The Calling Read online

  I reacted quick. I gripped the arm and threw it over the shoulder. To my surprise it was light… for a corpse. Or a hand, for that was all that meant my sight. The hand fell hollow and dull on the rocks before me. I turned to see the rest of the body. When I saw, I settled and breathed hard.

  “Come on, that’s cold. What if needed that arm!” Emily shook her arm as if was missing the appendage. She wore nothing, but the plaid.

  “Jesus, Emily!” I reacted still in shock. “I thought… I thought. Well, let's just end it right there.”

  “Very well, you can tell me later. Follow me!” she pulled me up. I couldn’t help but smile seeing her. but then it faded. I saw it. Golden eyes peering from the dark.

  “Emily, turn around,” I said slow.

  “What, I see nothing. No one.”

  “A fox. It was in your bag. And its been stalking me since.”

  “Where I see nothing.”

  “What? It's right…” I pointed at the void where it was. “right…there.”

  “Well it must be a smart one, oh or maybe it’s a Skinchanger. Like in the Ute tales. Humans that shift into foxes and coyotes!” she got excited.

  I shook my head, forgetting the creature. “What was it you wanted to show me?”

  “Come follow me!” I didn’t follow as much as get towed by her enthusiasm.

  The sun was titled by the time we got to the bluff. Not large. Only a few feet. But below was a lake. The lake stood calm, a reflection of the land above it. Snow cover peaks and looming greys made the backward sky. While pines leaned off the edges of their soil. It looked inviting, despite the cold weather. My eyes were torn from the view with a hand at my face.

  Firm warm lips found mine and her naked body intertwined around me. She had my shirt off before I realized it. I had grabbed for my pants to make quick work of them. My clothes founded a messy pile next to the backpacks.

  “Oh, M. Oh.” Her lips, they protected against the cold on my thighs. Moist, and warm. “Deeper. Please.” She did. I gripped her hair. Tighter. My leg shook, I plunged and held there for a moment. The pleasant feeling consuming me as she spun her tongue around and pulled away.

  “I’m not done with you yet.” She got up wiping her chin and cleaning her fingers off on my chest. She smiled and pushed.

  There was nothing to stop my fall. Only air. It was quick and sudden. But the fall took its time with me; it let the moment freeze. The cold broke my fall and consumed my body. I was in shock as tried to breach the surface. I was suddenly grateful I took off all my clothing. But I had no towels. Not that it mattered. I looked up clearing my hair from eyes. She laughed, then joined me. Her jump sent me squirming out of the way. Not that it mattered.

  The moment she hit the water she dove under. I could see her. Like a shark, she lunged for me. I tried to swim but, I was met with a hand at my ankle and a swift pull under. The cold took my breath. I couldn’t open my eyes under, not like her. So, I didn’t know what she was doing until I felt her tongue in my mouth. Her hand on me, mine on her. We breached for air and with a hand, I was pushed back under. She guided my lips where she needed me. I obliged and partook of her. Her legs gripped my head. She pushed deeper. I went deeper. Her taste was sweet.

  Pulling me up she said. “I can’t wait any longer. Take me, Charles, take me!”

  And I did.

  It was sometime later that we spoke. There was no need for them before. Actions spoke.

  “Here.” I grabbed for my pants as we laid naked and drying on the rocky outreach of the lake. The sun still high enough to dry us. Turning back, I handed her the box.

  “Yes.”

  “M, you haven’t even seen the-” she interrupted me.

  “Doesn’t matter, yes.” She took the box and my face, kissing it.

  “Well at least put it on.” I opened the case and grabbed her hand.

  The droplet still beat with life as she gasped at the rose gold and ruby gem. The two entangled around each other. A constant fight for her eyes. both beautiful in one aspect and another. It looked even better on her finger. The ring gratefully took her and clasped tight.

  “So beautiful. Charles. My love.”

  “Anything for you.” I took her in my arms. Still damp.

  “Charles…”

  “Look it's your fox.”

  I turned to meet her eyes and followed them. She looked out beyond the bushes. The eyes. They were blue, not gold. Can foxes change eye color, can they have blue eyes? They stared right through us. Only the ears perked. The rest sat motionless as it observed us. Trespassers. Invaders. Naked mindless humans. It watched carefully.

  I turned to Emily and held her shivering body. “Let’s get dressed. It's near the evening. And the fox is… is gone?”

  “Is that what you wanted to tell me earlier? You saw a fox?” she tore from my arms and grabbed for her clothes.

  “Yes but, I also saw…well, someone.”

  “Oh, maybe they're one and the same. A Skinchanger.”

  “Not funny, you already got me with the fake limb and calling my name.” I too got dressed, feeling the evening chill.

  “Charles I only called your name once. After that, I never called you.”

  “And on the creepy note, we are leaving.” I stood up and pulled my clothes on fast.

