Sarah and Shelly had spent the largest part of the day together, going to the mall to shop for the latest fashions, catching an afternoon matinee, and then finally settling back in at Shelly’s house where they talked on the phone, shared in the latest gossip, and played board games.
“So what are your plans for tomorrow?” Shelly asked, smiling from the silliness of their game.
Sarah thought for a moment, then answered. “I have to clean the house and help Mom get ready for Thanksgiving, but if you want me to I’ll try to come by.”
“Okay, cool.” Shelly replied shuffling the cards for another game. They were still giggling when they heard footsteps approaching on the landing. There was a soft knock at the door, followed by the sound of Shelly’s mom opening the door. She poked her head around inside to look at the two girls sitting on the bed.
“Hey, girls, it’s almost midnight, and we’re going to bed. If you stay up, you’ll have to quiet down a bit.” She smiled gently as she spoke. Sarah popped her head up from watching the cards.
“What time did you say it was?!” Sarah gasped, hoping that she had only thought she’d heard how late it was getting.
“Why, it’s right now eleven fifty-nine.” Shelly’s mom responded thoughtfully. Sarah grimaced as the clock tolled the midnight hour.
“Oh no, I’m late.‘ She groaned with a look of grim realization. She hopped up from the bed gathering her things as quickly as she could.
“Really?” Shelly asked as she watched Sarah getting ready to leave. “When were you supposed to be home?”
“Hours ago.” Sarah said hurriedly, fumbling to get into her jacket. “My parents are going to kill me for being out this long. I may see you tomorrow, if I’m not grounded.”
Shelly got up to see her friend to the door. “Be careful on your way home, Sarah” She said giving her friend a sisterly hug on her way out the door. Sarah nodded, answering with an uncertain smile as she all but ran outside.
“Goodnight all, and I’ll call you tomorrow to tell you the verdict.” Sarah said rushing by. “Sweet dreams!” She waved to her friend once more.
The neighborhood at midnight seemed by far a ghost town counterpart to its daytime hustle and bustle. Streets usually busy with local traffic were empty and lifeless. The houses that lined the roadside slumped wearily in the dark, their windows watching her pass with vacant, expressionless stares. A cold midnight breeze swept through the neighborhood rustling the leaves around Sarah’s feet, making her pull her jacket more tightly about her to better shield her from the chill. Only the sound of her feet upon the barren sidewalk kept her company, joined by the papers that occasionally tumbled by. Somewhere in the night a siren began its mournful wail, soon accompanied by a chorus of dogs, baying in protest as they tried to soothe their aching ears.
The walk home seemed to be taking forever. To help pass the time, Sarah began playing kick the can, though the idea only appeared better than it really was. Without the light to see where it was going, the can soon disappeared down a storm drain, ending the small distraction. The siren soon faded into the night, as did the canine chorus that all but followed its tone.
With the can now gone, the only thing Sarah could think of was finding a shortcut, however the only one she could come up with was Shadowbirch Road. The thought did little to ease her mind. The legends of the old cemetery road were dated long before the town of Lovelady was even incorporated, yet the more she thought about it, the more Sarah realized that it was the shortest route home as it ended on her home street. She hadn’t pondered the decision long before the sign towered over her menacingly, a feeling echoed by the sight of the great wrought iron gate at the edge of the light. As she gazed at the street sign, the wind picked up to a short gust, sending the chill through her jacket.
Sarah talked herself into taking the shortcut by comparing time and distance, but most of all by finding that her feet had began the journey without her. To help build her courage, she told herself that the legends were only stories and nothing more. That was a tough argument considering that not even the bravest adults would travel that road on foot after dark.
“What are you afraid of, silly?” She asked herself. “You live right up from the old graveyard and yet you’ve never seen anything there.” A convincing thought to be sure, but she still had her reservations about the place. Still a feeling of dreaded anticipation washed over her as she passed under the ancient gates.
Shadowbirch Road was darker than the rest of the town. Maybe it was the oversized oak trees that lined the edges of the road, their limbs joining in a grim canopy overhead that choked out all but the faintest shards of moonlight. Silence fell over her as a blanket would a child. The unrelenting sense of dread grew inside of her reawakening her childhood fears of the dark. Looking around, she took in the grisly scenery about her. Gravestones too old and worn to be read jutted up from the ground like skulls teeth making the place appear as a madman’s rock garden. The massive roots of the ancient oak trees snaked onto the road forcing Sarah to watch her step at times lest she would trip over one of the stray tendrils. The smell of death and decay assaulted her nostrils in the frigid air drawing a moderate grimace to her face.
She began humming to help break the silence. It made her feel better to hear her own voice, if only as a reassurance. Casting quick glances from side to side, she swore that she could see things moving in the shadows too fast for her eyes to get a clear view. Somewhere in the distance a dog barked, its call echoing along the wind. An uneasy feeling came over her joined by the overwhelming feeling that she was no longer alone. As if to confirm that feeling, something rustled in the nearby shrubbery. Sarah stopped in her tracks, hoping that whatever it was, it didn’t see her. The air became heavy with anticipation. Her breath caught in her throat as she waited for the inevitable doom that lay waiting in the bushes to make its appearance. Her mind raced, imagining every kind of specter, ghoul, or bogeyman that could spring out at any second. Just when she thought she couldn’t handle the suspense any longer, a stray cat bounded out of a boxwood, running across the road. It stopped only to look at her with a mouse in its jaws before running back into the shadows with its prey. Sarah sighed with relief, silently scolding herself for being childish.
