Dry-Bones

“The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window.” Fletcher cleared his throat, lowered his voice and raised his eyebrows. “Take caution Fletcher, and pick your words wisely, we are camping with our kids.” Emma half joking, half serious, called out to her husband over the smoky coals. “Kids, see that cabin, the one in the wooded area, that cabin?” Fletcher stood up pointing through the woods to a flickering light in the window. “This is where you are sleeping tomorrow. Come out, come out wherever you are little Jack.” Fletcher pulled down a blanket that covered all three of his children. Little Jack let out a dreadful squeal. He jumped up and ran like the wind, hurdling over anything and everything in his way. Jack reached his tent turning around only to sing, “Na-na na-na boo-boo, you can’t catch me.” Little Jack stuck out his tongue as he zipped up the tent, sealing himself in for the night. “One down, two to go.” Fletcher counted as he scooped up Ellie and Lilie. The baby girls voices were faint from screaming, laughing and shrieking. Fletcher and Emma had a battle on their hands. First unzipping little Jack’s tent, second getting the children to sleep through the night. “Little Jack please, what will it take for you to let the twins in.” His mother asked in a loving whisper. “Don’t start negotiating with him Emma, just unzip it.” Fletcher directed her, as he pilled fresh logs on the fire. “There is an ethical debate, between government and state, should you negotiate with terrorist.” Little Jacks response floated through the air leaving an uneasy feeling. “If you want your iPad buddy boy, you better let your sisters and cousins in there, and out of this cold night air.” Emma used her voice of authority and her only power against little Jack, technology. Slowly the tent zipper came down. The sinister grin on little Jack’s face should have foreshadowed the evil to come. Once the adults had all tucked their children in, Emma poured some much needed adult beverages. Reed, Emma’s brother, held a glass up high to toast their long overdue vacation and family time together. “To all the little terrorist sleeping, the way to get a child to sleep, is the same as stopping hostage-taking, take away their incentive, iPads and iPhones people. Cheers to you Emma, iPads, and our children.” Wails of laughter filled the night, along with more ghost stories and silly bantering.

The night turned into day, as the sun danced like stars sparkling on the water. The morning air was crisp, but not as crisp as the coffee aroma swirling around and greeting everyone with a promise to energize their day. Slowly the family gathered around the breakfast table. “There is a lot of yawns and scratching happening with you two.” Fletcher tickled the twins, teasing them. “Where is little Jack girls?” Emma asked. The girls both starred deeply into each others eyes. “Girls, go and get your brother.” Emma motioned for Fletcher to put them down on the ground, as she began to set the table. “I’ll get him.” Reed’s son River shouted over his shoulder. The coffee was the wake up call everyone looked forward to, and it was ready to do its job. This morning much more than coffee or alcohol was needed, to prepare them for what came next. Little Jack walked behind River dragging his feet through the sand. He was carrying something in his hands, but with the sun streaming through the trees, it was hard to see just what it was. Jack plopped hisself on the bench, setting a burning candle on the table. Then, in a very unsettling manner, he spoke, “Last night was a dark terror.” Jack was motionless. “Jackson, where did you get that candle?” Emma asked. “From the cabin in the woods and by the way, it isn’t abandoned daddy dear, get your stories right.” The nine year old spoke in an odd rhythm that sounded like a chant . Emma looked scared and puzzled. Fletcher moved down to Jacks eye level. “Son, I am sorry if we scared you last night, with the campfire stories. I am glad you found a night light, let’s put it aside for now.” Fletcher blew out the candle. “Dad we’re in the woods, with our best friends, the campfire was roaring, and you’re telling scary stories, that’s our thing, nothing wrong with that, right? Well except the time was off, tonight let’s start at midnight.” Just as little Jack finished speaking the candle flickered and continued burning brightly, again. The young voice sounded extremely wise, and little Jack spoke exceptionally mature for his age. “Maybe we lay off the stories for one night,” Maggie, Reeds wife, made her request known. “Reed, Emma, and especially you Fletcher, especially you, you three might subject your children to the witching hours, these inappropriate family traditions, I will not. Reed are you coming hone or staying, children start gathering your things. River go and wake up your sister, now!” Maggie was wild with emotions and she moved in a frantic manner. “Clar….a is not there….a, Aunt Maggie, and River knows that.” Jack spoke with out even a blink or expression on his little face.

