Longevity- the Wardens of Time by Caleb Smith

Author:Caleb Smith [Smith, Caleb]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: C.T. Smith Direct
Published: 2020-04-05T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 30

Tad and Vickie Newman awakened on a morning in mid-July with a hop in their steps, an optimism enhanced by the dark-roast coffee in their mugs. The sun was shining, and a cool breeze blew in from the north. They agreed it was a perfect day for a hike.

As soon as they had finished their morning elixir and read the newspaper, they showered and got dressed, each donning thinly-layered clothing, and climbed into the car. Their conversation during the ride was intimate and delightful, and their love for each other would have been visibly apparent to any onlooker; they held hands during the entire trip.

Parking at the city forest was jammed, and it wasn’t surprising on such a beautiful day. People had come out in droves to take advantage of fresh air and exercise. And hiking conditions here were outstanding. The city had long ago implemented a series of walking trails all around the forest and bog lands, even constructing a board walk of wood-composite materials that looped the area for several miles. The bog lands were a sanctuary for many birds and animals. Along the boardwalk were various plaques that described the animal life that could be viewed at each marker. This was also a popular place for freelance nature photographers to congregate and snap shots of these free-roaming creatures.

Tad and Vickie decided on a boardwalk loop to warm up. The wooded planks were soft on their feet and lent spring to their step. At certain points along the walk, miles and miles of free, open space revealed a wonder of natural wetland beauty. The plant life itself was exquisite. Picnic tables and outhouses were also available at strategic locations along trails, and all trails were connected. The whole trail system covered nearly ten miles.

They traversed the boardwalk quickly, their pace fast enough to pass slower families walking with little children and pushing big-wheeled strollers. They pushed on to the outskirts of the trail system where foot and bicycle traffic waned. They had not seen any passersby in more than twenty minutes.

It was Vickie who first heard the crackling on the forest floor in the distance, but she paid only mild attention to the noise. But when the sound grew audibly closer, Tad took her hand in a natural motion to slow the walk down. Fifty yards ahead, the crackling of sticks echoed through the trees of the quiet forest. A large thorn bush to the left of the trail shook as debris fell. And then the couple heard a deep grunting sound. They looked at each other apprehensively.

Finally, the grunting was paired with a visual, a large paw by an arm of thick, black fur, followed by the massive body of a bear that was drooling and foaming at the mouth. Tad and Vickie froze with fear, watching the frothing jowls of the apparently rabid creature. They could not know that the bear’s spirit had been consumed by a powerful demonic force that hungered for human blood and flesh.

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