A Dark Threat Of Evil

I recently found a new trail to hike while I was down near Lake Erie. After enjoying looking out at the water of the lake, which is so big that you can't see the other shore, I searched to see if there were hiking trails at this new nature park. I was very happy when I finally found them at the last place I looked.

I had a smile of anticipation when I got out of my truck and entered the trail. The trails were twice as wide as any I've seen before, so I wasn't really expecting a lot. A little too civilized I guess. I still didn't mind because it was an all new trail to search and discover. I was in heaven!

There was a long foot bridge I had to cross as soon as I entered the trail. The whole place is very wet because of its proximity to so much water. No matter because I like bridges of any kind. As soon as I got across the bridge though my smile was wiped away.

At the end of the bridge the small trees and large shrubs that edged the trail curved over the top to envelop the rest of the path in darkness. Right before I entered that darkness I saw something strange far down the trail. It was a huge dark figure of an animal standing there lurking in the darkness staring at me!

Startled, I stopped dead in my tracks. This thing had seen me before I saw it. Why wasn't it moving? The whole scene felt dangerous. As I focused my eyes to try to make out the identity of this dark creature, I began to realize that it appeared to be a very huge black dog.

The first thing that came to mind was that the sign at the front said there were no pets allowed here. And then in that same split second I began to wonder where the owner was. This was not a very good situation for me to be in at all!

This dog was much too big for even me to fight off. And anyone can instinctively know that when they see an animal of this kind standing so still, staring at them, there is a very good likelihood that it is about to try and kill them. This felt like a scene straight out of a horror movie.

I knew I couldn't outrun this animal, and it still was not moving. I would not turn my back on this beast, so instead of turning and leaving I moved slowly forward hoping that the owner was there but just momentarily unseen. That's when I found out the awful truth.

The awful truth was that this evil nightmare beast, this hellhound was in fact not real at all! I was fooled again by a statue!

But why is it there? Are they trying to give someone a heart attack!!! I exaggerate my fear a little bit for this story, but the fear was indeed there. I can imagine that many others didn't react as well as I did when they saw this hellhound at the end of this dark path.

I can imagine many other people turning and running from the trail in utter terror. What were they thinking when they put this beast here? Did they think it would be funny? Was there an actual good reason, like keeping people from running on this trail. The rules on the sign say no running. Maybe it's not humans that it is there to frighten. I wonder. I'll ask if I ever get to go back.

Here are a few more pictures of this hellhound so you can get a better look at him. Notice that it has a small clearing on the trail set out especially for it. I call it a hellhound for a very good reason.

Definition of Hellhound: A hellhound is a supernatural dog, found in mythology, folklore and fiction. A wide variety of ominous or hellish supernatural dogs occur in mythologies around the world, similar to the ubiquitous dragon. Features that have been attributed to hellhounds include black fur, glowing red or sometimes glowing yellow eyes, super strength or speed, ghostly or phantom characteristics, foul odor, and sometimes even the ability to talk. In cultures that associate the afterlife with fire, hellhounds may have fire-based abilities and appearance. They are often assigned to guard the entrances to the world of the dead, such as graveyards and burial grounds, or undertake other duties related to the afterlife or the supernatural, such as hunting down lost souls or guarding a supernatural treasure. In European legends, seeing a hellhound or hearing it howl may be either an omen or a cause of imminent death. - Wikipedia

This dog fits the description well, doesn't it? I don't know about the omen of imminent death being true, especially since this beast I encountered is not real, but I can say for certain that I haven't felt quite right since that day. I feel as if there is a black cloud over me. I never associated this strange feeling with this hellhound until this second, but I wonder...

And that's all for this strange, superstitious sounding post. I keep imagining that things haven't been going quite right for me since that day. I still hope to change this strange feeling though. Maybe I just need to get out more. In the meantime I hope you all have a nice day.


Nature Center Magazine - The Nature Site Of The Week must be an excellent one this time because Emma keeps urging me to go take a look. I will as soon as it comes up today. I urge you to do the same.