Autumn Lawson
Stories (6/0)
The Cabin
The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window. Unknowing of the danger that candle brought to them. Deep in the Adirondack Mountains, a group of four friends went on a trip to get away from the bustle of The Big Apple. Erica found the idea to go hiking and camp for Memorial Day, since the group had four days off work. After some extensive google searching she came across a nice secluded camping area. It was decided quickly this was the place for them to go. Erica, her husband Mike and Angie from the marketing division with her husband Derek. Mike worked with Erica in accounting, they actually met here, freshly out of college and hired together. Angie was hired shortly after Erica and Mike, she is a peppy and outgoing person but reminds Erica of your basic hippie. Not that it’s an issue with her, Erica genuinely enjoys having Angie around. Erica and Mike have never met Derek though, so they have no idea what to expect of him. Angie describes him as “her twin, but in guy form”.
By Autumn Lawson2 years ago in Fiction
Journal of the First Dragon
Prolouge: There weren’t always dragons in the valley. They’d always stayed in the mountains, far away from the kingdom below. Most people in town thought they were a myth, something the Elders used to keep their teenagers home and to set a strict curfew for everyone. After dark there was nobody on the streets, rarely you would see someone outside their house out of fear for something they didn't know existed. The last account of seeing a Dragon was over 50 years ago, and it is believed to be slain. At least, that’s what the records say. It wasn’t long ago I believed it as well, but one spring morning last year that all changed. Hell, my whole life changed. I was on a walk in the forest, very early. The mist was still rising away, leaving heavy dew drops on all the leaves. It was almost raining from the foliage dripping. I love walking that early, it's quiet and peaceful. It leaves me with such a strong sense of calm and energy when I do, you can feel the life in all the trees and the grass beneath me. Which is why it struck me as odd. I had that feeling of dread on me that morning. I walked the same path I usually do, but somehow I felt out of place. Out of touch with the life around me so I decided to switch up the direction to see if the energy was just stagnant and I needed something different today. I started to feel a little better until I came down the other side of the hill, that's when I saw a giant egg, its mother (I presume) guarding it. She lay down beside the egg, with her tail as large as a house wrapped around her baby while she slept in the cover of the shade of the canopy of trees above them. This egg was about the size of a horse, I couldn't believe what I was seeing! The mother looked at me, but seeing I was no threat to her she just showed her teeth and put her head to her Tail, completing the circle of Momma around the baby. I could see the mom was injured, something had cut her by her wings, and why would she abandon her nest before the baby had hatched. By the look of the very thin shell it looked like the dragon would come out any day. You could see the small outline of the dragon inside, the purple coloring of the egg starting to turn translucent. I don’t know why but I felt I needed to help the dragon, unsure if she would let me or not. It was terrifying but I approached her with my satchel of herbs and random creams I carry at all times. The dragon didn't seem to mind too much until I started to clean her wound. She thrashed her head around to try and shake me off, but I said to her “hold on.. Hold still.. I'm just cleaning it or it won't heal… “ or something like that so I could finish what I started. I got her cleaned up and gave her some ointment that should make her heal pretty quickly, when the egg started to hatch. I stepped back because I didn't want the mother to get protective, but she didn't move. She just laid her head on the ground while the baby dragon fought its way through the egg.
By Autumn Lawson2 years ago in Fiction
Suburban Zombies
Seven years ago, which now seems like a lifetime, everything was different. The birds would sing their songs in the morning as I got around for school. I would go downstairs, kiss my mother on her cheek and grab some food for the bus. We would say goodbye for the day with a “See ya later alligator!” and “Not for a while Crocodile!” Our goofy exchange resulted in a giggle from both of us. My mom worked in a big science facility, what exactly she did was confidential. But, I knew it was important. She would leave shortly after I did in the mornings, but most nights she wouldn't be home until after my elder sister and I were in bed. Our Dad worked for the local police department on the night shift, so he would be leaving shortly after dinner and sleeping while we were at school. Everybody’s schedules were so scattered, but we still had the weekends for family time. Family time usually amounted to us helping mom in the garden, or learning “survival skills '' in the woods with dad. Amanda is two years older than me, so she was just about to graduate high school and she planned to move to California in a few months for college. She really made me want to go there too, but I think that was just so we wouldn't be so far away.
By Autumn Lawson3 years ago in Fiction
The Dream
It’s another warm summer evening in South Carolina, the little town of Melvin, that has about four thousand people in it, is on it’s way to being shut down for the evening. Everything, including the two gas stations close by 9 p.m. and most of the residents are home by 5. The sun is setting as I myself am on my way home from a long day at the Aquarium I work at. I’m an Aquarist, meaning I make sure all the specimens are well cared for. I mostly just direct my coworkers for their daily duties, fill out a lot of paperwork, not so much of cleaning tanks and habitats anymore. The Aquarium sits on the edge of the bay on Hilton Head Island, a wide horizon to the east, and the rest of South Carolina to the west. I enjoy “Island Life” but everyone always seems a little too pampered. There’s always kids that apply as janitorial staff in the summer, but I’m always having to walk around behind them and remind them to clean things. I have a good reliable staff that are here year round, but the seasonal workers are a different story. My house is a small cottage in a little cul de sac where most of the people who work in town reside. It’s about a twenty minute commute, not bad considering this is a huge tourist town. Melvin is our little slice of peace away from the strangers we see all day. Sometimes there will be people you remember, but usually, nobody bothers to talk to the employees if they don’t have to.
By Autumn Lawson3 years ago in Horror
Inside the Mirror
I wake in a cold sweat, jumping up from where I'm laying. Looking around, this is not my bed. This is not my house, where the hell am I?! I look around to take in my surroundings, I'm in the woods. Deep in the woods by the looks of it, but how? I don’t even live near the woods, I'm about fifty miles from the closest hiking trail, let alone a forest. I look around confused for a few minutes before I decide I probably shouldn't keep sitting on the ground, but where am I going to go? I don't even know where I am.. I hear birds chirping in the distance, I feel the breeze between the trees. I’m washed with a sense of calm, as weird as it seems. Perfect balance of sound and fresh air, I feel like it's cleaning my soul. I looked around where I was laying, looking for some evidence of someone bringing me here, looking for my phone or a cigarette and lighter at least. I find nothing, and search my pockets, hoping there's some clue as to how this happened, but I’m at a loss. Behind me I hear the leaves on the ground rustle, sounding like footsteps. I whip my head around to find a small wooden box, the size of a little jewelry box.
By Autumn Lawson3 years ago in Horror
The first date
I arrive at my sister's house for her birthday, I can already hear her music from a half mile away. She’s turning thirty and of course she's gotta go all out for it. I'm ready for some fun, I suppose but i don't know any of her friends. Hopefully it won't turn into me standing alone all night while she gallivanting through the party. She greets me with a squeal and a hug, looking like she's already had about four drinks tonight. I’m equally excited to see her but anxious about all the people, I try to keep it off my mind so she can enjoy my company. I scan the room, looking for someone else I know, that way I can mingle back if Ashley drifts off. Ashley pulls me to the side, to whisper to me quickly she says there is someone new she works with that she wants me to meet.. I look at her in disbelief, surprised at the thought of her trying to set me up. It’s been a while since I’ve gone on a date, but i didn't think it was long enough that my older sister would fix me up with someone. Curious, I ask about the person and she shows me his social media account and I decide to send a message, I mean why not? I try to be patient and wait for a reply, and spend the rest of my night chasing after my sister.
By Autumn Lawson3 years ago in Horror