Realm of Horror: Eight Chilling Short Stories

By John Patten

The Realm of Horror is a collection of eight short stories, each one wanting you to read the next.They are all filled with suspense that will keep you reading to the final twist.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Nov 24, 2010
• ISBN: 9781452074191

John Patten

JOHN PATTEN lives in Hudson, New Hampshire, with his wife, Carol. He is also the author of Realm of Horror.

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© 2010 John Patten. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 11/18/2010

ISBN: 978-1-4520-7422-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4520-7419-1 (e)

Printed in the United States of America

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any Web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

This book is for many people, starting with my grandparents Julian and Rita Duplease. My wonderful parents Roger Patten and Denise Jensen, followed by Deloris duplease for her help in the book. Then my friend Nick Roberts for designing the cover.

Contents

Zuma

The Guardian

Mongolian Statue

Clondors

A Prisoner of Darkness

Cabin Fever

Primal Target

Forever Today

Zuma

On Sunday July nineteenth 1897 at Garrison farm, a young family’s tragedy would become an endless ghost tale. It was a story that would haunt the small town of Hollis New Hampshire, for many years to come. The newest president of the United States William McKinley was sworn in office that March, taking over for Grover Cleveland as the world was going through changes. While, the Black family was about to change the town’s people for over a century to come, with a sinful temptation gone bad. Able Black lived in a farmhouse his father Able Sr. helped him build, for his wife Katie, and their three kids. Their first born was fifteen year old Leonard, followed by the oldest daughter Sara, thirteen. The smallest victim was little Mary, age nine.

That warm sunny morning, after church they arrived back home, as their horses and wagon pulled into the dirt drive way. When the wheels came to a complete stop, Leonard jumped out followed by his sisters…

Can I go over to see Conner? he asked.

Once you change out of your good suit, Katie insisted.

Yeah, Able answered. Just stay out of mischief.

Okay, he said, walking away.

How could you, Able? she asked. Why must you go against me?

He’ll be fine. Maybe he’ll even find out why Conner and his parents weren’t at church.

Is it alright if I take Mary, on a quick walk now Pa? Sara Asked.

Go ahead; I know where you want to go. You can take your time; say an extra prayer for your mother and me.

Then you both can finish helping me prepare lunch, Katie added.

I’ll be down at the barn, Able said, getting out of the wagon.

I hope you won’t be long, she responded as the girls walked off. I don’t like being in the house with that stranger alone.

He’s not a stranger; he works the farm with us.

For three days, she raised her voice getting out also. It’s been only three days; he’s a stranger to me.

It’s for a short time; they call him a drifter for a reason. I can really use the help for the haying season.

That doesn’t make me feel any better, she said walking toward the house.

He’s probably still upstairs reading, anyway.

I certainly hope so.

Able went down to the barn, sneaking around the corner to a faint trail through the back woods. It led him to the sandy banking of a narrow stream. He waited for a moment. Then, Laura the widow of Charles Webster showed up. They were meeting each other in secret for months after her husband died. Once he talked to her for a few minutes, they parted and he returned to the barn.

While back at the small family graveyard, Sara sat in front of her great grandparents tombstones with Mary. Their grandfather Elnathen Black died a couple months earlier, after losing his wife Betty, a year before. There were many of the town’s people in sorrow due to her death, but nobody suffered as much as little Mary.

We should get going, Sara said standing.

I miss them so much.

I know. I do too.

Do we have to go back yet? She asked, looking up.

Yes, we should. I know he’s been nicer to us lately, although he is acting strange.

Well… that guy Jonas helping him is creepy. I would rather spend the night out here, instead of going back to the house.

Let’s go, Sara said, holding out her hand helping Mary. Things will be fine.

They started walking home to where the nightmare of their lives was waiting to be unleashed. Inside the farm house Katie was cooking lunch, as someone leered over her shoulder unexpectedly, grabbing a floured rolling pin. It was a male figure that smashed the side of her head, knocking her down smacking the other side against the counter top. The guy hit her again to make sure she stayed down. He watched the blood pool around her lifeless body.

