Board Thread:Writer's Workshop/@comment-32351859-20170627133335

 Mother  

October 1st 

Dear diary 

''I set off this morning in my automobile for the town of Old Stratford to view some houses there. As I left my home in my new automobile the sun was rising and illuminating the sky with an orange tint. I drove for hours and within that time the weather had turned and become a dreadful storm. With the sun now blocked and the heavy rainfall I got lost and ended up in an old pub that sat by the roadside, when I say ended up I mean my automobile skidded of the road and hit a solitary lamp post outside said pub. ''

''Upon finding myself outside this pub a tall, emaciated man with a gaunt face came out with an old hunting rifle with an angered expression on his face (that looked like it hadn’t been used for centuries) and then when he saw me he apologised for frightening me in an unnerved tone he then invited me in. However this change in emotion unnerved me more than the rifle did. ''

''<span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">Once inside the pub he sat me down at a table whilst he got me a cup of tea, the pub was however completely empty of people apart from him and his wife and elderly lady whom like her husband seemed like she was malnourished, and then he sat down with me. I proceeded to explain what had happened and after he had heard my story he said that there was an auto mechanic in the nearby village of Eldergrove and that I could go there in the morning. ''<span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">

<p class="MsoNormal">''<span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">We all had dinner together, by candle light as the storm had cut the power, and then when it was ten o’clock he let me use the spare room upstairs to sleep in which is where I am currently writing this from. The room is a large barren chamber that looked like an uninhabited room of an old Tudor cottage although as I am only viewing it with the aid of this little candle I may be wrong in my description. ''<span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">October 2nd <span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">Dear diary <span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">

<p class="MsoNormal">''<span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">Today when I got up the storm had passed however, I saw out of the window that a mist had blown in. I left my room and went downstairs into the pub to find the man or his wife and ask directions to the village. I found the man in the kitchen and he informed me that when I leave the pub I need to head right and go down the hill. ''<span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">

<p class="MsoNormal">''<span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">So, I left the warmth of the pub into the cold mist and headed down the rather steep hill, I almost fell to the ground a few times. It took me an hour to reach the village and as I got nearer the mist started to thicken until it rendered me blind to all that was further than a few steps in front of me. As I entered a large rusting sign that bore the words “welcome to Eldergrove” appeared out of the fog. ''<span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">

<p class="MsoNormal">''<span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">Once in the village I resolved to knock on the first door I find and ask for some assistance in locating the auto mechanic however, when I did stumble upon a door the first time no one answered I waited for a while and then moved onto their neighbours. No one answered the second door although it did open so I decided to let myself in. Once inside I could find no one anywhere in the house however whilst I was answering natures call in the upstairs toilet I heard the sound of little bare feet scampering coming from downstairs but when I checked there was no one there but the door had now been locked. I checked the kitchen and stole a carving knife as I was becoming unnerved and then I kicked the door until it gave in. Once I had gotten the door open I placed the carving knife in my sock and found an oil lamp which I then used to provide light as I explored the village looking for the supposed mechanic mostly finding old Tudor cottages with fetched roofs and Victorian houses that seemed to be the most recent constructions. ''<span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">

<p class="MsoNormal">''<span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">I eventually stumbled on an old village shop which looked as though it had been raided by children as a lot of things had been thrown on the floor but the only things missing were the sweets and toys. The cash register was still filled with pound coins and pence and all the drinks were still there. However, I did find a map of the village which didn’t show a mechanic but it did show how to get to the local church. ''<span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">

<p class="MsoNormal">''<span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">Whilst I was looking I heard again the sound of feet scampering now outside the shop so I quickly ventured outside taking out the knife but as I looked I just caught sight of a small child sized shadow running into the fog. So, I resolved to follow the figure in hopes of finding people. The figure led me deeper into the village where the fog became increasingly thicker and an oppressive almost tangible atmosphere started to weigh on me. ''<span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">

<p class="MsoNormal">''<span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">I gave up following the figure and decided to rest in a house that was to my right. I went in and barricaded myself in to the master bedroom and started writing before I go to sleep. ''<span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">October 3rd <span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">Dear diary <span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">

