Dead childrens playgroun.., p.1
Dead Children's Playground, page 1
Dead Children's Playground
Gulf Coast Paranormal Season Three
Book Three
By M. L. Bullock
Text copyright © 2024 Monica L Bullock
All Rights Reserved
Contents
Prologue—1902
Chapter One–Midas
Chapter Two–Sierra
Chapter Three–Cassidy
Chapter Four–Macie
Chapter Five–Mickey
Chapter Six–Macie
Chapter Seven–Sierra
Chapter Eight–Sierra
Chapter Nine–Midas
Chapter Ten–Midas
Chapter Eleven–Sierra
Chapter Twelve–Midas
Chapter Thirteen–Cassidy
Chapter Fourteen–Midas
Epilogue–Cassidy
Author’s Note
M. L. Bullock’s Book Lis
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Prologue—1902
Old Huntsville, Alabama
The old park in Huntsville, Alabama, always seemed a bit eerie but on this sunny afternoon, it felt like the perfect place to play. The tall, ancient oaks with their Spanish moss looked like they were straight out of a fairy tale. They cast long, twisting shadows over the playground, and the air smelled like decaying leaves mixed with the buzzing of cicadas. It was hot but not too hot.
Cherry was running around with her friends, her short blonde curls bouncing with every step. Her blue eyes sparkled with excitement, and she couldn't stop smiling, even though she had a gap where her front tooth used to be. Her left sock rolled down into her shoe but she kept running.
For just a few moments, she forgot about the missing tooth. The obvious gap really bothered her even though Mommy said it was natural. Cherry accidentally knocked it out when she took a tumble learning to jump rope. But it had been loose anyway.
Today, they were playing tag, and Cherry was "it."
She giggled as she chased her friends around the swings and slide, her dress fluttering around her. Cherry felt so happy, almost like she was flying. The other kids were laughing and shouting too, their voices mixing with the sounds of the park.
For a while, it felt like everything was perfect. Yes, it had been a perfect day.
But even with all their laughter, there was something strange about the park that day. Cherry dragged her feet on the ground, her sock rolling further into her shoe as she slowed down her swinging. She got off the swing and stood staring at the trees behind them. She felt like someone was watching her, but who?
She could not see anyone at all, though the shadows seemed darker and longer, stretching out like they were trying to reach the children. The stillness at the edges of the park made her shiver, like the trees were watching them play.
No, that’s not right.
Cherry shook off the feeling and kept running, determined to catch up with her friends.
As she chased her friends, something caught her eye.
Out of the corner of her vision, Cherry saw a shadow move where no shadow should be. she stopped abruptly, her heart pounding, and stared into the darkness under the trees. She blinked and raised her hand to shield her eyes from the fading sunlight.
"Cherry, come on!" one of her friends shouted, breaking her trance. She shook her head and laughed, but the feeling lingered. She had weird goose pimples traveling up and down her body.
The children decided to switch games and started a game of hide-and-seek. Cherry found a great hiding spot behind a big oak tree, its roots twisted like giant snakes. This was the perfect place to hide.
Cherry smothered a giggle feeling quite proud of herself.
As she crouched down, she noticed the temperature drop. Goosebumps prickled her arms, and she hugged herself to stay warm. The air around her felt heavy, like it was pressing down on her small shoulders. Cherry heard a faint whisper, so soft she thought she imagined it.
“Little girl? Do you want some candy?” The voice was high-pitched, like a child's, but none of her friends were near her. Who was offering candy?
"Who's there?" Cherry whispered back, her voice trembling. There was no answer, just the rustling of leaves and the distant sound of cicadas. The little girl’s heart raced, and she could feel sweat trickling down her back despite the sudden cold.
She peeked around the tree and saw something that made her blood run cold. This was no child. Not at all. She wasn’t sure what she was looking at. She blinked again and fought the urge to make water.
A figure stood at the edge of the playground, half-hidden by the shadows. It was tall and dark, with eyes that seemed to glow faintly. It didn't move, just watched the children—and Cherry-- silently. She glanced around for her friends, but they didn’t seem to notice the Watcher.
Cherry pressed her eyes shut, blinked, and when she opened them again, the thing was gone. She rubbed her eyes, wondering if she had imagined the whole thing. She was about to call out to her friends when she heard the whisper again, closer this time.
"Cherry...I have so much candy for you…"
As she ran as fast as she could away from the strange figure and the voice, Mickey and Tonya seemed totally entranced by some bug they found.
“Look! Do you see him?” Cherry clutched Tonya’s sweaty hand as she rose to her feet to stare in the direction her friend pointed.
“See what?” But Cherry was too scared to speak. Then she heard Tonya gasp and Mickey was on his feet too. “I think I see something. Mickey? What is that?” They huddled together, trying to convince themselves it was just a trick of the light, just their imaginations. But deep down, they all knew something was wrong and the park felt different, like it was alive and watching them.
The cemetery wasn’t far away, right next to the playground actually, but the graves had never bothered Cherry before. Like her Momma said, those people in the ground are asleep, but this thing…it wasn’t a ghost. Was it? Was one of the dead people awake?
