Fog Rolls In

As the fog rolls in over Lake Michigan, the lighthouse is quickly enveloped. There are boats out on the water and people on the pier. You can hear the people screaming and the sound of splashing water, The screams are concerning. The splashes sound like people jumping into the water.

Charlie opens the door of Frank’s Bait and Tackle Shop and turns to Frank at the counter, “Hey, this is weird. Come take a look.”

He walks around from behind the counter to check out what Charlie is talking about. “What? I have never seen a fog roll in like this during the day. There are people out there trapped on that pier.”

Frank grabs his emergency lantern and heads out the door towards the pier. He yells to the people in the fog, “Come this way, I am on safe ground with the lantern.”

Suddenly it is still, the sounds of people and the waves are no more. Frank bends down to the side of the pier with his lantern over the water and sees that it is perfectly still, not a single ripple. Standing up he moves his lantern around to see if he can see any people. There are none. Where did they go?

He turns and walks back to his shop. Charlie is still in the doorway. “Well, what did you see?” he asks.

“I got out there and all of a sudden I couldn’t see anyone, they all disappeared. The water went still, not even a ripple. I have no idea what’s going on, but I am staying inside and calling the sheriff.”

“I think I’ll stay inside too,” Charlie says.

Frank grabs his cellphone, there’s no signal bars. He then reaches for his landline and there’s no dial tone either. “Charlie, this is really weird. I have no bars on my cell and no dial tone on the landline. I guess I am not calling anyone.”

“Hey, I have a CB radio in my truck. I’ll go out and get it. I am parked right out front,” Charlie replies and walks out the door.

He gets in his brand new bright blue F-350 and turns on his CB radio. He sighs with relief that it works. “Anybody out there? This is The Fisherman. Anybody out there?”

“I am here. This is Sheriff Cooper. What’s up?” the radio responds.

“Well, this strange fog has rolled in over here on the lake. You can barely see the lighthouse. There’s no light in the lighthouse and no lights on the pier either. Frank went out with his emergency lantern and it went silent on the pier. No people and the water went still. Plus, we have no cell or landline service.”

“Ok, I will be right out there. It’s sunny and the sky is clear over here at Riverview Park.”

Ben exits the sheriff’s mini office that is near the Riverview Park entrance and goes to his black Ford Bronco. As he drives down Main Street he can see the fog in the distance.

Meanwhile, Charlie goes back into the shop. “I have the sheriff coming out. He says it’s sunny over by Riverview Park. How strange is that?”

“Well, they are further inland and this did appear suddenly.”

Charlie stands by the door looking out at the fog. Nothing has changed. The fog is hanging everywhere he can see.

Sheriff Cooper pulls up in front of the store, gets out of his vehicle and goes into the store. “Hey guys, what is going on out here?”

“I was walking out on the pier and then it went silent, no people, no water, no noise, nothing,” Frank tells him.

“I stayed in the store and I haven’t seen anyone else,” Charlie adds.

“Well, there’s not much we can do until this fog lifts. Did you hear or see anything strange before it rolled in?” the sheriff asks.

They both shake their heads no. “We were both in here. I noticed it when I went to leave the store,” Frank tells him.

“I’m going to check in with some of the others and see if they have anything strange going on in their areas. I’ll be in my vehicle,” Sheriff Cooper says as he reaches for the door handle to leave.

Charlie looks out the door at the fog, “Everything is so still. I can’t believe it. I wonder how long this is going to last.”

“Yeah, it was super weird when it went so still. I couldn’t see anyone. The water never goes completely still on Lake Michigan,” he says, shaking his head.

In his vehicle Sheriff Cooper radios to a nearby officer, “Sheriff O’Malley, are you out there?”

“I am here, what’s up?”

“Do you have any foggy weather up there?”

“It’s starting to roll in. I can see it over the water, but it hasn’t reached the shore yet. You?”

“We have something strange down here. We have the fog and the water went still plus we can’t see any people that were out on the pier.”

“The fog is coming closer to the shoreline. I need backup to help block the roads. I am at the Rocky Ledge Park,” Sheriff O’Malley says with a concerned tone.