It was embarking on dinner time. Search teams were covering the wooded areas like a fitted sheet covers a bed, every corner tucked in tightly. “Detective Viotto, over here,” An armed officer called out. The detective and his team moved swiftly through the high grass area. Suddenly, as if coming to the edge of a cliff, the tall grass stopped. Someone or something had plowed it over. There was a path as far as the eye could see. The trial appeared to move on its own, in the direction of the cabin. Detective took a long drag from his cigarette while his eyes gazed across the field. Returning to the campsite Viotto introduced hisself. “Detective Viotto, Milo Viotto, at your service, it sounds like you had a rough night. Reed and Maggie,” the detective was learning everyones names quickly. “Clara and River are your children? Jack and the twins, Ellie and Lilie, belong to Fletcher and Emma, correct me if I am wrong.” Detective Viotto spoke with intensity and urgency. “We didn’t have a rough night. Clara had a rough night.” Little Jack corrected him in an angry tone. Maggie began to sob. “Jack do you know what happened to Clara?” The detective reached for another cigarette in his shirt pocket, as he waited for a response. “Yes sir, I do. She went with the woman.” Jack shuffled his feet on the ground. “Stop saying that, the police have searched that cabin, high and low,” Maggie grabbed little Jack shaking him. Reed wrapped his arms around his wife, removing her hands off of her nephew. “It’s true Aunt Maggie. She wanted me and River, the old lady did. Clara said she would go instead, if the woman would let us go. When they got to the spot where the tall grass stops, where the grass is pushed over, Clara wanted to come back, and the old woman drugged the woman and Clara into the cabin, kicking and screaming.” Jacks story was piercing Maggies soul. “Stop,” Maggie began to speak in a threatening way, but Viotto interrupted her. “Jack, is the old lady from the cabin the same as the woman who took Clara?” Milo Viotto questioned every answer. “No,” River chimed in, “no, the old lady from the cabin is Ms. Demons, she has a woman as her accomplice.” River was great at remembering the the little details. “I see, thank you River, Jack is this true, to your knowledge?” Viotto’s eyes never left Jack. “The old lady, Ms. Demons sent the woman to take me and River, Clara said she would go with her, instead of us. Ms. Demons from the cabin is not happy with Demetria.” Jack sipped on some water. “Who is Demetria?” The detective asked. “She is the woman. She gave us the candle and it will not go out until the old lady gets her bones. She needs dry bones.

“Dry Bones and midnight, what do they have in common Scotty?” Detective Milo tossed a gun to his partner. “It sounds like a kids game Milo. Where kids plays hide and go seek, with a demon?” Scotty was reading from a website. “It’s dabbling with the occult. Clara knows better.” Maggie interjected. “This is a real thing?” Viotto mumbled as he took a swig from his water. “You play it alone, with a candle and a match, and that’s it.” Fletcher added. “If it were dry bones, why would she care of it was Clara instead of the boys?” Emma demanded answers the detectives didn’t have yet. “Also you begin at 12:01, not a minute sooner, or later.” Scotty educated everyone. “That is when Clara said we would start hide and seek, 12:01. We got to the cabin and Clara walked in, took down the candle, blew it out, and struck a match, lighting it again. She told us not to make a sound. Something blew the candle out and we all got scared and ran. The woman was behind us. The old lady never stepped out of the cabin, so we thought. Demetria caught little Jack by the collar, like you grabbed him this morning daddy, and carried him in the air.”

“The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window.” Fletcher cleared his throat, lowered his voice and raised his eyebrows. “Take caution Fletcher, and pick your words wisely, we are camping with our kids.” Emma half joking, half serious, called out to her husband over the smoky coals. “Kids, see that cabin, the one in the wooded area, that cabin?” Fletcher stood up pointing through the woods to a flickering light in the window. “This is where you are sleeping tomorrow. Come out, come out wherever you are little Jack.” Fletcher pulled down a blanket that covered all three of his children. Little Jack let out a dreadful squeal. He jumped up and ran like the wind, hurdling over anything and everything in his way. Jack reached his tent turning around only to sing, “Na-na na-na boo-boo, you can’t catch me.” Little Jack stuck out his tongue as he zipped up the tent, sealing himself in for the night. “One down, two to go.” Fletcher counted as he scooped up Ellie and Lilie. The baby girls voices were faint from screaming, laughing and shrieking. Fletcher and Emma had a battle on their hands. First unzipping little Jack’s tent, second getting the children to sleep through the night. “Little Jack please, what will it take for you to let the twins in.” His mother asked in a loving whisper. “Don’t start negotiating with him Emma, just unzip it.” Fletcher directed her, as he pilled fresh logs on the fire. “There is an ethical debate, between government and state, should you negotiate with terrorist.” Little Jacks response floated through the air leaving an uneasy feeling. “If you want your iPad buddy boy, you better let your sisters and cousins in there, and out of this cold night air.” Emma used her voice of authority and her only power against little Jack, technology. Slowly the tent zipper came down. The sinister grin on little Jack’s face should have foreshadowed the evil to come. Once the adults had all tucked their children in, Emma poured some much needed adult beverages. Reed, Emma’s brother, held a glass up high to toast their long overdue vacation and family time together. “To all the little terrorist sleeping, the way to get a child to sleep, is the same as stopping hostage-taking, take away their incentive, iPads and iPhones people. Cheers to you Emma, iPads, and our children.” Wails of laughter filled the night, along with more ghost stories and silly bantering.

