I
In the small town of sleepy hollow, home to a forgotten graveyard that many feared to visit. Rumour has it that souls of the loved ones departed during the purge lingers within.
The purge was a time where wrongfully convicted night soul mongers in their land were gotten rid of. Now, it is believed that their souls were unable to find peace and hovered around the graveyard. As such the residents were banned from visiting the graveyard.
On nights of the full moon, the residents testify of a mysterious glow seen from the graveyard. A strange, spectral light, shining from within. Not a single soul could tell the reason behind this strange phenomenon, hence the locals avoided the graveyard more like a plague.
But not for four friends: John, Catherine, Lily, and Amelia. A group of Gen Z teenagers who became so obsessed with the graveyard and its mystery. They've heard all the stories and legends behind the graveyard, but they wanted to see things for themselves.
"Don't y'all think it's a myth?" John the self imposed leader of the group asked after a series of presentations trying so hard to convince his friends.
"We could just find out ourselves' ' Catherine, known for her boldness, chimed in, her eyes betrayed not a flicker of fear.
"If you guys are in, then I'm in" Amelia, the group's sensitive heart said.
"I really think this is a bad idea. I think.." Lily, the youngest of them and the most worrisome in the group, countered.
Catherine cut her short "What could go wrong. We stick together, then we go in and before you know it we're done. You've always been a chicken hearted fellow" her harsh words biting deep.
On the night of the full moon, the group gathered near the imposing gate of the abandoned graveyard, just as they had agreed after much back and forth. Ready and determined to find out the truth.
With a chain cutter in his hands John cut the chains and padlock on the gate. He raised a lantern to their faces and said "This is it, guys. Tonight we unearth what's really going on in there. We've heard the stories; now, it's time to find out if it's a myth."
Lily hesitated, already a heavy shroud of doubt was enveloping her again. She glanced at her companions as if to find anyone having double minds about their adventure like she was at that moment. But when she found none, with a trembling voice she expressed her fear. "Guys, I don't know about this. It's just... it's all so terrifying. Are we sure we want to go inside there? Like y'all want to do this?"
"Not again, Lily. Don't be such a chicken. You're about to find out that it's just a bunch of spooky tales to keep us off here." Catherine said.
But Lily was still unconvinced, her eyes darting to the looming gravestones and shadows cast by the moonlight. "it's still a bad idea to me"
Amelia stepped closer to her, with a voice so gentle and reassuring. "Hey, hey, Lily, look at me. I understand your fear. I mean it's okay to be scared, but remember, we're sticking together okay?. And we won't let anything happen to you. And think about it, imagine having to sit out while we tell you of the adventure later." She smiled. " where's the fun in that?"
With that Lily took a deep breath, Amelia's words were comforting. Now, she shared their yearnings for an adventure. She nodded, "Alright, I'm in. Let's do this. But if things go south, we get out of here immediately, no questions asked." she added
"Promise" the whole group chorused, and with that they pushed the gate open, and tiptoed into the graveyard careful not to make a sound.
Just as the legend said, "Lit a lantern at the oldest grave on a full moon" John said repeatedly as the searched for a grave with the oldest date.
They found the oldest grave and after a confirmation look to his crew John dropped the lantern on it.
Then, they waited. But, nothing seemed to happen.
"See, it's a myth," Catherine said looking at Lily with pride in her voice.
Just then the moon rose higher in the sky, and the graveyard began to shake.
"Seems like it's not" Lily shouted, terrified to the bones.
The air around felt charged with a strange strong energy, strong gusts of wind began to blow making trees in the graveyard to twist and writhe, their branches whistling loudly. And then, from the furthest corner of the graveyard, came a sound that made the hairs on the back of their necks stand up. It was a low, mournful moan, like the sound of a wounded animal followed by sounds of footsteps of invisible humans.
Immediately their lantern started flickering and quickly grew dim, then it went out completely. They friends were plunged into darkness, in the spooky graveyard.
"Run!" John yelled.
And they all began to run for the gate, they could hear the invisible footsteps following them behind, each step echoing through the graveyard. But whenever they turned, there was no one in sight. With deep breaths and fear, they ran all they wanted at that point was to get out of the graveyard as quickly as possible.
But it felt like the graveyard had stretched out more because as they ran the distance covered seemed to reduce that the distance not covered.
Finally, they got to the edge of the graveyard and ran out the gate. Each ran as fast as they could, not daring to look back or wait for the other. Till they were back in town.
For months, they never spoke of what happened that night, not even to themselves but they like on their face showing that they'll never forget it. And as for the graveyard they never went near it again.
Till date the legend behind the graveyard still remains uncovered. Just as the teenagers, no one seemed brave enough to find out the mystery behind the glowing light in full moon?