I tipped my nose to the sky breathing in the crisp damp autumn air. Dark clouds and a gentle breeze swayed the tree tops in their burdensome array of color. Somewhere in the distance an owl hooted with rhythmic intervals setting the mood for dismay. A mirage of red, orange and yellow brushed against the horizon as the sun started to set. Shorter days and longer nights were a vivid reminder of the harshness of winter to come.

How was I to survive now without Gabe? He was my best friend and strong hold against the unpleasant creatures that roamed these mountains. He knew how to deal with the unholy blood sucking scum. Now… now I would have to bunker down and face those things on my own. I do still have my dog Hiccup and my shot gun Ray by my side though. Gabe always said to keep a log on the fire because warmth kept the Eski away. Maybe I’ll get lucky and it won’t snow much this year.

I placed another log in the back of my truck, whistled for Hiccup and we headed back to the house with a full load. I should have enough wood gathered now to make it through till spring but I will still need more ammo.

Challenge of the month - November

Fall, Autumn, challenge, November

The final curtain, the last act

No new morrows

Only this moment

The last chapter of an otherwise fulfilled story

Where do we go from here?

Are we swept away by a gentle breeze?

Ashes to ashes, Dust to dust

Ceasing to exist

Port closed, eyes shut,

First lived, now died,

Happily ever after

Challenge of the Week XC - everafter

Take away the ruby red lips and you’ll find a Mona Lisa smile.

Take away the rosy blush and you’ll find simple dimples.

Wash away the eyeliner and frosty gray shadow and you’ll find two pools of icey blue waters.

Wash away the shoe polish hair and you will find cascading locks of shimmering sunshine.

Disrobe of satin, feathers and frock and find your nakedness.

Now look closely at the mirror to see the one who is called Me.

“Hello Me” I say, but I say nothing in return.

No bloody sacrifice is enough to appease the terrible craving for blood demanded by this horror. Born of a thousand tortured soul’s tormented screams he is a very dark demon who sometimes takes on human form. The superstitious people of the eighteenth century called him a vampire but before that he was known as Eski. He was banished to Iceland by an exorcist in 1906 but has been known to reappear at various times and places throughout history.

It is said that he gets inside the heads of crazy people and makes them do horrible things. Some say it was he at the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, Charles Manson and his "family" killings, and more recently Sandy Hook Elementary School. The twentieth century appears to be the bloodiest century of them all. It would seem that Eski is alive and well. Hope you’re in sound mind and body tonight.

Tears flowed down her face, mixing mingling with raindrops soaking the lacey wedding gown she wore. Caroline looked down at her trembling hands clutching a bloodied knife that killed her lover. He had looked so handsome today in his tuxedo but now she couldn’t see his face the way he laid; face down, one arm out stretched and twisted the other hidden beneath his lifeless body.

“I ... I can't breathe. What have I done?”

Blood dripped from the knife and swirled in a puddle as the weapon fell from her finger tips. She collapsed to the ground her body heaving in sobs of pain; her voice crying out in horrified anguish.

What could have been so awful to deserve such a fate as this? She searched her thoughts for answers but none had come. She could not remember what happened, nor why? She felt betrayed by her own mind; left standing to take the blame. But maybe it wasn't me at all, she concluded. Maybe it was an accident, or a thug trying to steel his wallet.

Caroline reached inside his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. Then she opened it and took out the cash, tossing it back onto the ground beside him and walked away.

As she walked she whispered to herself, “Shhhhh, shhhhhhh my darling don’t tell, don't tell anyone.”

Challenge of the Week LXXXIX , Secrets

Mommy says there is no reason to be afraid of the dark because dark is only the absence of light. She says that everything is still the same around me only I can’t see it because there is no light to see it with. As well, she says there is no boogieman, no monsters hiding under my bed, and no skeletons living in my closet. I suppose she is mostly right. But I’m not so sure about that one really dark spot right next to my dresser there towards the floor. I mean when my eyes get used to the darkness in my room I can still see some shapes and shadow of things, but not there. There it is like a nothing spot. So dark that nothing could be there at all. It seems more like a deep void where not even darkness can get into.

I have heard that people when they die, they follow a bright light to heaven. Now I wonder… if following the light leads to Heaven, Where does darkness lead. And what horrible creatures might from there emerge?

Karen was so excited to be going to Grandma’s for Christmas. She hadn’t seen Poppy and Grammy since she was nine years old and now that she was 14 she would have fun exploring the riverbanks on her own. Not that she minded being with Poppy and Granny, she didn’t mind at all, but it was just that they were not able to explore as much as she would have liked. Poppy always got too tired and Grammy would make us turn back.

Karen was disappointed about the snowfall that night. How was she going to explore the riverbanks now? After breakfast she slipped on her boots and overcoat, grabbed her hat and gloves and went outside. The mountain side was pretty with glistening brightness as she walked along. It was much harder to walk now with the snow but she was determined to make it to the river and so she trudged on stopping only a few times to make snowballs to throw at the trees.

Several hours past and Karen started getting cold and hungry and was contemplating turning back home when she heard something in the woods toward the top of a hill. As she got closer she saw a boy standing there waving for her to come up. He had been sledding and wanted her to join in the fun. “Plenty of room on here for both of us” he exclaimed with excitement. So Karen boarded the sled and held on tight from behind.

“By the way, my name is Kevin and I wanna show you something.”

“I’m Karen and I’m glad to meet you Kevin.”

The two slid down the hill toward the river and came to a stop right in front of a beautiful lit Christmas tree. So full of ornaments and lights you would not fit anymore.

“Wow! How in the world did you do all this?”

“Oh a little at a time, every year my mom and dad add another ornament.” Kevin replied.

