Just Another Small Town (IC | Open)

[New Grestin]

Just another Small Town

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Theme Song

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OOC

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The road was quiet, almost serene. The sun sat high in the sky, casting shadows between the trees. The landscape was something out of a painting, trees and valleys passing by the car as it drove. A woman sat within, alone, yet accompanied by the music of the radio. Auburn hair, tied in a neat bun behind her head, coupled with dark green eyes that scanned the horizon ahead. She sighed, mind wandering backwards in time.

---

"The police aren't going anything! We've begged and begged, but they still can't find the bastard!"
"Alright, alright. Calm down. I'll look into it."
"Ma'am, please, find my daughter. She's all I have left."
"I understand. Now, please, how did this start?"
"She went there to visit my uncle, Gary. I hadn't talked to him in years since he moved up there, and I though, you know, it'd be good for her. Well, not two days after she got there, I get this call from Gary. He was freaking out, saying that "it" took her. I couldn't get him to calm down. He just hung up on me! I tried talking to the police, but they aren't even keeping me up to date."
"Alright. And where exactly did you say your daughter went?"
"Redwood Falls."
"Where?"
"That town, up north. The one off the mountain, next to that lake, you know?"
"Uh, yeah. I think so. Look this is...a lot to take in and a lot of driving-"
"If you find her, I'll pay double your fee."
"...I'll take the job."

---

The car rolled, wandering down the lonely mountain road. As it turned a corner, the woman's eyes fell upon the lake, and then the small town. It was strangely idyllic looking from a distance, but that wasn't what she was here to admire. No, she had a job to do. As the road finally evened out, she caught a glimpse of a large sign. WELCOME TO REDWOOD FALLS, HOME OF THE ANNUAL DEERFEST She raised an eyebrow. This is going to be weird, isn't it? As she drove, she passed an older man, lugging a deer carcass down the road. He stared at her, stoically, as she passed. Janine shivered slightly. Only thirty seconds in this town and I'm already getting chills, fan-fucking-tastic.

---

Pulling the car into the parking lot, Janine slid back against the seat, checking her phone. She went through her notes.

- Weird goddamned town
- Look for Gary MacGill
- Find Alison MacGill

She popped the door open and looked out to the building. A large sign on the side read WAFFLE HOUSE in large text. If memory serves, diners tend to be a good place for local gossip. Well, that and bacon. Probably could do with some coffee too. She pushed the door open, a small ding resounding through the room. A handful of people awaited her: a redneck biker type, two teenage girls, and an older woman. Each sat at tables around the room, a tired looking waitress stood behind the counter. Janine wandered over to the counter and hopped onto one of the stools. The waitress walked over, eyes sullen and hair scraggly. She clearly hadn't slept in a few days. She spoke quickly.

"What can I get you?"

Janine smiled. She didn't really have much to smile about, but she could fake it with the best of them.

"A Coffee, please. Two cream, two sugar."

The waitress nodded and sauntered off to a small workstation. She went to work, pouring coffee into a bleach-white mug. She dumped the ingredients into the mug with such speed that Janine wasn't sure she'd even mixed it before she handed it off to her. She looked down into the brown fluid for a moment and sighed, taking a brief sip. Son of a bitch, she gave me decaf. Janine rolled her eyes and motioned for the waitress. The woman sighed, irritated, and trudged over.

"What?"
"I was wondering, you wouldn't happen to know a Gary MacGill, would you?"
"What?"
"Gary MacGill. Do you know him?"
"Why? You a cop?"
"Not exactly."
"As long as you ain't a cop."
"Scout's honor."

Janine smiled. The woman looked around for a moment, catching a few passing glances. She leaned in and whispered.

"Look, I probably shouldn't be telling you this, but I've seen him come in a couple times. He's a real weirdo. I've heard he's got a trailer up near Harrison Forest, just outside town."

Janine gave her an odd look.

"And why shouldn't you be telling me this?"

The woman seemed even more paranoid than ever.

"He's real paranoid. Always cursing people out. I heard he shot at the Sheriff once."

Janine sipped at the coffee, then spoke again.

"Hm. Interesting. Thanks."

The woman started to walk away, Janine spoke up.

"Oh, and you think I could get one of those breakfast sandwiches?"