“We should go home. It’s getting dark,” Mickey announced. As the lone boy in the play group, he often acted as their protector. That and he was the tallest amongst their small group of friends.
The game was forgotten, and they decided to leave, but not before one last glance back at the playground. The shadows seemed to pulse, like they were waiting for something.
As they walked away, Cherry couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, that whatever was in the park wasn't done with them yet. She considered taking the shortcut through the cemetery to get home quicker but decided against it.
As they left the playground, the unease didn't leave Cherry. She tried to shake it off and focus on the walk home, but the shadows seemed to follow them. The air grew colder, and the whispers, so faint before, seemed to echo in the distance. Cherry cried as she clutched Tonya’s sweaty hand and refused to let it go.
"Did you hear that?" Mickey asked, his voice trembling slightly.
They all stopped, straining to listen. There it was again, a faint whisper, almost like a child’s giggle, carried by the wind.
Who wants candy? Come to me, little ones…
Tonya clutched her hand tighter. "Are you doing that, Cherry? Mickey?” They both shook their heads and she quickly added, “Let's hurry home."
They quickened their pace, but the park felt like it was closing in around them. The trees seemed taller, their branches reaching out like skeletal fingers. The shadows moved in the corner of their eyes, and every rustle of leaves made them jump.
As Cherry reached the edge of the park, she felt a cold hand brush against her shoulder. She spun around, but there was nothing there. Just the darkening park and the ominous feeling that they were not alone.
"Come on, Cherry, we're almost out," Tonya urged, pulling her forward. Cherry stumbled, trying to keep up, her heart pounding in her young chest.
Suddenly, a thick fog began to roll in, covering the ground and swirling around their feet. The whispers grew louder, more insistent, and the giggles turned into eerie, echoing laughter.
Mickey stopped and looked around, his eyes wide with fear. "Where's the path? I can't see it!"
The children huddled together, unsure which way to go. The fog was so thick now that they could barely see a few feet ahead. The laughter grew louder, and Cherry felt like the park was closing in on them.
"Cherry, Tonya, stay close to me," Mickey said, trying to sound brave. "We'll find our way out."
But as they took a few hesitant steps forward, Tonya suddenly found her voice. "Mickey! Cherry! Help me!"
Cherry turned to see Tonya being pulled into the fog, her hands reaching out desperately for her friend. Her terrified friend screamed, but no sound came out of her mouth. How was that possible?
Mickey and Cherry grabbed her hands, and tried to pull her back, but the force in the fog was too strong.
“Help! Help us!” Cherry screamed as she cried.
It felt like the shadows themselves were dragging her away, too.
"Don't let go!" Tonya cried; her voice full of terror. But the grip on her was too strong, and slowly, she was pulled from her friends’ grasp. “Cherry! Mickey! Help me!”
Then there was no sound at all, just an odd crunching sound, like someone was snapping bones, or something.
"Tonya!" Cherry screamed, trying to reach her, but it was too late. She had vanished completely into the fog, her screams echoing around them. Her bones were breaking! Her bones were breaking! “Tonya! Where are you?”
Mi
"We have to get help," Mickey said, his voice shaking. "We have to tell someone."
They ran out of the park and into the town, shouting for help. The townspeople gathered, listening to their frantic yet unbelievable story, but when they reached the park, there was no sign of Tonya.
And no sign of the fog either, or the tall, thin figure that hid inside it.
Yes, it had been a tall, slender figure, dressed in black. Cherry would never forget what he looked like. But the shadows were still, the whispers gone, and the park seemed almost normal.
Cherry knew better. The park was hiding something here in the Maple Hill Cemetery, something dark and malevolent. And it wasn't done yet.
The whole town came alive with panic and urgency. News of Tonya's disappearance spread quickly, and soon parents, neighbors, and even the local sheriff were combing every inch of the old park.
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting the park in shadows that seemed even more menacing now.
Lanterns flickered, casting ghostly light on the twisted roots and overgrown paths. The rustling leaves and distant calls of night birds added to the eerie atmosphere.
Cherry stayed close to her parents, her heart still pounding from the terror of what had happened. She refused to stay at home, her best friend was missing.
"Tonya! Tonya, where are you?" voices called out, echoing through the park. The beams of lanterns and flashlights swept through the trees, but there was no sign of the little girl.
The sheriff, a stern man with a grizzled beard, gathered a group near the swings. "We need to organize this search," he said, his voice steady but urgent. "Form lines and cover every section of the park. No stone unturned."
Cherry’s father took her hand, squeezing it tightly. "Stay close, Cherry. We'll find her."
The child nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. The park felt so different now, so much more sinister. The shadows seemed to pulse with malevolent energy, and the whispers had returned, just at the edge of hearing.
As they moved through the park, Cherry caught glimpses of those same shadows flitting between the trees. The air was thick with tension and fear.
A group of men had brought dogs to help with the search, their barking filling the night. The dogs seemed uneasy, their noses to the ground but their ears pinned back, as if they sensed something unnatural.
