By The Light of the Moon

The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window. Dancing and flickering in the frigid, night breeze. An alluring vigil, beckoning those unfortunate enough to see it to come. One night, and one who awaits this nights arrival. The old wooden door shakes on its hinges, alerting him.

Everything seemed so charming, as if this small town was plucked straight from the pages of a perfect little story book, then nestled between two picturesque, mountain peaks. Massive, blackened rocks, smoothed by water and time crowned a blue, crystalline, natural lake. It was unlike anything Beth and Jason had ever seen. Water so clear it appeared invisible.

The residents, although few, were abundantly hospitable, yet strangely ready for the young couple to be on their way. None so much as the shop owner of the town’s one and only grocery slash hardware store combo.

He and his wife were old, very old. Beth wasn’t sure how old, and she dare not be so rude as to ask. The two shared the same copper toned hues, and leathery textured skin. As well as silver hair with a few strands of black strewn throughout tightly woven braids, giving hint to what was once its natural shade.

“You two planning on staying much longer? Wouldn’t want you to miss the full moon rising over the canyon up yonder. Nothing quite like it, young lady.”

Beth smiled warmly at the elderly man bagging her groceries before giving him an answer.

“We’ll be here as long as it takes to reach the peak of your beautiful mountain. You’ll be happy to know that today is the day we begin our climb. Besides, that canyon couldn’t possibly have anything on the natural beauty of this place. It’s incredible. Truly incredible.”

The elderly man slowed his pace, bagging what was left of the groceries one by one. His countenance seemingly changed from his normal cheerful state to one of vague annoyance. An uncomfortable silence ensued, making Beth feel strangely insecure. She quickly broke the communicative hiatus with a verbose inquiry about the weather.

“Is the weather pretty warm up there this time of year, or does it stay pretty cold? Couldn’t help but notice the mounds of snow everywhere. Back home, the snow melts before it even hits the ground. What should one expect up there as far as the weather goes? Rain, sun or shine?”

The elderly man stuffed the last item into the overstuffed, brown, paper bag before looking deep into Beth’s eyes, holding her stare with his.

“Be sure to get packed up before the moon’s full. You don’t want to miss the full moon rising over the canyon up yonder. Nothing like it.”

He repeated as if he hadn’t said it the same way before. Beth couldn’t help but feel mildly unsettled by his behavior. She smiled warmly, then handed him a wad of cash. Quickly, she grabbed the grocery bag and headed toward the door.

“Keep the change, sir.”

She said cheerfully as she exited the store without hesitancy.

Seat reclined and ball cap over his face, Jason remained undisturbed, exactly how she’d left him. She exhaled, relieved to be outside and out of that store before sprinting across the parking lot to reunite with Jason.

“Hey, did you get everything?”

Jason inquired.

“Everything on the list. You ready to climb?”

Beth boomed back with jovial excitement.

“I was born ready, baby!”

Jason returned with the enthusiasm of a pro wrestler talking smack.

“You know, I don’t think that old man likes me much.”

Beth’s tone carried a bit of confusion with a hint of melancholy as if the old man’s opinion of her mattered more than even she realized.

“Why would he not like you? You’re a very likeable person.”

Jason spoke his words sensually while pulling Beth closer to him, then kissing her neck softly just under her ear until she squealed for him to stop.

Beth and Jason had started their honeymoon road trip in the spring, just in time for the winter snows to melt, and wake life again. The mountains were ablaze with colors simply indescribable.

Avid hikers and novice mountain climbers, this place was all they hoped it would be. They camped at night, then combed the mountain trails and hiked through dense forests during the day. And when the day’s adventures were through, they’d lay awake in their tent and plan the big climb. No moving on until they reached the summit. Only then would they set off on their next big adventure.

Their first night camping on the side of the mountain was nothing short of incredible. The newlyweds made love under the light of the waxing moon. The mystifying blue hues illuminating the sky seemed to be coming from the mountain itself. Giving everything around it a phosphorescent quality. Adding an erotic, dream like feel to the atmosphere encompassing them, sending both into a climactic event unlike any they’d experienced before. Afterwards, the lovers lay naked in each other’s arms marveling over all of the unimaginable beauty surrounding their little tent.

“Look around you, Jason. Look at this place. Its full of magic.”

Beth whispered softly.

“Its not the only thing that’s full.”

