I walked the streets of Shepherds Glen, the town was now desolate and lonely, and it wasn't like this before. It used to be full of life and friendly people, and now this. But today I'm extremely happy, because of the rumors. Rumors about my Alex. The few remaining people in Shepherds Glen loved to gossip, this time it was about Alex returning from the army. I've missed him so much. Alex and I have been best friends since kindergarten, when we would sit at our desks and pass little love notes to one another. Those were fun times. I was a little mad when he left for the army so abruptly, but then he sent me that first letter.
Elle, I'm sorry. I know you must hate me for running off like that. I just couldn't take the town any longer. I had to go. I miss you and Josh so much, will you tell him I said hey? I understand if you are angry. I'm angry at myself for leaving. I promise I'll write soon. Gotta go, talk to you later.
With love,
Alex
How could I be mad at him, I know how he feels. I should've left when I could. I wanted to write back, but what would I have told him? Hey, the towns horrible, Josh is missing and so are about 50 other children, and I never see the sun anymore, too much fog. I couldn't bring him down like that. Not when he's seeing people die and bombs go off every day.
It's summertime, though you couldn't tell. Alex's favorite time of year is summer. We used to have so much fun going down to the lake and camping out on the shores. By us I mean Alex, Josh, and I. I remember always going to the lake after my track meets. Alex played football on the field centered by the track field and I always used to take sneak peeks at him while I ran. My mom, being the mayor of Shepherds Glen, would scold me after each meet because she didn't approve of my fondness for Alex.
It seems like everyone is going missing now days, especially children like Josh that made this town so charismatic. He seemed like a brat when I first met him, but after I spent some time with him I grew to love him. Alex explained to me why he was so mean; he hated people to come into his life and take Alex away from him. He did the same thing to Alex's previous girlfriend, which made me feel better knowing he didn't hate me. Once when we went over to Alex's house, Josh told me 'I don't know why you even bother, you're stupid and hideous. Vicky is much cuter and is a straight A student.' Vicky was Alex's ex, and Josh loved to taunt me about her. My self esteem and confidence of our future relationship failed at that point… No matter what Josh said I never got mad at him. I understood that he was clingy towards his brother; I couldn't hold it against him. I sat him down and explained that Alex and I, despite what I wished, were just close friends. After that he didn't mind me too much, actually he didn't even notice me.
Everyone in Shepherds Glen loved Alex's family, get it? Shepherds Glen. His great grandfather founded the town alongside many others like my family and Dr. Fitch's. It's weird how the towns' founding fathers great, great, great grandson and granddaughters are best friends; Alex, Scarlet, and I. I wouldn't say that Scarlet and I were friends but I tolerated her because she was so young, I now feel pity for her. Why? My little sister, Nora, was missing, Alex's little brother was missing, and Dr. Finch's daughter Scarlet was presumably dead. Poor little Scarlet. I recognize a pattern; maybe Shepherds glen has a serial killer. But why would they only be killing the second-born in the family? So many missing children, so little willingness to find them…
I finally reached the Shepherd's home. I knocked on the door and silently waited. When no one answered, I opened the door, it wasn't locked. They had always said that I was welcome in their home anyway. "Hello, is anyone here? Mrs. Shepherd, Mr. Shepherd?" I walked into the family den, and saw Lillian sitting in her rocking chair, facing the window.
"Is that you, Elle?" She asked
"Yes. Mrs. Shepherd, are you okay?"
"Its good you're here. I wanted to hear another person's voice. Adam is out looking for Josh. He's been gone for 3 days now." She said meekly. She looks sick, and depressed. Her skin had turned several shades paler, her hair had strands of grey, and there are dark circles under her eyes. Her clothes were dirty and smelled of mold.
"What?" I asked her, not quite shocked just attempting politeness. She shifted her glazed over eyes towards me.
"I just miss Josh so much." She replied with a distant voice.
"Alex is coming home Mrs. Shepherd." I told her to lighten the mood.
"I don't believe it. You should go to the towns' gates and wait. I don't feel like dealing with his stupidity right now. Bring him to me later, when Adam returns hopefully. Also could you take this to your mother for me? Don't you peek at it you hear?" She held out a sealed envelope. I took the envelope from her shaking hands.
