The Tree Goddess Read online

But once away from the tribe, Nukpana led the boys to the anomalous hole and introduced them to the perceived spirit. Those who would join would gain an unparallel power along with the life of freedom to do whatever desired. To demonstrate freedom of desire, Nukpana had abducted a young woman from a neighboring tribe where she was bound, awaiting her final moments alive, when one of the young men would forcefully enjoy his desires. When her purpose was fulfilled, the young woman was killed and dropped into the hole. Nukpana congratulated the boy on becoming a man.

  Within a few days, additional youth of Nukpana's following had been secretly inducted into this new cult that was now boasted by its first followers and soon to branch off from the village. In the predawn hours the small population left their families and friends to live as nomadic killers and rapists who enjoyed (which was more imagined) an unparallel power brought on by sacrifices to the hole. Women, children and the elderly; victims were abducted from various villages to be murdered and casted into the Earth.

  Now terrorized with the new evil that prowled out there, warriors had joined from neighboring tribes to hunt for this cult and do away with its leader. A small scrimmage with boys on the threshold of manhood was no match for the skilled and hardened warriors. The cult was rounded up. Nukpana was executed and dropped into the anomalous hole which would forever be his realm of Hades. His followers stood trial before the chiefs and elders of the several tribes that had been tormented by their evil. As punishment, the boys would be banished for some years to continue wandering as nomads in hopes that they would learn to value and respect what they had before turning against the tribe.

  It was a harsh winter for the boys who had to learn to fend for themselves and hunt for small animals which barely kept them alive. Feeling defeated and low in spirits, it was a sight in mid-spring which restored a sense of awe and that of hope. Perhaps they were looking for some sign that Nukpana was still with them. Maybe this is why they ventured to the mysterious hole in the Earth where it was noticed that a baby tree grew next to it. It was a sign that Nukpana had become a god. Nukpana would be their protector, an invincible leader who most likely encouraged the boys to continue their lives of human sacrifice.

  But there was an addition made by the nearly starved cult of adolescent boys. The tender flesh of young women who were abducted for pleasure and sacrifice would be roasted in the fire. Nukpana's followers had become a cult of savage cannibals that resumed its terror along the region of Mapleview and surrounding areas.

  Once again, finding and capturing the adolescent boys, who had yet to be named men, was no difficult task for the assembly of warriors. The boys stood a serious trial, received many hateful words and insults; and were finally executed to be discarded in Nukpana's realm of Hades.

  Historians and archaeologists have difficulty accepting the urban legend and see it as just another creepy, ghost story to be told around the campfire. Lack of evidence along with the unlikely name of Nukpana is not even half the problem. Anyone educated in archaeology knows that Kivas (holes in the ground that lead to chambers) are constructions of Pueblo Indians; who would have been a far, far distance for tribes that existed in Mapleview some centuries ago. An ancient well would be an unlikely theory for the supposed hole because there are plenty of lakes, rivers and fresh water streams throughout the Mapleview and Sillmac area. Digging a well would have been unnecessary, even thousands of years ago.

  And then certain details of the legend sound exaggerated and unreal. Why would so many boys choose to leave their families behind for a disliked man to live as nomads? And just how did this renegade tribe abduct its victims without being discovered?

  How about you? Do you believe the Legend of Nukpana's Cult?

  Chapter 37

  Detective Tom wasn't a historian or archaeologist. He didn't care if the Legend of Nukpana's Cult was accurate history. And if the legend really was just another creepy tale, the possibility remained that Steve Coldsworth was performing human sacrifices to what he believed to be Nukpana's hole. The legend did make mention of a nearby tree that would now be old and very large. All it would require was to have the prime suspect lead Detective Tom and Larry to the very tree that had been seen out in the woods. If Steve Coldsworth balked at the suggestion, it would provide further suspicion that something was hiding out there in the woods.

  But it was necessary for Detective Tom to go about the casual investigation carefully. He certainly couldn't surprise the suspect at work and appear harassing to someone who was innocent. Despite Detective Tom's intuition, there was yet to be a reason for an arrest or obtain a search warrant.