They reached the twisted oak tree where Cherry had hidden earlier. She stared at its gnarled roots, remembering the cold touch and the whispering voice.
"It was here," she said to her father, her voice trembling. "This is where I last saw her."
The sheriff nodded, directing a few men to search the area thoroughly. They moved quickly, lifting roots, peering into hollow trunks, but there was nothing. No trace of Tonya. Only an odd ribbon that may have belonged to her. Cherry couldn’t remember if she wore her ribbon in her hair that day.
Hours passed, and the sense of dread grew. The townsfolk, once hopeful, were now whispering among themselves, their faces pale and drawn. The sheriff called everyone back to the center of the park, his expression grim.
"We'll continue the search at first light," he announced. "For now, everyone should go home. We'll keep a few men here to watch the park."
The child’s heart sank.
How could they stop searching? Tonya was out there, somewhere in the darkness, needing their help. She was with the tall man, and he’d crunched her up.
Cherry couldn’t explain how she knew that, but she did. What else would have made that sound? As they made their way out of the park, Cherry glanced back one last time. The shadows seemed to be watching, the whispers were louder now, almost taunting. She shivered, knowing that whatever had taken Tonya was still out there, lurking in the darkness, waiting.
"Cherry, come on," her mother urged gently, pulling her away from the park's edge.
That night, the town was steeped in sorrow and fear. Everyone locked their doors and windows, but sleep did not come easy for anyone, especially Mickey and Cherry.
The whispers followed Cherry into her dreams, a constant reminder that the old park held secrets that it wasn't ready to reveal. And she couldn't shake the feeling that it was far from over.
She rolled over in her narrow bed, her eyes filled with blurry tears. That’s when she saw Tonya floating outside her window. She was in the fog, floating and waving at her like nothing was wrong.
Nothing at all. But Cherry’s bedroom was on the second floor. There were no trees close by, no way Tonya could get up there with her.
Was she dreaming? Cherry closed her eyes and counted to ten but when she opened them again, Tonya was still there. How was this possible?
Surely, she couldn’t get in here. Not in her room. The window is closed! She thought about calling for her mother and father but she couldn’t find her voice. She peeked over the blanket again.
Tonya wasn’t alone. The tall, slender man was with her and in his hands, his bony white skeletal hands, were candies. Some she recognized, some she didn’t, but she wanted none of them.
“No! Go away!” Cherry whispered as the window slid up. “No! Mommy! Help me!” But like when Tonya was captured by the monster, her voice made no sound.
How would Mommy hear her? How would she know Cherry was in danger?
Cherry sat up in her bed and stared in horror as the pair invaded her room. The thing with Tonya’s face, fell on the floor and landed on all fours like a dog, and her bones were all broken. Cherry could hear them snapping as she moved. She wanted to scream her life away but no sound came out of her mouth. She could barely breathe; it was like an invisible hand was wrapped around her throat.
The Tall Man spoke in a deep, creepy voice, his hands outstretched, full of blood covered candy. “Pick one, dear Cherry. Pick one!”
His large hand was in front of her but she wanted nothing to do with the candy the monster offered. Finally, her voice had sound, and she screamed for her mother. By the time she quit screaming, her mother had managed to get the bedroom door open.
Sometimes the door got stuck, Mrs. Adams blamed it on the wood swelling from the humidity, but Cherry’s mother was not prepared for what she saw when she and her husband fell into the room.
The window was wide open and Cherry was gone. At least, part of her was.
When her mother pulled back the covers, she found her child’s body, or at least pieces of it, along with some candy wrappers.
Cherry’s mother screamed until she puked.
Chapter One–Midas
My office at Gulf Coast Paranormal headquarters was cluttered with old books and paranormal equipment, the kind of mess that only someone in my line of work would find comforting.
Okay. Honestly, not me. This messiness wasn’t like me at all.
Here lately, I found myself feeling overwhelmed and I had no idea why.
I had just settled in with a cup of warmed-over coffee, hoping for a quiet hour or so to go through some case notes, when the phone rang. The sharp sound cut through the silence, making me jump. I sloshed coffee on my jeans. I sighed instead of swearing. I was trying to break that habit.
Swearing wasn’t like me, not at all. But it was a bad habit I’d picked up lately for some reason. I wasn’t good at swearing and I could tell that my wife wasn’t a fan of it either, although she said nothing to me. Couldn’t miss those raised eyebrows though. Nothing like an angry red head giving you the stare down.
I picked up the receiver, half-expecting another prank call or a fan seeking tickets for an upcoming event. Sierra and her para-cons. Those were on her and I reminded her of that often.
"Gulf Coast Paranormal. Midas speaking," I answered, trying to keep my voice steady and professional.
"Mr. Midas, please help me!" The voice on the other end was trembling, filled with an urgency that immediately caught my attention. "It's my child—my baby girl—she's gone! Taken by the spirits in the Dead Children's Playground!"
My heart skipped a beat. "Calm down, ma'am. Start from the beginning. What's your name?" I dabbed at my wet jeans with an old napkin before reaching for a pen and unstained paper.
