Ouesso to Epena

All they wanted was to chart the land and get paid. What they didn’t expect was the land to be occupied by dozens, maybe hundreds of creatures that everyone thought was extinct. And not only one creature, but two. Their guides feel like abandoning them, they’ve run out of hope, now Tugg and Hezzy must face the evils of the darkest jungle in the world with only their wits and their faith.

For fans of: The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Congo by Michael Crichton

Content Warning: This novel contains supernatural evil and adult themes. Please read with care.

Author’s Note: As with all true horror stories, the goal is to survive to the end. I find that there is hope at the end of every tunnel, but getting there is often a horrifying and bloody mess. That being said, this is a true horror story.

“Here in the vastly overgrown terrain, it may seem like an insurmountable task to walk one hundred miles, and believe me, at times it has seemed that way. But here we are on day ten of our journey, having walked through this primordial African forest and we have come across the Ball River, which lies just ten miles southeast of Lake Telle’. With enough luck, we will be able to reach the lake within two days. From there it should be another two to three days until we reach our destination in Epena.” He smiled until Hezzy pointed at him, He walked over and  snatched the camera and walked back down to the bank.

“I like the ‘primordial African forest’ better Tugg. Heck, I’ve seen termites take down an Arkansas Maple and wouldn’t even call it ‘horrendous.’” Hezzy said.

Tugg never knew what Hezzy meant when he used those vague sayings but appreciated the imagination it took to come up with them. “Right…” Tugg said. “I’m gonna catch some B-Roll. Get the boys ready.” Turning, he stomped down the bank to the river.

“Whatever yah say boss!” Hezzy smiled and shook his head. Tugg was getting to be more and more closed off the longer this trip took. They had started three days late, gotten bogged down in the Ndoki River, and had been chased up the trees by a family of Elephants. Maybe it was a herd of them. Did five count as a herd? A family? He didn’t know.

“Hey Emmanuel! Yah almost done?” Hezzy called out to the three men, who were all three taking in the landscape with the camera and mic. E-man grimaced and looked back at him.

“Merde!” Christian exclaimed.

“Ve were taking een de sound! Qwaeeet!” Moise yelled.

“Hells Bells,” Hezzy mumbled to himself and sat down on the largest box. “Try to move things along and whadaya know? Gettin bitched at by everyone.” He reached into his vest pocket and unrolled a cellophane wrapped container, he opened it up. Inside that was a zip-locked plastic bag. Inside that was a pack of Camel Unfiltered Cigarettes and a book of matches. He lit one up and lay back on the box. It was going to be another one of those nights. He figured he could close his eyes for just a second or two.