N.L. MOON

"The Old Mine" Pen and Ink, Graphite by N.L. Moon The Old Mine 606 words N.L. Moon © 2024 Jason McKitree absently sliced through his fried eggs, his gaze drawn to the rivulets of rainwater cascading down the windowpane. The familiar warmth of his kitchen provided a haven from the dreary weather outside, but a sense of unease lingered in the air. His absent gaze was broken when he noticed a blurry figure hurrying through his yard. Heavy knocks came to his door. "Jason!" It was the voice of his elderly neighbor, Arthur Bagg. It sounded urgent. Jason wiped his mouth with a napkin and hurried to the door. The old timer stood at the threshold, raindrops clinging to the brim of his battered hat. "What's wrong, Arthur?" Jason asked, leaning against the doorframe. Arthur's eyes darted uneasily towards the stormy horizon. "It's my old mare," he began. "Somehow she wandered into the abandoned mine shaft up yonder." J

"Over the Ridge" Pen and Ink by N.L. Moon Over the Ridge 569 words N.L. Moon Ⓒ 2024 The desert night stretched endlessly, full of the faint glow of distant stars. In the heart of this barren landscape stood a newly-built, lone ranch house, a testament of the dedication of the settlers who built it, the Hutchens. Jake stirred in his sleep, a sense of unease pulling him from his dreams. He glanced at the pocket watch next to his bed—2:37 AM. Something wasn't right. He nudged his wife, Sarah, who awoke with a start. "Jake, what is it?" she whispered, her voice weighted by sleep. "I don't know," Jake replied, his senses on high alert. "But I heard something outside." He paused. "Horses," Sarah said, knowingly. "No...something ain't right," Jake said in a whisper. "I'm checkin'." Without hesitation, he slipped out of bed, pulled on his boots, and grabbed his rifle. Sarah slumped out of bed, st

"Nights on the Corn Farm" Pen and Ink by N.L. Moon Nights on the Corn Farm N.L. Moon © 2024 Those days he sat hunched and withered on the porch every night, rocking slowly, always staring at the corn. The corn farm sat like a solitary island in a sea of green, surrounded by an endless expanse of towering corn stalks. The narrow dirt driveway cut straight through to the weather-beaten structures at its center. The tall, imposing corn stalks cast long shadows that reached toward the homestead. Monday Night : The old farmer sat on his porch, the creaking of the rocking chair the only sound in the stillness of the night. He scanned the endless rows of corn surrounding his shack. Every rustle of the leaves sent a shiver down his spine. Someone is watching me...from everywhere , he thought. It was his constant thought. Tuesday Night : As dusk fell, the farmer's eyes darted nervously from side to side. What's that in the stalks? He asked, noticing a shadow glidin

"Deadly Sunset" Pen and Ink by N.L. Moon Deadly Sunset 400 words N.L. Moon © 2024 In the heart of the desert, where the sun scorches the earth, the wind whispers ancient secrets, and the moon blazes a faint path for travelers bracing the deep night, Jasper Stone stood alone against a slow but determined threat. A wave of death swelled before him that was ready to crash at any moment. With the last rays of daylight fading behind the horizon, haunting moans cut through the silence. Jasper gripped his revolver with an uncharacteristic shaking hand. In all his years of wandering the canyons and hills, never before had he seen what was before him. The approaching figures were hauntingly familiar. Their once-human forms were twisted and contorted by the curse of undeath. Insipid skin clung to emaciated frames, taut over protruding bones. Their eyes, once filled with life and intelligence, were now sunken into sockets, void of recognition. Void of humanity. Tattered clothing fl