An October Walk in the Park

All characters are eighteen or older.

An October Walk in the Park

Megan and I walk hand in hand through Goodman Park on our first real date. We had done lunch and dinner a few times but not a real date.

The weather on this late October night seems perfect. It feels cool but not cold. The scattered clouds in the sky reflect the light from the full moon to produce an eerie atmosphere. A little ground fog floats around to reflect the light from the occasional lamppost.

Even the gas lampposts appear like a vision of the past. Ornate cast iron pillars stick up from the damp cool ground. They tower over our path emitting a dim glow. It seems like we have been pulled back in time.

My nerves feel a little on edge. Not only do I have first date jitters, but we had just gone to a horror movie. The suspense thriller played with my emotions until I felt tight as a drum head.

I am a wimp when it comes to horror movies. I normally do not watch them, but Megan wanted to see it. She needed little effort to convince me to counter my natural instincts. Besides, it is almost Halloween.

Walking through the park we eye a large run-down Victorian style house. Megan explains the parkland had been the estate of a multimillionaire industrial family until their ancestors had donated it to the city parks department.

I guess they had lived in this house. She takes out her phone and snaps a few pictures of the spooky looking house. We do a selfie standing on the steps.

A cobblestone path leads up to the front porch. It glistens as the moonlight reflects off its dew-covered stones.

The door hangs open. A flickering light escapes from inside. We walk toward it as if being pulled.

Megan reacts to some mysterious attraction. I am pulled by Megan's grasp. Once inside it looks dark and spooky.

A little light flickers from the fireplace. Someone had built a fire in the huge decorative fireplace. Mostly only glowing coals remain.

A little moonlight seeps in through the dirty windows and cast ghostly shadows from the sheet covered furnishings.

I hear moans from farther into the dwelling. I plead to Megan, "Let's go." However, she pulls me farther inside.

She pulls out her phone to light our way and leads us deeper into the mansion.

Portraits hang on the walls. The long-lost occupants sport hairstyles and clothing from a time long ago. Megan snaps a quick picture of some of the paintings.

I hear more moans and whispers. Is it the wind or something else?

I feel a touch on my shoulder as we pass through a doorway. A moments panic subsides as I brush the spiderweb aside.

I hear a loud clang ahead. We pass the dining room and enter the kitchen.

The dominant feature remains a large hearth with a huge black pot hanging over the nonexistent fire. Next to it sits a large cast iron stove.

On the opposite end sits a huge sink. What I think was a hand pump stands next to the sink. Pots hang from hooks on the walls and drawers full of dusty utensils sprout everywhere.

We come to a back stairway. A hollow feminine voice whispers from above.

Come to me, my long-lost love.

Fly to me, my missing dove.

You have gone, so very far.

Off to battle, off to war.

Come to me, through space and time.

I call you now, with this rhyme.

I call you now, with this love poem.

Return to our, once happy home.

I have waited, oh so long.

To hear you singing, your love song.

To feel your touch, upon my breast.

To hear your silly, little jest.

To feel your spear, inside my slot.

Pierce me now, I'm oh so hot.

Come to me, I miss you so.

Then together, we can go.

To the place of final rest.

Up the hill, and on the crest.

Where will be, forever and ever.

We will always, live together.

Megan leads us up. It leads to a long windowless hallway. The dust seems to have vanished. It almost seems like this area of the house continues to be used.

Several doors off the hallway lead to bedrooms. We find a linen closet and a bathroom also.

A door at the far end of the hall slams open. A cold breeze hits my face. Megan's phone goes off leaving us in the dark.

I hear her scream. She pulls away from my hand. I panic and reach for her, but I grasp only air. I see only blackness. I feel a sudden headache and collapse.

I awake on a large canopy bed. Candles light the room. I see by the candlelight Megan lies next to me.

She wears a lacy white nightgown. It fits loosely and looks ancient.

That is when I realize I am naked. Megan speaks, but it sounds like someone else. "Robert, you have finally made it home."

I am shocked. My name is Paul not Robert.

I answer, "Megan, you know my name is Paul."

Megan laughs. "You are such a joker Robert. I have missed you so. I am glad you finally came back from the war."

She slides over and kisses me. I automatically respond in kind.

Now, I am scared and confused. This does not sound at all like Megan. Both the words and the tone sound wrong.

On the other hand, I enjoyed Megan's kiss. I ask, "Who are you?"

She laughs and states, "Robert, you know I am your love, Rebeca. Stop being silly and make love to me."

Megan kisses my lips and rests her hand on my chest. Her lips and hand slowly move down until she reaches my crotch. A few touches and I am soon erect.

She slides up her gown and climbs on top of me. Her warn breast push against my chest. Her lips touch mine. Her tongue explores my mouth and ignites my tongue.

She straddles my sides and slides onto my firm dick. I attempt resistance but am unable to move a muscle.

Megan is not herself, and this is moving very fast. My resistance is futile.

My mind only controls my eyes. I am unable to speak or move.

Megan appears even more mesmerized. Her eyes gaze at me, but she sees someone else.

