Ghosts of the Barn

When meandering through the gardens, one would find the loss of life troublesome but for those willing to look closer, what would they find?

In the yard closest to the weeping willow, there lies a dormant presence that has rested for what seems to be an eternity. The thick, gnarled branches bear no semblance of life, as does the garden. All that remains of this once enchanting place, are twigs, mud, and precisely cut wood to cater to those who harvested the once bountiful fruits of the forest. Fuzzy moss curiously grows on the south end of the trees here, so becoming disoriented is more than happenstance when receiving visitors of any kind. Even the birds tend to migrate in the wrong direction.

To say there is a complete loss of life, however, would be to fabricate its story. Tucked away neatly within the dense treeline of the forest, lies an ancient barn forgotten to history. The things that do live in the forest tend to gather around here and are drawn to the location. The architecture of the time was considered to be cutting edge but still features no paint on the wood, which has splintered and eroded from the weathering over the years. Accessibility was an afterthought and the doors remain shut to this day.

Perhaps, this is why everything is drawn to this location. What does the barn harbor inside? There appears to be no easy way in and more importantly, no easy way out, for the wooden bar which rests in its grooves on the outside. The people that once lived here lived as the forest does. Their graves remain a mystery as the forest has already taken what is rightfully theirs. Interestingly, the forest hasn't chosen to demolish the barn for unknown purposes.

There are whispers in the night that come from an entity located within the worn-down walls of the barn. Whispers that on the quietest of nights become almost audible. The energy spent here roams beyond the locked doors and into the gardens they tried desperately to grow. This area is a prison from which they can never escape and a constant reminder of their failure. It isn't their fault. Nothing is habitable here with the exception of the leafless trees that guard the secretive location from the outside world.

Despite the absence of leaves, the sunlight finds it troublesome to reach its way to the ground. Most of the time, a thick fog hovers low, making it hard to see anything. More importantly, nothing can grow here as photosynthesis isn't an option. The plants haven't adapted to the condition of near darkness all day and therefore, the animals have learned not to venture into this section of the woods.

During the night, there is a hint of light where there happens to be a full moon. The superstitious beings of the place stay hidden within their corridors on these nights for they fear they will be released from the abyss of their own making. They find comfort in routine and have found it to suffice. There is rumor of a creature with heavy thuds that shake the trees to their brittle cores and takes what it wants. It has yet to be seen so it's only heard and felt during the night of a full moon. On the mornings after, there are imprints in the mud that don't favor something currently known.

This collection of wood and mud is resilient to the positive effects of nature and seems the better off for it. There is nothing here to reap. The trees have died many years ago and occasionally fall to the ground as they can no longer stay sturdy. There is no definitive reason to visit this isolated location, but if one were to, they surely wouldn't find their way back out. It is wise not to search for a place such as this.

You've been warned.