Eerie, Indiana fanfiction: In the Bleak Midwinter

[froodle]

Follows on from At the Seaside



The night-time lake was like black glass, reflecting back the orange glow of the low-hanging moon. The rolling waves broke against the grey sand with a little sigh, then gave a soft hiss as they retreated amidst streaks of green-white sea foam. The tide had gone out a long time ago and the high water markers of brown seaweed that lay piled on the rippling dunes were almost dry.

The night creatures came walking over the shoreline on spindly black legs, their silvery horns reflecting on the dark water and their large yellow-green eyes glowing faintly in the gloom. They carried burning torches in their paws and lumpy packages wrapped in oilcloth slung over their shoulders, and the air was alive with the leathery whisper of wings and the clickety-clack of talons, though none of them spoke a single word.

A patch of beach had been cleared of stones and seaweed, the sand raked and raked and raked again to clear the debris and then smoothed flat with the back of a dozen shovels. Buckets of ice-cold salt water had been poured over it as the temperature dropped, and now the smooth surface glittered like newly fallen snow. Great chunks of cloudy seaglass and limpet shells scoured to brightness formed a circle enclosing the frozen sand, and into this faerie-ring went the awkward bundles bound in linseed-smelling canvas.

Perhaps one of the unhappy packages moaned when it landed with a thump on the icy shore, but then again, perhaps it was only the wind.

The night creatures thrust their oil-soaked and flaming beacons into the mouth of the great circle and the offerings ignited with a roar. They straightened their crowns of spruce atop their curling horns and stood quite still, waiting and watching. They waited until it was nearly dawn, and the bonfire was only smouldering embers and acrid smoke that made their eyes sting and tear. They waited until the first shy wavelet lapped at the edge of the circle, turning a dusty pale fragment of seaglass into a glittering emerald. Then they crept home to the secret places under the earth, leaving only the smell of crushed spruce needles to mark where they had been.

The next day found Janet Donner sneaking a harried cigarette in the alley behind the Eerie Baitshop and Sushi Bar, snatching a few moments of peace as she cursed yet another unreliable co-worker who had failed to either show up or call in.





Janet

A Ghost in Pink by froodle; Janet's family during the year she was Lost

Jogging by froodle, in which Janet Donner adapts to life in regular Eerie

Plans by froodle, in which Janet Donner deals with Daylight Savings Time yet again

DST by froodle, in which there is a lighthouse

Figurehead by froodle, in which Lake Eerie's ghost pirates encounter the lighthouse






Trusted Associates, Inc.

Halloween by froodle, in which Mars and Simon celebrate a Von Orloff-free All Hallows Eve

Surprise by froodle, in which Mars tries to make sure Simon's birthday goes a little better this year

The Glade by froodle, in which Simon and Mars visit a place that only exists on February 29th

Egg Hunt by froodle, in which Simon and Mars partake of some traditional Easter activities

Boardwalk by froodle, in which Simon and Mars are swayed by radio advertising

Lady in Red by froodle, in which Simon experiments on the old-fashioned radio in the Secret Spot, and horror ensues

Waiting In by froodle, in which there is an ice-storm and a handyman does not arrive

Seafoam by froodle, in which Simon and Marshall go to the seaside

A Night at the Circus by froodle, in which a carnivale comes to town, and Marshall and Simon do not enjoy themselves

Taking a Break by froodle, in which Simon and Marshall enjoy some much-needed R&R

Model Railway by froodle, in which a new business prepares to open in Eerie

Shoreline by froodle, in which Simon and Marshall investigate strange happenings on the shores of Lake Eerie

Parade by froodle, in which Mars takes issue with the Eerie Beekeepers Association's choice of mascot

Homestead by froodle, in which Marshall finally gets something useful out of shop class

Hound by froodle, in which Simon makes a friend

Errands by froodle, in which Simon has a to-do list

Slyboots by froodle, in which a certain corporal of the infernal regions comes to Eerie. Crossover with Johannes Cabal the Necromancer.

Waterlogged by froodle, in which Eerie experiences heavy rainfall

Festival by froodle, in which Eerie's local businesses celebrate the summer

Strawberry by froodle, in which there is unauthorised hubbub in Eerie

Wildlife by froodle, in which Simon and Marshall go to the beach

Facilities by froodle, in which the Eerie Bus Station and Supper Club has a problem with the men's toilet

Anticipation by froodle, in which Simon and Harley look forward to the Equinox

Castle by froodle, in which there is unexpected architecture in Eerie

Visitor in which Marshall's grandma comes to stay

Euclid by froodle, in which Marshall and Simon investigate strange events at the Eerie Cemetery

The Hut by froodle, in which Simon takes on the forces of Eerie solo

Comments

[eviinsanemonkey.livejournal.com]

intriguing. i love the atmosphere...very eerie ;)

[froodle]

Thank you :D

[deifire]

OMG, creepy! I'm loving this 'verse!

[froodle]

Thank you :D