Fall of Northern Virginia was literally a full presentation of the visible spectra with more red and gold. Clouds in the blue sky were just like the velour blankets floating on tranquil lake waters. Red oaks had already taken off their green summer suits and changed into the dark red autumn night gowns. Nobody would possibly refuse a road trip at this time with a bunch of good friends and of course, in a fancy convertible.
Mike's suggestion on Shennandoah road trip didn't seem to have much trouble being accepted by everyone-Scott, Maggie, Jake and Jake's girl friend Stephanie.
Jake's father was a corporation CEO in D.C., and bought Jake this XXX for his 20th birthday. Jake was thrilled about the car, but didn't seem to be very grateful to his father, as far as Scott was concerned. But Jake never used it as a show-off; instead, he was more than happy to share it with his good friends.
They drove all the way north, stopping occasionally for sight-seeing and photos. Happy time was always short. It was nearly dark when they decided to go back. A pale yellow full moon had already risen above the horizon, very bright and its contour extremely clear due to the autumn dry air. Scott stared at the moon wondering why it looked bigger than normal tonight.
"Hey Scottie, are you a lunatic? What's so special about the moon?" Maggie giggled as she gave Scott a squeeze.
"Huh? I am sorry?" Scott was not paying attention.
"Never mind, Scottie. I was just teasing you. By the way, what are you going to do tomorrow?" Maggie asked.
"Tomorrow...probably I have to work..."
"On your Cat dude?" Mike turned his head back laughing at Scott.
"Cat?" Maggie was surprised. "What cat?"
"Um, it was nothing, Mike's joke. Hey guys, I actually know a shortcut back. Want to give it a try?" Scott was trying to change the subject so that Maggie would not be able to know what the cat was about.
"Tell me you are 100% sure we are not getting lost if I follow your instruction." Said Jake.
"No, we won't. Besides, you've got a GPS here."
"The rest? Say something!" Jake first looked at Stephanie.
"Well, I am ok with it." Stephanie looked tired.
"How big a difference Scott?" Mike asked.
"One hour." Said Scott.
"Jake, sounds good." Mike agreed.
"I am fine too." Maggie said.
"Perfect, now what Scott?" Jake asked.
"Drive down and take Exit 125B. And I will tell you after that."
"Yes Sir." Jake laughed.
The road they took was a little bit zigzag and seemed to be running through a small village. The whole village was very quiet and was wearing silver under in moonlight as if snow had just fallen. Spotted houses were along the road, but neither a single car nor a pedestrian was on the road. The village quickly left them as they drove by, replaced by a forest where tree slightly whispered to each other in the night breeze.
"What the hell!" Mike shouted angrily as the car stopped dead, almost throwing everybody out.
"Christ, Jake!" Maggie cried.
"Somebody's on the road, look!" Jake buckled off and pushed the door open.
"Wait Jake, what are you doing? He might be dangerous" Stephanie asked.
Scott, Maggie, and Mike all looked in shock and Scott got out of the car first.
Jake was right, there was indeed a man, standing still in the middle of the road not very far from them, 30 feet at most. He was illuminated by the head light and was staring back at the car. He was a young male, taller than anyone of them, about 6'1, with a muscular body and was wearing something white, without sleeves.
"Hey, there!" Jake spoke to the man loudly.
Silence.
The man backed off a coupled steps and stood still again.
"Hello? What's going on?" Jake asked again. His voice appeared unusually loud.
Scott walked to Jake's side and shouted at the man."Can I help you?"
The man didn't answer but suddenly got off the road and ran into the woods.
"I think we should call the police." Maggie stuck her head out of the car window.
"I think we should follow him and see what happened." Scott said.
"What? Are you out of your mind? Let's go home!" Mike said.
"Yeah, let's go home man. He probably is just insane." Jake patted Scott's back.
"Crack!" A loud noise deep from the woods suddenly broke the peace of the night.
"Sounds like something just collapsed." Scott said. "I need to have a look."
"No, you can't go there." Maggie opposed.
