When The Leaves Start To Fall

Chapter 2: The World Can be a Cruel, Cruel Place

We all start walking to the food stand hearing the crunch of the fallen leaves. I have it hammered in my head now, crunch crunch crunch. The wind starts to blow harder as my hair whips into my face. I look over to see Hannah shivering so hard at this point. I put a mental note in the back of my head to get her a warmer jacket while we are here. I start to smell all the smells of autumn. I notice barely no one is here. "Great," I think to myself, "Hannah was right, this was a bad day."

We continue to walk in silence while we continue our journey to the food stand. The walk is way longer than I remember. I look at the few people who are actually here. They look sad, depressed, and lonely. It is like this huge, dark cloud all hanging over our heads. I start to feel a little down myself. I know I shouldn't, but I still feel this way.

I try to keep my head up high because I know I don't want my day to end up like this. I notice people aren't talking like usual when people come here. I start to wonder what's all wrong. I look over to see all my friends in the same sort of trance I was in. I honestly forgot they were here. I obviously want to break up the silence because I think this is part of the reason we are all feeling a little down. I start to speak and say, "Wow it's really changed." I start to sigh and say, "Look even the employees and everyone else is all under this weird trance."

They all look up at me in shock like I wasn't even there. They all start looking at each other like, "Why are you here?" I said to lighten up the mood a bit "I smell the food stand!"
We look at each other for a second and run as fast as we can. We finally see the food stand. The first thing I did was ask the girl from about my age of what happened here.
"Well I am shocked you guys asked, everyone seems to be in this weird sort of trance if you ask me and they haven't bothered to ask. Here's the story though. You knew that there were three people part of making this place happen right? Well one of them died and well people are in tons of stress. The owners now kinda gave up on the place. People started leaving their jobs" she sighs, " So they started hiring people again, no background checks, no nothing. They didn't even care who showed up. They raised the prices on everything. Honestly this is the first time this year I came to work here again and I think I might quit."

"Wow that's truly awful," I say, "Is there any way we could help?"
"Unfortunately no. They just ran out of application forms. Unless if you guys could find a big band or charity or something like that would make people come. I think you guys could help out next year, if there is a next year," she sighs.
"That sucks," Harley replies.
"It truly does. I assume you guys just didn't come here to talk. What would you guys like to order?"
"Four warm apple ciders and four pumpkin spice donuts," I say cheerfully.
"The best thing on the menu eh?"
"Yup."
"By the way my name is Audrey, if you guys wondered."
While Madison introduces all of us I pull out my share of the money as the rest of my friends do the same. I am thinking about remembering Audrey's name to give her a good compliment. I grab enough napkins for all of us. I grab my drink off the counter and wave goodbye. As soon as I start walking, I bump into this boy with blond hair, bright blue eyes, maybe a year older than me. I gasp as hot apple cider spills down my shirt.

The boy gets me a new drink and keeps on apologizing. I say it's all okay. I walk back to our wooden picnic table and sit down, embarrassed. "Haha you should get his number," Harley says.
"He does seem sweet speaking he got you a new drink," Hannah replies.
"Your shirts ruined though!" Madison replies looking absolutely horrified.
"The shirt is the least thing I am worrying about."
Harley gets up from her bench and exclaims, "That's it, I'm gonna talk to him!"

I roll my eyes so hard I don't think they would come back around (They do). I start to hug my cup of apple cider for warmth. After what seems like a few minutes Harley finally comes back. "Here he gave me this note."

I read silently and the note says, "I'm sorry I bumped into you. Btw I am Audrey's cousin. My name is Jake. Be careful, there are a lot of mean people working here. If you need help call me. Here's my number."

Not thinking much about it I stuff it in my back pocket. Hey I mean I might be able to get Audrey's number. I finish my apple cider and pumpkin spice donuts. Madison speaks up and says, "What do we do next?"
"Hmmm," I start to think, "What about the corn maze?"

I soon find all of us walking towards the corn maze. I feel a little more warm than I did starting out. We soon all arrive at the beginning of the corn maze. I get handed my ticket by the ticket holder, which are used if you don't find your way out. I try not to think about that.

I look to see all of my friends have rushed ahead of me. "Wait up!" I cry. I turn a corner and another one all seeming to end up at the same place. I think quietly, "This can't be happening."
I start to hear rustling in the corn and quickly turn around. "Guys...." I say softly. No answer. "GUYS THIS ISN'T FUNNY!" I yell. Again no answer. I start to panic pulling out my phone.
"Great just when I needed it," I sigh heavily. I see to my eyes the reoccurring no signal sign was showing. I slowly put my phone away. This time the rustling in the corn is closer. I start to close my eyes and hope it is a tiny animal. By now I don't think it is. I feel a hand pull my hair and instantly I start running for my life. I think this is the fastest I have ever ran, yet it seems so slow compared to the other person. I don't see where I am going and trip over a rock.
"OWW!" I grunt and scream. I am pretty sure I sprained my ankle. At the same time I scraped my chin. I try to get up again as hands pushes against my head when the world goes blank.