Oasis

By M.H. Crawford

"The Oasis" is described as a well overflowing with wealth, the "Holy Grail", and even the "Fountain of Youth". But, there is a darker truth that lies within the legends. While "The Oasis" promises riches, Joel finds out that it only hurts those living in Montezuma county.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jun 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781483565729

Book preview

Author

An Arrow.

January 31, 1885

Fire from the candle that sat on the handcrafted oak desk danced across its wick while brisk winds whipped through the log cabin.

He is gone of course, but he will soon return and find me gone. I wish you luck as you search for the truth hidden within this valley. The man sitting at the desk spoke to himself, placed his quill into its ink, and wrote his thoughts.

With a sigh he whispered, suicide. I must be mad to think I’ll succeed. He’ll find… The man forced his throat to swallow. No matter our friendship, he is going to kill me.

Shadows bounced across the walls as he picked up the candle to close the letter with a drop of wax. The wax sealed his secret with a single disfigured blob.

Maybe this will tell my story. Sweat fell from his brow.

He took a coin from this coat pocket, rolled it between his fingers, and then stared into the single suspended flame that rested on the coin.

There are more of these. I just know it.

Eeurrk…

He’s here… Fear clenched the man. He rose from the desk, shoving the letter and the coin into his pocket.

Floorboards moaned beneath him as he stepped towards the door. He made sure to stay unarmed. Maybe he’ll have pity on me. The man tried to ease his thrashing heart.

Eeurk…

He released the lock to the door and without another moment the plank door flew open. Snowflakes raided the cabin, followed by the bitter January cold. To his surprise, the porch was dark and empty.

Eeurkk…

A loose floorboard vibrated as wind pried it up and down. Eeurkk…

I should’ve fixed that board, he said. No bother now, I guess. He hurried out of the cabin, being careful to shut the door. I don’t want him thinking I’ve rushed off anywhere.

In front of the man lay a blanket of freshly fallen snow. Conditions darkened as the blizzard of the century poured from the sky. He hoped that his tracks would be covered as fast as the snow had covered the valley. In just a few hours, ten inches had fallen and there was no sign of the white-out slowing.

Crunch…Crunch… Snow crumbled and compacted under his feet. Despite the blizzard, the man heard his heartbeat over the snow. He picked up his pace, hoping to drown out the sound that pounded within him. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

A voice drifted through the snow. Beautiful, isn’t it? The words hid in the darkness just ahead of him. Weather’s a bit harsh to be outside. Don’t you think? A figure materialized through the white. Covered in an animal-skin cloak that reached to the ground, another man stood in the snow. His eyes were calm, yet skeptical. A quiver filled with arrows was strapped around his shoulder and a bow rested within his hand. Hayward, where are you going?

I have business with Del’Aqua. Hayward’s voice shivered.

Del’Aqua? On a night like this? I think you should go back to the cabin. You can speak with him in the morning. You look a bit feverish. There’ll be a lot of work in the morning. With winds like this come damaged trees. I’ll need help cleaning it up.

Hayward replied, Yes, yes. You’re right. I just need to see Del’Aqua for a moment, and I’ll be back to the cabin.

The groundskeeper’s breath rose in front of his hood, If you must see him, hurry. You don’t want to lose your way back to the cabin. This snow is going to pile up quickly.

Just one moment. Hayward hurried past the hooded figure.

Lights came into view along with the back of a white hotel. Its windows reached four stories and spread up into the falling snow. Hayward’s pounding heart reached the point of pain, but the blizzard was winning the war. The flakes began to sound like pebbles falling from the sky.

I’m gonna miss that sound, Hayward whispered. Even in the middle of a storm, the sound of snow is peaceful. Hayward listened to the snow piling around him. He turned to look for the groundskeeper, but the snow was too thick. Maybe he went to the cabin.

Once inside the hotel, Hayward rushed through the hallway, passing room after room. Each one led to a guest trapped inside by the storm. He heard cursing as several men commented on the snow. Thunder rumbled and lightning flickered beneath the room doors.

105, 104, 103, 102… Hayward counted as he passed each room. 101. He came to the last door along the hallway. The words Victor Del’Aqua. Owner. were displayed on a small black plate on the door.