Jason comedically proclaimed while struggling with the tent’s zipper. Beth watched in amusement as he squeezed his way through the small hole he’d managed to open in the tent flap. She couldn’t help but laugh aloud at his pastel buttocks glowing in the moon’s pale light before disappearing with the rest of him.

The night was utterly still. Not a sound could be heard, except for the burble of Jason relieving his bladder.

“Beth! Beth, come out here! You gotta see this, babe!”

Beth realigned the teeth on the tents zipper, then easily unzipped the flap and stepped out gracefully.

“What is it?”

“Look! Look down at the lake! I’ve never seen anything like that before!”

Beth turned to see. The sight was both mysterious, and somewhat frightening, as well as breathtaking. The lake, once clear as a looking glass, was now as white and murky as a glass of milk.

“How’s it doing that? It must be the moonlight playing tricks on the eyes.”

Beth’s voice trailed off as she spoke, fading to a faint whisper.

“Maybe… Still, it’s really weird, right?”

“Right”

Standing naked in silence, the two stared down at the lake below, mesmerized by its otherworldly appearance. Unaware of the passing of time. It was Beth who first snapped free from the hypnotic power of the hazy water. Her teeth began to chatter before it dawned on her that she was even cold. Jason stood next to her; his gaze still locked on the lake.

“Jason! Jason!’

Startled, Jason’s body spasmed, and jumped. Through chattering teeth, he finally managed to speak.

‘Jeeze! It’s freezing! What are we doing out here? Let’s get back in the tent.”

Briskly rubbing his arms, Jason turned and dove through the tent flap.

Bewildered, Beth followed behind him. Once inside, they zipped themselves up in their cozy, sleeping bag for two, then shivered together until their body heat returned.

Jason fell asleep quickly leaving Beth to try and come up with an explanation of the nights events alone. She tried to clear her mind but couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. She’d lost time.

How long had they been standing out there staring at the lake? She pondered the question, trying to piece together a suitable answer out of the small fragments collected from her waning memory of the nights event, yet unable to do so before sleep finally captured her.

Morning came, bringing with it a vague sort of amnesia, erasing the events of the night before. Beth and Jason enjoyed a small breakfast, packed up camp, and set off on their climb, propelling them further up the mountain.

“If we keep up the pace, we should reach the summit by night fall.”

Jason rang out encouragingly.

Beth felt no need to respond.

The two spent the remainder of daylight in silence, concentrating on the climb. Indeed they reached the summit with a few small moments left of daylight to spare, allowing them time to muse over the view, and easily set up camp.

Night came quickly afterwards. The moon was even brighter than it had been the night before. Giving everything in its wake an electrifying blue outline as if glowing in the dark.

“Wow! What is with the moon? This must be what a blue moon looks like, huh Beth?”

Beth didn’t answer. Didn’t even hear the question. Again, she felt as if she was in some kind of cerebral haze, unable to take her eyes off the lake.

“Beth! Beth!”

Jason bellowed before finally placing his hand on Beth’s shoulder and giving her a firm shake. Startled, she gasped to catch her breath.

“Jason, you scared the crap out of me!”

“Sorry, you were daydreaming or something. Been talking to you, asking you questions. You’re just staring off, ignoring me.”

“What? Oh, sorry. Guess the lake grabbed my attention. What were you saying?”

“Nothing. No big deal. You hungry?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

Beth said under her breath as she turned slowly away from the lake.

The two decided to eat MREs while cuddled up in the tent rather than expend any unnecessary energy on starting a fire after their physically strenuous day. Both feeling pretty proud of themselves for having reached the summit ahead of schedule, they decided their reward would be going to bed early and getting up late.

Beth awakened shivering, her teeth chattering. She squeezed her eyes closed tightly, and shook her head. Hoping to wake from this strange dream, only to find she was not dreaming. She was standing outside the tent.

From the mountain peak, the lake appeared no bigger than a small pool. Again, it shined a milky white, giving it an ominous appearance. Beth no longer found the silvery glow of the once clear waters beautiful. What was once captivating was now only eerily frightening.

She turned quickly and dove through the open tent flap. Jason, unbothered by her stirring, showed no sign of waking. She crawled up beside him and slithered carefully into the sleeping bag, amazed at his preternatural ability to sleep through just about anything. Possessed by insomnia, she lay staring at the tent’s ceiling until at some point in the night she managed to pass out.

