Results for Wicked Halloween Contest!!!
Drumroll please....The winner is Cathy McElhaney (winning a basket of scary books, tricks and treats)!
And the stories was all so good, I had to create a winning runner up entry! The winner (winning an autographed copy of Canyon Wolf Bride) is Jeannette Jackson!
Cathy's Story...
Ravenwood lit the torch and walked inside the barn. A lonely owl hooted from the rafters, ruffling its feathers, blinking. She saw the flame reflected in her golden eyes and then watched a shadow move along the rotted wood pile. A mouse scurried out, squeaking, carrying a piece of hay in her mouth. The shadow grew, blacking out the flickering light. She gasped, torch smoke billowed over her hooded head. With one shaking hand, she reached for the crucifix around her neck. The shadow crossed the pitchfork, fell upon the coffin and then Ravenwood's hands shook even more as the flickering light illuminated the creature the elders had frightened the children with for as long as anyone could remember. The Chupacabra!
Ravenwood stared in disbelief as the creature bared it's teeth and let out a low, menacing growl. The sharp spines along it's back exaggerated in the dim light. She froze in terror. The Chupacabra was ready to pounce and Ravenwood was sure her heart would beat right out of her chest! She felt faint and it became hard to breathe. Her legs gave out as the Chupacabra leapt into the air and over her head, landing just outside the barn door. The creature turned and looked into her dark eyes and she was amazed to see that it was afraid of her!
Ravenwood sat there, while her heartbeat returned to normal.
Her eyes scanned the barn, lit only by her torch. Was he here? Suddenly the fear was back as wondered if her lover, Dreamweaver, had beaten her here! Was he hurt?
"Dreamweaver?" she whispered into the darkness as she rose on shaky legs. "Are you here?" Ravenwood nearly jumped out of her skin when he whispered in her ear and his arms came around her.
"Yes, my love. I am here".
Ravenwood collapsed in his arms as tears of relief rolled from her eyes.
"Ravenwood? What is it? You are shaking like a leaf! Are you crying? What is it?"
Ravenwood stepped away to collect herself and regroup. It was too easy to stay wrapped in his arms and she needed to think about what just happened. The concern in his eyes helped her recover quickly so she could explain. "I came here to meet you.like we had planned. It was so dark and I heard something, just back there," she said, pointing to the left on the far side of the barn. "Dreamweaver, it was CHUPACABRA! The stories are real! It growled and I thought it would attack me, like in the stories, but it jumped over me and ran away. I thought that maybe you had beaten me here and it had gotten you! I was terrified! So when you came up behind me..." she trailed off as tears once again filled her eyes.
Dreamweaver wrapped her in his arms once more and kissed her tears away. "Shhh, I am here. Not even Chupacabra could keep us apart!"
He took the torch from her hand and placed it in the holder on the wall. Then he picked her up and carried her to the rope ladder leading to the loft. She quickly climbed up with Dreamweaver close behind. Ravenwood pulled the ladder up and went to where her lover was waiting for her. Fear dissolved into passion as his hands entwined in her hair and he pulled her close for a mind numbing kiss.
Ravenwood was lost in Dreamweaver. Nothing else mattered as he took her to new heights in their lovemaking.
The Chupacabra waited near by, hoping to finish it's feast as soon as the humans left the coffin makers barn.
Jeanette's Story...
Ravenwood lit the torch and walked inside the barn. A lonely owl hooted from the rafters, ruffling its feathers, blinking. She saw the flame reflected in her golden eyes and then watched a shadow move along the rotted wood pile. A mouse scurried out, squeaking, carrying a piece of hay in her mouth. The shadow grew, blacking out the flickering light. She gasped, torch smoke billowed over her hooded head. With one shaking hand, she reached for the crucifix around her neck. The shadow crossed the pitchfork, fell upon the coffin and then slowly vanished inside. As she stepped closer to the coffin the flame on began to flicker and die out. She froze as the darkness closed in on her. Fumbling for the matches to relight the torch, her heart beating swiftly in her chest, she paused and remained as still as she could. A sound penetrated the silence. Her ears strained to identify the sound. It sounded like scraping...wood on wood. Now a creaking sound like a door opening on rusty hinges. Wait. It can't be. The coffin! The lid was slowly opening. A whiff of musty, foul air escaped from the coffin...along with something else. In the darkness she felt a presence coming toward her. Run, her mind screamed, but she couldn't make her feet obey. Something brushed her cheek, as lightly as a spider's web. She found it harder to breathe now and tears of fear started rolling down her cheeks as she realized it was too late, much to late to escape. As the shadow surrounded her, colours flashed before her eyes. Had she not been dying, she would have marveled at the beautiful hues. Her final desperate scream muffled by the shadow that held her captive.
Minutes later, the mouse squealed as the owl swooped down from the rafters, captured it and flew outside. There was a wet sucking sound and then total silence. Nothing now stirred in the barn, but anyone listening very carefully, would hear a low soft chuckle coming from the coffin.
