###
Chantree Lane.
Mike and I were hoping we were on to a good thing. The girls, Jenny, Mike’s girlfriend, and Josie, my girl, had both promised us it would be a night to remember, and our anticipation was rising. After having several drinks at the local bar, the four of us jumped into Mike’s clapped out motor, his joy-wagon he called I called it the scrap-mobile, and we hit the road. Mike drove with Jenny in the front, Josie and I cuddled up in back.
I’m not too sure who suggested it, but we ended up taking the short route through Chantree Lane, a dismal dirt track that snaked its way through Chantree Wood. As kids, we’d all heard the stories of terrible things happening in Chantree Wood, but they were just that, stories to frighten kids to keep them from playing in the woodland. There had been the occasional article in the local paper advising all to stay away from Chantree because of some sightings of supposed ghosts and sprits, but everyone thought of it as a joke. Everything was going fine until, we must have been about two-thirds of the way into Chantree Lane when the joy-mobile began chugging and jolting. Its engine growled and slowed, the joy-mobile coughed and spat, and finally lurched to a grinding halt.
“You guys planned this didn’t you?” Jenny said and winked at Josie.
“If they think they’re lucks in sitting in this heap of crap they’re very much mistaken!” Josie replied with a cute giggle.
Mike turned the ignition key. “Damn it! What’s up with the damn thing?” The joy-mobile just whined and died, even the headlights gave up the ghost, leaving us in total darkness.
“Gas?” I asked while leaning over from the back seat.
“Na can’t be I filled her up at lunch.”
“Well honey, if you think me and Josie are going to stay here the night you’re wrong.” Jenny grumbled at Mike’s side.
“I don’t know what the hell’s wrong, there shouldn’t be any problem I had her serviced the other day!” Mike groaned now that there was a chance the night wasn’t going to go as planned.
“Get this crap heap going, Mike!” I said.
Mike desperately turned the ignition key and cranked the engine. The engine churned and slowed. Mike turned and saw me sitting next to Josie, and then whipped back round and flicked the ignition key again. The old joy-mobile spat and coughed but wouldn’t fire. Mike hit the wheel in temper. “Damn it, god damn it! I’ll check under the hood.” He opened his door and walked to the front of the car, I followed. He popped the hood and we both stood there looking at the engine.
“So what you reckon is up?” I inquired.
Mike took his eyes from the dead engine and said, “How the hell should I know mate, I’m not a damn car mechanic!” For the next fifteen minutes Mike tinkered with this lead and that, each time he did something I get back in the driver’s seat and turned the key with little success, the joy-mobile just wouldn’t start.
“That’s it, we’re up the creak!” he finally exclaimed, “This piece of crap isn’t going anywhere!”
Leaving Mike to tinker some more in the hopes he just might stumble upon what’s wrong, I returned to the girls. They were both in the back.
“Looks like Mike should send this piece of junk to the scrap yard!” Jenny said with an annoyed tone.
“Yep, and we aren’t walking either, so get on the mobile and call a cab.” Josie added.
“Awe, come on girls don’t be like that, I’m sure we can get it going shortly.”
“Yeah, like that’s going to happen!” exclaimed Jenny who was becoming increasingly impatient.
“Girls, please don’t be like that. It can’t be far to town. We can walk it and still be home in plenty of time.”
“Christ sake!” Mike shouted.
I return to Mike who has his face stuck in the engine. “How’s it coming, any luck? The girls are getting a tad impatient, you need to get it working, and soon!” Mike straightened and slammed the hood down, “Not happening mate, we’d better tell the girls its walk or spend the night here.” After telling the girls, they voiced their objections in a crude manner with the gist of it being, no way. Then Mike came up with a suggestion.
“Hey as far as I can remember there’s an old ranger’s station about a mile into the wood, we could hike it there and radio for a tow.”