  Detective Tom couldn't show up at Steve's apartment on a Wednesday or Thursday night, asking to be brought to the tree. It was now autumn which meant that darkness fell upon Mapleview early.

  A Saturday morning visit would surely have taken the suspect by surprise. The pair of detectives approached Steve Coldsworth's apartment at 8:01am. The knock produced the half-asleep Steve who peeked through the cracked open door that was secured by a chain lock.

  Everyone enjoys a loud and cheerful greeting just seconds after being awoken, especially when it's designed to agitate. Detective Tom was the master of this. He warmly greeted, “Rise and shine, sleepy head!”

  Steve had finally retired only three hours ago after another Friday night with the Tree Goddess painting. Groggily he replied, “Can I help you?”

  “Mr. Coldsworth, why so unfriendly? It's only us, here to visit.”

  The chain was undone and door opened further. Steve stood motionless, waiting to hear more.

  Detective Tom read the suspect's body language and then continued, “We just want you to show us where that tree is that gave you inspiration for your painting.”

  “The tree? You want me to show you the tree?”

  “Yes! That's all we want: to see your tree out in the woods.”

  Needless to say, Steve was mistrusting. “Am I under arrest or a suspect?”

  “Well that all depends if you've done something wrong. Now how about that tree? Show us your tree.”

  * * *

  It was a gray, Saturday morning as Steve volunteered himself to ride in the back of the unmarked patrol car with Detectives Tom and Larry to the Hidden Lake Forest Preserve. Although seemingly cooperative with nothing to hide, Detective Tom treated the artist as though he was hours from being arraigned.

  The trio exited the vehicle at the Hidden Lake oasis, the place where Steve often parked for his adventures in the woods. And then Steve led the Detectives some feet away where a small, dirt trail provided a pathway for hiking.

  Detective Tom was never fond of the woods. “You come out here often, Mr. Coldsworth?”

  “Oh yeah; I've hiked here on many occasions.”

  “Alone, in the deep forest like this?” Detective Tom asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “Well that's kind of strange, don't you think, Larry?”

  Detective Larry agreed, “It's a bit odd.”

  Detective Tom continued, “Aren't you afraid to come out here, alone? There are bears and wolves; and crazy, dangerous people often come out here to be alone.” He clarified the subtle accusation with exaggerated emphasis, “Oh, excuse me, Mr. Coldsworth. I wasn't trying to say anything about you. I'm just making mention that strange people come out to the forest to be alone.”

  Steve softly came to his own defense, “I'm not afraid.”

  “What's that?” Detective Tom sharply asked.

  “The woods, they don't frighten me.”

  “Of course they don't, but you should be.” Then Detective Tom asked his partner, “Larry, remember that body we found up the road? It was some guy who had been left in the woods, castrated.”

  “Yup, I remember that one.”

  “He shouldn't have been out there alone. It's just proof that bad people do bad things in the woods. See, I like to go fishing and sometimes I find a lake off the highway. But it's out in the open, not hidden in the forest. If you ask me
, I hate this wooded environment. Some day when I retire, I'm moving to a tropical climate with lots of sunshine and warm weather. Let me tell you, I love the sun and hot weather. It gives me energy. But you like cool, dark places; right Mr. Coldsworth? You probably like going into caves.”

  Steve confirmed, “Caves are cool; I've toured a few in my life.”

  Detective Tom quickly shot down the suggestion of caves being a nice place to visit. “Not me! I have no desire to go into the Earth and tour some dark and musty place. Caves are for creepy people who do creepy things. Are we almost there yet, Coldsworth?”

  “Yeah, it should be coming up here any second.” Then Steve paused for a brief moment and proceeded to pace in circles while looking at the ground."

  Detective Tom was annoyed at the sudden, strange behavior of the prime suspect. “Larry, he reminds me of a school boy that didn't do his homework and is pretending to look for it in front of the teacher.” The pair of detectives watched their prime suspect wander aimlessly in confusion.

