everything happens for a reason

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Everything Happens For a Reason!!

by Heather Allen

The grave was substandard. The storm was getting stronger every hour. Little more than a shallow bowl gouged out of unyielding earth, the grave was dug for Millicent Gunn - Age Eighteen, short brown hair, and is about 5 ft ' 4 in. Millicent Gunn went missing about a week ago and nobody really knew her whereabouts before she went missing. The last time her family saw her was before she went to work at the brothel. The grave was long enough to accommodate her height. Its depth, or lack thereof, could be remedied in the spring when the ground began to unthaw, if scavengers didn't dispose of the body by then.

Ben Tiereney shifted his gaze from the new grave to the others nearby. Four of them. Forest debris and vegetative decay provided natural camouflage, yet each lent subtle variations to the rugged topography, if one knew what to look for. A dead tree had fallen across one of them, concealing it entirely except to someone with a discerning eye. Like Tiereney.

He took one last look into the empty, shallow grave, then picked up the shovel at his feet and backed away. As he did, he noticed the dark imprints left by his boots in the carpet of sleet. They didn't concern him much. When the ground thawed, the prints would be absorbed into the mud. In any case, he didn't stop to worry about. He had to get off the mountain, now!!

He left his horse on the dirt road a couple hundred yards from the summit and the makeshift graveyard. Although he was now moving downhill, there was no path to follow through the dense woods. Thick ground cover gave him limited traction, but the terrain was uneven and hazardous, it made even more dangerous by the blowing precipitation that hampered his vision. Though he was in a hurry, he was forced to pick his way carefully to avoid a misstep. Only a fool would have ventured onto the mountain today. Or someone with pressing business to take care of, like Tiereney.

The cold drizzle that had been falling since early afternoon had turned into freezing rain mixed with sleet. Pellets of it stung his face like pinpricks as he thrashed through the forest. He hunched his shoulders, bringing his cloak to his ears, which were already numb from the cold.

The wind velocity increased noticeably. Trees were taking a beating, their naked branches clacking together like rhythm in the fierce wind. It stripped needles off the evergreens and whipped them about. One struck his cheek like a blowdart.

As of 1845, this has been the coldest winter in 55 years. Tiereney rushed down as fast and cautiously as he can. About 3/4s of the way down, he lost his footing and slid down the rest of the way. He muttered profanity as he got back up. He needed to be more cautious and weary, he thought as he got back up. Tiereney noticed his horse was just a couple yards away. He walked about a foot and then as right as he took one more step, he slipped on the ice. Falling really hard, falling unconscious.

About 20 minutes later, he awoke to a little boy shaking him. Tiereney sat up and slid back quickly against something hard, he groaned as he hit his back a little to hard. His vision was a little impaired for a few seconds.

" Tierney get up please, i need your help!! " the little boy said. The little boy had eyes that were as blue as the sky during the summer and his hair looked as if it were real gold.

Once Tiereney's vision went back to normal, he looked straight at the boy. A hint of recognition glistened in his mind. It couldn't be, he thought to himself. It was his little brother paul who died from a really bad illness 26 years ago. He was only 10 years old.

" Paul that isn't you, you're supposed to be dead!! " Tiereney said quietly while tear fell from his cheek

" Its me Ben, it's really me and im not dead. why would you say that? i just saw you yesterday! You, dad, and I were all chopping wood yesterday. " Paul said