Buck and Shirley Sue set out following the glimmer of
soft yellow light across a part of the meadow which had rarely been
traversed by either of the duo. The clear night sky revealed a
spectacular view, clusters of stars delicately balanced in the
heavens. The peacefulness of the night was in direct opposition to
the feeling of dread which filled the hollow of Buck's stomach. He
looked at Shirley Sue. The soft glow of the the waxing crescent moon
turned her hair to a gentle silver hue and revealing the soft curves
of her face. His heart fluttered for a moment as the beauty of her
profile was burned into his mind. His dread was washed away by a
serenity he hadn't experienced before.
The two traveled in silence until they reached the
forest's edge. A large moss covered boulder sat adjacent to a muddy
trail, parts of which were obscured by fallen trees and forest
debris. Buck shined his flashlight along the path and observed sets
of boot-shaped puddles which traveled down the length of the path,
focusing on a recent set which appeared to still be filling up with
the muddy water.
“Huh, it looks like he's gone off to the old mill,”
said Shirley Sue.
“Why do you reckon he's gone out that way...”
Buck trailed off.
“There's only one way to find out,” Shirley Sue
asserted as she stepped into the mud, her boots creating fresh
silhouettes in the watery earth.
The two travelers sloshed along the swampy path,
swishing away swarms of mosquitoes with their free hands. They
caught sight of the occasional footprint, but the light of Mike's
flashlight had disappeared, obscured by the thick forest. After a
while the path began to slope upward and the mud gave way to firm
ground.
“We're almost there,” said Shirley Sue.
They continued walking up the path, both relieved
from the uneventful nature of their journey. They reached the end of
the path and saw the large abandoned mill spread out directly before
them. A foul oder hung in the air. The two approached the structure
when they heard what sounded like angry shouting coming from inside.
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