"Of course I'll take it to her Mrs. Shepherd. I will tell Alex you need him here, goodbye mam'." I hugged her; she looked like she needed it.
"I appreciate it Elle, such a sweet girl." I thanked her and left the house. I immediately regretted accepting the task, mom wasn't a fan of me at the moment; she thought of me as a threat to her towns future, as if there is one, and that ever since I was born I've given her nothing but trouble. I decided to go to the gate first; I wanted to see Alex desperately now, the four years he has been gone have been too long.
I walked the lonely side walk and thought about how it used to be; people driving down the streets, kids laughing and playing on the sidewalk and shops filled with happy people getting haircuts, buying groceries, and going to Dr. Finch's office for medical advice. Now the only life you see is people locked indoors and the plant roots that scatter the road.
I was about to lose the hope of seeing Alex; I had been waiting for an hour now. But then I saw a figure emerge from the haze. It had thick short brown hair and a muscular build. I knew it was him immediately. "Alex!" I said as I waved eagerly. He ran towards me. When he realized who I was he outstretched his arms and gave me a huge hug.
"Oh my god, forgive me Elle! I've missed you so much. I'm so sorry for running off like that." He said quietly, still not letting me free from his iron grasp.
"I've missed you too Alex, its ok I'm not mad. I'm just glad your home." I replied still hanging on to him.
"Your freezing," he handed me his jacket, "what's happened here? It's like a ghost town."
"I don't know Alex, nothings been right since you left," I said sadly "everyone's going missing, including your brother. I'm so sorry Alex, I wanted to write you but your dad said it would be best not to just in case something happened." Alex looked at me strangely
"That's why I'm here; I started having these dreams, more like nightmares, that Joshua was in danger. I came back here to check on him, just to make sure he is ok. I see now that I've done the right thing." He said. I was somewhat sad when I learned he didn't come back for me. He let go of me and took my hand "I'm going to the Town Hall to see Judge Holloway. Come with?" he asked.
"Sure, I need to give mom something anyway." I replied, blushing because he was holding my hand.
"Great, how has your boyfriend been?" He seemed concerned. "He hasn't hurt you again has he?" A worried expression crossed his face. My old boyfriend was extremely dangerous, and Alex had always told me I could do better.
"He left." I replied sadly.
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I miss him, but I've moved on. I have to face the fact that I don't need him anymore." I smiled at him.
We were approaching the Town Hall; we raced up to the large double doors like we used to do when we were little. I won, of course; I was always faster than him. "Ha! Beat ya!" I enjoyed boasting about racing. Even though my lungs screeched from the exercise, we laughed like 5 year olds. God I missed this. It was time to get serious though, Josh was missing and I had a secret message to deliver. He held the door for me and walked next to me while we found mothers office.
The town hall was a complex structure with several confusing corridors and hundreds of unnamed offices. It seemed like hours before we found the right door. "Here it is." I pointed to a large wood door with Holloway printed on it. Alex opened the door first and went in.
"Judge Holloway?" He asked.
"Alex, what a pleasant surprise!" she said. I walked in and all I got was a "Hello, Elle." I handed her the envelope and said
"It's from Mrs. Shepherd. She wanted me to it to you." She took the envelope from my hand
"Tell her I said thank you." She replied with a newfound curiosity. I went and sat down in an empty chair. "Now Alex, what have you came to see me for?" she asked flirtatiously. 'Oh grow up you old bitch he's way to young for you' I thought to myself.
"I need some info about my little brother." Alex said.
"I can't tell you anything you probably don't already know, Alex, he is missing. He went missing a year ago. We've given up Alex. I'm sorry. We have hundreds of others missing. Not just your brother." She shook her head while she said this. I pictured the town's bulletin board with pictures I had put up of missing folks'.
"Well how about the town, what's happened here?" Alex asked, fuming.
"I have somewhere to be. I'm sure you can find your way out, goodbye Alex and good luck finding what you're looking for." She exited the room quickly. Alex came over to where I was sitting and said,
"She's hiding something."
"I agree, Alex, she looked worried. Let's go before she comes back." I stood up and we found our way to the main auditorium. "Alex, I think you should visit your mother. There's something off about this whole thing, and she might know something. Plus she needs to see you; I think it will be good for her. She's not doing well, she needs you." I breathed.
"What's wrong with her?" He said a little shaky.
