It was difficult to remember when the fear began. Janie had been walking the same route for a few months now, after she'd decided to renew the permit she had for the Nature Reserve. That had been in the summer, when the weather was sunny and the days seemed to stretch on forever. Walking through the fields on a warm evening was totally different to now, when it grew dark at four o'clock.
This afternoon she'd set off earlier than usual but a meeting with a neighbour and a chat that went on for longer than expected meant that she was now half way through the walk and it was almost dark. It was too late to turn back so she had no choice but to press on. The remainder of the walk took her through the deepest, darkest part of the woods, where the trees grew close to the path and the bushes were an impenetrable black. Overhead, the constant flapping of birds disturbed by her progress had started to irritate her and the occasional panicked squawk of a pheasant set her already heightened nerves on edge.
As she came out into a small clearing she stopped in case any deer were grazing. The early evening was sometimes when they emerged from the woods to nibble on the soft grass and Janie paused to listen, but all she could hear was the thudding of her own heart. As she went to walk on, she heard the faint snap of a twig and she stopped again, her ears straining to capture any other sounds.
She was aware of a darker mass to her left, within the bushes, and as she turned her head, she saw it move faster, back into the depths of the trees. Feeling suddenly very alone and aware that what little light there was had faded fast, she upped her pace, her breathing quickening as she lengthened her strides. All she wanted was to get home now, reach the safety of her little cottage, light the fire, turn on the lamps and shut the darkness out.
It was probably one of the little Muntjac deer that roamed the woods and lakes of the Nature reserve. Either that or a fox starting out on his nightly hunt. Thoughts of escaped lunatics and madmen sprang into her mind but she pushed them hurriedly away and pressed on, recognising an old oak tree as the spot where she turned for home.
A couple of days later, Janie was chatting to one of the old farmers outside the post office in the village. He'd lived in the area all his life and knew all there was to know about the countryside, the old traditions and rural life. Janie found him fascinating. Taking a break from her desk in her make-shift office where she carried out her small business, she encouraged him to chat away, relishing the feeling of the winter sun on her face.
"I've been walking in the Nature Reserve," Janie said when he mentioned the various walks around the village. "It's lovely but I think I'll stop going there so late in the afternoon!"
The old farmer looked at her intently. "Hmmm, wouldn't be a bad idea. There's loads of old tales about the woods there." He chuckled, but Janie felt a shiver of fear run down her spine.
"What sort of tales?"
"Oh, nothing for you to worry about!" He laughed and patted her on the back. "Maybe just go there during the day, eh? And take someone with you. Young girl like you should be careful out walking on her own. Want to borrow my dog?"
Janie shook her head. "They're not allowed in the reserve. I'd love a dog, though." She sighed wistfully and looked down at the farmer's sheepdog lying at his feet. "He's gorgeous."
"Working dog, wouldn't be without 'im." He whistled and the dog stood up, his tail wagging. "Well, must be off, things to do." He patted Janie on the shoulder again and with a wave disappeared off down the lane.
Janie returned to her cottage, her mind full of the nearby woods and fields. She was angry with herself for feeling afraid of the walk now. With the farmer's words ringing in her ears she felt reluctant to set off as she usually did when she finished her work for the day. Sitting at her desk concentrating on the computer it normally felt wonderful to get out into the fresh air and stretch her aching muscles.
That evening she walked around the village for half an hour but it wasn't the same. Although the streets were quiet, she felt hemmed in by the buildings and longed for the open fields and silent woods.
The next day as she went to buy a newspaper, she bumped into one of the older women who frequently stopped for a chat. A stalwart of the village WI, the older woman was delighted to stop and talk as she'd been trying to get Janie to join the Institute as well. "New blood it needs!" she'd almost bellowed when Janie had first been introduced. "We need some young gals like you joining us. Bring us all into the twenty first century!"
She also had a dog with her, an elderly Labrador who gently wheezed as the two women talked. Janie tentatively brought up the subject of local walks. "Where do you take Buster?"
