Suburban Gothic

Motifs: Suburban neighborhoods, Streetlamps, Grocery stores, Convenience stores, Fluorescent lighting

Values: Alienation, Capitalist critique, Facades, Uncanny

Colors: White, Black, Gray, Blue, Red, Green

The fog has been heavy here lately; the sea of dead goldenrod seems to be full of prying eyes. Our livestock guard dog, Sylva, barked throughout the night, standing sentry, stalking the fence line. Standing at the edge of the woods, Michael heard something “laughing or crying inside the barn”. He turned to go check on it, but I told him that he knows better than that and to come inside where the fire was hot.

Nothing good comes with the fog.

Tahlequah, Oklahoma

strange things happen here at night.

our lush forests turn gnarled and decayed, their elderly trunks contorting into terrifying scowls.

the wildflower patches wither and dissipate. their cheerful spots of color alongside our roads transform into a grim reminder that we are not in control of other lives around us. we have yet to find out who the warning is for.

the welcome sign out front casts eerie shadows onto the ground when struck with the sickly headlights of passing vehicles. the beveled lettering that declare our town’s name is more wary than welcoming. perhaps it is a warning. we have yet to know.

the wolves only make their existence known at nightfall, yet never show their faces. the only evidence of them is their haunting howls, leaping and twirling their twisted dance up towards the cold, cold moon.

the corn harbor none at all times, yet glowing eyes stare out from between their stalks. the eyes belong to no one. the eyes belong to everyone. we know nothing. we shall not know anything.

the air is still at night. stiff. uneasy. not even the wind dares to blow. she knows they want silence at night. not even she dares to defy the universe’s unshakable power. the town does not inhale a single breath until the sun peeks out from above the horizon at morning.

roads seem to appear from the ground after sunset. they seem typical to unknowing eyes, but keener ones notice their lack of street signs guarding their entrance. those street signs mean safety. stories circulate through the grapevine about passerby traveling along those roads and never seeing the sun again. we aren’t sure if they’re true. we’re just sure that we don’t know this town as well as we thought we did.

strange things happen here at night.

they dance in the withering sunlight

each one of their steps further weakening the stage they waltz on

their laughter sounds through the empty house

echoing off the peeling wallpaper and the dusty floorboards

be mindful of the noises you make if you stay and watch

they are wary of their surroundings

they dislike being disturbed

do not worry if you won’t make a sound

they are passive if you comply to their wants.

tips for driving down back roads at night

• check to make sure all of your headlight bulbs are working before you depart from your starting location. not only are broken headlights against the law, you could potentially be blindly stumbling into some dangerous territory. the more area you can see, the better. the last thing you want is to be stuck on their land.
• do not let your eyes linger on the wheat fields. some have reported a sudden drop in temperature in their car. some have spoken of a tugging sensation coming from the fields. some have claimed they saw the devil himself grinning back. you do not want to find out what lurks within the wheat fields.
• if you happen to come across a hitchhiker, check for wounds or anything out of the ordinary on their person. if their eyes reflect your headlights, drive faster. do not stop under any circumstances. do not slow down until you are absolutely sure they cannot catch up to you. they are not human.
• do not slow down or stop to marvel at the cottage in the forest. do not go inside or get out of your car. you will not return unscathed.
• if you see yellow eyes watching you from the corn, continue on. they are just the ravens.
• if you see red eyes watching you from the corn, continue on. they are just the crows.
• if you see green eyes watching you from the corn, get out of there as fast as you possibly can. they will follow you. they will hunt you down.
• objects in your side mirrors indeed seem closer than they look. don’t glance over too often, though. they come nearer with every look.
• the creatures in the woods are rumored to attack pickup trucks more often than any other type of automobile. make sure all of your windows are shut and your truck bed is empty and uncovered if you drive one. you wouldn’t want to ferry one of them home without knowing.
• do not stare at the empty, broken-down cars on the side of the road. they do not welcome the gazes of strangers. it is best if you only say a quick prayer for them and drive on. you do not want to be next.
• the radio may spit out some inaudible blubber occasionally. white noise may come through for a few seconds before reverting back to what you were listening to. just convince yourself you’re driving through a spot with patchy satellite signal. don’t mind what they’re saying through the static. ignorance is bliss.
• some travelers claim they often hear shrieking while they are driving. contrary to popular belief, they do not want to hurt you. they are just playing tricks on you. just don’t slow down. just don’t stop.
• whatever you do, don’t fall asleep. pull into a rest stop, at least. do not fall asleep on the side of the road. you may not wake up again.
• the witching hour does not apply when you’re on the road. they roam after sunset. they are bloodthirsty. stay aware of your surroundings.
• that stain on the grass over there was definitely from a deer. don’t think too much about it.
• right?
• not everything that you can see is real.
• not everything that is real you can see.
• the devil never sleeps. he is out for blood. he is nothing like anything you’ve ever seen before. you have been warned.

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