The night turned into day, as the sun danced like stars sparkling on the water. The morning air was crisp, but not as crisp as the coffee aroma swirling around and greeting everyone with a promise to energize their day. Slowly the family gathered around the breakfast table. “There is a lot of yawns and scratching happening with you two.” Fletcher tickled the twins, teasing them. “Where is little Jack girls?” Emma asked. The girls both starred deeply into each others eyes. “Girls, go and get your brother.” Emma motioned for Fletcher to put them down on the ground, as she began to set the table. “I’ll get him.” Reed’s son River shouted over his shoulder. The coffee was the wake up call everyone looked forward to, and it was ready to do its job. This morning much more than coffee or alcohol was needed, to prepare them for what came next. Little Jack walked behind River dragging his feet through the sand. He was carrying something in his hands, but with the sun streaming through the trees, it was hard to see just what it was. Jack plopped hisself on the bench, setting a burning candle on the table. Then, in a very unsettling manner, he spoke, “Last night was a dark terror.” Jack was motionless. “Jackson, where did you get that candle?” Emma asked. “From the cabin in the woods and by the way, it isn’t abandoned daddy dear, get your stories right.” The nine year old spoke in an odd rhythm that sounded like a chant . Emma looked scared and puzzled. Fletcher moved down to Jacks eye level. “Son, I am sorry if we scared you last night, with the campfire stories. I am glad you found a night light, let’s put it aside for now.” Fletcher blew out the candle. “Dad we’re in the woods, with our best friends, the campfire was roaring, and you’re telling scary stories, that’s our thing, nothing wrong with that, right? Well except the time was off, tonight let’s start at midnight.” Just as little Jack finished speaking the candle flickered and continued burning brightly, again. The young voice sounded extremely wise, and little Jack spoke exceptionally mature for his age. “Maybe we lay off the stories for one night,” Maggie, Reeds wife, made her request known. “Reed, Emma, and especially you Fletcher, especially you, you three might subject your children to the witching hours, these inappropriate family traditions, I will not. Reed are you coming hone or staying, children start gathering your things. River go and wake up your sister, now!” Maggie was wild with emotions and she moved in a frantic manner. “Clar….a is not there….a, Aunt Maggie, and River knows that.” Jack spoke with out even a blink or expression on his little face.

It was embarking on dinner time. Search teams were covering the wooded areas like a fitted sheet covers a bed, every corner tucked in tightly. “Detective Viotto, over here,” An armed officer called out. The detective and his team moved swiftly through the high grass area. Suddenly, as if coming to the edge of a cliff, the tall grass stopped. Someone or something had plowed it over. There was a path as far as the eye could see. The trial appeared to move on its own, in the direction of the cabin. Detective took a long drag from his cigarette while his eyes gazed across the field. Returning to the campsite Viotto introduced hisself. “Detective Viotto, Milo Viotto, at your service, it sounds like you had a rough night. Reed and Maggie,” the detective was learning everyones names quickly. “Clara and River are your children? Jack and the twins, Ellie and Lilie, belong to Fletcher and Emma, correct me if I am wrong.” Detective Viotto spoke with intensity and urgency. “We didn’t have a rough night. Clara had a rough night.” Little Jack corrected him in an angry tone. Maggie began to sob. “Jack do you know what happened to Clara?” The detective reached for another cigarette in his shirt pocket, as he waited for a response. “Yes sir, I do. She went with the woman.” Jack shuffled his feet on the ground. “Stop saying that, the police have searched that cabin, high and low,” Maggie grabbed little Jack shaking him. Reed wrapped his arms around his wife, removing her hands off of her nephew. “It’s true Aunt Maggie. She wanted me and River, the old lady did. Clara said she would go instead, if the woman would let us go. When we got to the spot where the tall grass stops, where the grass is pushed over, Clara wanted to come back to camp, and the old woman drugged the woman and Clara into the cabin, kicking and screaming.” Jacks story was piercing Maggies soul. “Stop,” Maggie began to speak in a threatening way, but Viotto interrupted her. “Jack, is the old lady from the cabin the same as the woman who took Clara?” Milo Viotto questioned every answer. “No,” River chimed in, “no, the old lady from the cabin is Ms. Demons, she has a woman as her accomplice.” River was great at remembering the little details. “I see, thank you River, Jack is this true, to your knowledge?” Viotto’s eyes never left Jack. “The old lady, Ms. Demons sent the woman to take me and River, Clara said she would go with her, instead of us. Ms. Demons from the cabin is not happy with Demetria.” Jack sipped on some water. “Who is Demetria?” The detective asked. “She is the woman. She gave us the candle and it will not go out until the old lady gets her bones. She needs dry bones.

