The next morning he rose to find the dog still sleeping next to the fire. Henry began to pet him to show the gratitude for saving his life. The dog felt hot like the fire and smelt almost like sulfur. Henry decided to ditch work for the next couple of days figuring he needed a vacation. Thus, Henry and the dog went on a walk around the forest residing behind Henry’s house. As the two of them stepped into the dense sea of trees, Henry saw on the floor a set of footprints. Seeing those footprints made the night before even more real for him and he dropped to his knees and wept. The dog began to lick his face with an air of happiness. “You’re right dog. I mustn’t be so dramatic. I mean I am alive right?” The dog started off into the woods with Henry soon following after. After a long walk the two of them began back for the house. Right before exiting the forest, Henry noticed that there was something ascribed on to the tree: DEATH is closer to you than you think Henry knew this was the work of the figure he saw outside the night before, but the question remains was it a prankster kid, someone with a grudge that Henry was the only survivor, or in some other extreme explanation this was death himself. Henry cooked rabbit stew for dinner, just like the one his mother made. He gave some to the dog, which lasted a matter of minutes. Henry was starting to like the stupid dog and considered that canine his only friend. The only one he could talk to or feel his pain of life. In mid conversation Henry got the chills, and the dog started barking at seemingly nothing. However as Henry went to quiet the dog, he heard footsteps on the porch. Henry grabbed his rifle and headed for the front door. He flung the door open with barrel raised eye level and ready to fire on any moving creature. In the distance was that same figure walking away in a gliding fashion. On the door was a note hung by a oversized metal “X.” Henry tore the paper off the door and read aloud the words: DEATH is closer to you than you think and he can smell your fears Instantaneously, the dog begins to bark and growl at the mere words read aloud. That’s why you’re here boy isn’t it? You’re here to keep me safe. Henry went back to the front door and grabbed hold of the object lunged into the wood, and he pulled it out to see that indeed is was not an “X” but a cross. The sharp edge on one side dug into Henry’s flesh tearing off just a small piece. The blood ran like a river on the floor. The dog started to gnaw at his leg, so henry tried to quiet him by reaching down. The dog licked his hand and it blistered and caused a shooting pain throughout his body, but the open wound was now sealed shut. Henry turned to see the dog lapping up the spilt blood, so Henry went to the couch and fell asleep.