The Lost Village

Chapter Two: Nothingness

The only reason I was going was to please everyone else, and Nina had gotten us all the reservations at the hotel we were staying at so I would have felt bad if I ditched them last minute. But as we drove further and further into Gabon you could tell it was made for people who didn't like social interactions. Or just communication in general. This place was 90% trees and had one grocery store, a singular gas pump at a gas station, and two very gross, run down hotels. That was it. There weren't even roads. There were grumbly gravel paths that made loud noises when they were walked or drove on. This was a very small quiet town. And I was sure no one was meant to find it. Regardless I could see how dumbfounded everyone else was as we drove further and further into this place. Part of me thought maybe this trip wouldn't be so bad after all, but a pit in my stomach, almost like a gut feeling made me think strongly otherwise. As we pulled into this scary looking hotel everyone's faces drooped with a look of disappointment. We pulled into a gravel spot that looked like it was sprayed with a silly string texture and got out of the car to go check in. There was a very nice old lady that greeted us at the front desk and she spoke in a very soft spoken, friendly manner. She sounded like a motorcycle engine almost when she spoke. " Hello Folks. How are you all doing on this fine afternoon?" The lady croaked at us. "I am Florence and I am the owner of the Counter-built hotel. Can I interest you in some vouchers or brochures?" We all shook our heads and she then politely asked us for our tickets, and ID's. When she saw them her eyes sprung open and she gasped. " 8 days? You guys are here for 8 days?" She looked so surprised and the pit in my stomach fell lower than I had ever felt before.