A Dark Autumn Read Online Free

of what happened at the campsite that night.  
    “We loved it too,” said Amanda.
    Helen crossed her legs at the ankles, and propped her feet on the window ledge, wiggling her toes in the nipping breeze. “God help them if we do run into someone out there. Mama is on the prowl and needs some meat.”  
    Resounding with laughter, the car traveled onward on the isolated road.  

Chapter Four
    The path was used mostly by deer, so it was only a small and narrow line that snaked through the woods. When Michelle had finished getting the cabin ready, she’d thrown on a jacket and headed for the woods. She walked along the trail with her hands burrowed in her hooded jacket’s pockets, letting the breeze stroke her face. She hadn’t stopped smiling, even as she approached the campsite. This is where it happened . Standing at the launch of the camping area, she looked around. The picnic tables were no longer there and there also used to be an outhouse sitting atop the slight incline and away from the vicinity, but it was gone too. All that remained from her memories were the log benches, and the circle of stones to contain the campfires.
    Everything else had changed.
    In the years since graduation, she had been to the cabin quite often with her family, but hadn’t once ventured to the campsite. She’d been tempted a time or two, but had never actually gone through with it. So, she had no idea when the area had begun to change. It was kind of sad, how it looked as if the camping area had been left to decompose. Even the log benches were rotting. No longer brown, they had turned grey from years of abuse from the weather and possibly even the local animals.  
    Although Michelle liked to pretend that one night with the campers had been harmless fun and experimentation, she knew deep down that those sorts of things were bound to happen whenever the girls got together. A tugging dread in her bowels seemed to be trying to tell her this weekend wasn’t such a good idea. Maybe she should have only invited Lucy. The two of them could have caught up, gone on hikes, or whatever else they decided to do. But it was too late now. She would have to trust that they would stay out of trouble.
    Whatever.  
    Michelle became a different person when she was around them. All of them did. Alone, or even in pairs, they were normal, typically good girls, but once the four of them were together it was as if all the bets were off.  
    She hoped no one would bring up that night, but understood that it was impossible for them not to talk about it.  
    Twigs snapped behind her, announcing footsteps of someone approaching.
    Chills scurried up Michelle’s neck. She fought the urge to whip around and gasp, but instead she turned calmly, and with a smile on her face.  
    A man, probably in his early thirties, was approaching the camping area. He was tall, thin, a dark complexion and even darker hair. He wore glasses, a beanie on top of his head, and a grey sweater with light brown pants. A jacket was tied around his waist.  
    He was gorgeous.  
    Michelle wondered if she’d fallen asleep and was dreaming this guy. He was just too good looking to be real. Her stomach fluttered. Stop it . You’re taken. Remember Britt, the guy who would be taking this walk with you if he could have been here. But he wasn’t here, she realized. Maybe that was how it was supposed to have worked out.  
    Michelle wanted to slap the back of her head to jar those thoughts, but the stranger’s smile froze her in her spot.  
    “Hi there,” he said.  
    “Huh-hi,” she stuttered.  
    He stopped on the other side of the rock circle, took a deep breath, and let it slowly out as if savoring the feel of it. “Wonderful day, isn’t it?”  
    Michelle nodded.
    He looked her in the eyes. “I have never seen something so beautiful.”
    Heat rushed up from Michelle’s hips making her armpits immediately sweat. She hoped her cheeks weren’t turning red, but if they were, she