This was written some time ago, but to start I'll just post the first bit and see if anyone is interested in reading the rest. If so I'll continue posting. A bit of a warning though, there is some explicit language. Just thought I would put that out there since there are a few young ones in the guild!
THE POINT OF NO RETURN
Daylight had just begun to fade with the coming of another autumn evening in northwest Ohio. This night in particular was chilled with a bitter wind blowing through the bare trees like a freight train gone awry. Along an overgrown trail that led into a dark wood, a pair of headlights shone along the ragged bark of ghostly trees twisted and misshapen, with branches reaching high into the moonlit sky like fingers of the dead wishing to rise again. Near the edge of the wood lay a sign faded with age, hastily painted upon broken planks of rotted pine. Coils of barbed wire lay on the browning grass nearby, rusted from harsh rains many years past. Soon the headlights shone upon the sign as a small white pickup truck came to a stop in front of a small wooden fence, while the occupants inside read the weather worn words before them.
“No trespassing by order of the state.” The eldest of the two replied. With a look of sinister anticipation, he turned to his companion sitting in the passenger’s seat and passed him a flashlight, before shifting the key back in the ignition shutting off the engine.
“You ready Michael?” He said with a smile, while pushing in a knob on the counsel of the truck, shutting off the headlights. An eerie silence then filled the air as his friend fumbled with the flashlight, finally nudging the switch to the on position.
“I guess so David.” A weary answer came, as Michael shone the beam of the flashlight out into the darkness that had now begun to unfold before him.
“Well, come on then!” David said pulling up on the door handle, pushing the door open. He then slammed the door and it closed with a bang causing Michael to jump in his seat. Michael’s hand trembled as he reached for the door handle, opening the door slowly. He stepped out of the truck and stood in silence, watching as David moved around to the front of the truck, looking out into the woods. Michael held the flashlight out, shining it on David and he turned around, a sly smile forming over his lips. David then made his way back to Michael, reaching out as he passed by to close the door of the truck. He then went around to the back of the truck and pulled down the tailgate, jumping up into the vehicle.
“What are you doing?” Michael stammered, still holding his light on David as he opened a large metal tool chest, setting under the back window of the cab.
“Just getting a few supplies.” David answered, tossing aside a selection of tools, before pulling out a large coiled yellow nylon rope, tied with black cord.
“Here, catch!” David said tossing the rope over the side of the truck to Michael. Michael reached out, dropping the flashlight on the ground, causing the top to break off, spilling the batteries in the tall weeds nearby.
“Damn you all to hell, Michael.” David snapped, jumping out of the back of the truck with another length of rope draped over his shoulder. “That is the only flashlight I have. Now how are we supposed to see where we are going?”
“Well, screw you too David.” Michael sneered, kneeling down to the ground, feeling around for the parts of the flashlight. His hand then fell over a battery and then another. He dropped them into the flashlight and he soon discovered the top, placing it back onto the flashlight, screwing it down tightly. He flipped the switch on, but nothing happened. He shook the flashlight, banging it against his palm as the light flickered on.
“Now how hard was that?” Michael replied, picking the rope up from the ground.
“For you, surprisingly easy.” David laughed, roughly dragging his hand across Michael’s head, as he began to walk towards the woods.
“Hey, wait a minute David!” Michael yelled out, still standing beside the truck. “What are you doing? I mean with the ropes. What do we need them for?” David then stopped and looked back to Michael, pulling his rope higher up onto his shoulder.
“You don’t think I came all this way not to go in there, do you?” David replied.
“In there? You mean actually go in?” Michael whined, swallowing hard.
“Hell, yes.” David answered turning away, walking back to the woods. “Now get your a** in gear. We have a long walk ahead.” Michael took in a deep breath and closed his eyes. Reluctantly he stepped forward, one foot slowly in front of the other, following David into the unknown darkness before them.
TO BE CONTINUED...
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