The Unseemly

Chapter 4 - Nothing's As It Seems

Chapter Four - Nothing's As It Seems

Everyone was affected that night they rescued Douglas from The House of Forgotten Time. One suffered more severely than the others who escaped that haunted shack. It's as if the presence in that house unlocked a hidden power, darkness causing the townspeople to grow numb to their surroundings and emotions. Chimmy and his friends would share a secret that would bond them together forever; no one could take that from them; except death.

The morning was foggy, which was strange; the forecast from the night before showed clear skies for the next two weeks. Chimmy made his way to Douglas', this time making the trip all the way to his house. The day made the path less fearful after what he and his friends experienced last night. As he walks past the broken place, his mind flashes back to his nightmare he had last night.

Without knowing he's already arrived at his destination. "You, okay, Chim?" Douglas, it says, causing Chimmy to jump back.

"I'm fine, just thinking about last night," he replies. "Wait, what are you doing here? Your parents let you out of the house?" Chimmy asks not to stop for a breath.

"You're at my Chim. Is everyone going crazy today, geez?" He begins rambling. "It was weird. They didn't cry or nothing." He says sadly. "They phoned the police and went to bed like nothing ever happened. I also had a crazy nightmare, Chim." Douglas ends his rant.

"You too," Chimmy says, relieved. "I thought I was the only one who had a nightmare."

"What was yours about?" Douglas asks.

"Let's go to The Falls. I have a feeling we'll get some answers," Chimmy says, leading his friend out of the foggy path.

Chapman Street was lifeless; Chimmy and Douglas witnessed one car while walking the typically busy street. Douglas wanted to take a detour, so the boys made a left on Wickerwood Valley, taking it all the way to the pavilion in the center of town. Approaching the white wooden gazebo, they sat on the bench and just watched the people cautiously.

Nobody interacted with one another; it was as if no one around them existed. Chimmy pointed out an elderly woman falling at the intersection of Allen and Chapman Street; bystanders walked by gazing at the poor woman stuck on the hot, muggy pavement. After another two minutes, a young blond girl finally helped the old lady. The little girl's parents never stopped to help their daughter; they simply snarled and demanded she hurries up.

"What the hell is going on?" Chimmy asks, confused.

"This was exactly how my parents were acting, dull, and lifeless," Douglas answers back.

"Is this what you wanted to see? If they were like zombies like your parents?" Chimmy says, walking off the gazebo.

"I was missing for over two weeks; I wanted to see if anyone noticed I was. . . alive, I guess," Douglas says.

"Come on, bud, let's go see our friends," Chimmy says, walking back towards Wickerwood Valley.

The woods that led to the falls were more eerie than usual. It was as if the trees were whispering in pain. Arriving at their destination, they see their friends waiting in anticipation for their arrival.

"I told you they would show up Barbie, you owe me a soda," Rozzi says with excitement.

"Whatever Rozzi, the thing is they're here, and we can get this started," she explains.

"Get what started?" Rozzi asks, confused. He's been air headed all his life as far as he knew. His older brothers would bang him up pretty good a few times a week. According to them, that's how they relieve their stress.