  “Come on loves, are you really that scared? Are you really going to take your fiancée home, just like that?”

  “M. Look, I may not believe in such things to the extent you do. But I have seen enough horror movies to know what happens next.” I gave her a glance.

  “Were smarter than that. Come on, I’m enjoying myself.” She wrapped herself around and kissed my neck. “pleasssse?”

  I gave in. “I want to be out by sundown. This place…it’s not right.” I looked up at the dipping sun. With only hours to spare, I only wished to be rid of the place.

  Part Three:

  The two crows

  I looked up at the evening sky. The once clear dull blue replaced by purples and greys as a storm approached. Winds howled off the mountains and the pines bowed to them.

  “We’re lost. Emily. We are lost!” I panicked; we had been looking for the trail back for some time. With no luck. We must have been miles off. Every tree, every bush, branch, fern. They all looked the same. “Just suck up your pride and pull out the compass!” I yelled over the wind. It grew colder. Dampness clung to my skin as it blew.

  “I know, but this makes no sense. We were twenty paces from the trail. So how?” She held her hair back. the wind attempted to knot it.

  “Don’t know, don’t care. Compass, now!”

  She gave a huff and settled her bag down. She groaned and scoured her bag. As she wrestled around more her frustration grew.

  “I thought you checked the weather. No storms! What is this?!?” Emily began to throw out random things.

  “Oh yeah, blame me. You’re the superstitious one. Are you sure we didn’t anger some ghosts or shit!” I retorted with sarcasm. Seeing her anger, I dropped my bag and began searching too.

  “This place is a joke. Nothing happened. Except for that weird fox.” She huffed again and tossed the bag aside. Its contents spilling out.

  “The… fox…” I groaned.

  “What Charles, what?” She gave me that looked. The scorn in waiting.

  “I found your bag and,” I paused realizing my stupidity. “The fox… I thought it was just looking for food. It must have grabbed the compass.” I sighed and picked up her belongings.

  The wind howled. Again, I looked up. Her eyes, I won’t forget… I can’t. She looked through me. An apparition to her fear. I felt it… the blood lust… it came from behind. I didn’t turn. I didn’t run. I simply got up and kept eye contact with Emily. It didn’t matter if I did. Her eyes told me the truth. They darted left, shook, widened. Her mouth uttered empty as she tried to grip her shaking hand.

  “B-blue…blue…coyote.” The only words that crossed her trembling lips.

  There was a snap. I turned. No words, just mouth gapped for the thing that stood before us. Indeed it was a coyote. However, larger than any I had seen. The slick fur, white and peppered brown. Its fangs dripped as it snarled at me. But its eyes, those wicked eyes. So blue…so…human. They struck a blow as the body crept forward.

  “Skinchanger?” I asked like an idiot.

  “God, I hope not. Too real. Too much!” She stood froze as I eased back.

  A stick, log. Anything! I scanned slowly as it crept forward.

  Without a second to think it was on me! Its paw firm on my chest. The only thing saving me was a flimsy backpack. The fangs sunk and tossed the bag like a rag doll. My arm pulled along. It tore and burned as the blue-eyed spirit took what it wished. The pain came fast and sharp. My arm lay limp and twisted around. I only had mere seconds to gaze into its eyes. Knowing what it would do next, I closed mine.

  The pain lifted as a hard thud cleared the coyote and released my chest. I heard the whimper as I was pulled from the ground and embraced. I opened my eyes. My body in shock, I did nothing as Emily held me in a warm embrace. She didn’t smile she only looked on in horror. I too did the same thing.

  The coyote. Everything I believed was torn asunder as I watched. The grotesque form of flesh shifted and morphed. Bone and flesh were indistinct from one another. Hair and eyes formed. Reddish tuffs outlined the molting thing. It shrunk and planted itself. Those eyes. Those dammed blue eyes! They stared right through my soul! The fox smiled horrifyingly. Its fangs a mess as they crawled about, still find their homes.

  The message was received. It knew. We knew. It turned and walked off.

  “Sk-skin.” Emily and I were both in shock. The winds howled more. We knew what that was a warning. No words were necessary. Only idle threats.

  If only we had listened. If we knew what the true intent was…maybe-maybe then.

  The sun dipped; little light was left. I braced myself, a branch between my teeth. Emily held my limp arm and plunged it back in to place with a pop! I gritted my teeth, surely broke one, from the pain, but it was over and so was the day.

  The sun sank as we sat there. soon enough, only blackness remained. Even the winds died, leaving only the light snowfall that impatiently covered the landscape.

  Still, we sat. Unsure. What did this mean? I questioned not only the situation, but the world and my beliefs, or their nonexistence of.

  “We need to move. I fear what that thing will do if we linger.” Emily broke the silence.

  It mattered little what she said. At that moment, I cared only to leave, find a church…

  “Charles…”

  The snow, the call. It was all I heard. For some time, they were the only thing. The flakes collecting and spilling on the forest floor. The creak of ice forming. I heard it.

