Roseton

Little paws pitter pattered on the floor. Then there was a hop on the bed. Skylar could feel the mattress move as Viola walked over to her. A soft little paw hit her shoulder followed by a little bark.

“Okay baby girl I’m awake.” Said Skylar as she pet her tiny companion. “I know you want to go out, let mama get dressed okay?” Skylar continued, Viola looked at her she understood. This was the morning drill. Skylar quickly got dressed and followed an excited Viola down the stairs. Once Viola’s leash was hooked to her harness the two set out for their morning walk.

It was a brisk autumn morning, it was actually perfect walking weather in Skylar’s opinion. Viola quickly pulled Skylar along, only stopping to sniff and occasionally pee on something. Viola was on a mission to find the perfect spot to go to the bathroom; like all dogs this was not to be rushed. Usually they walked about an eighth of a mile down the street and Viola pops a squat by the Henderson’s house. Which always made Skylar laugh since the Henderson’s weren’t the nicest of people. She sometimes imagined just leaving Viola’s poop on their walkway and hoped one of them would step in it. She knew better though; one it’s not cool to not clean up after your dog and two they probably had cameras. The Henderson’s were definitely those type of neighbors. So as usual she took her little baggy and cleaned up after Viola.

The walk back home was always calmer and more relaxed. Viola still liked to sniff stuff but she wasn’t in such a hurry. The cool breeze felt refreshing as it whisked across Skylar’s cheek. The two passed an occasional neighbor getting ready to leave for work, jogging or walking their own dog. It was a pretty quiet morning though. They were about two houses down from theirs when Skylar saw something really weird. This bright green flash just lit up the sky. It only lasted a few seconds but it was bright. Skylar stopped dead in tracks. She looked around to see if anyone else noticed it. Alice Hayes was in her garden, she had to of seen thought Skylar.

“Hey Alice did you just see that?” asked Skylar excitedly

“Oh yeah, a little bit of lightening I suspect.” Answered Alice without even looking up from her broccoli plant.

“I don’t think so. It was like a greenish color. It looked more like a green light across the sky. I’ve never seen lightening like that before.” Replied Skylar. She was a little bit annoyed that Alice seemed to be completely uninterested in this weird thing that just lit up the sky.

Alice finally looked up. “Oh Skylar. Don’t go getting all crazy about it. Next I’ll see you storming Area 51.” Alice said with a chuckle.

Skylar could tell she was getting no help from Alice. “You’re right. Hope you have a good morning.” Skylar said while feigning a smile and heading home. Alice waived and went right back to working on her vegetable garden.

Skylar knew this was no lightning bolt. This was a bright green light, not some streak. She knew what she saw. Skylar figured there was no way she was the only person that saw this. After unhooking Viola she quickly jumped on her phone and looked on social media. If this was something, people were definitely posting about it. However, to Skylar’s dismay there really wasn’t anything about it. She was really baffled, was it really nothing? Did just see lightening?

All day this irked her. Even at work she casually mentioned it to coworkers, knowing some lived not too far from her. Skylar was careful to phrase it as lightening rather than a green light, but no one seemed to see it or even care. She was really beginning to wonder if maybe she even saw anything.

“Psst…Skylar.” Skylar quickly turned around to see her coworker Andy sitting at the empty desk behind her.

“What?”

“I’ve never seen it, but I’ve heard of what you mentioned earlier.” Replied Andy. Skylar moved her chair closer. “It’s not a lightning bolt either, but I’m pretty sure you know that.”

“Yeah it was a bright green light. It lit up the sky for like a few seconds and then it was gone.” Skylar was intrigued. “How do you know about it, if you’ve never seen it?”

“Forums. I’m a bit of a paranormal junkie.” Andy said proudly. Skylar rolled her eyes. “No! I’m serious. People have discussed this. Not like seeing it somewhere else, but seeing it in the sky in Roseton specifically.” Okay Skylar had to admit she was interested, even it was some garbage from a weird forum at least somebody else believed she saw something.

“People claim that on the third Tuesday of every month a green light flashes across the sky in Roseton and that the origin is from the old cemetery located at the top of Hampton’s hiking route.”

“What? That’s weird. I’ve lived in Roseton for quite a while and I walk my dog every morning and I never seen this before.” Replied Skylar a little let down.

“That’s all I know, not too much on it. Figured I’d let you know. Need to head back to my desk. I can hear the boss.” With that Andy got up and casually walked back to his desk like they just spoke about the weather.

Skylar’s few seconds of excitement crashed pretty fast. Andy was probably full of crap. She imagined he would get a good laugh thinking about her hiking up only to find him holding a green lamp or something. He would enjoy a good prank like that.

On her way home Skylar just felt defeated. She felt like she wasted this whole day on nothing. When she got home Viola ran to greet her. “I love you too.” She said petting an excited Viola. “Okay let’s go out.”

