by Lee Jones
Midnight comes and there is no pickup truck and airboat like the night before. They wait till the early morning and nothing. They pull the air boat out of the water and leave. The next day Langdon and Carson load the trailer with the air boat and head back out to the same location.
This time they wait and watch again like the night before. It’s about midnight and a black van and the same pickup truck pull up to the shore. Men in black unload their airboat into the water. Carson has a moment. He closes his eyes and can see something.
“What is it?” says Langdon. Carson looks over and says, “I am sensing danger. It is possible we have more victims here.”
The airboat takes off and the truck and van take off
down the road. Carson get into his air boat and. He waits till the suspects boat is far into the swamp not to warn them someone else is following them. Langdon gets in with his shotgun. He puts on the headset, starts the engine and maneuvers towards the direction of the suspects.
Carson has a walkie with him to communicate with Langdon. They are careful to use a flash light as this might give out their position, but it’s so dark they need to see where they are going. Every time they turn on the light out on the water they can see the eyes of alligators swimming below the surface.
It’s been an hour out in the swamp. It seems they might have lost the airboat.
SMOKE ON THE WATER
Langdon and Carson are on the airboat in the middle of the swamp. They are lost and have no clue where the suspects went. Carson pulls out his flask takes a drink. The mosquitos are nasty and have been biting at Langdon. He’s smacking his arm and neck every minute.
They can smell a burning fire in the distance. “You smell that?” says Langdon. Carson looks around into the night but it’s hard to pick out anything in the dark. He closes his eyes and tries to connect with his surroundings. Carson then looks up and grabs the flashlight. He points it out into the water. “This way,” he says. Langdon steers the boat in the direction of the light and Carson directs them the rest of the way.
They pull up to a shore with a camp and a bonfire burning. They have found something. Langdon cuts the engine and lets the boat drift not to alert anyone. They can see that other airboat parked on the shore but no one around. With out it making it shore both guys get out into the water their knees submerged. They walk over to the shore.
Langdon walks to the left Carson to the right. Langdon looks down at his phone, there is no signal this far out on the swamp. Radio contact with the station is probably cut off at this point as well.
FIRST CONTACT
A gunshot rings out and pings off the metal hull of the boat. Langdon and Carson duck and run for cover. Langdon runs behind the boat
and Carson hides in the bushes. Langdon pulls out a pistol but doesn’t know where the shots are coming from and can’t see in the dark. Another shot rings out.
Carson closes his eyes and can sense someone close by over in the woods. He slowly moves over to that area not to alert them. He creeps from behind and tackles the shooter from behind. The shooter falls to the ground and his gun gets thrown forward. The shooter is struggling, and Carson turns over the man to see his face.
“Who are you!?” yells Carson. He grabs the man’s lapel and shakes him. The shooter looks dead, foam slowly comes from his lips. Langdon runs over and looks down.
“Fuck!” says Langdon. “He’s dead,” says Carson.
The shooter had killed himself before he could be interrogated. They investigate the camp looking for any clues. Inside of a wood shack are photos posted on the walls of victims. Carson can see not only photos of the Smith’s but of also the other recent missing tourist and a dozen more missing. Carson picks up the photos of the recent missing tourist. “They’re not on this island but they are very close
by,” says Carson. “They were following each of their victims closely.”
CLOSE BY
Langdon and Carson get on the airboat in search of the location of the missing. They ride down the swamp further. “Stop the boat,” says Carson. Langdon cuts the engine. They pull of their headsets to listen. The sound of a drum beat is heard in the distance.
“Do you hear that?” says Carson. “Yea I hear it it’s coming in that direction,” says Langdon. He points off in the distance and flashes the light. Langdon grabs a row. Carson grabs another and they row the boat towards the sound of the drum beat.
They can see smoke and another fire going. Except this camp is much bigger. In fact, it was a whole compound with several cabins on the property. It was an island in the middle of the swamp so deep out that no one could know this was there.
They don’t want to alert who ever is at the camp, so they get of the boat way out in the water. This time the water comes up to their chest. An alligator swims by. It takes them fifteen minutes to reach the shore. They reach a shore near a wooded area. Their clothes are soaked, and mud is on their shoes.
They are hiding in a bush. Waiting and watching.
BEAT OF THE DRUM
Carson and Langdon are now on the island in the middle of the swamp. They are
hiding in a bush watching and observing. They can see the camp. A fire burns and a drum beat is loud. People dancing in a trance and chant with the drum beat.
Langdon whispers, “what the hell is this?”
“It appears to be some sort of ritual,” says Carson.
Two men in black walk towards one of the cabins. They open the door and drag out a man. He is badly bruised and appears weak. It’s John the victim that went missing a few weeks ago. They both recognize him.
“That’s one of our victims, Says Carson. “I know,” replies Langdon. They drag John out by one hand each. Langdon is ready to pounce and draw his weapon, but Carson pushes it down.