“You got it. All available cars to Rocky Ledge Park. I am staying here at Frank’s Bait & Tackle Shop. Keep me posted,” he replies. As he gets out of his vehicle he turns to look out at where the lighthouse is supposed to be.

Charlie walks up behind him, “Hey, have you heard anything?”

“Yeah, it’s coming ashore up in Rocky Ledge Park, but so far, that’s it.”

“Do you think it’s getting darker? It’s only 4 pm, way too early to be getting dark.”

“I have noticed that. This is really bizarre.”

Frank comes up to them, “Hey guys, see anything?”

“Just darkness,” Sheriff Cooper replies.

“I think it’s getting darker,” Frank mentions.

“Hey, that’s what I said,” Charlie chuckles.

The three of them turn around and walk alongside the building. In the distance there is a multitude of lights coming in through the fog that is encircling the shop. Turning back in the direction of where the lighthouse is supposed to be, there are no lights.

Suddenly the fog begins to swirl, a fishy smell takes over the area and the lights dance around overhead and all around. Breaking through the silence there’s a loud crash by the lighthouse.

“Let me grab my emergency lantern and we can go out to see what that is,” Frank says.

“I’ve got my flashlight also,” Sheriff Cooper tells him.

The three-some walk down the pier to the inner lighthouse. Their lights don’t go far ahead of them in the fog, so they are careful traversing the pier.

“I don’t see anything or anyone,” Frank mentions.

“Yeah, it’s eerily quiet out here too. We have to be careful going around the lighthouse with its narrow path.”

“Should we go on opposite sides?”

“Yes, great idea.”

They meet on the other side of the inner lighthouse. Their light beams bounce back off the fog. “I can’t believe we haven’t found anyone,” Sheriff Cooper says in disbelief.

Frank replies, “This is creepy for sure.”

All of a sudden they are so overcome with the smell of cinnamon that they start coughing uncontrollably. A few minutes later, just as quickly as it came on, it left. The smell was gone.

Charlie clears his throat, “Wow, that was crazy.”

The other two shake their heads in agreement and continue on to the outer lighthouse. As they approach it the fog gets thicker and thicker plus the strong smell of cinnamon returns. Walking around each side the trio find themselves on the end of the pier. They find no one and nothing is in sight, until they look toward the north shore. There is a bright light on the hill.

“Am I the only one that sees that light?” Sheriff Cooper asks.

Charlie and Frank both nod in agreement and say, “Yeah.”

“It’s kinda weird though. It looks as though the fog is coming from the light,” Frank adds.

Moments later bats come flying out of the light.

“What is that?” Sheriff Cooper asks with his eyes wide open staring at the bats heading for them.

“Bats. Those are bats and they are headed right for us!” Charlie shouts.

The sheriff yells, “Ok guys, let’s head for the shore, but be careful getting around the next lighthouse.”

As the trio runs for the protection of the inner lighthouse the bats pursue them with speed and ferocity. . The guys stop. The black critters start circling around their heads. The trio slowly inch towards the narrow walkway on the north side while the bats are flying up, down and all around them. Making their way to the other side of the lighthouse they pick up the pace and start running towards the shop. Frank makes it to the door first and holds it open for Charlie and Sheriff Cooper. Closing and locking it in time for the bats to fly around outside.

Pulling his phone out of his pocket and checking it, “What is up with this no cell service?” Charlie questions.

“Does the landline work yet?” Sheriff Cooper asks looking over at Frank.

Picking up the receiver he nods, “Yes, we have a dial tone. Do you have a number?”

“Try this one, two six nine eight seven six five five five four.”

“Cool, it’s ringing. Here take it.”

The other end answers, “Hello, this is Sheriff O’Malley.”

“Hey, this is Sheriff Cooper. How are you doing up at Rocky Ledge Park?”

“Pretty foggy, but that’s it. What about you?”

“You aren’t going to believe this. We went out on the pier all the way to the end and then saw a light coming through the fog from the hill and then bats came out of the light and followed us to the shop. We are inside with the doors locked and they are flying right outside the door. Oh yeah, we heard a crash and smelled cinnamon.”

“That is super bizarre. Do you think it’s coming from that creepy old mansion on the hill?”

“Could be, but how are they creating this fog?”

“Well, legend has it that a group of witches lives there. I haven’t seen anyone in ages.”

