"Trust and honesty are virtues in this world. We can trust that people will treat us right, but do we honestly?"

The light from the door was like the morning sun. The man wearing a white shirt stared at us, showing no expression upon his face.

Ashley glanced back at us, and then turned back to him. "I'm Ashley…we're lost, and I don't think we can make it another night in this…"

I was shocked; I didn't plan on her being able to lie like that.

The man opened his mouth as his wife popped up beside him. Her face showed sympathy, "Oh dear, you poor thing. Come on, you all come in!"

The husband just smiled, and oddly showed no signs of protest towards the intruders.

I looked at Jason and shrugged. Sometimes things just go smoothly. We followed Ashley into the house, and were immediately met by a wall of heat. I could feel the frost working its way to melt out of my system.

The house was medium sized. It was tight with a bathroom, kitchen, and living room one the first floor. A staircase led to the second floor, which I couldn't get a glimpse of the rooms up there.

"Here, let me take your coats," the woman offered,"and you can leave your boots at the door."

Ashley tried to grasp the zipper on her jacket, but her hand was shaking. I tugged her to me and zipped it down for her. I don't think it was the cold making her shake.

The husband patted my back, "I'd take your jacket, but you don't have one!" he laughed.

I let out a cold, half-hearted laugh. Trust me buddy, I know I don't have a god-damned jacket.

The wife put a hand on her chest and giggled, and then she gasped. "Oh, where are my manners? We haven't had visitors in so long, I forgot to introduce myself! I'm Mrs. Daniel, and this is my husband Mr. Daniel."

Mr. Daniel put a hand up and said, "Now, now, call us Steve and Tracy," he grinned a white set of teeth.

We slipped off our boots and placed them beside the coat rack.

I noticed the kid was hiding halfway in the bathroom, peering around the edge. I smiled at him, and he jumped behind the door. Tracy followed my gaze.

"Oh, that would be our son…David," she looked at her husband.

He nodded as he set Ashley's and Jason's coats on the rack. "Hey, you guys can take a seat on the couch, we're just watching an old movie."

I realized that Jason and Ashley wouldn't budge first, so I stretched and made my way to the sofa. I took a seat on the left, and Ashley sat on the right. Jason plopped down one of the big leather chairs.

"I bet you're hungry, we're gonna' go fix you something up," Mrs. Daniel said.

Ashley started saying, "Oh, we actually just got-"

I interrupted, "That says great, thanks for everything."

Once Mrs. Daniel and Steve were walking away, I stared daggers at Ashley to let her know that was a stupid move. Steve ran up the stairs and across the hallway.

As soon as they were out of the room, Jason leaned forward. "I don't like these people…"

"I know. Nobody is this nice these days, but, we'll see," I said.

Ashley looked from Jason to me. "I want to leave."

"Where to? Back into the icebox? No thanks, and besides, we're only staying for the night," I said trying to watch the movie. It was some old western.

I noticed the kid was now standing in the middle of the living room, staring at Ashley. He had a black hair that sat like a bowl around his head. He wore a blue-striped, yellow shirt and khaki shorts.

"Hi," Ashley said in a mushy voice.

Then Tracy walked back into the room, carrying a tray of sandwiches. "Alex, go to your room, I said it was bedtime ten minutes ago!"

"Alex? I thought that was David," Jason said as the kid took off up the stairs. I thought for a moment, and realized that Jason was right.

Tracy cocked her head, "Really?" she set the tray down on the coffee table. "David was our older son…he joined the military and died in the war."

Jason shifted uncomfortably, "Oh, sorry to hear that."

Tracy nodded, "Well, eat up, it's fresh!"

I was the first to grab a triangle of bread and meat. I was about to dive in, but stopped short. The meat was thick, and seemed to be uncooked.

"What is this?" I asked still inspecting the sandwich.

"It's turkey, Steve goes hunting," she explained.

I pretended to accept this answer, and a bell dinged in the kitchen.

Tracy jumped, "Oh, the pie!"

Ashley went to grab a sandwich, and I smacked her hand.

"Hey! I'm hungry!" she snapped.

I tossed my sandwich back to the plate. "For what? 'Cause that isn't turkey…"

"What?" Jason said. "What is it?"

I shook my head, "I don't know, but it isn't turkey. I've eaten enough turkey to know that it shouldn't be two inches thick…"

Ashley put her feet up onto the couch and pulled them tight to her chest and tucked her chin in. "I want to leave, now. We don't have the guns!"

I shushed her as Tracy returned holding a pie in oven mitts. She began to slice it down, revealing a red and pink inside.

"Cherry?" I asked.

She continued cutting and didn't look up, "No, it's one of Steve's recipes."

That didn't answer my question well enough. By this point, it was obvious that something was wrong. I was gripping my knee, and rubbing my jeans as Tracy walked back out of the room and into the kitchen again.

"I tell you what, I'll check the place out. You and Ashley just sleep on the couch," I said to Jason.

He stood up, "Sounds good."

I walked towards to the kitchen. It had wooden cupboards and countertops. A window overlooked the sink, and the floor was white tiles. A table sat in the middle of the room, with four chairs around it. Tracy had her back turned and was cleaning dishes in the sink.

I leaned against the doorway with my arms crossed, "Hey, were a little tired so, we're gonna' just get some sleep."

She looked over her shoulder, "Really? Alright, we're going to be going to bed soon too."

I waited a moment, and then walked out of the room wondering how anybody could just accept strangers like they did. That's odd even back in the old days.

I flicked out the lights in the living room, and snuck up the stairs to shut off the hallway lights. I found myself staring at a wooden door with an open padlock. My heart started beating, like it was before I shot the deer. My curiosity slowly took control of my legs, and I began advancing to the door. I pressed my ear to it, and a small humming noise was emitting from inside. I couldn't tell what it was, so I slowly turned the handle. My heart was beating in my ears, and my palms were getting sweaty as I cracked the door open a sliver. Peering inside, a small swinging light hung over a table. It was dark, and all I could see besides the table was something hanging over the edge it, and a dark liquid streaming down the side. I almost jumped out of my skin once Steve walked over in front of the table and clicked something on. The humming noise returned, and the table shook. Then, a muffled cry broke out, and Steve began to beat the table with his fist. I couldn't make out exactly what it was, but it sounded like somebody crying.

I felt like I was going to throw up, and the room seemed to be spinning.

I quietly closed the door and silently ran back down the stairs. I pushed Jason's feet off the coffee table, and ran over to our coats.

"What?" he asked, jumping up to follow me.

I didn't answer, I just handed him his coat and tossed Ashley hers.

"What is it Josh?" Ashley asked.

I tossed them their boots, "Get them on."

Jason stood still, "Why?"

"Fuck, do it NOW!" I ordered. They both sat down and pulled them on, Ashley was struggling with hers, and I walked over halfway through putting my second boot on. I grabbed her boot and tugged it hard up to her shin.

"I can do it!" she complained.

I was just tying my right boot when Mrs. Daniel walked in wiping off a butchers knife with a rag. "Whoa, where are you off too?" the knife glinting in the television's reflection.

The words were caught in my mouth, "I uh, we're just-left something on the trail."

She stepped closer to us, "All of you have to go?" she turned to Ashley, "You don't need to go back out there too, honey."

Jason pulled Ashley to him and began walking to the door. A growling noise froze us, and we looked up to see the kid holding onto the railing. He was showing his teeth and rocking back and forth. Suddenly he bolted back into his room.

I turned around and began pushing Ashley and Jason out the door.

We were just about to walk out of the house when suddenly, a woman began screaming upstairs.

Thanks for reading!

Chapter 8 coming soon!

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- Legkicker