The Arcane Woods

The Arcane Woods
Amid the scenic beauty of thick woods located seventy five miles away from Buckinghamshire lay a resplendent mansion with a gothic architecture. With a commodious lawn at the front and ample space in its surroundings, the house is decked out with a floral wall paintings and marble flooring, exuding a sense of elegance and splendor. Its drawing room was spacious, boasting high beamed ceilings and overhead chandeliers with 4-5 light bulbs each, providing sufficient lighting. The dining hall, well-ventilated, featured wooden cupboards with shelves for plates and spoons. Adjacent to it was a porch offering a view of the backyard. The bedroom beside the dining hall was small and square, with delicate wind chimes hanging overhead. In essence, it was an august residence for anyone wishing to immerse themselves in the beauty of nature.
But due to been branched off from the motorway ten to the extreme interior of lane number thirty eight and hemmed in with woodlands, commuters could barely take a glance of the mansion while passing-by. Moreover, the eerie darkness and the deafening silence at night cast an unsettling aura evident enough to eschew venture into such lane even at a spectacle from a good distance by any human.
Three hundred meters to the north of this house fronted an entrancing lake environed by flowering plants like roses, chamomile, and chrysanthemums.
Despite been situated in the midst of dense woods and been exposed to rigors of weather, the house hadn’t lost its charm and would surely command the appreciation and sense of yearning for a sojourn whosoever passed by it and caught its glimpse.
After been deserted for almost sixteen years, 1901-1916, on account of its location and dreadful gloom, with an air of finality, on February 11,1917, three brothers, Shaun, Brian, and Michael plunged into the mansion by an accident while barreling along the motorway to beat the banality of life.
Brian, 40, was a Botany professor; Michael, 38, was a Archaeologist; and Shaun, the youngest, 35, was a Psychologist.
Brian and Michael were professors at a putative college in the UK, while Shaun ran his own clinic.
The lightning twigged in several directions in the sky while thunder roared across the sky and rumbled the road. The heavy downpour began and drummed hard on the roof of the car.
Brian halted the car under the pepper tree after a travel of three mile and peered sideways. Shaun and Michael seated at the backseat jerked forward and trembled.
‘Why did you stop the car here?’ asked Michael in a curious tone.
‘Have you seen the house nestled in the midst of woods on the right side?’ asked Brian.
Shaun squinted through the darkness and replied, ‘Yes, it seems to be a mansion thought not clearly visible from here.’
‘Okay, let’s go and take at glance at it, if the house is spick and span and conducive for a few days stay, we will enjoy our vacation,’ said Michael.
Brian puts the car in gear and floors through the trackless woods to the mansion.
Brian felt drawn to the natural surroundings of the house especially the vegetation, Michael gave a cold stare to the house akin to his rational and bold kidney while Shaun felt a sense of disquietude when he got out of the car and gazed at the river.
Shaun felt that the house was unsuitable for a rosy stay. In contrast, Brian and Michael viewed it as an ideal retreat for mental relaxation.
The three with their belongings step into the mansion, close door, and switch the lights off to hit the hay out of haggardness after their grueling journey.
Another day dawned, and at around seven, Brian set out for a casual walk to feast his eyes on green plants. Shaun was still asleep while Michael stirred up from the sleep and was busy with household chores.
Enchanted by the flowers and the shrubs near the river, Brian ventured toward the riverside and stooped low to pick up the rose flower that lay close to the river water. His head pounded and his heart throbbed at a rapid pace, and on sudden, he jumped into the river inexplicably.
Shaun peered out of the main door with alacrity for Brian and scratched his head.
After waiting until half-past ten, Shaun grew anxious and suggested Michael to head woods in search of Brian.
“Michael, it’s been over three hours. We should start looking for him,” said Shaun in a curious tone.
Michael replied, “I’m sure he’s just on his way back. Let’s not panic.”
“But I feel he could be in trouble,” Shaun insisted.
Michael, dismissive, said, “He might have paid visit to the riverside to study about the plants and shrubs. We should check there.”
At the riverbank, they found nothing unusual—just shrubs and greenery.
Shaun said, “There’s a complete silence here and none is insight. Where could he have gone?”
Michael suggested, “Let’s inform the cops about our brother’s missing and request them to investigate the case.”
Shaun replied in a louder tone. “They might not entertain our matter without plausible evidence and the office is in a good distance from this place, first we ourselves have to thoroughly search for him in every nook and corner of the woods, then we can think of other alternative options.”
‘It’s strange to witness him disappearing all of a sudden without informing us,’ said Michael in a worried tone.
‘This river should flow downhill and should burble as per the slope of the terrain, but here something is wrong, I suspect evil forces,’ said Shaun.
Michael shrugged. “Let’s not debate about the evil forces. We’re here to find Mac.”
Shaun, firm in his belief, said, “I think there’s something more sinister at play.”
Michael replied, “Fine, if that is the case, what do you suggest then?”
Shaun proposed, “There’s a church on the hillside, two kilometers northwest of here. Maybe the priest could extend us some help.”
Michael hesitated initially but agreed finally to accompany Shaun and call on Church.
Both ascended the hill and reached the Church.
The sun was up in the heaven with its heat shimmering on the top of the hill.
Rasping heavily with sweat gliding down their faces, Shaun and Michael got into the pious place.
The priest, intuitive and caring, greeted them warmly. “Good morning. How can I help you?”
Shaun explained, “Good morning father!’ Our brother Brian went missing after a walk this morning.”
The priest, with an expression of concern on his face, asked, “Where did he go exactly and at what time did he leave?
Michael answered, “At seven, and we assume that he might have paid visit to the riverbank to study about the plants as he is a botany lecturer at a University.”
“Are you people new to this place?’ If yes, where is your residence?’ asked priest in a curious tone.
