Biting Wind!

The gate swung slowly on creaky hinges

as a biting wind blew

the woodwork rotting some was burnt

cracked churned up path

led to a shabby drab riverside habitat

out buildings collapsed flat!

 

Felt more like winter though a spring day

rain fell on a rising river

adjacent to a rear garden in disarray

a bird lay decomposing

on the rusting roof water droplets dripped

in rhythmic beats fear gripped!

 

The air whistled around the building

the cold chilling the bones

a hiker decided to stop here for a rest

unaware of its gruesome history

yet felt the isolated location undertone

alone with no chaperone!

 

Had become lost along the river trail

the sun was going down

had no signal on her new smart phone

not told anybody of the trip

approaching up the dry cracked pathway

near the alleged haunted red bay!

 

Though it seemed abandoned was disturbed

that there was a presence

unable to go on fatigued her energy drained

had been warm so not prepared

to spend a long night here in the wilderness

there was an unearthly stillness!

 

Soon as the sun had set scratching noises

permeated around her position

as if a creature was trying to get inside

she had no torch to see anything

wooden walls tin roof shook and rattled

as inner demons battled!

 

Were her eyes playing tricks as she sat

shivering in this rickety shack

sound of lapping water getting louder

in the doorway a shape stood

light footsteps neared a gurgling groan

something snapped her hyoid bone!

 

Her body dragged to the water discarded

and into the flowing river

motionless was propelled in the current

found days later by a warden

on routine patrol of this vast national park

the find shocking and stark!

 

Another victim to add to the countless others

discovered over the decades

unsolved murders that had no known motive

the same cause neck broken

nobody had linked their deaths to the old cabin

where its said a hermit had dwelled within!

 

Who was hunted down being linked to evil forces

hung and burnt but made a curse

that anybody entering his own sacred domain

would meet their certain end

thought of as just more meaningless folklore

locals this place would never explore!

 

The Foureyed Poet.