  It was frustrating for Detective Tom, “What happened? Did you forget where the tree is?”

  Steve stuttered and stammered, “It… it was right here. This is where I saw it.”

  Studying the ground, Detective Tom could see no evidence of a tree ever being there. He was growing increasingly disgusted to the point of wanting to smack his prime suspect. Rather than hit him, he grabbed Steve by the back of the jacket and held a firm grip on his left shoulder while walking the man forward. “No, this must not be the place where your tree is! Come on, Mr. Coldsworth, let's find that tree!”

  Steve resisted and pushed back. “But this is where the tree was! I'm telling you the truth. I don't know what happened to it.”

  Detective Tom sighed in disgust and realized it was impossible to force Steve to lead them to the tree. And he knew Steve wasn't at the point of confessing to any murders. But an unofficial, off-the-records interrogation out in the woods just might have had the possibility to produce a jolt that would cause a breakdown when evidence was finally collected against him.

  Detective Tom lit up a cigarette and glared at Steve. “You think I was born yesterday? You think I'm a freakin' idiot? I suppose the tree ran away once it knew we were coming. In fact, I bet the tree is the one responsible for the disappearances.

  Actually, I've got a better idea. I think that tree of yours is that Indian legend tree, and I think you are sacrificing women to it. I bet the reason you can't find that tree is because it might lead us to the bodies of those three women. Isn't that right, Mr. Coldsworth?"

  Steve appeared shocked and horrified while shaking his head, no. “Detective I had nothing to do with the disappearances of those women. And I'm sorry I can't find the tree. I just don't understand why it's not here.”

  Detective Tom took a deep drag and exhaled. “Well if you ever find it, you give me a call. In the meantime, I'm watching you. I know you're just full of it right now and don't want to come clean.

  Come on Larry; let's take Mr. Coldsworth back to his apartment; waste of my time today!”

  Part Four: The Ring

  Chapter 38

  Understanding the fourth and final disappearance of Mapleview requires that we venture back into the spring of that year. It was about a week after Mary had closed on her new home that was purchased from Aunt Loraine. This meant that Daren had yet to step foot in the Trivelli House. And Steve had yet to receive his vision of the Tree Goddess on that dark night in the Hidden Lake Forest Preserve.

  The fourth disappearance had nothing to do with supernatural forces or any of the previously mentioned residents of Mapleview. It all had to do with a man named Wayne, who on a boring Friday night in spring sat before his desktop PC.

  Actually, it is best to venture some 15 years before that night in spring, to the early 90s when a summer evening turned out tragic for Wayne. It did, after all, change his life forever and was most likely the reason for sitting before a PC on a lonely night some years later.

  It was all Curt's fault; that's what Wayne believed for many years after the event. If it weren't for Curt's interference, Wayne wouldn't have lost the woman that he loved. Curt was always somewhere in the background. Considered in childhood to be a playground friend, and among one of his close peers at the start of 7th grade, Curt soon shared a fascination with Wayne towards the young and beautiful Eileen.

  Children that age claim to “go out” with one another. For a week or two, Wayne would enjoy this status as Eileen would sit beside him at the Saturday matinee. And then word would spread that Curt was talking to her. Soon, she would be “going out” with Curt instead of Wayne. A couple weeks would pass, and rumor would spread that Wayne was talking to Eileen. And then the beautiful Eileen would, once again, belong to Wayne. It was a never-ending cycle.

  By high school, neither young man had let up on the fascination with Eileen. Wayne was lonely during his freshman year as the girl he loved wasn't his. Of course they remained friends which turned to romance by summer. We could go on and on with the never-ending cycle of who would possess Eileen. But by senior year, Eileen belonged exclusively to Wayne. Curt had his own girl which meant that Wayne could finally relax and fully enjoy the girl that he loved.

