Ghost Town

Chapter 1

The smell of pancakes filled the small room as Fern awoke from sleep. Her long, brown hair looked almost black in the dark. The windows had been boarded up because it's been snowing all week, and the seal around the window was letting cold air in. However, it made the room darker than normal, which Fern was glad to get a little sleep. A street light was set up right where the window was and kept her awake. Her parents said she would get used to it, but it drove her crazy! She ran down the stairs and into the kitchen where her Mom was cooking breakfast. "Dad's outside chopping wood for the fireplace." Mom told her. "The weather says there's a snowstorm hitting us tonight." She put the pancakes on the table and put on a jacket. "Oh. And Sara will be here soon. I gotta walk over to the store up the road to get supper." Ferns mom said, putting on a jacket. Fern was happy. Sara was 17 and Fern was 16, but they acted like toddlers when it snowed. After breakfast, Fern ran back upstairs and made her bed. She straightened her pillows, changed clothes, and put on a hoodie. Fern sat on her bed and picked up her book. After a while of her just reading "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer", Fern heard the doorbell ring. Sara! Fern thought as she flew down the stairs and in front of the door. Sara was her best friend and they didn't see each other in a few days because of the snow. She put on her jacket and opened the door. Sara had light green eyes and short hair, blonde colored hair. "Fern! Come on! Let's make a snowman or something." Sara was already wearing a jacket and was ready to go. Fern stepped outside and they both ran down main street, and turned off into the wooded area where all the hiking trails were. They knew all the trails like the backs of there hands. They went down one that led to a small cliff. It was covered in snow, and Fern wanted to climb it to see what was at the top. She wanted to, but last time they tried to get to the top, it proved to be a difficult task. "You wanna build a snow person?" Sara asked. Of course Fern said yes, and they both got to work. Soon, they were both gathering rocks and sticks building a snow family. Fern made the dad and a baby while Sara made the mom. "I'm cold. You think we could warm up in the cabin?" Fern knew exactly what she meant by 'the cabin'. Sara's grandmother had a old log cabin in the woods, that one of the trails led right to. It was Fern and Saras hinding spot. There hangout zone. They both agreed that they should go there, and hiked the trail that led over to the cabin. It was small, but it looked pretty. Fern and Sara walked over to the door, and Fern almost knocked out of habit when Sara just barged on it. The cabin was almost never used, besides by Fern and Sara. Fern followed Sara into the cold room, a mouse ran frantically into a hole as they walked into the room. They sat down on the floor and started trying to warm themselves up. The room was freezing, but it wasn't as cold as it was outside. Sara laid down on the floor, so Fern did the same. Walking in the snow was exhausting. Fern began to get lost in her thoughts, and without really trying, the world slowly faded into calmness as she fell asleep.

Fern awoke in darkness. There was no light shining through the window. They must have slept for hours! Fern turned to Sara. "Wake up! We slept all day!" Sara Looked at Fern and replied. "I don't feel good," Sara mumbled. Fern walked over to the door and opened it. She turned her phone flashlight on and shined it outside. Snow was pouring down like crazy. That snowstorm mom told her about was here. The cabin belonged to Sara's grandmother, and they had permission to be in there, so it wasn't necessarily trespassing for them to stay there for a little bit. It took a minute for the moment to fully sink in. They were trapped in a cabin, mom and dad dont know where we are, and we have no way to stay warm. Mom! Fern pulled out her phone to call her mom. No answer. She called again. No answer. After calling maybe seven times, she gave up. All fern knew was that she and Sara had to stay warm.