Justice At Dusk

This story is part 6 of The Pine Creek Murders, a 6 part series that started in The Girl In The House



Justice At Dusk

Peter Davidson and Helen Parker walked nervously down the road. Not because the dieing light of the setting sun was made darker by the overcast sky. Not because of the numerous murders that had occurred over the past year. Because of the house in front of them.

The Ullrich house.

Like everyone else in Pine Creek, they knew the history of this house. They knew about the murders that Erik Ullrich had committed fifty years ago. They knew about how Lance Landis had died here two years ago. And of course they knew about the curse of Lyne Ullrich. Which is why they were there tonight.

The night before they had been at a party with some friends, and after a large amount of drinking, they had accepted a dare. Since Landis had died a year ago, then maybe tonight was the anniversary of Lyne’s death, and they were going to find out. To try to see if the house was really haunted, or at least if the curse was real.

So as the sun set in the west, they walked towards the house, the long shadows making it look even eerier. Both slowed their pace, slowly walking towards the house. When they were with in a hundred feet, they stopped. Someone, or something, was kneeling in the doorway.

Peter motioned that they should turn around, that they should leave, but before they could Helen sneezed. The black mass in the doorway turned, stood, and began to walk towards them.

It was a humanoid figure. In the dieing light, they couldn’t tell if the face was hidden some how, or if it had no face. It reminded Helen of the Nazgul from Lord Of The Rings, and she stood motionless with fright.

The figure walked closer. In the distance she could hear Peter yelling for her to run, but she couldn’t. All that ran through her mind was the thought that this was Lyne Ullrich, and that she was going to die. She was so terrified that she didn’t even cry out as she felt the cold metal of a knife blade plunge into her stomach.
She fell as the figure pulled its knife free. Her hands moved to the wound and she saw blood on them. As she stared at her hand, Peter ran towards her, tackling the figure, knocking the knife from its hand. They wrestled on the ground, trying to gain an advantage, trying to get their hands n the knife to end the battle. As they fought the figure’s hood fell back, and long red hair poured out as Peter found himself looking into the crazed face of Wendy Landis.

They stared at each other for several moments. After a moment she stood, stating that she knew him, her voice deeper then normal and distant sounding, almost like it wasn’t her’s. As Peter move towards the knife, she turned and looked towards the door, calling Lance’s name. As Peter watched, she moved towards the door and he appeared in the doorway, walking onto the porch.

Wendy walked towards him, crying, saying that she had done it all for him. And as she walked onto the porch, he stepped aside. Behind him was a young woman wearing a red dress in an older style. Wendy looked at her in shock as the woman grabbed her, pulling her into the house, the door closing behind them. Peter could hear her screaming in terror from inside the house as he took out his cell phone and dialed 911.



Three years later

A black 1972 ford Mustang pulled to a stop and Alex Jager stepped out, looking up at the house. Who knew five years ago the terror, the bloodshed, the sadness this place would cause. At first it was all blamed on Wendy Landis, who’s broken body was found near where her husbands had been found a year earlier. The cause of death was the same; internal injuries sustained by falling down the steps.

Why she had killed seven people, no one knew. Psychologists said that it was out of grief over her husband’s death, and pointed to the fact that all but one of her victims had been couples in love.

But Alex knew better. He knew that there was more to why she had killed, and he had spent the last three years trying to stop it. But at last it was over.

He got into his car and drove away. If he had looked into the rearview mirror, he would have seen a woman screaming for help. Beside him was a man, smiling, and behind them both, was a woman in a red dress.

The Caller Part 2

The Caller

Part 2

“Peter Marko, you have been found guilty of the intentional murders of four people two weeks ago, and are being held on the suspicion that you were responsible for as many as ten additional deaths in the this area over the past year. You have also been accused of the deaths of six others in three different states, for which you will stand trial at a future date. For the crimes you have committed here in Pine Creek, you will spend at least the next three months in Darkmoore Asylum For The Criminally Insane before being transferred to the federal penitentiary on Lawhead Island, where you will spend at least four consecutive life sentences with out the possibility of parole. Do you have anything to say before court is adjourned?”

