Arcade | s.m (✔️)

Nine

"Are you sure you know your way to and back home?"

"Mom, I've been to the beach before a hundred times already."

"Yes, but that was when you were walking with Shawn. I just don't want you to get lost, that's all. And before Marge turned this into her summer house and she lived here, I would visit and get lost all the time going to the beach." My mother responds, and I nod my head, not wanting to argue with her before I left. I knew my way perfectly well, and my mother was just worrying about me.

Turns out, my mother was right to worry, because the town, even as small as it is, looks a lot different at night time.

And so after ten minutes of walking in what felt like endless circles, I realized that I had to be lost at this point.

Instantly I pull out my phone, becoming aware of my surroundings. This town being small or not, I watched way too many crime tv shows to not be cautious at this point.

After looking at all the buildings around me, I begin noticing that I hadn't ever seen them before (or at least, in the dim glow provided by the street lights, it felt like I had never seen them before).

The thought to call Shawn quickly enters my head, and I tap his name from my recent calls list, then pressing the phone to my ears. Shawn always answered his phone, so hopefully he would be able to give me some directions.

Of course, instead of Shawn's welcoming tone, I hear the voice mail begin to play, and groan. The moment after, my phone starts to ring, and I answer immediately, not checking who was on the other side.

"Hello?"

"Hey, are you at the beach yet?"

I take my phone away from my ear for a second, unsure of the voice that was currently speaking to me, before seeing Connor's name on the screen.

"Um, not exactly. Are you?"

"No, I'm on my way, but the streets are really quiet and dark so I thought it would be better if I had someone to talk to." He responds, and I notice that he might know where I am.

"Oh, okay. Quick question, do you know if Wendy's Clips is by any chance on the way to the beach?"

"It might be, why?"

"I may or may not be lost and in front of the place as we speak." I reply sheepishly, hoping I didn't sound as much like an idiot as I felt.

"I'm a bit away from there, but I can go back to you. You might have to wait a little bit longer though." Connor tells me, and I automatically feel relieved. Being late sounded way better than being lost.

"Really? That would be great. And it's fine if I wait, at least there's no strange man walking slowly closer to me." I answer, immediately regretting my words.

The moment I turn around, I notice that there was a shadowed figure walking towards my way, who didn't seem to be walking straight for me. Yet.

"Um, I take it back. Someone is coming closely." I whisper to the phone, my heart racing.

"Can you see what they look like? Chances are they're harmless." Connor tells me, and I shake my head before remembering that he couldn't see me.