Martholamew; Beast Beneath the Grave

By James M M Baldwin

Novelette- A high school boy attempts to satisfy the curiosity of a new girl in town by explaining a local legend that he doesn't believe. After a stroll to an old cemetery, the girl tests his resolve by trespassing on forbidden ground. He has no choice but to put his fear aside to prevent misfortune. Despite his efforts, the girl is abducted. In an attempt to save her, he discovers there is more truth to the legend than he ever thought possible. A run-in with a supernatural beast turns into a confrontation that threatens to destroy the entire town.

• Language: English
• Publisher: James M M Baldwin
• Release date: Aug 25, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301946006

James M M Baldwin

James M M Baldwin writes speculative fiction with an interaction between spirituality, science, and humanity. His science fiction, fantasy, and horror writing interjects spiritual self-awareness and its influence on the natural environment and the universe. Adding to the relationship between human nature and enlightenment, the occasional rocket ship and alien creature color his imaginary worlds. James is an author, artist, poet, musician, runner, and bicyclist. He is an active participant in the Nebraska Writers Workshop and lives in Omaha with his wife and children, and their dogs and cats.

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Martholamew;

Beast Beneath the Grave

James M M Baldwin

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2013 James M M Baldwin

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Martholamew

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Martholamew;

Beast Beneath the Grave

James M M Baldwin

Grasping hands in shared determination, Joreph Josten and Nella Suh strolled toward the edge of town. The houses along Old Main Street set their stroll against a backdrop of peeling paint, boarded windows, and overgrown lawns. Their grasped hands tightened as they sauntered further from Newton and through Old Newton, where their out-of-the-way Canadian border town began more than three hundred years before.

Many of the houses along this road of cracked and deteriorating concrete lined with ancient oak trees, had been abandoned long ago. Tall weeds had ensnared most of the yards. Beyond the broken windows, eerie silence created a sense that someone or something stared back from the darkness inside.

As they strolled by the last dilapidated house at the end of Main Street, a dark skinned woman with white hair swept her front porch, removing dirt mixed with white paint chips that had peeled from her house. She stopped. You kids stay out of down there! You hear me? I’m warnin’ you. Go back to where you came from and leave that place alone!

Nella looked away, refusing to acknowledge the screaming woman. She moved closer to Joreph and walked shoulder to shoulder with him. Who's that?

Joreph squeezed her hand. It's all right. That's just ol' Miss Fishbern. Some people think she started the stories just to keep people away.

As they left crumbling Main Street and Old Newton behind, the wall of ancient oaks receded and opened a view of the terraced hills of the long abandoned asbestos mines beyond. The sun shone bright on the stair-stepped white stone rise spreading across the landscape like an ominous blockade for anyone wishing to go further. But the open mining techniques of the past did not draw the attention of the young couple. Their concentration focused on a gentle green valley lying between them and the stark bright steps beyond. Tidy rows of identical stone markers decorated the field like soldiers standing in formation.

Joreph stopped and turned toward his young companion. He held both of her hands. Are you sure you want to go.

Nella smiled. I’ve heard the legend. But I’m not sure I believe it really exists?

Trust me. I’ve been there.

She stuck out her bottom lip. I just want to see it for myself.

Okay but afterwards, we’re going right back to Newton.

She batted her eyes and smiled. Of course.

A wrought iron fence separated the green field from its overgrown surroundings. A barred metal gate crossed the path leading inside. At the top of the gate, a metal arch bore the words Peaceful Meadows, and above the words, an iron angel pointed a sword at the sky.

Joreph lifted the cold steel of the stubborn latch, and the rusty metal gate creaked open. As they entered, a small cloud rolled across the sun, temporarily darkening their path. A raven crowed unseen in the distance. Joreph shivered. The musty odor of rotting leaves emanated from the haphazardly manicured lawn surrounding the rows of low stone markers. A few flowers added a sprinkle of color.

Skipping ahead, Nella giggled. This doesn’t look so scary.

Joreph pointed ahead. This is the new part. Look up there.

Nella’s smile left when she stopped to drink in the view. A ragged picket fence, its paint weathered away, separated the new cemetery from an ancient collection of intricately sculpted tombstones. Waist high weeds filled the area beyond the dilapidated fence. The grave-markers tilted at odd angles from years of neglect. A stone obelisk leaned left while a black marble woman with her hands covering her face leaned right. Scores of tilting monuments intermingled with weed-trees of varying sizes, creating a ghastly jungle of stone and undesirable vegetation.

Joreph pulled Nella toward the rotting wooden barrier. You wanted to see it.

She drug here feet at first, until her curiosity eclipsed her fear. "This lives up