“Good afternoon sleepyhead!”

“Afternoon? Why didn’t you wake me?”

Beth responded as she emerged from the tent with an intense look of confusion strewn over her exhausted face.

“I tried! You weren’t having it! I stopped when you started getting mean about it.”

“Mean?”

“Yeah! You grabbed my fingers and bent them backwards. Took that as a sign you didn’t want to be bothered. Besides, we’re ahead of schedule. No harm done. Down should be easier than up anyhow.”

“Sorry… I had a really strange night. I think I may have been sleep walking.”

“Wow! Don’t wanna be doing that up here, babe. One false move and game over… What makes you think you were sleep walking?”

“I woke up standing outside. Can’t remember how, when, or why…”

“It’s okay, babe. You just needed the rest. We do strange things when overly tired. Nothing to worry about. Now come get yourself some breakfast, pretty lady.

“I guess you’re right.”

Jason sang happily while packing up. Beth withdrew into herself, still trying to make sense of her actions during the night while she helped gather their belongings.

Slowly, the two descended the mountain. Jason happily singing out his favorite tunes, while Beth remained lost in the confusion of her thoughtful attempts to understand what was going on with her. Her overthinking, only served in stealing away her attention from her surroundings and her husband. Yet providing no answers, only proliferating her perplexity.

“We’ll stop here tonight. We should make it to the lake by tomorrow evening. Just in time for the first night of the full moon.”

Jason announced cheerfully. Beth felt a foreboding tinge of anxiety percolating in her stomach. Although she couldn’t identify why. Unwilling to allow herself to be carried away by wild imaginations, she mentally gathered all her discomfited thoughts, and pushed them as far from her mind as was possible. Making a willful choice to enjoy their last evening on the mountain.

The two roasted hot dogs over and open fire before resigning to their tent. Beth felt buoyant lying beneath her husband. Holding him tightly between her thighs, fully forgetting the unsettled feeling that had haunted her throughout the day, while losing herself in their euphoric engagement before finally drifting off to sleep.

Beth awakened again to the frigid, night air nipping sharply at her bare skin. Teeth chattering and limbs shaking, she spun around bewildered. Her eyes flickered back and forth nystagmusly scanning her surroundings only to find she was nowhere near her tent.

Panic adjoined with the convulsive movements of her confused, cold body. Making it difficult to maintain her balance.

“What the fuck, Beth! Get it together!”

She berated herself.

Her overwrought, shallow breaths threatened hyperventilation. Beth forced herself to concentrate on slowing her breathing, finally calming herself enough to use her senses to locate the tent. To her surprise, it was more than fifty feet away.

She turned quickly toward it reeling on uncooperative legs, and ran. She dared not look back, fearing something terrible would reveal itself if she did. Finally, after what seemed a lifetime, she stood before the tent balancing on staggering legs. Reaching out, she grasped the tent’s zipper, fighting with it until it loosened its hold allowing her to climb inside.

Again, Jason slept. Undisturbed by Beth’s ordeal. She couldn’t help but be angry at him. However, getting warm was exceedingly more important to her. She wiggled her way back into the sleeping bag, and as her body temperature rose, her exhaustion consumed what was left of her consciousness, and she fell asleep.

First morning light laid warmly over Beth’s eyelids, prompting her to awaken. She fought her way out of the sleeping bag, waking Jason while attempting to free herself.

“Good morning beautiful…”

His words fell drowsily off his lips as he reached out and embraced Beth’s waist, holding her firmly in the crook of his arm. She pushed his arm down and away from her, breaking free from him and the sleeping bag simultaneously.

“What’s up your ass?”

Jason yelped.

“Nothing! Sorry… I’m just ready to go. Let’s pack up and eat on the way.”

Beth responded insincerely.

“Sounds like somethings wrong to meee.”

Jason jeered light heartedly.

“Let’s just go, Jason!”

Beth screeched.

“Fine, Beth! You know you don’t have to be such an asshole!”

Jason threw off the sleeping bag and sprang to his feet, then began briskly collecting their belongings. Beth wanted to apologize, feeling a deep sense of remorse for treating him that way. But found herself to anxious to get off the mountain to give it another thought.

As Beth had suggested, they ate their morning meal on the go, descending the mountain in silence. Just as Jason had predicted, they made it to the lake before night befell them. While Jason set up camp, Beth, pulled away by an unseen force, walked in a trance like state to the water’s edge.

