Graves End

Footsteps echoed silently through the night air behind him. Nervously, he glanced back, quickening his step.

An owl swooped past his head, making him jump and curse.

To his right, the open graves were shadows in the moon. Gravestones tilted, pushed aside as soil parted to release the dead.

The bodies were gone, an hour before he arrived on the path he used as a shortcut home in the dead of night. Like us all, he was uneasy about passing a graveyard at night. Though he normally held his nerve, chewed his gum and walked steadfastly on.

But tonight, as he looked ahead, the clouds parted revealing the bright full moon, bathing the cemetery in a soft light.

He glanced over the wall and was shocked at what he saw. One hundred graves, open and bare! Empty!

Too scared to run, he strode out, hoping to reach the end of the path in double quick time,

His hearing sharpened, convincing him of whispers in the night and footfalls all around, though nothing could be seen, as the fateful moon slipped back behind its curtain of cloud.

He passed the aged cemetery sign, long since too worn to read, on this unkempt and little used path, he knew he was almost there and would soon emerge safely into the brightly lit estate.

Just as he saw the light, it went. Dark forms blocked his path. He turned to run, but they were behind him too.

He knew this was the end!