The night was one of the coldest that I had ever remembered. The moon had an eerie blue glow encircling it, this added to the feeling of disembodiment that Jeremy and I both felt.

We had been driving high into the mountains, desperately trying to beat the heavy snow that was expected late that evening. We were well on our way up the narrow pass, which was the last leg of our journey to the old log cabin which we had rented from the local realtor.

Jeremy and I were trying to get a fresh start on a dying relationship. We were told about the cabin by a number of the locals; who told of a young couple that were found frozen to death under a tall, near dead tree just a few feet from the door of the cabin. It was on a night when the moon was bright, yet foreboding, The temperature had dropped to a numbing seven below. No one could figure out why the young couple were outside the house on such a freezing night. The doors were found unlocked, so "Why did they not go into the cabin?"

When we arrived at the cabin, we were disappointed to see that we would be sharing our weekend with another couple, though the realtor had assured us the cabin was empty. A large front window ran the length of the old rambling porch. The moon's bright smoky glow reflected onto the large window. For a few seconds, we sat in the car and watched with fascination the shadowy figures of an amorous couple kissing.

As we grabbed our luggage and rushed onto the porch the door swung open. Thinking it was one of the occupants I was ready with a faux smile. ..There was no one there!.. It must have been the heavy frost surrounding the door that caused the door to unlatch. Going inside we could see the CABIN WAS ... EMPTY. By the look of things, we knew it had been empty for years.

Jeremy returned to the car to get the groceries while I checked the kitchen out. I was really getting lost in the quaintness of the old kitchen and its antique appliances when I was brought back to my senses by the kicking and banging on the front door. Poor Jeremy stood there white as a sheet, frozen fingers clutching the remnants of a shopping bag.

"THEY came out and LOCKED the door behind them" he whispered in a terrified voice. "Who came out Jeri? There's NO ONE HERE." His face was ashen, the tremor to his jaw told me he was more frightened than I had ever seen him. "Let's leave, hon, Let's just leave" He said. "Tomorrow, at first light of day" I promised him.

Sitting in front of the fireplace, Jeremy told me that when he went back to the car for the groceries, he saw a young couple come out of the cabin. Arms around each other they were kissing and gleefully chasing each other around the front yard. He said the female had more of an evil laugh, while the young man's laughter was filled with genuine joy.

Our first and only night there was one of the most harrowing nights I have ever spent in my life. We tried to sleep in front of the fire. This seemed to be the most benevolent area of the cabin.

We were awakened by the evil laughter of a young woman. Soon a young male joined in the laughter. Two sprightly spectors were dancing and laughing across the room. We watched in both horror and fascination as the two skipped and danced their way out the front door. As we watched the young girl turned and bolted back inside locking the door behind her. All night we heard the young man banging, kicking and pleading to be let inside. We watched and listened in horror.

Seemed like hours later, the young girl opened the door, and went to join the now quiet young man. Before leaving the porch, a key was dropped into the slot on the door. Jeremy and I looked at the old brass key on the floor, which began to smoke and dissipate before our eyes.

The cabin was demolished the following year. A group of scouts camping in the area found an old brass key amidst the rubble.