***************
The sun was setting quickly behind them as they made the one mile walk into town. That was the plan, get to town and get help. It seemed easy enough but he couldn't shake the nervous feeling in the pit of his stomach. It had been there since they'd arrived and showed no signs of leaving. He tried to shake the feeling and focus on the present. They were only two blocks away and he could see the outline of several buildings.
"We're almost there. See, I told ya this way the right way."
"Yeah only because I found the map at the office."
He scoffed at her "Well I found the town first."
She rolled her eyes at him. "Yes, yes you did Bosco congratulations."
Faith quickened her pace until she was walking next to him as they entered the town. She glanced around and raised an eyebrow at him.
"Uh, Boz."
He refused to look at her "Don't say it Faith."
"But."
"No. Don't even say it, because if ya don't say it then maybe it won't be true."
She bit her lip in an effort to control the words that desperately wanted to come out. They stood there for what seemed like forever until she couldn't hold it in anymore and gave in to the need to state the obvious.
"Bosco it's a freakin ghost town!"
"Dammit faith, why'd ya have to go and say it!" he ran a hand nervously through his hair and stared at the deserted town in front of them.
"Okay, well just look at the the map and see how far the next place over is."
"I don't have the map, I thought you took it.. Bosco please tell me you took it!"
He glared at her. "Okay, well just go back and get it."
No way, I'm not going back there."
"Faith we can't just wait here hoping to bump into someone, we have to go back."
"Fine, you go back, but I'm staying. Maybe there's a map in one of these shops." She didn't even bother looking back at him and started walking down the dirt road.
Bosco considered going back but decided against it and ran to catch up with her. He couldn't just leave her there and god knows he couldn't make her do anything she'd set her mind against.
The town looked like something out of the 1800's, with cobbled streets and old-fashioned signs hanging in front of the windows. The think layer of dust rustled as a strong wind passed by, causing them both to shiver. Faith entered the bar first, pushing open the swinging doors and early knocking Bosco over with them as he walking in behind her. He made a beeline for the register, hoeing to find anything that would lead them to a town with actual people in it. He pulled out old receipts and folders, but found nothing.
"No luck here, how bout you?"
Faith ruffled through various papers in drawers and cupboards, pausing over a piece of stationary. At first she thought it might have been a letter, but quickly realized it was a journal. She felt an eerie chill run through her as she read the words.
August 14th 1983 - She came to e again today. She seemed surprised that I was still here. I try to get answers form her but she won't tell me anything and I don't know how long I can make it without help. I don't blame her really, she's too young to know what happens. What it means when the lights go out.
August 16th 1983 - I walked 6 miles today but it was still just desert. I had to come back, even if I didn't I think they'd find me out there. I'm the closest thing they've had to entertainment, I don't think they get many visitors. It's like they'd taunting me, trying to see how long I'll last. It's getting dark now. I hope she comes to me again tonight, at least then I'm not alone.
August 17th 1983 - Last night was the worst. The screams are so loud now hey seem to follow me even in daylight. They tell me things they couldn't possibly know and it driving me insane.
I'm leaving today. I don't care if I never make it to the next town, if I stay here another night I don't think I'll ever leave. That's what she tells me, that I'll never leave, but I don't believe her. I won't believe her.
"Bosco come look at this" She handed him the paper and sat at the edge of the desk as he read.
A small frown appeared on his face as he read. "What do ya think it means?"
"I think that person was stranded here just like us. I think something happened to her.she seemed so scared, I wonder if she ever made it out."
Bosco smirked at her. "I think you've been watching too many spooky movies."
"That letter didn't seem weird to you?"
"No. It looked like the work of a nutjob. I think you're over reacting.""
She glared at him. "Of course, you've would think that." She hoped he was right but she couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. She glanced around the room, then quickly chastised herself for being so easily spooked, and headed for the door.
She glanced over her shoulder at him. "When something comes to kill us tonight in our sleep, don't say I didn't warn you."