Surprisingly, both Jenny and Josie agreed, and we set out arm in arm into the dark along the dirt track that led deeper into the wood and the ranger’s station. I guess they really didn’t want to spend a night cramped up in the ole joy-wagon, and hoped the station wouldn’t be too far away. As we walk deeper into Chantree Wood, the heavens opened up and chuck it down, by the time we reached the ranger’s station we’re all soaked, and the girls were far from happy as I shoved the creaky old wood door open.
“Hit the light will ya.” Mike said.
I fumbled round the wall by the door looking for a switch. Eventually finding it, I flipped it, nothing happened.
“Guess there’s no power.” I announced.
“Well that’s just great!” moaned Josie.
“Everyone see if you can find a lantern or something!” suggested Mike.
“Sod that, you see if you can find it!” grumbled Jenny.
Mike stumbled round the station bumping into this and that. I searched as well while the girls stood by the door. Finally, I grabbed something that feels like a candle.
“Hey, got a candle here I think, anyone got a match?”
“Yeah, come here.” Mike called.
Feeling my way towards his voice I crossed to where he was, he gripped my hand and pulled the candle from me. The station lit up momentarily as he struck the match, and the place filled with an eerie glow as the candle flickered and burned.
“Geez, I reckon this place hasn’t been used in ages!” I announced seeing the dust covered desk.
Mike poured a little melted wax onto the desk and pushed the candle into it to hold it upright.
“There, nice and cosy. What ya think girls?” he said with a broad smile.
Jenny looked at Josie; Josie stuck her nose in the air. “Yuk, too dirty, and it smells awful!”
“Don’t be so stuck up! We’ve been in worse places than this.” Mike grumbled.
“Well what’s in there?” Josie asked pointing to a door next to where I was standing.
I reached out and turned the doorknob, the door creaked open… “Shit!” I yelled as something fluttered against my face. The girls squealed and ducked, Mike just stood there laughing.
“You dozy pillock…it’s only a bat!” he laughed. “Now go see what’s in there.”
He threw me his matches; I strike one and shoved my arm into the room. I can just make out a tatty old bed with a rank mattress. A small locker sat next to the bed, covered in an inch of dust.
“Looks like this is where the ranger used to sleep.” I announced without looking at them.
“Is there a lantern or maybe a radio?” was Mike’s first question.
“Err…well…no, not that I can see.”
Jenny and Josie were whispering to each other, when Jenny suddenly said, “We think we should go back to the car, it’s too scary here!”
“Maybe they’re right Mike. Maybe we should just head back.” I suggested.
“Can’t see the point in that, much better to stay put and look for a radio, there’s got’a be one here somewhere!” exclaimed Mike.
“Is there another candle round here?” I asked.
“Why, sacred of the dark?” was Mike’s reply.
“A little light wouldn’t hurt.”
Jenny moved to her right and knocked something over; it was followed by a metallic clatter. Josie leaned down and picked up a rusty old oil lamp. I threw Mike the matches as he took the lamp from Josie and shakes it. The lamp had a little fuel; Mike strikes another match and the wick caught. The station lit up in a dim yellow glow, we could then see the station is in disrepair and hadn’t been used in ages. Jenny grabbed the lamp from Mike and she and Josie went into the oth
er room. There was a small iron stove a few feet away from the rickety old bed, Jenny lifted up the rusty lid.
“How about you get some kindling so we can have a fire?” she asked.
Josie pulled the tattered dust ridden blanket from the bed and threw it into the corner; she then tapped the bed gesturing for Jenny to sit with her.
“Have you forgotten it’s chucking it down out there?” Mike exclaimed.
“No we haven’t forgotten, but we are cold!” Josie stated.
“Guess we’d better get outside and grab some kindling then.” I responded.
“Okay, but don’t be too long.” Josie called from behind the door.
Mike went round back of the station while I scavenged the front. It was pitch black, and the cold rain didn’t help either. As I collected a few lumps of broken branches, I suddenly got the strangest feeling that I was being watched. I stood with branches in my arms, unable to move for a few seconds. My eyes tried to search out through the dark to find anyone or anything that might be of danger.
