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"Opened Eyes" (Part 4) by Joseph Linhardt, ©2003 (From Part 3...) Peter set off toward the school, jogging quickly. He would return to the ravine and sort out what had happened. Had Jenny somehow taken him back to his house? Or had the police found him? If so, why did they leave him on the front lawn? Don't think, Peter told himself. Just run. He did, and was unaware of the dark shape that followed him as silently as smoke. Peter crashed and stumbled through the woods, regardless of the sticks and
thorns that were tearing his clothes. The sun seemed to be shining brightly
despite the lateness of the day. Peter could see his way clearly. Small
vegetation and tree branches whipped and stabbed at him as he blundered through
the woods, oblivious to everything…including the dark shape that was
soundlessly following him. Finally, Peter burst through the last stretch of vegetation and tree
branches. He skidded to a halt at the top of the ravine, remembering not to
trust the grass that grew close to the edge. Peeping over the thirty-foot drop,
Peter tried to see the object he had spotted earlier. Only a vague, shadowy
ravine bottom met his eyes. That’s odd. The sun’s shining brightly. Something wasn’t right. Where was Jenny? “Jenny!” Peter called, loudly. “Jenny! Are you here?” Silence met him. Somewhere, a lonely bird twittered. “Jenny? Bryan!” Peter tried again, looking frantically around himself for
some sign of their presence. Only silence met his ears. Could they both be in the ravine? Peter moved quickly around to the sloped ravine side. He carefully began
sliding down. This time, he knew which tree roots and branches to use as
handholds and which ones were weak. Slowly, inch by inch, he made his way to the
bottom. He did not fall. “Hello?” he called out as he reached the bottom. “Is anyone here?” A cold, dark silence met him, but Peter instinctively knew something was in
the bottom of the ravine. He could feel its presence around him. The sheer sides
of the ravine and utter silence of the forest added to Peter’s discomfort. His
breath came in quick, sudden gasps. He was not alone in the ravine. “Who’s there!” he demanded, looking wildly in every direction. The
fogginess that he had seen from the top of the ravine began to shift and gather
at a single point. Slowly, a single shape took form. It was tall and dark. Peter
felt repulsion and fear as The Thing slowly appeared. “Wha…what’s going on?” stammered Peter. The shape had taken the form
of a human, at least six feet tall. Dark eyes were riveted in its head like
glowing stones. Blackness swirled and gathered around it. Large, strong hands
folded themselves across the creature’s expansive chest. It eyed Peter
contemptuously from its position in the shadows of the ravine sides. “Who are you?” demanded Peter, trying desperately to keep his voice from
shaking. He felt as if he were in the presence of something completely evil, of
an unfathomable darkness. “Where are Jenny and Bryan?” “You…can see me?” the figure replied, somewhat mystified. Its voice was
soft but dangerously cunning. “Of course!” said Peter angry and confused. “Who are you? What’s
going on?” A smile crept across the figure’s face. Glee filled its voice. “You
don’t know, do you?” Peter’s temper was simmering. He took a step forward. “No! I’m looking
for two friends who’re lost in these woods!” The figures eyes narrowed. The shadows seemed to grow with its displeasure. “Another has come,” it said to itself. Raising its voice, the creature
addressed Peter. “You cannot be allowed to leave!” It took one menacing step toward Peter, who quickly assumed a Tai-Kwon-Do
stance. “Leave me alone!” he warned. The figure laughed. “You honestly think you can stop
me?” it
hissed. “You will join your friend in our stronghold!” The figure leapt at Peter. As it did, Peter instantly realized that the
figure itself was completely
black! Dark,
smoke trailed after it. Even the sunlight was dimmed by its presence. Peter immediately knew he could not fight the dark thing. Without thinking,
he turned and tried to run, but a repressive, dark, numbing feeling swamped his
mind and body. His legs felt like jelly. A hideous laugh came from the thing
behind him. Peter looked frantically over his shoulder as he stumbled forward,
and tripped over a tree root. He hit the ground hard. Wrenching himself onto his back, he saw the horrible black thing was fewer
than five paces from him! A dark hand reached out to seize him. The eyes of the
thing seemed to burn with a black fire. Suddenly, a thunderous voice split the air! “Stop!” it commanded. The trees shook at the sound of thunderous voice!
“You may not harm him!” Instantly, the dark figure jerked backwards, as if burned! Its eyes jerked
upward, looking past Peter at something that stood on the slope behind him.
Peter looked shakily over his shoulder, his eyes wide. A tall, dazzling white
figure stood on the slope! Light and purity streamed forth from the being. He
was as white and calming as the dark figure was black and threatening. He leaped
down the slope and landed between the dark creature and Peter. “You!” spat the dark being. “Get out of my way!” The white figure raised his right hand. “You have no power here. In the
name of my Master, leave!” At that moment, Peter heard the last sound he expected from the frightening,
horrific black figure: a shriek of pure terror! Like a frightened deer, the dark
thing turned and leaped
thirty feet
to land on top of the ravine! In seconds, it disappeared into the thick
woods, leaving no trace of its presence. Even the vegetation was not disturbed.
Peter’s jaw dropped open as he stared at the space the dark thing had been
standing in a moment before. Suddenly, he felt someone take hold of his arm. “We have no time,” said the white being, turning to the slope. “We must
leave at once.” Peter pried his eyes away from the ravine top. “Wait a minute,” he said,
standing. “What’s going on here? Who are you and what in the world was that
thing?” “There is no time to answer you here,” said the white being earnestly.
“We must go. Now.” “Where?” asked Peter, incredulous. “To a safe place,” replied the being. “Why should I trust you?” demanded Peter, annoyed. Surprisingly, the
white man did not get angry. “Don’t trust me,” he said, as if Peter’s question was completely ridiculous. “Trust the One who sent me.” Want to comment on this article? Please click here for a comments/suggestions form. |
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