Peter's Revenge

"The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window, for on this night the area would be changed forever.

The cabin itself was already something in the local legends. A lonely, aged pastor built it and started a wildwoods style church nearby. However, its congregation never surpassed ten members, and when the old pastor died, the church, too, disbanded and fell into disrepai–"

"Oh, come off it, Peter! You're BORING us!" Lilly interrupted.

Kevin nodded; "Yeah, Peter! Every kid in Wisconsin knows that story! Pastor Charles didn't have any children, so he–"

"Shush, you!" Now it was Peter's turn to interrupt. "You two have heard the story, but Lucy hasn't. Right, Lucy?"

"I haven't," said Lucy.

"Well, alright then," Peter said. "And Kevin, any good storyteller knows that you don't just skip to the middle like that. Got it?"

"Okay," Kevin mumbled.

"Okay," Peter replied. "Now, back to the story.

Pastor Charles was a master carpenter in his youth, and although he built his cabin and church in his later years, he was still quite adept. And so, though twenty years had passed since both buildings were abandoned–"

"Try saying that five times fast," Lilly giggled, looking at Lucy."

Lucy giggled back. "Both buildings are abandoned; both biddings were 'bandonded; boot bild"ngs wa 'baddended! Hehehe!"

"Ahem." Peter said, staring at the gigglers.

Both girls instantly straightened their posture and gave their best innocent-looking faces.

"Yeeeees?" they asked in unison.

A small pebble landed on Lilly's hand, but she didn't notice.

Peter nodded his head slightly. "Hmmpf. Anyway, as I was saying...

Though both buildings were abandoned and in disrepair, they still looked decent, and kept out the weather. So, when a weary traveler saw the cabin, he knocked on the door. Seeing the state of the building, and having no other shelter from the rain and cold, he opened the door."

"You know, I could never figure that part out," Kevin interrupted again.

Peter sighed. "You could never figure what part out, Kevin?"

"How the 'weary traveler' got inside! Wasn't the door locked? Did he break in? Did he pick the lock?"

Another pebble landed on top of Kevin's head. This pebble fell with more force, and Kevin winced a little.

"Ow! What was that?" Kevin asked, looking around. Unfortunately for him, there were pebbles and rocks all around the campfire, so he couldn't distinguish which pebble hit him from the thousands of others.

Peter deadpanned, "I don't have any idea what you're talking about. As for the door, let's just say that it was locked, but it only had a skeleton key lock, so the weary traveler had an easy enough time unlocking it with one of the keys he carried for such things. Anyway...

The weary traveler went inside the cabin. He noticed that, oddly, everything inside seemed to be clean. The outside of the cabin wasn't in good shape, even though it wasn't falling apart. The inside, though, didn't even have a speck of dust to be seen. The traveler started thinking to himself, 'Maybe this place isn't as abandoned as I thought,' and he turned around to leave.

However, just before he started to turn around,–"

"A ghost chopped off his head! Can we stop now?" Kevin interrupted again.

Just as Kevin finished speaking, a stone fell on his head, about the size of a man's fist. Kevin fell forward, momentarily unconscious. The girls, who had been watching Peter, looked over and then shrieked.

After a couple seconds Kevin rose up, groggy. "What hit me this time?"

Peter spoke again, his attitude cold. "I've had just about enough of these interruptions. Behave yourselves."

The children knew something was wrong, but they didn't know what to do. If they replied, what would happen? So, they remained quiet. The only sounds to be heard were the fire's crackling, the sounds of insect wildlife, and the wind slightly whishing in the trees about fifty yards away.

Seemingly satisfied with the quietness, Peter continued.

"Just before the weary traveler turned around, the candle was lit in the window. In fact, candles were lit simultaneously in the whole cabin, and the place was filled with soft yellow light. The traveler froze in his place from shock. For now, seated before him comfortably on a couch, was the Pastor, albeit in a form not easily described."

"Can you please try?" Lilly asked, hoping to break the tension. Unfortunately for her, that's not what happened. Another rock fell, this time about the size of a child's head. Lilly fell, out cold.

Before the other children could react, though, Peter growled, with an almost inhuman quality in his voice.