[Insurgia]

---

Kyle hopped off the bus with one hand busy holding his military pack slung over one shoulder. He wore a green M-43 Field Jacket, one passed down from his grandfather whom was in the military as well. His blue jeans stood out from the military jacket but his brown boots matched perfectly. He was an ideal Ellison resident of Redwood Falls. Kyle walked forward as the bus left, towards its next destination in the country. He continued on up the street, towards his fathers old shop and entered without hesitation.

---

"Dad? You there?" the young Ellison looked around, observing the store. Nothing had changed.

There was a loud thump in the back of the room.

"Hello?" Kyle called again.

Out from behind the table, Kyle's father, James launched himself with a .45 Thompson aimed at him. Immediately, Kyle sprung into action, knocking the barrel of the gun to the side, being sure if he did pull the trigger it would not be him that would be blown away.

"WOAH! Calm down! It's me!" yelled Kyle.
"Kyle..? You should've told me you were coming." responded James.
"I did. I wrote." concluded Kyle.
"Eh..nobody writes these days anymore. With all this new fancy smancy technology, it's all become ancient." finished James.

Kyle observed the Thompson machine gun and then looked back at his father.

"So, what's got you all jumpy?" asked Kyle.
"Can never be too sure of who it is that decides to come into my shop after closing. Plus, I've had a few shoplifters recently." sneered James.
"Did you bring it to the Sheriff?" replied Kyle, snatching the Thompson from his father.
"Hell no. For all I care, this is a family ordeal."
"Damn straight.." finished Kyle.

James walked out from behind the counter, pulling his sons pack from his shoulder and snatching the Tommy Gun from him.

"I'll go get you settled in at home, come on." demanded James.
"Maybe in a little bit..." said Kyle, walking towards the door.
"Where you going?" asked James.
"The diner, haven't eaten since yesterday." finished Kyle, walking out.

Kyle walked out of the store, his father locking the door behind him. The young Ellison observed the town, taking a deep sight.

"It's good to be home..."

[Beiarusia]

Samantha Tallow had no home to speak of, a carefree spirit – or vagrant as some were inclined to say – having long since settled in and around the idyllic Pacific Northwestern town of Redwood Falls, her origins a mystery to even the townsfolk who had come to accept the oddities of her presence as merely another normality of any given day. Her appearance could accurately be described as tastefully shabby, a motheaten jacket hanging from her thin frame with ill fitting jeans, tattered at the knees, held in place with a cloth belt. Split ends had stunted her straw-coloured hair at near shoulder length, and freckles dusted the bridge of her nose in messy haphazardness. Most captivating, however, were her eyes, grey-blue and clouded with unseeing, a disability that could often be overlooked given the youth’s self sufficiency.

The girl traveled light, carrying much of her few belongings in a duffle bag wherever she went, never knowing where she would ultimately spend the night once darkness fell upon the world. Across her back was a battered acoustic guitar, fine tuned given its appearance and serving as Sam’s main source of income when charity was fleeting. It was easy enough to earn a few bucks for food playing a song or two, which was how Sam often spent her mornings. Moving down the main avenue with practiced precision she soon found herself outside the local waffle house. Taking a seat near the door she unslung her guitar and, after a few test chords, began playing with a can near her feet to accept donations.

So was her life.

[Camelone]

The roar of a motorcycle interrupted the peaceful nature of the town as Eknath rode through the town of Redwood Falls with his eyes sharply observing every minute detail he sees. "There is something about this town that sends alarm bells through my mind." He mumbles to himself as he continues to speed through the valley slowing down when he entered the town as the speed limit drastically changed. Deciding now was the best time to stop and eat as any other Eknath parked his motorcycle next to the diner that read Waffle House. Taking his helmet off he was about to enter before his phone rang and he picked up as it was his mother "Aoo?... Doo ansi... Potake." He finished the conversation quickly as she just wanted to check that he was alright. Putting his phone away he began walking into the Waffle House but first dropped a ten dollar bill into the can of the girl playing the guitar. "Sadnleel da'ya'dee nzho." He said to the girl with a small smile before disappearing into the diner.
In the diner he walked up to the counter and sat down waving down a waitress "Madam. May I please have some toast, eggs, and ham with orange juice please?" He asked respectfully to which the waitress scribbled down the order and handed it off to the kitchen. He looked over to his left and saw a woman sitting only one spot away from him and he gave a respectful nod of his head towards her.

