March 2, 2015

Hudson Foster was actually happy for once. Kind of.

Hudson got out of his bed and walked down the stairs of his dingy apartment, passing a mirror on his way. He looked into it. He looked at his musty brown hair. His skinny, short, 5'9 build. His wispy facial hair because he didn't have a razor. His backwards cap. His blue jacket. His dirty jeans. He seemed set for the day.

He waved goodbye to his roommate, who only went by "Evan," or "Ev."

"See ya, Ev!" he called, cupping his hand to make sure he heard.

"See ya." Ev replied, tiredness in his voice. He was always tired, Hudson thought.

Hudson was quite happy as he left his apartment. His friend, Phil, had said that he was opening an attraction at the nearby WORLD park. Hudson was impressed, but was caught off guard when Phil asked if he wanted to work there. Hudson immediately accepted.

Hudson rarely got a semi-interesting job. Not after the fire.

Hudson's father, Steven, took his own life when Hudson was 4. The man his mother married, Lewis, wasn't a very nice guy. He had beaten Hudson constantly, causing permanent injuries in a weaker-than-normal spine, a left wrist which was slightly crooked as it didn't set right, and a left leg which constantly hurt a little (causing a constant limp which Hudson tried to hide in public), and spiked up when Hudson was stressed. Eventually Hudson's house burnt down, Hudson coming out unharmed, but his father dying inside. Everyone thought Hudson had it, and nobody wanted to hire someone who was suspected to have killed someone by setting them on fire.

But now, Hudson was getting a job! He walked to WORLD park as he couldn't afford a car, and didn't want to ask Evan if he could use his.

—-

Hudson arrived at the meeting place, a diner in the park called "Sparky's."

"Hey, man! Over here!"

Hudson looked over and saw Phil sitting at a table with Dean and Ricky, 2 guys that were helping with the project. Phil was waving him over, smiling a toothy grin.

Phil Dud (pronounced "Dude") had a mixed skin color, shaggy black hair, and brown eyes. Dean Grayson had short blonde hair, bluish green eyes, and light skin. Ricky Grayson was a much taller man, who looked much like his brother, except his eyes were brown.

As Hudson sat next to Phil, the grayson brothers sitting next to each other across from them, Phil started, "So, I'm assuming you're curious about what we're making?" he asks.

"Yep, I'll take whatever job you need though." Hudson replied.

Dean and Ricky were silent, Ricky not really a guy to talk, and Dean not paying attention, on his phone.

"Well, yknow that old Freddy's place?" Phil asked.

Hudson thought for a moment. "The one with all the rumors?" he remembers.

"Yeah, that one." Phil smiled. "We're gonna capitalize on those rumors, and make, like, a haunted house!" Phil explained, holding out his hands and gesturing to nothing. "It'll be sick!"

Hudson stared for a moment. "Haunted house?" He was never much of a scary-stuff guy, always freaked him out.

Phil saw and explained, "Don't worry dude," he put a hand on Hudson's shoulder. "You'll be the Security Guard actor, as well as the actual, like camera guy!" This calmed Hudson immensely, being the actor sounded moderately easy, showing him it wasn't real.

"But," Phil started, "But. I also need you to watch the place at night for like a week-ish." Phil explained, "Before we open, right? Don't want no one, like, breakin' in, man."

Hudson thought for a minute, sounds easy enough. "Ok, when do I start?"

"Tonight."

"What."