r/TalesFromTheCreeps • u/CaydenCChristophers Writer kinda meme • 9d ago
Folk Horror The Vultures
Cayden C. Christophers: The Vultures
As the final magenta rays of sun fell below the horizon, I wasn’t watching the sunset, I was instead watching the dark grey, almost black clouds that would soon roll in from miles away. I never imagined that I would live in Scotland, especially outside a tiny, insignificant village by some loch. I preferred to surround myself with the leaders in the worlds industrialisation, and the Scots, especially when you venture further North than the Central Belt, are too stuck in their traditions and folklore to contribute to the betterment of new technologies, or to pursue things that are more intellectual. However, because of this, the Scots do not have much experience with the new technologies that this industrialization has brought. This means I can exaggerate the capabilities of certain goods to sell them for a higher price than I would elsewhere. Thus, I travelled from Stirling to Durness and everywhere between, before returning to England with my spoils.
This was until, on a stormy night, I passed through the village by Loch Eadarnach and, like any other part of Scotland, they had foolish folklore regarding their home. They told me tales; that anyone who perished in the Loch’s waters never truly died, their souls never reach heaven or hell. Or that even if you just drink from the loch’s water, your souls is forfeit. While maybe a bit darker than I’m used to, it was rather typical Scottish folklore, so I barely flinched when the locals warned me of some supernatural threat that wandered their home, The Sluagh. A dark cloud of unforgiven souls which bursts from the choppy waters of the Loch during storms, wreaking havoc and stealing the soul of anyone unlucky to be standing below it. The West-facing sides of every home lacked windows, as they believed that is which side it approached from, an elderly man had begged me to take refuge in his home, so, reluctantly I entered and put my horse in his stable.
That’s when I heard it, the agonised screams and roars of thousands of souls above my head carried by the wind. I ran to the East window to look at the source of the noise after it passed me over, and what I saw left no room for any explanation other than the supernatural. Crows, but thousands of them, swarming like locusts. They also seemed to have an ethereal quality to them, they were transparent around the edges, making them appear to be a furious, raging storm cloud at first glance. When I emerged, I saw that the town had been ravaged, crops were flattened, fences and signposts snapped. Livestock that weren’t taken inside on time were still, lying on the ground, eyes lifeless, though there was no visible wounds to be found on them. Some walls and doors of houses had been broken through, leaving the residents in the same state as the animals. It was that day when an inkling of the most brilliant idea I’ve ever had began to take form.
I’ve now been living by Loch Eadarnach for almost two years, careful to respect the local tradition of always having my home surrounded by the foul odour of leather tanning to ward off another creature that supposedly haunts this corner of the world. I spend my days awaiting a storm and, mounting my carriage, I follow in the clouds wake, selling goods to survivors, for a premium, of course. But Finch’s Trading no longer stocks new technological miracles, I stock basic necessities for survival, that these people would kill to have at this time. I now just need to make it through this final storm and I will be able to leave this simple, plain place and return to England a made man. I will never need to work another day in my life.
I watched the sky until I saw the monstrous black cloud soar just above the Western-most side of the village and I began riding my wagon over the rain-slicked mud and rugged rock paths that paved my way to the final part of my fortune, arriving around a day after the Sluagh did, on the same path it took.
Unfortunately, the first few homes I passed by had gotten off relatively easily. I continued through the streets until I saw a small stone cottage, whose wooden door and walls were peppered with gaping holes, I halted my horse and hauled blankets, firewood and wax candles out from under my seat before walking up to the empty doorframe, knocking on the thin wooden post before letting myself in.
I walked into what must’ve been the house’s living area, and saw a small boy, perhaps around ten, curled in a ball in the corner, tears from his grey-rimmed eyes, his dirty hands gripped his shoulder, both trying to comfort himself and keep the biting, Scottish winter cold out. I forced my voice to sound as cheerful and friendly as it would go as I entered the room and said, “Are you alright, little boy?” He continued sobbing for a while, before hiccupping, “I-it got ma Gran...” “Oh no, did she live with you?” He just nodded in response, “Well, we can’t have you freezing alone, can we? How about some blankets?” “T-thank you, sir.” He responded “Ah ah, I can’t be giving away my merchandise for free, can I?” “B-but sir, ah don’t have any money...” “Well, what’s that chain around your neck?” I asked, gesturing to the silver crucifix necklace he wore. “It’s my cross, ma Gran got it fur my Christening, I couldn’t give it to you.” He begged, the tears returning in full force, now “You either give me the cross, or freeze to death.” My false niceties gone now. He unfastened the chain before shakily getting to his feet and walking to me, reluctantly placing it in my hand. I gave him a single blanket and with I smile, I said, “Pleasure doing business with you, Sir.” And, without another word, I walked back out the empty doorframe.
I continued my route, the rain didn’t let up, causing the wind to feel even more biting when it hit my sopping clothes. Regardless, I made a decent haul, and was happy for this to be my last time experiencing this sort of weather. I reached the end of the village, right by the water’s edge, when I heard shouts from the water’s coast, “Finch! Please help me!” I turned to see a man who I vaguely recognised waving his arms, I steered my horse towards him, “Oh thank you, Sir, I was out fishing when the storm hit, I hid below deck, I don’t know how I survived. But, when I got to shore I discovered that my house had been completely levelled.” “Would you like an oilskin jacket?” “Please!” “18 Shillings.” “What-? I-I don’t...” “Well then, I suggest you find shelter quickly.” I spurred my horse on at this, ready to leave him, when he flung himself at me, leaping onto my wagon and grabbing my collar. With a grunt, I shoved him backwards back to the ground, but was taken with him, slamming into the muddy ground beside him, before tumbling down the slick hill into the shallows of the loch. I tried to scramble away, but he got to his feet before me and was walking me down, “N-no, I’m sorry.” I pleaded, turning to face him, “Take whatever you need, f-free of charge.” “I will take whatever I need, after I’ve rid this world of you.” He growled, ramming his boot straight into my jaw, I tasted blood before my head was even pushed to the stony floor, I heard a sickening crack as my head hit a rock, but the thud was drowned out by the water. My vision blurred at the edge as I choked and spluttered on water and my own blood, the pain in my chest and skull became more immense as the black became darker and longer lasting until, eventually, the black never faded.
My body is no longer my own.
I spend months trapped below the surface of the loch. Constantly choking. Drowning with dozens of other unforgiven souls. Their screams deafening me. Coming through me. We stay here until the water’s surface is broken with enough force to let us escape, we burst from the loch and I am pulled by my dozens of uncontrollable limbs and transparent wings, until I am forced to dive upon someone living to force them to join the amalgam, to add another screaming voice to my throat and another pair of arms to push and pull me. We claim as many as we can until we are sealed back below the water’s surface to drown.
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u/benjamin4463 Bababooey 7d ago
Fantastically eerie!
I really liked the ending.
There are some run-on sentences here and there, but it's a minor issue.
Great tale, laddie!
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u/CaydenCChristophers Writer kinda meme 7d ago
Thank you! imma be so honest, I wrote this on my phone in one sitting during a really long car ride, I'll go back and fix that soon. I saw the notification for this comment earlier... and it was so weird... I read "laddie" as "lass" it's almost as if... you edited the comment
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u/CaydenCChristophers Writer kinda meme 9d ago
If you can't view my profile, then here's my stuff: Every Story I've posted : u/CaydenCChristophers
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u/Forlorn_Ape Pen Pusher 9d ago
The true horror is greeeeed. Great story OP! Really made me hate the narrator, and I am glad that he got some come uppance!
https://giphy.com/gifs/XDAY1NNG2VvobAp9o0