Dark Hill

"As you now know, Dark Hill is within easy walking distance of Dunland. Some people get it into their minds to hike up into those woods, but none return the same. There are strange things in those woods that lure even the strongest willed person into the dark heart of the forest, where ancient things dwell. There in the darkness of the forest they work their will upon humankind and no one remains unchanged once they have felt their touch.

"Some may say that Dark Hill is an evil place, while those who accept the darkness enjoy pleasures beyond imagining. There are strange things in the forest around here and the unsuspecting may be lured by them into marvelous adventures of the most decadent kind. Be warned my friends that you are now in the heart of an ancient realm, which seeks only to convert mankind to the old ways."

As Fred finished his short story we sat there expecting him to continue and detail the horrors of the forest. However, Fred sat back evidently satisfied that his story had come to its end. We politely clapped our hands when we were sure that Fred had ended his tale.

"You know," Carla spoke, "what Fred has told you is true. We didn't believe it either when we first got here, but since then we have found out different. Most of the people in Dunland have been up to Dark Hill and none of them have left unchanged. So, if you want to remain as you are don't you dare go to Dark Hill, but if you feel you want to expand your horizons, that place will do it for the two of you."

"That was a little different than your usual run of the mill ghost story," laughed Beth. "Imagine us camping next to a haunted hill. Maybe we should go ghost hunting tomorrow?"

"I don't know," I smiled at her, "the local boogieman seems a bit too much for my tastes."

"What did you think of Fred's story?" asked Beth after our guest had departed and we lay in bed in our trailer. "It was awfully short, but both he and Carla seemed like the whole thing was dead serious."

"That is the mark of true storytelling," I replied. "Carla was playing along with her husband to enhance his tale. When a story, especially a spooky story, seems real, it heightens the overall impact. I think the whole thing was a spur of the moment story, which was why it was so short. Fred took a real life location and added fantasy to it."

"But don't you think it is really odd that no sunlight gets through onto that hill?"

"Not really," I answered her, "it is the mark of good story telling to blend fact with fiction. In this case it is a shadowy hill, but Fred could have gone on to tell us a bit more of the horror side of things. You know, the part about the deaths was a bit lame, and he could have added something about people going insane or the like."

"Maybe we should take a walk to Dark Hill and check it all out for ourselves," laughed Beth. "Who knows? We might find Bigfoot waiting to take us."

"I don't think I'm ready for Bigfoot work his way with me," I echoed her laughter, "and I'm sure I don't want him to have you."

We then turned out the lights and fell to sleep. The next morning, while I was chopping firewood for the coming night, a short, elderly and very skinny man approached me. I stopped my work and faced the fellow.

"I am James Z. Wentworth," the man introduced himself with a smile and an extended hand. I shook his hand and he went on to speak, "I preach the gospel to the people here at Dunland. I try to save as many souls as possible, while that sometimes is not an easy task. Don't worry I have not come here to preach to you. I can see you are not like the others in this campground. I have only come to introduce myself and to bring a warning."

"And what is that warning?" I asked expecting the man to launch into a fire and brimstone sermon. "My wife and I already belong to a church."

"I suspected that and don't worry I'm not trying to convert you," he explained with dead seriousness. "No, my warning is only to caution you from visiting a certain area around here by the name of Dark Hill."

"Okay," I broke into laughter, "now I know why you are here! Fred put you up to this whole thing didn't he? He told us the shortest, most fanciful story I have ever heard. Now you are here to tell me the whole thing was real, right?"

"I assure you that no one sent me," the man frowned, "there are people here that are not to be trusted. I have only your own welfare at heart. Believe me when I say to you that Dark Hill is a place you should avoid as if it were a plague."

"Thank you for your warning Mr. Wentworth," I smiled at the man, "but I have a lot of wood to split. If I'm in need of your services, I know where to turn, and make sure to tell Fred that it was a nice try."