‘Yes,’ replied Shaun. ‘We have come here on a vacation from Buckinghamshire to beat the monotony of work, there is beautiful mansion situated at the downhill.’
‘I have been staying in this place for several years but never came across mansion or any house downhill except dark thick woods and graveyard nearby this Church,’ replied priest in a gentle tone.
‘I request you to take stock of our place and throw some measure of light on the disappearance of our brother, Brian,’ requested Michael.
“It’s now half-past eleven. Let’s go to the riverbank,” the priest suggested.
The three stepped out of the Church onto the riverside.
As they paced down the grade, the priest shivered and gasped out of breath. Brian and Michael gripped the priest’s arms and comforted him.
The weather was chilly and the cold breeze cut their faces.
The sky thundered again accompanied by lightning and heavy downpour began.
The priest stood transfixed with a mix of surprise and terror at the sight of abrupt change in the weather. He gazed at the mansion and the river and requested the men to spare him some time alone for prayer.
‘I have to take a stock of the situation; you people take rest the under tree for sometime while I will begin my prayer,’ said the priest in a formal tone.
At the riverbank, the priest crossed himself and murmured a prayer. Shaun and Michael rested under a tree and jawed with each other.
After twenty minutes, the priest screamed and extended his arms outward for help. The blood oozed out of his nose and mouth abound.
Shaun and Michael sped to the spot to help the priest. “Father, what happened?” Michael asked.
“Let’s get back to the Church immediately,” the priest urged.
Shaun asked, “Is there a serious problem?”
The priest replied, “Very, this place is haunted by an evil force.”
Michael gave a cold stare at the priest. “Do evil forces really exist?”
The priest affirmed, “Yes, and they can be deadly. Let’s move quickly from here.’’
Shaun, heartbroken, asked, “Where is Brian, then?”
The priest affirmed, “Brian is dead, he is no more.”
‘I will take my vengeance on the evil spirit and then vacate this house,’ said Shaun in a formal tone.
‘Okay, let’s go the Church once and chalk out a plan to wipe out the monster,’ cried priest.
The three ascended the hill and got into the Church.
‘Did you people get your crucifix and holy water along with you?’ asked the priest.
“We forgot to get those pious things along with us,’ replied Michael.
The priest gave the two men a holy water and glass crucifix and blessed them.
Shaun and Michael stepped down the hill and parted their ways to the mansion. Shaun took the by-pass route to return home skirting the riverside while Michael travelled through the woods along the riverside to reach home.
Shaun reached the house but Michael was not insight.
As a slow moving hour crawled by, the worried Shawn stepped up the hill to the Church and inquired the priest about Michael’s whereabouts.
The priest who stood by the door told Shaun that Michael hadn’t come over there to meet him again instead suggested him to take a look at the riverbank.
The appalled Shaun descended the hill and hurried to the riverbank through the woods.
His blood ran cold and fell backward after witnessing the sight on the riverbank. Michael’s head and body lay apart on the water like torn pieces of two cloths on the ground. The water was bespattered with the blood.
He cried, yelled, and attempted to jump into the river but held himself back when the Michael’s body parts drew deeper into the water suddenly as if pulled in by some creature from beneath the water.
Shaun shivered at the sight of the incident and ran back to home. It was already five minutes to twelve.
As the clock ticked twelve, the fuse blew, lamps exploded, and strange noises filled the house. Shaun looked around his surroundings, panicked, prayed, and used the crucifix to calm himself.
Another day dawned; Shaun woke up at half-past seven, and found the morning bright and peaceful. Despite this, he knew that when night fell, the house would once again become a place of terror.
Would he ever be free of this nightmare? He wondered as he went to the Church to see the priest.
“Good morning, Father,” Donald greeted.
“Good morning, Shaun. Where is Michael?” the priest asked.
Shaun, sorrowful, replied, “Michael is dead. I can’t describe his death in words.”
The priest was shocked. “I’m sorry to hear that!”
Shaun asked, “What can I do to exterminate that monster who took my loved ones from me?”
“Take the crucifix and holy water and pay visit to the riverbank,” the priest advised. “Search for the clues, as the river is the heart of all problems you are encountering.’’
Shaun agreed and set off to the riverbank. He searched tirelessly for clues there but found nothing useful except flowers, heathers, shrubs, and different varieties of plants.
Chagrined and disappointed, Shaun came to the riverbank and sat there looking up into the sky. He touched the river water casually. His heart raced, and head pounded and felt being dragged into the water involuntarily.
With quick reflexes, Shaun sprinkled holy water into the river and froze his eyes on the water. The situation restored to normalcy but the color of the water changed to red in a fraction of seconds. He got to his feet quickly, dashed to the house, and bolted the door from inside. .
Unfortunately, he forgot to pick up the holy water can from the riverbank.
A few seconds later, the water burbled and boiled like a hot spring and from deep within it, a huge monster with burnt face, and unaligned gorged eyes, sprang out of the water with the blood dripping off his body.
The monster with fury in his eyes took gawking strides and dashed to the mansion. He kicked the door in. Shaun ran hither and thither to rescue from the jaws of death. He knew that he will be burnt to ashes if the monster gets the hold of him.
The monster amplified in length and width with his secret powers and clogged all the paths for Shaun to escape from the mansion.
Shaun leaned back against the wall motionless and waited for the monster to approach him.
The monster lumbered towards the Shaun and moved his hands closer to burn the later.
Shaun staggered under, held the crucifix on the edge, and pierced it into his stomach with reverential care. Subsequently the monster yelled, liquefied into cold water and died instantaneously. He took a huge risk and emerged himself victorious in the end.
Just an inch farther from the touch of the monster saved his life.
Shaun took a deep breath and vacated the mansion on the same night.