The double set of headlamps cut through the dark night as the grinding shift of the mammoth truck pushed into a lower gear. Jake brake, growling out into the forest and fields lining the Mississippi back road, drowned out the sounds of the chorused wildlife from the shallow swamps nearby. A rhythmic tempo, calls of bullfrog, waterfowl, movement of the rabbit through tall grass, and the odd scream of the nocturnal flying hunter’s fear inducing shriek as they dove for the smaller prey, was absent for the driver of the cargo loaded 18 wheeler. The heated engine of the truck whined and hissed as it moved along the empty road; the single warning being given for the ghostly night of Hallows Eve. The driver paid no attention as she drove on well into the darkened hours.
Off in layers of darkness, the forest trees seemed to blend into a sinister blanket, a thousand eyes stared at the lumbering truck as it passed; the shifting mist drifted, floating over waving grasses and creaking trees. The low moaning wind cried, anguished across the thickness of the air, fighting to hold onto the steel filled lumbering giant as it chugged on.
A sudden violent ‘snap’ of metal bending past the point of endurance had the lone occupant driving the cab steering off to the side of the narrow two lane highway. The emptiness of the road ahead gave testament to the late hour of the October Holiday spirit. Fully stopped, a hard shift of the wheels to the left fixed the truck in place. A quick pull of the diamond shaped emergency brake knobs on the dash released the 150 pounds of compressed air, setting the brakes. Grumbling curse words were softly spoken as the driver punched the yellow and red lights on the dash to turn on the emergency warnings. A lever on the bottom of the dash was pulled until the hood releases on either side of the engine popped open. The truck seemed to shiver as it continued running with a consistent harsh clanking.
The cab door swung open revealing a woman in the driver’s seat. Highlights in her brown hair and tanned features showed the outdoor spirit as she glanced upward to check the sky. Her brown eyes saw nothing but a gray layer of clouds, swirling and twisting. Stepping out of the cab, her tall form moved carefully. The sweater stretched as muscled arms flexed and strong hands clenched the cab handles on the way down. Black army boots gracefully moving onto the different levels of steps to finally jump down onto the road. She frowned as she took a look up at her livelihood. The emergency blinkers were steadily lighting up the road for a good quarter mile, no sign of any company coming or going was visible. The engine lasted a few more seconds before coughing into a dying silence.
“Shit!” Terrie grabbed the hanky from her back pocket and quickly moved to the giant tire. Her boots found the right placed to balance her five-nine form so she could push open the truck hood and lift it outward. Smoke hit her in the face as she instantly backed away from the rising heat. She studied the mess inside the engine compartment as if studying a jigsaw puzzle. Wrapped up into figuring out what part to adjust she barely acknowledged a small drop of water hitting the large coolant hose and hissed into steam. Another shortly followed. Terrie pulled out of the engine area to look up and almost laughed out loud as she was hit again by the rain that fell.
“Why do I take these southern loads? I’m from the north for goodness sake.” Her gaze moved back into the blackening engine compartment and her hand fumbled for a strapped flashlight clipped under the lifted cover. A bright beam found the problems and Terrie bit her lip resolved that her truck was going to be parked here for a while. The silence of the night became a loud steady pounding as the blinking amber lights clicked on and off and the rain began hitting metal, road, bush, and her head.
Drenched and beginning to feel the chill, Terrie slammed the cover back down and shimmied down the side. Shaking her head free of water she climbed back into the cab. Completely soaked, she jumped into her seat and slammed the door shut quickly turning on the interior light. Pulling down a map and some radio channel listings, she studied them both. Checking one against the other she dialed into the airwaves and hoped for a clear signal.
“Breaker, breaker, come back? Charlie, Alpha, twenty-eight, Sam, Charlie, Peterbuilt 18 wheeleer, broke down around Allison County, Highway 928, mile marker...” Terrie flipped the wipers a couple times looking down the road for some sign of where she was exactly. Her eyes shot off to the right across a mist covered field as a bright white light flashed and moved near the forest. She squinted puzzled.
“Approximately, mile marker 403, come back? This is Terrie Alamore, looking for a little help.”