"I am sure that I don't know what you are talking about," the strange little man said, "I am here only to help you. Please, listen and take to heart my warning. There are places in this world where ancient evils have survived and the old dark ways lie heavy upon the land. One of those places lurks not far from here and you will do well not to tread upon Dark Hill. I will leave you now but if you have need of me I reside at camp three. Feel free to seek me out at anytime, day or night when you think I can be of service to you."

With that the man turned and walked off not waiting for me to reply. I watched him walk away laughing silently at the lengths Fred would go to try and reinforce his feeble ghost story of the previous night. I had to concede that Fred had found himself a great actor for the self proclaimed preacher seemed truly sincere in his warning. I soon turned my attention back to my wood making efforts making a mental note to tell Beth about the entire episode when I finished.

It was a short time later when I saw three trailers pull into the two vacant camps next to ours. I finished up my work and went into our trailer tell Beth about the arrival of our new neighbors and my encounter with the so called resident preacher.

"That Fred," she laughed when I told her about Mr. Wentworth, "do you suppose he really thought that you would fall for something like that?"

"I don't know," I answered, "but it is good for a laugh. When I see him next I'm going to rub it in that I'm not about to fall for something as foolish as a see through preaching man. I guess that guy will go any lengths to embellish one of his tales.

"However, I do have something of real interest to report. The two camps next to ours are now occupied by three first class rigs. The people seem to be a fairly well off. I think that maybe I should go over and introduce myself. What do you think?"

"I think that would be a good idea," responded Beth. "In fact, I think I'll go with you. Why don't we go right now?"

"Fine with me," I told her. "Let's go and greet the new people on the block."

We left our trailer and walked over to the next camp where the newcomers were still arranging their camps. I waved at the group as we approached and everyone that saw me waved back with smiles on their faces. I came closer and one of the men came closer and extended his hand to me.

"Hi, I'm Taylor Hastings," the man said, "I take it that you are our next door neighbors."

"I'm Ted Howard and this is my wife Beth," I shook the man's hand. "We saw you moving in and decided to come over and introduce ourselves."

"Glad to meet you and you too, Beth," he shook my wife's hand and turned to yell at the rest of the camp. Soon a woman and two other couples gathered around us. "Let me introduce you to the rest of our party. First, and foremost, is my lovely wife Ann. Coming up behind her is Jen Tailor and her husband Ed and these other two relegated to the far camp are Ben and Claire Wilson."

A flurry of handshaking took place as Beth and I greeted each person. Ted explained he and the other male members of the party were all managers at a local lumber mill. He explained that they and their wives would all set time aside from work to escape for a few days to the nearest campground. Everyone invited us back that evening for a sit around the campfire and Beth and I eagerly agreed. The introductions over, we made our way back to our own trailer, where we sat down and had a beer.

"Well," I asked, "what do you think of our new people?"

"They don't seem much like the permanent people living around here. They seem like professional people out on a holiday. I think I like them, but it is too early to make judgments like that."

"I guess we will find out what kind of people they are tonight. They sure seem to be a bit more refined than the other people we have met here. Not that I'm saying that I don't like Fred and Clara, they are great. I know that couple is down on their luck and I wish we could help them. Still and all, we need to meet and greet as many new people as we can and who knows, maybe we will be able to help out Fred and Clara by getting to know these people. I mean, a lumber mill must need new people all the time and if we can put in a few good words, it just might be enough to get Fred a job where he can afford to get out of this place."

"I don't know," replied Beth, "just remember that these people are on holiday and trying to relax. Don't press anything too hard. We don't even know if Fred would want to work at a mill."

"Okay, you're right. I'll just gently sound out things and see where everything goes from there. At any rate, let's go out and have ourselves a good time tonight."

We did have a good time that night and found that we had many things in common with the other couples. That night as we sat around the campfire the others explained that they had been coming out to Dunland for several years whenever they could get away from work. Sometime during the evening I asked about Dark Hill.

"Dark Hill is a local legend," Ben Wilson spoke up, "but don't put too much credence into anything you might hear about it. It is a dark and spooky place, but there is nothing there but shadows. I've been there and found nothing to fear."

"I wouldn't go up there," Claire his wife spoke out, "that place is just too creepy for me."

