Hortons Bend

searching the ground for around fifteen minutes when the mist began to thicken. Darwin was the first to notice the mist and it began to unnerve her. She no longer had any interest in the surface hunt but instead stared out beyond the field towards a distant tree line. Brody’s back was to her and only noticed the mist when it became thicker at his feet. He looked up to see Darwin staring off into the distance. He glanced at her impatiently and returned to his search. It wasn’t until he heard a gasp that he stopped and looked up again.
    Brody looked up to see Darwin with a startled look on her face. She had one hand on her forehead peering into the mist. He looked in the same direction and began to make out the shapes that she was seeing. It appeared to be a group of people walking towards them but the mist continued to shroud who they were. Briefly the mist cleared and the figures were no more than fifty yards away. The group was comprised of half naked men. Several were toting long poles that had spear points affixed to one end. Others were carrying long thin, implements that looked very much like prehistoric ceremonial blades. Darwin stepped back and stumbled on a clump of dirt which caused her to land on her backside. Brody started toward her but didn’t have the opportunity as she quickly sprang up from the ground. Brody could easily make out the men’s faces one in particular which contained heavy tattoos across his prominent aquiline nose. Brody’s mouth dropped open in disbelief but quickly regained himself when he heard Darwin scream. One of the members of the group began to break from the rest and made a move in her direction. Brody looked up to see the lights on the farm house come on. Darwin immediately ran towards him. He grabbed her arm and both headed in the direction of where they had tied off the boat. When they reached the brushy slope Darwin lost her balance and fell through the weeds rolling towards the river’s edge. Brody only looked back once and it was when she had tumbled. The stalkers had stopped and were staring at him. One of the members held a lit torch above his head and Brody could clearly make out the piercing eyes that cast hatred for their intrusion.
    He quickly moved through the brush and found a muddied and bleeding Darwin scrambling to untie the boat. “Get in…get in now!” he told her. She got into the front of the boat as Brody stood knee deep in the muddy river water turning the craft downstream. He pulled himself into the boat and almost caused it to capsize but managed to avoid doing so. Brody quickly started the trolling motor which screeched a high pitched wail as he demanded power out of it. Darwin was shaking badly and weeping in the front. He called out to her but she did not look back at him. Brody desperately needed any available light she could provide but did not call to her after his third attempt. After what seemed an eternity, Brody could make out lantern light from someone fishing near the boat ramp. The surprised fisherman stood up from his makeshift seat from a plastic milk crate. He was equally surprised when the john boat arrived at his favorite fishing hole abruptly and the navigator jumped out into the river to pull the boat to the landing.
    Brody pulled the boat past the fisherman who could tell something was wrong. Darwin stepped into the muddy water and began to walk quickly to her jeep. Brody caught up with her and grabbed her a rm. “Darwin.. stop for a minute! Are you hurt?” he asked her. She had a large scratch above her left eye but the blood had already dried. Her clothes were still covered in mud and leaves. She jerked his hand off of her arm and screamed at him “Leave me alone Brody! I’m leaving….I’m leaving right now!” He released her arm but continued to match her pace. Darwin stopped and stared at Brody. “What did we just see? Huh? Think you can explain that?” Brody started to speak but was quickly cut off. Darwin’s voice began to quiver as it got higher. “Goddamn you Brody. Why did you take me there? Huh?” she yelled at him. She was about to leave when she stopped again and pointed her finger in his face “That’s it! I’m done. Goddamn this place. Don’t ever.. EVER speak to me again. Got it!!” she screamed as she stormed off to her jeep. Brody watched her get to her jeep and pull from the parking lot.
    He knew he needed to load the boat, drop it off at his neighbor ’s house and get home. Darwin was