"No problem, you can be the first one to say I told you so."
**************************
They spent the reminder of the day in a pointless search of each building. Darkness had crept up on them too quickly, forcing them to abandon any hope of leaving that day. Faith had suggested staying in one of the hotels and Bosco quickly agreed to share a room. Even if he wouldn't admit it, she could tell he was spooked by this place and had no intention of spending the night alone.
They climbed the stairs to the second floor and entered the first room. They were surprised to find it clean with freshly made beds and sweet smelling linens in the bathroom. Faith raised an eyebrow at Bosco.
"Ya think they were expecting us?"
"If I didn't know any better I'd say we were on the VIP list." He plopped himself down on the nearest bed and sighed in satisfaction, After a long day walking this was almost too good to be true and it only took him moments to fall into a deep sleep.
Faith sat awake on the opposite bed and stared out the window. She was too wound up now and she doubted she could fall asleep if she tried. She furrowed her brow in confusion when a soft noise caught her attention. She made her way to the door, listening for any sounds on the other side and was surprised to hear low voices.
"Bosco." She whispered to him but got no response. She considered waking him but decided against it. It could just be nothing and she didn't want to risk him complaining the rest of the night about not being able to fall back asleep.
Faith slowly turned the knob and pushed the door open a crack, peering down each side but seeing nothing. The voices she heard earlier were gone and the hallways was completely silent. She quietly made her way out into the hall, closing the door behind her. She walked quickly toward the end, stopping abruptly at the sound of giggling, and turning to face the source of the elusive noise.
A young girl stood a few feet away from her. She seemed to be about twelve years old and had long blonde hair cascading down her shoulders. Faith noticed the old fashioned dress she wore and if she didn't know any better she would have sworn the girl just stepped off the set of a western movie.
Faith approached her cautiously. "Hi, what's your name?"
"Jessica, but you can call me Jessie." The girl smiled brightly at her.
"Jessie where are your parents?"
The girl ignored her question. "You are going to stay with me right? I've been alone for so long, but now that you're here we can have so much fun!"
Faith smiled at her. She wondered why they hadn't come across her or her family when they searched the buildings. She hoped Jessie wasn't lost as well and that her parents could help them find the next town.
"I'd love to stay with you, but I'm not going to be here very long. Jessie do you know where your parents are?"
She shook her head from side to side and a small frown appeared on her face as she stared at the ground.
"Come on, I want you to meet a friend of mine and then we can go look for them okay?" Faith walked past her toward their room, then stopped when she didn't hear Jessie following her.
"Jessie?"
The girl stood frozen in place as she stared at the room Bosco was sleeping in. She quickly grabbed faith hand and pulled her back. "No! You can't go in there, you shouldn't. You shouldn't even be here, they won't like it..please just go, if you leave now you can still make it.." She continued to ramble on until something caught her eye and she topped abruptly, dropping Faith's hand.
"They're here."
Faith quickly turned in the direction of the room but saw nothing. "Jessie, what are you talki." she stared into the empty space before her. The girl was gone, it was as if she had just disappeared into thin air.
Faith jogged back to the room, intent on waking Bosco from his cat nap and was shocked to find the door locked.
She rolled her eyes and pounded on the door. "Very funny Bosco, now open the door!"
She got no response and started banging her fist on the door. "Dammit Bosco, open this door now!"
Faith sighed in defeat when he still didn't answer and leaned her ear against the wood. She could make out the sound of voices and it seemed like he was talking in his sleep. She listened closer and jumped back nearly a foot at the sound of him screaming something.
She was panicked now and began pounding against the door yelling for him to wake up. "Bos, open the door! Wake up!"
The screams from inside the room continued, growing louder by the second. Faith stepped back and kicked the door, but only splintered the wood. She cursed in frustration and kicked at it a few more time before it finally gave way.
She ran into the room and froze in place when she spotted him.
"Bosco.?"
