The Cottage Across the Lake by Paul Carberry

Author:Paul Carberry [Carberry, Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Engen Books
Published: 2022-07-28T23:00:00+00:00

VIII. Nightmare

Darkness enfolded Percy, with tendrils of smoky shadows closing in on him all around; his mouth hung open in a silent scream. Hanging low in the sky, a pregnant yellow moon struggled to climb into its proper place; it should have been casting its light over the forest. But an omnipresent blackness held council over Crooked Creek. A vicious wind howled through the treehouse, carrying sinister whispers to Percy from all angles, lashing out at him; the ancient oak groaned in protest, swaying towards the ground, bracing to spit Percy out. He struggled to break fear’s dominance over him, straining against the unseen forces holding him in place; and begged to a God he didn’t believe in for help.

A shrill creaking noise shattered the frightening trance; his leg muscles had filled with lactic acid from being tensed and strained for so long, and he stumbled to his knees, his hands darting out to break his fall. Forced to crawl on his hands and knees by exhaustion, he scrambled towards the ladder while struggling to catch his breath. He peered over the ledge into the darkness, shuddering with dread.

The ground had vanished beneath an impenetrable blanket of black: somehow the treehouse jutted up from within the gloom. Somewhere, concealed within the shadows, Angie cried out for help. Forced to push back against the fear, Percy swung his legs over the edge, his feet searching for the first rung. As his foot found purchase on the top step, a terrified shriek startled him, throwing him off balance. His fingernails dug into the wood, tearing back at the quick as he lurched backwards towards the blackness, and blood seeped out from beneath his nails. Panicked, his arms flailed through the air as he plunged. Somehow, his hands entangled in the boards, and his body slammed hard against the tree, banging his knee off the steps. A jolt of pain raced up his leg and stars danced in his vision. Tears tracked down his cheek, and he clutched the tree, trying to reclaim his breath.

Terrified to peer over his shoulder, his foot dipped down tentatively, searching for the ground. A wave of relief eased his fluttering heart as his sneaker brushed against the ground. “Angie!” Percy called out as he dropped to the ground.

The wind drove away a muffled, cackling fit of laughter: at first, it sounded like his mother’s, but it grew deeper, filtered through a phlegmy throat. Despite his growing fears and better judgement, Percy found himself drawn towards the cottage. Without thinking, he trudged through the dense foliage of the forest, not following any trail, headed in a straight line. He clambered over moss-covered rocks and ducked under fallen trees; around him, the forest reeked of sodden earth and decay.

Suddenly, Percy felt a vibration on his leg, stopping him dead in his tracks; his heart leapt into his throat, choking him. The vibration intensified. A dull buzz rang out as the forest fell silent. “Christ!” Percy cried out, pulling his cell phone out of his pocket.

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