[The New Greek Republic]

Just Another Small Town: Shane Richards

I woke up in a cold sweat. Sitting straight up, panting for air. I've been having these damned nightmares for 9 years now. The image of my father's head all over the inside of our squad car, it never leaves me. Therapy doesn't work, and neither does medicine. I let my dad die, and that haunts me every moment of my life.

I looked over to my nightstand, it was five in the morning. I decided to get out and take a shower and head into work. I'm a police officer for the Redwood Falls Police Department, about a week ago I was assigned to investigate the strange occurrences going on in our town. I was filling out the paperwork for the investigation first before I got out in the field, but I finished that three days ago. I haven't been out in the field in a while, I guess all good things come to an end.

I arrived at the station some time later. The morning air was brisk, damp, regular November air. I walked in, clocked in, and grabbed a cup of coffee. This was the closest thing I have to a sanctuary, the station was peaceful this early in the day. Before the ringing and bustling of the work day started. I overlooked my notes that I gathered from the police reports and paperwork. There were all kinds of reports "...Red eyes brighter than the sun..." or "...lights in the sky..." Hell, one suicide report said the note had three words on it. "Cold made me." Whatever the hell that meant.

"Shane." I heard a voice yell. It belonged to Chief Roger Daniels.

"Roger!" I yelled back. "Good to hear that sweet voice!"

"Quit the shit. Not today."

"But the day's only just started! You can't cage me already!" I smarted.

"Yeah well lucky me I don't get to hear it today, you're going out."

"Out to where, sir?"

"You're going up to Mrs. Johnson's home. Up in Tyson's Ridge."

"The crazy cat lady?!" I said with a groan, "why am I going there?"

"She called yesterday and was worried someone was stalking her, we brushed it away at first but then she called back and said "it" got her dog."

"What in the hell is 'it'"?

"That's where you come in, Shane." Chief said with a smirk. "Now get out and go find out."

"Shit." I groaned as I stood up and put my jacket on, heading out of the building. I got back in my car and drove up to Tyson's Ridge. It's not but a 15 minute drive, but I knew it would be a waste of time. Mrs. Johnson was diagnosed with Alzheimer's some time ago, so we take whatever she says with a grain of salt.

When I pulled up to her house, a double-wide trailer with a gravel driveway and mildly rusted roof, Mrs. Johnson was sitting Indian-style in her front yard. It's 6 in the morning, why is she even awake? I got out of my car and slowly walked to her.

"Mrs. Johnson?" I said tentatively, "You okay?"

"It took him." She said without looking at me.

"What took who?"

"It took him." She repeated.

"Who's him?"

"It took him." She continued.

"Okay, Mrs. Johnson." I said, "I'm going to look around a bit. You just, uh, hang tight." I said, going back to the car and grabbing my camera.

I looked around her house, I've drove by a few times before and I know she has a dog. An English bulldog, but it wasn't anywhere around. I assume whatever "it" is, that it got the dog. I looked around the dog house, deep scratches adorned the entrance. I looked around the immediate area, there was a print. A footprint. It was 8 inches long and 10 inches wide, I couldn't believe what I was looking at. It resembles a footprint of a velociraptor. How could a creature make a print like this. I took a picture of and looked around, but there wasn't anything else that I seen. I returned to Mrs. Johnson who hasn't even moved. "I looked around, don't you have a dog, Mrs. Johnson?"

"It took him."

I kneeled down right in front of this poor old lady, I placed my hand under her chin and raised her head to look at me. "What is 'it'?"

She looked at me with wild eyes in silence. I realized she wouldn't tell me. "Get inside, you'll catch your death out here, Mrs. Johnson." I said going back to my car. I turned the ignition, and drove off. Looking back in my rear view mirror, I could see Mrs. Johnson. She was now in the middle of the road, I could barely make out he mouthing something. What it was, I couldn't tell.

