•Sweet Like Lead Acetate•

•Chapter 1: An Alarm•

It was a Saturday. That meant, that the local children and teens were typically out in Lapel, Indiana.

These kids went to parks, went out shopping, or went to newest store in town: The Lapel Candy Store. 

It was a small building with one floor. It was almost box looking with a white paneled exterior. The triangle roof trim was bubblegum pink as well as the door shade above the front entrance.

A small welcome sign hung in the front window and the name of the store was built with blue wooden letters above the door.

There was string of fairy lights that hung under the shade, leaving the front of the store dimly lit up with white light.

The store was iconically placed at the edge of town and everyone in town loved walking or driving down the main road to get to it.

And that's exactly where a teenage boy walking down the road seemed to be going today.

His name was Harrison.

He was light skinned with short cut black hair and dark eyes. He had a freckle right next to his right eye and small smile on his lips. He wore a black hoodie with blue jeans and black sneakers. He had one ear pierced with a black circle. The boy was averagely tall and decently built. He had his hands tucked away in his pockets as he walked.

He was walking from his home he shared with his mother. It was just the two of them after his father had passed, and he always loved surprising his mother with candy. Or doing anything to get her mind out of sadness for that matter.

Harrison walked further, the gravel road crunching under his feet.

"Harrison?" Came a voice from behind him as he passed an intersection.

The boy turned around curiously to be met with blonde hair and a wide smile.

"Henry!" Harrison exclaimed.

The boy jogged up to him and grabbed his hand, pulling him into a hug.

Harrison laughed, playfully shoving the boy off.

Henry was one of Harrison's only school friends. Harrison didn't make friends easily, but for Henry it was simple.

He always seemed to be talking to someone new and was familiar with almost everyone in town. Harrison being one of them.

And for that he was grateful.

Henry was on the shorter side, his blonde hair, unruly and curled. He had blue eyes and a freckled face. He always seemed to be smiling happily about something, which Harrison always admired about him. He wore a gold chain with gold hoop earrings and a gold watch. All were real. Henry's family was rich and snobby, but Henry was never like that. Though, that didn't stop the boy from having access to a lot of money.

He wore a white button up shirt with an perfectly smooth, unbuttoned suit jacket. He had on black slacks and black shoes. He would've looked perfectly put together if it wasn't for his messy hair.

The Lapel candy shop came into view as the two wondered up a small hill.

"Where are you headed?" Asked the boy, walking alongside Harrison.

"The candy shop! You?" Harrison asked, looking over at the boy.

"Same! We're totally on the same wavelength bro! I'm telling you!" Henry said, patting Harrison on the back playfully.

Harrison laughed.

Eventually, the pair made it to the front door of the candy shop, Henry holding the door for Harrison as they both walked inside.

The small bell by the door chimed, indicating someone had entered.

The two boys chatted happily as they went over to the large selection of taffy.

The inside of the candy store was a square. Along the back wall was a large wooden shelf full of different types of bulk candy. There was lollipops, and chocolates. Hard candies and fruit chews. Gum balls and sour bites. Then, there were small bags to mix and match your own treats. Along the right wall was another shelf full of candy. This time, prepackaged kind like bats of chocolate or bags of lollies. In front of this was a large island table. It was made of white marble and held jars of all kinds. All filled to the brim with locker sweets and homemade candies. For example, meringues and cotton candy. On the next wall was a shelf of all kinds of taffy. Over 100 flavors of colorful taffy ranging from bright blue raspberry to dull yellow honey. The door was on the left hand side and painted pink. Once you walked inside, to the left was the cash register sat on a white marble counter to match the table. There were name brand candies under it, such as Hershey's and skittles. The walls of the shop were painted white and had bubblegum pink swirls running through.

Henry and Harrison walked over to the taffy as Harrison hummed in question.

"You know, I've tried almost all of these flavors- I'm just missing a few," Harrison said smiling.

Henry gaped.

"Really?! Which is your favorite?" He asks excitedly.

Harrison laughs.

Harrison goes through each of the flavors with Henry, pointing out which ones are the best, which ones have a weird texture, and which have an odd aftertaste.

There were 5 other people teens in the shop as well, each going about their own business.

Only the dull sound of chatter and the cars passing outside remained.

Well, that was until the sound of glass shattering echoed through the small shop.

One of the girls in the shop could be heard gasping as Henry dropped the jar of taffy he was holding.

At the sound of the glass, a loud blaring sound echoed out of speakers in the roof.

All the lights turned red and the spinning of the alarm made them all dizzy.

Metal sheets and grates with no open wing, shut themselves over all the windows and the front door.

It was as if the store had entered lockdown.

And there was no way out.