“Dry Bones and midnight, what do they have in common Scotty?” Detective Milo tossed a gun to his partner. “It sounds like this kids game Milo. Where kids plays hide and go seek with a demon?” Scotty was reading from a website. “Its dabbling with the occult. Clara knows better.” Maggie interjected. “This is a real thing?” Viotto mumbled as he took a swig from his water. “You play it alone, with a candle and a match, and thats it.” Fletcher added. “If it were dry bones, why would she want the boys?” Emma demanded answers the detectives didn’t have yet. “Also you begin at 12:01, not a minute sooner, or later.” Scotty educated everyone. “Clara said we would start hide and seek at 12:01. We got to the cabin and Clara walked in, took down the candle, blew it out, and struck a match, lighting it again. She told us not to make a sound. Something blew the candle out and we all got scared and ran. The woman was behind us. The old lady never stepped out of the cabin, so we thought. Demetria caught little Jack by the collar, like you grabbed him this morning daddy, and carried him in the air.” River demonstrated. Reed looked ashamed of his actions. “Jack, River, I am sorry boys, I am.” Reed walked into the wooded area alone. “Do you remember anything else?” Viotto asked giving his full attention to the boys. River spoke up saying, “Dry Bones, hear the word, I will make breath enter you and you will come to life. Clara kept saying that over and over to the old lady.” River continued to repeat the saying. “That phrase is from a bible verse. The kids just learned this at vacation bible school. Are you sure boys, you sound confused?” Maggie brushed Rivers hair from his eyes. “Mom it’s true, Clara saved us, right Jack?” Jack pointed through the woods. To everyones disbelief the candle was back, burning in the same window. You could see three silouhettes, all dressed in gowns. “All units stand by,” Viotto called out over the air waves. “We have our sites set on the three.” Someone called back. “Hold fire, we are heading in your direction now, send exact location asap.” After clear instructions, the detective left two armed officers at the campsite, and took Jack, River and Emma with them to the cabin in the woods. “Why did you have the candle?” Viotto asked. “It was the trade for Clara’s dry bones. A lampFor our feet.” Jack explained the trade. Everyone sat quietly.

“What now?” Scotty asked as everyone piled out of the cruiser. Detective Viotto lit up another cigarette and blew a few rings in the still night sky. “Detective we have the house in our sites, ready on ten.” As the count down began, the candle blew out. The cabin was now dark. The ring of the phone gave everyone goose bumps. “Hello?” A little girls voice answered. “Hello, this is detective Viotto, I am with the Nash County Sheriffs department. Who am I speaking with? Clara, Clara how old are you? You are ten, almost eleven?” Milo looked at Emma for confirmation, she was nodding yes. “Clara, whose in the house with you?” Milo stomped out his cigarette. “There was a nice elderly female, no longer available.” The voice on the other end of the phone laughed devilishly. Viotto waved Emma over to his side. “Listen carefully, ask only things Clara would know.” After the instructions, Emma thought for a moment then gently whispered, ”Clara it’s your Aunt.” Emma said warmly. “Oh Aunt Emma come quickly, help me, please.” The voice on the other end could be heard throughout the woods. Emma put down the phone. “It isn’t her. She has two Aunts, Aunt Elaine and me, Nanny Emma. She has never, ever called me aunt.” The detective picked up the phone. “We know you aren’t Clara, stop mocking us, give us the girl and no one gets hurt.” Viotto never blinked. “Threatening me, oh what fun. You got nothing Viotto. The girl came here on her own. The boys told you. Breaking and entering, right detective? I wanted the boys to stay, they wanted to go, Clara wanted to come back.” The voice now sounded raspy and older than dirt. “Is that why the old woman drug her back to the cabin.” At that moment the FBI busted down all doors and had the old lady handcuffed and face down on the floor. Detective Viotto stood over the bag of bones of a woman. “Where is the young girl.” He said as he brushed her back with his foot. He walked over, picked up the candle, took a deep breath and before he could blow it out, the old women turned to bones in front of everyone. Emma and the boys were shuddering by the door. Viotta waltz over and placed the candle by the old bones mouth. “River, what did Clara say to the old lady last night?” “She, she said, she said.” River was so scared he stuttered. “Its going to be okay son. I promise.” Detective Viotto now at eye level, calmed him. “Lets say it together ok?” The detective instructed everyone to stand in a circle around the bones and repeat the phrase Clara repeated often. “Dry Bones, hear the word, I will make breath enter you and you will come to life.” After about three or four times the bones began to come together, rise up and the skeleton stood on its feet. the skeleton began to shudder and point to a robe on a hook. Scotty brought the robe over. In a flash Clara stood before them. She raced to her Nanny’s arms, crying out to her. After hours of interviewing Clara and the boys, Scotty drove everyone back to the campsite.