Hayward’s hand rushed into his pocket to pull out the letter. Along with the paper, he took out a leather bound book. His eyes bounced back and forth down the hallway.

No one… After cramming the letter into the cover, he slid the book under the door, scanned the hallway, and then ran. His steps hastened.

Hayward ran faster and faster, stumbling down stairs and flying throughout hallways. With each moment, he found himself looking for the man in the hooded cloak. The man haunted his every thought. After scrambling down three flights of stairs, racing through rooms, and down a final staircase, Hayward found himself face to face with a round wooden door. Several boards lay on the floor around him. He had been here before. Earlier in the day, Hayward had spent a few quick minutes prying off the boards that hid the door. He was now ready for the moment when once and for all, he would find what he’d been searching for.

The door was a perfect circle, trimmed in a golden metal. In the center, a tree stood vibrant and healthy with a river flowing around its roots. The leaves were made of separate pieces of wood from the rest of the door, and the golden trim, forged centuries ago, mirrored its surroundings. Hayward’s reflection lacked the slightest tarnish or imperfection.

Beautiful… Hayward whispered as he rubbed his hand across the markings. This is it! I can’t believe I have actually found it. To think after all these years…and now…

My friend…? The words drifted across the room.

Hayward’s fingers clawed the door from the fear that clenched his muscles.

This path can only lead to destruction. The candlelight distorted the hooded man’s figure. His eyes reflected the flame’s glow.

I knew you’d come for me, Hayward said.

You must go home.

I can’t…I have searched for this place for so long…I can’t remember wanting anything else.

You have a wife and children. That’s enough. Go home! His voice growled.

Hayward turned and stared into the door. I know who you are… His voice quivered. After seeing this, there is no way you’ll let me live.

The man stood in the darkness, gripping a bow in one hand, and rolling an arrow between two fingers in the other. He sighed, I shouldn’t…but if you leave now and promise never to return or speak of this place again…for the sake of your son, you will live.

My son? How will I ever look him in the eye again? After chasing a dream and then just turning from it…? My integrity would be lost.

If you try to enter that door…

You will kill me. I know. But, shouldn’t I just try?

The arrow slid onto the string with a click. Death, is that what you seek? You fool! Your children lay just above you, sleeping. Do you want them to wake up without a father?

If they wake with me standing over their bed, I would have shamed them. If I don’t face my destiny, they will live beneath a coward’s shadow. Don’t you get that? I can’t let that happen… Hayward’s hand slid down the door to its latch.

Hayward! I can’t let you go through that door!

I know, Hayward whispered. I know… His hand tightened.

Thunder rumbled from outside, shaking the walls around them. The arrow slid back across the bow’s rest, and the string tightened as the bow whined from the stress.

Please, my friend, the hooded man pleaded.

The latch began to open.

If you’re my friend, you’ll let me face my destiny… Hayward faced the door and began to pull.

Stress creaked throughout the bow.

I’ll have to kill you…please, walk away…go to your family…

They deserve a father who is willing to die for his dreams. I will not let them follow a coward!

The door opened with a rush of air. Cool, crisp, and cleaner than any air Hayward had ever tasted. His senses came alive. Touch, smell, taste, and even sight intensified within the darkness. Hayward had finally found it.

A pop greater than thunder filled the air. The roar of an arrow followed, and Hayward’s senses came alive once more. The air seemed to intensify everything, even pain. Lightning pulsed from his core. Hayward turned to see his friend holding the bow, but the arrow was gone. A rush of liquid filled his throat, and Hayward caught a glimpse of the arrow peering out from his chest.

I’m sorry… The man’s growl had gone and sorrow took him over.

Don’t be. My children will never have to follow a coward… Hayward’s voice faded.

I…

I followed my destiny. Now continue yours. Hayward fell to the floor as his heart stopped pounding.

Once he fell, Hayward’s left hand loosened, releasing his coin. It rolled across the room and stopped at the man’s feet.

You are right. You will never be remembered as a coward.

The Train.

Present Day.

Could you tell me again? A boy, small in stature, looked up to the partially gray-haired man in the car seat beside him. His unkempt, black hair fell down covering his eyes as he awaited a response.

Sounds of the man’s hands gripping the steering wheel and a labored sigh were the only responses given back to the boy.

