Shadows of a thousand years rise again unseen. Voices whisper in the trees
– Dexter Kozen

Jake sits at the local hang out in town later that night. The person he was suppose to meet was a no-show. Jake didn’t ever really say who it was he was waiting for. We may never know the answer to that question. I don’t think Jake is going to say.

He had no place to go and the transportation system was closed for the night. He missed his chance to return home to Sparklewood. What was he to do?

On his third glass of….well…..hummmmm…….water. He was becoming restless. It was almost midnight.
Where was that Sam fellow…Jake has met plenty of strange folks he guessed maybe Sam fit right it.

He tried that number one more time and got nothing…static…dead phone…

Great now what……feeling stressed and very uncomfortable he decided to leave. Go where…great “What have I got myself into.” Jake thought.

Not really looking where he was going….BAM…runs right into someone…”Hey watch it mister! What’s the matter with you!” Jake almost screams at the man.

Something odd about the man made Jake stop and watch him…it was if the guy never even knew Jake was there…he just stumbled along mumbling things under his breath

“Get out of my head!…stop talking to me…I know my name is Carl….just stop talking to me!!!”

I gave you Sam..and the others too..now get out of my head!”

Jake was so mind boggled at what he had just witnessed. That even he nearly stumbled out the door.
“God I have enough weird stuff at home….”Sam, could he be talking about Sam the Library Sam… what was he about to get caught up in….he didn’t even know where Sam was staying.

For the first time that night since he left the hangout he had no idea where he was going, just walking..he looked around…no one was out, nothing, not a car, not another living soul. Creepy Jake thought.

He came by the Police station and thought, “Yeah, hey Sam is a PI, I bet they know where Sam is.”

Officer Daniel, the only cop in town greeted Jake with a warm and super friendly handshake. He responded to Jake’s query “Oh sure, Sam, yep he’s down at the old Bayou Place just down yonder a ways across the old wooden bridge, you’ll see it on yer right if you go there from this side of town..” Jake said “O K , sure thing
and thanked the guy and headed out the door.

Off down the road he went, coming upon just this side of the bridge, it was dark and the wind howled and loons sang, the frogs croaked out their calls, the branches twitched and cracked. The owls whooooooooooo whooooooooooo went their calls…..let’s face Jake was getting scared.

He walked a little faster. In the middle of the bridge the water splashed “Who’s there!” Jake called out. Another splash much closer…a little louder….”WHO”S THERE! Jake yelled and then silence…..complete silence…..

BAM BAM BAM….something coming up behind Jake….
Jake didn’t even look back as he high tailed across the bridge as fast as he could run…

The house, there it was. Sam’s truck was there too, so it seemed to Jake that Sam should be there too, a glow from the living beamed out the windows, Jake wasn’t real sure he wanted to enter. “Ah hell” he mumbled “Here we go”

Opening the door as it creaked and groaned …peeking in and calling “Sam… are you here SAM” Nothing but the TV responded.

He started to make his way upstairs….wait a minute…they always go upstairs, in every horror movie they always go upstairs…well not in my story…

Noooo not this time….standing in the living room Jake turns off the TV the silence is welcome. Jake being a writer respects silence, it is what a writer needs to be able to bring forth the words of the mind. So he listens….something in the basement..

.”Ah hell” Jake takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly as he descends down the stairs.

In the dark damp and wet, something dripping…Jake strains to see in the dark and he put his senses to work…listening….something far away….help…..Jake strains a little harder……help….there it was again…getting the feel for where it’s coming from he heads to the back of the stairs…..

“HELLO!” Jake calls out……in here….came a voice…..Jake then sees the hole and moves closer to it…

WHACK!!!!

Lights out……

“Carl….bring them to me, through the hole, my ship will be ready soon… the hole will lead them to me….Carl do as I say……”

Carl began to fill in the hole…..

“oh my god Jake….are you ok…..said Sam”….Yeah I think so, a bit of a headache…some guy came up behind me and hit me in the head.” I remember I fell on the ground hey that guy was pretty sick looking creepy zombie like. I saw him at the hangout..how was he strong enough to pick me up? He called himself Carl..I don’t know man I think he lost his marbles.”
“Carl?…Sam’s thoughts went wild. Oh my god Tim set him up…but why? Sam’s wife rushed into his thoughts…..”come on Jake we have to find a way out of here.”

As they felt their way along the tunnel voices became louder….”Jake do you hear that?”

“Yeah come on let go!”

Going around the corner there they found Mr. and Mrs. Paisley and Jamie.
“Are you all alright?”
“Yes we are alright, we can’t remember much, said Mr. Paisley. It was night and maybe I tripped in a hole not sure how it got there”….Jamie cut in “yes that’s what happened to me too”

Jake and Sam looked them over…How long have you been down here. “oh about a day, we are fine, a bit dirty and a tad hungry but we are not hurt.”

Round another corner in the tunnel grass was poking out of the top. Sam and Jake went to investigate it “Hey Sam it’s another hole let’s get everyone out. Next to the last out will bring a rope.

And they did one by one they pulled each other up. Dirty and hungry. Safe and sound.

Sam was so relieved that everyone was found… case closed well almost…. They hoped that whoever lived here didn’t mind too much if they borrowed the facilities to clean up.

Carl…you let them escape……you did not follow orders….come closer….

Carl stood there talking to the old blinking light in the old mine shaft. Talking to himself really…

Carl felt the beginning of guilt and was going to turn himself in for setting traps for the townsfolk…

But as he ran he began to disappear…as a silent whoosh….stopped above his head…and like lighting it was gone in a flash…and so was Carl….

The troupe headed to the police station to give their reports and resume their lives.

Taking Jake to the train station…they became best friends and got along well.

“Jake I own you one buddy, thanks for coming to the rescue…we did it, we solved the case…
“Hey Sam, It’s not like I had anything better to do, there’s a nut case out there talking to himself and digging holes everywhere…and I thought Sparklewood was strange…hey you got any Milk and buns…they both laughed.

“Hey Jake take it easy man, see you around…”

“Yeah..Sam you too man…you won’t see me back here again. Bye Sam.”

“Bye Jake.”

Sam had to hurry home things didn’t make sense did Tim really set him up. He phoned his wife…oh god baby it good to hear your voice…I’m on my home baby….what a tale I have to tell you. Yes the case was solved and everyone is safe and sound. I’ll be home soon love… I love you too baby.

As Sam closed the door to his truck he heard a whisper SaaaaaaAM……oh It’s only the wind….
Sam thought.

Sam was sooooo ready to be home, to be in the arms of his wonderful wife. Thoughts of her filled his head when click….went the door locks…Sam checked them and they wouldn’t unlock…he began to panic some..jerking at the handle ..one hand on the steering wheel, the wheel began to move of its own accord. Sam is really in a panic now.

“Saaaaaaaammmmmmmm your are mine now…..all mine”

Said the GPS as she took control of the truck.

Happy Halloween Everybody

I hope you enjoyed the little Halloween tale.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Thank you everyone for all the goodies used and Flatter thank you my friend for Jake. It’s a good thing he took the train home. WHAHHAHAHAHA