“Clara,” Maggie ran to her daughter, the two embraced for what seemed like eternity. Scotty called everyone around the campfire. “Moms and dads, children, campfire stories are fun. We have to be careful our children understand the difference between fantasy and reality, and that you do also.” Scotty continued to educate everyone. “Scotty,” little Jack called out to the officer.” “Yes Jack?” Scotty replied. “Where is detective Viotto?” Scotty cleared his throat, “He uh, he, he had to go.” Scotty was now stuttering over his words. “Life!” Clara cried out. “Viotto means life. Milo means merciful soldier. Viotto is an eternal flame. Look he is back in the window.” Clara pointed through the woods. “He is a protector, our merciful soldier. The old lady can only leave the cabin if the light goes outside of the perrimiter. When the boys took the candle to light their way home, the old lady drug me back and took my bones, and life for her own. I had to agree. I didn’t want her to harm the boys. I’m sorry mama and daddy. When you blew out the candle Uncle Fletcher, Viotto was able to join us here in the flesh, and bring me home.” Clara knew now that she had chosen wrongly, wanting to play dry bones and endangering her family. “Who was the woman accomplice?” River asked. “Demetria is a devilish demon. She left before Viotto could capture her. It’s a real battle. We can always maintain one, the other gets away. Campers come up here, innocently telling all these old stories, drumming up these thousand plus year old demons.” Scotty explained. “Its my fault,” Fletcher interjected. “When I was a kid we grew up around campfires sharing old tales. Scaring each other to death, as we called it. I won’t be doing that anymore.” Fletcher sat down with his head in his hands. “You guys are pulling my leg.” Reed said with complete terror on his face. “You had me going, I have to admit it, that was some great acting. Fletcher, I bow to the king.” Reed looked for his friend to admit this was a gag, a joke, all rehearsed. No one moved. “Reed, do you remember when Viotto called out our County, Nash County? Nash is a word used to describe someone very clever. Viotto is an angel of light, a merciful soldier, life.” Scotty was honest. “Beam me up Scotty.” Reed said. “Good one,” Scotty made a shooting gesture as he said this. “You folks take care now.” Tipping his hat, Scotty walked into the woods and vanished. “Mom, dad, Uncle Fletcher, Nanny, you can stop looking for Scotty. He isn’t coming back. The name Scott means: a person owned by someone. I am pretty sure he works with Viotto.” Clara broke down the meaning of the officers name, hoping to bring true closure.

With the campsite broken down and everything loaded up, the two families said their goodbyes. From now on they would stick to more traditional holidays for visits. “Little Jack, when you said, ‘there is a ethical debate, argument, that governments should not negotiate with terrorist,’ what did you mean?” Fletcher asked his son. “When you told mom not to negotiate with me, I thought you knew, and wanted me dead.” Jacks voice was cold and eerie. “Son I would never want you or Lilie or Ellie to have any harm come your way, or your cousins. Never think or say that son.” There was a peaceful pause right before brakes being slammed and screeching, startling everyone. After coming to a halt, Fletcher asked if everyone was ok, as he got out of the car. “Why did you stop like that?” Emma asked through the window angerily. “Look,” Fletcher pointed to the candle burning in the window. “That is where you will all sleep tonight.” He said grabbing for the door handle. Emma out of instinct locked the car. Fletcher ran to every door, but couldn’t get in. Emma drove off leaving Fletcher on the side of the road. “Mom you can’t leave dad.” Ellie cried out. “Why are you leaving him.” Now all the children were crying. “Little Jack, who told you about the dry bones?” Emma watched in her rearview for all facial expressions. “Daddy, after we told me and River the dry bones story. He told Clara about the game. He told her to play it this weekend.” Emma’s phone rang, causing her to almost lose control of the car. “Hello,” Emma greeted the caller. “How did I know Fletcher Gedeon, Gedeon means destroyer. I looked up all of our names. I pay attention. You didn’t want me to negotiate with our son, you meant not to talk to him and see why he was so afraid. You were the accomplice Fletcher. You got the kids to bed, got us all drunk, and plotted to take your son and nephews bones, and give the old lady your neices bones. No, I won’t negotiate. Our son is right, it’s the moral argument.” Emma hung up and quickly dialed Maggies number. They all agreed to meet at the police station.

