The First Collection: Horror stories

Black Deer: Chapter I Enter Into the Darkness

   Gerrard Redfield was speeding down the empty road, leaving a trail of smoke behind him. He was tuning into the car radio weather forecast. There is going to be a storm coming in from the south. He poked his head out of the window and looked up at the sky cursing it; the storm is heading towards his destination. Gerrard felt sudden vibrations in his pocket. His phone was ringing; it was Mr. Lannister calling him.
   "Gerrard speaking", he answered.
   "Redfield, I'm telling you this for the last time. Give up", Lannister urged.
   "Robbie, you of all people shouldn't be calling me".
   "Does it sound like I wanted to do this? If it were up to me, I would've left you to continue humiliating yourself, like the fool you are", Lannister retorted.
   "Why are you calling then? And don't say that you still care about me, I don't accept lies".
   "I... It's not just me. We all are worried about you. You have to stop this".
   "I still don't like how you included yourself.  And it won't make a difference to come back when I have the chance to finally prove that I'm right", Gerrard replied.
   "This is nonsense! Gerrard don't do this. There's a storm coming, it's dangerous!"
   "Goodbye Robbie". Gerrard flung his phone unto the seat and turned up the volume on the radio. Banishing all thought and doubt from his mind, he set his sights on the place ahead of him. Dark trees rising above the hills, stretching towards the sky. It was like a great shadow in the distance, devouring the rays of sunlight in its wake. That is where he's headed. To Black Deer Forest.

   Gerrard Redfield, twenty seven years old, has been a paranormal investigator for five years. Since then, he was never able to prove the existence of the supernatural, nor solve a single one of his cases. Humiliation and the constant reminder of his dreaded childhood was his motivation to prolong his fruitless career. However, this may be his last chance. Working as a freelance web content manager has paid most of his bills, but not enough to pay the outstanding loans; one night stays in motels and friends' apartments, cup noodles and daily life in an old Maruti Suzuki 800.
   He got a tip from a stranger, giving Gerrard the opportunity of a lifetime. This stranger explicitly told him of the strange disappearances that would occur during the late hours of the day. Hikers, backpackers and forest rangers would go missing without a trace, leaving all their belongings behind. Policemen won't utter a word of their findings, and have been unable to find any bodies. However, what intrigued him the most were what the missing victims had seen before they disappeared. A black deer. Each person saw it two days before they had mysteriously gone. Gerrard took the opportunity to investigate. A final attempt to accomplishing his goal of proving the existence of the paranormal.

***

   Gerrard's half hour drive came to an end, as he had finally reached his destination. He parked his car near the sign, then observed his surroundings. As far as the eyes can see, rotten, wooden fences lined the perimeter of the forest. Wild shrubbery, flowers, and vines wrapped themselves around it. Foliage grew uncontrollably, racing for the warmth and light of the sun. As he stared further into the woods, the chaotic garden ended at the roots of the thick trees, towering over him. The leaves consumed the light, casting their shadows upon the cold, dry earth. Gerrard began to walk on the beaten path, and after a few steps he hesitated. There was a strange sense of foreboding in the air around him. He was a little frightened to take another step. For a while he planted himself there, checking his camera and feeling the dirt under his boots. Though he could not stall any longer. He turned to take one last look at his run down car, the arched entrance to the forest, then turned again to take in once more what was in front of him. Gerrard took a deep breath and started to walk again. He had made up his mind, and prepared himself for the dark forest in front of him.