The two headed on their normal route. Viola once again popped a squat by the Henderson’s. She definitely didn’t think twice about cleaning up after her dog, she could see Barry Henderson watching her from the window. Skylar figured he probably was looking for a reason to call the cops this week since he didn’t get a chance yet, he loved calling the cops. The police never would say who it was, but everyone on the block knew it was him.

Once again their walk back home was peaceful, until flash! There it was! Skylar knew what she saw. It was a bright green light, no lightning bolt. This was not her imagination. She quickly brought Viola home and fed her. She paced back and forth in her kitchen. Skylar felt a little light headed and her heart beat was elevated. She was just so worked up.

Skylar sat down and thought about what Andy said. She knew she shouldn’t but her interest was piqued so throwing caution to wind Skylar decided to head up to Hampton’s Hike. She packed a quick bag and dressed for hiking in early fall at night. Hampton’s hiking entrance was about a ten minute drive from her house.

Skylar realized she had never actually visited this place before. Surprisingly she didn’t find it all that scary seeing that it was twilight, there was actually something really peaceful about it. Skylar didn’t let her guard down though, she knew anything could be lurking.

Before she knew it she could see the fence of the cemetery. The Cemetery was old, you could tell no one had been buried in it for quite some time. There was no locked gate or anything just an archway. It was pretty rusted but it said "Augustine’s", Skylar guessed that was the name of the graveyard.

There were tons of old headstones. Some appeared in better condition than others. Skylar carefully shined her flashlight around the area. Towards the back it looked like an old unkempt mausoleum. Now that was a bit creepy, she thought. Probably won’t get too close. Skylar felt disappointed. Other than some really macabre headstones, an ominous looking mausoleum and just the overall eerie feeling from a cemetery at night, there was absolutely nothing here that could explain the green light.

Not wanting the hike to be a total bust she decided to look at the some graves. Skylar walked up and down the rows. She saw some last names she recognized, she didn’t realize some families had been in Roseton for generations. Skylar was on the second to last row of headstones, when a name caught her eye. Henderson.

“Of course!” said Skylar. “If anyone has lived here for years it’s that family.” She shook her head and laughed. However then she spotted something. The full name on the grave was Evelyn Jean Henderson. And it read “Born June 3, 1767. Died April 16, 1822.” That’s odd, she didn’t realize Mrs. Henderson was named after an ancestor. Then Skylar got puzzled. She always assumed Henderson was Barry’s last name so why would she be named after someone from his family? Skylar quickly scanned the graves next to it and this only led to more questions. “Barry Arnold Henderson. Born January 19, 1766. Died April 16, 1822.” Followed by Mary Elizabeth Henderson, Walter George Henderson, Catherine Maria Henderson and Michael William Henderson, which were the names of the current living Henderson children. However, these graves all had birth and deaths from a hundred years ago. This totally freaked Skylar out, she knew that family was weird but this took the cake. Before leaving she looked at one more headstone. This one shocked her. “Andrew Henry Walters. Born March 16, 1878. Died May 9, 1908.”

“What Andrew Walter’s that was Andy’s name?” Skylar gasped, she was completely spooked and needed to leave now.

“Oh Skylar I knew you’d come.” Said a familiar voice from behind.

Skylar took a deep breath, “Andy you jerk!” shouted Skylar as she lunged towards him. Andy simply backed up and laughed.

“Don’t you get it? You’ve been chosen? You saw the light!” Andy said very theatrically. Skylar just stared at Andy. This joke was no longer funny and she was definitely not amused.

“Shut up! I don’t know what you are playing at but I’m done.” Skylar quickly turned around to walk towards the entrance but out of nowhere Andy appeared right in front of her. Skylar nearly tumbled backwards.

“I’m sorry but that’s not an option.” Andy said. Skylar was completely freaked out. She just realized Andy was probably going to murder her, that’s what this was. Some disgusting paranormal game he played with his victims. She couldn’t explain the green light but she knew that was part of it.

“You’re sick! I hope you rot in hell for this!” Skylar said as Andy grabbed her. His grip on her arm was so tight. No matter what she did nothing broke his grasp. Andy led a fighting Skylar towards to the sinister mausoleum. “Of course! You murder your victims in here and leave them never to be found!”

Andy stopped and lightened his grip on Skylar. “I’m not going to kill you. I’m going to do the opposite.” He said in an eerily calm tone. Skylar looked at him perplexed. “You passed. You saw the light literally.” He continued with a light chuckle. “Not everyone can see it, it’s a gift. Roseton is a very special place and it needs protecting.” Andy then pulled Skylar into the dim hallway of the mausoleum. “We are going downstairs. It’s much nicer down there.” Skylar could barely breath as she was lead down a windy dark staircase, she was terrified. “Ah c’mon Skylar you are going to love living forever.”