After asking the officer at the front desk everyones name, they met with Officer Griffith, “This is an extremely sensitive and confusing story.” Officer Griffith introduced the children to their child psychiatrist as he continued. He took the adults to a sound proof room. “Emma, we have Fletcher in custody. He would like to talk to any of you. I would strongly suggest you not do so. We can keep him for no less than 72 hours. In that time we can change all of your names and place you in protected custody. We have no idea how far or deep this occult runs.” Reed held his sister and wife tightly. “These campfire stories spark some real trouble up here. Sparks set fire and if it’s not a good one, you got to burn them down to the ground.” Officer Griffith was describing witch hunts. The door opened and a detective whispered to Griffith. “Emma, Maggie what are we going to do?” Reed was asking as Officer Griffith closed the door. “I have good news, well its bad news, but for you all, it may be the best news in this case scenario. “Emma your husband has confessed to multiple murders.” At that exact moment both women fell into each others arms. Reed had to sit down not to fall over. Hours later and after much interrogation Griffith entered the room again. “I am sorry to be the announcer of this tragic news. Your husband, and brother in law is a serial killer. He is requesting the death penalty and that you all divide his ashes around and in the cabin. He would also like to speak to you. We have him in a safe space.” Officer Griffith said. “Take us there now.” Emma pleaded. After several turns and bends and a half mile or so, they arrived in a room with a huge double panneled glass. Fletcher was shackled from the neck down. He looked up with a sheepish grin as Emma addressed him. “The cabin isn’t abandoned Fletcher, the police told us, your mother lived there. You told me she died in a fire.” Emma spoke calmly. “She did, I killed her myself, last month. I killed my entire family, except for my sister, she got away last night. She was not an accomplice, she was a witness. She thought she’d save the children. Face them my candle. Snitches get stitches, check the local hospitals, if she made it out of those woods, she got a few cuts and bruises.” He laughed to himself. “Fletcher, I can’t tell our kids their father is a serial killer.” Emma sat down in a daze, almost passing out. “I didn’t want to be a serial killer, Em. I didn’t. I wanted to be the greatest campfire story ever told. The cabin in the woods hasn't been abandoned for years, every night I’m up here, I burn a candle in the window, In honor of my mother, and the others.” Fletcher whispered as if he was telling a ghost story now. River demonstrated. Reed looked ashamed of his actions. “Jack, River I am sorry boys, I am.” Reed walked into the wooded area alone. “Do you remember anything else?” Viotto asked giving his full attention. River spoke up saying, “Dry Bones, hear the word, I will make breath enter you and you will come to life. Clara kept saying that over and over to the old lady.” River continued to repeat the saying. “That phrase is from a bible verse. The kids just learned this at vacation bible school. Are you sure boys, you sound confused?” Maggie brushed Rivers hair from his eyes. “Mom it’s true, Clara saved us, right Jack?” Jack pointed through the woods. To everyones disbelief the candle was back, burning in the same window. You could see three silouhettes, all dressed in gowns. “All unites stand by,” Viotto called out over the air waves. “We have our sites set on the three.” Someone called back. “Hold fire, we are headed your direction now send exact location.” After clear instructions the detectives left two armed officers at the campsite, and took Jack, River and Emma with them to the Cabin in the woods.