The static of a dead line aired into the cab, mocking her attempts. Sighing, she lifted her gaze back to that area where the flash of light across the field. Maybe it was a house? The last time she remembered passing another vehicle she’d been in daylight and in another state. Of course, what other crazy driver would haul a load on the great Hallow’s Eve? Even her ex-girlfriend, Charlene, had mentioned to her on the phone it was bad luck to ride the night before the Celtic New Year. She endured; listening poorly to the historical significance of the holiday for the dead, the drone of her ex rambling. Truckers all over the world reported seeing things and having mishaps, Charlene finally concluded, her voice unnaturally sounding worried for Terrie. Ignoring it all Terrie had pulled out her map and was plotting the route that would bring her in a few extra hundred for the holiday pay. Glancing at her cell phones dead signal sign she wished she could call Charlene to let her know she was right once again.
Her eyes widened slightly as she caught the light again. It flashed clearly against the dark backdrop of the field. It seemed to sway with the forest trees. Nibbling on her lip, she wiped the inside of the window to clear it up as much as possible. There was definitely a light. It doesn’t look that far away? The mist, floating across the grass surface, seemed to thin out at the train of her thoughts. The incessant pounding of the rain lessened and started to trickle off as Terrie shivered in her wet clothes. The light flickered once more. Licking her dry lips she nodded and moved into the back to change clothes. I’ll just go take a look and see if they have a phone or something.
Quickly, in a dry set of jeans and a clean T-shirt she grabbed her leather jacket and made sure her multi-purpose knife was clipped on her waist. She grabbed her flashlight and descended the truck cab to brush away a few remaining droplets falling. The air was thick with humidity and the crickets started up immediately as she stood at the edge of the blinking light track of her truck. The grass was drenched and way above her knees. She started off into it quickly coming across a haphazardly built fence strung down the length of the roadside. Reaching out to grab the wire she winced and sucked the blood drop from her palm as the barb cut her hand. She didn’t notice the wind pick up nor the low pitched moan begin to howl again. Pushing down the barbwire more carefully, she jumped the fence. Her angle toward where she saw the light was in her mind and she began the trek to get there.
Her boots and legs soaked she had donned her jacket to keep off any mosquito’s flying around. Twice she had jerked the flashlight upward to catch the swift flying forms of bats moving over head in the night, their short wings flapping wildly. Red beady eyes seemed to stare down at her as they crossed her path. Her second glance back at her truck showed no signs in the night as the field of mist seemed to surround her. Her flashlight became useless as she walked into a thicker wall of floating water. The reflection of the light bounced back and hurt her eyes. She turned it off and kept walking through sporadic thickness as the mist shifted with her passing.
Terrie stopped. She thought she heard a voice off in the distance. Strangely, she thought she heard a woman’s voice. Her silence allowed the night calls to pick up again from the creatures of the field and forest. Almost to the tall dark tree line, she could see nothing but the mist floating everywhere. Silent as possible she moved forward and stepped clear of the mist as she hit the edge of the trees. Looking across the woods she could clearly make out a small light shifting in the light breeze. Taking a chance on a house nearby, she headed toward the bobbing light.
As Terrie neared the area of woods she saw light solidify and its movement stop. Nibbling her lip, she yelled ‘hello?’ Glancing down to see if she is wearing enough Orange to defer a night hunter she discovers her T-shirt that read “I’m too sexy for my shirt. Stop drooling.” Softly cursing she quickly decided to reverse the shirt inside out to avoid any nasty confrontation with a local. Hopefully, she can get some help and get on down the road. Shedding her jacket she whipped off her shirt to turn it inside out. Her bared nipples puckered in the chill of the wet night. The slightly wet T-shirt bunched horribly as she tried to put it back on. Wordlessly, she tried not to think about standing half naked in a field in Mississippi. As she fought to pull it back down around her neck and over her bared breasts she heard a woman’s pain filled voice call out.
“Help me, please! For God sake, help me.”
Not even bothering to fix the twisted wet cloth she moved forward toward the nearby light. Her butch response kicked in for a rescue. Her blinking eyes found an old fashion lantern sitting on a rock next to a woman.
