The Hunters moon

Angel It was a last minute decision on everyone's part really, bringing me along on this camping trip. Honestly, I think Bree and Jessie saw a shining opportunity when I opted to pay for the last log cabin this place has to offer. Better this way then all of us sleeping on the chilly plastic of a tent. The main road had gone from multiple lanes to one going and coming from the woods. Each turn winding us farther into the thickness of the forest. The thick trunks of the trees shielding the forest from any prying eyes. Further revealing how isolated this place was from society. The last house we saw easily miles back. Following the last gas station. Placing my book facedown on my lap to keep the pages from ruffling, I lean forward. “Jess, how far into the mountains is this place?” He shrugs, then squints at the phone guiding us further into thick colorful trees. Truely a blessing the service hasn't went out on the thing. “Possibly an hour out or more. I honestly have no clue it’s my first time going here. Bree’s been here before though.” Turning my attention to my cousin's finance she rolls her eyes at him. “I said I’ve been to one like this before. Never this one, Jess.” Jessie raises his light eyebrows and puts his fingers pointing up on the steering wheel. The new engagment ring sparkling on his ring finger. “My bad.” “Remind me what all we bought tickets for again?” I ask, not really knowing. When Bree brought up the question of accompanying them, I practically tore my card out of its resting place in my wallet. As an early wedding gift I paid for almost everything. Not without some commotion on Jessie's side. However, he soon came to terms with me putting out the money. Considering they are both my favorites in the entire horrid family. Bree smiles sweetly and pulls out her phone to read. “So we bought wristbands for access to the amusement park whenever. The town has special walkthroughs where we can only get day tickets to that day. There are also seven haunted trails we can go through that are close to the campground. Oh, there is also a music festival going on during the weekend that is going on for three days. Then on the last weekend we'll go to a haunted ball.” I blink at all the options. “All that is this deep into the mountains?” Bree nods. “Yep! This town makes the most of their money in the fall time. So they really go all out around Halloween.” “Sounds busy, so we really got the last cabin then?” Bree fully turns around to talk, her lush brown hair falling over her shoulders. “You have no idea, we only just managed to land this one because someone had canceled just before I called.” She then clasps her hands. “But, good news, everything is within walking or bus distance.” I smirk, “Very convenient to force everyone to spend their money.” “Like I said, they make most of their money around this time, better to bleed us all dry to survive another year.” Her brown eyes turn to Jessie, “Speaking of spending money I booked a reservation at the ‘Witches Crescent Moon’ for a lovely dinner.” Jess rolls his blue eyes playfully. “Wouldn’t be a memorable trip without bleeding my money dry, would it be honey?” Bree playfully slaps his shoulder. I smile at their playfulness. It's a welcoming distraction from the world we left back home. Of what resides when we leave this place in two weeks. Resting back comfortably in the seat I ask Jessie, “Next rest stop, do you think we could stop?” “No problem cuz.” He smiles and scratches the top of his blonde head. - Sadly, there is no rest stop for the remainder of the trip. Just miles of red, yellow, and orange leaves that stand out against the dark bark of the trees and blue sky. Jessie plays our favorite alternative music for the rest of the drive. Causing me to keep my headphones out for the remainder of the way. Our similar interest are the reason why we have stuck beside one another for so long. The last half an hour feels like an eternity before a large wooden sign appears before us. Over both lanes of the road the large sign looms, bold letters in ghostly white paint stare back at us. Morsville. On each side of the name are intricate carvings of a wolf and a crow. “Now that’s old school.” Jessie breathes out while pointing to the sign. Tucking my white bangs behind my ears, I lean up in sync with Bree. “How old do you think that is?” Her voice stumbles out. The trunks of the old tree are easily six people around with deep cuts into it as if someone had tried to cut it down with multiple animal markings. “Extremely.” I reply as we pass. The moment we pass under that sign is when the feeling first ripples over my skin. It’s a prickling sensation that sends goosebumps over my skin and the hairs at the back of my neck to stand. I am the only one who looks back to see the words carved ‘terra mortuorum’. It's but a second but my heart skips. Biting my lip, I turn backto face the front. Within the next ten minutes the colorful trees slowly space out and end turning into a sea of apple trees. Those apple trees flood my eyesight for miles. On the right are all reds while the left shows green. By the end of the rows are multiple large barns, most likely for harvesting. With the end of the apple forest comes an old bridge made of a deep cherry wood. It’s two cars length wide with a small yellow line in between to keep everyone in their separate lanes. I’d be lying if I said my finger’s didn’t dig into the car’s seat as we pass over the running water. Once the tires are back on land we follow the road past old boating houses. The one on the left is painted in a dark green, the one on the right side of the bridge a dark red. Following the road laid down before us sits the town. Towering colorful buildings line the streets, each painted a unique color. Old lanterns that call for a flame stand before the sidewalks, apple trees with fruit to bear hang low for any who pass. Most of the apples look to be picked through now. Crowds of people filter in and out of stores, dine at restaurants, and watch interesting side shows. “It’s lovely out there.” I breathe. “It’s supposedly more lively at night.” Bree perks up. With all the performers and busying of the shops, it’s hard to picture what more could go on at night. Jess hooks right onto one of the main roads, passing a large book shop with towering windows allowing us to peer inside. Even from the car window the contents inside call out to me. Where the bookstore ends is a large open courtyard with a towering, crimson clock tower. The clock tower leads into a large water fountain with a crow in the middle spraying water into the air. The fountain looks to be an opening to a lovely garden with overgrown flowers, willow trees, upon other plants. Where the garden a huge black metal gate replaces it. The gate covers a large piece of land leading high up above everything, upon that hill sits a black and red mansion. Even from here the energy swirls. The sunlight looks to bend away from the land, casting it in a darker hue then the remainder of the town. The closer we get to the gates entrance that same feeling as when we passed beneath the sign erupts over my entire body. “Well, I can tell you one place we won't be going.” Jessie keeps his voice light, but I know he means it. Bree presses her perky nose to the glass. “I think that’s the Mors mansion. If I’m correct they own everything, well used to.” My eyes loom over the mansion gates with metal crows lining the tops of the bars. Their eyes look to stare at me, taunting me to come inside. My eyes travel once more up to that old mansion. Even with the shutters shut, the presence of it still stares back at me. “How old is it, Bree?” She clears her throat. “A couple centuries old, the lore is that a wealthy settler named Vlad Mors and his brother claimed this land when the first settlers came over. They were one of the original families to distribute apples to everyone in this state and the surrounding ones.” Pearl glances back at me smirking. “Got that all from the website when booking the campsite.” I smile, but my attention stays at the old mansion. “Interesting. Anything else we should know.” The mansion's age is probably why I feel it to be staring. Most ancient things tend to keep their hold over what they claim. “There is tons to learn. On the website it briefly brushes against the feud between the two brothers and how the land we will be staying on is haunted.” Bree turns to Jessie and makes a spooky noise while twiddling her fingers at him. “Noted.” He nods. Jessie loves horror things as much as I do, sometimes it even takes him a while to scare. When we were younger the two of us would watch the monster movie marathon on repeat for the whole weekend. Even in our older age, the three of us will all go catch the new movie in theaters. However, even now when the real ghost comes out, he runs for the hills. Not that it's a bad quirk. Jessie has saved me many times from followig too far into the darkness.