“Put that thing away!” Carson whispers. John is tied to a pole by his hands. Two other men in black load dead bodies onto the airboat and leave into the darkness of night. Langdon quietly moves across and behind the cabin where John was dragged from.
He waits until no one is looking then goes inside the door. Carson is still waiting in the bushes. He closes his eyes and tries to sense the environment. He feels death. He then sees a vision. He could see
those missing persons as victims being brought here. Then he sees the ritual. Men and women are dragged to a table, killed then drained of blood. The bodies dumped in another location in the bayou. Carson opens his eyes. He needs to hold something tangible to see more.
Meanwhile, Langdon has made it inside the cabin. He radios Carson. “I made it inside.” There are two hostages tied by their hands inside. Langdon holds a single finger to his lips to hush the couple from screaming. “FBI, I’m here to rescue you,” he whispers. He unties their hands and they look for an opportunity to escape.
CULT SECRETS
Carson finds a dagger on the ground. He holds it and closes his eyes.
The high priest has emerged. The drumming starts again, and the chanting gets loud. Langdon and the two hostages make their move and open the door. They hide in the bush nearby.
John is united and marched up to the table. The high priest looks for the dagger but can’t find it.
A congregation member brings another knife and walks up towards the high priest. Langdon is watching in the bushes and can’t resist. He does something now or someone is getting killed today. He draws his pistol points and fires hitting the man in the leg. He falls to the ground. The congregation scatters everywhere. Everyone running in panic.
Carson was beginning to see a vision, but all hell breaks loose. He looks up and see what was happening. He runs and grabs John. He shakes John laying on the table. “Wake up!” John wakes and looks up. Very weak and drowsy. “I’m FBI detective Carson I’m here to get you out!”
Carson helps John off the table and lifts one arm over his shoulder. The guards grab weapons and run in the direction of the shot. Langdon grabs the two victims and makes a run for it towards the shore.
ESCAPE
Langdon and the two victims have made it to the shore of the water. “Get in the boat!” Langdon points to the boat and the two victims must swim at this point to get to the boat. Langdon has stayed behind firing his pistol back. The water next to him splashes as bullets miss him.
The two victims make it to the boat. Langdon finally swims and climbs in the boat. He starts the engine pulls the boat around heads out into the darkness. In the hurry he has forgotten his partner Carson was left behind.
Carson is helping John get to the shore. He see’s and hears the air boat start then take off.
“Langdon!” he yells.
Langdon has now increased to full speed. He’s racing across the water. He just now realized he’s missing Carson in tow.
“I’m missing my partner, we need to go back.”
Langdon gets on the radio, “Carson you fucking idiot! I’m coming back to get you”
Langdon turns around the boat and heads back. “Get down,” he tells the two passengers. He cuts the engine and lets it coast then draws his weapon to cover for Carson. Shots are fired from the shore and ping off the metal hull of the boat.
“Come on!” yells Carson. Carson stops and suddenly has a vision. He is seeing a minute into the future.
In the future he see’s himself wading in the water trying to get to the boat and getting shot in the back.
Carson normally doesn’t like to carry a pistol on him so the only weapon he had was the dagger. He lays John on the back and runs back to face the shooters.
The shooter is suddenly shot in the head and immediately falls to the ground. Carson looks behind and it was Langdon holding his pistol smoke coming from the barrel.
Carson picks up John and heads back towards the boat. He struggles to get John body in the boat but gets it there then he himself gets in.
Langdon starts the engine again and turns around heading back out into the darkness.
CLOSE CALL
Langdon has increased the airboat now to full speed. They made a close call but finally made it out. Carson has a sigh of relief.
Un beknow to them is the fact that they are now being followed. The congregation has now entered their airboat and is about a half mile behind them.
Carson lowers his head and closes his eyes for a few seconds. “We’re being followed.”
The boat makes it to the shore and Langdon, Carson and the passengers get out and run to the truck hidden in the bushes. John must be slowly carried because he has a bad leg.
The truck pulls out and leaves dust. Just as they pull away the chasing airboat pulls into the shore. They have made it away a very close call.
FINAL CHAPTER
Carson sits in his apartment slouched in his chair with whiskey in his glass.
It’s been a few weeks after the rescue. The hostages have fully recovered. The suspects brought to justice.
It’s unclear why people do the things that they do you why they believe. Carson has finally solved another case. In fact, several cases. Closure had been brought to the survivors and the families of the victims.
Carson is ready for the next case, he takes another sip from the whiskey glass. He closes his eyes and begins to see. He sees the dead, the victims of this horrific crime.
The phone rings. It’s Langdon on the line and he has another case. Carson gets up and puts on his suit jacket and walks out the door.
The End.
THE FOREST
By Lee Jones
PROLUGOE
The suicide forest or Aokigahara forest (sea of trees) in Japan see over 100 suicides a year. Locals tell stories of paranormal activity in the forest. Many who come to visit do not return.