  “Charrrrles.”

  Its eyes stained my mind. Memories, ideas, beliefs. I questioned all of them.

  “Charles.” It called me.

  “Charles…” It played coy with my name. Tempting me.

  I was shaken from my thoughts by Emily. The haze disappeared and I looked up. Her headlight gleamed in my eyes.

  “Did you hear me? We need to leave. Head… that way.” She pointed, what direction I didn’t know. The clouds stole the moon and its light.

  “Yeah…yeah. Lets-”

  A cawing of a crow filled the air. In the ambiance, it rang loud. Three times it sounded and silenced followed. We stood still, waited. I swear, I could see the blue eye perch upon a tree. I tried not to think about instead I inhaled deep and held. Moments later the caw sounded again. Three times. And once more the cawing stopped and silence returned. Emily looked back at me and smiled reassuringly.

  “Let’s just hope we don’t see six.” Emily proclaimed helping me out of the sheeted ground.

  “Why?”

  “Because six crows mean death. According to some cultures.”

  “Lovely.” I looked at the forest. Its blackness a gullet for all my regret… and it greedily devoured.

  We made haste in the direction she chose. I followed. Still, snow fell. It melted and made the ground slick as we trekked across. In places, the snow piled as it could. The pines held what heat they retained. But soon enough even that faded. The jackets we wore weren’t meant for such wet weather. They were soaked through in no time.

  “Charles.”

  I turned back seeing only the void. The snow barely adding a glimmer of light. It coned and dragged me. It called… something.

  There was a rustle in the trees. My heart leaped. We both turned. To our surprise, and our relief, it was only a deer. Brought out by the snowfall. Its antlers catching the white fall, blending in with it. we let loose our breath too soon. The stag turned meeting our gaze.

  Blue eyes.

  Blue eyes!

  Whatever creature this was, it acted normal, licking at some moss on a tree and retreated in the blackness.

  “It’s testing us, right?”

  “I can’t say, love. Just stay close. How’s your arm?”

  “Hmm.” I looked at the thing. “Useless, and painful, but bearable.” I touched the swollen area. If it was the adrenalin or the cold I didn’t know, but something numbed the pain. “Do you have any painkillers?”

  “Here take this.” She tossed a bottle at me. I gladly took more than the bottle suggested. A hard swallow, but I managed it.

  I wasn’t paying much attention; I was more focused on the area around us. So, I didn’t know I fell into her until I felt the cold stiff shuddered.

  “Charles…”

  The piles added, and with it, ambient light was given, if only just. It was hard not to look back. I tried my best to focus on the area ahead, an abyss greeted me.

  “Loves, take a look at this.” I dared not, but she handed me a headlight despite my protest.

  “What is this? How has this gone undiscovered?”

  What we stared at made little sense. The snow fell heavier, fast. The tree line more than visible. But for unknown reasons. Which we should have guessed at, the area ahead was excluded from the snow. Despite its open area and lacking trees.

  Large rocks were arranged in circles and half-moons. Lines cut through them like spear or arrows. At the meeting point of each, a small stone tipi sat vacantly. We both gazed enamored with the stone creation. It felt…hungry. What was I saying; the whole place was starved.

  We walked carefully among the standing stones. They grabbed at our legs. The pattern was strange and the air was warm here, dry. The snow dared not touch the circle. We made slow progress. Time seemed frozen here. We made sure to stay together.

  Something black ruffled out of the corner of my eye. The action alone set me on edge. I poked Emily, and we turned our headlights on to the subject.

  Golden eyes pierced our souls. A whisp of black, and we followed. Like smoke, it drifted to another tipi.

  “Is it just a crow?” she asked.

  “How should I know, I trust nothing here. Less so the animals.”

  It peered at us. A smile in its eyes. it began to peck at the rock. We drew in. As we did, it chirped. Begging us to.

  Three caws sounded and we jumped back startled; for it did not come from the crow in front of us, but above.

  A flash of black darted in front of us. The honey eyes vanished in smoke as the other landed atop the tipi. We stepped even further back.

  Blue eyes…

  It paid us no heed but jetted into the air. Again three caws sounded. Then silence grew. We stood startled, taken a moment to replay. Did the other crow just turn into a fog? I was so caught in my own mind that I hardly notice Emily lurking over the stone.

  “Don’t touch it!” I yelled at Emily near uncontrollably and snatched her hand.

  “Why not? It's just a rock.”

  “Really? Just a rock? This place isn’t touched by snow, the air is different. And a bird just vanished into thin air. Even I feel the danger of this.”

  “Yes, your right, death clings to this place. It’s as if the ground is still fresh with blood. If I recall the Ute tribe had circles like these.” She pulled her hand away and scanned the area. “The tipis are homes for spirits of the dead and whatnot.”