Under the moonlight

Chapter 1

On the massive interstate the turn that was supposed to be taken is long gone. The gas gauge is on the verge of being empty and the next exit is taken with hope of there being a gas station . It was supposed to be a surprise trip to see friends that haven't been seen since high school. Even with phones it isn't the same as actually seeing them. Rightnow, the trip is at a complete loss, literally the navigation system has died.

The exit lead to a small town very much like the one in which the trip is headed to. The locals stare for the style that I am dressed in. That consists of deep colors showing off my bright tattoos that represent the shop I opened up. I couldn't have done it without my best friend, Eric Wellington, who I met in college as just an art major it was his idea for us to gather up the money to start it. Though, my family wasn't too happy about that expecting me to be the perfect little southern belle. It was even worse when they found out me and Eric were sharing the apartment above the shop itself.

I give a faint nod to the people that are gawking and give a slight smirk at their uneasiness. Walking into the gas station I prepay even though it isn't required in this small of a town. When I turn around there is someone near the car looking at it. Itching for my pocket knife I pump my gas pretending not to notice anything. Even though nothing happens the basement of the situation takes a minute to wear off. The blasting of speakers on any station that doesn't have static is the main relief.

It could just be the nerves of heading back home where they haven't seen me in  years. No one actually knows that I have tattoos now. My favorite is the Chicory flower that I have on the top of my left foot. It has a really romantic story for something some people see as a weed. Though the most magnificent piece is the dream catcher of the galaxy; meaning that anything can be accomplished as long as it can dreamt.

Pulling over to a tiny cabin motel I get a room too tired and stressed to finish the trip up tonight still having a few hours to drive left. I drift into my dream scape the same dream that I have been having for the past week but it never shows the person's face. I am running in a field laughing being chased by someone. It's peaceful there's no lights but everything is clearly seen under the stars. Then I begin to fall over a cliff and someone screams out my name but they can't reach me. I fall endlessly in darkness just out of reach of that voice. Like no matter what our two worlds will never collide.

I wake in a cold sweat quickly to take a shower and pack my stuff ready to get back on the road. For some reason I feel like I am being followed but quickly shake off the paranoia. I only stop at stores that seem interesting enough to get anything more suitable for going home though it's still my own style.

Just as luck runs to an end coming to a complete halt I get a flat tire. Twisting the ring on my finger that's of a dragon's eyes I glare at the tire hoping the pressure from my gaze will fix it. Sadly I have to change it myself. It won't be my first time but I have been spoiled for a while now. Eric normally does all this type of stuff for me but since I didn't tell him about the trip he can't now.

Someone stops and ask if I need help which causes me to jump. I'm not used to nice people ever since I've moved to a large city. The smell of the outdoor air is refreshing and not as think without the smog. The greenery is also nice even though there are parks it's not the same as the countryside. With the help of the stranger the tire is changed a lot faster than what I would be able to do myself.

"Do you need help finding your way back home you're a long way away." The stranger says sweetly his eyes a gray pale blue with withered aged hands that have a slight tremor.

I smile back and decline the offer. "No thanks I'm actually going to my parents house down south."

"Just don't try to go on any paths along the way by yourself. The town ahead is old territory of the native tribes here. Most of the places there is haunted so just stay in your car no matter what you see or hear." The stranger says then drives away.

Feeling like I had a bad omen told to me I shiver and get into the car and head out. This town leads to the interstate so I should be able to get to my destination in about six hours. That's if everything goes smoothly after all I'm not one that does things by plans well. I should probably stop for food first that way I don't have to later on. I don't believe in ghost anyways so it shouldn't hurt.

It takes me about thirty minutes to get to the town. The journey so far makes my stomach rumble from hunger. Looking around only a few people are walking around none of them paying any attention to me. I park at a small diner and walk in; the atmosphere here is almost in a stagnate dead state. I order a ham switch with some onion rings then pay and leave a tip because it's hard living on just a waiter's salary.

I curse out loud when I get outside and see my car being towed. I go back into the diner and see that it is now deserted. I grunt at the empty place and start walking trying to find where they took my car. A winding gravel road has a sign saying the towing station is there. There is also a dead end sign along with it but I have no choice in going and getting the car.

The warning from the stranger comes back to my mind.Walking up the hill the road forks and both look well worn down. I take the path down hill hoping it will be this way. I really don't want to walk uphill again. The city is all flat land and even with that I am far out of shape to walk too much.

Instead of my car being down the road there is music being played. The rhythm of the song flows with the wind in a hypnotic way. The waitresses I tipped greets me and places a necklace that looks to be made of leather and bone with a amulet of the sun and moon together in the middle. I am sucked into the strange nature of the dance and spin around with them.

I bump into one of them and a loud screeching sound comes from them all. I look back and see stones knocked over. I start to run away as quickly as I can. Fear swelling up inside of me the haunted feeling of the stranger comes back to me. This can't be right there aren't any real ghost and I'm not as stupid as those cliche movies!

"Thief and destructor of the sacred ritual." I hear a voice say near me loudly. "For your destruction hear our voice of the past and future. A time in where this society has never existed you shall be there and deal with their destructive nature. Thief hear the voice of truth and justice you shall never part with the divine amulet which you stole. Of day and night you shall always wear it from this day forward or else cease existence. However, your soul is not as your actions so if you do right you will find peace and harmony within the world we will send you. To the first home in which we belonged."