“What now?” Scotty asked as everyone piled out of the cruiser. Detective Viotto lit up another cigarette and blew a few rings in the still night sky. “Detective we have the house line, ready on ten.” As the count down began, the candle blew out. The cabin was now dark. The ring of the phone gave everyone goose bumps. “Hello?” A little girls voice answered. “Hello, this is detective Viotto, I am with the Nash County Sheriffs department. Who am I speaking with? Clara, Clara how old are you? You are ten, almost eleven?” Milo looked at Emma for confirmation, she was nodding yes. “Clara, whose in the house with you?” Milo stomped out his cigarette. “There was a nice elderly female, no longer available.” The voice on the other end of the phone laughed devilishly. Viotto waved Emma over to his side. “Listen carefully, ask only things Clara would know.” After the instructions, Emma thought for a moment then spoke, ”Clara it’s your Aunt.” Emma said warmly. “Oh Aunt Emma come quickly, help me, please.” The voice on the other end could be heard throughout the woods. Emma put down the phone. “It isn’t her. She has two Aunts, Aunt Elaine and me, Nanny Emma. She has never ever called me aunt.” The detective picked up the phone. “We know you aren’t Clara, stop mocking us, give us the girl and no one gets hurt.” Viotto never blinked. “Threatening me, oh what fun. You got nothing Viotto. The girl came her on her own. The boys told you. Breaking and entering, right detective? I wanted the boys to stay, they wanted to go, Clara wanted to come back.” The voice now sounded older than dirt. “Is that why the woman drug her back to the cabin.” At that moment the FBI busted down all doors and had the old lady handcuffed and face down on the floor. Detective Viotto stood over the bag of bones of a woman. “Where is the young girl.” He said as he brushed her back with his foot. He walked over, picked up the candle, took a deep breath and before he could blow it out, the old women turned to bones in front of everyone. Emma and the boys were shuddering by the door. Viotta waltz over and placed the candle by the old bones mouth. “River, what did Clara say to the old lady last night?” “She, she said, she said.” River was so scared he stuttered. “Its all going to be okay son. I promise.” Detective Viotto now at eye level. “Lets say it together ok?” The detective instructed everyone to stand in a circle around the bones and repeat the phrase Clara repeated often. “Dry Bones, hear the word, I will make breath enter you and you will come to life.” After about three or four times the bones began to come together, rise up and the skeleton stood on its feet. the skeleton began to shudder and point to a robe on a hook. Scotty brought the robe over. In a flash Clara stood before them. She raced to her Nanny’s arms, crying out to her. After hours of interviewing Clara and the boys, Scotty drove everyone back to the campsite.

“Clara,” Maggie ran to her daughter, the two embraced for what seemed like eternity. Scotty called everyone around the campfire. “Moms and dads, children, campfire stories are fun. We have to be careful our children understand the difference between fantasy and reality, and that you do also.” Scotty continued to educate everyone. “Scotty,” little Jack called out to the officer.” “Yes Jack?” Scotty replied. “Where is detective Viotto?” Scotty cleared his throat, “He uh, he, he had to go.” Scotty was now stuttering over his words. “Life!” Clara cried out. “Viotto means life. Milo means merciful soldier. Viotto is an eternal flame. Look he is back in the window.” Clara pointed through the woods. “He is a protector, our merciful soldier. The old lady can only leave the cabin if the light goes outside of the perrimiter. When the boys took the candle to light their way home, the old lady drug me back and took my bones, and life for her own. I had to agree. I didn’t want her to harm the boys. I’m sorry mama and daddy. When you blew out the candle Uncle Fletcher, Viotto was able to join us here in the flesh, and bring me home.” Clara knew now that she had chosen wrongly, wanting to play dry bones and endangering her family. “Who was the woman accomplice?” River asked. “Demetria is a devilish demon. She left before Viotto could capture her. It’s a real battle. We can always maintain one, the other gets away. Campers come up here, innocently telling all these old stories, drumming up these 1,000 year old demons.” Scotty explained. “Its my fault,” Fletcher interjected. “When I was a kid we grew up around campfires sharing old tales. Scaring each other to death, as we called it. I won’t be doing that anymore.” Fletcher sat down with his head in his hands. “You guys are pulling my leg.” Reed said with complete terror on his face. “You had me going, I have to admit it, that was some great acting. Fletcher, I bow to the king.” Reed looked for his friend to admit this was a gag, a joke, all rehearsed. No one moved. “Reed, do you remember when Viotto called out our County, Nash County? Nash is a word used to describe someone very clever. Viotto is an angel of light, a merciful soldier, life.” Scotty was honest. “Beam me up Scotty.” Reed said. “Good one,” Scotty made a shooting gesture as he said this. “You folks take care now.” Tipping his hat, Scotty walked into the woods and vanished. “Mom, dad, Uncle Fletcher, Nanny, you can stop looking for Scotty. He isn’t coming back. The name Scott means: a person owned by someone. I am pretty sure he works with Viotto.” Clara broke down the meaning of the officers name, hoping to bring true closure.