"Well…you should just see for yourself, come on." I tugged on his arm and we left the building. "I'll race ya there!" I said and started running
"No fair!" He shouted after me. "We both know you will beat me anyway."
"Yeah, you're right; you're the one who ran track." He was already running next to me. We reached his house, and I won, as to be expected. "The coach would be disgraced." I said out of breath. He laughed and said,
"Yea, wipe the sweat off your face and let's go in." He pushed the door open. I could've sworn I had locked it. "Mom its Alex and Elle, are you here?" We got no answer but I heard the silent sound of her rocking chair scraping against the wood floor. We walked into the den and Alex went up to his mom "Hey mom, are you ok?" Out of the corner of my eye I saw something sitting in her lap; a revolver.
"Uh, Alex, there's something in her lap." I whispered to him and pointed.
"Alex, it's been so long. I've missed you so much." His mom said in a feeble tone.
"I've missed you too mom," he looked at her lap and grabbed the revolver from her grip, "mom what are you doing with this?" He sounded worried and concerned.
"Alex, I miss your brother so much, your father has gone to look for him, now he's missing. It feels as if this town is slowly fading away. Understand Alex, I can barley take it." She said in a stressed tone.
"No, mom, I can't understand, this is ridiculous. You need help mom. Don't worry we'll find Josh and Dad." He said pleadingly.
"Alex, promise me you'll find Joshua. He's all I have now, your father is hardly around anymore and you won't stay after we find him."
"I promise, and so does Elle. Right?" he looked at me.
"Yes Mrs. Shepherd I promise to help find Josh at all costs." Alex and I nodded in agreement.
"Such a good girl, Elle, you have always been. I appreciate your willingness to help me find my little Joshua, and I'm sure you won't mind my Alex accompanying you either." She stared off into the distance and let out small sobbing sounds.
"No, I don't. Alex and I have been friends for 18 years now, you remember don't you?" I asked her sweetly.
"Yes, I do. I'm so glad he has friends like you dear." Her face turned a little pinker when she spoke of me. She had dreamed of Alex marrying me; because my family was well liked and a good influence throughout the town. It was Judge Holloway's dream for her daughter to be the Judge after she died, by her daughter I mean my sister. When I was 7 I asked my her if I could be Judge when he died, she said 'Are you stupid? You can't run a town, that's why I have her.' she was always so damn proud of her…Lillian looked at me "Well? Are you going now?"
"I'm gonna go upstairs to my old room to see if Josh left something telling us where he's gone, mom are you gonna be alright?" Alex asked her, concerned.
"Yes, be careful. Josh left it a mess before he left, and I just don't want to remove anything. Just in case he comes back, I do hope he does." We looked at her doubtfully and left her in her near catatonic state; to look upstairs.
The stairs were stained with time and the creaked rather loudly. "Alex, there is something off about this. All of the town's children have gone missing. Your mother is on the verge of going clinically insane. Mother's being a secretive bitch. And the towns practically empty, only a few people remain; I'm scared Alex." I spoke in a hurried whisper so only he could hear it.
"Don't be, it's going to be alright. But something weird is happening. When did this start?" he asked.
"Right after you left, first the town was covered in this fog, and then the children started to disappear. We haven't found a single one either." I stated after we entered Alex's and Josh's old room. The window on the back wall gave a great glimpse into the back yard. The walls of the room were green and a bunk-bed was centered beside the left wall. Toys were scattered all over the room, and school books littered a small writing desk, the words Scarlet and Josh were carved neatly into the leg of the desk. "Scarlet and Josh liked each other?" I asked Alex,
"No, but Josh was crazy for her." Alex aid as he picked up a clip on flashlight from the bottom bunk of the bed. "I remember this, I gave to Josh when he had nightmares; I told him to turn it on if he got scared." Alex smiled at the thought of his brother, and then pinned the flashlight to his army jacket; which I gave back to him when we entered the house.
"That was nice of you." I said trying to make small talk. He smiled and walked over to the bookcase in the right wall, being as obsessive compulsive as I am; I alphabetized the books. All of the sudden the book case sprung out and light was seen pouring out of a hidden room behind the case. Alex stood to the right of the case and pushed it. The little room behind it was like a closet. A little remote poked out of a corner. I bent over and picked it up. "It looks like a garage remote. I don't know why, but I think it may be useful later." Alex took it out of my hand and put it into his pocket.
