Locked In Nature - A Gothic Short Story

As the flames leapt up around him, Walter knew he had to escape before he was caught. As he started to turn, he felt a sharp pain on the back of his head, then, darkness.

It was the morning of Independence day in Candor, New York, when Walter woke to his friend tapping on his bed frame.

“Come on, get up!” said Mike, “If you don’t get your work done now, it’ll be too hot later to do it.”

Walter slowly put on his overalls and prepared for his day on the farm. He finished off last year’s harvest of oats for breakfast then, the two of them walked down the half-mile stretch of road past the flower garden and the barn, to the five acre field.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us,” said Walter with an unenthusiastic tone, “we should probably start planting now.”

They walked over to the tool shed and each picked up a shovel, a rake, and a hoe, then they walked back towards the empty field. They came back to find Walter’s dad looking out on the field.

“Ah, planting time. Hopefully we’ll have a good return this year,” said Walt Sr. “Walter. Make sure you frequently rest. Remember, you still have some strength to build up before you go off planting the whole field by yourself.”

Walter was not the tallest or strongest boy for his age. Compared to Mike, he was a foot shorter and just over half his weight.

“Mike. If you see Walter exerting himself too hard, let him know he should take a break.” “I’ll look out for him Mr. Noxin.”

After Walt Sr. walked back inside the house, Walter and Mike started tilling and seeding the field.

After they worked for about thirty minutes, Walter asked “do you want anything from inside the house? I’m going in to get some lemonade.” “Sure, Lemonade sounds great!” said Mike in exhaustion.

Walter headed inside and said hi to his dad who was watching the morning news, and his mom who was in the process of cooking up lunch.

“Mom,” said Walter, “where’s the lemonade?” “You may have to get a jar from downstairs,” said Susan.

Walter walked around the outside of the house and down into the cellar. He grabbed the last jar of lemonade and carried it back up.

As he walked through the living room, Walter overheard he anchorman reporting breaking news. “Warning! Killer bees are making their way through the county. Stay inside and close all doors and windows.”

“Ha. What a joke,” said Walt Sr. “Do you think killer bees are really going to come and kill us?”

“I don’t know,” said Walter, “it could happen.”

“Haha, what a foolish idea,” said Walt Sr. Walter walked back outside to find that Mike had almost finished the entire field by himself.

“Wow!” exclaimed Walter. “I’m glad I have your help!”

“Hey, anytime,” said Mike. “I like helping out.”

The two finished up planting the rest of the field and went inside to have lunch. “You boys don't forget that we’re going watch the fireworks in Ithaca tonight,” said Susan. “We’ll leave in about an hour.”

Walt, Walter, and Mike sat down and ate salisbury steak with some freshly baked cornbread, then headed out in the family car. They arrived in Ithaca at five o’clock with plenty of time to spare before the evening fireworks.

“How about you boys scope out what you may want to eat tonight,” said Susan.

Mike ran down to the food stands with Walter trailing him. They were overwhelmed with the selection. There were steaks, and breads, and corn, and a wide variety of pies. They hurried back to Walter’s parents to let them know of the feast they planned to have. As the night approached, the Noxins and Mike ate their dinner and each chose a piece of pie for dessert.

Just as Mr. Noxin was going in for his first bite, a bee landed on his plate. “Why hello there Mr. Bee,” he said as he gently brushed the bee off his plate.

Walter started to eat his pie when a faint humming noise arose. The noise gradually grew louder and louder. Walter looked up and to his horror, he saw bees. Millions of bees were flying above them. All the people in the field were screaming and running away, but the Noxins were not fast enough, for the bees had already come down on them.

“Help!” Exclaimed Mr. Noxin as he was being stung by the bees. “They’re carrying me away.”

“I can’t help!” screamed Walter, as the pain became more and more intense. The burning sensation and the repetitive punctures were too much to handle. Walter blacked out.

It was the morning of Independence day in Candor, New York, when Walter woke to his friend tapping his bed frame.

“Come on, get up!” said Mike, “If you don’t get your work done now, it’ll be too hot later to do it.”

Walter slowly put on his overalls and prepared for his day on the farm. He thought for sure that he finished off last year’s harvest of oats for breakfast yesterday, but he may have misjudged how much was left. After Walter ate, the two of them walked down the half-mile stretch of road past the flower garden and the barn, to the five acre field.

“Hey. Didn’t we plant the crops yesterday?” said Walter, puzzled to find the field empty.

“Are you crazy?” asked Mike. “I wouldn’t have gotten you up this early if the field was already planted. Come on now, let's go get the tools from the shed.”

Walter reluctantly followed Mike to the shed and picked up a shovel, a rake, and a hoe, then they walked back to the field.

“Hey Mike, did you see my dad this morning?” “Your dad? You told me your dad has been gone for years. You haven’t seen him since he left when you were young.”