“What ya waiting for?” Mike’s voice called from behind me, I almost jumped out of my skin with shock.
“I…I…I’m sure there’s someone out there!”
Mike strained to penetrate the dark foreboding wood, “You’re losing it mate, nothing out there but what’s in your mind!”
I knew he’s right of course, but I still got this nagging feeling that we are not alone. Shrugging the feeling aside I gestured to the station. As we stepped up the few wooden steps to the door, we heard a high-pitched scream from within. I dropped the logs, Mike shoved the door aside and we charged straight into the back room. Both girls are kneeling on the bed cuddling each other, and had a look of fear on their faces.
“What? What is it?” I urgently demanded.
“There!” Josie pointed.
“Where?”
“There…in the corner!” added Jenny.
Mike and I cautiously moved to the corner only to find a large grey rat cowing near a pile of rags.
“It’s only a rat!” Mike retorted.
“Only a rat! Only a rat!” snapped Jenny. “Rat’s carry diseases!”
I couldn’t help myself and let out a snigger.
“Oh that’s right, laugh!” scolded Josie.
The rat in the mean time was frantically trying to run away, so Mike grabbed its long thin tail and picked it up. He dangled it towards the girls, who immediately went into a fit of screams and shrieks loud enough to deafen anyone within a two-mile radius. Mike laughed and eventually threw the rat out of the wooden shuttered window. I returned to the main door to pick up the dropped firewood, as I stoop to retrieve the logs something caught my vision, just out the corner of my eye. Something moved round the back of the station, I’d only just caught a glimpse but was sure it did. Quickly I returned inside, and placed the logs on the desktop, motioning Mike over. Mike came through and pulled the door shut behind him.
“What’s up?”
“Someone’s outside.”
“You sure, can’t see anyone being out here this time of night.”
“Well, I only caught a quick glimpse, but I’m positive there’s someone out there!”
“All right, we’ll take a look. Best not tell the girls though, might make them uneasy.”
Agreeing, Mike called to the girls. “Just fetching some dry wood from round back, be back in a minute.” Cautiously, and with apprehension Mike led the way round back, we both retained a large lump of wood for protection. Once round the back we found no one there.
“See, you must be imagining things!” Mike grumbled.
“I could have sworn!”
Just then we heard the girls screaming yet again.
“Come on, probably a mouse this time!” joked Mike.
Before we could reach the door, it swung open and Josie charged past running into the woods ignoring us both.
“Hey Josie!” I called, but she kept running.
“I’m going after her.” I announced and set off as Mike went back inside.
Deeper into the woods I went. “Josie babe! Come on hun!” I called into the darkness. It was then I heard the snapping of twigs further out in the dark.
“Josie…that you…what’s wrong? Don’t play games now, come back here?”
Slowly I walked further from the station, the noise of the cracking twigs drew me deeper and deeper. It was way too dark to see beyond a couple of meters, and the rain clouded my vision. Then I suddenly saw something running to my left. I began running, following, hoping to catch Josie and end this stupid little game. The wood was silent. I couldn’t see the station; I’d come so far. The silence is suddenly shattered by a harrowing scream, the scream of a girl. I ran, hoping to hell nothing had happened to Josie. I stumbled over something and fell; something caught round my trainer. I grabbed it and fought to free it from my shoe, it was material. I got up and pulled the garment to my face, my eyes widened and my heart pounded when I realised it was Josie’s shirt.
“Josie!” I shouted in panic, but there was no answer.