"Possibly, but I doubt it." He said. I turned my head in time to hear a crashing sound come from the basement.
"Did you hear that?" I asked Alex.
"Yea, let's go see what it is…" he grabbed my hand and pulled me down the stairs. Before we could go down the basement stairs, Lillian looked up from her chair and said
"It's flooded down there. And there is something down there." Alex picked up a crowbar located next to a power box and slung it upward in a defensive position. I walked down first, much to the dislike of Alex, and was disturbed by the large amount of water flooding the basement floor. I heard something move in the water, and all of the sudden a huge creature popped out of nowhere. It had a slit on his forehead and teeth were scattered in rows inside the slit. Its skin was moldy and rotten. And its legs were bided together with dead skin. I screamed and Alex pushed me behind him. He took the crowbar and flung it at the thing. We heard a growl from the creature as it died. Blood spewed everywhere hitting me in the hair and shirt.
"What the hell was that thing?" Alex asked and helped me up; I had fallen when he pushed me.
"I don't know Alex. I need to go home. I got blood all over myself." Alex walked with me to the fence that separated our yards, and helped me over.
"I'll sit on the porch stairs and wait…just in case something happens." he said, still a little shaky, and not wanting to be alone.
"Okay." I unlocked my front door and entered the kitchen. I ran upstairs and took a hot shower. I raped a towel around me as I picked out a new outfit, I would need something comfortable if I was to be running around town all day. I settled with a pair of well fitting jean shorts and a comfortable sleeveless black sweeter dress that was small enough to be shirt and exposed only the bottom of the very short shorts. Who said I couldn't look good while helping Alex? In fact that's the only reason I was making a good image of myself; I was going to be with Alex for the next days. Alex would hopefully notice how good I look, he doesn't have to say anything; just look. I put on mascara and left through the back door. I needed time to think before I saw Alex; this was a small detour. It was chilly outside, I should've brought a jacket but then again, I hoped Alex would offer his.
I saw Alex on the steps, and I led him to the garage. I couldn't help but notice how his eyes bugged out of his head when he looked me over. Good reaction. "We should drive through the town before we search by foot. There might be more….monsters….out there." I said. Alex agreed and I gave him the keys. We set off on a seemingly easy mission. We were wrong.
Hoped you enjoyed! Next chapter comes out soon! Review, it would help.
Elle, I'm sorry. I know you must hate me for running off like that. I just couldn't take the town any longer. I had to go. I miss you and Josh so much, will you tell him I said hey? I understand if you are angry. I'm angry at myself for leaving. I promise I'll write soon. Gotta go, talk to you later.
With love,
Alex
How could I be mad at him, I know how he feels. I should've left when I could. I wanted to write back, but what would I have told him? Hey, the towns horrible, Josh is missing and so are about 50 other children, and I never see the sun anymore, too much fog. I couldn't bring him down like that. Not when he's seeing people die and bombs go off every day.
It's summertime, though you couldn't tell. Alex's favorite time of year is summer. We used to have so much fun going down to the lake and camping out on the shores. By us I mean Alex, Josh, and I. I remember always going to the lake after my track meets. Alex played football on the field centered by the track field and I always used to take sneak peeks at him while I ran. My mom, being the mayor of Shepherds Glen, would scold me after each meet because she didn't approve of my fondness for Alex.
It seems like everyone is going missing now days, especially children like Josh that made this town so charismatic. He seemed like a brat when I first met him, but after I spent some time with him I grew to love him. Alex explained to me why he was so mean; he hated people to come into his life and take Alex away from him. He did the same thing to Alex's previous girlfriend, which made me feel better knowing he didn't hate me. Once when we went over to Alex's house, Josh told me 'I don't know why you even bother, you're stupid and hideous. Vicky is much cuter and is a straight A student.' Vicky was Alex's ex, and Josh loved to taunt me about her. My self esteem and confidence of our future relationship failed at that point… No matter what Josh said I never got mad at him. I understood that he was clingy towards his brother; I couldn't hold it against him. I sat him down and explained that Alex and I, despite what I wished, were just close friends. After that he didn't mind me too much, actually he didn't even notice me.
