What's Done In the Dark (Conclusion) - Freewrite: 12/1/23 | Prompt: A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

For months, Daniel's encounter with the mysterious sounds waffling toward him from deep down Incantata Road persisted. His parents unrelenting denial frustrated him. Only his loyal canine, Rocky, understood. He heard the noises also, but couldn't corroborate Daniel's story.

Now that his newest friends, Bershia and Andy brought together by a scheduled study session, heard the strange noise, he's ready to investigate, although reluctantly.

Will his parents finally realize the truth before it's too late to save their son?

Now, the Conclusion

"Hurry mom, dad! They're waiting," shouted Daniel from the front porch, after catching his breath.

"Who's waiting?" his dad replied, moving closer to Daniel's face, then sticking his head out the front door. "Calm down, boy." Malcolm Westcott beckoned for his wife, Naomi, to join him as he headed out the door.

"My friends. They heard the noise coming from Incantata County Road. I told you something weird is going on down there, but you didn't believe me. Now I have proof. Bershia heard it. She swears the sound is a harmonica."

"You're talking jibberish, Daniel, and wasting our time. There are still chores to be completed before dusk, so I suggest you get on in there, change your clothes, and get to work." Mrs. Westcott's hands sat firmly on her hips. While delivering that speech in that tone meant he'd have to speak fast to convince them of the urgency.

Bershia and Andy were waiting. Busy talking with their backs turned toward Daniel's home, Bershia frowned before adding. "Wondering what's taking Daniel so long. If it were my parents, they'd already be here to investigate because, like me, they want to know everything that's going on in our area."

Rocky answered Bershia's question. Both she and Andy turned to find Daniel and his parents headed in their direction.

Bershia pointed. "Down there is where the noise is coming from. And I know what it is."

They ignored her. "There is no one living down that road. If so, we would have heard about it. Let's go take a look and put this issue to rest once and for all." Bershia's mouth widened, but no sound escaped.

Daniel's dad held up his hunting weapon. "Just to be safe in case there are some wild animals roaming near the old, abandoned home," he murmured. "They usually don't remain in an area where there is no food source, so we'll see."

All five started down the path of Incantata County Road headed toward the dead end.

Daniel stammered, "as I said and still believe, there is evil down that road. It's haunted."

Being upstaged wasn't going to work. Bershia rushed to counter, "and as I said before Daniel, nonsense. Ghosts don't play the harmonica. There is a reasonable explanation, isn't it Mr. Westcott? It's good I happened to see Daniel on the bus and came along to take control of the situation."

The sharp cut of Naomi eyes toward Bershia's direction confirmed her decision not to try for any more children. "I don't think that will be necessary, Bershia. We don't want anything serious to happen to any of you. We're allowing you to accompany us so that you can tell all who you believe are interested or not interested the truth. We don't want any unwarranted rumors about our area, do we?"

Bershia didn't respond, just kept walking. This time, she held Andy back with her arms, imploring him to keep a safe distance. The fact that Daniel's dad brought along his weapon put a lump in her throat.

By the time they reached the abandoned home, daylight was dwindling. The Westcott's stopped the children. "Stay outside and together." Bershia didn't want to, but obeyed.

The next instant, a loud shriek penetrated through the broken window. The children ran and crouched down behind the nearest tree.

The Westcott's had stepped inside the partially opened door. No person was visible on first glance. But the odor was stiffling, smelling of a freshly slaughtered animal. Several sheets lay in the corner of the room. Piled high in another corner was trash and other debris resembling the attempt at cleaning, but no cleaning supplies were visible.

Malcolm yelled, "Anyone living here?" The echo returned unanswered.

While Naomi waited at the front door, he turned to walk into another room. It happened so quickly, that the encounter caught Malcolm off guard. A violent force pushed him back into the living room. Suddenly, Naomi screamed as a large body catapulted toward her husband, overtaking him. She scoured the room for any item that would help get the man off her husband. Finding nothing to help, she just continued screaming.

The two men scuffled on the dirty floor for a few moments until a crackling voice, choking and coughing behind them pleaded, "don't hurt the stranger, Ronny. It might be his home." The voice was attached to a small, frail-looking female.

The tall, thin man named Ronny jumped up from Malcolm as quickly as he'd descended upon him. He retreated a few steps and stood huddling close to the female. She held out her hand, pleading, "we're not harming anyone. We just need a place to stay until we get on our feet."