Rejected, the boy began looking through the songs on his phone. After he found the perfect song, he listened for a moment but could not let his question go unanswered. He persisted with the inquiry, It’s important to me. I need to know.

Why? Why do you need to know? It won’t change anything. I will still be your father. I’ll always love you. Isn’t that enough? Another sigh left the man’s throat. Frustration and sadness were written across his face. Joel, I know that it’s important to you. It’s important to me too. I’m just so tired of the dead ends and confusion. We have driven across the country to start our lives over. Can’t we just put everything behind us?

Joel cautiously replied, I don’t know if I can do that. You’re my dad, but I just wonder sometimes who they might have been.

Who? Your real parents? The man’s eyes gently connected with Joel’s.

Yeah. I mean, I’m happy with you. I just wonder who I am. Everything that I can remember about my life begins the night of the crash. Did I just get amnesia or something? Did I hit my head? It’s strange, but I feel like I was born that night.

Don’t be silly, Joel. People aren’t born six years old. His father added in sarcasm to cover his own confusion about that night.

No one knows how old I was. You said it yourself that the doctors took a guess. For eleven years, we have celebrated a made-up birthday. For what? Just so I can feel normal? Guess what, I’m not normal. Nothing about my life is normal. I need to know who I am. I need to know what happened to me, and I need to know what happened to my parents. Joel’s confusion and frustration began to elevate.

Okay. I’ll tell you. His father continued with a very stern reply, but once we get to the hotel, I want you to try and make this new life work. We left everything behind so you could possibly be a normal kid, and we could start over. I want us to be a happy family. Will you make an effort to meet me halfway this time? Will you try and make this work?

Yeah. Joel understood his father’s exhaustion. He had worked so hard to find Joel’s parents, but every road led to more questions and more confusion.

Joel’s father took a deep breath and began, the train came to a sudden stop and you were behind me…

No, I want to know everything. Joel quickly interrupted his father. I want to know where you were, what you heard, and what you saw that night. He reached for the air conditioning controls and turned it down to hear the story more clearly. They were not accustomed to using much air conditioning. Living in Massachusetts rarely brought the extreme heat that their new southwestern home did.

His father began again. "Attempts to begin construction on several new resorts across the United Kingdom had proven unsuccessful. So, my business associates and I decided to take a break from our grueling schedule and tour some of Scotland. That night, I boarded a train headed to Inverness with the hope of touring the famous Loch Ness. I remember the night was unusually clear. The moon and stars lit up the sky like nothing I had ever seen before. Every lake we passed radiated from the starry night. It really was beautiful. I spent much of the trip staring out of my window. I remember reading several outdoor magazines. It’s funny, but I recall reading a lot of them.

I noticed that the thick, red curtain above my window began to move as if it were being gently blown by the wind. That was impossible because every window in our cabin was sealed shut. The moment seemed surreal, as if I were dreaming. As I looked around the cabin, I noticed that everyone continued to stay busy. No one had noticed. One man, directly behind me, had fallen asleep on a pillow. His daughter pulled a feather from it and started tickling his nose, but he didn’t wake up. Though his nose did twitch from side to side. It’s amazing the things that you remember…

I knew something was about to happen, something significant. All the noise in the cabin drifted from my mind. The curtain caught my attention again, and I could hear the draft moving the fabric as it rubbed the walls of the car. The sound grew. No one around me seemed to be affected by it. Then, I heard a small crackling noise underneath me. Others had begun to hear the noise by this point. People all around me started searching for its source. The noise grew as an occasional pop joined in the crackling. Out of panic, one woman behind me grabbed the train’s emergency brake. Madness took over. People screamed, while others fell to the floor. The man, who was asleep behind me, crashed into the back of my chair as the train screeched to a halt.

The crackling sound had grown to a complete popping noise. It started at the bottom corner where the floor met the wall, and I noticed a small rip. There were sparks from the outside of the train flashing through it. The sound of the railroad intensified as the crack in the wall grew. Confusion and panic spread through all of us. Mothers and fathers were screaming their children’s names. The children ran to them and found refuge in their parents’ arms. It was madness. Before we knew it, the wall had split from the floor to the ceiling. The popping noises were now joined by the sound of broken wires arcing onto anything they could find. The burning smell was awful.