Then the sound of someone entering the front door got his attention. He slowly walked into the hallway, putting his hand behind him hiding the bloody weapon. The murderer left his victim exposed to the back door and headed to check on the front. Leonard was home from Connor’s house sitting on a wooded bench, removing his dress shoes in the sunlight foyer. He looked up at his father, standing in the doorway to the hall.

Your back quick son, Able said, hands trembling.

Yea, he’s really sick. So is his whole family.

Maybe you should go find your sisters.

You Okay, Pa? he asked.

Yes, now go on!

It became silent for a moment and then the upstairs floorboards started to squeak. The hired man, Jonas Hardy began moving around in their spare bedroom. Able became scared of getting caught and struck his son in the head also, with the bloody rolling pin. Leonard collapsed to the floor as Jonas came downstairs. Able quietly placed the rolling pin on the floor near Leonard’s head, sliding a sharp knife out from between his belt and pants.

Jonas is that you? he asked, knowing it was.

Yes Mr. Black? reaching the last step.

I’m at the front door; could you give me a hand?

Sure, he said, walking down the hallway, past the kitchen to the foyer.

When Jonas entered through the door, Able stepped out of hiding and slit his throat from behind. The drifter dropped to his knees, choking on his own blood, before falling face first. He dropped the knife going back over to Leonard, finding his son was still alive.

This isn’t the way it was supposed to happen, he grunted, strangling his first born to death. You couldn’t give me ten more minutes? Now, what am I going to do? My whole plan is falling apart."

Able took the knife and wiped it clean on Leonard’s shirt, wondering on what to do next. He needed to set the crime scene up, to look like the drifter attacked the family and he defended himself. He put the knife back in his belt and locked the front door, picking up Leonard to carry him through the hallway. Once in the kitchen his two daughters came to the screen door, which led to the back side of their house, where he had snuck in to murder his wife. They both began to scream in fear, as Able placed Leonard near his wife.

Oh, my god what happened!? Sara asked shouting.

Jonas, he said sounding surprised. I was too late.

Pa, what are you doing? she asked again, crying as Mary ran off.

Get her! he hollered, busting out the screen door.

What’s wrong with you? She backed away. Where’s Jonas now.

Shit, he yelled, grabbing Sara’s throat. Damn it!

Stop! she screamed as Able wrestled her to the ground. Someone help me!

Sorry sweetheart, he squeezed her windpipe tighter. I have to finish this, now.

Please, Sara begged in a whisper gasping for air.

Nobody can hear you, he whispered back as his daughter took her last breath.

Able got up and headed out to look for Mary. He knew where she would go, following her scent of fear straight to the family cemetery. It was located in the center of an apple orchard behind the house, near a cornfield and the home of his father Able Sr. He ran through the colorful apple trees towards the middle, coming to a dirt path that would lead him into the small graveyard. It was in a clearing, bordered with a knee high stone wall. A seven foot oak tree sat in the far corner, on the left hand side. He walked past his grandparent’s tombstones and his sister Laura’s up to the tree.

Tag…you’re it, he said, reaching behind the tree.

The frantic screams for help went unheard as little Mary died the same way her sister did. Able carried her body to the house over his shoulder, crying the whole way back. When he approached the open screen door, he grabbed Sara by the collar of her blouse dragging her along. He took them inside the kitchen, laying both girls next to Katie and Leonard.

Kneeling down over the bodies with his hands stained in their blood, he saw the image of his wife appear in the puddle. Able stood up quickly in shock as it faded away and then he caught a glimpse of the ghostly figure rush past the doorway. It looked like Leonard, dashing from the foyer side where he was killed towards the stairs. He hung his head down in disbelief shaking it and rubbed his eyes a moment. The sound of his daughters crying came from outside the screen door. He turned to look, as their transparent images looked back.

