The Incident at Pine Hills Mounds
Black-eyed kids and other shenanigans.
Theodore Lang
Instead of going straight to the police, Jane went to visit her next door neighbor. Mr. Theodore Lang owned a farm next to her ranch, and while he didn’t have many horses, he did have a number of cows. He also grew a large amount of crops. He was a very successful farmer and his fields were green with life every time the growing season occurred.
Mr. Lang confirmed that he had indeed lost one cow at some point within the past two weeks. It vanished without a trace. The duo didn’t know if their misfortunes were related, but they decided to drive into town the next day and speak to someone at the sheriff’s office.
The next day, an odd series of events began to unfold. Jane did not arrive at Lang’s house to meet him, as she had said she would. When he called her, he got no answer on the phone. He drove to her house. Her truck was there, but evidently she was not. She did not answer her door. Another pickup that Lang didn’t recognize was also parked in the driveway. Later it was discovered that it was Paul Montes’ vehicle. Mr. Lang had not yet decided what he was going to do, but he would likely go to the sheriff alone if he didn’t hear from Jane before the next morning.
The Disappearance of Jane Blackmon
Jane Blackmon had a home-style meal of meatloaf, green beans, potatoes, and dinner rolls that she had prepared for her evening meal. On the night when Jerry and Paul discovered the trespassers she invited them to stay for dinner, and the three visited until around 9:00 PM. They enjoyed a little muscadine wine with their dinner and after it—Jane made her own wine—and everyone had a good evening. Jerry eventually offered to watch the grounds overnight, but Jane declined and they all went their separate ways. Paul’s truck had a flat tire, so he caught a ride with Jerry, saying that he’d be back the next day. Maybe, just maybe, it wouldn’t be raining so hard on the morrow and he wouldn’t drown trying to change the tire on his truck.
Jane—long widowed—prepared herself for sleep in the manner to which she was accustomed. Enrobed, she made sure her two cats had food and water. She then set up her laptop so as to listen to one of various podcasts that she enjoyed. Finally, it was time to sleep.
As soon as she got into the bed and pulled the covers up a bit, someone knocked on the front door. Or did they? Maybe she was hearing things. Then the doorbell rang. Sighing, and a little fearful, she picked up her 12 gauge shotgun and made her way to the front door. She hoped that Jerry and Paul had forgotten something and had to come back. Sighing again, she propped the weapon so that she could easily reach it and peeped out the hole in the very solid door. It was Elisa, Grace, and Esmeralda!
Jane opened the door wide. “Are you girls, okay!? Never mind. First come in, then we’ll talk.”
“Thank you, Ms. Blackmon,” the girls answered in eerie unison. They had been invited in, and they stepped across the threshold. Jane knew immediately that something was wrong with them, and then she saw their eyes. It was almost like they didn’t have any. Their eyes were like pools of black liquid, as dark as the obsidian on the bangles that they wore.
Jane suddenly felt like something was probing her brain. She was an unusually strong and mentally fit woman, but there was something prying deeply into her mind and thoughts, and she knew that she was not going to be able to resist it. Jane was quickly overpowered. Whatever was happening, it became clear to Jane that the girls needed her. They all had something that they were required to accomplish, even though she wasn’t quite sure what it was yet.
“Get dressed and come with us,” Grace commanded. “Your presence is required. Dress warmly and bring that weapon with you.”
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