“We are going to have to wait this out inside the shop . I am not risking anyone’s safety by going outside.”

“Ok, as soon as the fog lifts we’ll come your way or do you want us to check out the mansion?”

“Come this way and we’ll get a group together to go there. We may have to call in reinforcements.”

“Copy that.”

He hangs up the phone and turns to Frank and Charlie, “Yes, you heard correctly, we are just going to hang out here until this fog lifts. We have power and the doors are locked. Frank, make sure the back door is locked.”

He heads back and discovers the door was unlocked. He locks it, turns around and sees this woman hovering in the corner of the room, “Hey, who are you? You don’t belong back here.”

Ben hears him and comes running back to help him, “Everything ok back here?”

“There’s a woman in the corner.”

“Man, I don’t see one. Are you ok?”

He looks back into the corner, and she’s gone. “I swear she was just there. She was hovering above the floor.”

“You must be seeing things with everything that is going on.”

“Yeah, you are probably right. I think I’ll stay up front.”

They both head back to the front of the shop.

A couple of hours later the fog has still not lifted, when lights appear aiming in the shop’s front doors. It opens and Sheriff O’Malley walks in, “Hey guys! How are you all doing? I see the fog has not lifted here. It is all clear up until Lake Shore Dr, about a hundred yards from the shop. Thankfully I did not see any of the bats you mentioned.”

“Well, let’s head up to the mansion on the hill and get to the bottom of this,” Sheriff Cooper tells him.

“I will close up shop and head for home. I doubt I’ll have any customers with all this fog. Plus, I need some sleep.”

“Guess, I am heading home too.”

Everyone leaves out the front door and Frank locks it behind them. Sheriffs Cooper and O’Malley get in their vehicles and leave the parking lot. The fog dissipates as they drive to Hecks Hill Dr, winding their way up the quarter mile dirt road that is canopied with oak tree branches. They reach the top of the hill and the gates are closed.

“This is Sheriff Cooper, the gate is closed. We are going to need some backup. I don’t know what we are walking into. I’ll get out the bolt cutters.”

“Copy that,” O’Malley answers.

As Sheriff Cooper reaches for the bolt cutters in the back end of his vehicle, the gate opens. “Hey, did you do that?”

“Nope, not me. It just opened on its own.”

“That was I who opened the gate Sheriff,” Cassandra informs them as she walks into the opening. “How can I help you?”

He puts away the bolt cutters and walks around his vehicle, “We are trying to figure out the fog and the bats. They appear to be coming from here. Do you know anything about it?”

“Can’t say as though I do.”

“Do you mind if we look around?”

Motioning them in, she says, “Please come in.”

Sheriffs Cooper and O’Malley walk in and as they get halfway up the driveway to the mansion the gate slams shut behind them. Startled, they both jump and look back. “So, it opens silently but slams shut?”

“Hey, do you have cell service Cooper?” O’Malley asks.

Looking down at his phone, “No, I do not.”

“This is a no cell phone area. There is no signal,” Cassandra tells them.

As the three of them continue to walk toward the house there are a dozen black cats that surround them. It continues to get darker and darker. Looking around the yard they see the oak trees with multiple bright orange eyes staring back at them. The sounds of “hoo, hoo, hooooooo” break the silence.

“Oh, don’t mind them, those are my owls,” she says with a chuckle.

They look at each other with raised eyebrows, shrug their shoulders and continue along scanning the yard. Walking up the creaky steps, they follow her inside.

“Have a seat gentlemen.”

“Actually, we’d like to look around if you don’t mind,” Sheriff Cooper says to her.

“I don’t mind at all.”

“O’Malley, let’s check out the basement.”

They go down the wood stairs, where they step on the purple rug. It collapses below them. Sheriff Cooper lands on top of O’Malley. “Man, that hurts,” Cooper says and then shouts, “Hey Cassandra, we fell in!”

There’s no verbal response, but the door is slammed shut. Picking up their flashlights, they look around while sitting on the ground. Hanging from the rafters are dozens of bats. They are then overcome with the smell of cinnamon and fog takes over the room. The guys pass out.

“Never mess with a witch,” Cassandra says as she walks out onto the back deck.