Blue Mountain Town

Cherry's Creek

The next morning, around five or so, the phone rang out in the Haywood home. Walker rose out of a hazy sleep and quickly made his way to answer it. "Hello?.. whoa slow down Greg, I just woke up," his voice still groggy, "well did you call the sheriff yet?... uh huh, alright, I'll be out there in a few." And with that Walker was on his way back upstairs to get dressed for work.

When Walker arrived, there was broken glass on the walkway that led to the store, as well as some inside. The little bell that hung above the door had been ripped down, and the 'Missing' poster that had once adorned the front door of the grocery mart had been torn down and laid crumpled up atop the glass. "What'd they take?" the young man called out as he looked around at it all, "Nothin' important, just a cheap Halloween mask." Greg called back. A chill crawled up Walker's spine as he looked to his boss and then back to the glass on the ground, "That's it?" He asked, "Yeah, surprisingly that was it." Greg answered as the sheriff pulled up, along with Irin.

"What's got you out here so early?" Walker asked when Irin had approached him, "I came to pay Greg for this week." The taller answered. He looked to the store owner who was caught up in conversation with the sheriff. When the older had the chance he went to pay the other man, they exchanged a few words and then Greg looked at Walker, "No work, I gotta get this cleaned up and repaired first." He called out to Walker. Irin joined him again, he opened his mouth to speak but the shorter started before he could, "You wanna go on a walk or something? There's a place I wanna show ya, I think you'll like it." He voiced as he looked to the other, "Yeah I'm up for that." Irin responded and then Walker smiled "Meet me at my house." He voiced before he went to speak with Greg.

As Irin pulled off, the young man looked to his boss, "Could I get some cigarettes?" He asked, and Greg made a surprised face, "You're smoking again?" He asked "Uh, yeah, it'd be a long story if you asked so... could I?" Walker questioned once more as he got out his wallet. Greg put a hand over the younger's and shook his head "Don't worry about it, be careful going in, lotta glass by the front counter." The old man voiced. Walker thanked him and went inside to retrieve what he had asked for. Glass crunched under his boots as he carefully made his way across it, he grabbed a pack but when on further. He stopped when he came upon the rack that held the Halloween masks on it's hooks. Walker studied them, a few had been taken already but only one was missing from the Jack O' Lantern style.

When Walker made it home, his family was eating breakfast and talking amongst themselves. "Where'd you go so early?" Their father questioned when Walker grabbed a piece of jam toast, "Greg called early this morning, someone broke into the store last night. He wanted me to come up and wait with him until the sheriff got there." The oldest answered as he ate, "Oh my god, did they steal anything?" Priscilla asked, concern riddled in her voice. Walker nodded, "A Halloween mask." He answered, "That's it? Nothin' else?" She asked again, a look of confusion on her face now, and the oldest shrugged and nodded again "Yep, that was it." He replied honestly. They all spoke for a moment before Walker excused himself to his room.

When the oldest came back down the stairs, Jimmy Dean and Priscilla were cleaning up and their father sat in the living room and watched the news. "Ya headin' out?" The old man asked, "Yeah I'm going for a walk." Walker answered, "Did ya know the Laughlin's caught on fire last night?" Their father continued. His son nodded, "Yeah I saw, I called it in." the oldest answered as he sat to watch the television. Walker hesitated but sighed and finally asked, "Did they make it?.. The Laughlin's I mean," his voice soft, his father shook his head, "Unfortunately not." His father was almost just as quiet when he answered and Walker hung his head. Jimmy stepped to the coat rack by the front door and threw on his jacket before he opened the door, "I'm off to Beau's!" He called out, "Be careful! Call when ya get there" Their father called back, "Will do!" the youngest answered before he left.