With the campsite broken down and everything loaded up, the two families said their goodbyes. From now on they would stick to more traditional holidays for visits. “Little Jack, when you said, ‘there is a moral argument that governments should not negotiate with terrorist,’ what did you mean?” Fletcher asked his son. “When you told mom not to negotiate with me, I thought you knew, and wanted me dead.” Jack said nonchalantly. “Son I wold never want you or Lilie or Ellie to have any harm come your way, or your cousins. Never think or say that son.” There was a peaceful pause right before brakes being slammed. After coming to a screeching halt, Fletcher asked if everyone was ok, as he got out of the car. “Why did you stop like that?” Emma asked through the window angerily. “Look,” Fletcher pointed to the candle burning in the window. “That is where you will all sleep tonight.” He said grabbing for the door handle. Emma out of instinct locked the car. Fletcher ran to every door, but couldn’t get in. Emma drove off leaving Fletcher on the side of the road. “Mom you can’t leave dad.” Little Jack cried out. “Why are you leaving him.” Now all the children were crying. “Little Jack, who told you about the dry bones?” Emma watched in her rearview for all facial expressions. “Daddy, after we told him the dry bones story. He told Clara about the game. He told her to play it this weekend.” Emma’s phone rang, causing her to almost lose control of the car. “Hello,” Emma greeted the caller. “How did I know Fletcher Gedeon, Gedeon means destroyer. I looked up all of our names. I pay attention. You didn’t want me to negotiate with our son, you meant not to talk to him and see why he was so afraid. You were the accomplice Fletcher. You got the kids to bed, got us all drunk, and plotted to take your son and nephews bones, and give the old lady your neices. No, I won’t negotiate. Our son is right, it’s the moral argument.” Emma hung up and quickly dialed Maggies number. They all agreed to meet at the police station.

After asking the officer at the front desk everyones name, they met with Officer Griffith, “This is an extremely sensitive and confusing story.” Officer Griffith introduced the children to their child psychiatrist before he took the adults to a sound proof room. “Emma, we have Fletcher in custody. He would like to talk any of you. I would strongly suggest you not do so. We can keep him for no less than 72 hours. In that time we can change all of your names and place you in protected custody. We have no idea how far or deep this occult runs.” Reed held his sister and wife tightly. “These campfire stories spark some real trouble up here. Sparks set fire and if it’s not a good one, you got to burn them down to the ground.” Officer Griffith was describing witch hunts. The door opened and a detective whispered to Griffith. “Emma, Maggie what are we going to do?” Reed was asking as Officer Griffith closed the door. “I have good news, well its bad news, but for you all, it may be the best news in this case scenario. “Maggie your husband has confessed to multiple murders.” At that exact moment both women fainted. Reed had to sit down not to fall over. Hours later and after much interrogation Griffith entered the room again. “I am sorry to be the announcer of this tragic news. Your husband, and brother in law is a serial killer. He is requesting the death penalty and that you all divide his ashes around and in the cabin. He would also like to speak to you. We have him in a safe space.” “Take us there now.” Emma pleaded. After several turns and bends and a mile or so, they arrived in a room with a huge double panneled glass. Fletcher was shackled from the neck down. He looked up with a sheepish grin as Emma addressed him “The cabin isn’t abandoned Fletcher, the police told us, your mother lived there. You told me she died in a fire.” Emma spoke calmly. “She did, I set the fire myself, last month. I killed my entire family, except for my sister, she got away last night. She was not an accomplice, she was a witness. Snitches get stitches, check the local hospitals, if she made it out of those woods, she got a few cuts and breaks.” He laughed to himself. “Fletcher I can’t tell our kids their father is a serial killer.” Emma sat down in a daze almost adding out. “I didn’t want to be a serial killer, Em. I didn’t. I wanted to be the greatest campfire story ever. My name living on long after my dry bones settle. The cabin in the woods hasn’t been abandoned for years, each night, a candle I burn in the window.” Fletcher whispered as if he was telling his ghost story. “Please say you’ll burn my bones in back yard of the old cabin, over a campfire. Let that be my memorial. And let the world know, I’ll remain forever collecting bones.” Fletcher had the most sinister grin and his smirk made everyone’s blood run cold. “I will do no such thing.” Emma cried out. “You can rot in hell.” She gave her husband a death stare. “I look forward to it.” Fletcher called back. “I’ll have al

Your dry bones, my kids flesh is my gf Leah, bone of my bones, you can’t stop me. Emma gathered her family, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. Emma, Reed and Maggie were now living a real time nightmare. The newspapers and media coined the term, the Dry Bones killer. Fletcher had literal taken the skeletons out of his victims, dried the bones in campfires and put the remains all around the cabin as decorations, keepsakes.

The end, or is it?