The Doctor is inn

The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window. Nikkie stood there, frozen and numb. The hairs on the back of her neck stood straight up. Chills ran through her body causing her to uncontrollably shake. She tried to scream, but all she could do was let out a quiet squeak. “Mooooom” she muttered out as a tear fell from her eyes. They were there, and she couldn’t leave.

In 1977 sisters Elaine and Sheryl were free, and ready to take on the world. Elaine was free from her husband, and ready to have a new beginning for her and her children. Sheryl was free from the walls of high school, and ready to live the free life as an adult. Two young women with a carefree attitude, and drive to accomplish anything they set their mind to, and nobody was going to tell them otherwise. Circling and crossing out various ads in the newspaper, Elaine found the one. “ 3 bedroom 2 Bath 2 story cabin for sale. Located on 5 acres, fenced in property, all utilities included. $350 a month. IMMEDIATE MOVE IN” This was an opportunity she could not pass up.

“SHERYL! GET YOUR BAG WE ARE LEAVING!” Elaine said as she was getting her children together and cleaning up the mess found in their motel room. Not that it made a difference, the room was destroyed regardless, but it was a roof over their head, and a hot shower.

They loaded up the van and headed to the address provided. “ Sheryl.” Elaine shouted over the roar of the road, and blasting of Fleetwood Mac, “Dreams”. She handed Sheryl the ad, “Look at this, it is perfect. Today we are getting a home!”

Sheryl went on to look at the ad, and had a heavy feeling in her stomach. A knot she couldn’t explain, but knew this could be the opportunity they have been looking for. She took a deep breath and slowly released it, “ Okay, let’s do this!” She yelled back as she glanced out the window and lit her cigarette. “ Let’s do this,” She whispered to herself.

After driving down a typical Oklahoma dirt road for 6 miles, A crooked sign stuck out, as a landmark to provide directions to the cabin. The turn was narrow and immediately turned into a small bridge crossing a stream. Venturing down the road, and passing through a metal gate the cabin came into site. An older man was sweeping the steps. He looked fraile and sickly. His clothes so big they were just draping over his bones. He turned with a scowl and dropped the broom stick.

“ GO AWAY!” he yelled.

“ THIS ISN’T FOR YOU!” He yelled as he approached their car.

Elaine skeptically rolled down her window, and held out the ad. “ We are here to rent the cabin. We have all the money and deposit right here in cash.”

The man’s eyes grew large, and he combed out his thinning hair with his hand, and licked his lips like he was in need of some water.

“ I am sorry, we keep getting trespassers trying to squat and doing God knows what. My name is George and I am the care taker.” George said, as he took the ad from Elaine. “ I will gladly show you around, and help you get everything situated.” Sheryl had a bigger knot in her stomach, and wanted to leave immediately. She knew there was something shady about this place, and even worse he was behind it.

Elaine gathered her children, and they headed to the door. The inside o f the cabin was not what they expected. A giant fireplace was in the corner of the living room right as you entered. The fireplace was so large you could almost step inside. The bottom of the fireplace and floor of the cabin were on the same level, and a hook was found inside, like they used it for their kettle or pot.. To the left of the door there was a full kitchen, with a wood burning stove. It had knobs for the electric usage as well. Double doors led you out of the cabin into a small nook with a spiral staircase. Up the stairs was a loft and two bedrooms. To the right of the entry way was a bathroom, closet, and bedroom. Elaine and Sheryl explored the cabin, opening doors and cabinets. “ Whose clothes are these?” Sheryl said as she opened the closet. Hanging there were fancy jackets and dresses inside dry cleaning bags. The name “ Slaughter” was on the pick up tag. “ Are these your wifes?” The man shuffled to Sheryl quickly,

“ Leave these alone. I will get a lock for this door. This closet is off limits. Don’t touch it until I pick them up.” He said with an uncertain scared tone. Sheryl and Elaine looked at each other with a confused look, and slowly continued to walk away acknowledging they will leave the clothes alone.

Upstairs they shouted down, “ WE WILL TAKE IT!”

George took their money and they signed the lease, leaving them with a key. He vanished before they could even get the bags out of the truck of the car.

“ I wonder how often we will see him around here.” Sheryl muttered to Elaine, as the uneasy pit in her stomach still mocked every move she made. “ As long as we can stay here, and make this our home, I do not care how often he is on the property. I look forward to him picking up those old clothes though!”

They unloaded the van, and reloaded everyone to make a run into town for food and supplies. While in town Elaine made a call to her friends, letting them know the address and told them to come over for a small get together. Bonfire, drinks, music, and fun is what they needed.

After arriving back at home they began setting up for the get together. Sheryl heard a car pull up and people talking loudly. “ THEY ARE HERE!” She yelled to Elaine. Elaine looked out the window up stairs, but didn’t see anyone. She came down stairs, “ Who is here? THere is nobody outside.”

Sheryl stopped what she was doing and turned to Elaine, “ THey are here I just heard them pull up, and were talking. Open the door, and stop smoking.” Sheryl turned back around and finished mixing the dip. Elaine rolled her eyes and opened the door. She was greeted with the darkness of the country, and flickers from the lightning bugs. The sounds of crickets in the background, and running water from the stream. “ SHERYL, NOBODY IS HERE. Like I said…..” Elaine said as she took another hit of her joint.

