Desirous of saving him from the injuries and sufferings he had daily encountered in his wanderings, and of preventing him from exposing to the general eye those marks of what they considered folly, they engaged a physician to reside in the house, and take constant care of him. He hardly appeared to notice it, so completely was his mind absorbed by one terrible subject. His incoherence became at last so great, that he was confined to his chamber. There he would often lie for days, incapable of being roused. He had become emaciated, his eyes had attained a glassy lustre; the only sign of affection and recollection remaining displayed itself upon the entry of his sister; then he would sometimes start, and, seizing her hands, with looks that severely afflicted her, he would desire her not to touch him. “Oh, do not touch him – if your love for me is aught, do not go near him!” When, however, she inquired to whom he referred, his only answer was, “True! True!” and again he sank into a state, whence not even she could rouse him. This lasted many months: gradually, however, as the year was passing, his incoherences became less frequent, and his mind threw off a portion of its gloom, whilst his guardians observed, that several times in the day he would count upon his fingers a definite number, and then smile.
The time had nearly elapsed, when, upon the last day of the year, one of his guardians entering his room, began to converse with his physician upon the melancholy circumstance of Aubrey’s being in so awful a situation, when his sister was going next day to be married. Instantly Aubrey’s attention was attracted; he asked anxiously to whom. Glad of this mark of returning intellect, of which they feared he had been deprived, they mentioned the name of the Earl of Marsden. Thinking this was a young Earl whom he had met with in society, Aubrey seemed pleased, and astonished them still more by his expressing his intention to be present at the nuptials, and desiring to see his sister. They answered not, but in a few minutes his sister was with him. He was apparently again capable of being affected by the influence of her lovely smile; for he pressed her to his breast, and kissed her cheek, wet with tears, flowing at the thought of her brother’s being once more alive to the feelings of affection. He began to speak with all his wonted warmth, and to congratulate her upon her marriage with a person so distinguished for rank and every accomplishment; when he suddenly perceived a locket upon her breast; opening it, what was his surprise at beholding the features of the monster who had so long influenced his life. He seized the portrait in a paroxysm of rage, and trampled it under foot. Upon her asking him why he thus destroyed the resemblance of her future husband, he looked as if he did not understand her – then seizing her hands, and gazing on her with a frantic expression of countenance, he bade her swear that she would never wed this monster, for he – but he could not advance – it seemed as if that voice again bade him remember his oath – he turned suddenly round, thinking Lord Ruthven was near him but saw no one. In the meantime the guardians and physician, who had heard the whole, and thought this was but a return of his disorder, entered, and forcing him from Miss Aubrey, desired her to leave him. He fell upon his knees to them, he implored, he begged of them to delay but for one day. They, attributing this to the insanity they imagined had taken possession of his mind, endeavoured to pacify him, and retired.
Lord Ruthven had called the morning after the drawing-room, and had been refused with everyone else. When he heard of Aubrey’s ill health, he readily understood himself to be the cause of it; but when he learned that he was deemed insane, his exultation and pleasure could hardly be concealed from those among whom he had gained this information. He hastened to the house of his former companion, and, by constant attendance, and the pretence of great affection for the brother and interest in his fate, he gradually won the ear of Miss Aubrey. Who could resist his power? His tongue had dangers and toils to recount – could speak of himself as of an individual having no sympathy with any being on the crowded earth, save with her to whom he addressed himself; could tell how, since he knew her, his existence, had begun to seem worthy of preservation, if it were merely that he might listen to her soothing accents; in fine, he knew so well how to use the serpent’s art, or such was the will of fate, that he gained her affections. The title of the elder branch falling at length to him, he obtained an important embassy, which served as an excuse for hastening the marriage (in spite of her brother’s deranged state), which was to take place the very day before his departure for the continent.
Aubrey, when he was left by the physician and his guardians, attempted to bribe the servants, but in vain. He asked for pen and paper; it was given him; he wrote a letter to his sister, conjuring her, as she valued her own happiness, her own honour, and the honour of those now in the grave, who once held her in their arms as their hope and the hope of their house, to delay but for a few hours that marriage, on which he denounced the most heavy curses. The servants promised they would deliver it; but giving it to the physician, he thought it better not to harass any more the mind of Miss Aubrey by, what he considered, the ravings of a maniac. Night passed on without rest to the busy inmates of the house; and Aubrey heard, with a horror that may more easily be conceived than described, the notes of busy preparation. Morning came, and the sound of carriages broke upon his ear. Aubrey grew almost frantic. The curiosity of the servants at last overcame their vigilance, they gradually stole away, leaving him in the custody of an helpless old woman. He seized the opportunity, with one bound was out of the room, and in a moment found himself in the apartment where all were nearly assembled. Lord Ruthven was the first to perceive him: he immediately approached, and, taking his arm by force, hurried him from the room, speechless with rage. When on the staircase, Lord Ruthven whispered in his ear – “Remember your oath, and know, if not my bride today, your sister is dishonoured. Women are frail!” So saying, he pushed him towards his attendants, who, roused by the old woman, had come in search of him. Aubrey could no longer support himself; his rage not finding vent, had broken a blood-vessel, and he was conveyed to bed. This was not mentioned to his sister, who was not present when he entered, as the physician was afraid of agitating her. The marriage was solemnized, and the bride and bridegroom left London.