I might think she was intoxicated, but I know she has not drunk anything since we had dinner before the movie. Besides, I have seen her drunk. Megan feels happy and gets a sparkle in her eyes when she gets tipsy. She does not look vacuous and stare vacantly into space.

Megan slides up as my body pulls back. Then, she lowers herself as my body thrust upward.

I feel the sensuous sensation, and my body reacts, but I am not in control. My thrusts continue and Megan counters my action.

Megan pants as the pace quickens. Whatever controls me does not share my usual shy awkwardness.

The thrusting continues until we both erupt. She collapses into my arms as we both regain full consciousness.

Megan smiles at me. She seems aware of what happened but not ashamed or upset. Outwardly she appears happy and content.

Her contentment acts contagious. I too feel satisfied and at peace. I feel warm but unsure of myself.

My now flaccid member still rests within Megan. We both have a glow about us.

Megan kisses me. This time I know it is her. I return her affection.

We lie in each other's arms at peace. I state, "I love you." She just smiles back, kisses me, and grasp me tightly.

The shaking room interrupts our relaxed reflection.

The candles fall over. Some extinguish themselves, but at least one ignites the carpet on fire. I grab Megan's hand and head for the door in panic.

We enter the hallway and I trip over a pile of my clothes. I hastily grab for what I can find in the dark. I get my pants, Megan's phone, and her purse.

A door opens. It leads to a balcony overlooking the grand staircase. We fly down the stairs as if carried by angels.

The hollow feminine voice calls out to us. A deeper masculine voice joins it. "Thank you for the brief use of your bodies. Bless you both, and go in peace."

We exit the door and leave. The house seems to vanish behind us.

It leaves us in the foggy grayness. We see the glow of a lamppost in the distance and head that way.

As we near the light I see Megan's nightgown has also disappeared with the house. We stand together naked in the park.

We hug each other to ward off a shiver. It is the shock of what has happened, not the cold that makes us shake.

I put on my pants. Fortunately, the belt still hangs in the beltloops, and my wallet, keys, and car fob still reside in my pockets.

I show Megan her phone. It appears to be working fine.

She takes it and uses the GPS to find the parking lot.

I am glad she thought of that. I was about to lead us in the wrong direction.

We reach the parking lot. Only my car sits in the lot.

I grab two bottles of Dasani water from the trunk before unlocking the car. I hand one bottle to Megan. I know I am exhausted and thirsty.

As we get in, I realize it is now after four in the morning.

I offer Megan a blanket I have laying in the back seat along with one of the bottles. She seems more interested in the water then the blanket.

I drive to Megan's apartment. She invites me up, and I accept.

She uses the blanket to walk from the car to her apartment. She drops it as soon as we get inside.

We meet Coco, her dog, at the door.

She pours a drink and offers one to me. After tonight, I consider it but pass.

We both need sleep. I offer to take the couch but Megan says she does not want to be alone.

Megan climbs into bed in her current naked state and beckons me to join her. I remove my pants and climb in. We cuddle and soon fall asleep.

We wake in the late morning. Our bodies and hair faintly smell of smoke. We shower and eat breakfast together. I say goodbye and head home. I call her later, and she seems to be doing better. We both still feel a little shook up.

We get together the next weekend and go to the historical society museum. We ask about the history of Goodman Park.

A clerk at the museum looks on the internet and calls up some old newspaper articles. One talks about the park land being donated by George Goodman. The land use to be the Family estate, but the property had not been lived on for years.

Another article discusses how the Goodman house burned down on October 28, 1920. A knocked over candle caused the fire.

We search for Robert and Rebeca Goodman. We learn Captain Robert Goodman died at Gettysburg during the Civil War.

Another article describes how a distraught Rebeca hung herself at the family home when she learned of her husband death. It even had a wedding picture of the couple. It actually resembles Megan and me.

The historical information unnerves us. We return to the park to attempt closure.

The park looks much different in daylight than it did that night the week before. We retrace the path we took the week before.

We take a wrong turn but quickly correct our course.

We find the cobblestone path. It appears dilapidated and unkempt. Grass covers much of the roadway.

We find the remains of the foundation, but the house does not exist.

Dirt fills the basement and bushes grow where the house once stood. Scattered amongst the bushes lie the rest of our lost clothing. I pick up my shirt and it smells smoky like it has been in a fire.

We explore the area. Up on the hill behind the house, we find a cemetery. A big fancy grave marker marks the grave of Robert and Rebeca Goodman.

It shows Robert Goodman was born on April 17, 1821 and died on July 2, 1863. Rebeca Goodman was born November 27, 1938 and died on October 27, 1863.

It reads, "Beloved Husband and Wife. Torn apart by war. Reunited after death."

Reacting in a daze, Megan and I take our clothes. We clasp hands. I kiss Megan as we walk back to the car.

We never visit that park again. We still do not understand what really happened.

Was it a big hallucination? Did we imagine the whole thing? Or did we actually visit a ghost house and become possessed by spirits?

When we reach the car, Megan pulls out her phone and shows me the pictures of us inside the house.

We go to Chili's and eat dinner. Megan drinks several Mimosas. That puts us both in a much better mood.

After dinner we go back to Megan's place. It had been a shocking first date. Nevertheless, it did lead to second date.