FOREST OF THE LOST

PART FOUR

4.

An A4 sized envelope posted into his new home late in the afternoon has Terrence Williams more than a little baffled. If missing two hours of time the day prior to this one isn't confusing enough then the information that has come his way surely is.

Misplacing two hours of time would generally be enough reason to go see a doctor but becoming a little preoccupied prevented him from considering such an option, besides he is not sick, he doesn't feel unwell, there are no ill effects. Physically he feels good and well, mentally he could do with a break and this in part is what has brought him to where he currently is. As far as it goes, there is nothing wrong with Terrence Williams, nothing that warrants any kind of visit with a doctor. There is that slight thing however of those two missing hours.

His mental health is good as far as he is concerned and even if it weren't so good, he would be fairly confident that he could deal with that by himself. Who needs doctors and psychologists? Besides, what has come through his letterbox may just keep him busy for a little while at least. This can only be a good thing ... one would hope. There is a proper mystery out there, Terrance already is being drawn to it on a number of levels though what is it that has him believing that he can do something about it?

What had been delivered to him were flyers and newspaper clippings of people from this town who have gone missing over a lengthy period of time. A jogger and her dog missing since April 1983, an older man missing since May 1997, two teenage boys missing since March 2000 and a seven-year-old boy named Todd Grogan who had been last seen running into the town park. None of these people ever to be heard from again, there is something more than or other than kidnapping and or murder going on here.

Mary must have posted these flyers and newspaper clippings to Terrence, sure who else would have done this? And if it had been her who delivered these items then where did she go once she had done so? Why didn't she knock and discuss these other odd missing stories with him? Perhaps she wants to allow him time to consider these things by himself.

Questions are building and no answers are following. A brief trip down to that park can't hurt; nothing bad can come by just having a look. There must be a logical reason for the disappearances that Terrance has become aware of. There is a dread in the pit of his stomach telling him to stay away but he can't help himself. Evening is on its way; it is still early and bright, so a brief walk it is.

Only a few minutes do pass by the time Terrence is back by that rather large car park. Despite its size and the number of spaces available to park, there are only three cars currently parked, none of which are particularly anywhere close to the other two. There are a few people out and about the town and none of them are paying any attention to the area Terrence has come to be at.

The pit of his stomach is telling him to go home, the rest of him is telling him to go on, don't stop now. Cautiously, he moves on ... already having made his mind up that he will not go beyond the entrance to the public park. It does not matter what he may or not believe, this is an observational visit. He only wants a brief look for now and nothing more than that.

Having come to be only a few feet away from that entrance Terrance has that look inwards. Trees and the likes do make it difficult to see all so far inside. A very odd moment this proves to be for those trees are swaying strongly as if a hefty wind is out in force. Where Terrance currently stands there isn't so much as a light breeze.

In what feels to be only a few minutes a heavy darkness falls. Terrance notices that the cars he had observed a moment or so ago are gone. Other than him, the car park is completely empty, void of all life, and the sky indeed has darkened. This can't be right; surely, he would have noticed those cars leave. Maybe not, for it has happened again, twice now in two days, it had been about five o'clock moments ago and now his wristwatch informs him that it is close to eight. What the heck is going on?