  A time shortly before high school graduation and throughout the summer months, Wayne believed this to be the happiest days of his life. Eileen spoke things such as, “Some day when we're married” along with many other hints that she believed to have found her destiny.

  Adding to the high in life, Father cosigned and made the down payment for a “like new” 1984, midnight-blue Camaro. It was a handsome graduation present intended to launch his son into the adult world. Wayne would be expected to land a job to afford the payments and insurance. And as a little bonus to the graduation gift, Father already had a job lined up. A colleague of Father's who owned a construction company was happy to accept Wayne as an apprentice.

  And I know what you're thinking, “Why in the world wouldn't Father have supported his son with college, instead?”

  To answer your question, Wayne wasn't quite ready for college. Not all kids his age are. But Father hoped that a responsibility, along with the realization that life would be nothing more than banging away on wood, might have inspired his son to aim higher.

  Who was father kidding? Wayne loved the construction job as it paid well. And Wayne was enjoying the best days of his life as the summer nights were spent cruising downtown Mapleview in his midnight-blue Camaro with Eileen beside him. He had plenty of money to spend on his girl. He had plenty of money for beer during those summertime kegger parties. And amazingly, Wayne and Curt appeared to be buddies while drinking beer side-by-side. Curt had his own girlfriend and Wayne had his beloved Eileen.

  Then one Monday morning in August, Father passed his son's bedroom while leaving for work. He could hear Wayne snoring away. It was already 7:30!

  Father swung his son's bedroom door open. “Wayne?”

  “Huh…” Wayne sat up in bed with eyes partially closed.

  “Don't you have to go to work, today? It's 7:30! You're supposed to be on the site at 6!”

  “Nah, I quit. I gave 'em my notice last week.”

  Needless to say, Father was outraged. “Quit? Why?”

  “I registered for school. It starts next week.”

  “School? What school? Where?”

  “Over at the Sillmac Community College.”

  Father's feelings were mixed at the moment. He was certainly happy that Wayne considered continuing his education. And it was much sooner than expected. But there was one small problem. “Well that's fine, Son, but what about the car? How are you going to make the payments and afford insurance?”

  “I'll get something part time, I guess.”

  “You guess? You damn well better get something or that car is history! So when did you register for school?”

  “I took a day off last week. Eileen and I went down there.”

  It all became clear to F
ather, “Oh, so Eileen's going there?”

  “Yup.”

  Such disappointment, Wayne didn't decide on bettering himself and continuing his education. Wayne quit his job so that he could keep an eye on the girlfriend while she attended classes at the community college.

  And right Father was! Wayne did everything in his power to ensure that he would have the exact, same classes as his girlfriend. Although cute at first, Eileen soon perceived this to be a nuisance. Most bothersome was the need to seek Wayne's approval for taking one class or another. Her reason for attending the Sillmac Community College was to complete general education requirements and then transfer over to a 4 year university where a nursing degree could be earned. Certainly Wayne wouldn't follow her all the way through nursing school!—would he?

  College writing was the very, first class of Wayne's very, first day. He sat next to Eileen with his textbooks, notebook and pen. Eileen didn't mind the company. Wayne was her boyfriend and it was nice to start a new chapter in life with a close friend beside her. Then much to their surprise, Curt entered the room and greeted them both with a friendly smile. He sat down at the other side of Eileen which didn't bother Wayne in the least—that is until he remembered that Curt's girlfriend left for college, out of state. But he controlled the jealousy while remembering the summer parties in which him and Curt stood side-by-side, drinking beer. They had buried the hatchet and left the years of archenemy rivalry behind. Still, Eileen noticed the peculiar feeling of being supervised while talking to Curt.

  A writing class is all about writing. The professor didn't waste time in having the students do this. Maybe a 20 or 30 minute talk of how to go about writing, the first assignment was to be done in class. It was a simple introduction of who one is and why one is attending college. When completed, the work was to be read out loud.

  Wayne used this as an opportunity to declare his relationship with Eileen and how he was very happy with her. And as expected, Eileen mentioned him while reading her assignment out loud.