[New Grestin]

As Janine ate, she thumbed over her notes. Nearly four hours of research had barely dug up anything on the town, let alone anything remotely helpful. Apparently, it was established a couple years after Washington became a state by some settlers, but she couldn't find more than that. She sighed, taking a sip of coffee. Oh god this decaf is the worst. She cringed slightly as she drank. This coffee had to be at least an hour old, if not longer. A tall, tan man stepped into the diner, door clinking behind him. He plopped into a seat nearby and nodded towards him. She smiled, taking another bite of her sandwich. If nothing else, these people are reasonably friendly.

She nodded back to the man, looking to her notes. The girl, Alison, had come out here to visit her uncle. Her uncle was, apparently, a bit of a wackjob. No problem, if she needed it, she had a revolver in the car. According to the meager research she could scrounge together, this place had a pension for weird incidents. The only notable one she could find was an event in the 70s. There wasn't a lot of information, but a witness statement said that, at one point during the night, everyone simultaneously went outside. Nobody from the outside was affected, but the only thing the townsfolk would say was "watch the skies." She shivered just reading it. Apparently nobody remembered it happening either.

She sighed, when her phone suddenly rung. It wasn't a number she recognized. Apprehensive, she picked it up. An eerie, almost inhuman sounding voice came over the line.

"Janine Evansworth Deckard. Session 1392-431-C."

She raised an eyebrow, fidgeting in her seat.

"Hello? Who is this?"

The voice paused for a moment, she thought she could hear running water in the background.

"Your father was born in Chicago. Your mother died of blood loss and blunt force trauma at exactly 4:15 AM Eastern Standard Time. Your best friend in high-school was Elena Darwin."

Her body shivered. Janine eased from the counter and walked quickly into the bathroom. She leaned against the wall.

"Wh-who is this?"
"Someone interested, Janine Deckard."
"What?"
"You don't understand. You will."
"I-I don't-"
"I'll see you in time."

A shriek of static blared through the phone. Janine yelped, covering her ear. The phone clattered to the floor, it's battery drained. Quaking, she slowly reached down and picked it up. The battery was completely dead. She looked around, finding herself alone, she splashed her face in the sink and walked out into the diner. She grabbed her things, namely a tan messenger bag, and slapped a twenty down on the counter. The waitress eyed her strangely.

"You alright miss?"

Janine quickly nodded and left, without a word. She slammed the car door behind her and laid her head against the wheel. It took her a moment to realize she'd started crying, but she couldn't place why. She jammed her phone onto the car-charger and tried to go through her recent calls. The number wasn't there, in fact, there was something completely different. Instead of a number, there was a series of words.

SEVEN BRIDES, SEVEN SEALS

She looked at her phone, strangely. The fuck does that mean?

[Insurgia]

---

Kyle entered the Waffle House, the door closing with a bell ringing behind him. Only a few people actually bothered to look up to see who it was but rather stared at him with curiosity. Kyle looked around and seated himself at a booth. He slid off his jacket, placing it on the corners of his chair. Thus revealing an army green button up with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Neatly ironed as well. He took a look around, giving an awkward smile at the other people who gave him an odd look. Without hesitation he quickly picked up the menu.

---

"What'll it be hun?" asked one of the waiters.
"Um, I'll take a ham and cheese omelet with hashbrowns. Coffee. One cream, two sugars please." asked Kyle.
"Coming right up." finished the waiter, walking out with a notepad.

Kyle couldn't bother but noticing an idle newspaper on the table. He curiously picked it up, viewing the top headline.

SEVERAL MISSING IN REDWOOD FALLS

He put down the newspaper as another waiter approached him with his coffee, setting it down.

"I'll be damned...Kyle?" the waiter pondered.

Kyle looked up at the man.

"You look just like your old man. Used to come in here with you every Sunday for breakfast. How you been kiddo..haven't seen you in years. You remember me, don't ya?" asked the man.

"Of course! Jake's the name. I uh, joined the army after high school, that pretty much sums it up. I'm on a two week leave for now."

"That's good, very good. What rank are you?" replied Jake.

"Staff Sergeant when I get back."

Suddenly a shriek was heard from the other side of the room. Kyle and Jake both looked in that direction only to see a lone lady, shivering obviously, but leaning down to her phone that was on the floor.

"Who's that?" asked Kyle.
"Eh, dunno. She just arrived today. Some private investigator by my observations." finished Jake.