No, he said as they disappeared. It can’t be.

His family started to show up spiritually, haunting him in the order they were murdered.

I’ll show you all, he said losing his mind. I’ll burn his whole place down.

He rummaged in a top drawer to the kitchen cabinet for some wooden matches, trying to light a pile of old crumpled newspaper soaked with kerosene. When he did a burst of cool air blew it out, giving him the chills. The smoke formed an outline of Jonas before vanishing into the sunlight.

I’m losing it he muttered softly. What’s going on?

The sound of several strange voices whispered around him, filling his head with craziness. Able charged out of the house and ran down to the barn. Inside he took a long thick rope and hung himself. His father, Able Sr. found the bodies a few hours later in their gruesome manner. The whole family had a multi funeral ceremony that night, in the small graveyard between their properties. They were buried near Elnathen and Betty the great grandparents. Their headstones remained there for a century, followed by many more family members in the years to come, even to this day.

The Black family graveyard eventually became part of a much larger cemetery named Grimsville, due to its supposedly haunted land. There were numerous reports of ghost sightings and demons. The legendary ghost tale reached a great distance, bringing people from everywhere to vandalize the property. That’s why the caretakers installed an automatic locking system, shutting the gate at six o’clock every night. The caretakers Conrad and Isabel Tucker lived there for twenty three years, managing the house and cemetery.

On a cloudy Saturday afternoon in the small graveyard August 14, 2010, Shawna Andrews was raking around the tombstones and the old oak tree. She was listening to a song called ‘Whenever wherever’ by Shakira, on the radio through a set of headphones, when Tyler Paxton tapped her on the shoulder. He was the youngest person on the job and worked just on the weekend crew.

What’s up? she asked taking off the headphones.

Rich wants us to start cleaning up early because of the storm.

Okay, sounds good to me.

I don’t care either way, he said grinning. I can’t leave until my ride shows up; my father will be here at six.

Well, you can always sit in my car, if it’s rainy and wait for him.

Thank you. I’ll be happy when I can get my driver’s license next year.

No problem, she responded. I was in your position a couple years ago. So, want me to let Dave know?

That will be great.

I can… he’s on the west side.

I’ll find my uncle Billy; he’s on the other side.

Meet you at the gate.

Here it comes now, he said walking away as it began sprinkling.

Perfect, she mumbled putting the headphones back on.

Tyler left the small stoned in area behind, heading towards the house. It was a five minute walk through rows of tombstones as he past the back of it, seeing William Paxton exit the barn. He was already cleaning up for the day, talking to Ian Gannon, who patrols the grounds and makes sure everyone is out at closing.

I was just going to look for you, Tyler told his uncle approaching them

I’m right here, Billy chuckled. I bumped into Rich and he wanted me to head back.

Me too, Shawna is getting Dave.

I just called Grammy to pick me up early; I hope the mechanic shop has my car ready.

At least you can call your ride, Tyler smiled. I don’t even have a phone to call.

You can use mine.

No thank you. It will only be a ten or fifteen minute wait, not to mention Shawna said I could wait with her.

I bet she did, he smiled back.

Well, I’ll let you guys finish up, Ian said getting into a Yamaha utility golf cart. I’m going to make my final rounds.

He drove off, as Billy and Tyler waited for everyone else to get back. Then they noticed Mrs. Tucker staring at them through one of the narrow windows, which ran along both sides of the front door. She watched them from the house overlooking the vast cemetery, with long scraggly hair, that hung below her fragile shoulders. The boys felt badly for her and Mr. Tucker. She seemed helpless and he was unable to come out anymore due to a serious back injury. Mr. Tucker used to perform the job Rich does now until he got hurt, so Conrad hired him to take over.