Marko thought for a moment before answering, his face baring the same smile it had through out his trial. “Yeah. It was fun.”

“Fun?” Judge Banks asked in shock.

“Yeah. Fun. The thrill of the hunt, the feeling you get following the kill. Better do the world a favor and have me executed, because otherwise I’m going to get out and do it all over again.”

Banks looked at Marko with contempt in his eyes. “Peter Marko, I hope you like black and white, because you are going to be wearing prison stripes for a very long time. Court is adjourned, and may God have mercy on your soul.”

Terror In The Night

This story is part 5 of The Pine Creek Murders, a 6 part series that started in The Girl In The House



Terror In The Night

David Webb swore to himself. They were lost. Their romantic weekend getaway ha started out bad, and it had only gotten worse. After a late start, He tried to make up some time by taking a back road through the Pine Barrens. Then his car broke down. With no cell phone signal, their only choice was to walk back to town. And the fastest way to do that was through the Barrens.

Although she complained a bit first, Ashley Morgan quietly followed him. There was no point in arguing over how he should have gotten his leaking radiator fixed before they left, or how they shouldn’t have taken a “shortcut.” They could do that later. As much as she hated being in the Barrens late at night, it made sense to walk through them instead of following the road. The shortest path between two points was a straight line, and this was the quickest way to get back to Pine Creek.

David smiled as they entered a clearing. They still had a ways to go, but at least he knew were they were. They had reached Lovers Lookout. He could tell Ashley was afraid, and he didn’t blame her. After all, it was here that two people had been brutally killed eight months ago.

Officially, the cause of death was mauling by a wild animal. Back in the day, the locals would have blamed it on the Jersey Devil, a creature that supposedly lived in the Barrens. But that was before six other people had been killed, and the rumors started spreading that Old Man Ullrich had returned from the dead to kill. Even though most of the murders had been in or near the city, the deaths of Will Tennet and Carole Piper nine months ago, as well as the death of Johnny Hendrix three and a half weeks ago were blamed on Ullrich. The fact that Ullrich’s first victims were killed near Hendrix’s house didn’t help any either.

The legend said that Ullrich had killed his family in their home, but the truth was that his oldest son, Jason, as well as his brother-in-law Lars Hetfield had been killed near Hetfield’s cabin in the Barrens. They had been spending the day hunting and were relaxing when Ullrich snapped. He grabbed his shotgun and shot Hetfield in the stomach at point blank range. Jason ran, and Ullrich chassed him through he Barrens. His first shot wounded Jason, hitting him in the leg. The second one was to the back. Jason fell, and his father stood over him before finishing off his son. After he killed Jason, he took the boy’s knife and carved the family crest, the same symbol he would later brand the rest of his family with, into their foreheads. No one knows how much time passed between their deaths and the deaths of the rest of the Ullrich family. The cabin would eventually be demolished and a house built on the sight, a house that was eventually purchased by Johny Hendrix.

David shook his head, clearing his mind. The Ulrich murders had been a source of fascination for him for years, but walking through the Barrens this late at night was a bad time to think about it. If both of them were scared, they would ever get out of here.

Ashley grabbed David’s arm as they heard a twig snap somewhere behind them. He laughed, hoping she wouldn’t realize that it scared him too. He said it was just a rabbit or something, but he wondered if it was he Jersey Devil, or Old Man Ulrich.

As they walked, pushing branches out of their way, they saw the moonlight reflecting off something metallic. He knelt down to see what it was and found a knife. A hunting knife.

Its blade was covered in rust. It was amazing that the moonlight had found some space that wasn’t covered.  He picked it up and saw that etched into the blade, just above the hilt, were initials.

J.U.

David let the knife fall. Urban legend said that they had never found the knife that Old Man Ullrich had used to carve the family crest into the foreheads of his son and brother-in-law. That if this was it. What if, Twenty-Five years ago, Erik Ullrich may have been holding this knife.

He heard Ashley gasp as he stood. David turned towards her and saw an expression of shock on her face as she looked down. He followed her gaze and watched as her white shirt turned red

David caught her as she fell, his hand hitting the knife sticking out of her back. He looked into her eyes as the life slipped from her body, not noticing the black shape behind him as it knelt to pick up the knife he had found. Not feeling it when the knife, still surprisingly sharp, sliced into his neck, severing his jugular.