Karen and Kevin sledded down the hill a few more times laughing and having so much fun till it started getting dark. Karen said her goodbyes and promised to come back the next day to play. When she got home she told her Grammy and Poppy all about Kevin and the Christmas tree and all the fun they had. But her grandparents just sat and stared at her with mouths open. It was a few minutes before either of them could speak.

“My dear Karen, now let us tell you a story that happened a long time ago when we were just kids ourselves. It was Christmas Eve and Poppy and I and a few other kids from across the mountain side were having fun sledding down the south side of that hill over by the river. One of the boys decided to try going down the other side of the hill and his sled went right into the river and the poor boy froze to death and drown. His parents were so distraught and on Christmas Eve too. So they decorated a Christmas tree right there were the boy drown and every year they added a new ornament to it. But my dear Karen, there is no electric out there in the woods so I don’t know how the lights could have been lit. And poor Kevin has been dead for over 60 years now…

It was terrible, and on Christmas Eve none the less.”

His cloak, like a dark shadow hovers over you. Fingers cold and icey grip your body as he patiently awaits your last breath. “There is no easy way to do this you know.” Then with sicle in hand, he severs your soul from body and you are set free. Free to follow the light, or other persuits. But for those with radical otherly plans; beware. He is suited in dark armor with chains and spiked flail. Mounted upon a dark horse sometimes he rides for fast persuit when needed. And to this there is no escape. Flame to flame.

Forbidden, not allowed, you may not do this. I do not like the word forbidden. You cannot feel or touch it. It makes me sad. It does not matter why. The reasons are not important. Telling me I cannot, makes me feel left out and lonely. I want to hide my eyes to sleep and wallow in my sadness. I thought that we were friends. Do not friends hold hands? I am lost when I can’t hold on. Lord, hold me.

To know you are present is not enough. I want to be touched by you. But please do not hurt me. I want to fly with you, but do not let me fall. I want to feel your comforting hand in mine. We two connected as one. I want to be like you, One on one and yet many. I want to touch you.

Without you is hell. I think it is not flying that is forbidden but rather the way that you do it. Flying as one is quiet all right if you can do it, but do not fly as many. It seems to tangle, twist and mess things up when you do that. What’s yours is mine and mine is yours and who knows who and what. Not.

Upon mine earthly wing I flew. But when I fly I get hurt. You who are my wings are not whole. Earthly wings are fowl. What are wings? They are what takes you with the wind where err breeze may blow. But you cannot fly you silly bird is all I heard. Forbidden! You’re grounded! No more shall you fly… No more shall you be hurt. No more shall you gather pain.

I want your loving arms round me without the pain and sorrow. I want to focus extra hard to see you when things are bright and sunny. I want to separate the dark from light and live in light alone. I don’t think sorrow and happiness need to be together. I don’t think I need to suffer pain to see your love in my life. I know you are there always, everywhere present. But it is the touch that seems to be mistaken somehow, all tangled up with pain, that same touch of love and gain. I think that I could find you all the same.

Forbidden, not allowed, you may not do this. Is that not where this whole story started, Original sin? I want to go back to the garden.

But how; how to peel away the dark scab… But even that hurts doesn’t it. Now wait, I do not want to die. I want to find you here. Here in the garden with me. Here as we live and breathe among the tree. I want to be in the garden with you not yet in heaven. And all of we, not just me, back to the garden we must be. Again, But how?

Humbly I bend on knee and speak allowed to Thee. “Have we not toiled yet long enough in dust and mirk and mire? Give us this day our daily bread on hallowed ground and garden.”

My eyes then grew dark and fuzzy and then nothing at all; Not the trees, nor bright sky, stream or window pain. Though I hear the bird and water flow I cannot see it. “My Lord, what have you done?”

Then I hear your voice like a whisper say, “Did you not request to be, in the garden with me?”

“But Lord, was my rebuttal then, there must be some mistake, for I cannot see anything. It is true I hear the bird and waters flowing, and even bees about my ear, but truly I would like to see it all just the same.”

Then whisper in my ear did He, “you wanted to rely on Me without the toil and pain. Would you any other way, do this just the same?”

And I thought about it for a while, and I supposed that He was right. Had I mine own eye I would not. Then He took me by the hand and we walked together in silence for a while. I felt each step before me, slowly as not to stumble. Clearly this will take some getting used to. But further we wandered and each step grew in confidence as I relied upon His guidance. I enjoyed the soft warm sand between my toes as we walked along a shore. I could hear the waves and taste the salty air. I felt the hot sun beaming down on my face. Soon the sand turned cool and fresh like grass beneath my feet. Orr each rock He carefully guided me; and around every tree I felt the rough bark. I knew each time to step or turn or bend down low. There is shade now and birds of many kinds. Their pleasant songs fill the air and oh the sweet perfume of flowers somewhere. Water is nearby; I hear it rushing over there. But still He guides me flawlessly and I have no fear. I trust Him to find me the way where ever we go.

He placed food in my hand and told me to eat. He led me to a stream and told me to drink. Then He bathed me and clothed me in a long robe and lay me down to rest.

And when He spoke He said this...

“Welcome to The Garden my child. You have grown and become strong and I am proud of you. But the more you rely upon My guidance when you walk, the easier it will be since you are blind and cannot see. I will not let you in harm’s way nor cause you any pain. So take heed, and wait on Me for your every step you take, no matter where you are; for I am everywhere present. Do not go wandering around in your own darkness or you will surely die.” Then I closed my eyes to sleep.

But when I awoke He was gone and my eyes they could see. Had this all been a dream?

And when I cried out, “I am hungry Lord”, He fed me.