Night Walkers - Halloween 2023

Chapter 2

Sannox (San-ex) - A fictional town made up for the story.
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"Amellia, why don't you go outside today and get some fresh air." My mom suggested as she finished doing up her hair for work. "Maybe go to the park down the street or something, meet some of the kids your age."

"The people in this town are strange. I would rather stay inside." I argued.

"You have been cooped up in this house since we moved in. I would feel better if you went out and got some vitamin D every now and then. You are almost twenty, I shouldn't have to tell you this."

My mom and I recently moved to a small town called Sannox (San-ex). It is a town located in the mid-western area of the United States, surrounded by a large forest. Sannox is so small you can only find it on certain maps and even google has a hard time locating it. How my mother found it, I don't know. However, the harder we were to find, the better.

"The townspeople are not strange. They're being friendly."

"Our next-door neighbor literally warned us, the day we moved in, not to take a walk in the forest especially in the middle of the night because that is when 'They' are most active." I pointed out.

"He's making sure we stay safe."

"But who would even think to take a walk in the middle of the night, let alone take a walk in the forest. And what does he mean by 'They'?"

"I don't know Amellia." The annoyance was heavy in her voice. "Maybe some bad people come out then."

"You wanted to move here specifically because there was no crime. Now you're saying our neighbor might be warning us about 'bad people'?"

My mom sighed as she slipped her jacket on and slung her purse over her shoulder.

"What about the old lady down the street." I continued. "She's always sitting on her porch and stares at us when we walk by and she never replies when you speak to her."

"Amellia, we're new to a town where everyone knows almost everyone, not everyone is going to warm up to us right away."

"Whatever."

"I'm going to be late for work." She said as she hurried to grabbed her keys and open the garage door. "Please go spend some time outside and maybe make some friends."

I rolled my eyes. "Fine."

With that mom got into her car and backed out of the driveway. I shut the garage door behind her as she drove away.

I pulled on my jacket, grabbed my bag, and headed out the door making sure to lock it behind me. I walked down the street to the local park, like my mother suggested. Summer mornings are chilly, but as the sun ascends into the sky, it warms up. I walked by the old lady's house and I saw that she was sitting on her porch. She was rocking in her rocking chair as her wrinkled face watched me with a stern expression, whether that is the resting state of her face, I don't know. I waved to her as I walked past, but she only continued to stare at me, which sent a slight chill through my body. Strange.

Once I reached the park, I found a nicely shaded bench under a large oak tree surrounded by many flowers in the garden section of the park. The park was well maintained with quite the selection of flowers in several different colors and sizes. Hedges lined the perimeter and paved pathways that lead you through the gardens. There was a small pond in the center of the park where ducks, geese, and sometimes swans congregated. There is also a playground in one corner of the park so anyone of any age can enjoy the park.

I pulled out my sketchbook and began drawing. The flowers near the tree I was sitting beneath included a plethora of gorgeous sunflowers. It was hard to not make them the main subject in my sketches.