That Place

Chapter 1

1984 was not the best year for the State of Massachusetts. Riots, mass shootings were everyone's daily bread. You had to walk around with your own bullet proof mechanism but these were not common in the olden days.

Despite all the violence, stench of death in the air and mass funerals every day, there was at least a silver lining in a dark cloud.

The infamous Happy Island amusement park. This park was one of the best there was. Everyone from all corners of the the country flocked in to see the beauty and enjoyment of the various rides that were on offer.

The Farris wheel was an obvious favourite due to the views it provided. The merry go round suspended from the top made all the thrills and chills. The Anaconda was the most scariest roller coaster to be on. It was feared by the weak but conquered by the brave.

Visitors loved the blackouts they had when they got on the rides. One person who was very much in love with the rides was a young lad by the name of Daniel Sawyer. He was a chubby nine-year-old kid on summer holidays with his family. He came with his mom, dad and younger brother Adam Sawyer.

Mom and Dad have been organizing this trip for these two boys since the park opened its doors to the world in 1970. It has been an enjoyment for them even before young Daniel was born.

"alright kids. Why don't we have a great time huh?" Dad said.

"Of course daddo!" Adam shouted.

"which rides do you want to go to first? The merry go round? The airborne swings? The infamous anaconda?" he said the word anaconda with such devious intentions. He meant to scare the kids to make fun of them.

"OK you can stop. You are scaring the kids. They will go to the kiddies rides ok." Mom interjected and suggested the rides designed for the age group of the two young lads.

The family walked on to the rides and they got into to the Massachusetts Express. It was a slow moving coaster that had no fun at all. No thrills and chills. No screaming. Just bland.

Adam said. "This is just not alright for me. I don't wike it." he has a speech impediment. He cannot say like. He instead says wike.

"Now now child. These are for you guys. Specially for you. The people in charge don't want you to get hurt." Mom said.

"I guess." Daniel scoffed and folded his arms in disappointment.

After they concluded their "fun" rides, they decided to get something to eat and not without going for a bathroom break.

Daniel doesn't go to the bathroom. He yanks his brother and tells him something.
"Hey. Let's go to the big boys rides."

"Dan are you crazy. What will mom and dad say about this?" Adam said.

"it will be quick in a jiffy. I promise we will get back."

Bad decision made by him. Adam followed his older brother's advice though. They rolled up to the airborne merry go round and they tried their best to make themselves as tall as possible so that they can be allowed to proceed into the rides.

The ride security halted the two young men. "Ain't you two boys a little bit too short to be in these rides?"

"I think not kind sir. I think we are old enough." Daniel said.

"no you have to be this high to get on the rides. Now scatter away." the security chased the two kids away from the rides.

They scampered away from the security. He wanted to get them and capture them but they were too quick and slippery. They managed to get away.

As they made their way back to the bathrooms, it all went wrong. It started to rain very heavily on the area. Everyone rushed to any shelter that looked attainable just to not get more wet than they already were.

DAN and his brother ran to the bathrooms and seeked shelter there. The problem came when the water began to rise. The rain was pouring down floods of tears. Clouds looked as pregnant as a mothers in their third trimester.

The rain poured down and lightning struck from the left side of the storm

"Bang!"
"Splash!"
"Rumble!"

The sounds of horror engulfed the entire park and pandemonium was in suit.

People were panicking that the water was rising quickly.

Screams here.
Screams there.

Daniel and Adam screaming their lungs out crying for their parents.

It was impossible to be heard under the loud drums of thunder.
Blinding flashes of lightning.
Water moving swiftly into any space it can occupy and drown.

The park was flooded and what made it worse was that there was a nearby river flooding making the water levels rise at an exponential rate.

Small stalls were washing away like leaves on a stream. Low level rides were dislocated from their joints.

Bodies began to arise from the deep waters. They probably could not handle the gushing speeds of the water. They ended up drowning and moving with the current.

The only sound that was evident was the sound of the fierce mother nature. Nothing else.

The storm lasted for a long time. It lasted for a good six to eight hours. The surrounding areas were completely flooded. Neighbourhoods were absolutely drenched and you could only see the roofs of houses.
Trees were uprooted as easily as weeds on a pavement.

CNN news documented the scenes of the twin of Danvers. It was a devastating day. Helicopters were deployed to search adn rescue. Boats were dropped down to increase rescue possibilities.

Miilions of dollars in damage.
Homes destroyed.
Families lost.
Lives lost.
First responders in hospital fighting for their lives.
Survivors stunned beyond speech.

A terrible and sad day for the city of Danver.

What about the two young boys?

Survivors were found in the amusement park. Just a pile of bodies stacked on top of each other in the Danver River. It was a horrible scene.

"And reporting live from the grounds of Danver. The waters have subsided. However, they only revealed the damages. I cannot even imagine how such can be fixed. I am emotional being here.... Back to you in the studio."

Attention was for the people of Danver only. Even other states showed their support. The governers came to add moral support and provide food and shelter. The president also came to bid his condolences and promised to get the city back to its feet as quickly as possible.

The kids.
The kids.
All they wanted was to have fun.
The kids...