Free Four Corners Dark: Horror Stories by William McNally Page A

feeling was there again, but she was able to keep it under control this time. When Brenda walked in, all of the distractions that filled her mind were stripped away.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
     
    A bby and Joseph climbed into the ATV, the shoreline was a dim strip obscured by shadows. Bright orange flames engulfed the spectral building and burning people continued to jump. One of them jumped, hit the ground, and disappeared into the flames. The circle of fire surrounding the building opened and shot towards them. The jumper emerged from the flames and crawled towards the ATV. Joseph started the engine and backed the vehicle into the water. The creature was upon them, stopped only by the line of stones. Joseph piloted them away from the shore and into the safety of the lake. Steam rose from the creature’s blackened flesh when it tried to follow them into the water.
    The beam of the headlights disappeared into the fog hovering over the surface of the lake. Travelling in silence, the rumble of the engine was their only connection to the outside world.
    Joseph finally spoke. “We needed those stones. I have nothing left to protect us.”
    “Can we make it back without them?” Abby asked. “Terry needs a doctor now.”
    “No. We would never make it back through those woods after dark.”
    He turned off the vehicle’s engine and lights.
    “I am afraid we will need to drift out here tonight,” he said. “We cannot take our chances on land.”
    Joseph looked back at Terry.
    “He is in shock, so we will need to keep him warm and calm. You should climb in the back with him and get some sleep.”
    Abby stepped over the seat and crawled under a blanket with Terry. He was cold and shivering, she wrapped her arms around his neck to warm him.
    Joseph stared into the lake. It was quiet, yet he sensed a low hum like the sound of an electrical generator. When he was a boy, his people had used the lake and were not afraid. But things had changed, and the boundaries between the living and the dead had shifted. It began with a series of drownings. People swimming in calm waters were sucked under the surface and never seen again. The tribes in the area quickly abandoned these lands for safer places.
    Joseph was one of the few who decided to stay and learned to co-exist here. Modern technology was unwelcome, clocks stopped, power went out, and batteries drained. Joseph became accustomed to these strange occurrences and, anyway, did not have much use for such conveniences. He passed his hand through the cold water and stirred away the mist. Dim lights appeared to glow below the surface. Legend had it that these waters connected to others areas, other worlds, but only the ones lost could really know.
    Morning came and the lake was shrouded with a gray mist. Abby shook a sleeping Joseph. Terry was crying in terrible pain beside her.
    “Joseph,” she said. “Terry needs more medication.”
    “Of course,” Joseph answered, still groggy.
    He reached into his jacket pocket and handed a bottle of pain killers to Abby. She put two of the pills into Terry’s mouth. His eyes were open slightly and his head rolled from side to side. Joseph looked towards the sky and decided on a direction then touched the medallion and started the motor.
    “Joseph, do you know the way back?” Abby asked.
    Joseph did know the way. They had intersected their original path.
    “Yes, I know the way now,” he answered.

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
     
    B renda awoke on a leather couch in the great room where she had spent an hour answering Deputy Roger’s questions the night before. The deputy had searched the house and found no evidence of foul play, Terry and Abby had simply vanished. She had promised to return in the morning with additional help, and gave Brenda her cell number in case Terry and Abby showed up during the night.
    Brenda walked into the kitchen and noticed movement through the back windows. Abby and a man were driving towards the lodge. She ran into the