Kyle looked back toward his table and unknowingly, his food was there. The waitress must've placed it there when he wasn't looking. Regardless, he opened up a cream package and sugar package, pouring them into his coffee and stirring it before eventually sipping it.

"Well, Kyle. It's good to see ya. I hope to see you again pal. Enjoy your breakfast." finished Jake.

Kyle nodded and at last, dived into his breakfast, enjoying his first meal back home.

[Camelone]

A sense of worry and confusion assaulted Eknath's mind as he felt someone's emotions, they must have been powerful for him to feel it or just close enough as he felt the feeling leave as that woman left the diner. He quickly got up and said "Excuse me for a moment madam." To the waitress as he rushed outside and thankfully saw that the woman hadn't left yet. Walking over he knocked on the window to get her attention "You have experienced something… different haven't you?" He asked her in his stoic voice. "I can help you if you wish. I can sense your distress and wish to help."

[New Grestin]

Janine set the phone down, unsure of what to think. She could feel a throbbing sensation in her skull, a migraine, she figured. Popping the glovebox open, she grabbed a bottle of pills and downed four of them. She jumped when a knock came at the window. The man from earlier was standing nearby. Choking down what could best be described as "panic vomit", she rolled the window down. The man spoke.

"You have experienced something… different haven't you?"

He paused for a moment, his voice was calm, collected.

"I can help you if you wish. I can sense your distress and wish to help."

Janine looked at him, raising an eyebrow. She took a deep breath, calming herself, and then spoke. Her tone was shaky, as she was still unsettled from the phone call.

"Ok. Let's say that I did experience something, and let's say that I did think it was different. What's it to you?"

[Charlia]

Charlotte walked by the girl playing guitar, smiling and putting a dollar down for her. She hummed the tune as she walked on, harmonizing perfectly with the chords. Then a sound chimed in, breaking the reverie. Her phone was ringing... But that's not my ringtone. The sound was eerie, almost as that of an organ. It was... bizarre, garbled, static-filled. She answered it. "Hello?" She spoke cautiously, her voice filled with the unmistakable sound of fear. "Who is this?" A man's voice whispered in her ear.
"Charlotte." The voice was oddly familiar, but she didn't recognize it... yet.
"What? Who is this? How do you know my name?" What is going on?
"Don't you remember me, Charlotte?" Whose voice is that... She decided to play along.
"What do you want?"
"I just wanted to check up on you, see how you were doing... after all, I am your father."
No.
NO. It can't be him... how... She spoke again, her voice trembling. "You're not my father! My father was the kindest man who ever lived!"
"Lived being the operative word, my dear. Speaking of which... how has your life been?"
"All the better without you in it!" Laughter.
"You've turned into a real spitfire, haven't you? I seem to remember taking that out of you... looks like it didn't work." When he spoke again, his voice was low and threatening, striking an old fear into her heart once more. "I guess I'll have to come over and take care of it more... permanently this time. Where are you? Oh, yes, Redwood..." He laughed again.
"It was nice talking to you, Charlotte. See you soon." Click. She fell to her knees, trembling. No, no, no.... Terror filled her heart, and her blue eyes went almost dead--as if there was nobody behind them. As if she was an empty shell.

And, in a way, she was.

Again.

[Shark isle]

Rob was in his office when suddenly his phone started to ring. Rob picked up the phone and said into it while looking out the window, " Don't worry Mrs. Gorman, i will be there in ten minutes." Rob climbed into his pick-up truck and drove to Mrs. Gorman's house. When he arrived ten minutes later he walked up to the front porch and knocked on the door. Mrs. Gorman answered the door and said while rubbing her eyes," Thank God you arrived, something has been making so much noise that i have not been able to sleep in three days." Rob nodded and walked into her house and started to carefully examine the house. After a hour of looking he said to Mrs. Gorman while shrugging his shoulders," Sorry mam i can't find any sign of pests in your house. So i think you may have raccoons going through your garbage " He left a baited cage near the woman's garbage can and drove to the Waffle House to eat some breakfast. When he got there he noticed a man and woman talking to each other and a girl playing a guitar. Rob put a $20 bill in the girl's can and walked into the diner and ordered some breakfast.