Everyone in Shepherds Glen loved Alex's family, get it? Shepherds Glen. His great grandfather founded the town alongside many others like my family and Dr. Fitch's. It's weird how the towns' founding fathers great, great, great grandson and granddaughters are best friends; Alex, Scarlet, and I. I wouldn't say that Scarlet and I were friends but I tolerated her because she was so young, I now feel pity for her. Why? My little sister, Nora, was missing, Alex's little brother was missing, and Dr. Finch's daughter Scarlet was presumably dead. Poor little Scarlet. I recognize a pattern; maybe Shepherds glen has a serial killer. But why would they only be killing the second-born in the family? So many missing children, so little willingness to find them…
I finally reached the Shepherd's home. I knocked on the door and silently waited. When no one answered, I opened the door, it wasn't locked. They had always said that I was welcome in their home anyway. "Hello, is anyone here? Mrs. Shepherd, Mr. Shepherd?" I walked into the family den, and saw Lillian sitting in her rocking chair, facing the window.
"Is that you, Elle?" She asked
"Yes. Mrs. Shepherd, are you okay?"
"Its good you're here. I wanted to hear another person's voice. Adam is out looking for Josh. He's been gone for 3 days now." She said meekly. She looks sick, and depressed. Her skin had turned several shades paler, her hair had strands of grey, and there are dark circles under her eyes. Her clothes were dirty and smelled of mold.
"What?" I asked her, not quite shocked just attempting politeness. She shifted her glazed over eyes towards me.
"I just miss Josh so much." She replied with a distant voice.
"Alex is coming home Mrs. Shepherd." I told her to lighten the mood.
"I don't believe it. You should go to the towns' gates and wait. I don't feel like dealing with his stupidity right now. Bring him to me later, when Adam returns hopefully. Also could you take this to your mother for me? Don't you peek at it you hear?" She held out a sealed envelope. I took the envelope from her shaking hands.
"Of course I'll take it to her Mrs. Shepherd. I will tell Alex you need him here, goodbye mam'." I hugged her; she looked like she needed it.
"I appreciate it Elle, such a sweet girl." I thanked her and left the house. I immediately regretted accepting the task, mom wasn't a fan of me at the moment; she thought of me as a threat to her towns future, as if there is one, and that ever since I was born I've given her nothing but trouble. I decided to go to the gate first; I wanted to see Alex desperately now, the four years he has been gone have been too long.
I walked the lonely side walk and thought about how it used to be; people driving down the streets, kids laughing and playing on the sidewalk and shops filled with happy people getting haircuts, buying groceries, and going to Dr. Finch's office for medical advice. Now the only life you see is people locked indoors and the plant roots that scatter the road.
I was about to lose the hope of seeing Alex; I had been waiting for an hour now. But then I saw a figure emerge from the haze. It had thick short brown hair and a muscular build. I knew it was him immediately. "Alex!" I said as I waved eagerly. He ran towards me. When he realized who I was he outstretched his arms and gave me a huge hug.
"Oh my god, forgive me Elle! I've missed you so much. I'm so sorry for running off like that." He said quietly, still not letting me free from his iron grasp.
"I've missed you too Alex, its ok I'm not mad. I'm just glad your home." I replied still hanging on to him.
"Your freezing," he handed me his jacket, "what's happened here? It's like a ghost town."
"I don't know Alex, nothings been right since you left," I said sadly "everyone's going missing, including your brother. I'm so sorry Alex, I wanted to write you but your dad said it would be best not to just in case something happened." Alex looked at me strangely
"That's why I'm here; I started having these dreams, more like nightmares, that Joshua was in danger. I came back here to check on him, just to make sure he is ok. I see now that I've done the right thing." He said. I was somewhat sad when I learned he didn't come back for me. He let go of me and took my hand "I'm going to the Town Hall to see Judge Holloway. Come with?" he asked.
"Sure, I need to give mom something anyway." I replied, blushing because he was holding my hand.
"Great, how has your boyfriend been?" He seemed concerned. "He hasn't hurt you again has he?" A worried expression crossed his face. My old boyfriend was extremely dangerous, and Alex had always told me I could do better.
"He left." I replied sadly.
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I miss him, but I've moved on. I have to face the fact that I don't need him anymore." I smiled at him.