Aubrey’s weakness increased; the effusion of blood produced symptoms of the near approach of death. He desired his sister’s guardians might be called, and when the midnight hour had struck, he related composedly what the reader has perused – he died immediately after.
The guardians hastened to protect Miss Aubrey; but when they arrived, it was too late. Lord Ruthven had disappeared, and Aubrey’s sister had glutted the thirst of a Vampyre!
Tracks in the Snow
Cody Schroeder
Alex stood in front of the glass door sipping hot chocolate. “Welcome to winter in Missouri. If you don’t like it, wait ten minutes.”
Kim looked up from her book and blanket. “What? You don’t like snow?”
“Oh I love snow. We’re gonna go play in it as soon as I finish this. It’s more the fact it was 70 and windy two days ago and now we have eight inches of snow on the ground. Here’s to consistency.” He raised his mug, slurping the dregs of the cocoa.
Kim glared at him. “I don’t play in the snow.” She settled further under her blanket on the couch.
“Yeah you do.” Alex passed the couch on his way to the sink. He snatched off her blanket and ran into the kitchen, giggling like an idiot.
“Hey!” Kim leapt up after him, her dark ponytail lashing back and forth. “Come on Alex. I’m already cold.”
He set his mug in the sink and flipped up the faucet handle, letting the mug fill with water. Kim grabbed for the blanket, but he held it behind his back where she couldn’t reach. An all too common game.
“Oh you’ll be fine babe. Just come out for an hour. Throw some snowballs. Maybe build a snowman. We can make snow angels.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her foot. “Pass.”
He locked his hands together in front of he
r, dropping the blanket. “Please. Tell you what, you come out for an hour and I’ll clean up after dinner tonight.”
Kim ceased her tapping. She eyed him with suspicion. “Everything? Dishes and all?”
“Every last crumb gorgeous.”
“Fine. One hour. Not a second more.”
“Good enough.” Alex scooped up the blanket and slapped her ass as he passed her.
“Alex!”
“Grab your coat!”
Alex led the way. He grabbed his coat from the closet by the front door, fished his gloves and scarf out of the pockets, and bundled up. He even found his wooly hat that looked like a Viking helmet.
The instant they stepped through the front door, Kim gasped. “Crap it’s cold out here.”
“Well there is snow on the ground.” He gathered a handful from the porch railing and packed it into a ball.
Kim backed away, her arms raised. “Alex if you hit me with a single snowball you’re sleeping on the couch for a month.”
He held the snowball before his face, turning the ball as if studying it. “Hmm.”
“What are you doing?”
He rubbed at his stubbly chin. “Deciding if it’d be worth it.”
Kim smacked the back of his hand. His own snowball hit him on the nose. Kim hopped down the steps while he sputtered. She turned to face him as he lobbed the snowball well over her head.
Snow and ice covered the woods surrounding the house. Towering evergreens drooped with the extra weight. Tiny birds hopped about on the white blanket.
A scene from a Christmas card.
“Wow. This is beautiful,” she said.
Alex came down the steps rubbing his nose with a fluffy mitten and trying to blow the snow out of his nose. “Told you so.”
“What are you seven?”
He shrugged. “Ish.”
Only the warm house escaped the weather’s wrath. Kim’s little car looked like a misshapen igloo. The dark windows of his SUV stared out of the snow, gray empty eyes.
Kim headed toward the trees, trudging through the snow. She stopped halfway. “Alex?”
“Yeah?”
“Have you already been out this morning?”
“Nope. Why?”
She pointed to the ground. “There’s footprints here. Big ones.”
“Ooh. Maybe we have a Bigfoot.” He hustled over to join her.
“No.” Kim leaned over the tracks. “These look weird.”
“Whoa.” He leaned closer as well.
Each print consisted of a wide circle pressed right down to the wet grass with six smaller circles around it.
Kim sidestepped to the next print. Whatever made them had a wider stride than her.
“What are they?” she asked.
“Got me. I’ve never seen anything like them.”
She looked at him with a mischievous grin. “Let’s follow them. See where they lead.”
“Or not Miss Mystery Novel. These could be bear tracks for all we know.”
“I’ve never seen a bear in Ripley County. Besides they’re all hibernating.”
Alex opened his mouth to speak.
“Come on Alex, you’re the one who begged me to come outside.”
