Willy's Wonderland had been a place I called home for many, many years. I could recall visiting there long before Mom and Dad had signed the divorce papers. It was one of those places that was a health department condemnation waiting to happen. Kids were always running around and screaming without their shoes, pizza was smeared on walls, half the arcade games were out of order, and to top it all off, their signature animatronic band was creepy as hell. I enjoyed the shows as a child for some reason, always finding myself near the stage listening to Willy the Weasel and his strange array of band members perform. I always took a particular liking to Willy the Weasel, given his pair of green overalls looked a lot like a pair I used to own when I was smaller. Since Willy's Wonderland was the only real 'birthday party' place in Hayesville, or anywhere within Rockwell County, I spent many birthdays there. Most of my own, but some from my friends. Despite the fact I spent so much time there, I was completely oblivious to what was going on behind closed doors. I wished so badly I had found out later than I did.
A staticky song played over the radio, as the steady hum of the engine seemed to overpower it. There were about 40 miles on all sides of Hayesville till any signs of civilization. The trip to Ely, the nearest town, was a two hour drive roundtrip, which is another reason I was so reluctant to get a job. Gas for a V8 engine was not cheap. If I could get the job, though, It was a little bigger than Hayesville, but there were alot more job opportunities. They had a Walmart bagging position with my name on it.
Pulling into Ely, Walmart was one of the first large buildings I saw. Pulling into the faded parking lot, I took note of a homeless man passed out against the adobe wall. The parking lines were just as faded as the large Walmart logo above me. After finding a decent parking spot, I gathered my courage together and stepped out of the Mustang. The sun was at high noon, which meant the heat was at a high. I wiped the back of my neck, locking the car. Safety was one of my priorities, despite convincing the Sheriff's department to believe otherwise.
The barren inside of the Walmart was no better than the outside. Dad would frequently send me here for our bi-monthly grocery shopping, and they never managed to get their restocks in time. About half the customers were people from Ely. The other half were tourists looking for a quick 6-pack. I walked along the cracked tile to one of the only cashier stands open.
"Did you come back to pay for something, Vic?" The cashier asked, running a hand over his sweaty face. He was fairly tall, probably at least six feet. His stained Walmart apron covered his sweaty black t-shirt. Maybe twenty or so years old was my guess.
"No, I'm here to pick up an application," I responded. The small Walmart crew knew me by name; trying to apply for a position here was a risky move in itself.
"You're joking, right?" The cashier asked, giving a small laugh.
"Um, no," I replied, glancing at his name tag. It read 'CASON' with very scribbly writing, "I can always find Jen and ask her,"
Jen was a large, blonde lady who was here every time I was. She'd always help me find things, and if I managed to strike up a conversation with her, she'd give me their employee discounts.
"Please don't, I've already broken two flats of bread, so she'll jump on the opportunity right now to fire me," Cason replied, looking over the empty store.
"Application then?" I smiled. Cason sighed, rummaging beneath his cash register. Pulling out a clean application, I took it quickly. "I'll have it back in a few days," I called to Cason.
"We'll be anticipating your every step," He called back sarcastically.
Stepping back into the Nevada sun, I held the paper tightly. The wind was blowing swiftly and the last thing I wanted was to go back in and ask for another one. The cloth seats of the Mustang made my back grossly sweaty as the drive home was spent fiddling with the climate control. If Walmart didn't work out, there was no point in trying to search any more in Ely. The drive would be too long. I had recognized Cason from Hayesville; he was one of Aaron's friends. Unlike most of the people in Hayesville, Cason also had a car. There was a family-owned dealership in Hayesville, which also operated a towing service, but there were rarely any purchases made there. I was good friends with the owner, good old Jed. He had known me since I was a baby, and had been like an uncle to me. Dad disapproved of his dishonest car services, but it was truly the only way to make money in an economy like Hayesville's. In fact, he was the one who sold us the Mustang. For a small fine of ten grand, the lemon was ours. Plus all the repairs that came with it, that we also paid Jed to fix.
I approached the infamous Hayesville welcome sign, signaling me that I would be entering the town in approximately eight miles. "Home of Willy's Wonderland" were the first words to greet me, paired with a faded animated photo of Willy the Weasel. That was really all people came to Hayesville for; this sign definitely enforced that. I noticed Sheriff Lund's patrol car poking out of the trees, waiting for unsuspecting racers to plow through here. I definitely was thinking about it, as Sheriff Lund's patrol car was only slightly slower than the Mustang. Shifting into neutral, I revved the engine loudly as I passed her. She pointed a warning finger at me and flashed her lights in my mirror. Adjusting my hands on the wheel, I shifted back into drive and slammed the gas. The Mustang roared loudly, accelerating forward quickly. I glanced in the rearview mirror as Sheriff Lund turned on her lights and whipped her Crown Victoria onto the highway. The chase was on. I reached seventy, watching Sheriff Lund trying to catch up. I smirked, rolling down my windows. My hair flew around me as the cool Nevada air infiltrated the car. The temperature was beginning to drop since the sun was beginning to lower into the West side of town. I reached eighty five, hearing the engine running loudly. Sheriff Lund was riding my tail, screaming into her megaphone.