I knew that the ripping would not stop until it had passed completely through the cabin. ‘Get to the back of the cabin now!’ I screamed so loud one child ran to the back of the cabin from fear of me alone. Everyone else fled to the back.

Everyone had made their way to the back of the cabin just before the front half of the car was ripped from the tracks. Electrical sparks, splinters of wood, and shards of glass flew everywhere. I couldn’t see where the front of cabin had gone. All I knew is that it had fallen. Darkness surrounded the train, and all I could see were shadows of people around me. Parents continued shielding their kids. In the chaos, I had found a small end table that was bolted to the wall. It was the only stable object that I could find, so I held onto it as hard as I could.

In an instant, silence fell. It was an unusual silence. I don’t know if this makes sense, but it was loud. I think I was the only one who heard it. People around me were consoling one another. I could see their mouths moving, but there was no sound. If you can even hear silence at all, I could that night.

And then, ‘a moment of greatness had found me.’ I remember those words drifting through my mind. I just knew that something amazing was happening. To this day, I still can’t explain that feeling. He stopped the story to check his speedometer as they passed a sheriff hiding behind a billboard that read, Gold Rush Souvenirs." A small shack stood just behind the sheriff’s car with a gold nugget logo plastered above the porch.

Joel, have you ever had the feeling like you were being watched before? Joel’s father stopped his story for a moment.

Yeah. It’s a little creepy.

"That’s the feeling that consumed me as I clutched the table. I knew that someone was behind me. That’s where the feeling of greatness was coming from. I turned to see you. Joel, you were barely four feet tall, but there was something special in your eyes. It was greatness. I asked for your name, and you simply said, ‘Joel.’

As quickly as the silence fell, I was awakened by the sound of a second rip in the rear of the cabin. This rip began just as fast as the first. Instinct took over, and I pulled you under my arm and close to my chest. Your protection became my first priority. The screams of those around me were audible again. Everyone ran forward, away from the tear that ran up the wall and that was now making its way across the ceiling.

This rip grew faster than the first. Sparks flew once more but this time wires fell from the ceiling. One man was hit by a stray one; convulsions spread throughout his body and his eyes went blank like there was nothing there anymore…another man left his family for a moment and he was able to push the wire from the man’s body with a broken board. He grabbed the man and pulled him to safety. The rip had now made its way around the cabin and was heading across the floor to where it had started.

People stuffed themselves against the wall for safety. There was one woman who could not find a place of refuge. She was left on the opposite side alone. Her side of the cabin began to tear from the tracks. I reached for her but all I got were her fingertips. The floor shifted and she fell to her knees. I remember the desperate look in her eyes. She slipped as the cabin shifted, and her long black hair fell over her face. The remaining cabin fell to the side and vanished from the tracks. Turns out, we were on a bridge. The train car, along with the woman, fell. Her green eyes seemed to stare right into me as she fell. It was like she knew me. What’s weird is that she seemed content with death. The darkness consumed her as she fell. After that, I could hear the splash from the cabin…"

Are you okay, Dad?

Joel’s father turned his head to watch the scenery as it passed by them.

Yeah. It’s just…that woman…I can’t get the image of her falling out of my mind. She is one of the reasons I don’t like talking about this, Joel. I need this to be the last time.

Okay, Dad.

"Several minutes passed by before anyone moved. We all filed out of the remaining piece of train. Our piece was all that remained. There were no more carts, no train engine, no caboose, nothing. The only people left were those in our cabin. We all stood on the bridge trying to make sense of what had just happened. People were crying all around me.

There was no explanation of what happened. Lightning didn’t hit the train. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. We knew a bomb couldn’t have caused it because there wasn’t any explosion. Without any answers, we left the cabin behind and walked across the bridge.

That night, I began to search for your parents. No one within our cabin knew who your parents were. I thought, just maybe, your parents were on that train. I was scared that they were killed, so I contacted the train station to get a list of the passengers. None of them had any relation to you at all. Every possible attempt to find your family was exhausted. Every newsstand, television channel, and radio station across Scotland publicized our search, but your family never showed. No one surfaced, not one family member. As you know, the search became worldwide. I think it was the biggest media story ever. Your face was on everything…

I can’t understand why no one claimed me. Joel stared at the road ahead.

I don’t know. But you are my son now. I will always claim you.

Silence fell throughout their vehicle. Their car followed the winding road laid within the shadows of the Rocky Mountains.