The sun was setting quickly behind them as they made the one mile walk into town. That was the plan, get to town and get help. It seemed easy enough but he couldn't shake the nervous feeling in the pit of his stomach. It had been there since they'd arrived and showed no signs of leaving. He tried to shake the feeling and focus on the present. They were only two blocks away and he could see the outline of several buildings.
"We're almost there. See, I told ya this way the right way."
"Yeah only because I found the map at the office."
He scoffed at her "Well I found the town first."
She rolled her eyes at him. "Yes, yes you did Bosco congratulations."
Faith quickened her pace until she was walking next to him as they entered the town. She glanced around and raised an eyebrow at him.
"Uh, Boz."
He refused to look at her "Don't say it Faith."
"But."
"No. Don't even say it, because if ya don't say it then maybe it won't be true."
She bit her lip in an effort to control the words that desperately wanted to come out. They stood there for what seemed like forever until she couldn't hold it in anymore and gave in to the need to state the obvious.
"Bosco it's a freakin ghost town!"
"Dammit faith, why'd ya have to go and say it!" he ran a hand nervously through his hair and stared at the deserted town in front of them.
"Okay, well just look at the the map and see how far the next place over is."
"I don't have the map, I thought you took it.. Bosco please tell me you took it!"
He glared at her. "Okay, well just go back and get it."
No way, I'm not going back there."
"Faith we can't just wait here hoping to bump into someone, we have to go back."
"Fine, you go back, but I'm staying. Maybe there's a map in one of these shops." She didn't even bother looking back at him and started walking down the dirt road.
Bosco considered going back but decided against it and ran to catch up with her. He couldn't just leave her there and god knows he couldn't make her do anything she'd set her mind against.
The town looked like something out of the 1800's, with cobbled streets and old-fashioned signs hanging in front of the windows. The think layer of dust rustled as a strong wind passed by, causing them both to shiver. Faith entered the bar first, pushing open the swinging doors and early knocking Bosco over with them as he walking in behind her. He made a beeline for the register, hoeing to find anything that would lead them to a town with actual people in it. He pulled out old receipts and folders, but found nothing.
"No luck here, how bout you?"
Faith ruffled through various papers in drawers and cupboards, pausing over a piece of stationary. At first she thought it might have been a letter, but quickly realized it was a journal. She felt an eerie chill run through her as she read the words.
August 14th 1983 - She came to e again today. She seemed surprised that I was still here. I try to get answers form her but she won't tell me anything and I don't know how long I can make it without help. I don't blame her really, she's too young to know what happens. What it means when the lights go out.
August 16th 1983 - I walked 6 miles today but it was still just desert. I had to come back, even if I didn't I think they'd find me out there. I'm the closest thing they've had to entertainment, I don't think they get many visitors. It's like they'd taunting me, trying to see how long I'll last. It's getting dark now. I hope she comes to me again tonight, at least then I'm not alone.
August 17th 1983 - Last night was the worst. The screams are so loud now hey seem to follow me even in daylight. They tell me things they couldn't possibly know and it driving me insane.
I'm leaving today. I don't care if I never make it to the next town, if I stay here another night I don't think I'll ever leave. That's what she tells me, that I'll never leave, but I don't believe her. I won't believe her.
"Bosco come look at this" She handed him the paper and sat at the edge of the desk as he read.
A small frown appeared on his face as he read. "What do ya think it means?"
"I think that person was stranded here just like us. I think something happened to her.she seemed so scared, I wonder if she ever made it out."
Bosco smirked at her. "I think you've been watching too many spooky movies."
"That letter didn't seem weird to you?"
"No. It looked like the work of a nutjob. I think you're over reacting.""
She glared at him. "Of course, you've would think that." She hoped he was right but she couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. She glanced around the room, then quickly chastised herself for being so easily spooked, and headed for the door.
She glanced over her shoulder at him. "When something comes to kill us tonight in our sleep, don't say I didn't warn you."
