It was just after seven thirty in the evening as April sat at her desk and paused from her work to gaze out the window at the darkening skyline.

  She was working late tonight to catch up with the backlog of work left by her predecessor in her new job. All the other staff had gone home and she had the whole second floor of the building to herself.

  The town of Eden Vale was situated in a valley surrounded by mountains on three sides. It was a warm summer evening and a warm breeze drifted through the window with the slight smell of smoke. There was probably a fire burning way out there somewhere. Most of the area surrounding the town was state forest or national park and the mountains were all thickly covered with trees.

  The view of the hazy mountains and the smell of smoke reminded her of her childhood days growing up in the town. The view she had from her office window was similar to the view from her childhood bedroom window all those years ago.

  Reluctantly she returned her attention back to her computer. She had to finish her reports and go home for a late dinner.

  It took a lot longer than she expected, but finally she was done. She turned off her computer, walked to the door and turned off the lights. She was just about to go down the stairs to the front door when she remembered she had left her window open. Without turning the lights back on April made her way back to her window. It was almost completely dark outside except for a half moon partly illuminating the sky. She paused at the window to breathe in the warm air as she glanced out towards the mountains. There was just enough light from the moon to make out the skyline, the rounded bulges of the smaller mountains, and the ominous higher sharper angled form of ‘The Mountain’.

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  She gazed at the mountain remembering that night all those years ago when she had first seen that strange sight, the sight that had lead her and her friends up into the wilderness of that mountain where they had encountered the most extraordinary and terrifying experience.

  She reached across to slide the window closed when something caught her eye.

  What? No, it couldn’t be! She stared at the mountain and it briefly appeared again. Then a few seconds later it came a third time. She glanced at her watch. Eleven o’clock. April couldn’t believe it! It was happening again! She felt herself start to tremble at the thought of it! After eight years it was back. The mystery of the mountain was back!