[Deramen]

Suzuki smiled as she opened the bar.She put the key in and turned it.She looked at the logo on a billboard next to Suzuki's bar It was a yellow sign saying "Welcome To Suzuki's Bar" with a clover under it.she liked the lego and she opened the door and turned on the lights She looked at the chairs and the drinksIt was nice and she liked it.She Found the cash register and looked inside,It was empty but she didnt care.She walked to the window near the door.She put up a sign reading "New Help Needed! Many Jobs needed! Call 1-800-Suzuki'sBar for help!"She sighed and sat down on a chair waiting for business.

[Camelone]

"I am Eknath Deamani, someone who wishes to help people, make sure that certain things don't harass good people and from what I have experienced your emotions are similar to all the first timers to different activities. I don't need money or fame or anything else I just wish to help, my honor dictates it and the Elders back home would be really pissed if they found out I didn't help someone who might need my expertise. I am an expert tracker and hunter so even if you don't believe in the paranormal, which is very dangerous in this town I suspect, I can help you with your case… your notes are on the passengers seat." Eknath explained a little startled at himself for talking so long to someone. This is rare and he had a feeling that some lives in this town will be tied together for some reason and they would have no say in the matter. 'What could be the reason for this draw to certain people around the town?' He asked himself internally as he felt similar connections among other people.

[The New Greek Republic]

Just Another Small Town: Shane Richards

I drove down back to the station, the clock in my car reads 9:00. It's full swing at the station, I'm sure I'll get a headache eventually today. I walked in and everything was surprisingly quiet.

"What? Someone die?" I asked when I walked in.

After a moment of silence, my friend Sarah spoke up "No, nothing's working. All the computers are frozen, the phone lines are down, hell the radio is just static."

"Oh! Anything but the radio!" I exclaimed, "Whatever are we to do Sarah!"

"Shut up," she said throwing a pencil at me. "We had some guys here earlier but they didn't know what they were doing so now we're stuck like this.

"Well in the meantime come here and look at these pictures." I told her.

She got up and walked to me, leaning over my shoulder her I showed her the pictures I took at Mrs. Johnson's. "What in the hell?" She asked.

"Don't ask me, I'm just as confused as you look." I told her.

"Those are fake-"

"No they're not! I can take you to the damn house right now!"

"There's nothing that could do that, that's a-a-a fucking dinosaur print!"

"I know but-" I was cut off by a phone ring at the desk in front of me. It just kept ringing, and ringing, and ringing.

"Jim."

"What?"

"Answer that."

"Answer what?"

"The phone, it's ringing." As soon as I finished my sentence, another one started ringing. And another. Then another. Eventually, every phone in the whole room. I covered my ears but it sounded like they were ringing inside my head. I screamed, "SOMEBODY ANSWER THEY'RE FUCKING PHONE." And they all quit ringing. Awkward silence ensued as everyone looked at me, apparently the ringing had been imagined by my head. Chief Daniels called me to his office, and I nearly ran to it.

"Is everything okay son?"

That sentence rang through my head. And before I knew it I was in my old home, back when I lived with my parents. I blinked and my father was standing in front of me. Light was shining in my eyes so I couldn't quite make him out but his voice, I definitely could hear.

"Is everything okay son?"

"Is everything okay son?"

"Is everything okay son?"

Then the voice slowed down, became devilish sounding. "Are you okay son?" The light inverted itself to shine on my father. A hole where his left eye should be, you could clearly see into his skull and through his head. Maggots crawling out of his eye, he turned his head. "Are you okay son?" And he smiled the widest smile in an evil way.

"Shane." Roger's voice snapped me out of my trance. "Are you feeling okay?"

"Oh..Um, yeah chief. I'm fine."

"Why don't you take the rest of the day off? You seem like you could use it."

"Thanks Roger."

"Don't sweat it kid."

I got out of my seat and walked swiftly and quickly through the station, feeling the eyes on me. I hurried to my car. Put the key in the ignition and before I could turn it, my phone rang. I answer.

"Three toes, two horns, one creature, no soul." And the line ends. I look at the caller ID, strangely enough all that showed was "Tick Tock, Your Time Is On The Clock".

"The actual fuck?"