Terrie could barely believe what she was looking at as she took in the dirty naked form of a woman sitting on a rock. Her pale white skin was covered in dirt and dew and what looked like blood. Terrie’s eyes tracked up her long legs toward her upper half. The woman was attempting to do something with a dirty piece of cloth that bound her breasts. Terrie gasped out loud as she saw the blood dripping from a bandage wrapped around the woman’s arm. The sound brought the woman away from her own purpose and she instantly moved to lift a nearby rifle upward.
Terrie felt her heart pound in fear as she looked down the barrel of a huge gun. The barrel wavered slightly as the woman strove to keep it on target.
“Ya’ll shouldn’t be heah? Take yo’self right back where ya came from. Jus fergit what ya saw.” The ominous click of the rifle has Terrie holding up her hands. The T-shirt hinders her slightly. That low urgent voice thickened with a southern drawl spoke to Terrie. The gun wavered again and Terrie saw the woman’s gaze for the first time. Her dark blue eyes were shining in the lamp light. Sweat dripped down from the short cropped dark hair. Terrie could see the flushed color of skin with fever instantly. The woman’s gaze squinted and sharpened on Terrie and the gun slowly lowered.
“You’re a woman? What in tarnation are…? I can’t believe I just started to ask you that. Gawd help us both.” The fevered woman mumbled as she almost dropped the gun back on the rock. Terrie looked down at herself and quickly pulled the shirt fully down, a heated blush suddenly rising to her face.
“You’re hurt?” Terrie took a step forward, trying not to ask a thousand questions.
The woman swayed where she sat, her hands returning to the cloth at her chest.
“So hot. I need to cool off. Help me with this knot.” The woman lifted her fevered gaze from the cloth at her breasts and beckoned Terrie closer. “Can’t get it off.”
Terrie moved near and saw weak fingers pulling at the dirty cloth binding her chest. She noticed small cuts and bruises over most of the woman’s hands and arms.
“What happened to you?” Terrie asked as she squatted down near the woman. The dark blue eyes blinked at her with an eerie calm.
“The war! What else?” Terrie shook her head but was besieged by hands pulling her own toward the knot. “Untie it. We shouldn’t be here. Hurry!”
Terrie shivered as her fingers encountered a rough burlap type material. The heat rising from the woman next to her made Terrie begin to ramble in nervousness.
“I just heard you call for help. I thought you were in trouble. My truck is broke down across the field and I thought this light might be a house.”
Skin seared Terrie as the knot came free. The woman’s entire body was on fire. Her arm was bloodied through the bandages and there was a bunch of half healed wounds and many healed older scars over the exposed skin. It looked as if she had been scratched and scraped everywhere.
“You need to be in a hospital.” Terrie steadied the shivering hot woman with a light grasp on her shoulder. The woman shook her head with a swift jerk. Terrie tried to ignore the beautiful body beneath all the grime and cuts and bruises. Her own body tightened with the response of a gorgeous naked female so close. It had been ages.
“No. No hospital.” Her weak voice firmed to a husky depth as she spoke. The command was clear. “They just hack thangs off’a ya…” she closed her eyes and swayed again at some vision she obviously had seen, “…and leave ya ta die. I wanna keep muh arm. I have to have both of’a my hands. I’m so God’awful hawt. Is it hawt to you? I need to cool down.” She begins to unwrap the breast bandage again.
‘Help me get it off. It’s a filthy rag. Oh Lord, help me.” Her hands shook as she tried to unclasp the loose end of the wrap from beneath her arm. She looked at Terrie with pleading eyes.
“I’mma gonna die here aren’t I? My momma always was say’in I’d die alone. She never understood why I turned down so many boughs. Sweet and handsome but not every gurl hasta be coddled. You know whut I mean? What’s your name?”
Terrie murmured her name as she brushed the trembling hands aside and unwound the material.
“I’m Della Shawn Stanton. Shawn for now, till this heah war ends.” The wrap quickly fell and dropped to Shawn’s waist. She was naked and beautiful. Her lengthy form seemed to tremble and clench as she tried to stand. Looking away politely, Terrie suddenly found her arms full of swaying naked woman. Shocked she stood stiffly and let the woman find her footing.