"I..."Scott stopped dead as he saw something moving in the woods. It was that man in front of their car as he could distinguish from the surroundings by the moonlight.
"Hello?" Scott's voice was calmer this time.
The rest all looked into the woods and that made the man escape deeper in.
"Wait!" Scott shouted at him and ran towards the woods.
Curiosity had him follow him despite what his friends said about not going after him. He fumbled through the trees and bushes still following that strange person. He could not think much of why he was doing this or exactly what he was doing except that he knew he needed to get to the bottom of it.
"Stopped, man! We could help you!" Scott said out of breath, but didn't stop walking.
The man ahead, however, didn't show any sign of slowing down and continued his way as if he was leading Scott to somewhere on purpose.
Scott walked in the woods for about five minutes and then it seemed to him that the woods was about to reach its end since more light was coming in as he walked on. And he had a feeling that more people were behind the woods as he began to hear more than the sounds from the nature: people crying and buzzing around.
All of sudden, he was astonished by what he saw.
This was a total destruction. If anything would remind him of what he was looking at, it would be the aftermath of a huge earthquake.
It looked like to him this was a village, in which people were flustered among the half-ruined houses. Actually these houses, though severely destroyed in someway, were nothing like typical American country houses. To Scott, they looked like some ancient buildings he saw in his history classes. But the most impossible thing was the damage of the houses was caused by the trees, which seemed to have grown so suddenly from within the houses. He could clearly see some roof-like stuff was dangling in the branches of the trees.
The man had returned to his lot and was among them. Only now did Scott for the first time realize how different indeed these people were. Their clothes were nowhere close to what they were supposed to be wearing if they were to live in Northern Virginia, or even America; nor did they look like Americans.
Scott couldn't believe what he saw and tried to pull himself together. He was not sure if he was dreaming because this just couldn't be true. However, he decided that he should go back to his friends first.
Scott followed his path back to the car and saw angry faces.
"What the fuck Scott! Now I am really pissed." Mike was very angry.
"What were you doing in there?" Asked Maggie.
Scott didn't answer the question, but instead, he took a deep a breath and finally spoke very slowly and firmly.
"Now, everybody, listen to me first ok? This whole thing is very very strange. I don't know how to explain. The man is from a village behind these woods. And something bad happened to the village, it seems to me. I think you all should see for yourselves. Magic beyond belief just took place right here."
"What? Wait a second, what you mean something bad happened?" Jake asked, most confused.
"I am not sure. It appears to me, it's like the whole village just sudden landed here...I know this sounds ridiculous, but I swear I saw it. People in the village look weird. I mean by their clothes and looks. God, let's go there."
"I don't believe it." Maggie said. "if this is a joke, now quit it ASAP Scottie, because this is not the right time."
"I can swear I am not lying" Scott seemed desperate. "Please, go with me and look for yourselves."
Everybody was silent, looking at each other in an expression of disbelief, confusion and a slight shock.
"Come on guys, you've got to believe me. You know I won't joke like this. This is true. I couldn't believe it too, but weird things happen." Scott tried again to persuade them to go with him.
"You better be right cause if you are bullshitting, Scott Wheeler, I will never ever talk to you again." Mike looked serious and stern.
"What about the car? Leave it here?" Jake asked.
"I will stay in the car. I am not going." Stephanie looked somewhat horrified by their decision.
"Lock the door baby. We will be right back." Jake said to her and gave her a kiss.
Everyone else expect for Stephanie was following Scott into the woods.
"This is absolutely weird, Scott." Said Maggie.
No body answered; only the steps of their walking could be heard.
"I hear something." Mike said. "people's voice!"
"Yeah." Jake agreed.
"That's from the village. You will see it pretty soon." Said Scott.
"Jesus! Can you believe this!" Mike gasped when they could see what Scott had previously seen.
"Good Lord!" Maggie gasped too. "Where is the camera?"
"It's in the car."Said Jake. "I am getting it and getting Stephanie here."
"What about the car?" Scott asked.
"Forget about the car!" Jake answered excited.
Stay Tuned for Chapter 3. The Strange Village