Local Legend of the Stranger-2008

Local Legend of the Stranger-2008

The story you're about to read can't be found in any history book. You can't look it up on the internet or even ask some long time locals. No, all those people are gone now, but one. I'm talking about the story of the ground you're walking on right now, in the area some say is very near this very location.

Years ago, the local town leaders changed the name of this town to Cottonwood because of a night not unlike this one. In fact, it has been 100 years to the very day when The Stranger came to these parts. No one paid him much attention at first, but they should have. Maybe then, they could have forseen how his actions would change the town and its people forever!

The Stranger

But I'm getting ahead of myself. The sleepy little community that we now know as Cottonwood has always had its share of drifters and outlaws that come and go in the night.

Well, on one moonless night, a man came into town carrying a small box under one arm. He walked with a bit of a limp and his back was curved over as if from exhaustion. He made camp under the cottonwood trees that night down by the river.

Folks that saw or even talked with him said he was mumbling under his breath and was hard to understand. That evening and into the night, a strange, unseasonably thick, tule fog rolled inand seemed to swallow everything up. Whether it was the windor something else, you could hear a low moaning that grew and grew into ashrill cackle of laughter as it seemingly moved up the river. In the morning, they would find out what horror had befallen them.

Revealed by the Light of Day

When the townspeople awoke the following morning and started talking, they realized that they had all heard the ghastly noises in the night. None had experienced anything themselves, so they turned their attention to The Stranger.

When a small posse went down to the creek to check things out, they found nothing but the burning embers of a small campfire. The Stranger had seemingly vanished. However, upon returning to the town, someone noticed that the Timlin family, wholived up the creek a bit, was absent. Everyone gathered to pay a visit to the Timlins, but no one was around and everything was left as it had been.

Dayswent by and no one saw or heard from the Timlins again.In fact, it wasn't untilthe next moonless night that the eerie fog returned along with the cackles, which seemed louder and more numerous this time, did people understand their dire situation.

For upon discovering thenext morning, it revealed the ugliness to the townspeople as this time the Reeds came up missing. One by one, families were swallowed up in the night until there were none left but one. Who was that one you ask?

All in the Family

How do I know of this when all others have forgot. Well, you see, it was my great grandfather who held that box on that fateful night. And now it is I who carries out his darkest wishes!

So enter my friends if you dare, but I warn you, it isn't safe to travel these parts after dark! Some families will enter, but I guarantee not all will return home tonight.

Good luck, you'll need it!

The Legend of the Bloody Bayou-2009

The usually placid waters of the Louisiana bayou guard their dark secrets well. You see, hidden deep beneath the murky depths of the moss-covered swamp is astory you won't find in any travel brochure. But if you talk to some of the old-timers around they may let you in on the local legend of the Voodoo Princess.

The legend ofthe Voodoo Princess of the Bloody Bayou began innocently enough when a young girl set out one evening after supper to collect fireflies. Although she was warned not to stray beyond the soft glow of the cabin lights, she found herself drawn further and further into the swamp. The coaxing sounds of the bullfrogs and crickets led her around the deep waters that held deadly surprises. The family had already lost two small dogs and a cousin some years back to the creatures that swam these brackish waters. Around here, it wasn't considered safe to swim after dark. One minutes refreshment could turn intoa swirl and slash as the struggling victim was dragged to their agonizingly, slow death.

And so it was with this little girl as she bent near the shallows to sip a drink of water. The suddenness and swiftness of the 20-foot alligator's jaws as they devoured the small child was ferocious and brutal. With one snap the only evidence of life were two small footprints in the muddy shore. This little girl was special, however, because of the

black-magic that ran through her veins. It was this voodoo power that would allow her to become the most powerful force in the swamp.You see, according to herfamily tree, her mother was native to the river folk from way upstream,and she was rumored to be linked to black magic, you know voodoo witchcraft. So strong were her powers that she swore revenge for her daughter's passing and cursed the swamp forever. The very next day, the water turned brackish and mossy by morning's light, and it was renamed Badwater Swamp. The water was never again suitablefor drinking or swimming.

So it was no surprise to the girl's mother when after the tragic event, she began to feel a dark force brewing in the swamp's deep underbelly. Some cat fishermen had even claimed to see the ghostly shadow of a young girl with wild serpents in her hair and a glowing torch. However, each and every person to have claimed to see the princess was found dead the following morning for no apparent reason or cause. Folks went to calling her apparition the Voodoo Princess, and it was even said that her mother could "speak" to her with their unspoken magic.

And so here we are, 100 years to the very evening when that little girl went missing. I wonder what dark surprisesare lurking in the murky waters tonight. Could you be lucky, er unlucky enough to spot the Voodoo Princess and even morefortunateto survive to see the morning's light! Or more likely, will you become a part of her mother's revenge and go down as another victim of the Bloody Bayou.

Good luck, you’ll need it!!!!!!!!!!