‘I’m hot. I’m so hot.” The creek behind them trickled loudly and the wounded woman moved slowly away from Terrie’s stunned form. Seemingly drunk, Shawn moved toward the sound of water. A loud splash and a groan broke Terrie from the trance of watching the muscle filled body walking away. Shawn was a physical beauty, perfectly proportioned. Her strong legs, muscular and defined, met a slim waist and firm ass. Broad shoulders and a back with flexing muscles were almost too perfect. The soft glow of the lantern seemed to mock Terrie’s vision as she blinked to clear the naked form from her mind.
Panicked at the groan, Terrie leaped toward the sound and found herself ankle deep in cold water. She moved out a few feet and went down another foot. Her gasp at the chill was chuckled at by the figure swimming out deeper. Looking out in the night her eyes slowly adjusted and she caught sight of a water Nymph. White limbs floated and arms slowly stroked to keep her on her back, breasts to the sky. Her body shined pale on the surface. Terrie watched Shawn float for what seemed an hour but was likely only a few minutes. Finally she stood up in the middle of the creek and was visible from the waist down. Her upper body was immensely cleaner and the bloodied bandage of her arm was now white again. She seemed more alert as she looked around her and then noticed Terrie.
“Your stil in ya boots, scout. The leatha willa be ruint. I feel betta now.” She walked toward Terrie the water clinging to her body slowly dripping downward to the dark patch between her legs. Terrie swallowed hard and stared in fascination.
You defiantly need ya a chest cloth. Imma thinkn you are a bit cold. Her eyes were filled with humor and still an unnatural glaze caused by the fever. However, she was no longer swaying and her movements seemed more natural, almost animalistic with grace. She reminded Terrie of a panther on the hunt. The subtle smile she gave Terrie was enough to make a grown man tremble. Terrie had no control as her body surged with desire.
“Aye see I’ve got me a ….flirt here. To bad I’m a southern. I kin tell by yor talk, you musta been from the north. Dint know they had them some wimmon’s fighten. Don’t know hows you gitten by with that hair though.”
Terrie barely heard her talking as she watched the woman return to the pile of clothes sitting on the rocks. Trembling with some inner emotions she chose not to define, Terrie watched the woman get dressed. Item after item the woman became strangely militia looking. Her rebound breasts flattened her chest and she swiftly seemed to become manly in appearance. Squelched in her boots, a bit closer, she eyed the woman dressed in full uniform. It was a strange uniform of soft grays and whites. Her high mid-thigh boots and shining black belt matched together, holding the gray pants with the white strip down the sides in place. The matching shirt and jacket clearly stated uniform but, Terrie couldn’t say for whom. The woman grabbed her musket and nonchalantly took a small packet from her jacket, ripping it with her teeth. She poured the contents into the end of the musket and then tapped it down with a rod pulled from the barrel. She gave a small smile to Terrie.
“I guess powder might help.” Her eyes seemed to suddenly glaze and she swayed. The fever was returning. Her gun became a crutch and she reached out with an arm toward Terrie.
Terrie held the soldier upright. Shawn mumbled, pointing off into the night about her company being a half mile that way. Terrie was half pulled and half clung to as she helped Shawn make her way further into the forest. The lantern was blown out and they moved by moonlight. Shawn seemed to move deliberately in one direction.
As they passed into an open area without trees the mist coalesces. Terrie blinked as she began to see hundreds of tents and roaming soldiers. The sound of horses knicker’s and whinny’s, low mumbles of talk and complaints, even the clink of tin cups or whistling was beginning to sound around the two women. Terrie saw fire pits spaced out every so many yards, with hundreds of men gathered around them. Everyone was in a similar make of uniform that Shawn wore. The air seemed to rob Terrie of breath as she shivered in the night.
Hearing the click of a musket nearby Shawn stopped and tensed. Terrie felt the soldier beside her leaning in close. A low voice whispering in her ear…”I’m forevah grateful. Maybe one day we will meet again, scout. Hope we live through this.”
