Power Cut - #JustWriteIt Wattys2015

Three

The journal had belonged to a man named Jonathan Wentworth, and his last entries were written inside almost ten years before the day that we had found it. Those first of the two entries was written with caution, the handwriting was perfect and the sentences written with care:

I am beginning to get suspicious of the abandoned houses around town. I don't remember anyone ever having lived in them and yet, they look as if someone has been living in them only recently. There seems no logical explanation for this, surely somebody must be able to remember, however I have asked everyone I know, and none of them can give me an answer either. Most people seem to think that I am delusional as they are convinced that there was never anyone there to begin with, but I am not convinced. As there are no current inhabitants, I'm sure nobody will mind if I take a look around.

-----

The last entry however, seemed rushed. It was as if the writer was running out of time.

I knew it. Someone did use to live in one of the houses. Edward Hardwood, I found his journal and in the last entry I found some coordinates. I've marked them out on both the map in the library and my travel map.

I'm going to go find out what has been happening to all these people.

We all stood, dumfounded. Had Jonathan figured out the mystery? What had he found? Where were the people going? As we stood there with our mouths agape, Harrison grabbed another book from the desk, this one inscribed with the name Edward Hardwood. He turned to one of the last few pages in the book.

"Edward Hardwood's final entry," he announced "Coordinates, matching up to those marked out on the map"

We all looked at him in amazement, once again he had impressed us all. He always had a knack for finding useful information.

"Off we go then." Jayden announced, breaking our awestruck silence. "I have the hiking gear in the garage, we can go check out those coordinates. IT'S TIME FOR AN ADVENTURE!"

Brandon and I immediately agreed. We were excited to finally have something to do. The other two however, didn't seem so keen.

"Oh come on, what's the matter with you!" Brandon exclaimed "Are you chicken?"

"No!" Amelia objected. "its just that I think-"

"Bwuuuk, buk, buk."

"But what about Jonathan? Why didn't he-"

"Bwuuuuk, buk, buk buk, BWAKAWK!"

Brandon stalked around her doing his best chicken impersonation, using his elbows for wings and scratching at the floor with his feet. He then proceeded to peck at Amelia with his face. Every time she went to speak, he would interrupt her with another squawk. Eventually she got fed up.

"Fine, fine I'll come." She said exasperatedly, throwing her hands up in the air.

"Great!" Jayden replied excitedly. He turned to Harrison inquisitively. "Well, you coming?"

"Well, I sort of wanted to-"

"BWAKAWK!" Brandon cut him off wit a single, ear-splitting squawk and pulled his most intimidating chicken face. He then continued to scratch around behind Amelia's back, clucking and pecking as as he walked.

I turned back to Harrison, and saw him internally battle with his thoughts. He tended to over analyse a bit, and when he made plans he didn't like to change them. I watched as Jayden waited eagerly for a response.

"Well?"

"But the books?" Harrison complained.

"The books?" Jayden laughed incredulously, "You're worried about the books! Don't worry they will be there when we come back."