Spring

By Dakota Matos

From Dakota Matos comes a tale of darkness and rain. When a group of students in a town notice strange things happening around them, they experience abnormal acts in their lives. The Flickering Light, an unknown source, appears whenever something of danger or terror takes place. Can the group of students solve this mystery whilst comprehending what is real and what is in their minds?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dakota Matos
• Release date: Apr 13, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393727019

Book preview

Novels

His Reality

Novellas

What Happened to the Tucker Family?

Spring

Novelettes

When the Night Winds Blow

Short Stories

The Legend of Serenity and the Three Cats

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COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2020 by Dakota Matos

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form, nor by any means; this includes photocopying, recording, or other electronic/mechanical methods, without the prior written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews, and of certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

This story is a work of fiction, coming from the author’s imagination. Any similarities between the events in this story and any humans’ experience(s) is entirely coincidental.

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Rachel

She grabbed her lunch pail, schoolbooks, and the pouch of water and walked out the wooden door. Very little clouds floated above her; the humidity was felt. Her long red dress moved against the wind, brushing against the wet grass of the early morning. The grass in the smaller front of the property was glistening in the yellow light. She had just finished feeding the horses and was now on her way to school.

Rachel was always fond of the small town in Maryland. The friendly people, the proximity of the buildings, and the beautiful scenery were attractive to her eyes. A few minutes of walking had passed when she saw Old Man Bobby tending to his garden.

Good Morning, Bobby, said Rachel. Lovely morning, if I do say so myself.

I agree, Rachel, said Old Man Bobby. It is mighty fine to see you today. He stood up and wiped the sweat from his brow. His overalls were stained with mud; his hunch forced his neck upward to see at eye-level. Behind him was a small cottage of red brick; a black cat was sitting on the windowsill. Running along to school?

Yes, I am, said Rachel. I hope you are well today. Good-bye! She hummed to herself as she reached the tree line. A narrow path led all walkers inside. Rachel used this every day as her journey to town, in which the school was located. The middle of spring was surrounding all, so the tall trees were fully covered in green leaves. She then began her walk to school. Along both edges of the path stood many flowers of all shapes, colors, and sizes. They reflected off the light softly, as the thickness of trees drowned most of the yellow.

Furry creatures, small in size, were climbing up and around the bark of the trees, chasing each other, communicating in a hidden language. Birds flying overhead provided songs in the wind. Rachel hummed softly and took a sip of water, wiping a drop of sweat from her neck. Though she was used to it, she never liked the wardrobe she used daily; the large dresses did not feel fair in the undying heat of spring.

Rachel looked up; she saw, through the green leaves, a far object shining in the sky. No noise could be heard as it flew in a wide circle. A thin line of smoke followed—

Good morning, beautiful, said a cheerful voice. Rachel lowered her head to eye-level and turned to her right. A short girl, plump in stature, came out of the trees. A dress on her person blended in with the surrounding green. She held multiple books under her arm; strands of brown hair stuck to her forehead. How are you today?

I’m good, Savannah, said Rachel. I see you’re well-rested. She smiled at the reflective light on Savannah’s clammy cheeks.

I have to be, said Savannah. It’s the first day of spring. Such joy it is, too. I can’t help but be in a good mood. She stopped to smell a purple flower near an ant hill. The water droplets stuck to her nose as she rose. We’re almost done with school. We can finally move on with our lives. I like the classes and all, but some of them are just...boring.

I know what you mean, said Rachel. They both continued walking.

How’s Bobby? asked Savannah. Is he doing okay?

He’s good, said Rachel. I saw him this morning.

It’s been months, said Savannah. Ever since his wife died...how she died...

Yeah, I know it’s been tough for him.

Savannah looked down and fiddled with her books. Is he still not saying what happened? I heard rumors...

No, he won’t say, said Rachel.

Everyone nearby knew Old Man Bobby, as he was friendly to all who interacted with him. A few months earlier, Rachel had heard a scream in the dark night, which made her rise from her slumber. A man’s scream, a raspy scream, was travelling through her ears. She sat up in her bed; the pale moonlight shone on her face through the window. She stood, clumsily walked over to the window, and looked. Many people were crowding the front yard of Old Man Bobby’s house. When the town’s police officer walked out, everyone was stunned. He was dragging an object, no, a person behind him; what was left of a person, at least.

4:16

Multiple limbs were piled on a blanket. The torso was being dragged by another police officer; many metal sticks were poking out of it. Pastor Melton walked out of the house last; he was holding a victim’s eyeless head. Rachel looked past the house and into the night. A small flicker of light could be seen in the distant tree line; another was floating in the highest point of the visible sky.

I hope he feels better, though, said Rachel. He has always been such a good person to my parents and I. She kicked a small pebble off the path as they were walking. Every Christmas, we would invite him and his wife over for dinner. They would bring their famous apple pie.

I remember us both going to his house when we were young, said Savannah. His wife’s pie was delicious, like melted sugar in my mouth.

Rachel smiled and they continued down the path. Its direction turned