Stranger Danger

Part 12

Stepping outside, both teens felt a sense of freedom as they were greeted by a cool weather accompanied by some wind. It was a little clear, as though sunrise were nearing. But, it wasn't raining at all. The ground was dry, with no sign of a recent rainstorm.

Not sure where they were headed, the teens quickly walked in the opposite direction, away from the house. They went down the circular path they had earlier encountered, until they were finally at the sign that had gotten them there in the first place: The Beiler Motel – or Hotel, they still couldn't tell. In front of them, was a road, with a forest across. "This is where we came through," Cassidy pointed out.

Tyler nodded. "Seems like our only option. Let's go." They crossed the road and, a few feet into the forest, Cassidy heard the sound of a car passing by. She turned her head around, only to see the back of a car, slowly driving away. She felt chills on her back as she stared. She could tell a woman - with dirty blonde hair oddly similar to her mother's - was driving the car. A man in the passenger's seat. Tyler turned around to see Cassidy standing in place a few feet behind him. "Come on," he said. "Don't look back." Cassidy faced front and continued through the narrow trees.

After two minutes of walking, Tyler stumbled into a clearing. Cassidy bumped into the back of his sports' bag, which was slung over his shoulder, a few seconds later. She circled around to stand by his right side, where she could see the clearing. A couple of yards away from them stood a large clump of dirt. Tyler smiled. "This is it. I remember coming this way." He walked a couple feet forward.

Cassidy followed. "Yeah," she said brightly. "I remember." She pointed. "We came down there from the right side."

Tyler nodded. "Yeah, let's go." They walked rapidly, taking a minute and a half before making it to the end of the vast, empty lot, where they then turned and continued down a street lined by houses.

After a while, Cassidy slowed down. "Do you think they'll come after us?" Her eyes were full of panic. Tyler stopped and looked at her. "The Beiler family. Or, whoever they are. You think they'll come looking for us?"

"What? No!" Tyler sighed. "Cassidy. Come on. We made it out and now we gotta move forward. We left them unconscious in that house. We have time."

"I wanna see my phone."

Tyler frowned. "What?"

"I wanna see the time?"

"Okay." Tyler went through his bag and handed Cassidy her phone. She checked the time.

The writing on the screen said, Friday June 30th, 2017 5:21 A.M. "It's five in the morning!" she exclaimed.

Tyler slung his bag over his shoulder. "Looks like it," he observed.

They continued to walk. As they neared the end of the street, they could see a parking lot surrounded by a bunch of stores - the same strip area where they had gone to get food on the first day they had ended up in Lancaster. There was a single car stationed at the parking lot. "Where're we headed?" Cassidy asked.

"I don't know," Tyler said. "As far away from here as possible." They continued to walk in silence.

Cassidy noticed a male teen getting into the car at the parking lot as they neared. She had an urge to ask for help, but kept her eyes forward. How could they trust anyone after their previous encounter? She heard the start-up of an engine and a short while later, a car was next to her and Tyler. "Cassidy!" She turned to her left. It was the car she had seen the teen enter. The back door opened. Tyler stood back quickly.

What emerged from the back door was a tall, pretty, dark-haired girl with cat-like eyes. Cassidy's breath caught in her throat as she let out a little, "Oh!"

Tyler's eyes widened. "Maureen?"

Maureen lunged forward. Cassidy flew into her arms, tears escaping her eyes. "I was so worried!" Maureen exclaimed.

More people got out of the car. Dan, Page, and Tyler's brother Zeke. They rushed over to Tyler. "Bro! You're okay!"

Maureen let go of Cassidy and Page went in for a hug. "What the hell? Why didn't we hear from you guys?" she wanted to know.

Maureen looked at Cassidy and Tyler. "What happened?"

"We were trapped," Tyler said. "With a psycho family." His voice trembled. "We need to call the cops."

"On it," Zeke said. He took out his phone. "They try to hurt you?"

Cassidy wiped her tears and nodded. "Yeah," Tyler confirmed. Zeke dialed 911. Dan tried to get details from Tyler.

Maureen took both of Cassidy's hands. "Your parents are here." She looked at Page. "Page, call them. Let them know we found Cassidy and Tyler."

Cassidy remembered seeing a woman with dirty blonde hair just like her mother's driving a car. It occurred to her that her mother was there. In Lancaster. Maureen began to get teary eyed and pulled Cassidy into another hug. "You don't know how glad I am that you're okay." Cassidy was more than grateful to be all right, but because of the mention of her parents, specifically her mother – whom she'd have to face up to about all her lies - all she could think was, Shit.

The End