We were approaching the Town Hall; we raced up to the large double doors like we used to do when we were little. I won, of course; I was always faster than him. "Ha! Beat ya!" I enjoyed boasting about racing. Even though my lungs screeched from the exercise, we laughed like 5 year olds. God I missed this. It was time to get serious though, Josh was missing and I had a secret message to deliver. He held the door for me and walked next to me while we found mothers office.
The town hall was a complex structure with several confusing corridors and hundreds of unnamed offices. It seemed like hours before we found the right door. "Here it is." I pointed to a large wood door with Holloway printed on it. Alex opened the door first and went in.
"Judge Holloway?" He asked.
"Alex, what a pleasant surprise!" she said. I walked in and all I got was a "Hello, Elle." I handed her the envelope and said
"It's from Mrs. Shepherd. She wanted me to it to you." She took the envelope from my hand
"Tell her I said thank you." She replied with a newfound curiosity. I went and sat down in an empty chair. "Now Alex, what have you came to see me for?" she asked flirtatiously. 'Oh grow up you old bitch he's way to young for you' I thought to myself.
"I need some info about my little brother." Alex said.
"I can't tell you anything you probably don't already know, Alex, he is missing. He went missing a year ago. We've given up Alex. I'm sorry. We have hundreds of others missing. Not just your brother." She shook her head while she said this. I pictured the town's bulletin board with pictures I had put up of missing folks'.
"Well how about the town, what's happened here?" Alex asked, fuming.
"I have somewhere to be. I'm sure you can find your way out, goodbye Alex and good luck finding what you're looking for." She exited the room quickly. Alex came over to where I was sitting and said,
"She's hiding something."
"I agree, Alex, she looked worried. Let's go before she comes back." I stood up and we found our way to the main auditorium. "Alex, I think you should visit your mother. There's something off about this whole thing, and she might know something. Plus she needs to see you; I think it will be good for her. She's not doing well, she needs you." I breathed.
"What's wrong with her?" He said a little shaky.
"Well…you should just see for yourself, come on." I tugged on his arm and we left the building. "I'll race ya there!" I said and started running
"No fair!" He shouted after me. "We both know you will beat me anyway."
"Yeah, you're right; you're the one who ran track." He was already running next to me. We reached his house, and I won, as to be expected. "The coach would be disgraced." I said out of breath. He laughed and said,
"Yea, wipe the sweat off your face and let's go in." He pushed the door open. I could've sworn I had locked it. "Mom its Alex and Elle, are you here?" We got no answer but I heard the silent sound of her rocking chair scraping against the wood floor. We walked into the den and Alex went up to his mom "Hey mom, are you ok?" Out of the corner of my eye I saw something sitting in her lap; a revolver.
"Uh, Alex, there's something in her lap." I whispered to him and pointed.
"Alex, it's been so long. I've missed you so much." His mom said in a feeble tone.
"I've missed you too mom," he looked at her lap and grabbed the revolver from her grip, "mom what are you doing with this?" He sounded worried and concerned.
"Alex, I miss your brother so much, your father has gone to look for him, now he's missing. It feels as if this town is slowly fading away. Understand Alex, I can barley take it." She said in a stressed tone.
"No, mom, I can't understand, this is ridiculous. You need help mom. Don't worry we'll find Josh and Dad." He said pleadingly.
"Alex, promise me you'll find Joshua. He's all I have now, your father is hardly around anymore and you won't stay after we find him."
"I promise, and so does Elle. Right?" he looked at me.
"Yes Mrs. Shepherd I promise to help find Josh at all costs." Alex and I nodded in agreement.
"Such a good girl, Elle, you have always been. I appreciate your willingness to help me find my little Joshua, and I'm sure you won't mind my Alex accompanying you either." She stared off into the distance and let out small sobbing sounds.
"No, I don't. Alex and I have been friends for 18 years now, you remember don't you?" I asked her sweetly.
"Yes, I do. I'm so glad he has friends like you dear." Her face turned a little pinker when she spoke of me. She had dreamed of Alex marrying me; because my family was well liked and a good influence throughout the town. It was Judge Holloway's dream for her daughter to be the Judge after she died, by her daughter I mean my sister. When I was 7 I asked my her if I could be Judge when he died, she said 'Are you stupid? You can't run a town, that's why I have her.' she was always so damn proud of her…Lillian looked at me "Well? Are you going now?"