Malcolm brushed off dirt, retrieved his weapon, and joined Naomi. She could tell they were a couple the way they held each other. They reeked of filth and their grooming appeared disheveled.

Meanwhile, outside, the children had inched closer to the front door once they heard the screams. Since no weapon had fired, they figured it would be safe to peer into the window. What they saw were four adults, but couldn't hear the conversation.

"Let go inside right now," Bershia insisted. Daniel and Andy agreed.

The conversation was drastically different from several moments ago. The children located Naomi and stood behind her as she spoke. "But you have no heat for the winter. And holes in the roof offer no protection from the elements. It's a wonder you haven't caught pneumonia." Naomi watched closely the frail woman as her husband held her close. She could see the illness as the woman couldn't stand on her own.

Naomi pulled off her jacket and extended it toward the woman.

Bershia stepped forward, took the jacket, handed it to Ronny, then rushed back and waited beside Naomi. Daniel stood watching Bershia from behind his dad, smiling. Andy is lucky, he thought, thinking of him and his secret admiration for Bershia. He signaled to Andy who inched closer to her.

The woman was named Ophelia who managed to speak in a raspy voice. "I appreciate the coat. If this is you home, we will leave immediately."

"No, it's not ours. And, we don't know the current owner. The house has been vacant for over ten years. The only reason we intruded is that our son, Daniel, thought he heard strange noises coming from this direction."

Ophelia turned toward her husband. "I told you that melodica would bring the authorities to us."

As if to no one, Bershia boasted, "I knew it because the instrument sounded like a harmonica. I'm in the school band, you know."

Malcolm interrupted her to ask Ronny, "how do you travel back and forth undetected?"

Somewhat embarrassed, Ronny responded, "we avoid the main road and highway. We're not harming anyone, just homeless since we're both unemployed and our benefits ended. The shelters in town are full. We didn't think we'd be harming the place, it being all run down and such."

Naomi took over the questioning in a more gentle tone.

"No, you're not harming anyone but yourselves. And we're not judging, but this is no way for anyone to live. Tomorrow we'll come help you straighten up, if you'd like. My husband has several tarps to cover the roof. Are you sure we can't help you locate a proper shelter? Perhaps their availability has changed. In the meantime, you can spend the night at our home. Wash up and eat a decent meal. We'll do what we can to help. Your wife is ill. She needs medical attention."

"No, no," Ronny protested. "We don't want to bother you kind folks. We shouldn't be here too much longer." As if thinking about the offer for his wife only, he looked at her and nodded, then reluctantly extended his hand. "We appreciate any help and hope to return the favor one day."

Malcolm shot a quick glance at his wife. She returned the look boldly. She knew that they couldn't tell whether the couple were dangerous criminals on the run from authorities or were just homeless people struggling to live. But she hoped that if her family was in a similar situation, someone would offer aid.

Naomi led the couple outside. "Come with us. We'll talk again tomorrow. You wife is weak. My husband will fetch the car. I'll stay until he returns."

When Malcolm returned, he spoke a bit harshly, "you two had better get along home. I'll drive you."

"But our science project! You don't understand." Bershia's voice escalated.

"We understand perfectly, young lady. You all can finish tomorrow after you calm down and get some rest. Enough excitement for today."

A grateful Daniel stood behind his dad. Bershia may be smart and all, but sometimes she was too much. Thankfully, her intimidation tactics didn't work on his parents. Nor probably with her own parents, he hoped.

Daniel waved goodbye to her and Andy after they were dropped off. Too weary to think about science, he ate quickly, then headed to bed.

That night, he and Rocky experienced a peaceful sleep for the first time in months without that frightening noise waffling through his window from the direction of Incantata County Road.

Welcome back to my freewrite prompt story for this week. The photo that is the subject of the story spoke to me about a weather condition that isn't favorable for travelers:

Describe what you see.
A light but steady rain drips on a paved road. A large puddle is beginning to form. If one is not careful, he or she may accidentally run over an object in the road that is dangerous, such as a deep dip. To the right a fence protects an owner's property. To the left of the road, trees appear to line it. Also, rain appears to be draining off the main road onto a side road perhaps.

Describe what you feel.
An accident waiting to happen if one traveling the road is not careful. This is especially true if you can't see how deep the puddle in the road is. I feel as though an unusual event occurred on this stretch of the road.

Write a story or poem about what you think is going on. I leave with you my story for: A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words - 12/1/23.

^{Image used with permission of contest owner}