Secrets of Salem

Chapter 3

Everything was gone. My whole dream world just disappeared! I ran down stairs to see if my mom was up and ready yet but she had already left and the kitchen had gone back down to being just a run down rented kitchen. I walked back upstairs and got ready for school. I left the house around half past 8 hoping to get there for 9. Also hoping to run into Ben again. But this time it was worse  I ran right into Lucy and her friends.
" Hey Madison where's you back pack? Little bitch couldn't afford a new one?" Lucy said.

" Hey I just noticed something about you Madison. You actually look nice today.. for a welfare dirt bag who can't afford any food. No wonder you're anorexic." Jamie said. I ignored them and kept walking keeping my cool, waiting and hoping they would leave. Just then I heard the same tires skidding across the pavement as I did yesterday. It was Ben! The girls kept giggling and stopped as soon as he rode by and called my name. They were so stunned to see someone was actually talking to me. We walked along the sidewalk to school and talked.
"So, why didn't you walk home this way yesterday? Were you late or? I wanted to see if you wanted to study sometime?" He asked. The girls behind me gasped in horror. I assumed everyone who had met Ben thought he was attractive or something.

" Uh, I took a short cut I can show you after school if you'd like? And I would love you study with you sometime!" I said. I couldn't believe it. It was almost as good as yesterday, but not quite. I walked to school and eventually the day ended. I met Ben outside the school and began telling him about the short cut through the forest.

" My dad told me about that place. Said tons of weird things happened when people came out. Said some never even return." Ben exclaimed.

" Oh, well it's cool I came right out yesterday and something weird did actually happen but it was good. I followed the right path I assume." I replied. Ben stared at me for a few minutes and I glanced over his blue eyes shined in the October sun and his sway blond hair glistened and shone, he was so amazing no one like I'd ever met before. We walked until we had reached the forest edge and we had entered in together. About 10 minutes of walking in silence we reached the sign that said "Left to your doom, right to your fantasies" he looked at me oddly and asked what the sign meant. I explained all the wonders of the previous night.
" Madison, I don't know. This doesn't seem right."

" Oh come on, it should work for you too! It worked for me." I said.

" But this is the weird thing that my father was talking about. The story of the young girl who followed a weird sign in the middle of the forest and disappeared!" Ben yelled. I didn't believe what he was saying. I couldn't not after yesterday.

" Listen, once there was a girl about our age. She found a sign in a forest in this very town and followed it, all her dreams and fantasies came true. The third time she followed the sign she disappeared. No one knew where she went because no one talked to her. Then about a month later they found her skeleton over in the local river. No one knows what or how it got there all they know is she went into the forest and never came out. That's why whoever enters here at least once...Never comes out the same." Ben explained. I couldn't believe it! No.. I grabbed his hand and lead it toward the right. He finally stopped talking and just followed when we both got out of the forest I looked over and said " See! It wasn't that bad! It was great.." I gasped.. Ben was gone. He had disappeared.

I walked home assuming maybe he had run back into the forest and gone home the other way. I entered my house again and the same thing had happened. Perfect mom, perfect house and this time I felt a vibration on my leg. My phone was in my pocket and I, Madison Turner had gotten a text message! It stated " Hey Madi Boo it's Lucy, we're all down at the diner for milkshakes and then a movie after care to join? *Smiley face, kissy face emoji s*" I looked down and glanced back up. Why did she wanna invite me to go and see a movie and drink milkshakes. I had quickly replied back that I would meet her there in 10 minutes. I asked my mom for a couple of bucks to go see a movie and get a milkshake. To my surprise she handed me 50 bucks and told me to go enjoy myself. I was stunned, I ran out the door and before I headed on my way I glanced down the opposite end of the street to see if I could find Ben. But there was still no sign of him. I shrugged my shoulders and continued walking, playing on my phone. I reached the diner and all the popular kids greeted me like I was their old kindergarten playmate who they had been friends with for years. We all laughed and giggle and talked then headed over to see the movie. I still hadn't seen Ben. Maybe I was over reacting? I didn't know the movie finished around quarter to 9 and the group wanted to go and see if there was any local parties going on. I didn't exactly wanna go.  But of course I went anyways, some guy from high school named Jerry was throwing one in town and we all went. Everyone drank and smoked pot but I just sat there thinking about where Ben was and how long this was going to last for. " Madison come here." Lucy said. I got up and walked over to her and sat down. She handed me a joint and told me to try it. I know, I know, weed isn't the best.. it's a drug but just to make her shut up I did it. I stumbled on home that evening high and tired from the fun. I went upstairs and laid on my bed. Next thing I knew I was asleep. I hoped that I would have just as fun tomorrow as I did today.