"I've been there," Jen Taylor responded, "and I tell you first hand that Dark Hill holds no terrors. In fact, why don't we all plan to go up there tomorrow? It is dark and a little bit spooky, but all those tall tales are just things out of people's wild imaginations."

"No way," replied Ann Howard, "it is just too creepy. I've been hearing about Dark Hill since I've come here and nothing I've heard is good."

"I wandered up there one time, and it was just like Ben said," Ed spoke up, "just full of dark shadows. I'm with Jen, why don't we all go up there tomorrow and have a look at the place? I'm sure the boogieman won't get us."

"I'd like to have a look at the place," Beth admitted. "One of the residents of the camp told us tall tale last night about the terrible history of the hill. I wouldn't mind having a look myself. I wouldn't want to there by myself, but if we go as a group we might even have a picnic. The redwoods around here are very impressive and I'd like to see where they grow so close they block out the sun."

"Most of what you see," explained Ben, "is second growth redwood. Most of the old growth trees were cut down long ago. Those trees you see growing near the road are all second growth, but just beyond them stand a good sized stand of the old trees. Take my word for it, they are big, big trees, which make everything you see around here look tiny by comparison. Dark Hill and the land for miles around it are part of a state protected forest. The trees there have stood for thousands of years and will stand for long years to come."

"To tell you the truth, I wouldn't mind seeing some of those giants," I said. "I'd like to get some photos of them to show the people back home."

"I don't want to be a wet blanket. I guess if everyone agrees to go," Claire spoke up, "then, I'll go too."

"Okay," Ann said shaking her head, "I still think the place is somewhere to stay away from, but if everyone goes, I won't stay behind as long as everyone agrees to stay together as a group. No one had better wander away from the group or I'll head back to camp."

"Sounds like a done deal then," Taylor said as he tossed a piece of wood on the fire. "We'll pack up some food and drink and head out tomorrow morning around ten. We will put the old myths to rest and show our new friends some real woods."

With everyone in agreement it was decided that the next morning we would laugh at the terrors of Dark Hill and have a picnic beneath the shadows of the great trees. Everyone agreed to bring something for the picnic. Ed and Jen said they would bring several bottles of wine, explaining that the county not only had forests but plenty of local wineries, which produced excellent vintages. The rest of us said that we would supply the food.

After everything was decided we talked for a couple of hours before finally heading back to our own rigs for a good night's rest before our coming adventure. When we were back in our trailer Beth and I talked for a short while about our opinions about our new friends. We both agreed that we liked everyone and that they seemed like very nice people.

Beth was up before me the next day and I awoke to find her hard at work preparing for the upcoming picnic. Out of our supplies she had pulled salami, two kinds of cheese, green onions and a loaf of sourdough French bread. She turned and smiled at me when she heard me coming up behind her. I kissed her and she waved at the food sitting on the counter.

"So, what else can we bring?"

"Well," I answered, "I think we could toss in a few pickles and some of those olives we have. I only hope that everyone doesn't decide to bring the same stuff."

"If they do," laughed Beth, "so much the better. I like this type of food. It is great fare for a picnic."

We quickly had breakfast before packing away our contribution to the picnic into a backpack. Right at ten o'clock I put on the pack and we left the trailer to find the rest of our party already assembled at their encampment. With Taylor taking the lead we began our hike to Dark Hill. It took us about an hour and a half to reach the hill. During the walk I was impressed by the forest we passed through, but Ben assured me that what I was looking at was nothing compared to what we were about to see.

At the base of the hill the trees grew ever denser and ever larger. Taylor told us that we would enter the ancient part of the forest and that the road was over a mile away to our right. As we began our climb of the hill we saw might trees growing fifteen feet in diameter and more. The tops of those trees were lost in a dense tangle of limbs, which blocked the light of the sun from reaching the ground. We were moving through a land of shadows.

"Spooky place," I whispered to Beth as we climbed the hill.

"Yes, there is a feeling about this place that sends shivers down my spine. Maybe coming here wasn't such a good idea."