Axe Murderer.

Neither of them spoke for the rest of the journey. Joel decided not to ask any more questions, but he knew that he could not let the subject go as easily as his father wanted. As a favor to him, Joel tried to focus on their new life.

Joel watched as the sand-colored cliffs passed by his window. He wondered how old the mountains were and just what all they had seen. They looked as if years had passed them by while they stood frozen, eagerly waiting for the moment when they could finally pass with them.

Random trees and meadows flickered through the window with the occasional elk feeding on the mountainside.

They seem peaceful, Joel thought to himself.

And here we are. His father spoke with delight, putting the past behind them. Valley Resort.

Outside of Joel’s window, a mountain fell into a valley. Sandstone pillars rose along the road, connected to one another by black iron bars gating off the valley from possible trespassers. The lawn was littered with spruce trees that reached high into the sky. Each one resembled giant Christmas trees which looked a little out of place growing in late summer.

Are you excited? His father’s grin raced across his face.

Yeah… To Joel’s surprise, he really was excited.

They seemed far enough from the media and the big city that Joel may get away from the Lost Kid title he had been given. The New England media had begun to display him as their own personal trophy sent straight from Europe. Each morning before school, the family was joined by their own band of paparazzi. Joel knew them each by name. Those he knew best were the ones he hated the most. Brad…the name soured in his mind.

The man always seemed to show up on the most inopportune days. Once he followed Joel to school flashing his camera the whole way. This put him twenty minutes late and gave Joel a zero on the biggest algebra exam of the year. Brad…the name soured further.

His father’s Cadillac slowed to turn into the valley. Giant iron gates met them at the entrance, and Joel’s father rolled down his window to speak into the intercom. Hello? I’m Kevin O’Brien. I’m here to visit the resort.

Joel turned to snicker into his window. His father had become one of the wealthiest people along the East Coast, but he was the least proper man Joel knew. Sometimes, he wondered how he had held onto the money in the first place.

Yes, Mr. O’Brien. A voice met them through the speaker. Come right in.

The squeal of gate hinges made them both cringe as the gates opened. The motor lagged and knocked, trying to move each iron giant.

That will be the first thing I fix, his father murmured. Let’s get through the gate before it collapses. Kevin pressed the gas pedal and his car squealed through the gates.

The driveway leading through the spruces followed the theme of the land. Thousands of large stones lay at each other’s side creating a beautiful yet bumpy path.

Mr. O’Brien pointed and announced, there’s our new home!

Like a lost castle, the resort appeared through the trees and towered over the valley.

It’s as big as the valley, Joel said.

His father laughed. Yep, it’s the largest fixer-upper I could find…and right in the heart of the Rockies.

The stone drive circled a fountain on its way to the towering resort steps. Standing within the fountain was a stone woman, naked from the waist up. Her eyes looked down towards the water.

She looks a little sad. Joel stared, caught within her gaze.

No, no. Just elegant. His father was overcome with excitement. It can go either way. Sad is the new elegant. He chuckled once more.

Cradled within her only arm was a bowl with water flowing over the edges.

That’s strange.

What? His father asked.

The woman’s bowl has a stone flame inside it. That’s where the water is coming from.

Ah…the artist probably had some symbolism in mind. Who knows what he was thinking? Kevin peered over the steering wheel trying to view the top of his hotel.

This place looks old. Joel could barely hold in his skepticism.

Yeah, isn’t it great?

I guess… Joel stared at the overgrown lawn. Seriously dad, there is moss hanging down the bricks.

It really gives it that antique feel, huh.

Dad, how old is this place?

Well, the current hotel is about a hundred years old. The original house is out back by the lake. It’s around one-fifty.

Why did you buy something so old?

Oh, this is going to be great. Before it was a resort, it was an old Indian village.

Do you hear yourself? This is turning into one of those old horror movies. You know the ones where the son, me, is freaked out by all the ghosts. Joel shook his head, They’re probably kid ghosts at that.

I know. It can’t get any better than this. Kevin slapped the steering wheel with a chuckle.

Yeah, we’ll see… Joel searched through his mp3 player, looking for something to take his mind from the eyesore his father had purchased.

Look, the staff has come out to meet us. His father slammed the brakes, halting the car just in front