"Pull your damn race car over, Victoria Halifax," She screamed. I stuck my hand out the window, waving to her. The compound was the first thing I saw upon entering the town. The Mustang had ended up there several times. I decreased to sixty, seeing as I was now in a forty zone. I may be reckless, but due to the unfortunate family budget cuts, I will reluctantly slow down if I must. Sheriff Lund raced in front of me, brake checking me instantly. I pumped my brakes once, letting my foot finally retract from the gas pedal. I rolled up my windows, as we finally rolled to a stop in front of Willy's Wonderland. Nicely played, Sheriff. Parking the car, I plucked the keys from the ignition and waited for Sheriff Lund to give me today's rundown. Her walk to my car window was slow, as she eyed me beneath her dark Aviator sunglasses. Her ash blonde hair was the most youthful thing about her. With the stress of dealing with Willy's Wonderland, it was no wonder she looked a good twenty years older than she actually was. Sheriff Lund rapped at my window with her bony finger. I rolled down the window, looking up at her. I winced, trying not to let the sun in my eyes.
"Miss Victoria," She started, shaking her head slowly, "Why in the sweet name of my mother do you think racing through a town is okay,"
"It's fun, officer," I replied, smiling sweetly. Sheriff Lund rolled her eyes, scoffing.
"Alright, you were about twenty over in both zones, which I'd only ticket you for," She started, "But-"
"But," I interrupted.
"But, you refused cooperation all the way into town, which left me no choice but to get in front of you myself. And that, Vic, we're gonna get you through detainment, and with your father's cooperation, you'll be out of there soon," She ended. I sighed, resting my head back. The large Willy's Wonderland logo sat right above her head. "You can't even look me in the eyes, can you,"
"No, ma'am," I answered. Sheriff Lund glanced behind her for a few seconds.
"Sometimes it's best to let bygones be bygones, Victoria. That place is safe to go back to now," She spoke quietly, still facing away from me.
"Safe for who? The people that you force to believe it's safe? Or the people who come here knowing very well there's one person a week who will take their place six feet under?" I replied quietly.
"Victoria that's enough," Sheriff Lund grunted, swinging open the door. I let her cuff me, passing over my keys. "I'd ask for license and registration, but I already know where it is,"
"Glove box under the user's manual," I replied, grunting as she shoved me into her patrol car. Shutting me in, I listened to the over-the-phone conversation she had with Jed. "Am I gonna pay for towing too?" I shouted through the window. She shot me a rude glance. Dad usually ended up paying for towing, but I doubted he'd do it this time. A nagging feeling sank in my chest as I realized Dad was probably gonna be pretty ticked off. He normally was, which I was used to, but since this week is Luke's birthday, we don't have much spending money to waste on stupid speeding tickets.
The drive to the Sheriff's Office was a long and awkward one. We were waiting for Jed to show up. He seemed pretty happy to see me, and tried to engage Sheriff Lund in one of his infamous conversations. The one's he'd start, and an hour later, he'd still be talking, but with a topic far off from the one you started with. The drive was quiet, as neither of us spoke to each other. With all the times I had ridden in her backseat, I had already talked about everything there was to talk about with her. The conversations we had in the past were often very uncomfortable for the both of us. She was the one raising Liv, as, as I was frequently reminded, both her parents were murdered in Willy's Wonderland. I was there when it happened, but Liv didn't care about what happened to me that day. No one did.
"Alright, smile for the camera," Deputy Evan frowned, not encouraging a smile in the least. I sneered at the camera, holding my place card in front of my chest.
"You've got the look, girl," Sheriff Lund shouted from behind her desk, "Use it on the boys, not our camera,"
"The boys in Hayesville are stupid," I smiled, handing back my place card.
"Aaron seems to like you, that boys got a clean record," She replied, "Second cell, as usual,"
Deputy Evan led me to the second of five holding cells. That was my favorite one.
"Aaron is a suck up," I shrugged, stepping back so Deputy Evan could shut the gate. Deputy Evan had been sent to train from out of town. The Hayesville Police Department only consisted of Sheriff Lund, so I'm sure she enjoyed the company every now and then.
