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Lost in The Bush - The COMPLETE Series

Entertainment


Introduction

Introduction

It had been over 20 years since I experienced a harrowing event during a family camping trip in Tasmania, an experience that had been a complete blank until a few months ago. I was just a young child in 1997, lost in the wild, confronted by the unfathomable mysteries of nature and a hidden darkness that would haunt my memories forever.

The Setting

My parents and I lived in Tasmania, a rugged gem of wilderness, relatively undiscovered at the time. My father’s desire to explore the outdoors diminished with my arrival. However, by the time I was six or seven, they began taking me on weekend hikes. These short excursions evolved into a more significant trip in November 1997 when we drove to Stanley for a brief stay. After exploring the famous Nut Rock, we set off for a 3-day hike through the Tarkine Wilderness. It was during this hike that I went missing for five agonizing days.

The Disappearance

While my parents set up camp on the second day, I wandered off—a behavior I had never exhibited before. After five days of searching, it was an older couple camping nearby who discovered me, 80 kilometers away at Savage River National Park. Remarkably, I showed no signs of the wilderness hardships: no exposure, no dehydration, just a disconcerting blankness about those five days. The police had two theories: either I was taken by someone or I had crossed the rugged paths of the bush alone.

Although my parents welcomed me back, they were changed—foregoing hiking out of protection. As time passed, the memories of my experience faded into the void, eventually becoming the stuff of nightmares. I tried to excavate those memories throughout my youth, to no avail, resigning to accept it as a mystery.

The Catalyst for Memories

Then, late last year, due to insomnia and sleepwalking hinted by my therapist, I began keeping a sleep diary. I recorded my dreams, and significantly, I discovered disturbing nightmares related to the forest. One recording described a confusing and terrifying unseen terror lurking under the giant gnarled trees. After speaking with my therapist about my nightmares, she mentioned dissociative memory. Slowly, the pieces began to fall into place.

I had to revisit the Tarkine Wilderness, seeking the memories of what had happened. With me was my childhood friend Nathaniel—curiosity reigniting our childhood bond. He opened avenues of research about my disappearance, revealing a chain of six similar disappearances in the area. Coincidentally, the dates coincided with lunar eclipses, another thread in this convoluted tapestry.

Uncovering the Truth

Several trips took us deeper into Tasmania’s dense woods, until we stumbled upon an ominous stone clearing. The peculiar markings seemed ancient, and with newfound courage and clarity, my long-forgotten memories returned. I recalled shadows whispering to me in the dark, revealing dark creatures and a chaotic forest filled with blood-spattered moss. It was in that moment that I uncovered the tale my grandfather had shared with me—a deep Aboriginal myth of a gate, a door, where vengeful spirits and unrelenting darkness dwelled.

After piecing my experience together with the folklore, I connected with a mysterious woman named Lilith, who had saved me before in my dreams. She explained the history of a doorway—a false opening that could allow Old Things and horrors from beyond to seep into our world. My guilt—having survived while others never returned—compelled me to fight back against the looming darkness.

The Final Confrontation

With Lilith, we prepared a ritual to seal the doorway forever. As we ventured to the site thought to be where the gateway would open, we encountered the manifestation of terror—maram and the old things—ready to unleash their full fury. The world trembled around us as we summoned our will to perform the ritual of safety.

In a climactic bout with the Old Things, I grappled with primal fear while embracing the recollections of my experiences. We managed to render the portal inaccessible, momentarily defeating the haunts of my past. Yet, it didn't end there. Whispers remained, and even as the echoes of the old things receded, I knew the door had not been permanently sealed.

Conclusion

The Shadows never truly vanished, for the fabric of our worlds had been stretched, leaving the potential of unknown horrors lingering just beyond sight. I remain haunted, uncertain of when—or if—the door will open again, allowing darkness to flood into our world.


Keywords

lost in bush, Tasmania, childhood trauma, missing person, Tarkine Wilderness, nightmares, folklore, ritual, Lilith, maram, old things, energy, falan, doorway, shadows.


FAQ

  1. What is the story about?

    • The story chronicles the journey of a boy who goes missing in the Tasmanian wilderness, uncovering dark memories intertwined with ancient folklore and supernatural elements.
  2. Who is Lilith?

    • Lilith is a mysterious woman in the story who plays a significant role in guiding the narrator and is connected to the ancient legends surrounding the falan and the Old Things.
  3. What significance do the lunar eclipses hold?

    • Lunar eclipses are linked to the timeline of disappearances in the area, suggesting a connection to the supernatural events unfolding in the story.
  4. What are the Old Things and maram?

    • The Old Things are ancient, otherworldly beings that existed before humanity. Maram serves as a malevolent figure, acting as a sentinel for the gate between worlds.
  5. Is the closing of the door permanent?

    • Although the characters manage to close the door temporarily, the ongoing threat of opening remains, hinting at unresolved dangers lurking in the shadows.