The mist thickened and Shawn was gone. Turning a circle in the cloud Terrie felt her heart speed up in fear. The overwhelming feeling of being totally alone, she stumbled a few steps forward, blindly struggling to break free from the ever thickening mist. Her body was becoming frozen and her breath was shallow. Lurching ahead she stepped into a thinning cloud. Before her by a mere 50 feet she saw the harsh blinking lights of her truck on the side of the road once more. Slogging forward she trips and falls, but gets up and arrives back at her truck side. Thoughts of what she just witnessed and encountered were raising her fear level into panic. Where the hell was I? Who was she? Oh my god, that was the strangest feeling…”
Rounding the front end of her truck she was suddenly grabbed by her arm.
“Whoa there little lady. Slow down a bit.” A huge man held her still as she almost screamed in reaction. Her hand found her knife instantly and was half way to pulling it out when he let go and stepped into a light.
She found his handsome face and slight smile friendly, but worried. She looked around to find three other guys setting up cones and road repair symbols off down the road. A small truck filled with road gear was flicking a caution sign over it to warn others on the road the men were working. The road side assistance crew all wore orange reflective vests just like the one this huge man wore.
“Didn’t mean to scare ya! Saw your truck here and we’s thought you might’n be inside but the cab was locked and nobody came out. Wus worried you might’n have tried to walk clear back inta town. That’d be a good thirty miles. Not so easy.”
A sudden feeling of relief flowed through Terrie as she slid the knife back into her sheath. Her body almost melted as she leaned against the steel grill of her truck. Her mind still jumbled she took a look back into the dark field to see the mist moving strangely. She vaguely thought she saw a lone figure melting back into the mist.
She frowned. The frown grew as she locked eyes with the huge man that had stopped her. His eyes were just returning from the field as well. His eyes held fear plain and simple.
“Did you see her? Just now?” Terrie grabbed his sleave gaining his attention.
He spoke as if in a daze, the same words said many times, his eyes still worried. “You shouldn’t be a wander'n around these parts, ma’am. We’ve had folks get lost in them woods. Lot’sa strange stories commin from these parts.”
Terrie stood looking dumbly at the man, her mind wondering what just happened over the last hour. Didn’t he see anything? Am I losing it?
“Probably a lotta ghosts out there tonight too, Leroy. Dontcha think?” Another man stepped forward breaking the moment between them and chuckled at his own pitiful wit. The nearby crew members laughed at the remark. Leroy, the huge man, stood looking at Terrie with the most serious of frowns on his weathered face.
“Corinth’s Forest is no place for roaming on Hallow’s Eve. Too many souls were lost out there. No mak’n fun of em. I can tell you muh self they can make you cold to the bone.” His somber words quieted the crew and the night became smaller. Terrie suddenly felt the drenched clothes on her body. She shivered uncontrollably.
“I have to change my clothes.” She finally managed to state.
“That’s alright, ma’am. We called the mechanic from Rodney to come out and fix you up. They should be here in about 10 minutes. We will jus be a workn here in the area for the next two hours. You need something we will be around.”
Terrie high-tailed it into her truck and changed into warm dry clothes for the second time. She slowly climbed out of the truck cab when she heard the screech of another vehicle pull up in front of her rig.
She stepped down from the truck to see a woman walk toward her and couldn’t help but gasp. If not for the ballcap, garage shirt, and stylish ladies jeans, the woman walking toward her was the spitting image of Shawn. As she neared, Terrie noticed the differences of youth and lighter blue eyes.
“Are you're alright, miss? I didn’t mean to scare you. My name is Della from the Rodney garage.” Terrie looked into those eyes and knew she was looking at a distant relative of the wounded woman she helped across the field. Yet, this healthy vibrant girl had never been involved in a war. She was young and beautiful and confident. Her confidence oozed charm as well as she lifted her hand out for a handshake. “I was on just on my way back to the city and saw ya sittn here. You haven some sorta troubles? “
“Didn’t the roadcrew notify you?” Terrie asked confused.
