Collin Bishop-Karney

he was an older man his face lined with age and wisdom he carried with him a small pouch filled with herbs and he moved with a quiet confidence that made me feel for the first time in hours that we might be safe he spoke little nodding respectfully to my grandparents before setting to work he sprinkled the herbs in a circle around the trailer chanting softly in navajo

he was an older man his face lined with age and wisdom he carried with him a small pouch filled with herbs and he moved with a quiet confidence that made me feel for the first time in hours that we might be safe he spoke little nodding respectfully to my grandparents before setting to work he sprinkled the herbs in a circle around the trailer chanting softly in navajo

the words were foreign to me but there was power in them i could feel it he moved from room to room marking the walls with symbols pausing now and then to murmur prayers the air seemed to grow lighter with each step he took the oppressive sense of dread slowly lifting replaced by something calmer something almost peaceful

the words were foreign to me but there was power in them i could feel it he moved from room to room marking the walls with symbols pausing now and then to murmur prayers the air seemed to grow lighter with each step he took the oppressive sense of dread slowly lifting replaced by something calmer something almost peaceful

when he finished he turned to us his eyes serious it may return he said but this will help keep it away be careful and do not speak of it again it feeds on fear on curiosity do not give it reason to return his gaze lingered on me for a moment and i nodded swallowing hard i understood now some things were not meant to be questioned not meant to be called upon

when he finished he turned to us his eyes serious it may return he said but this will help keep it away be careful and do not speak of it again it feeds on fear on curiosity do not give it reason to return his gaze lingered on me for a moment and i nodded swallowing hard i understood now some things were not meant to be questioned not meant to be called upon

I had opened a door that should have stayed shut, and now, all I wanted was to close it forever. The rest of the day passed in a blur. Exhaustion hit me like a wave, and I spent most of the afternoon dozing on the couch, the warmth of the sun streaming in through the window. My mother stayed close, her eyes watchful, her hand resting gently on my arm.

I had opened a door that should have stayed shut, and now, all I wanted was to close it forever. The rest of the day passed in a blur. Exhaustion hit me like a wave, and I spent most of the afternoon dozing on the couch, the warmth of the sun streaming in through the window. My mother stayed close, her eyes watchful, her hand resting gently on my arm.

There was still fear, still the knowledge that the creature might return, but there was also hope, hope that we had done enough, that the medicine man's blessings would hold, that we might find peace once more.

There was still fear, still the knowledge that the creature might return, but there was also hope, hope that we had done enough, that the medicine man's blessings would hold, that we might find peace once more.

as the sun set that evening my grandfather lit a fire outside the flames crackling and snapping as they cast flickering light across the yard we gathered around it the warmth of the fire warding off the chill of the desert night my grandmother led us in a prayer her voice strong despite the fear that still lingered And as I looked into the flames, I made a silent promise.

as the sun set that evening my grandfather lit a fire outside the flames crackling and snapping as they cast flickering light across the yard we gathered around it the warmth of the fire warding off the chill of the desert night my grandmother led us in a prayer her voice strong despite the fear that still lingered And as I looked into the flames, I made a silent promise.

I would never again speak of the things that lurked in the shadows, the things that waited for the curious and the careless. I would keep my eyes forward, my heart steady, and I would never forget the lesson I had learned that terrible night. We moved into the house when I was four. It was deep in the rural woods of Pennsylvania, and my parents had fallen in love with it at first sight.

I would never again speak of the things that lurked in the shadows, the things that waited for the curious and the careless. I would keep my eyes forward, my heart steady, and I would never forget the lesson I had learned that terrible night. We moved into the house when I was four. It was deep in the rural woods of Pennsylvania, and my parents had fallen in love with it at first sight.

A sprawling old house surrounded by endless fields and woods, it was like something out of a storybook. I remember being enchanted by it, especially the woods. To a child, those woods seemed magical, a place where anything was possible.

A sprawling old house surrounded by endless fields and woods, it was like something out of a storybook. I remember being enchanted by it, especially the woods. To a child, those woods seemed magical, a place where anything was possible.

but even then there was something else about them something dark just beneath the surface dash our sheep-dog was my best friend and my protector he was always there wagging his tail and bounding beside me his furry coat always brushing against my legs as we ran through the meadows

but even then there was something else about them something dark just beneath the surface dash our sheep-dog was my best friend and my protector he was always there wagging his tail and bounding beside me his furry coat always brushing against my legs as we ran through the meadows

i was never alone with dash around and he seemed to sense the things that i did from the very first day there were moments when the air felt heavier and even at four i knew something was different when the sun set behind the trees a chill would creep in and the whispering would begin The first time I heard it I was sitting on the porch steps.

i was never alone with dash around and he seemed to sense the things that i did from the very first day there were moments when the air felt heavier and even at four i knew something was different when the sun set behind the trees a chill would creep in and the whispering would begin The first time I heard it I was sitting on the porch steps.