The Crowhill Chronicles

Chapter Five - The Club

The Steppesville Country Club was a nefarious place, the word "nefarious" meaning "wicked or criminal". The people who attended it were generally very wealthy and snobbish people, who often engaged in wicked and criminal behaviors, although were very seldom punished due to their high status. The owner of the club, who resided there 99% of the time, also owned the second or third (it varied from moment to moment) most successful business on Vocational Street, at the heart of the business district in the center of Steppesville.

This business was known as The McFill Company, and the owner was Chucky McFill. Once the news came that Mr. Tetchy had died in an accident and that his business was shut down for good, McFill was delighted to be bumped up to either the first or second most successful business on the street. In fact, the competition was even more intense now, considering he was in a good position to surpass his rival, the vicious Lillyanne Pinstripes. In truth, he didn't really involve himself with the business--he had even hired someone else to run most of it--but he still held the title of CEO. He merely desired the high status.

I am sorry to say that Jack Crowhill, still in possession of the phial, and still running for his life, would encounter him shortly. Jack had recently escaped the business district of Steppesville and was not wanting to encounter another greedy businessman, but we don't always get what we want. The country club was a huge complex on the edge of town--the opposite edge of Kurt Merst's theater. Jack had been traveling for about a day before he came to the club's land. He immediately noticed that the foliage was getting increasingly greener--but not a natural green, rather an overly-bright artificial green.

The winding gravel drive that led up to the country club was well-kept and well-decorated with fancy signs advertising the many attractions at the club. Golf seemed to be the most popular, and small golf carts would occasionally drive past Jack as he walked. He was trying to figure out whether it would be a better idea to go into the woods on either side of him or try to seek refuge at the country club. He had to admit that he was very curious about the Steppesville Country Club. He had never been there himself, only ever hearing stories of it from his mother. Part of him didn't have any desire to go there, yet another part of him was highly intrigued. He didn't have to stay there for long--he just wanted to check it out. Maybe it would make a good hiding place.

As he walked towards the giant gated entrance, he began having a few second thoughts. However, the gate was wide open, and it would be incredibly easy for him to enter. He might as well go for it. The sun was beating down hard, so Jack put his hand above his eyes to get a better look at the club itself.

The large gravel drive led to a massive mansion-like building, constructed in an almost futuristic style. It had large windows and a sleek silver exterior. This, unbeknownst to Jack, was both Chucky McFill's house and the main indoor headquarters of the country club. Looking to his left, Jack saw a massive pond with a huge fountain in the center. As Jack stared at the opulence of the giant courtyard in front of McFill's mansion, he couldn't help but think of one thing--this place was impressive. On one hand, he still thought it was foolish to sneak into this extremely exclusive country club, but on the other hand he thought it would be very interesting to experience the life of a rich person. Plus, it was very large, and he could effectively hide from the Admiral. As it often did, Jack's curiosity got the better of him, and he strolled right through the gate, making a definitive choice to explore the country club.

He began walking down the winding lane, glancing around the land to see green rolling hills of short grass, stretching out nearly as far as his eyesight could reach. People dotted these hills, golf clubs in hand. He continued walking and passed a man screaming into his cell phone.

"I don't care!" the man was screaming "Stop asking so many questions! I need you to pick me up right now! Hurry!"

Jack tried to stay as far away from this man as possible. As Jack got closer to the massive building, he noticed there were more people there than he had first thought. Most of them were lounging in chairs and drinking martinis. The main entrance to the mansion was very wide and spread out, slowly staggering up to the door on several stair-like levels. It was essentially a very large patio. Each level held a menagerie of people sprawled out in chairs. Jack walked to the base of the patio and peered up at the giant building. A woman in a chair next to him looked up and wrinkled her nose.