The knot in her stomach came back, and Sheryl did not want to be there any more. A half hour later Elaine's friends show up for the party. Beer, snacks, and a stereo went to the back near the self made fire pit. Elaine put the children to bed, and refreshed her hair and make up to join the party. She walked past the locked closet and jiggled the lock. “ He needs to get these clothes out of here, or I am going to wear them eventually” She said as she walked down the hall and out the door.

After a few hours everyone agreed it was time to call it a night. Elaine insisted she drove her friends home, and they could figure out how to get their car later. Elaine loaded everyone up, and left as Sheryl started to clean up inside the house.

The silence was eerie, and the feeling in her stomach never went away. She felt as though she was being watched, or hunted. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, and she instantly started feeling chills. As though a gust of wind from the arctic came blowing through the cabin. She couldn’t move, and a tear started to fall from her face.

Just as fast as the chills arrived, they left and she suddenly felt calm and warm. As though she came out of a trans. She ran to the children’s room to check on them, and they were both there sound asleep. Quietly closing the door, she stood there with her back to the door and took a deep breath. Exhaling, she heard the car pull up and doors close. “ Oh great.” she said with a sigh of relief. She wanted to have everyone just stay the night instead of driving to town. She went to the door and opened it, “ Thank Gooooooooo.” she stuttered as she saw a figure standing in front of her wearing a gorilla costume. She slammed the door shut, and yelled for her sister. She yelled, and yelled but nobody was coming. Tears rolling down her face she stood up and slowly looked out the window again. Nothing….nobody….just the flicker from the lightning bugs. “ WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!?” She screamed, holding her hands over her eyes.

Just then large flames shot out of the fireplace. Large enough to scorch the ceiling. The room started to become unbearably hot, the flames went out as soon as they retracted. Sheryl ran back to the children’s room, and sat their on the floor with her knees to her eyes. Rocking back and forth, praying “ Please surround us with the white light of the holy spirit. Protect us from evil.” Saying this on repeat she then heard foot step above her. Coming from her room. Hard sole foot steps, walking slowly across the ceiling. Then a loud cry of a baby followed by silence. She continued to stay in place, and pray. She eventually passed out on the floor and was woken up by Elaine. “ Sheryl, go to bed” she said patting her back. Sheryl opened her eyes and jumped up hugging her sister as tight as she could. “WE CAN’T STAY HERE, WE HAVE TO GO…..NOW” She ran across the cabin and up the stairs to get her things. Elaine followed her trying to get an idea of what was happening. Sheryl frantically told her everything that she had witnessed, as tears fell from her eyes. Elaine just stood there with a confused look on her face, and told Sheryl to calm down and take a break.

Elaine was able to convince Sheryl to wait until the morning, with the promise they will leave as soon as the children wake up. Together they said a protection prayer and light a white candle to place in the window near the door. Sheryl eventually past out again, and the night stayed quiet.

THe next morning Sheryl was loading the van right as the sun was rising. The candle was still burning, and the birds were beginning to wake up. Elaine came outside rubbing her eyes, confirming Sheryl still wanted to leave. She couldn’t understand why, and didn’t want to leave. She told Sheryl to take their friend’s car into town, and regroup. She told her to grab some breakfast for the children, and coffee for them.

Elaine didn’t want to leave. She had not heard or seen anything like Sheryl explained, and wasn't ready to rush back to the broken down motel with the little money they had left over. Sheryl on the other hand took Elaine up on the offer, and left for town. While in town she asked the waitress at the cafe about the cabin. The waitress then explained to her why nobody stays:

The Cabin was built in the 1937 by Dr. L. L. Slaughter, the first Black physician in Oklahoma City. Dr. Slaughter moved to Oklahoma in 1903 after graduating from college. Slaughter was a medical doctor, an entrepreneur, builder, architect, financer, and civic leader. He built the cabin for him and his wife to offer safe and secure abortions. Women would come to their cabin and stay for a few days. Stories say they would perform the surgery on the top floor and the women would rest in the beds, as the doctor’s wife took “care” of the fetus. Eventually his wife passed away, and the Doc just stayed in the cabin until he passed away.in 1952. After that the cabin was sold to a coven of women who secretly practiced witchcraft, trying to seek out bones buried in the ground for spells. Once the people in town found out about this, the bible thumpers stormed the property like the Salem witch hunt, and unfortunately the women all died. It sat for a long time, and several people have tried to buy it, but each time someone would buy the cabin, someone would also die there. Now old man George just maintains the property. He was on the Docs team and helped keep the property when they were alive. Nobody stays longer than a few days now, I hear it is haunted. Miss, are you okay?” The waitress quickly realized Sheryl was shaking as she held her coffee cup.

Sheryl gathered the food and coffee, and in a daze walked out the door to the car. She made a few phone calls, and then returned to Elaine.

“ I am not staying here Elaine. I am leaving, and going back home to stay with mom.” Elaine agreed for Sheryl to go, and wanted to stay just a couple more days with the children, then would leave and meet Sheryl at their moms house. Elaine never made it.

9 years later Sheryl got married and had a baby girl. She worked hard, and did everything she could for her daughter. She told her the story of the cabin in the woods, and how she was never to go there. Unfortunately, teenagers learn the hard way. Nikkie went to the cabin, and saw a soft glow inside the window. She got closer and saw it was a lit candle.

*Some of the events in this story did happen. The location and home changed, but the events that happened in the home are true**