Hazy View: Souls of the Vanished
Read Hazy View: Souls of the Vanished Online
Authors: Ink Blood
Tags: #thriller, #horror, #murder, #mystery, #ghosts, #death, #creepy, #lake
Hazy View: Souls of the
Vanished
All Rights Reserved
Copyright©2015 Aletta M. Smith
Second Edition
Published by Ink Blood
Publishing
All Rights
Reserved. This Book May Not Be Reproduced, Transmitted, or Stored
In Whole or Part or In Part by any Means, Including Graphic,
Electronic, or Mechanical Without the Express Written Consent of
the Publisher Except In The Case Of Brief Quotations Embodied In
Critical Articles and Reviews
*~*~*
TOC
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
*~*~*
Chapter One
*I*
The water was clear, calm and the sky
warm and cloudless. The rock face rose like a phantom as the
moonlight shimmered off the smooth rocks from the water some
distance away. A rented twin outboard cabin cruiser drifted slowly,
music and laughter echoed through the silence. Earlier youngsters
jumped overboard to cool off, but darkness had soon put a stop to
that.
Small waves knocked the keel of the
cruiser. It was dark on deck. From inside music came as a faint
sound. In a distance, night creatures echoed from the rock face and
the forests above. In the opposite direction the pier’s marked by
lights shining brightly through the darkness.
Linda Newman stumbled on deck as the
cabin door closed behind her. Clinging to the railing she saw a
shaft of light across the water between the boat and the rock face.
Her green eyes strained to see. She had been drinking all-night and
the boat's swaying didn't make it any easier. The wind tapped her
sarong lightly against her legs. Her brown hair, not brushed but
towel and wind dried hung against her back. She was
nauseous.
Suddenly the light shot across the
water before disappearing again. A cold mysterious eerie wind blew
in from the rock face. Something was in the water, it drew closer
quickly. A soft cry followed the light. It was a desperate cry of a
young child, an inhuman heart rendering high-pitched sound. The
wind grew even colder, sending shivers through her body. Her
two-piece swimsuit wasn't much protection. She hugged herself
firmly. She pushed her slender body away from the railing. A soft
moan, a faint rustling, water splashing sound echoed from the
darkness. It took her by surprise.
“
Steven.”
Linda's voice was only a breathless
whisper that didn't even carry to the door. She heard nothing,
cleared her throat and tried louder.
“
Is anyone still
awake?”
Still there was no answer from inside
the cabin.
The moaning sound came closer. Linda
glared into the darkness but saw nothing. Chills ran down her
spine. A sharp high-pitched moan echoed loudly but softened
occasionally to admit a loud nerve wrecking, paralyzing
screech.
Mist formed around the
boat.
“
Steven, can you hear me?”
Linda called franticly.
Linda felt her skin crawl. She wanted
to retreat to the cabin and her friends but the sound of the child
crying's held her on deck. Linda moved silently along the railing
to the deck chairs near the rear of the boat. She found a spotlight
in one of the compartments that held life jackets and a flare
gun.
It was beneath the boat scratching and
knocking. The water muffled the sound.
Vapor escaped her mouth.
The boat was drifting closer to the
rock face.
Nervously Linda shone into the water
around the boat. The water was murky and clearly
disturbed.
The
knocking and scratching stopped, even the cry faded.
A hiss drew her attention at the rear.
She shone the light over the engines but saw nothing. She leaned
over and shone into the water.
An unseen force suddenly grabbed and
held the spotlight. She tried to free it. A sharp ear deafening
screech and the sudden release of the spotlight sent her backward.
She exploded into the deck chair, bumping her head hard. She heard
something crossing the deck from the engines scratching and hissing
as it moved. Paralyzed by fear she tried to move to the cabin door.
She felt the danger fold around her.
“
Steven!”
Horrified Linda gasped as her breath
escaped her. She cleared her throat and screamed with all of her
might. “Steven!”
The cabin door opened. Her friends,
Beth and Steven rushed out. Whatever came on deck
vanished.
Beth stumbled forward and dropped to
her knees at Linda's side. Deeply concerned she looked down at
Linda.
“
Linda, are you okay, what
happened?”
Linda passed out.
*~*~*
*II*
At the distant pier, in the cool
morning air another soul was at work. Robert Wilson walked joyfully
between his yellow pick-up and the pier. The breeze blew playfully
through his gray hair. He whistled and hummed as he walked. He
packed his small rowboat with fishing gear and pushed off before he
started the small engine.
He headed to his usual fishing spot
but saw the cruiser and settled in the middle of the lake. He
started fishing while waiting for the sun to rise.
Hours have passed and his mood
remained joyful, although he didn't pull out any fish.
Something hissed from where he
couldn't tell. The hiss became a screech, an inhuman scream.
High-pitched one moment then faint the next. He was instantly
nervous and weary. With shaking hands he reeled his line in and
scanned the water. He saw nothing beyond the moonlight on the
surface. He pulled the engine cord.
Nothing happened.
He pulled the cord harder, still
nothing.
He turned around slowly. An evil,
tormenting cry swept across the water and through his small timid
body. He felt shaken to his core, gasping at every
breath.
Mist formed on the water.
A gloomy light appeared across the
water, closing in on Robert. He yanked the cord filled with fear,
knowing that he needed to get out of the water fast. The boat
started to move. He turned towards the pier. It seemed too far to
row. He changed direction to the nearest shore.
A ghastly moan an eerie water splash
echoed loudly leaving him breathless. He felt the cold breath of
death on his neck. Vapor escaped his mouth. He turned slowly
fearing what had come to claim him.
His hand fell off the
steer.
He was speechless, motionless and
defeated by what he saw behind him, human, but not
human.
“
No... Please. No... It's
you, but how? Dear God help us.” Robert pleaded in a panicked
whisper.
Robert's chest felt painful. He was
breathless and sweat popped out on his skin. He was numb and dazed.
His hearing grew dull and his mouth dry. The world became dark and
cold as his lifeless body fell into the bottom of the boat still
propelling forward.
*~*~*
Chapter Two
*
I*
Sheriff Martin Parker was in his
forties dressed in sheriff’s uniform and dark glasses. He stood on
the pier glaring across the lake. He was silent. He glanced up into
the darkening sky. It was still bright enough, but he felt the
strong urge to get out of the open before the darkness found him
and consumed his soul. His short well-kept hair hardly moved in the
breeze. He stood with his chest out ready to command his troops, if
only he could tear himself away from his thoughts.
The wind was energetic and tugged on
loose clothing and clouds were forming rapidly. Deputy Andrew
Foster, a few years his junior walked up unnoticed.
“
Sheriff Parker!” Andrew
called loudly.
Dressed in a deputy uniform Andrew
walked briskly to where Martin stood. From far he could see Martin
was in one of his moods. Today would be another long
day.
“
Yes?” Martin mumbled and
dragged himself away from his thoughts.
“
The boat’s this way, it's
in the reeds. What's wrong I called three times?” Andrew
said.
“
I heard you.” Martin
responded agitated.
Martin walked back to the parking lot.
He was clearly not taking note of Andrew. To some extend it seemed
like Martin was trying to avoid him. Andrew followed
silently.
The parking lot held several state and
private vehicles. At the edge of the parking lot were a coffee
shop, office and boat shed. Bystanders had gathered, waiting to
find out what had happened. At one of the private vehicle Steven,
Beth and Linda stood, waiting to give their statements.