Walter quickly ran back inside. “Mom! Where’s dad?!” said Walter in a panicked tone.

“I don't know sweetie. He’s been gone for years. Now remember, we’re going to watch the fireworks in Ithaca tonight. Go tell Michael that we’ll be leaving right after lunch.”

Walter ran over to the TV, where his father usually was, and turned on the morning news.

“Warning! Killer bees are making their way through the county. Stay inside and close all doors and windows,” reported the news anchor.

“It is the same story,” Walter said to himself.

Walter ran to the field and told Mike to get in the house. Walter and Mike walked back into the house.

“I hope you boys are hungry,” said Susan, “I’ve made some nice salisbury steak and fresh cornbread.”

The boys ate their lunch then headed out in the family car to Ithaca. They arrived in Ithaca at five o’clock with plenty of time to spare before the evening fireworks.

“How about you boys scope out what you may want to eat tonight,” said Susan.

Mike ran down to the food stands with Walter trailing him. They were overwhelmed with the selection. There were steaks, and breads, and corn, and a wide variety of pies. They hurried back to Walter’s mom and told her of all the food there was. She gave them some cash and they bought all the food they wanted. Before the fireworks show, the three of them decided to enjoy some pie. As Mike was enjoying his cherry pie, a bee landed on his fork. Mike quickly brushed the bee off and continued eating his pie.

Walter started to eat his pie when a faint humming noise arose. The noise kept growing louder and louder. Walter looked up and to his horror, he saw bees. Millions of bees were flying above them. All the people in the field were screaming and running away, but they were not fast enough. The bees came down and attacked Mike. Mike tried to flee, but the bees lifted him off his feet and into the air. Walter felt the familiar pain of burning become more and more intense. The pain of the stings was unbearable. Walter blacked out.

It was the morning of Independence day in Candor, New York, when Walter woke up. It was nearing noon, and already getting warm outside. He wanted to get an early start that morning to plant the crops for the season, but could not be bothered to start this late. He walked into the kitchen and found his mom cooking salisbury steak and cornbread.

“Come sit down and have a bite to eat,” said Walter’s mom, “we’ll be eating late tonight. Remember that we’re going to Ithaca this evening to watch the fireworks show.”

“Ma, where’s Mike?” asked Walter.

“Who’s Mike?”

“My best friend. Why did he not come to wake me up this morning?”

“Sweetie, I don't know who you’re talking about. There aren’t any people around for miles.”

“What is happening?” Walter asked himself.

Walter took his food into the living room and turned on the final minutes of the morning news. “Warning! Killer bees are making their way thr-.”

Walter turned the TV off and, finished up his meal that he was quickly getting bored with, and hopped in the car. They arrived in Ithaca at five o’clock with plenty of time to spare before the evening fireworks.

“Walter, how about you go down to the food stands and see if there is anything you want to get for dinner.”

“I’m not all that hungry ma.”

Later that evening after Susan ate her meal, she decided to try one of the homemade apple pies. Just as she was taking her first bite, a bee landed on her plate. She quickly swatted it away, and tried to bat at it as it flew away.

Walter started hearing the familiar faint humming noise. The noise kept growing louder and louder. Walter looked up and saw what he expected, he saw bees. Millions of bees were flying above them. All the people in the field were screaming and running away, but the Noxins were not fast enough. The bees went and attacked Walter and his mom.

“Help me Walter,” cried Susan as she was slowly being lifted into the air.

Walter knew there was nothing he could do about it. He just had to let her go. The familiar sense of pain was slowly building. Walter was fading in and out of consciousness when finally, he blacked out.

Walter woke up to Mike shaking their bunkbed. Walter sat up in his bunk and looked over at his watch. It read 7:00 - June 27th.

“Come on, get up!” said Mike, “The warden will be coming around any moment now.”

Walter climbed out of the cot and put on his standard orange uniform and reported to his cell door.

“Michael Roberts,” called the warden.

“Present,” answered Mike.

“Walter Noxin,” “Present,” replied Walter.

“Can you believe that we’re being let out today?” asked Mike as the two of them gathered their belongings.

“It sure seems like it has been forever since I’ve seen the outside world. I really regret setting fire to that forest,” replied Walter.

They walked down to the main hall and ate their last breakfast in the Ithaca County Jail, then left once and for all. Walter rode back to his house with his father and Mike, down the familiar road to Candor.

Walter walked inside and immediately turned on the news to catch up with the outside world.

“Today’s top story,” the reporter announced, “a new species of bees have been biologically engineered! The use of these new bees is not certain, but scientists claim that these bees will double the production of honey. Although there is a higher reward, there is much more risk. These bees are able to kill healthy human beings. If one of these bees were to get out into the world, the human race would be in terrible danger.”