Scary

Chapter 1

It is raining hard with visibility no more than a few feet making driving difficult. The darkness punctuated periodically by the flash of lightning followed closely by the rolling boom of thunder. The road is overhung by the oversized branches of age old trees. The ravages of fall had stripped all but the most stubborn of red and gold leaves which are now being tossed wildly about by the howling wind. It has been a long time since she last saw a house or any other sign of civilization and the road, in poor repair, has become little more than mud and potholes and gravel.

Suddenly a violent flash and sparks like falling stars erupt with a tremendous boom. Gayle brakes just in time to prevent the heavy limb crashing through the car roof but not in time to spare the hood. The car lurches to a stop and utters a failing moan and sputters dead. She knew the car wouldn't start but made several frustrated attempts.

Listening to the rain falling hard on the damaged automobile she looks out the window in time to see a structure in the distance illuminated by a flash of lightning. The thought of walking through the rain wasn't very appealing but she couldn't bear to do nothing. She buttons up her coat and opens the door. Whipped by the violent wind and rain she stubbornly steps out of her car into ankle deep water and sloshes her way forward into the dark.

Heading in the general direction of the building she finds herself trudging up a narrow lane, leaning against the force of the wind and occasionally whipped by the overgrown and poorly trimmed vegetation along either side. Sections of wrought iron fence can be seen occasionally exposed and in obviously poor condition. The wind is howling like demons and she is drenched but keeps moving. It would be pointless now to return to the relative safety of her car defeated and worn out.  

She can now more clearly see the building she is heading for. It is large and ominous looking in the dark, the architecture ornate as in a time forgotten, and can see the warm glow of orange light streaming through drawn curtains. That gives her hope as she makes her way up several wide steps to a sprawling deck and large door. Thump, thump, thump, she pounds on the door. After a long moment the heavy door creaks slowly open on large hinges. A hand gestures her in and the door closes behind her.

She is greeted by a looming figure holding an ornate candelabrum. His features exaggerated in the flickering glow. "Welcome to Providence, my name is Corb Felgenhour." The strange figure slowly mumbles belying the eerie shine reflecting in his intense eyes, the utterance of his name accentuated by a sudden crack and boom of thunder. In the brief flash Gayle catches the shimmer reflecting off the knife held, partly concealed, in his free hand...