Photo by Thirdman from Pexels

As the sun dozed, the light fades away, a heavy blanket of darkness covered the Appalachian Mountains. The crafty mist fumbled at the leg of the mountain. The craggy mountains were griseous and sacristy quiet. The wind fell, and the cold became more intense.

On this tenuous night of late December, Alison was sitting on a comfy sofa shrouded by an old scanty blanket, her eyes fixed upon the fire, mind dwindling in thoughts. When she heard a slight tap on the window, like a finger tap trying to get her attention.

She bumped upright. The sound made her blood froze. She moved down the aisle past old wooden chairs, an old tape deck, and glanced through the side of the open French window to see if she could spot anyone out there. But nobody was there. A few seconds later she heard a painful whine and a frail scratching at the door.

Who is there? She inquired.

No answer.

Only an eerie calmness.

Who is there Mum? Ann asked.

Her voice made Alison jumped.

No one sweetie.

I thought someone tapped our window Maybe I’ am just worked up.
“Mum don’t you think this house is haunted”, she whispered.
Who told you this stuff? Sweetie.
I have my ways. she giggled.
Oh yeah, you and your ways. Alison leaned and pinched her little nose.

All of sudden, window shutters started clattering on the outside.
The chill crept up her spine. she was paralyzed for a moment.
Alison scooped ann and ran behind the sofa clamped her hand over her ann’s mouth.
Ann was too quaking and sweating in fear.

A long, pale hand soaked in blood drags across the window, smacking back with another tap.
Their heart stopped for a second. Alison could not figure what was happening.
She heard the doleful cries of vengeful souls echoing outside.
Her ears popped as the sound become much louder. Mouth dried from fear.
With a mournful groan, the door slung open on its rusty hinges,
a musty odor crept into their nose.
Then silence.

…….
Blackness and stillness foreboded her for an eerie uncertainty.
She felt someone hands-on shoulders
Ann is it you she whispered.

No honey it’s me.

Her hair raised at the back of her neck.
Fear overwrites curiosity, she turned back and raised her eyes.
“Who are you?” she called out.

Stay behind ann. Alison ordered.

As the mist cleared she noticed souls hovering above the ground in black clothing holding long craved sticks which were stabbing into the ground.
They looked ghastly with knotted hairs, vulpine eyes glinting with hostility, skin as cold and white as snow.
They were staring at her coldly. One of them leaned and lifted the veil from her face.

…..
She was attractive paled skin, deep soulful eyes, long strawberry blonde hairs curled over her shoulders. An amulet hung around her neck. A tiny Saw-whet owl on her shoulder. A dusty three-cornered hat floating above her.
Alison could smell the musty, wet wood and stone passage of her breath.

“ Dinner is served”, she whispered.

Her lopsided grin paranoid her. Blood rushed her up to head.
Alison grasped ann and ran towards the backdoor and stumbled out.

You can’t hide. Catch her. She screamed.

…….
The forest was black tupelo. The trees were whipping with anger.
The path to the main road was filled with cracks, weeds, and stones.
Her feet slipped and skidded over the stones. Her knees and hands were stinging like hell but she barely noticed, dragged herself, and looked for ann who was sprawling painfully on the wet stones.

A shadow loomed over her and pulled ann.
“Let her go”. Alison yelled.

Fighting her brain she tried to hold ann but it was too late.
All at once the old bleak house, the mist, shady forest, the ghoul’s everything vanished into thin air. Alison fell to the ground laid motionless in the darkness.

……….
She jerked awake, shouting.

Covered in a cold sweat, heart pounding, eyes snap open. She tried to move her body but pain restained her.
Where I am? Where is my daughter? her head throbbed.
Are you okay Aley? How do you feel now?
Roy asked.

Where is Ann? Where is she?
I’m sorry he said meekly and squeezed her hand. Ann is dead. She died in a car accident nobody took her. It’s been a year.
Her eyes filled with dread.
No Roy she is alive they took her. He felt a sudden stab of pain.

She was pale wearing a green hospital gown. her coffee brown hairs cascading her shoulders in wispy ringlets.
Roy turned to Dr. Robert who was writing measurements on his pad.
Is she okay Dr? Yeah! She just needs time.
Roy nodded and managed a frigid smile.

……….