Captive

Vision is shadowy; I choke the steering wheel with knuckles turned white the shifty roads are blanketed with fresh powder, day has fallen into night a small oval portion amongst a foggy windshield was my view traction became lost, tires slid, there was nothing I could do I prayed to God that He would keep me safe from any harm He must have heard because I spun out and landed in a tree farm the skeletal infant trees did not stand up against my brawny Range Rover if I had struck a mature oak or maple, surely it would have been game-over once my trembling core ceased to a manageable state I was taken aback by a heavy rod iron gate not two seconds before, an open field of trees lied ahead against my better judgment, slowly I decided to tread uneasy, I glance over my shoulder to ensure my car is still there if a gate could unexplainably appear, I feared a car could dissolve in thin air I am impressed and terrified at the magnitude of what stood before me I pressed my face up against the icy frame and gasped at what I did see children; small children not aged more than eight simultaneously detected They had a visitor at the gate robotically, as if on cue, They began to drift toward me cloaked in robes of slate, I fixated on a child wearing a key the piece that hung from his neck flickered as if it were on fire with a green stomach, I knew my situation was off-colour and dire I attempted to address Them but all that escaped was my breath in the icy air in chorus They froze – countless eyes offered nothing but a vacant stare I wondered how long They had been locked up for and why my thoughts were interrupted by a small girl’s haunting cry my eyes searched frantically to see where the ominous iron curtain went to my mouth tapped dry when I learned it was I, who was caged, like an animal at the zoo anxiously I turned around when They became engrossed with something behind me large yellow eyes cut through the darkness and my demise was all I could see I was trapped. In order to survive I had to acquire possession of that key … april 25, 2012 Diana-Marie Bombardieri for Gail's CONTEST - Stranded 0r a Ghost story