Halloween Campfire

Halloween Campfire
By Shawn Alexander

          Jill, Howard, Toni, Frank and Helen sat on the ground of Green bolder. “I can’t walk,” said Helen.
          “Lucky you didn’t fall into that canyon,” Frank pointed toward the canyon cliff.
          “The ace bandage will help you walk,” said Jill.
          “The sun is setting,” said Toni.
          Superstition Mountains provided a panoramic view of the land from Green Bolder. A wind howled as the group prepared to wait until Helen could walk.
          “Let’s tell Halloween stories,” Said Toni.
          “We need a campfire,” said Howard with a smile.
          As Toni held Helen’s foot she let out some air.
          “God’s air,” laughed Howard.
          “Apache Indian spirits may be hidden in these mountains,” said Frank as he looked toward the canyon.
          “Listen to this story,” said Howard with a smirk.
          “Indians consider the Superstition Mountains as sacred. White men died trying to search for the Lost Dutchman’s Mine. He wound up with some gold trinkets. People have searched for the mine without success. A man entered a cave on Cave Trail. He came out with gold. His friend watched him descend to his site. But instead of greeting him the man from the cave disappeared behind a bolder. His friend called to him. No answer. He then approached the bolder. Behind the bolder the friend saw the man on the ground his hand held the gold. He whispered to this friend. “What did you say?” With a weak hand motion he drew his friend closer. This is what he whispered in his ear, “Gold … cave …run…a ghost with … a knife…stab…” Turning the man on his side his friend noticed blood dripping from his hip. Footsteps were heard. Shocked by his friend’s demise he felt the ground shaking, bolted toward the dark figure, “You killed him.” The dark figure raised an axe and hit the friend in the head.”
          “Ha..ha..Good story. How do you know how it happened?”
          “Because I killed him to keep the gold for myself,” replied Howard with a toothy grin!
          “Ooooo….I feel a cold shiver down my spine,” smiled Jill.
          “You killed someone?” said Toni. She looked frightened. “This was supposed to be a Halloween Vacation. Not a murderer’s convention.”
          “Just joking,” scowled Howard.
          “Wait. Did you make up that story?” probed Helen. She looked defiant.
          “That was my friend. I reported the events to the authorities. However, they did not believe my story. I was acquitted by the Grand Jury since there was insufficient evidence. I still have the gold.” Howard reached into his pocket and retrieved a gold nugget!
          “That’s fools gold.” Laughed Helen.
          “I have a story as well,” said Toni. Her slender body slinking up to Frank.
          “What’s your story beautiful?” asked Frank.
          “This began hundred’s of years ago, during the search for The Lost Dutchman’s Mine. A man said he found the mine. Their was a gold rush to find the location. He claimed the mine was found in a cave off the Siphon Trail. Halfway up Siphon Draw is a trail you may cross to the other side. One night with a minor’s light this man crossed over noticed a mist or apparition in a cave entrance. He climbed up the precipice to the cave and followed the ghost into the cave. He light illuminated the dark with a demonic glow, which snaked along the walls. He noticed the ghost shaking with a violent spasm as it pointed toward an opening in a wall. The man entered the opening carefully. He was shocked to view a wall of pictures in gold. Was this the lost Dutchman’s mine? Or was this a fool’s paradise? He jumped at the wall with a pick and began to chop away at the wall. He heard a cracking sound behind him. Emerging from the dark a shadowy figure crept up to him. In some ancient language the form spoke. He raised a knife and stabbed the man!”
          “How do you know that story?” asked Frank as he leaned against Toni.
          “Well, you man Chauvinist pig, that was told to me by an Indian.”
          “Let’s return to the hotel, and I’ll show you who the pig is!”
          “Stop that children, you’ll wake the dead,” shouted Jill. “Listen to my story. I experienced this last summer during a hike. This occurred on Paralta Trail as we left our four-wheel drive at the trial head. Climbing the trail toward the main Cave we noticed a lizard enter the cave. Me and George, my x followed the lizard. He ran behind a rock in the cave. George turned on his high beam. On the rear of the cave we saw a shadowy form. We followed the form to another tunnel. We began to go deeper and deeper into the tunnel, from one tunnel to the next. George became nervous. ‘We will never get out of here.’ I laughed, ‘not to be afraid. I know this cave. My father showed me how to get out.’ George laughed. ‘You and your father entered this cave?’ ‘Yes we did when I was only 10 years old. We had a great love for each other. In fact he liked to fondle me on my butt when mommy was not around.’ George stopped laughing, ‘He molested you.’ ‘No he could not have…crying…you may be right…No wonder mommy threw him out of the house…’ George coursed me. ‘I’m the core. I will help you.’ We fell to the ground as George and I made love.”
          Interrupting the story, Toni shouted, “What the hell. What kind of ghost story is that? You’re father molested you. Then you made love to George?”
          “Be more compassionate,” said Frank. “Come to me. I will comfort you Jill.” He took Jill aside. They walked to a place behind a boulder.
          “Come back you idiots. Frank is pulling the same stunt as George,” shouted Howard. Crying, than shouting. “You’re trying to seduce me.”
          “No I wouldn’t do that.”
          The group ran over to Jill and Frank. They were lying on the ground with Jill’s top on the ground, with no underwear her breasts were exposed. Howard shouted, “power clothes. She wears no underwear!”
          Howard runs over to Frank and pulls him away from Jill. “Are you trying to rape her?”
          Frank stands up and looks anxious. “No we were just fooling around.”
          “Her blouse is off,” shouted Toni.
          “Making a moaning sound, Jill said, “I was fooled again. My Father, than George, now Frank.”
          “Yes. Talk it out. You have a history of molestation,” said Howard.
          Frank gulped air and growled with a guttural voice.
          “He’s demonic,” yelled Toni. “Look he’s changing. His face is distorted.”
          Before their eyes Frank changed into a vampire. With teeth from his mouth he bit into Toni’s neck.”
          Sucking sounds, as Frank sucked the blood from Toni.
          Jumping from behind a rock was another Frank. “That’s not me. He’s a demon from the mountain. The one that emerges from the caves. Stab him with your knife in his chest.”
          The grouped approached the demon. He released Toni. Teeth marks on her neck were like small blood marks. They approached with knives to kill the demon. Suddenly a flash of light occurred and an odor that repelled the group. With unfurled wings the demon leaped out of the bolder area high up into the mountain. The group shocked by the demon’s attack and retreat, ran from the mountain back to their van, and returned to their hotel.