I ran again, hoping I’m headed back towards the station; all sense of direction was lost. A few yards along I stopped. At first I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, my eyes watered, my chest hurt, my mouth was dry, and I couldn’t speak. Swallowing I moved closer, and saw an arm dangling from behind a tree. Slowly I moved round the other side. My breath became erratic; my stomach turned as bile filled my mouth. I bent forward and vomited. Josie…my Josie is next to the tree. Her body ripped, lacerated, and splattered with blood. Her stomach had been savagely torn apart. A rusty scythe impaled her dead body to the tree trunk. I fell to my knees unable to take my sore crying eyes from her. How long I stayed on my knees I’m not sure, it couldn’t have been more than a few minutes. My mind was in confusion; I didn’t know what to do. Then it hit me, Mike and Jenny, I had to get back to the station.
I ran, faster than I thought I could ever run. My chest felt like it was going to erupt; I caught a stitch in my side, but knew I had to find Mike and Jenny. My hands were shaking when I turned the door handle to the station. Inside the fire was burning; I walked in and moved to the back room door. I hesitated; I couldn’t hear any noise. I knew Mike and Jenny were in there. So why is it so quiet, perhaps they have gone to look for Josie and me? I gripped the door handle, waited a few seconds, took a deep breath and opened the door. I reeled back in horror…lying on the bed was Jenny…her body ripped open from groin to neck…her flesh pealed back exposing her innards…her eyes…so cold and dead. Again and with extreme force I quickly lost the contents of my stomach, watery puke flowed freely from my mouth in four gushing spurts. It splattered onto the floor and my trainers then mingled with the pool of Jenny’s blood that slowly crept towards me. I backtracked in a rush, back into the other room.
What the hell’s happening? Mike, where’s Mike?
I shook all over. I didn’t know what to do. I was scared, but knew I must try to find Mike. I tried to pull myself together, and saw a baseball bat in the corner; I grabbed it then went back outside.
“Mike…Mike!”
It was then I heard a muffled groan from the rear of the station. I slowly went round back, holding the baseball bat defensively. Mike was lying on his stomach; he’s covered in blood. I moved to his side and knelt.
“Mike.” I said in a whisper.
Mike didn’t reply. I turned him over and scurried back quickly. I sat there looking at him, not believing what I saw. His chest had several stab marks, each oozing blood. Mike’s eyes were wide and staring, he couldn’t talk, he throat was agape and blood flowed with ease spurting down over his chest. Mike’s eyes slowly closed as he died. I cried freely, just like a baby, I’m not ashamed of it, I was scared, more scared than I’d ever been. My whole body trembled as I hugged the baseball bat to my heaving chest, the only protection I had. Fear gripped me as I heard the crack of a branch behind me. I wanted to run…needed to run…but fear had a firm grip on me, so much s
o I found it hard to move. I know I must, I forced myself to get up and turn round. I wish I hadn’t…what it was I don’t know, but it wanted my death. My first reaction was to throw the baseball bat at it, but it missed.
I ran…it followed…a thing in a black full body gown that weaved a rusty scythe, slashing at me as I tried to put distance between us. The twiggy ground beneath me cracked underfoot, yet the thing made no sound. I kept looking back and there it was following and slashing. I could hear the swish of the scythe behind me. Death would take me if I didn’t run faster. This evil thing has murdered my girlfriend, my friends, and if I were not quicker, it would have my life. Just how I managed to get away and back to town I can’t remember. The sheriff found my story hard to believe. The authorities recovered Mike, Jenny, and Josie’s bodies, their fatal wounds were just as I described, but there was no evidence of a mysterious thing, or even anyone else. The scythe they pulled from Josie had no fingerprints on it. What they did find was a black full body gown, a gown that had DNA all over it, Josie’s, Mike’s, Jenny’s…and someone else.
You want to know the real horror of this story? In two days, I take the long walk…the green mile to the chair. The other DNA was my own. Guess that’s why the jury found me guilty…but I didn’t do it…DID I.
###
About the Author.
James Marriott has been writing for several years, and has covered a range of genres, including science fiction, supernatural, erotica, and more. James’ first foray into writing began back in 1993 with the military science fiction novel Space Brigade. He continues to write short stories, and is currently working on a futuristic science fiction detective novel, and a supernatural novel.
Catacomb Tales Page 7
