Path Of Reckoning

Which path will you be on?

The November moon casts a cold silver glow o’er the ancient burial ground far below as midnight mist snakes around old ashen gravestones settled in the ground and badly decayed by each winter’s wrath –it is here that I spy a peculiar path marked by a menacing oak tree; its scraggly dead branches beckon to me like the bone-thin fingers of a timeworn woman. My name is carried to me on the wind, whispered by an unknown entity, telling me it’s here that my journey begins…

 

Fear grips my heart when I pass the great oak, and a legion of others mimic Death’s dark cloak; I tread past them nervously, aware of every step I gain and squint my eyes when I realize the cold November rain has stolen the moonlight from the sky and cursed me with icy shards of pain. I draw my collar up ‘round my neck, driven by instinct to protect myself from the unkind elements; I increase my pace and regretfully lament my unfortunate choice to give in to curiosity – I’m now quite certain evil waits for me. I silently plead to the powers that be to keep me safe from unseen enemies.

 

Smugly perched in the oaks up high are the resident ravens with their judging eyes. I trace their gaze and gasp in fright, for the head of the path has disappeared into the night! With my only means of escape now gone, I swallow hard and continue on. My thoughts are racing wildly and the damned ravens’ eyes are mocking me! The wind carries with it a terrifying tale but I refuse to believe that somewhere in my life I failed. Unwillingly I’m drawn to that which is beckoning; judgment day has come for me, and tonight’s the time for reckoning.

 

I trudge this path owned by Fate and my life’s regrets come haunting me: the wasted years and countless tears -- the movie in my mind plays dauntingly. Promises broken, words not spoken, trusts betrayed and enemies made, anger displayed, bad ways I’d behaved -- my past will not cease taunting me. My head hangs low all the while I go because I suddenly know where my journey ends…the air is drier from the heat of raging fire; my journey is over and I’m abound with dread. I know it’s my time but I am horrified to find that the entire time I walked……..I was already dead.

 

Author's Note

Another write inspired by the photo....and ravens....and weather....and.........

Reviews

[Nicholas Hallows]

Thanks for the request I enjoyed reading this. You really made the most of the imagery and language. I especially liked the second and third stanza. My reading read up as the narrator's thoughts raced and I could sense the feeling of frightful urgency. Very good. NH

[bluessadmood]

great write dear friend ,you know sometimes they say when its time ,through very few moment ,all our lives events and everything ,is cast in front of our eyes like a quick movie ,we see it all happening from early youth till our old days,like a film run at high speed,especially the bad images we see it all in a flicker of time,its like all out time we live is compressed in a few moments ,like a nightmare,,,i wonder

[The Tao of Bri]

Nice.. I really like the questions and introspection..the first question is the best!~Finely wrought. ~B

[Krista Laraine]

a bit of Lovecraftian essence penned here....very nicely done. The only suggestion I would have is to somehow break the paragraphs up a bit more so it reads more like a poem than a story, ut that's my own personal taste. i just think something like this would benefit from that kind of arrangement. gorgeous piece.

[Obsidian]

Damn....what a write.A slow walk down the path to hell. A very intresting write and I love the first person perspective of this.

[J]

Oh! This creeped me out! And the possibility that you so eloquently penned that it could BE like this ~ not knowing we are already of the "dark cloak" until the feel of heat from the netherlands "far below." Wonderful imagery ~ yikes! I was walking on tiptoe with you, trying not to disturb underbrush that may bring worse things than ravens from the mist .......

The use of ravens reminds me a bit of the book that Forest Green is writing ~ A Raven's Cry. I've been following that story, and he did mention to me that you provided the inspiration for the ravens. I believe that Poe is ultimately responsible for everyone's eternal fear and dread of ravens. You certainly make it work here.

Your casual and subtle use of rhyme in this piece is very effective in establishing a cadence that I didn't realize until the last line was truly a death march ... leading ever closer, ever more frighteningly toward ..... the absolute.End. [by now i'd be running and screaming with my hair on fire!]

Well done, Tania. I enjoyed this very much!
j

[desertraven]

very Poe-ish! I love it!
Sandra

[Ice Queen of the Vampir..]

Wow.....this piece is so amazing. I love the imagery, it's perfect. Awesome write, Tania!!!

Heather

[Gary H]

This is a haunting write and really does feel as cold as the November moon. 'Icy shards of pain' is a great line or part of. What I find really interesting is the balance between a poem and longer piece here. Certainly each paragraph has enough intrigue to be expanded further keeping the same theme. Also though theres some great poetic images - scraggly dead branches, fear grips my heart, the air is drier from the heat of raging fire.
I guess you have hit on a happy medium between the two and written a really great piece.

[SM Davis]

Absolutely stunning write Tania! Your imagery is impeccable.

[Amor-de-angel]

Nice work,spooky and dark,but I liked the twist at the end.