“The Mountain”
By Stephen Mars
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2011 Stephen Mars
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
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The wind howled and the walls creaked inside the small suburban home. “Mommy!” screamed young Liam Jameson in his bed. He sat up as stiff as a board as sharp streaks lightning flashed engulfed the sky outside the window. A young woman wearing a fleece nightgown burst through the bedroom door. She sat down at the end of the young boy’s bed and grabbed his clammy hand. The warmth from her touch made Liam feel better, if only for a moment. “What’s wrong sweetie, was it another nightmare?” Another flash of lightning revealed to the boy a small bruise underneath his mother’s eye. “No mommy there’s a monster in my room.” His mother smiled faintly. “Liam there’s no such thing remember? Do you want me to stay here until you fall asleep?” Liam nodded and wiped a tear from his eye with the sleeve of his dinosaur pajamas. “Liam don’t worry I’m here” she said wrapping her arms around him. The next thing the boy knew, he was alone in his bed again. He sat upright and wondered if his mother comforting him was just a dream. He saw a red flash glowing from the cracks of his closet door. Terrified, Liam pulled up his blanket over his head and hid underneath. He heard the wind outside howl again. It was as if a whole pack of wolves were crouched outside his window. “You’re not real. You’re not real. You’re not real.” Liam whispered to himself. “Liam.” called a voice familiar to him. The young boy pushed his bed covers away and looked at the closet door. The sound of a gentle knocking now joined the dim red glow. “Come here Liam.” Echoed the voice from inside the door. Despite his fear, the young boy was drawn to the mysterious call. Liam got out of bed and walked to the door. The red shine glowed even brighter through the dark cracks. Liam extended his hand toward the doorknob. As he got closer he began to feel a wave of heat brush against his body. Sweat trickled down from the top of his brow. He clutched the doorknob with his tiny fingers and it burned to the touch. His eyes filled with tears but he did not let go. Liam pulled open the closet door with all his might. The door swung open and he felt his body being sucked forward into an unknown darkness. His head spun and his bones chilled as he was brought into the abyss. Liam woke up on a rocky surface. He lay on his stomach and a sweeping pile of dust flowed into his mouth as he breathed. “Need a hand?” called a sly voice above him as he coughed. The young boy turned his head up and saw a man extending his hand. The man looked a lot like himself. “Who are you?” asked Liam wiping dust and sweat off his forehead. The man pulled Liam’s hand and brought him up to his feet. “Isn’t it obvious?” said the man with a grin. Liam brushed tiny rocks off his pajamas. “Do you know why you’re here?” asked the man. Liam looked around and saw complete blackness except for the red aura in the sky and the rocky ground beneath his feet. “You have to climb the mountain, Liam.” said the man pointing in the direction behind the young boy. Liam turned around and saw a large mountain in the distance. Fire sprouted out of every rock and lava dripped down every cliff. The man laughed. “Scared are we?” The man snapped his fingers and they both disappeared into smoke. When they reappeared they were in front of the mountain. The heat and the smell of burning ash overwhelmed the young boy. Liam bent over and threw up on the man’s shiny black shoes. “Come on Liam, you’re gonna have to be stronger than that!” said the man pulling Liam up by the back of his pajamas. Tears rolled down the young boy’s cheek. “I can’t do it sir, it’s too big.” The man shook his head and pointed to the peak of the mountain. “I believe in you Liam, I really do.” He said adjusting his black tie. “But if you ever want to see your mommy again you’re going to have to climb this mountain.” The young boy took a deep breath and put one foot on the first step of the molten pyramid. “That’s a start!” laughed the man. Liam took another step. The man squealed in laughter as he jumped ten steps up the mountain with ease. He grabbed a flaming ledge above himself with one hand swung like a child would on a playground. “Look at me Liam.” He sounded hysterical. “It’s not so hard.” Liam ran up quickly prove the man wrong, but he slipped. The ledge underneath him broke, and his back grazed a small pool of lava as he stumbled back to the bottom. When Liam opened his eyes the man stood above him with his arm extended. The man’s golden cufflinks shined against the red glow above them. “Bit off a little more than you could chew didn’t you Liam?” said the man. “Get up!” Liam reached for his hand and once again the young boy in dinosaur pajamas stood at the base of the dangerous mountain. Before Liam could attempt to climb it again, the man snapped his fingers and he reappeared at the very top. The man was only but an ant to Liam. “I made it up here. Why can’t you?” said the man sitting down on the steep ledge nonchalantly. Liam gritted his teeth. “Shut up!” he screamed at the man. “That’s the spirit” the man replied. “Come and get me then, if you can.” The young boy jumped up swiftly avoiding the sharp rocks, lava pools, and blazing fire. Surprised that Liam wasn’t being hit with anything, the man stood up in frustration. “That’s not how you do it Liam!” he screamed. Suddenly a large boulder appeared in the palms of the man’s hands and