"I. Will. Finish. My. Story."

Kevin and Lucy looked at each other, wondering what to do. Then they looked at Lilly. They could see her chest rising and falling. She was still breathing, thankfully. Then they both pulled their lips shut tight and simply nodded towards Peter, who continued.

"The traveler couldn't believe his eyes. He had seen pictures of the aged pastor, but the being before him looked youthful. It beckoned to him. 'Come and sit,' it said. The traveler moved forward, half out of curiosity and half out of fear of consequence.

'I can understand your fear, but be assured that I don't intend you any harm. I simply need to pass along a message before I move on,' said the pastor.

The traveler nodded. 'What type of message would you want to give?'

The pastor extended a letter. Its paper was old and faded, but the words on it were clear, as if they were freshly written. As he extended the letter, the pastor said, 'I am Pastor Charles Buchanan. I had no children, no spouse, no siblings, and essentially, no one to will my possessions to. Before I died, I tried to give everything to people in my congregation, but they refused. They already had possessions, and they didn't want the responsibility of being a pastor. After I died, I watched as my congregation immediately disband. I watched as they walked away from this place. It saddened me. So, I decided to linger until a worthy person came. And before you ask, you're not the first person who has entered my home since my passing. A few have barged in here, but you're the first person who actually knocked. You knew my cabin was abandoned, but you knocked anyway. That shows me you're a man of some character. I find you worthy.'

The traveler smiled. He was a man who was often mocked for his unusual kindness and honesty. Even if it was a ghost singing his praises, the traveler would enjoy it."

"But shouldn't the County have sold the property–WAIT, I'M SORR–!" Too late; Kevin's apology was not accepted, and a rock the size of a small car fell on him, crushing him flat.

It was at this moment that Lilly awoke. She first saw Lucy, who was crippled and frozen with fear. She then saw the rock where Kevin was, and saw the red trails coming from underneath. She smelled everything, too. The horrible stench made her lose her stomach on the ground, and it made her lose her fear. She then turned and shouted at Peter.

"HOW COULD YOU DO–" Unfortunately, her rampage was cut short, as yet another rock fell, and Lilly was no more.

Peter slowly turned to face Lucy, the only remaining child. "Will there be any more interruptions?"

It took all her courage, but Lucy shook her head.

Peter smiled viciously. "Then I'll finish it up quickly.

The traveler accepted the letter and read its contents. It was the last will and testament of Pastor Charles Buchanan, stating that the first person to present this paper to the County Clerk would inherit the cabin, the church, the two hundred acre property it sat on, the mineral rights, waterway rights, as well as the full contents of several safety deposit boxes in the nearest town. The only stipulation that the inheritor must agree to was that he would reopen the church and be its pastor.

The traveler sat, amazed. After watching the traveler finish reading, Pastor Charles asked, 'Well, do you agree?'

The traveler replied, 'Yes! Wholeheartedly! Thank you SO MUCH!'

The two chatted until sunrise, talking about details on how bring people in, how to repair the buildings, and various other details that Pastor Charles wanted to discuss. Then, with the rising of the Sun, the pastor departed in peace."

As Peter finished his story, blue lights started flickering in the distance, and the sound of police sirens was heard. Peter looked at their source, and then looked back at Lucy.

"Looks like it's time to go. Sorry that you got wrapped up in all of this. You're a good kid. Make sure you STAY good."

As Peter finished speaking, several police cars skidded to a halt several yards away. The police chief and about twenty officers flew out of the cars, weapons at the ready, all aiming at Peter.

Lucy saw one of the officers and ran to him, sobbing. "DADDY!" she cried!

The police chief spoke through a bullhorn. "Peter Buchanan! You're under arrest for breaking into the Fieldtown Juvenile Detention Facility; two counts of kidnapping from said facility; one count of assaulting an officer; and one additional count of kidnapping, who just HAPPENS to be MY GRANDDAUGHTER! Now! Remember that anything you say can be used against you!"

Peter looked at the police chief, and pointed at the rocks. "Those two did irreparable damage to me and my family. They deserved everything they received. And for this harassment, so do you. You know, this reminds me of a story."

Peter grinned. "Once upon a time..."