A man stepped out from the crumbling building that used to be the most notorious prison in the United States. However, now, almost fifty years after its closure, it was merely a disintegrating structure; this was all that remained of Alcatraz in its National Park in the beautiful San Francisco Bay. This was an ironic fate for the prisoner criminals once feared to hear mentioned.
The man had chocolate brown hair, dark eyes like olives and peach skin. He wore the uniform of an employee of the Park Service. The nametag dangling from the right side of his chest bore the name Mark Harrison and identified him as a tour guide. He had just finished yet another tour of the infamous prison. He stopped and turned around, surveying the gaggle of tourists streaming out of the prison.
The tourists talked excitedly among themselves, creating a babble. Mark Harrison smiled as he gazed upon the happy face of each tourist. The happiness was infectious. Mark smiled. It's such a pleasure making people happy with these tours. I have one of the best jobs in the world. However, at that moment, he saw something out of the corner of his eye that caused his happiness to evaporate.
The tips of his smile curved downward, forming a frown. I don't recognize that face. "Hey, sir!" Mark said, thrusting his index finger at the unidentified man.
The mysterious man froze with an expression of terror splashed across his face.
Mark charged towards him. "Let me see your ticket," he said, holding his hand, palm up, out.
The man plunged his hand into his pocket and fished around for a moment. Mark fixed his eyes on the fingers; he didn't want to miss a movement. Then, after a moment of rummaging, the man pulled a ticket out and handed it to Mark. Mark took it, frowning. If this guy has a ticket, why don't I recognize him? Mark shrugged. Oh well. He just must have hid in the crowd during the tour.
With this situation resolved, Mark led the crowd down to the ferry that would transport them across the San Francisco Bay back to the city. The mysterious man was the last member of the crowd to amble onto the ferry. Mark watched him suspiciously. What's going on here? That's the third man to appear out of thin air like that in a month.
Mark eyed the ferry as it drifted across the water. Something was going on. That was all he knew. He could feel it in the air. Something had changed at Alcatraz during the past month. Mark sighed. I have no idea what that change could be. Mark shook his head.
A second voice spoke up in his brain. Maybe you need a vacation. After all, you've been working at this job for almost a year and a half without a vacation. Mark had to stifle a laugh at this comment; instead, he channeled his emotions into a smile. So you think too much work is the cause of this weird feeling and a vacation would be the solution to this weird feeling?
Mark rubbed his lips with his fingertip. I don't think so. It's the guys that are just appearing out of thin air. That's the cause of the weird feeling. I gotta find out where those guys are coming from; that will likely solve the problem. Mark put his hands in his pockets and sighed. Sadly, I don't have time at the moment to begin investigating the mystery of the appearing men. Mark turned on his heel and began to walk backwards the decaying prison. As soon as I get a break, I'll ask my coworkers about the mystery; perhaps they'll have some insight.