he hurled the rock down the mountain towards the young boy. Liam moved to get out of the way but it hit his arm and he stumbled backward. His slipped off the side but managed to grab a rocky ledge with both hands. Still trying to pull himself up and dangling in the dark air, Liam saw the man smiling at the top. The man casually walked down step by step toward Liam who was holding on for dear life. The man walked up to the young boy and crouched beside him on the ledge. Liam’s hands barely gripped the rock beside the pant leg of the man’s designer suit. “I knew you couldn’t make it Liam.” The man said snapping his fingers in the air. All the fire and smoke that engulfed the mountain suddenly ceased. Liam looked down and noticed he was now dangling on a cliff where a pool of bubbling hot lava boiled and flowed below him. The man laughed. “You didn’t think you would actually make it did you?” Liam tried to finally pull himself up but it was no use. “Just let it go, kid. It’s inevitable and you know it.” said the man pulling out an apple and taking a big bite. “You’re not real!” screamed the young boy. The man laughed as he tossed the apple over and sent it sizzling into the liquid fire below. “I am real Liam. I’m inside you right now and I will be for the rest of your life.” Liam’s gave it all he could to lift himself up but his hands finally slipped off the ledge. The man grabbed his arm just in time and pulled him up beside him. The sound of the man’s laughter echoed in the darkness. “Were you scared boy?” he sat patting the young boy on the head. Liam closed his eyes. “You can’t hurt me. You’re only a dream. You’re only a nightmare!” “Open your eyes kid. This isn’t a dream.” Liam sat up and noticed they were back on the rocky plain. The mountain stood cold and quiet in front of him. Smoke suddenly clouded Liam’s vision and he felt his throat dry up. “Well I’ve had my fun.” said the man. “To go home all you have to do is walk through this door.” A hovering red rectangle appeared instantly beside the man. Liam stood up. “No.” he replied confidently. “I’m going to the top.” The man shook his head. “Oh, Liam, why won’t you learn? If you walk through this door you’ll go back home safe and sound in your bed. Isn’t that what you want?” Liam ignored the man and he started to ascend the now foggy mountain once more. “Hey get back here!” The man ran up behind the young boy and grabbed his shoulder. Liam pushed him away and picked up a rock at his feet. The man once again tried to grab him but Liam smacked the rock right into the man’s face. Liam watched as the man rolled down the side of the mountain and then finally disappear into a cloud of smoke. The young boy continued to climb the treacherous mountain. He stepped over still burning lava pools, avoided more falling boulders, and even brushed away an attack from an angry six eyed crow. Liam reached the top and immediately notices a small waterfall and garden that sat across the peak. In the middle of it all stood a glowing white door. As Liam walked over to the peaceful scenery he was stopped by a cold hand gripping the back of his leg. “Oh, no you don’t!” called the man. His face was bruised and bloody and he had a devilish look in his eyes. Liam broke free from his grasp but the man climbed up to the top to meet him face to face. “Maybe I underestimated you. One thing is for sure though. You are not getting through that door!” A small red blade appeared in the man’s hand and he approached at the young boy. A long swipe sliced the young boy’s pajamas across his chest and Liam fell on his back. The man laughed as he stood towering over the young boy. “Goodbye Liam.” said the man. The young boy closed his eyes. Liam waited a few moments and opened his eyes. The man was nowhere to be seen. Liam sat up in shock and turned around. The waterfall and garden glowed brighter than ever before. The young boy stood up and took a deep breath before walking through the white door. Darkness surrounded him and then suddenly a flash of light blinded him. When his eyes focused he saw the worried look of his mother standing in front of him. “There you are!” she said sighing in relief. Liam jumped into her embrace. “What were you doing in the closet?” she said. Liam cried and he buried his head into her chest. “There was a monster, and this fire, and I had to…” “Calm down Liam” she said interrupting him. “It was just a dream.” Liam sniffled. “Really?” “Yes of course. When I was your age I had nightmares all the time. There’s nothing to worry sweetie, you’re safe now.” Liam stood up and his mother wiped the tears away from his rosy cheeks. “Hey listen.” she said putting her hands gently on his bony hips. “I called Grandma and we’re going to live at her house for a while. You’re going to have a new room, a big backyard to play in and new friends to meet. What do you say?” “Is she gonna make us apple pie every day?” asked Liam. “We’ll see.” she replied chuckling. “Can my room not have a closet too?” The young boy’s mother stood up and took his little hand. “We’ll see about that. Come on, let’s get some breakfast and then start packing. We’ll talk about everything on the car ride.” Liam smiled and they walked out of the room hand in hand. A small red dagger inside the closet glistened as the sun began to shine outside the window.
The End
Stephen Mars is a college student living in New England. Currently studying for an English degree, he likes to write short stories of all genres and is currently working on a full length novel.
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