"Oh, just around the village now," the older woman replied. "He's too old to go over the fields any more, but when he were a pup...well! I'd let him off the lead and that'd be it! Wouldn't see him no more!"
"I was talking to one of the old farmers yesterday," Janie said, stroking the dog's soft ears. "He said there were some old tales about the woods around here, and the Nature Reserve... Do you know anything?"
The older woman paused before speaking. "You don't want to listen to them old buggers. But..." she paused again, "It might not be a bad idea to take someone with you. A friend, perhaps?"
"Why?"
The other woman shrugged her shoulders. "Just to be on the safe side, love. You don't know who's hanging around these days."
Janie frowned. "But surely you have to get a permit to walk there? No-one else should be in the reserve without one?"
"There's talk of poachers that go in there at night, but they've seen things..." She shuddered. "Strange things that they can't explain."
"What things?" Janie looked at her in dismay. What had she seen the other evening? That had slunk away into the bushes?
"I don't know, love." The older woman said. "But just promise me you won't go wandering around in there on your own?"
Janie agreed and they went their separate ways, but she couldn't shake off an uneasy feeling that the enjoyment she'd taken for granted over the last few months was spoilt by what she'd heard.
On Saturday morning Janie decided to go back to the Nature Reserve. It was a beautiful late Autumn day and the sunlight filtered through the remaining leaves on the trees casting everything in a golden light. Janie firmly pushed all thoughts of strange sightings from her mind and decided to enjoy the walk. She would appreciate the sounds and smells of the woods and look out for wildlife. She had her phone with her but she was hoping to see other walkers out as well. Days like these wouldn't be around for long.
Apart from the occasional call of a bird, the woods were silent. Overhead, a plane left a white plume of vapour and the sun, shining out of the clear blue sky, warmed the skin on her face. It was hard to imagine it was the middle of November. Janie walked quietly along the grassy paths, noticing the recent tyre marks of the small all-terrain vehicle that regularly patrolled the reserve. Surely people who worked there would have seen anything out of the ordinary?
As she walked she began to relax and enjoy her surroundings. All thoughts of strange happenings and weird creatures disappeared as she spotted a deer in the distance, the sunlight dappling it's ruddy coat. She paused as it looked her way and then with a sudden bound it was off, fleeing back into the trees. Janie was happy, though, at least she'd seen something worthwhile on her walk and her fears seemed to have melted away with the sunlight.
A few yards on, though, something happened to change her mood from one of contentment to dread. Hanging on a branch of a tree was a dead rabbit, its glassy eyes staring sightlessly at Janie as it swung in the breeze. A cloud passed over the sun and Janie shivered as she watched it swing, its fur matted with blood. Up above was a huge crow, its beady eyes watching Janie as she gazed at the stricken rabbit and behind her she heard the snap of a twig as if something was moving closer to her. She turned to see a dark shape move quickly through the thick hedge behind her and a flock of birds flew up from their roosts, the pheasants crying out in alarm.
Janie turned and ran, her breath coming in gasps as she stumbled on hidden tree roots. The woods seemed to be closing in on her, the gnarled branches of the trees changing shapes so they resembled ancient arms stretching out to try and grab her as she fled. She could hear a crashing behind her as if something was chasing her and she quickened her pace, trying desperately to reach the perimeter fence that separated the reserve from the fields beyond. She could see a tractor moving slowly in the distance but just as she reached the fence she fell again and the world went black...
Janie woke and opened her eyes, tears gathering from the brightness of the sun. She ached all over and tentatively moved her legs to see if they would work. All was peaceful and quiet and she heard the distant cooing of a dove. Raising her hand to her head she felt a large bump on her forehead and cautiously sat up, her head spinning slightly as she moved upright. She was covered in mud and leaves but the thing that set her heart hammering again was the dead rabbit placed next to her, its dead eyes fixed and unseeing.
To be continued...
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