"Hey, Aaron's a nice boy. I wish Liv could find someone like him,"
I rolled my eyes, leaning against the wall, "Liv can have him. There ain't a decent boy for miles,"
"There's someone out there for everyone," Sheriff Lund smiled, kicking her feet up on her desk. It was dark now, and I couldn't see anything through the small window on the door. Normally, I managed to entertain myself by carving on the wall. The prolonged and tense phone conversation between Sheriff Lund and Dad; however, had me straining against the bars to listen to what they were saying.
"We'll hold her here for as long as you need, but past five days and we'll send her to the Rockwell Jail," She explained over the phone. There was a brief pause, "Her bail is gonna be about fifty. And the car you'll have to work out with Jed,"
"What's he saying?" I whispered loudly. When I panicked, the best thing I was able to do was annoy in an effort to get what I want.
"Yep. See you tomorrow," Sheriff Lund muttered, putting her telephone back. She rubbed her face with her hands, sighing. "Your father is not happy,"
"I don't doubt it," I replied, sitting down on the bed.
"You're stuck here till tomorrow morning, which means you've got a few hours before he arrives," Sheriff Lund pulled a crumpled photo from her desk, "That'll give you time to work on this. Work will be good for you,"
She handed me my Walmart application. "Hope you don't mind, I did grab it,"
"I don't mind, it'll be good for me to get out again tomorrow," I replied. With a breaking pencil, I held my application against the wall, taking great care to fill it out.
"What do you think I should put down for references?" I asked, tapping the pencil against my chin.
"Not me," Sheriff Lund scoffed. Deputy Evan snored loudly, sound asleep in an office chair. "Lights out is ten,"
"I know just let me finish this," I grunted, scribbling down Dad's contact information. I answered everything honestly, despite having less than adequate answers for some of them. My GPA was not something I was proud of.
"Alright, lights out," Sheriff Lund grunted, standing up from her chair. I handed her my finished application, a little less than excited to hand it back tomorrow. "I'm going on a quick patrol, Deputy Evan is in charge. You know the drill by now, right?" She asked, opening the door. A blast of cool air chilled the room.
"Yes, ma'am," I replied, laying down on the bed I was given. From what it smelt like, no one had laid here since the last time I was. The front door shut loudly, waking Deputy Ross. He looked about him, yawning. I rolled onto my back, trying to find a comfortable spot to sleep. I usually slept much better here than in my own house.
"How're you liking it here?" I asked, staring at the ceiling.
"You're supposed to be asleep," He responded.
"You're turning into Lund, aren't you," I scoffed.
"She's a great mentor, she knows the law better than anyone here,"
"Have you gotten involved with Willy's yet?" I asked, propping my head up with my forearms.
"What?" Deputy Evan responded, sitting up to look at me. I scoffed again.
"You haven't heard yet? How long have you been in Hayesville?"
"Heard what? Victoria, right? Just te-"
"I prefer Vic," I interrupted, crossing my legs, still attempting to get comfortable.
"Vic. Who is Willy?" Deputy Evan responded. I sat upright.
"Ever wonder where those people are?" I pointed to a large bulletin board, full of missing persons photos.
"Uh, yeah?"
"They're all out-of-towners that got stuck here. It's no mystery where they went. Lund, especially knows. We just keep these here for the emotional support of their families," I explained.
"And you guys are all fine and dandy about it?" Deputy Evan asked slowly.
"For the most part," I replied, shrugging.
"You're not talking about that party place are you?"
"That's the one," I replied, sitting up. Deputy Evan was quiet for a moment.
"Those people just go missing over there?"
I listened for a moment, hoping Sheriff Lund wasn't about to barge in the room. I began to hear her car outside, and decided it would be a good time to end the conversation there.
"That would be a great question for Sheriff Lund, Deputy," I smiled, "But don't tell her I brought it up,"
Perfect timing, as right as I finished speaking, Sheriff Lund entered the room.
"Welcome back," I spoke hazily. She grunted, shutting the door and taking off her hat.
"You're supposed to be asleep,"
"Why sleep when I can wait for my impending doom," I replied, rolling onto my side.
"Your Dad isn't gonna be that mad," Sheriff Lund replied. I looked at her.
"If that's what you like to think,"
"You weren't talking to her, were you Ross?" She asked, changing the topic.
"Um, no Lund, I wasn't," Deputy Evan replied, adjusting his circular-framed glasses along the bridge of his nose, "But I do have a quick question, uh, what's the big hype about Willy's Wonderland?"
Sheriff Lund turned her entire body towards me, shaking her head. "Vic Halifax I swear," She muttered. "Um, Willy's is something we don't really bring up around here,"
"Victori- I mean Vic- told me about some missing people?" Deputy Evan replied. I had been hoping he'd keep quiet about my input. I could feel Sheriff Lund's stare on my back.
