bEYOND fLATsCAN
Where I am, I am alone.
Noone could know, think, or feel.
What I know, what I am thinking.
How I feel...
Locked in a cell of my own awareness. Then,almost like waking up as the sound
of the bell clanging from a twisted chapel rings out. There shouldn't be any one at the
church at this hour. Still, the sound echoes through the mist that hangs, swirling between the head stones that follow behind so neatly around the property of the crooked old church.
The moon shines bright enough to show that midnight never lasts. The shadows that this midnight does cast loom long and heavy never the less. They seem to point the way through the far gates to a road that from here looking across the cemetary; seems more a forgotten,overgrown path. The cold, gray light barely showing it, as if not able to fully reveal it's mysteries. Then, a night bird, or perhaps a bat; invades the corner of sight. The realization of it being there is like an after thought. Yes...That must be the nightmare road. This is the night of 'All Hallow's', and this is it...
Through the tall, black seeming trees that reach up like gnarled, arthretic hands to either side: A breeze stirs, carrying the sound of a thousand, thousand scratchy whispers. They combine into one, almost silent voice which slithers into the ear to say:
"All Hallow's...The festivities have begun." It must be some joke that I am playing on myself. A play of the breeze. A trick played by a weary mind. Some confusement of the senses. Still, the moon is full it is the witching hour and long ago it was decided that anything is possible. No matter how improbable. This place could be haunted. Not all spirits go to rest after they leave the mortal shell. Looking at this place;
where better for a restless soul to wander? A briar-ridden ancient forest, near a defiled church and a desecrated graveyard along with the nightmare road.
In the past; knocking over a headstone or two was just a casual act of vandalism done without a second thought. Tonight was different, the spirits seemed angry and menacing. Their presence lurking just outside of sight, vengeful. Acts of vandalism against the dead; on any other night was harmless, even funny. Tonight was different though. Tonight held fear. Even thinking
about it in the presence of these spirits was like confessing to the most horrible crimes before an angry jury and a merciless judge. Only sixty six steps from the gallows. Sixty five from the electric chair. Sixty four steps from the gas chamber....How many steps to the nightmare road? Just to the beginning of the nightmare road?
After that; How many miles would it stretch? Would it go on forever? Was it always bathed in the colorless grey of moonlight? Was sunrise never found as sunsets were only a memory of muted purple? Could it be fear as the only companion? I was never afraid before. As I turned to leave I spoke to the spirits in an almost sad tone:
"I'm not ready..."
