1:56 AM
The tour bus looked a line of blues and blacks as it passed by a
winding road downhill. The sudden change from a developing town to the
abandoned road edged by stunted trees and old houses, empty and mouldy felt
slightly eerie to the tourists.
"We are passing by an old area from
the colonial days, where the soldiers lived in the quarters with their
families. Here, they are not far from the hospital and the police station,
which is supposingly convenient. We won't be stopping here in our tour; for
safety purposes."
The tour guide's voice sounded sullen
compared to his usual chirpy voice, which usually cracked lame jokes that would
bring laughter to the bus - mostly accepted by the older ladies and parents
trying to be courteous. Fifteen year old Adam didn't find any of his jokes
funny nor was he concerned about how serious he was. He was distracted by the
abandoned buildings - how they reminded him of the scenery in the video games
he had played and how amusing it was. He had an urge to venture the buildings -
as old and empty as they seemed, he could appreciate the value of the history.
People lived in those buildings. Real humans with real lives and their own
stories created, decades ago.
When the old quarters disappeared, the
scenery changed to long, double storey buildings where guards roamed the
grounds. The tourist explained how this is the only building that is still in
use in the area - the prison. Just as they pass by the gate where a decaying
wooden sign was hung, the words 'Goldsprings County Prison' was carved in, the
tourist gave his last words on the explanation, "Executions are still held
here."
Clara, Adam's thirteen year old sister
shuddered at the words beside him. "Creepy."
"I think it's cool," Adam told
her. "A bit of Dreamfall mixed with Call of Duty, in my opinion."
"Video game reference?" Clara
asked, raising an eyebrow at him. He didn't respond, only kept his eyes on the
view. Soon, the bus left the area and was back in the town, where souvenir
shops were standing, filling the roads with trash and tables scattered against
the black tar. Adam felt bored again. So far in this tour, he had only felt
interested in the abandoned area while the rest of the bus held smiles of
relief as the bus came to a stop by the shops. They were free to roam the area
and shop for souvenirs for about two and a half hours. Adam had other plans.
"Hey, you planning to buy
anything?" Adam asked Clara as she was about to plug in earphones,
following behind her steps. He knew she was not big on shopping, and decided to
bring her on an adventure.
"Well, it depends if I find
anything," she sighed of boredom. Not another souvenir shopping session,
she had thought. It's not like there's anything for her here. Her eyes fell
curiously on her mischievous brother. "Why?"
"I wanna take a walk somewhere else.
Get some air. You wanna come with?" Adam grinned.
"Don't tell me you're planning to go
back there," Clara frowned.
"Ssh, not so loud!" Adam looked
around. "Look, do you wanna come with or do you wanna die here of
boredom?"
Clara felt responsible for her retarded
brother. She had always known he had a brain of a five year old. She finally
sighed and nodded. She followed behind the smiling Adam, her feet heavy but
willing. The stores weren't far from the houses, and the single road made it
easier for the two. They followed it cautiously; making sure no one noticed
where they were heading. Young and active, their steps were quick and soon,
they passed by the prison without getting anyone's attention. Clara looked
inside the gates of the prison as they pass through and caught eyes with an old
guard, whose skin sagged and eyes were a hard light blue. Clara avoided eye
contact as Adam had told her to and kept her eyes on the black road.
Adam on the other hand took in the scenery
with much awe. The green trees behind the abandoned houses were tall but kept
away from the buildings, as if the houses owned the green grass that was kept
low surrounding them. The white walls stained black and green of mould, veins
creeping up the lower walls and cracks came from the glassless windows. He has
a curve by his lips - both of admiration and excitement. He had never gone to
such thrilling places before; places he thought people only created for
entertainment purposes. Places he had always thought were fiction. Who knows
what else is out there for him to discover?
He intended to enter the buildings, but
before anything, he needed proof of this adventure. Maybe this will be the
start to new travels, new possibilities, and new discoveries.
"Hey Adam," Clara called. "Don't
go too far. I don't wanna get lost."
"Clara, come here!" Adam waved
his hand over to his sister who was about twenty metres behind. He took out his
phone and opened his camera. Clara quickened her steps with a wince.
"What?" she panted.
"Take a picture of me by the
houses," he told her, giving his phone over. "I wanna have proof of
this."
Clara sighed and took the phone. Adam went
closer to the house and stood still, putting up a stiff smile. Clara counted to
three from the other side of the road, her hand holding up the phone and clicking
the capture button. "Okay," she called. Adam loosened up.
"Is it okay?" he asked from his
side of the road. Clara tapped around to see the picture she caught. When she
found the file, she screamed.
"What's wrong?" Adam shouted.
Clara dropped the phone on the road and ran from the area, screaming her lungs
out. Adam went over to pick up the phone, cold sweat trickling down his neck.
His thumb shook as he tapped the phone screen to see the picture.
In the picture, the house behind him was
not a mouldy white building. It was a newly painted house, the windows
curtained and the inside furbished. There was a car on the green grass - an old
model, but it looks brand new. There was a table and chairs on the other side
of the yard.
And beside Adam was a couple with their
baby, the husband wearing a soldier's uniform, his hair combed neatly to the
side. His wife wore a bright red dress, knee length and tight by the waste and
the baby, not older than 6 months, wore a cream coloured romper. They were
smiling with rotten, bleeding teeth, their eye sockets empty.
Labels: horror, inspirations, the unreal
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