"No problem, you can be the first one to say I told you so."
**************************
They spent the reminder of the day in a pointless search of each building. Darkness had crept up on them too quickly, forcing them to abandon any hope of leaving that day. Faith had suggested staying in one of the hotels and Bosco quickly agreed to share a room. Even if he wouldn't admit it, she could tell he was spooked by this place and had no intention of spending the night alone.
They climbed the stairs to the second floor and entered the first room. They were surprised to find it clean with freshly made beds and sweet smelling linens in the bathroom. Faith raised an eyebrow at Bosco.
"Ya think they were expecting us?"
"If I didn't know any better I'd say we were on the VIP list." He plopped himself down on the nearest bed and sighed in satisfaction, After a long day walking this was almost too good to be true and it only took him moments to fall into a deep sleep.
Faith sat awake on the opposite bed and stared out the window. She was too wound up now and she doubted she could fall asleep if she tried. She furrowed her brow in confusion when a soft noise caught her attention. She made her way to the door, listening for any sounds on the other side and was surprised to hear low voices.
"Bosco." She whispered to him but got no response. She considered waking him but decided against it. It could just be nothing and she didn't want to risk him complaining the rest of the night about not being able to fall back asleep.
Faith slowly turned the knob and pushed the door open a crack, peering down each side but seeing nothing. The voices she heard earlier were gone and the hallways was completely silent. She quietly made her way out into the hall, closing the door behind her. She walked quickly toward the end, stopping abruptly at the sound of giggling, and turning to face the source of the elusive noise.
A young girl stood a few feet away from her. She seemed to be about twelve years old and had long blonde hair cascading down her shoulders. Faith noticed the old fashioned dress she wore and if she didn't know any better she would have sworn the girl just stepped off the set of a western movie.
Faith approached her cautiously. "Hi, what's your name?"
"Jessica, but you can call me Jessie." The girl smiled brightly at her.
"Jessie where are your parents?"
The girl ignored her question. "You are going to stay with me right? I've been alone for so long, but now that you're here we can have so much fun!"
Faith smiled at her. She wondered why they hadn't come across her or her family when they searched the buildings. She hoped Jessie wasn't lost as well and that her parents could help them find the next town.
"I'd love to stay with you, but I'm not going to be here very long. Jessie do you know where your parents are?"
She shook her head from side to side and a small frown appeared on her face as she stared at the ground.
"Come on, I want you to meet a friend of mine and then we can go look for them okay?" Faith walked past her toward their room, then stopped when she didn't hear Jessie following her.
"Jessie?"
The girl stood frozen in place as she stared at the room Bosco was sleeping in. She quickly grabbed faith hand and pulled her back. "No! You can't go in there, you shouldn't. You shouldn't even be here, they won't like it..please just go, if you leave now you can still make it.." She continued to ramble on until something caught her eye and she topped abruptly, dropping Faith's hand.
"They're here."
Faith quickly turned in the direction of the room but saw nothing. "Jessie, what are you talki." she stared into the empty space before her. The girl was gone, it was as if she had just disappeared into thin air.
Faith jogged back to the room, intent on waking Bosco from his cat nap and was shocked to find the door locked.
She rolled her eyes and pounded on the door. "Very funny Bosco, now open the door!"
She got no response and started banging her fist on the door. "Dammit Bosco, open this door now!"
Faith sighed in defeat when he still didn't answer and leaned her ear against the wood. She could make out the sound of voices and it seemed like he was talking in his sleep. She listened closer and jumped back nearly a foot at the sound of him screaming something.
She was panicked now and began pounding against the door yelling for him to wake up. "Bos, open the door! Wake up!"
The screams from inside the room continued, growing louder by the second. Faith stepped back and kicked the door, but only splintered the wood. She cursed in frustration and kicked at it a few more time before it finally gave way.
She ran into the room and froze in place when she spotted him.
"Bosco.?"