Deep River

 

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Introduction

Something had happened in Millers swamp years ago. Becca and Alex had kissed their mother goodbye to play in the woods. The village children played out in the deep woods for as long as anyone could remember. They would come back to town near sundown, sneaking in through doors that were always unlocked.

Yet as the sun had sunk down, there was no sign of either child. Frantic when their little ones never came home, mothers and fathers headed into the cold wet expanse at the edge of town. A heavy fog had begun to form, swirling around them as they searched. Many from town came, yet they had no luck. They were later joined by the State Police and search and rescue. The entire town was searched. They brought out the dogs, and called the childrens names until they echoed off the trees. News teams from around the region came, digging into the tragedy, exacerbating the pain. The posters went up of a little girl with brown hair and a boy with shocking blue eyes. Day after day, people headed out to Millers, and every night came back with nothing. It was a cold January day when officials called off the search.

The children were never found.

Months passed, then years. The news teams left. The posters became worn and eventually disappeared all together. Every year, as the days became cold and dark, the air became thick with the stories. They had been taken, or killed in the swamp. Others believed that they had been led astray, or had drowned. Yet no one knew what had happened. All they knew was that two kids went into that swamp and never came back. The cold, dark swamp sat in silence, refusing to give up any secrets.

After the disappearances Deep River changed. Door were locked at night. A heaviness lay over the town. The carefree innocent of the town was swallowed up. Many people moved away, looking to escape the memories.

Miller swamp took on a life of its own. Many who remained avoided it all together, fearing the same fate. Even those who loved the place began to stay away. Hunters who had been going out there for years, began to have a funny feeling about the place. Others has sworn they hear voices out there, echoing off the water. Other had seen shadows or felt as if something were watching them. A somber feel lay over the place, and questions echoed in the air. Locals began to believe that the swamp was Becca and Alex’s final resting place, and the stories continued.

One night a young man came into the tavern, shouting.

“ I saw some crazy shit out on Millers,” he shouted ‘I swear, a man and a women, out over the water!”

Incredulously a group hurried down the dirt road to the spot. The night was clear and cold, and the full moon illuminated the large expanse. Tufts of dead grass stuck up, and old leaves floated on the surface of the placid water. They stood there expectantly, yet as they gazed out nothing moved.

“ This is creepy, lets get out of here.” One of the girls said tersely.

Without another word they made their way back to the cars. The young man took one last glance before he got in, grumbling as they took off back to town.

Two figures sat at the other edge of the swamp, just out of sight. The watched as the cars headlights faded into the darkness. They stood hand in hand, knowing the entire story. The young man looked at the girl with a bemused expression. He had a deep white scar running down his cheek and shocking blue eyes. She was somber, yet beautiful, with a shock of brown hair.

“Do you think they’d recognize us?” He said looking up at the girl in the pale moonlight.

She turned her gaze towards him, a thin smile forming.

“No.”

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