"We didn't do anything to those good people. The people of Hayesville have no involvement with what goes on in there," She replied vaguely.
"What do you mean 'we didn't do anything to those good people?" I replied, interjecting myself into the conversation, "You know very well-"
"Stay out of this, Victoria," Lund scolded.
"I know where my place is in this conversation. I know first hand what happened to those people," I replied, not bothering to sit up. Everyone was quiet for a moment.
"Evan, those people came through Hayesville on their own terms. It's fate that brought them here and got them stuck, and a suggestion from us on how to get out, Sheriff Lund explained quietly.
"What is, if I may ask, that suggestion?" Deputy Evan asked back.
"One of Hayesville's finest men, Tex Macadoo, is doing his best to keep Willy's Wonderland open with the volunteered help of others. We usually send them his way, and they usually spend the night tidying the place up. By morning, um, they're usually dead,"
The entire room was silent. I kept trying to inconspicuously glance over my leg to see what was going on.
"Dead," Deputy Evan echoed back.
"Now don't you go around spreading rumors about Hayesville. This town prides itself on the integrity of all the good folks here," Sheriff Lund barked. I sneered. Tex Macadoo was one of the least honest people I had ever met. He was always bargaining for his own gain; never giving anything back to Hayesville. Except for Willy's Wonderland.
"Don't worry now, Lund, I'm not the type to do that. I just find it a bit, er-, odd. You know, the way y'all do things around here?"
"Now look what you've done, Vic," Sheriff Lund shouted at me, "And I know very well you're still wide awake,"
"No ma'am," I replied sleepily. Deputy Evan snickered at my humor.
"Well, it's the way we have to do things here. Those machines need to eat, and if we don't feed them, they'll go ahead and find their own food," Sheriff Lund continued to explain. The lengths at which she was explaining everything was making things incredibly awkward. I could sense the uncomfortable tension in the room.
"The animatronics?" Deputy Evan asked again. Tonight was going to be a long night.
"Yep. All eight of them,"
"Why on earth," Deputy Evan paused, "Actually never mind, I don't think I want to know,"
"The original owner, Jeremy Robert Willis, name sound familiar?" Sheriff Lund asked. Deputy Evan thought for a moment, but wasn't given a chance to respond, "He was the original creator and owner of Willy's Wonderland. Unfortunately, due to a series of events, he led several of his employees down the wrong path. He was a psychopath, as some would say,"
I could personally attest to that.
"Every few days or so, Jeremy and his crew would lure an unsuspecting family into the 'Super Happy Fun Room', as it was called, for a personal show and birthday cake," Sheriff Lund shook her head, glancing at me. She and I met eye contact for an uncomfortable few seconds. "Most of them didn't make it out alive,"
The silence in the room was unbearable, but I didn't dare break it. I hadn't heard the words 'Super Happy Fun Room' since I was little, and I wished they hadn't been brought up again.
"There did come a day, though, that the health department started to investigate rumors and strange smells. Once everyone realized what had happened, they completely swatted the place. Instead of turning themselves in, Jeremy and his crew killed themselves in a ritualistic fashion; they tried to get their souls merged with the robots,"
Everything was quiet for a moment. "The place was shut down for a good while after that. It wasn't long before folks started dying, though. Unnatural deaths. I'd find them torn up in their own homes. Rumors got passed around, and everyone started blaming the robots. So," Sheriff Lund sighed loudly. "As a last resort effort, we struck up a deal with Willy. Tex and I promised we'd feed them as long as they stopped killing the townspeople. And that's when we opened the place back up."
"What the hell," Deputy Evan breathed.
"Sounds pretty far fetched, doesn't it," I butted in.
"Vic, you're supposed to be quiet," Sheriff Lund barked back.
"Deputy Ross, we don't have any evidence the town deaths are linked to the animatronics," I explained, rolling onto my back.
"We don't need evidence, those things are evil. How do you explain the deaths stopping?" Sheriff Lund shot back.
"I don't know, but there's gotta be a more logical explanation. You don't really think their stupid ritual worked, do you?" I asked, raising my head up to look at Sheriff Lund. I'd never seen Deputy Evan look so confused.
"Don't talk about that, Willy could be listening," Sheriff Lund whispered. I rolled my eyes.
"That place is locked up, what are you talking about," I grunted. "A little lock isn't gonna stop any of them. How do you think they got out in the first place?"
"Maybe they didn't! If your coping mechanism, for the last eleven years, has been to sugar coat what happened, then maybe you need to go back in there and come to your senses,"
"You want me to go back in there?"
"Whatever gets your head out of the clouds,"
"I'm good,"
"Victoria, go to sleep,"
"Yes ma'am,"