Some relatives are spending their summer vacation in the mountains. The children enjoy spending time with their cousins and the adults happily arrange fun activities. Patrick, one of the boys, is the only one who sees the terrible monster. And it's eagerly waiting to strike....
I chosed to include relatives in this story because I think relations between relatives simply are interesting to write about. I wanted to create a certain atmosphere: a feeling of safety, friendship, light-heartedness, care and consideration. And isn't that how a good horror story (or horror film) shall begin? You depict the idyllic setting, you let the reader be lulled into thoughts like: "This is nice, this is enjoyable." And in a carefully chosen moment - you take out the terror.
The hot summer's day had turned into night. The silence descended over the mountainous landscape. Only the owls stubbornly hooted. Little Carol Morton slept deeply, safely leaning towards her cousin Patrick. They were inseparable and Stanley - Carol's father - jokingly used to fantasize about 'a future marriage'. Almost all of the children had participated in these little excursions ever since they were infants. Somehow, going to Cliff Mountains in the eastern California (and camp out in two months) was a tradition in the family. The date was an important detail. July 13th, three days before the birthday of uncle Douglas. He promptly wanted to celebrate it in the mountains. Not on July 4th, not on the national day. No, he had to be out in the streets (with a flag in one hand and a can of beer in the other).
Uncle Douglas was half mountain, half city - as his oldest son James used to describe him. His father was a slick lawyer who loved nightclubs. He was having the time of his life on New Year's Eve, mixing and conversing with loved ones. But there were times when he didn't like the city life, when a longing for peace and quiet came upon him. In the beginning, he had frequently camped out in the forest or by the sea. That caused some trouble concerning his working life. Douglas Treeton spinned between courtrooms, family life and glades. He understood that something drastic had to be done. The idea of 'going on mountain excursions' arised. Douglas could easily concentrate on his work and simultaneously long for July 13th. That day, he became a mountain - an extremely romantic one. That was the best time for his wife Ellie and their children James, Patrick, Clarice and Sam. They could spend time with Douglas and he wanted to see them. But during the rest of the year, he and his family lived in separate houses. The children could observe their father, who entertained rich men and arranged dinners.
Stanley was different, he worked at a restaurant called Meal. His wife, Lynn, was a broker. Ellie was a housewife and therefore jealous of Lynn. And Lynn wished that Stanley had lots of money, like Douglas. They didn't have an economic crisis, no and no again! But Lynn had worked as a waitress in her early teens and all alone supported her grandparents. She didn't know the identity of her parents. Lynn was proud of her hard work. She didn't like seeing Ellie revel in the money - mrs Treeton really didn't do anything in the daytime. Cleaning, cooking, taking care of four children.... nonsense! Stanley dismissed the whole thing as nagging. He reminded her of the fact that their children were lucky - regarding one thing. Maggie, Carol and the new addition Joseph had access to both parents all the year round.
That was never a source of quarrel or jealousy among the cousins. The Treeton children generously gave away some of their father's expensive presents. It was a secret which kept their feet firmly on the ground. The Morton children were happy and grateful.
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