When they finished putting all their stuff away, Dave Mason and Shawna showed up pushing an outdoor cart full of gardening tools. A light drizzle of rain drops, became a steady down pour, as everyone rushed into the barn. The darkened sky soaked everything, during the quick shower. Then the weather tapered off to a faint sprinkle again.

Wow, Dave said standing near the door. Rich must have gotten drenched.

Unless he was in the shed, Billy said.

He should have been back by now, Tyler responded. He wanted to leave early, but it’s almost our regular time to go soon. It’s quarter of six.

Let’s give him a few more minutes, Dave suggested.

He’ll be here, Shawna said.

I don’t know, but my mother is here to pick me up, Billy said as Denise pulled up with his son, two year old Dylan.

He left the barn running out to her, smoke gray 2007 Chevy Cobolt. They talked for a few minutes, while everyone else stayed inside standing near a riding lawn mower and yard equipment. Then Billy’s brother Glen Paxton drove up in a black ‘86 Chevy Camaro, playing ‘Here Comes the Sun’ by the Beatles. He was with his girlfriend Michelle Mahony, to pick up his son Tyler. Glen used to work the cemetery before Conrad was hurt and Rich replaced him on the grounds. Now the crippled aging man, stares from an upstairs bedroom window watching them work. It wasn’t long before Ian came back in his golf Cart, parking near the barn door.

You see Rich? Shawna asked.

No, he should have been here already.

Should we go look for him? Tyler asked.

I think everyone needs to get out, within the next five minutes.

I’m all for that, Dave agreed walking to the gate.

Same here, Tyler said following him.

We have to find him, Shawna insisted. We can’t just leave him.

Let’s go, he said putting his hand around her shoulders. I’ll walk you out.

At the gate a third vehicle pulled up, Mike Yacco was driving a green 2000 Dodge Neon and stopped in front of the open fence. He was a ghost hunter and published author, looking for a new story. Ian went to his cart, with Shawna standing outside his driver’s door. While Dave got in his Ford ranger, pick-up truck and left.

Can I help you? he bent down looking in. There was a pad of paper, a pen and small hand held voice recorder on the passenger’s seat, with a cased laptop in the back.

Yes, he answered. I was looking to talk to Mr. Tucker; I’m from Tapps, (Tracking and photographing paranormal studies).

It’s too late to talk to him today.

I know you closed at six, I was hoping he could make an exception. I came all the way from Bangor Maine and got a late start, it’s a long story.

I’m sorry, I can’t let you in. The doors close at six o’clock automatically every night and don’t reopen until six in the morning. I’m trying to get everyone out, and now I have someone missing.

You do, who?

You’re going to have to wait to hear anything, I barely know myself. Good bye sir.

Thank you, he replied driving off.

It’s almost time, and Rich still isn’t here, Shawna said raising her voice back inside the gate.

Someone really needs to go look for him, Glen agreed standing next to her.

Your need to get out now, Ian said stepping closer.

I’m with them, Billy said crossing the path of the gate.

Count me in, Michelle joined them.

We can do this; if he’s not back he stays behind.

How can you of all people say that? Shawna asked him. You patrol this place and it’s up to you to make sure everyone is out.

I can’t do anything about him; it’s the rest of the group that worries me.

What about Tyler? Denise asked from her car.

Take him with you, Glen responded. I’ll call you.

I can’t let you, Ian demanded grabbing the arms of Glen and Billy.

You don’t have a choice, Billy explained as they both resisted.

Shit! Ian yelled out, while the gate started to close. You need to get out.

Don’t fight us, Glen said.

Damn it! he gave in, stepping over the line just as the gate passed behind him.

The large nine foot sliding steel gate locked shut, trapping the six of them inside until morning. So Denise left with Tyler and Dylan as the sky grew darker and looked like it could rain, again soon. A light wind blew by them, while it seemed to get quiet.

Okay, Ian said. Now that I will lose my job, let’s head back to the barn.

"I thought we were going to look for Rich?’ Shawna asked.

"I’m going to look for him; everyone else is going to stay