Storms of the Mind

Alley McCord stood in a hypnotic trance, gazing into the storm’s wrath as it hurled its vengeance over Sandi Ridge Mountain. Her placid face showed little emotion as she looked on, for she knew, fear would be a wasted emotion. The old house would never surrender to the cold-blooded temperament of Hell’s fury. Unwavering, she would accept the challenge, as she had so many times before and in the end triumph. No matter how violent, the mighty storm fumed and bellowed its greatness couldn’t tarnish the guarded sanctuary of the long forgotten. Faithful watch, the spirits kept, as they sheltered their own, and nothing could penetrate the morbid cloak that had laid claim to the old house and its dwellers, long years ago. Outside these shadowy walls the world had moved on, just as the storm would, but she would remain behind. Long ago discarded, no one had noticed and no one had cared. Did anyone realize she had stopped living four, long years ago, but still she existed? Forever, doomed to go through the motion’s of living for her lifeless heart refused to grow silent. I am still here, she wanted to scream, but there was no one to hear her cries. Fate had chosen her destiny and time had robbed her of her identity, leaving her with muddled delusion’s of what she had once thought to be real and cherished. Forgotten by the outside world, nothing around her seemed genuine anymore. As frightening as that awareness may be it was even more devastating to grasp one didn’t recognize the being that occupied her soul. A warm tear ebbed down the young woman’s face as she abruptly realizes, she too had become a lost spirit, a creation from the past.

Staring into the powerful storm, she wondered if this storm was merely a disguise for other lost sprits that had found their home once again. Had all the forces of heaven united to become one mighty warrior, and tonight did they refuse to stay discarded to wonder in a forgotten world of darkness? Perhaps, they were here for revenge as they spewed out their vengeance against the old remaining. Quivering unsteadily, her old windows rattled as the ear piercing thunder unleashed its commanding roars, rocking her to her rickety foundation. Smothering, thick air cracked with intensity as a mournful howl cried out over the mountain. Driving rain slammed relentlessly against the old two-story house as the unbridled storm released its hostile fury, sparing nothing in its path. Wild, brilliant lightning flickered off the cracked walls of the old quarters, demanding her attention, as it streaked through the dark room to outline the shabby furniture.

Instantly, her weary mind portrayed the lightning as beautiful ballerinas, about to perform a grand recital. Patiently, she waited for the mystical opera to unfold, in the moody gloom of the unsettled night. A peaceful sigh escaped her lips as the splendid opera leaped to life, whisking her faraway from her inescapable prison. A look of unearthly serenity captivated the face of the beautiful young woman as she examined each spectral of the maddening storm. Soon, she was unaware of the forceful storm bombarding Wise County as it heaved over the mountains of Southwest Virginia. For a short while, the magical spell captured her memory and whisked her from reality. The room burst to life around her as sweet enchantment cradled her to shield her from the worst of all evils, that being, Aunt Leigh Ritchie. The old spiteful woman was her warden, keeper, and owner of her soul.

A smile of harmony borders her face as she closed her eyes and slipped into her fantasy world, for here the old woman’s almighty grip couldn’t penetrate to tarnish her magnificent paradise. Surrendering to the tranquility, she danced with the lightning, soaring far above the clouds, leaving behind the last four horrible years. The beautiful ballerinas’ swayed gracefully, as their soft tune rang out over Sandi Ridge Mountain. Long forgotten tunes, also abandoned in past, now rang out the sweet familiar song’s that warmed her frosty heart. Humming softly, she watched as the dancers joined hands and soared upward toward a dazzling rainbow. Million’s of glittering star’s cascaded around them as their voice’s echoed through the heavens. Slowly, she opened her eyes as the last dancer faded into the galaxy of beaming light. Willing them to come back, she turned toward the dancing illumination, only to find the beautiful ballerinas’ had transformed to become her Aunt Leigh. The lovely creatures now depicted the old woman’s gawky frame, acting out one of her insane tantrums. Erratically, the lightning whizzed back and fourth, darting in all directions, yet having no particular destination, just like her aunt.  Mournfully, a loud sigh of disappointment rushed from her mouth as she tried to ward away the unwanted images that threatened to rob her sweet contentment. Instantly, she threw her hand over her mouth in hopes of stifling her outburst but she knew it was too late. Automatically, her eyes turned toward the old rickety staircase and her heart descended as Aunt Leigh came parading down the stairs.

“What are you doing down here!” the old woman barked, not waiting for a reply. “I hate these darned storms. You can be sure, as soon as good luck comes my way, something will come along and ruin my good fortune. Here! Go outside and throw this cover up to shield my spider and her web. I must protect my messenger from this blasted storm. If you had any consideration for me, you would have seen to my “spider writer’s” safety, once the storm began. I would do it myself, but we both know what is out there waiting on me. Those perverted mishaps of nature have been after me for years. However, I am just a little bit wiser than they are and that is why I am still here. Now, get going and do as I say.”

Not surprised by the old woman’s strange demand, Alley took the cover and went out on the back porch. There was no need to question the old woman’s odd behavior, for in her mind everything she said or did made perfect sense. Long ago, Alley had become familiar to this way of life, so she expected nothing more from her eccentric aunt. As the mountain vibrated around her, she carefully draped the web and went back inside. A total drenching was a small price to pay if she could avoid an argument with Aunt Leigh.

“Well? Did you get there in time to save it?” The old woman scurried toward her wringing her hands.

“Yes, Aunt Leigh. I think your spider is safe,” Alley replied, shaking the rain from her soaked hair.

“Good!  You know that spider is writing a message for me. She is a good-luck spider, and I intend to see no harm comes to her. I saw a perfect “H” written in the web today. Now, that could