Bending down, she peered deeply into the impossibly, clear water. Captivated by its stillness, she found herself unable to look away.

An apparition! A face, old and weathered! Inky streaks of blackened tears stained his cheeks. Long, obsidian hair adorned with an elaborate headdress made of dark, ebony feathers floated ghost like beneath the water. Deep seated eyes, dark as coal, pierced her own, holding her there helpless. Her arms and legs failed to move at her request. Frigid water touched the tip of her nose, taking her breath away as something unseen pulled her beneath its surface.

Suddenly, the face she’d seen lurking just below the water’s surface was now staring down at her. Trapped under the water, Beth watched in horror as the man from beneath it turned and walked away, leaving her where he had once been. She tried to scream, but couldn’t make a sound. She tried to pull herself free from the water, but found herself unable to move, as if she no longer possessed a body at all. A thick, milky, white mist teamed over her face obscuring her vision. The white haze filled her mind pushing away her thoughts until she was lost in a state of complete unawareness.

Soaking wet, and shivering, Beth awakened, finding herself standing before the lake. She coughed and gasped hard, choking on the water escaping her lungs. The inhospitable, bone chilling, night air brutally assaulted her bare skin. The moon, now full, made the night look more likened unto day.

Unsure if she was awake or dreaming, she spun in frantic circles, searching for Jason. A luminous, orange haze off in the distance beckoned her attention. She darted toward the hopeful glow as fast as her buckling legs allowed her. A sudden rush of relief gave her a miniscule reprieve from her trepidation. A dark, silhouette outlined by the light of the fire was only a few feet away.

Sure that it was Jason, Beth screamed his name as she ran towards him. Bewildered as to why he was not responding to her cries for help.

Finally, she made it to the edge of their campsite, slowing her pace as she approached Jason. Why was he not turning around? His head seemed to be slumped forward making her believe he was asleep.

“Jason! Jason, honey! We gotta get out of here! Jason!”

Beth, narrowing the gap between them, reached out, tugging on Jason’s arm. His body teetered, then toppled over, falling at her feet. The white of his skull shined in the moonlight. Tarry, thick blood masked his face.

Beth frantically recoiled, scuffling to find her feet. Her legs wobbled weakly beneath her. She could think only one thought.

Run!

She obeyed. Blinded by tears, she collided aimlessly with a low, hanging branch that struck her in the face, knocking her off her feet. She clawed and scratched frantically at overhead vines, pulling herself up from the wet ground. She scanned her surroundings, unsure of what she was even looking for. A dark, square, shaped shadow visible in the distance. A cabin? Light in the window?

Beth found it hard to believe in what her eyes showed her. Through bated breath, she called out for help.

“Help! Help! Please help us! Oh God! Please someone!”

Finally, she reached the cabin. Indeed, a pale, yellow glow illuminated from the dust-stained window casting a dull light on the broken and rotting porch. She frantically searched the small building’s perimeter before happening upon a door. She fought the weakened barricade shaking and pushing at it.

The door rattled violently on its decayed hinges before finally surrendering to the insistent demands of the young woman’s weight bearing down upon it, sending her sailing through the easement, and landing in a twisted heap on the worn, splintered floor. Hastily she turned round, giving the door a firm, sharp kick, slamming it shut.

The gelid, wooden planks beneath her helped sooth her swollen, and bruised cheekbone, giving her a small reprieve from the incessant throbbing threatening to burst her skull. Her muscles quivered uncontrollably as she tried to regain dominion over them. She inhaled deeply. The frigid night air burned her sore, weary lungs. She held it deep within her chest until she could hold it no longer. Faint sobs escaped her between intermittent exhales.

She squeezed her eyes tightly closed, hoping to block out the dreadful visions, and haunting voices swirling like a merciless tornado through her head, wrecking what was left of her waning sanity, while exhaustion threatened to purloin her capacity to remain conscious.

“This isn’t real… This isn’t real… This isn’t real…”

The words fell repetitively from her swollen, cracked lips, failing to convince her. She uttered them anyway, hoping that her chanting could somehow make it true and erase all that had happened.

The boards resting beneath her suddenly moved ever so slightly. She bit down hard on her tongue, silencing its repetitions. She wasn’t alone…

“Told you to get a move on before the full moon. It really is a better view from the canyon up yonder.”