David fell to the ground as his blood flowed out of him. As he lay dieing, the last thing he saw before everything went black was Ashley looking back at him.

The Caller Part 1

The Caller

Part 1

Peter Marko smiled as he looked out the window, seeing the cop cars covering the lawn. It was about time they caught him. He was actually surprised it took them this long. He had been a murderous rampage through out New England, and the police had chassed him into New Jersey’s Pine Barrens, near Pine Creek, a city that had had it’s share of tragedy over the last year. He had been here several times over the past year, and he thought that if he could get into the Barrens, he might be able to escape. But when he couldn’t lose the local cops, he figured he might as well go out with a bang.

Literally.

As Marko ran through the Barrens, he found a clearing in the trees, and this house. On the outside porch he saw Tim and Jill making out. One carefully placed shot killed both of them as they kissed. As Marko walked into the house, he took a moment to admire his work. He was quite proud of that shot. He had killed a lot of people, some with guns, some with knives, some other ways. But this was the first time he was actually proud of the kill.

Walking into the house, he saw George and Angie sitting on the couch, watching a movie with the volume turned up. The first shot killed George, but the second missed Angie, who moved to the floor when he fired.  But she couldn’t get away. He hit her in the back of the head, knocking her out.

After barricading the back door, he tied her to a chair in front of the picture window, facing the front of the house as the first cop car pulled into the driveway. Soon, four more showed up.

After opening the window so he could hear what they were saying, Marko walked over to Angie, pressing his gun against her head. As the police did their normal hostage negotiation speech, he smiled. And after a moment, he yelled that he was coming out.

As three officers walked to the door to arrest him, Marko pulled the trigger, covering the window with blood before he dropped the gun. He walked out the door, his hands held high, smiling as the cops tackled him before slapping on a pair of handcuffs.

Legend Of The Watchajambe

Legend Of The Wachajambe

Johnny was a chemist’s son
Johnny is no more.
But what killed Johnny was not
H2SO4.

Johnny drove into the yard
Crept into the house.
Moving silent, not a noise
Quite as a mouse.

He walked into the living room
Saw a fearful sight.
Standing there, plain as day
A creature of the night.

With pointy ears, pointy teeth
And sharp pointy claws,
He knew the thing by the tree
Was not Santa Clause.

It looked up, an evil grin
Spread across its snout.
His blood froze, mouth open
In a silent shout.

It turned towards him, eyes grew wide
As it licked its teeth
Seeing him as just a meal
Just some food to eat.

He turned and ran, it gave chase
Slashing at the air.
Running all throughout the house
Knocking over chairs.

It cornered him in a hall,
Slowly it advanced.
Johnny stood there, shook with fear
As he breathed his last.

When they found him the next day,
Torn limb from limb,
There was barely body left
Sent to next of kin.

And still it roams, prowling nights
Seeking you and me.
Heed my tale, fear the legend
Of the Wachajambe.

The Boy In The Box

This story is part 4 of The Pine Creek Murders, a 6 part series that started in The Girl In The House



The Boy In The Box

Brooke Mirra stood outside her sister’s house, the police tape still hanging from the doorframe. It and been almost four months since the investigation into her sister and brother in law’s death, with no new clues uncovered. As leads dried up, the investigation died down as well. The death of Levi Basso a week later, as well as Will Tennant and Carole Piper soon after hurt as well, drawing officers away from the investigation. While the case was still listed as ongoing, it was no longer considered active. The police had given up any hope of finding their killer.

She took a breath and opened the door, entering the house for the first time. Except for the items classified as evidence, everything was as it had been found.

Brook climbed the stairs, avoiding the living room. Taylor’s chair was gone, but his blood covered the floor.  They had torn up the carpet, but it had soaked into the plywood below, and that was considerably harder to remove.

She entered the master bedroom. The blankets and mattress had been taken as evidence, as had a large part of the carpet. Brooke choked back tears as she looked at a picture of Mary and Taylor on the bedside table.

