumbled, racing off into the darkness.
"Boys, stay here, ok! Don't go anywhere!" Ben ordered in panicked breaths.
"I'm scared!" Jack wept.
"Todd, look after your younger brother. Me and Simon will be right back, ok?!"
"Yes dad.. " Todd nodded.

Simon ran away from his father and two brothers, he couldn't stand the embarrassment of Ben's campfire tales. They were always so childish and safe, never daring to be edgy like Simon thought he was. What with his emo hair, dyed black with punk fashioned clothes. Ben thought he looked so cool, dressed all black, with fingerless gloves and a bad boy attitude.
"Simon!" Ben cried angrily, yet with a hint of fear within his voice. Simon laughed quietly, taking a slight sadistic amusement out of his goofy father's suffering. Simon ran and ran, until he stumbled across something he'd never forget. There was a dimly lit fire up ahead, the camper who sparked it was long gone, but upon closer inspection, Simon screamed. Ben heard his son, then found him immediately.
"Son, what are you playing a-"
There where the fire was once blazing, sat the burnt remains of a dead man, his clothes tattered to pieces, skin still melting upon his face, which had evidently been screaming by the look of sheer terror upon it. It was impossible to tell what race he once was, as his facial features were nothing but scorched black flesh and red burns, with bone protruding from beneath. Ben dared to look closer and saw that his hands and waist had been bound by rope, holding the poor victim down like a pork roast. It was a horrifying sight, the aftermath of a murder.

Ben raced with Simon, back to their own campfire and to their relief, both Jack and Todd were perfectly safe, although a little bit frightened.
"Dad!" Jack whined, "Why'd you leave us all alone?!"
"I- I- I'm sorry bros. I jus- just..." Simon tried to apologise, but he was stuttering with fear whilst also out of breath. Ben wasn't angry with his son anymore, he just wanted to get his kids home. It wasn't safe out there. So he ran into the tent and began to pack, frantically.
"Dad, what are you doing. We only just got here!" Todd moaned, as he had been looking forward to this camping trip all summer.
"I'm sorry, son... It isn't safe here anymore!"
"But- but that's not fair!" Todd roared, throwing a loud tantrum.
"There's been a murd-"
"Don't finish that sentence!" Ben warned Simon.
"A what?!" Todd cried, "Murdle?! What's a Murdle?!"
"A- uh..." Ben was a loss for words.
"It's a terrifying monster... That eats children!" Simon told him.
"Oh no!" Todd really began to cry now, tears streaming down his innocent face. Ben wasn't happy with Simon's story, but it was better than the truth.
"So we can't stay here, understood?!" Ben yelled.
"O- o- ok dad!" Todd wept, wiping away his tears. Both Ben and Simon would've laughed, if they hadn't just seen the most grotesque sight imaginable. Soon enough, they all gathered back in the car, both Jack and Todd believed the story about the "Murdle" as Simon had cleverly called it. Although the toddlers both found the story traumatising, somehow the truth about an actual killer out in those woods, seemed far more inappropriate to share with them.
"But why would the Murdle eat us, dad?!" Todd cried, "we're good boys, ain't we?!"
"Of course you are!" Ben reassured them, while putting the car into drive, "I've got to focus on getting us out of here, before the big bad monster comes and eats us all, ok? So we better stay quiet!"
"Ok..." Jack whispered. Todd nodded his head without a word. Ben winked at Simon, who was sat beside him, while Jack and Todd sat in the back. Eventually the car raced out of the forest and back into civilization.

The next day; Ben reported the murder to the police. They investigated the woodlands from where the body was found, but when they found the old fire site, the corpse had been removed, they still believed Ben's story however as a single thread of scorched rope was left behind. Unfortunately, the killer was smart and left no finger prints, there also wasn't any CCTV out there in that American forest either. They questioned local campers if they saw anyone acting suspicious, but this led nowhere too. Whoever had committed such an awful murder had gotten away with it. So next time you go camping, make sure you pack a rifle, because the "Murdle" could still be out there.