“Umm…” Those blue eyes darkened slightly. “…we don’t have no road crew construction out here this tima year. The weather is just a bit to cold and the ground is a bit too hard.” Terrie looked over toward the direction of where the crew had been setting up to work. The night was dark and empty.
“Are you alright? You look sort of pale? Do you need a doctor? Although with a good lookn woman like you I’m sure you’ll be just fine.” Here lips curved upward into a flirtatious grin. Those eyes shined with intelligence and humor.
Terrie shook off the weirdness of the entire night and looked back at the stranger. A certain friendliness coming from the younger woman helped her chase away the strange sensations creeping up and down her spine. Feeling the need for letting go Terrie flirted back.
“I’m sure a woman like you knows exactly what I might need to dust off this cold night. I might even have a story or two I can tell you bout my time here at Corinth’s Forest.
The woman jerked and stepped back.
“How’d you learn that name? Corinth’s Forest? You from around here? I’ve nevah seen you here before.”
Terrie shook her head knowing the night was going to get stranger.
“Well now, that’s part of that story. I can tell you all about it while we head back to town. Leroy said it was a 30 minute drive? I could use a cold beer.”
The woman paled and began to look around. The night sounds seemed to leap up in volume.
“You met Leroy? I guess you do have a few tales to tell.” Her voice shook with the fear of knowing something important but afraid to speak it out loud.
“He was a nice old fellow. Said he called you to come pick me up. Thought that was why you showed up here out of the blue.” Terrie mentioned. Della took off her ballcap and wiped her forehead with the sleeve of her shirt. She began shaking her head and continued as she ranted out to the night.
“I just hate Halloween! It’s never going to be easy is it? Ya’ll have to creep me out every year. For once, I’d like a pleasant night.” She eventually calmed down a bit and looked over at Terrie sheepishly.
“Ever since my grandma told me that story about my namesake, her mother Della Shawn, being involved in the war I have had the strangest experiences out here on this road. I could tell you some tales myself. Maybe we should get that beer.”
Terrie looked Della over and slowly nodded agreement. You’re not going to be disappointed tonight. Let me tell you, Ms. Thing! Terrie thought to herself as she wondered how much weirder the night could get.
She eased her hand around the other woman’s waist and began to steer them both back to her service truck.
“Lets get that beer then you and I have some stories to swap.”
The younger woman moved closer still to Terrie’s body. They moved together, synchronized with their shifts and stride.
“I’m sure we can tell each other stories for quite a while. I’ve got a few you might even want to hear in bed.” Terrie felt a grin tugging at her lips as she felt a hand slide down over her ass to gently squeeze it.
“I’m listening!”
They ended up swapping stories until the next morning. Terrie learned about Leroy Boodru and his road crew, mysteriously killed driving off Corinth Rocky Plateau one dark night. For the next 10 years many people stated he had visited them broken down on the road.
Della shared a beer, her stories, and her luscious body for Terrie. They relaxed into each others arms as the night wandered on. Hot kisses and sultry touches stroked each other higher as they made love. Terrie writhed with her lover and enjoyed the give and take as they caressed and teased their bodies, telling each other the strangest of pillow talk based on their alternate experiences.
Terrie learned more about the twists of Shawn’s fate and history of the Civil War battle held in Corinth Forest. Della Shawn gasped as Terrie firmly bit her nipples and sucked them into her hot mouth. She barely spoke as fingers slid through her wetness, pushing her into climax.
Just before daylight Della kissed Terrie awake and whispered of getting back to work. Terrie barely registered the scrap of paper Della pointed to for contacting her. Two hours later Terrie shifted under the sunlight streaming into the hotel room. The rising heat had her kicking off covers and baring her satisfied naked body to the empty room. Her hand reached out and fumbled with the paper her sleepy eyes blinking to read the print.
In very pretty script the words seemed to blur then refocus. Terrie froze as she read the note.
“Happy Halloween, lover. Boo!
As her mind registered the message the paper disintegrated into dust. A hollow laughter seemed to ring in her ears. She slowly sat up and got dressed. Finding a ride out to her truck she turned the key and found the engine purring like a kitten. She drove away without looking toward the field once. The End, BWHahahhahahahahahahahahahhahaa.
The End