The trees started to thin out by the time Sarah was approaching the middle of the cemetery, allowing the moon to cast an eerie pale glow over the road. Only the overgrown boxwoods still lined the edge of the road on either side. The wind rasped through the shrubbery with a dreadful hiss inducing an involuntary shudder to course over Sarah’s body. She felt more confident now that she could see better. An owl flew overhead landing in the branches of a towering black oak tree up ahead. Its mournful inquiry calling through the night. The graveyard was soon hushed in an unearthly silence once more, save for the occasional call of the owl. The silence was soon broken by a piercing shriek that sent a icy chill up Sarah’s spine. She stopped short looking around for the source of the sound, not really sure that she wanted to find it. To her relief there was nothing to be seen. Returning her gaze back to the road ahead of her, she thought she saw someone walking in the distance.
Sarah quickened her pace in order to get a closer look, hoping that it would be someone with whom she could walk and keep company. “Anyone,” she muttered to herself, “would be better than walking alone in this place.” As she drew near, she was surprised to see another girl about her age. Immediately, she hastened her step once more nearing a jog to catch up to the girl. “Hey!” Sarah called to the girl. “Wait for me, please.” It was evident that the other girl heard her plea. She slowed her pace, allowing Sarah to catch up.
Once she had reached the other girl, Sarah introduced herself. “Thank you for waiting for me, I‘m Sarah.“ The girl looked at her and smiled.
“Hello, I’m Amber.” The girl spoke with a soft, gentle voice. “What brings you here at this time of night?” Sarah blushed slightly.
“I’m kinda late getting home.” She explained sheepishly. “Shadowbirch Road is the only shortcut between Shelly’s house and mine, though I was beginning to get a little spooked, but then I saw you walking and well, here I am.” She looked up at her new traveling partner curiously. “How about you?”
Amber smiled warmly and replied, “I was just out for a walk, and I find this road to be rather peaceful after dark. I’ve heard some of my friends talk about you. If you like we can walk together.” Sarah answered with a nod.
Once more the sky became blotted out by the grim canopy of interlocking tree limbs, thrusting the road back into nearly total darkness. Sarah again felt uneasy as though dark eyes were watching from the depths of the surrounding shadows. She shuddered under the impression of countless unseen faces with their eyes fixed upon her, following her every movement. She saw something move near a gravestone, and jumped grabbing Amber’s arm. Sarah let go almost as fast as she had taken hold of it.
“Amber!” Sarah exclaimed, “you really need to get inside soon. You’re freezing!” Amber smiled humorously.
“Not to worry, I’m used to it.” Amber replied with a modest shrug. “I go walking like this all of the time, but why… why’d you grab me like that?”
“It looked as though something was standing by that old headstone, and well,” Sarah said flushed with embarrassment, “I guess it kinda spooked me.” Amber smiled amused by Sarah’s edginess.
By the time they had reached the end of Shadowbirch Road, a dismally gray fog had began to move into the area. The ancient iron gate, overrun by dried ivy, and paralyzed by years of rust, soon passed over their heads.
“If it’ll make you feel better,” Amber said with a warm and sweet voice, “I can walk with you to your house.” Sarah nodded with a look of reassurance on her face.
“Thanks, that would be great.” She answered with a smile. To her it seemed that a load of weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
Slowly they passed by the houses that sat like silent sentinels lining the narrow road. To her curiosity, Sarah noticed that the dogs which normally barked at anything, tucked their tails and ran away with their haunches raised in fright. The fog had grown thicker since the two girls had left the cemetery. Sarah, could see a small form at the edge of the road. Upon looking closer she recognized it as her neighbor’s cat.
“Samson!” She called, expecting the feline to come toward her at his usual trot. “Here kitty, kitty, kitty.”
To her utmost surprise Samson arched his back hissing as they approached. By the time Sarah was close enough to reach for him, he swatted at her with a claw, then ran off into the cover of the shadows. Samson’s actions gave Sarah a start, she’d never seen him act like that before, even when her dog was around.
They soon approached Sarah’s front yard. Locke, Sarah’s golden retriever came running out to meet them, however as soon as Locke came within less than ten feet of them, he shied away whimpering. Sarah’s face was one of confusion, to her knowledge Locke had never reacted liked that toward anyone before. She called to Locke hoping to get him to come to her and Amber, though nothing she would seemed to work.
Within moments the girls climbed the steps that led onto Sarah’s porch. Once they had reached the door, she turned to Amber once more, but Amber was preparing to leave. Sarah snagged her sleeve stopping her short. Amber turned her head slowly to regard Sarah with a smile.
“I wanted to say thanks for walking with me tonight.” Sarah explained in good humor. “I know this may sound childish, but when I was walking trough the cemetery, I was really beginning to get scared.” Sarah smiled at her newfound friend.
“Oh it was nothing.” Amber said in a small sweet voice. “I know how you feel, I used to feel the same way too, when I was alive.” With that she turned and walked to the edge of the porch where, to Sarah’s bewilderment, she vanished among the shadows of the night, leaving only the silence to keep her once more.
~FIN~
W. R. Frady
W. R. Frady
