The Edge of Town (conclusion)

My first instinct was to freeze in total fear, like a little cornered rabbit. My second instinct quickly overrode the first and I looked for a means of escape. There were two ways out of the room; one was the door that led into the hallway, the other was out the window. The choice was easy…I dropped from the second story window to the hard ground below. I rolled when I hit the ground and leapt to my feet. I was now at the back of the house and dangerously far away from the escape that my bicycle offered. I sprinted around the house towards the front yard. As I was running, I could hear the heavy thumps of something quickly coming back down the stairs. I hit the tall weeds at full speed and flailed my arms like a madman. My skin burned where the sweat salted the grass cuts on my face. The tall grass was now hissing like demons in my ears and clutching at my legs and arms. At one point my right foot became snared in a clump of the weeds and I fell forward. The front door banged open and the porch groaned as heavy feet ran across the boards. I kicked my own feet furiously until the weeds snapped and freed me. I leapt back to my feet and kept pounding forward.

I broke through the grass and found my bike waiting for me. I picked it up from the ground and started pushing it hard, then leapt on without ever stopping.

This time…I never looked back…until I was much older and stronger.

When I grew up, I visited the house one final time. If you know which town I am talking about and you do some research, then you will see that in the summer of 1982, an abandoned farmhouse caught fire and burned down. Eyewitnesses said that the old boards of the house seemed to moan while it burned. A few even stated that it almost sounded as if someone were walking around in the flames.

No one knows for sure how the fire started and I will leave it at that. All that I will say is that I am glad to know that the old house will never again draw innocence into it’s mouth.

Now there is a modern subdivision where the house and fields used to be. From what I hear, it is a peaceful place, with lots of birds singing in the newly planted trees. Fresh lawns have sprung up where weeds used to rule.  

To this day I still follow my instincts when I come across an area that doesn’t feel quite right.

I learned the lesson long ago that there are places where you should never go, because sometimes…you never make it back.

Take care.