"I'm gonna go upstairs to my old room to see if Josh left something telling us where he's gone, mom are you gonna be alright?" Alex asked her, concerned.
"Yes, be careful. Josh left it a mess before he left, and I just don't want to remove anything. Just in case he comes back, I do hope he does." We looked at her doubtfully and left her in her near catatonic state; to look upstairs.
The stairs were stained with time and the creaked rather loudly. "Alex, there is something off about this. All of the town's children have gone missing. Your mother is on the verge of going clinically insane. Mother's being a secretive bitch. And the towns practically empty, only a few people remain; I'm scared Alex." I spoke in a hurried whisper so only he could hear it.
"Don't be, it's going to be alright. But something weird is happening. When did this start?" he asked.
"Right after you left, first the town was covered in this fog, and then the children started to disappear. We haven't found a single one either." I stated after we entered Alex's and Josh's old room. The window on the back wall gave a great glimpse into the back yard. The walls of the room were green and a bunk-bed was centered beside the left wall. Toys were scattered all over the room, and school books littered a small writing desk, the words Scarlet and Josh were carved neatly into the leg of the desk. "Scarlet and Josh liked each other?" I asked Alex,
"No, but Josh was crazy for her." Alex aid as he picked up a clip on flashlight from the bottom bunk of the bed. "I remember this, I gave to Josh when he had nightmares; I told him to turn it on if he got scared." Alex smiled at the thought of his brother, and then pinned the flashlight to his army jacket; which I gave back to him when we entered the house.
"That was nice of you." I said trying to make small talk. He smiled and walked over to the bookcase in the right wall, being as obsessive compulsive as I am; I alphabetized the books. All of the sudden the book case sprung out and light was seen pouring out of a hidden room behind the case. Alex stood to the right of the case and pushed it. The little room behind it was like a closet. A little remote poked out of a corner. I bent over and picked it up. "It looks like a garage remote. I don't know why, but I think it may be useful later." Alex took it out of my hand and put it into his pocket.
"Possibly, but I doubt it." He said. I turned my head in time to hear a crashing sound come from the basement.
"Did you hear that?" I asked Alex.
"Yea, let's go see what it is…" he grabbed my hand and pulled me down the stairs. Before we could go down the basement stairs, Lillian looked up from her chair and said
"It's flooded down there. And there is something down there." Alex picked up a crowbar located next to a power box and slung it upward in a defensive position. I walked down first, much to the dislike of Alex, and was disturbed by the large amount of water flooding the basement floor. I heard something move in the water, and all of the sudden a huge creature popped out of nowhere. It had a slit on his forehead and teeth were scattered in rows inside the slit. Its skin was moldy and rotten. And its legs were bided together with dead skin. I screamed and Alex pushed me behind him. He took the crowbar and flung it at the thing. We heard a growl from the creature as it died. Blood spewed everywhere hitting me in the hair and shirt.
"What the hell was that thing?" Alex asked and helped me up; I had fallen when he pushed me.
"I don't know Alex. I need to go home. I got blood all over myself." Alex walked with me to the fence that separated our yards, and helped me over.
"I'll sit on the porch stairs and wait…just in case something happens." he said, still a little shaky, and not wanting to be alone.
"Okay." I unlocked my front door and entered the kitchen. I ran upstairs and took a hot shower. I raped a towel around me as I picked out a new outfit, I would need something comfortable if I was to be running around town all day. I settled with a pair of well fitting jean shorts and a comfortable sleeveless black sweeter dress that was small enough to be shirt and exposed only the bottom of the very short shorts. Who said I couldn't look good while helping Alex? In fact that's the only reason I was making a good image of myself; I was going to be with Alex for the next days. Alex would hopefully notice how good I look, he doesn't have to say anything; just look. I put on mascara and left through the back door. I needed time to think before I saw Alex; this was a small detour. It was chilly outside, I should've brought a jacket but then again, I hoped Alex would offer his.
I saw Alex on the steps, and I led him to the garage. I couldn't help but notice how his eyes bugged out of his head when he looked me over. Good reaction. "We should drive through the town before we search by foot. There might be more….monsters….out there." I said. Alex agreed and I gave him the keys. We set off on a seemingly easy mission. We were wrong.
Hoped you enjoyed! Next chapter comes out soon! Review, it would help.