Her mind filled with memories. Of snowball fights growing up in Thunder Falls. Of summers spent at Grandma’s beach house in Bayside. Of serving as maid of honor at each other’s weddings.

Movement at the foot of the bed brought her back to the present. Sitting there was a wooden chest, supposedly something from the Ullrich House. According to local legend, Bradley Ullrich hid in there as his father went on a murderous rampage. It was in that box that he had been killed.

Of course that was the legend. She had heard a lot of them since Mary’s death, including the one about Old Man Ullrich returning from the dead to kill. But no one with half a brain believed them. It was an old wives tale, told around the campfire and to scare little kids. “If you don’t behave, Old Man Ullrich might come and get you in your sleep.”

She bent down and saw a small boy on the other side of the chest. She figured it must have been some local kid that had wondered in. The doors were locked, and she had the only key, but he might have found some other way inside the house. An open window or something.

She tried to talk to him, to tell him it was ok. That she wasn’t here to hurt him. But he his on the other side, fear in his eyes.

After a few minutes, his eyes grew wide with terror and pointed at something behind her. Brooke started to turn and felt something hit her in the back of the head.

Stars filled her vision, and the last thing she saw before darkness overtook her was a black mass beside her, and the boy trying to hide in the box.

By The Light Of The Moon

By The Light Of The Moon

Will Tennant squinted, following the nearly nonexistent trail in the moonlight. He looked back with a smile, holding Carole’s hand in his. They had spent a lot of time hiking in the Barrens, and as Will patted his pocket, he hoped that this wouldn’t be the last time they did this together.

For the next few minutes, they walked until the trees parted, revealing a clearing over looking Pine Creek. They walked across the clearing, enjoying the view as the full moon shown down upon them.

Carol commented on the beautiful view, and Will replied that it wasn’t as beautiful as her. He turned to face her, looking into her eyes and telling her how much he loved her as he took a box from his pocket. Will fell to his knee and held the box open before him, asking Carole to marry him.
She held her hand to her mouth as she gasped with surprise, tears welling up in her eyes as she said yes. Will smiled and placed the ring on her finger as he stood, kissing her. They held each other close, looking into each other’s eyes, swaying as if they were dancing to music only they could hear.

After several minutes they were startled by a low growl coming from the trees. The couple turned, making their way towards the car as a creature jumped from the trees. It landed on Will, knocking him to the ground. He struggled with it, yelling for Carole to run, reaching out to her as it ripped out his throat.

Carole screamed in horror as the creature turned towards her, blood running from it’s mouth. She ran, branches scratching her as she ran through the forest, not caring if she was going in the right direction, just wanting to get away from the creature. She could hear it growling as it tore through the trees behind her.

She ran for what seemed like an eternity as she returned to the clearing, Carole ran to the center of the clearing kneeling over Will’s body, weeping as a shadow covered her. She looked up and saw nothing as the creature entered the clearing.

Carole turned to run as the creature leapt at her, knocking her down as it had Will. She cried for mercy as it stood over her. Carole saw a pair of glowing red eyes staring down from the trees as she reached for will’s lifeless hand. The creature tore her throat out as it had his.

As Carole lay there, blood flowing from her neck, she saw what looked like a winged creature dive from the trees, attacking the creature that had killed her.



Rose Hartnell walked through the Barrens as the last rays of sunlight disappeared beyond the horizon. She took out her Mag-Lite, illuminating the ground in front of her as she made her way towards the car. She had been out on a hike and sat down to rest, falling asleep. Now she hurried to return to her car, to get back home. No one wanted to be this deep in the Barrens at night. Not after what happened to Will Tennet and Carole Piper six months ago. No one know what had killed them, but until it was caught or killed. The authorities had advised that no one enter the Barrens at night.

Rose entered a clearing and realized that it was where they had died. She started to make her way across, knowing that her car was beyond the clearing. As she reached the center of the clearing she realized that she was not alone. She looked over towards the edge of the clearing, where it looked out upon Pine City. Standing there were two people, holding each other, looking into each other’s eyes as they swayed as if to music that only they could hear. Dancing by the light of the moon.