He groaned. “Damn it. Fine. But I’m using you as a meat shield if whatever made these tries to eat us.”
Kim marched into the woods ahead of him.
“Or if it turns out to be some our hillbilly neighbors hopped up on eggnog, waving their guns around.”
She didn’t reply but kept walking.
The tracks followed a vague path for the first hundred yards or so. Then they swerved into the trees.
“Babe check it out.” Alex pointed to a clump of cedar trees growing right on top of each other.
Something had passed through the middle of them, dislodging the snow and snapping branches. Something big. Branches were broken a good ten feet from the ground.
The tracks continued on the other side of the trees.
“Are we sure we want to follow these things?” Alex pulled his hat lower on his head.
“Are we sure you’re the husband in this relationship?” Kim shook her head and kept going.
He’d never hear the end of it if he chickened out and went home.
Not far beyond the cedar trees, the strange prints led to a stream and stopped at the water’s edge.
“Where?” Kim searched the ground nearby. “They vanished.”
Alex about faced. “Oh well time to go home. We came, we saw, moving on.”
“Wait.” She grabbed his sleeve. “Look, there.”
Maybe fifty yards upstream a small tree the size of his arm had been snapped over the water. Its yellow innards stuck out against the white snow.
Kim clambered up the bank toward the tree. Alex, plotting ways to use this against her later, followed.
She reached the broken tree and stood on her tiptoes trying to reach the exposed section. Kim stood a solid 5’ 5” but was too short.
“What could do this?” she asked.
“Giant beavers? Paul Bunyan?”
Kim glared at him.
“I don’t know. Nothing friendly.”
“Alex look, more tracks.”
The new prints led away from the stream toward a small hill. Kim took off after them. Alex jogged along behind her. She stopped. He slipped and fell trying not to run into her.
“Ugh. Why?” He shook snow off arms and brushed muck off his chest.
Kim flapped her hand at him. “Alex.”
He got on his feet, grumbling. “What now?”
“A cave. I had no idea this was here.”
“There are caves all over the place around here, not exactly news.” He wiped a bit of mud off his jeans. “Oh and look, the weirdo tracks go right into it. Great. We know where they lead. Now can we go?”
Kim headed for the entrance. “Are you nuts? Let’s check it out.”
Alex sighed. “Shoulda spent the day playing video games like a reasonable person.”
He followed Kim through the narrow opening in the hillside.
Moist, earthy air assaulted his nose. In the slice of light coming through the entrance he saw Kim kneeling over a shadowy shape.
“What’d you find now?”
She pulled her ever present cell phone from her pocket and tapped the screen. White-blue light burst from the phone, illuminating the pile of bones at her feet.
Kim yelped and scurried back. “Gross!”
Alex took a step closer. The most obvious bone was what appeared to be a cow’s skull. Also represented were deer, rabbit, small birds, and perhaps even a cat.
Kim moved behind him. “This is horrible.”
“No kidding.”
As she shoved her phone back in her pocket the glow of the screen glinted off something at the back of the cave.
“What the?” Alex moved toward the spot.
“Alex?”
“Not sure. Get your phone out again.”
“Why didn’t you bring yours?”
“Because mine isn’t surgically attached to my hand.”
He felt her stare without turning to face her.
Kim took out her phone and turned the light on again.
In the glare Alex found the source of the reflection: a piece of metal against the back of cave. He reached down to pick it up but the metal seemed to be imbedded in the wall.
Alex dug his fingers in behind the metal and tugged with both hands. The hunk shifted a bit.
“Bigger than I expected. Give me a hand babe?”
Kim nodded and, holding her phone in her left hand, grabbed the piece of metal right above his hands.
“On three. One, two, three. Pull.”
They tugged the metal forwar
d, shifting a large portion of the wall in the process.
“A door?” Kim stepped back, holding her phone up high.
Alex examined the metal. He rapped his knuckles against it. Dents and scrapes covered the whole piece.
“It’s like a piece of sheet metal someone beat flat with their feet.”
He leaned into the tunnel behind the door.
“See anything?”
“Nothing. It’s too dark.”
“I’m not sure about this Alex, maybe we should leave.”
“Oh now you wanna go back? Freaky prints in the snow are fine but secret door in a cave is too spooky?”
“Freaky prints might be a cool animal. Secret door might be a serial killer.”
Alex held out his and for her phone. “Then I’ll go first. While he’s killing me, you can run away.”
She handed him the phone with shaking hands. “Comforting Alex, real comforting.”
He flashed her his most reassuring smile and turned down the tunnel. He moved slow, shining the light in slow circles around the walls, ceiling, and floor.
“This looks like it was dug recently,” Kim said.
Alex nodded. The tunnel reeked of fresh turned earth. “But by who?”
A few feet further on a familiar sound reached their ears.
“Water?” Kim asked.
“I think so.”
Supernatural Horror Short Stories Page 69
