Within an Ancient Glade, Op 120

There is an ancient glade that is along the highway somewhere in the middle of Missouri. People say it is haunted. They say people have entered thts glade and never come out. That it has been that way for over 200 years.

Inside the glade are ancient spirits who control everything within and without Not necessarily evil or good. Just about controlling the ancient trees, and all that lies within the glade.

A couple out for a nice Friday dinner has their car breakdown along the highway just outside the glade. Caused by the ancient ones? Who can say. But they think they see lights of a house within, and go down a path they did not see before towards that light. As they go down the path there is a sudden flash of light. They come to a clearing with five glowing spirits on a dais at the other end, and about 20 people with clothing from different eras, the most recent being something out of the 1950s. The ancient ones say that the two arrivals are the newest members and they must stay, for each first day of autumn the Ancients come alive and perform a ritual. The ancients use psychic power to control the people, and they age one day per year as they are only present one day per year. The ancients didn’t count on the presence of the new arrival Diana. Petite very pretty with intense large eyes and short black hair. They tried to ensnare her, but she has such Psychic energy that the ancient ones have their own psychic attack rebound back on them. The earth shakes, and in another flash of light, the glade and ancients vanish. Her boyfriend asks her, "Are you OK?". She looks at him winks, and says, "Of course!"

The two newest people turn around and see the highway but the car is gone. And the cell phones, a marvel to the other has only emergency service. Diana calls 911, and they send a Highway Patrol out to get the people. The officer makes a remark about Halloween being several weeks off. Then the stunning story becomes clear. Diana and Jason have been missing a year, and the others – can’t be explained.