THE BEGINNING
Japan has always been a dream destination. The far east, full of splendor and wonder. Anime, bullet trains, sushi, martial arts, and some much more. But for a small certain group of tourist those things are not always enticing. Meet Katy, Jon and Leo. A group of American tourist on a flight to a Tokyo. But not any tourist, dark tourist. The kind looking for the unusual, off beaten path destination away from the usual tourist traps.
They’re plane just touched down on the runway. Its been a long flight and Leo is still passed out asleep in his seat. The plane docks into the terminal and the engines cut. Everyone stands and starts pulling their luggage from the overhead bins. Kate turns over to her right to shake Leo and wake him up. “Are we there yet”, says Leo. He opens one eye, then lifts his head to look around. He stretches his arms and sniffs his nose. “well finally”, Leo Says. The group de boards the plane and makes they’re way to the baggage.
As they wait several large military industry cases revolve around the carousel. It’s their gear and luggage brought along for the trip. Camera equipment, audio equipment and camping gear. Then the more obscure gear like a spirit box, thermometers, EMF meters, EVP and more. It was a bit overload but the team was prepared to make the most out of their trip. They are paranormal investigators on their way to the notorious Aokigahara forest. Also know as the suicide forest, home to 100 deaths per year. Many tourist come here but many come to not return.
The many stories and myths of from the locals of the forest have intrigued Kate, Jon and Leo. As a team they have investigated over 30 sites of paranormal activity over the years of working together. This time it was different. Never has there been so many stories and accounts from one location. If they were to find something, it was to be here.
It’s a few hours journey to the forest just on the other side of Mt. Fuji. The team is stoked on the final bus ride out. Leo is prepping his cameras. He’s the main photographer on the trip. He has his smaller goPro cam filming some unscripted moments. “On our way to the notorious suicide forest in Japan. This place is home to over 100 suicides a year. You are bound to find a body or some evidence in here”, says Leo as he speaks to the camera. He is making a documentary on the experience. Kate is looking on her laptop over news articles and photos about the myths and stories of the area. Jon is looking at a map of the forest trying to plot a trail and camping spot for the night.
The bus finally pulls in and everyone gets off. Kate, Leo and Jon are the last ones to de board the bus because they have so much gear. They pull bags from the overheard storage then pull luggage from underneath the bus. They put all their bags on the ground in a circle and just look at it. “You think we brought too much stuff?” says Jon. “We’re going to have to consolidate some stuff there is quit a hike to the camp site for tonight”, says Jon. The team starts organizing and consolidating their gear. They all have large hiking backpacks filled with the basics, a tent, food/water and flashlights. Leo pulls out a DSLR and slings it around his neck. He has a case in one hand. The rest of the team has a case of gear in each hand. They grab it and get moving. “If I can get a clearing I can pinpoint our exact location,” says Jon.
NO TURNING BACK
At the edge of the forest a sign reads, "Your life is something precious that was given to you by your parents" while another one states "Meditate on your parents, siblings and your children once more. Do not be troubled
alone." The Aokigahara forest is also called the sea of trees because of its high density of tress. It is so dense that you can easily get lost. Some Japanese tourist stand to read the sign in awe. But dare not to venture past the sign. Kate, Jon and Leo walk past with all their gear in tow. The Japanese tourist stare at the team in confusion.
Jon has a GPS but is struggling with a signal from all the trees covering the sky. Cell phone signals quickly die. “GPS signal is hard to get and I have no cell phone signal”, says Jon. They quickly realize things are starting to look the same. All they can see is trees for miles ahead. “You sure you know where we are going?”, says Leo. “The trail is going us in this direction”, says Jon as he points to off in the distance. “There’s no turning back at this point”, says Kate.
Jon suddenly stops and everyone following behind bumps into him. He is just staring up at a
tree limb. It’s a noose hanging from the branch. “wow”, says Leo. Leo pulls his DSLR camera to his eye and start clicking away. He start video recording again,” first evidence into the forest”, Leo speaks to the camera. A couple of hours into hiking and the team has made it to the first camp site for the night. “We’re here lets setup camp for the night,” says Jon. They drop their backpacks and gear exhausted from the hike.
Jon starts assembling the tent and sleeping bags, Kate is working on a fire and Leo is wandering around the vicinity looking for more clues before it gets dark. The team is settling in for the night. Jon finishes setting up the tent and sets up game cameras on a couple trees around the vicinity
of the tent. Leo sets up an infrared camera pointing in one direction. Kate sets up high sensitivity audio recorder.
DAY ONE
It’s dark and the team has already setup camp. Kate as a bonfire going. Crickets chirp in the background
and everyone once in a while there is an animal noise in the background. There will be no EVP sessions tonight but the team wants to get a general feel for the environment they are in.
They leave the game cameras on but turn of the night vision camera and audio recorder to conserve battery life after an hour. They quickly fall asleep in their tent so tired from the trip and hike earlier in the day.