"Won't be long now," Taylor spoke out, "we are almost to the top and there we will find a space to have our picnic."

He was right and before long we arrived at the top of the hill where we found an area some forty feet wide where we started setting up things for our meal. The area was shrouded in shadows as the limbs of the giant trees came together to create a canopy, which blocked the sun from view. While we placed our blankets upon the ground and brought out the food and drink, I couldn't help feeling ill at ease. My eyes kept resting upon a large table like rock, which sat in the center of the area.

"Why don't we put some of our things on that rock," Ann asked, "it looks like about the right size for a table. We could use it to cut up the bread and other things."

"No," Taylor said emphatically, "that is not to be used as a table, it is for something else."

"What is it for," Ann asked, "it seems like the perfect thing for us."

"You'll see in a bit," laughed Taylor, "but for now let's make do with what we have set down."

"I don't like that rock," Claire said, "it doesn't look so much like a table to me as it does some kind of altar where sacrifices were offered up to forbidden gods."

"That's just too weird, Claire," Ann nervously laughed. "I have to admit this place is weird but not that weird."

We all sat down on the blankets and began to eat. Jen and Ed brought out the wine and plastic goblets. After we had drained a few glasses of their vintage wine we felt that the shadows held no more fear for us. An inner glow filled us with warmth, which the twilight could not dampen. Soon we were laughing and trading stories about everything from work to our children. When most of the food was gone a few of our group started wandering off into the woods to explore the area. As the day progressed I felt the call of nature, caused by the wine I had been drinking and excused myself to find a sheltered area where I could relieve myself. There was not a lot of underbrush close at hand. Evidently the lack of light caused by the great trees prevented the growth of lesser vegetation at ground level.

After several minutes I found a sheltered spot, behind a large fallen tree, where I felt safe to allow nature to take its course. Once I had emptied my bladder I turned to retrace my way back to the picnic. I had only gotten part of the way back when I saw Taylor and Jen walking hand in hand through the woods. They were looking back in the way of the picnic and their body language indicated that they did want to be seen. I pulled myself back a little, so as not to intrude upon them, and hid behind one of the trees.

The couple moved over to where they stood before one of the smaller fallen trees and kissed passionately. Jen fell to her knees as she undid and pulled down Taylor's pants to reveal his semi-erect cock. She opened her mouth wide and took his member into her mouth sucking upon it until it stood fully hard.

"Jen," gasped Taylor as the woman sucked upon his manhood, "I've been waiting for this for a long time."

"I have too," Jen pulled his cock from her mouth and looked longingly up at his face, "but we have to hurry. Some of the others might come this way. Ted went off somewhere to pee and maybe some of the others will want to take a walk or something."

"Don't worry about a thing," replied Taylor as he pushed his cock back into the woman's mouth," before the day is done we will have them all indoctrinated into the wonders of Dark Hill. Let us enjoy this moment before we lead them all into the sensual world. We have been waiting to bring the other wives into this for a long time and we have the new couple here to join us and expand our group. So let's take this moment before we enfold the others into the darkness."

I wanted to move away and go back to the picnic, but for some reason I could not help myself from watching as Jen pulled herself away from sucking Taylor's cock to stand and pull her pants down before lying, belly down over the fallen long. Taylor moved over to her and rubbed her exposed pussy before aligning his rigid cock at the entrance to her vagina. Taylor grasped Jen's hips and shoved his shaft into the woman's waiting sex. I watched in amazement as Taylor's cock pushed forward burying itself into Jen's body.

I felt that I had seen enough and made my way unseen through the trees to find the area where we were having our picnic. Although I had been only gone a few minutes the scene at the picnic had changed dramatically. Everyone was sitting around on the blankets stark naked. My wife is, by nature, a shy lady and in her right mind would never consider taking off her clothes in front of other people. I felt a chill flow through my body as I realized Beth and I were in serious trouble. As I came into the area they waved at me and shouted their greetings. Coming up on the party I saw their eyes had a glassy glow, which must have come from something more powerful than the wine they had been drinking.