Night Walkers - Halloween 2023

Chapter 6

Two weeks later, on a Wednesday afternoon, I found myself sitting outside Gideon's Sandwiches enjoying some tasty goodness, when Carson came outside and plopped down in the seat across from me.

"Hey, there. I wasn't expecting you to be here." He unwrapped his own sandwich and took a bite.

"This place has the best sandwiches and I was hungry."

"Were you spending time in the park again?"

I shook my head with my mouth full.

"Did you make the trek all the way from your house just to have a sandwich from here?"

I nodded.

He smirked. "Were you hoping to catch my lunch break again?"

I nearly choked at his words, as I swallowed. "It was just a coincidence."

"Uh, huh." He teased. "So, it wasn't planned?"

"Nope."

"Not even a little bit?"

I scrunched my nose. "Fine maybe a little." I admitted.

Carson laughed. "If you wanted to eat lunch together again you could've messaged me. I would have planned my break accordingly."

"I know. It was too embarrassing to do that though."

Carson chuckled with his mouth full. We ate our sandwiches in silence for a few minutes before Carson broke the silence.

"I was actually going to message you later, but since you're here now, I'll ask you now." He paused to finish swallowing then continued. "Emily wants to go on another hike this weekend, but she really wants you to come along too. Would you like to come on another hike with us?"

"Sure. Why not? I enjoyed the last hike we went on."

"Awesome! I'll let Emily know when I get home later."

"Will your friends be coming along again too?"

"Nah, it'll be only us three this time."

I smiled. "Sounds like fun."

When Saturday arrived, Emily and Carson met me at my house and the three of us headed to the trail. The sky was grey and covering the sun today. The smell of rain was in the air as well.

On the way, we ran into the old man shouting on the street corner. I had previously run into this same man once before. This time he had pamphlets he was handing out to people as they walked by. Many people threw the paper away in the trash can on the next street corner.

"They're evolving!" The man shouted. "Prepare yourselves. They will come for us all!"

The three of us tried to ignore him and walk past, but he stopped us anyway.

"You kids, better go home and lock your doors. Stay inside. They're going to come." He warned.

"It's daylight, we'll be fine." Carson stated as he guided Emily, and I passed the man.

"The clouds are out today, they will come. I warned you!" the man continued to shout as we quickened our pace.

"Who is that guy?" I asked.

"His name is Ralph. He's been shouting the same warnings for years. At first everyone was terrified and stayed inside their homes for the longest time. However, nothing has ever actually come of the warnings, so now everyone just takes his words with a grain of salt." Carson explained.

"I see."

"Every town has a doomsday guy shouting warnings on the streets, right?" Carson asked.

"Not really..."