“You! Why?”

Beth sobbed not daring to look up.

“Its complicated, young lady. Real sorry you didn’t listen.”

The old man grabbed Beth by the ankles, pulling her towards the door of the cabin. Beth screamed and kicked, finding herself unable to loosen the vice like grip of the man’s hands.

“Stop! Please! Why are you doing this? Why?”

She begged and pleaded. But the man remained silent, unmoved by her thrashing and wailing. Beth rolled to her stomach, clutching the ground, digging her nails deep into the cold, wet earth. It was no use. The old man continued dragging her through the woods as is she was weightless. She could do nothing. She watched in horror as trees passed quickly by.

The ground beneath her changed, no longer the wet, cold ground of the forest. She could feel the soft, round stones surrounding the lake’s shore rolling beneath her body. He was dragging her to the lake.

“No! What are you doing? No! Pleaseeee…”

Beth begged. The old man remained unwavered as if he couldn’t hear her cries.

Again, Beth kicked and twisted under his grip in vain. She felt the familiar shock of the frigid waters as it saturated her pants. The old man suddenly stopped. The seiche of the lake lapped at Beth’s nostrils causing her to cough. She struggled to breath between the rhythmic waves.

“What are you going to do with me? Why did you kill Jason? Why are you doing this? Please!”

She pleaded. Hoping he would give her an answer.

“You’re at the wrong place at the wrong time, plain and simple. The Vernal equinox. Try to get you folks moving along before the full moon. Hard to tell folks without telling them. Which is something I’m forbidden to do. All about revenge. Lives for lives. My people were massacred right here. Right where I stand. Their torn bodies thrown into this very lake. You see, its nothing you did, its what you didn’t do. You stayed too long.”

The man turned, staring at the lake.

“I’ll leave! I’ll leave right now! Jason, Jason needs a doctor! Please, we’ll leave. We won’t come back! I won’t tell a soul! Please!”

Beth screamed out. But the man continued to stare at the lake as if he couldn’t hear her, maintaining the death grip he had on her ankles.

“Ahhh, here they are.”

Beth twisted at the waist to see what he was talking about. To her horror, the lake was again milky white. Only now dark shadows were rising up from its waters and moving towards her. The old man pulled and tugged on her ankles dragging her deeper into the lake. Beth held her breath as her face was submerged in the ghostly water.

Suddenly, she felt the old man’s grip loosen as he let her go. She flailed her arms and legs as if she were a child drowning. Finally, she felt solid ground beneath her feet. She kicked off the floor of the lake, bursting through its surface. She gasped and choked, clearing the water from her lungs. She rubbed the murky water from her burning eyes, waiting for her vision to clear.

Standing before her was the man. The man that came from the water. His deep, black unfeeling eyes stared through her. The dark feathers of his long head dress glistened in the moonlight. Beth couldn’t help but marvel at its beauty. Fear released her of her gawking. She turned in half circles searching for the old man.

He was walking away! Leaving her surrounded by ghostly apparitions of the ancient, natives of the land. A drumming filled Beth’s ears. Cold hands grabbed at her, pulling her further out into the middle of the lake. Her cries muffled by the waves of water cascading over her head. The drumming intensified. Beth could no longer hear her own cries.

Her head disappeared below the water. Invisible hands held her body down. The white flooded her thoughts, consuming what was left of her.

The Appalachian Tribune, front page story. Newlyweds missing. Massive search called off.

“Look here, honey. Guess those kids must’ve stayed up there.”

The frail old woman shook the paper at her husband, summoning his attention.

“I’ll get a bag ready.”

The aged couple walked hand in hand up the trail until they reached the pristine, crystalline waters. Gathering the contents of the bag, the old man knelt down before the shore. His long braids dusted the rocks as they swayed in the wind. The still waters rippled before him as the faces of many slowly appeared, transforming the once translucent waters to a murky white.

“We thank you for another passing. We honor our word and keep the secrets of our people until our vengeance is satisfied. May you awaken again and walk the earth under the light of the first spring moon in her fullness. May you rest in peace until time gathers us again. Till then, these waters run clear. Never to be darkened again by the crimson blood of our people.”

Opening his submerged hand, the old man released the dark, black feathers of a raven. The waters gathered them, offering them to the medicine man’s ghostly form. The water returned to its former pellucid state.

Hand in hand, the man and his wife turned and walked away.