In the Dark

Summers in Willowsburg consisted of hot steamy days, sweaty brows and back breaking hard work. This sleepy little farming community was far away from the big lights and hustle of the big city. Nestled in the back hill country were several bustling farms and a small town center with just a church, mom and pop market and a small Volunteer Fire Department housed in an old garage at the edge of town. The local Sheriff Randy York and his two deputies made up the Willowsburg County Sheriffs Office.

It was 8pm and bedtime for one of Willowsburg’s residents who was affectionately known around town as little Emma. Emma’s mom and dad had just finished reading Emma her favorite story and Emma heard the snap of her night lamp and her room suddenly darkened, signaling it was time to go to sleep. Emma felt the warm gentle kisses from her mom and dad on her forehead as they tucked her in for the night. Emma layed in bed and watched the twinkling of her night light in the corner of her room. She could hear the clicking of the crickets outside of the bedroom window. A dog bark echoed through the summer air interrupting the rhythm of the crickets. The tree branches were dancing in the moon light as a gentle breeze blew down into the valley making funny shapes in Emma’s window. She slowly drifted off to sleep in total peace as only her own home and bed could give her.

The safety of her night was soon shattered as two strong hands grabbed Emma. She found herself in the hands of an unknown man with a haunting mask which showed only his beady eyes and nose. His muscular arms and massive rough hands gripped her tightly in his grasp. The man smelled like rotten garbage and was soaked in sweat. The man dashed out of the house into the darkness with Emma. They ended up in the grave yard behind the old white church. The masked man tightly bound her hands and ankles with an itchy twine rope. Emma’s heart pounded as if her chest was going to burst. She was sweating from the hot muggy air and the dirt from the cemetery clung to her moist skin. Her clothes were soaked in sweat and her face was snotty from crying. She was leaned up against a tombstone and she could feel the cold stone permeate through her pajamas and onto her wet skin. The grave yard was old and very unkempt, she felt the itchy weeds and crab grass scratch against her skin. The man was panting and breathing rapidly as he mumbled he would “get even”. Even at a young age, Emma feared her young life was over.

The large man with a haunting laugh said he was going to dig a large hole and bury Emma alive. The man tightly held a shovel in his hands and she could hear the sounds of digging behind her. The shovel pinged as it struck rocks and roots in the ground. The twine rope cut into Emma’s skin as she fought to get free. Her hands and feet were numb from the tightly bound rope. The dark night seemed silent as if the entire world had stopped. Each minute felt like an eternity and Emma’s fear overwhelmed her so much that she passed out.

Sheriff Randy York was on duty that night and had the daunting task of patrolling the entire county. The Sheriff had traveled these back roads for years. He yawned and drank coffee as he fought to stay awake. The dark and winding back roads seemed to go on forever. The only thing visible was the eye shine as his headlights tagged foxes and possums that stalked for prey along the roadside. There was a smell of manure and wet soil in the air, it was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Insects pinged on the Sheriff’s windshield as he headed toward Willowsburg.

The Sheriff slowly drove through town as he listened to his radio to combat the loneliness of the night. As the Sheriff passed by the church he thought he saw movement in the graveyard. The dull moon hanging in the sky only provided a glimpse of light. A chill ran through the Sheriff’s body as his imagination got the best of him. Even grown men take pause to enter an old graveyard at night. Sheriff York drove up the street and quietly concealed his car. With his hand firmly on his pistol grip he quietly and cautiously approached the church. As he got closer he could hear the sound of the shovel coming from the graveyard. The Sheriff sensed evil in the air and something in the pit of his stomach told him something bad was happening.

Emma regained consciousness and the extreme fear and panic returned and rushed through her body once again. Emma had bad dreams before but always woke up in her bed with her mom and dad rushing in to comfort her. She was not in the Safety of her home but was immersed in a real life nightmare. The mad man had finished digging and with sweat pouring from his face he approached Emma and picked her up. His sweat spraying on her face as he turned toward the hastily dug grave. Paralyzing fear consumed Emma making it hard for her to catch her breath. She tried to scream but her voice was silenced.

Sheriff York was close enough to see the horror unfolding before him. With a loud voice that cut through the thick night air he ordered the masked beastly man to freeze. The large masked man dropped Emma into the hole and turned toward the Sheriff with a defiance and hatred that seemed personal. He grabbed the shovel and slowly walked toward the Sheriff as if daring him to do something. Sheriff York sternly gave one more command for the man to stop but the man kept coming holding the shovel high over his head as if ready to swing. In a split second decision the Sheriff pulled the trigger and emptied his clip into the man. The man fell backwards onto the weedy grass that was wet from the dew forming on the ground. The man groaned and after two deep breaths he died. When his mask was removed it was a local man named Jim Rogers, a farmer who the Sheriff served an eviction notice on last week.

The Sheriff rushed over to Emma and quickly unbound her ankles and wrists. He gently dressed her wounds, still shaking from the trauma that unfolded. He brushed the long hair that was stuck to her face away and wiped her tears and nose. As they both trembled she held onto him and felt the fear and horror instantly leave, Emma knew she was safe now. After a long embrace the Sheriff said " come on Emma York, let’s get you home.