Appalachian Mountain Murder

Ramona opened another book.
“Look – the Appalachian Mountains are sometimes called the haunted mountains because ‘most who go there don’t return’” she read – concern clear on her face.

Darius, the oldest, laughed and pushed the book away from his sister (Ramona), saying,

“Don’t be silly, we’re still going and that’s final. What could possibly go wrong?”

“Ramona? Charlotte? Simon?” Darius called, his voice shaking.

The sky was grey, darkness closing in fast. Darius struggled through the undergrowth; his best new trousers were torn and his collared shirt had dark green stain across the front. He tripped and fell hard, hitting his head against a rock and falling back.

Ramona looked at Charlotte worriedly.
“It’s been hours, Darius still isn’t back – we should look for him.” she said quietly.
Charlotte hesitated but Simon nodded.
“Alright, we’ll look.” Charlotte said.

They spread out to look – Ramona went deeper into the forest. That’s where she found him. Blood pooled from the back of his head and deep scratch marks covered his body.

“Darius?!” she screamed.

Tears spilled down her cheeks and she took a shaky breath. Then she heard it. The same deep breathing Darius had heard. She looked up.

The same figure was standing over her, blood covered and hungry.

Ramona screamed.

The figure stepped back and disappeared – melting into a pool of black smoke.

“Ramona?” she looked up to see Simon running towards her.

She collapsed into him, sobbing uncontrollably as he hugged her. He saw the body next. His face drained of all colours and he took Ramona’s hand.
“I should’ve known we couldn’t escape it…” he said – his voice was hollow and laced with regret.

“Where’s Charlotte?” Ramona asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.
Simon looked into the forest.

“She’s coming.” he said firmly.
Charlotte reached them eventually.

“Ramona, Simon, we should go. Right. Now.” She hissed.

Simon hesitated.

“We can’t. If we leave… This could happen again. It’s too late to save Darius, but it’s not too late to save everyone else,” he said firmly.

“Fine. Have it your way –risk everything to save people who’ll never know what really happened,” Charlotte hissed. “But I’m leaving and you can’t stop me.”

Simon stared after her, a cold fear creeping up him as she walked alone into the forest.

Simon started running after her, leaving Ramona torn between running after them and waiting for his return. Her choice was made for her though as Simon stopped running.

“Charlotte! It’s getting dark, you can’t leave; it’s dangerous!” he called after her.

She ignored him, continuing into the forest. The sky was darkening too fast to seem natural, night creeping in faster than usual. Simon returned and sat down next to Ramona.

“She’ll be back before morning.” he said though he wasn’t sure.

Ramona shook her head.

“She won’t. She’s made up her mind and to her, coming back would seem weak. She won’t be back.” she said quietly.

The next few hours felt like an eternity. Simon kept telling Ramona that Charlotte would come back but they both knew that what Ramona said was true. She wouldn’t be back.

Finally, they saw Charlotte standing at the edge of the forest. Ramona ran to her; joy filled her until Simon pulled her back.

“Ramona, that’s not her. Stay here.” He hissed.

Ramona looked towards Charlotte and noticed something she hadn’t seen before; Charlotte’s eyes were completely black. Ramona recoiled as Charlotte stepped towards them.

“I told you to leave,” she said in a gravelly voice too deep be hers, “I gave you a chance. You didn’t take it.”

Ramona turned and ran through the forest, forgetting Simon, just running. She could see the edge of the forest in the distance but Charlotte was getting closer.

Two were gone. Two remained.