Tales of Gloomsdale #5: The Gallop from Beyond

Chapter Two

My entire head throbbed as I opened my eyes. My vision blurred in front of me. It was pitch black at first, and then slowly got greyer and fuzzier. I realized it was still raining. I could hear the steady pattering and feel the cold water landing on my freezing body. My entire body felt numb and cold, except for my arm which ached. I realized it was leaning against a branch. I quickly pulled my arm back, feeling a jolt of pain. But my hands remained freezing cold. I buried them into my pockets, which were empty. I jumped as I remembered I had taken my riding gloves off. Then I groaned as I remembered I had put my horse figurines inside. But I had more important things to focus on.

I tried to lift my leg, realizing I was lying on a pile of rocks. I could feel them digging into my trousers, and even my skin. As I reached my hand down, I felt the rain landing on my bare leg, and when I moved my other hand to grip my throbbing arm, I could feel that I had ripped my sleeve as well. That was when it all came rushing back to me.

I shot my head up, wincing as I banged it against the stump. The rain had calmed down by now, but I was as cold as before. I carefully drew my arms around my body, beginning to shake all over. My teeth chattered together as my soaked clothes stuck to my wet body. But all I could think about was my horse. I glanced frantically around, but it was too dark to make out anything. How long had I been knocked out?

"Chestnut?" I called. My voice was low and shaky, almost a whisper. I shuddered remembering how he had thrown me off. Maybe I shouldn't ride him for a while. As I predicted, there was no response but the rain. Even when it was calmer, it seemed to surround me like a wall of grey. At the same time, I was almost glad I couldn't see exactly where I was. The last thing I wanted was to be further up the mountain.

That thought spurred me into action. I leaned my back against the tree stump and tried to stand up. The next moment, I stumbled and went tumbling back to the wet ground. I managed to lift my legs so my boots were resting against the ground. Then I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around my knees, lowering my head as I kept trembling. It didn't make me much warmer, but it did make me feel slightly better.

"Phoebe?" I called as I raised my head. My voice was slightly louder than before, but still shaky. "Skye?"

I knew there was no way they could hear me. They had probably left by now. That thought terrified me even more. I was all alone up here.

I had been trying to block out everything that had happened, but now I couldn't stop thinking about it. It all flashed through my mind. The trail, the rain, the crack of thunder... I could still hear that sound repeating in my ears. It was no wonder it had scared Chestnut. But it had scared me as well, and not just because it was so loud and sounded so close. There was another reason it had filled me with panic, but in my dazed state, I couldn't put my finger on it. All I knew was that I needed to be out of here.

I raised my head, pressing both my hands and feet against the ground. I winced at the cold mud under my freezing hands, wishing I hadn't taken my riding gloves off, but I tried to ignore it. But just as I was starting to get up, I jumped as I caught sight of something in the rain.

I slumped back down, turning my head. I could've sworn I saw a flash of light through the dreary grey. It didn't look like lightning. It was too soft and faded, more like a flashlight. Maybe it was somebody coming to help me.

"Hello?" I called as loudly as I could. "Can you help me?"

I didn't see anything at first, and for a moment, I thought I had imagined it. But then I saw it. The soft, pale light, glistening through the grey blur. It became brighter the closer it got. I stayed where I was instead of backing away. I was desperate for any help at that point, and I was slightly curious. Then I jumped out of my skin as I heard the soft, but unmistakable sound of hooves.

I glanced around frantically, momentarily forgetting about the light. "Chestnut?" I called. I'd even be glad to see him at that point. "Are you there, boy?"

I heard more soft hoof steps, but they were in the opposite direction. I glanced over, before shielding my eyes from the piercing light. I could still see the light glowing beyond my eyelids. I was almost afraid to see what it was. Then I jumped out of my skin as I heard a soft whinny. Now I had to see. I opened my eyes, and nearly screamed in shock at the pale, glistening figure in front of me. It was so translucent I could almost see through the body, but all I could focus on was what it was.

The glowing eyes stared straight at me like ice. They were shining pinpricks in the long, familiar-looking face. A horse's face. But this wasn't like any horse I had seen. It was so pale, so faint, I almost thought I was imagining it. The silvery mane hung behind the neck and the coat glistened like stars, along with the long, flowing tail. The long, shimmering legs seemed to barely touch the ground while walking forward, until it was right in front of me. I would've backed away, but I was too curious about the strange creature.

It didn't smell like a horse either. No rain or dirt, or even fur covering its coat. In fact, I probably smelled more like a horse at that moment than the thing did. But it acted like one, staring at me with a glimmer of curiosity in those icy eyes. It seemed to be observing me as much as I was observing it. I jumped as the horse lowered its head, almost shyly like a regular horse. I realized I was close enough to reach out and pet it.

I slowly raised my hand. No matter how strange it looked, a horse was a horse. As I reached my hand up to the horse's muzzle, I jumped as I noticed a strange mark in the middle of the forehead. It was darker than the rest of the silvery coat, a pale blue that was almost the same color as the icy eyes. It was almost like a patch on a regular horse.

I gasped in shock as I remembered where I had heard of this creature before. Before I could process it, the horse suddenly lifted its head. I lowered my hand, watching with slight fear as its expression changed. The eyes grew colder, glinting sharply at me. I began to back away, remembering the last horse I had been on. I watched with both relief and disappointment as the horse slowly began to back away.

The steps faded into the distance the further away the horse got. I was too afraid to call out or move forward. But I couldn't help reaching my arm out, as if beckoning for it to remain. Of course, it didn't listen to me. As soon as it was far enough away, I watched as the horse turned around. It was almost as much of an astonishing sight, the glistening coat swishing to the side along with the rain. I watched the way the shimmering tail flicked, almost seeming to shed silvery strands like stars. Or maybe it was just the raindrops.

Then I jumped out of my skin as the horse took off. I pushed myself to my feet, stumbling. I watched as it galloped away as fast as Chestnut had, in a blur of silvery dust. One moment it was there, and the next, it had disappeared into the rain. But I could still hear the soft hoof steps and see wisps of the ghostly horse hanging in the drops of rain.

"Hey – come back!" I called, running forward before I could stop to think about it. I ignored the cold and the aching in my body. I had to find this thing. I just had to. I had never seen anything so incredible in my life.

I squinted through the rain as I ran, trying to make out the slightest flicker of light, but I couldn't see anything. I came to a stop as I almost bumped into something. I froze in panic, realizing I was running across the mountain and remembering the girl who had fallen off around here.

I slowed down while hanging onto the trees and carefully stepping over the twigs and rocks on the ground, until I was sure I was heading down the mountain. I gave up finding the horse. I began to wonder if I had imagined it, but then I remembered the story I had heard. About the girl's horse, Midnight, who had tragically died in the same mountain. I couldn't help thinking I had just met him. It had to be him, or at least his ghost. But now, he had vanished into thin air.

And then I almost stumbled the rest of the way down the mountain as I heard a low, desperate whinny near me.