<p class="MsoNormal">''<span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">I awoke sometime in what must have been the early hours of the morning to the sound of children singing. The singing was coming from outside my window. So, after receiving this chilling awakening I resolved to find the church which I knew was which rested atop another hill which overlooked the village. When I went out into the dark the mist had gone but the only light was that of the moon which was shrouded by a thin layer of clouds and so I could only see dark child sized figures wandering the streets which I avoided and travelled through the gardens and hedgerows. As I approached the church that strange atmosphere returned. Once I reached the church I saw that the graveyard was untended with vines growing over the headstones and weeds everywhere it almost resembled a jungle with the stone walls of the church rising above it like an Aztec temple. I found the great oak doors had been left open so I walked inside. Once inside the atmosphere had become worse so I investigated the church finding a secured room with a key, which is where I have locked myself into to write this, and I also discovered the remains of an old fire where a few burnt pages of the bible could be found. I also discovered that a cross bearing the image of Christ upon it had been turned upside down. So, after these discoveries I closed the church doors and pulled down the great iron bolt, that stood to the right of the door, to secure it and then went into the room I said about earlier. ''<span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">October 3rd continued <span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">Dear diary <span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">

<p class="MsoNormal">''<span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">I found myself quite lost in a strange but disturbingly alluring reverie. I had visons of an angelic woman whose skin was like that of a marble statue she was bare foot and dressed in a white linen gown. She called to me to come to her and I felt my self being compelled to come towards her however I was broken out of this state when I heard loud banging. However, I must have been lost in my reverie for some time as the sun was now setting as its now red beams shone through the stained-glass window. ''<span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">

<p class="MsoNormal">''<span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">I went to investigate the loud banging which was coming from the doors but as I approached I heard scratching and bestial grunts from the other side of the so I decided to hide myself in the confessional. Whilst I hid inside it I saw a group of bedraggled children, whom looked like they had not washed in a while, led by a small blonde girl break through the doors with the use of axes. As they walked in I they were chanting something under quietly so could not make out much of what they said but I did hear them repeatedly say mother. ''<span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">

<p class="MsoNormal">''<span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">Once this sinister procession had passed me I crept out of the confessional and observed them for a moment. They appeared to be slashing their own wrists and letting their blood pour into a bowl. I had to return to my hiding spot as they then started to return. However, once they got to the side of the church where I dwelt their leader opened a door to the left of the entrance and then they proceeded down the dark stair well. ''<span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">

<p class="MsoNormal">''<span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">Once they returned from the bowels of the church I saw the face of their leader she had pale blueish skin of a corpse, a gaunt face and her body was emaciated. That sight was the most fearful thing I had yet witnessed within my life and so I was relieved when she led this macabre group of children out into the young night. After they had left the church I resolved, in spite of an instinctive repulsion, to see what lay down those stairs and I greatly wish I had not. I walked down those stairs without any light, as my lantern had been out for a while now, and discovered an undercroft occupied by an open casket. I looked inside this casket to uncover ghastly discovery; the woman from my dreams lay in the casket which caused me to stumble backwards. After I made this discovery I fled driven by a primal fear that compelled me onward and out of this hellish village. I ran until I reached the old pub where I had left from. ''<span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">

<p class="MsoNormal">''<span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">Upon entering I looked for the man and his wife but to my dismay I could not find them discovering only disturbing hints of what might have become of them. In my search for the kind old couple I discovered small muddy footprints and marks on the floor as if someone had been clawing at it; these sights chilled me as they hinted to a fate that I would not wish upon my enemies. ''<span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">

<p class="MsoNormal">''<span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif">After my discovery of those ghastly clues I proceeded to my task of fortifying the pub against those hell spawned children and their dark queen. After I had prepared the building I retired to my room to write this. I fear that it may be my final entry. ''<span style="font-size:18.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:60.0pt;line-height: 107%;font-family:"BaskervilleOldFace",serif"> <ac_metadata title="Mother (unreviewed)"> </ac_metadata>