[New Grestin]

"I am Eknath Deamani, someone who wishes to help people, make sure that certain things don't harass good people and from what I have experienced your emotions are similar to all the first timers to different activities. I don't need money or fame or anything else I just wish to help, my honor dictates it and the Elders back home would be really pissed if they found out I didn't help someone who might need my expertise. I am an expert tracker and hunter so even if you don't believe in the paranormal, which is very dangerous in this town I suspect, I can help you with your case… your notes are on the passengers seat."

Janine paused for a moment, then quickly shoved her notes into her bag. She fixed her hair, sighed, then spoke.

"Ok, yeah. I got a really weird phone-call. Some guy talking about a session, then he said some things that nobody else should know. The Caller ID was fucked up too. No clue what it means."

She reached to her phone and pulled up the appropriate app, only to find the recent call missing. A twinge of fear resounded through her mind. What the fuck is going on?

"It was, um, it was just here a second ago."

She flashed an embarrassed smile and eased her way out of the car, leaning against it as she spoke.

"Look, I'm an investigator. I mostly do cold cases, shit that actual cops can't be bothered to deal with. I got a call that a girl disappeared up here, name's Alison MacGill. About five foot two, blonde, kind of a dipshit. Apparently she came up here to meet with her Uncle, guy named Gary, I think. They promised double if I found her, so..."

She trailed off. A cold breeze blew in over the lake, windchimes jingling all throughout the town. Janine hated this kind of place. She much preferred Seattle, at least it just poured rain there. She sighed and spoke again.

"If you know anything, I'd really appreciate it."

[Insurgia]

---

Kyle peered out the window as he finished his breakfast, observing the fine lady as she exited her car, confronting a stranger of sorts. Eventually the two started conversing but it appeared that the lady was doing the most talking. Kyle laughed to himself a little and finished up, drinking the last of his coffee and grabbing his jacket. He pulled out a $20 bill and placed it on the counter.

"Keep the change." he smirked, walking out.

---

The soldier pushed the door in front of him and it quickly shut as soon as he was out of the way. Kyle stood there quietly, pushing one arm through a sleeve and as expected, pulled out a pair of aviator sunglasses. He observed the girl, who seemed to continue conversing but he quickly dismissed it, continuing forward in the direction of his home. It was only about a 10 minute walk and as usual, he allowed himself into the home.

"Pa?" asked Kyle.
"Yeah Kyle! I'm over here!" his father responded as he came up from the basement stairs.

"I couldn't find a mattress...I really wish you told me you were coming." finished James.
"That's no problem, I can sleep on my bed upstairs." laughed Kyle.
"Oh...Kyle, I uh, sold your bed. You were gone for so long...figured you wouldn't need it. Your bedroom is a study now. Sorry.." the father grinned awkwardly.

Kyle stared at him in disbelief.

"That's...okay. I'll take the couch." Kyle stated, taking off his coat.

"Pillows are there. Blankets are on the couch. If you need anything, I'll be upstairs. There's one hundred bucks on the counter so if you plan on going anywhere, there's your spending money." finished James, marching up the stairs.

"But I already got my own-" he was cut off by the shutting of a door.

Kyle sighed and sat on the couch, relaxing for once. He turned on the TV, but surprisingly enough, it was only static.

"The hell.."

---

All of the sudden, the doorbell rang and multiple loud knocks were heard at the door as if someone was trying to break in. Kyle jumped up in shock and quickly walked towards the door. He looked through the door hole, seeing nothing but the sunlight and the town below. He opened the door, checking if anyone was there. All that was heard was the sound of kids and cars out and about. Not to mention the loud chirping of birds. He dismissed it, assuming it was a couple of pranksters.

"Kids.." Kyle sneered.

Ellison then continued toward the kitchen, opening the fridge and pulling out a bottle of beer. He simply peered at it as he was not much for drinking so he put it back. Eagerly however, he observing a bottle of coke. He smiled and grabbed it from the fridge, opening it with ease and taking a sip. Coke always tastes better out of a bottle as he always agreed with that old myth. Once again, the doorbell rang again and many more knocks were heard. Only this time much more rapid and harder than the previous one. Kyle, determined to catch the prankster, sat the coke down and darted towards the door. He again, yanked the door open and walked out of the house looking out unto the town. Nothing and nobody was there. There was an eerie silenced that set in though. The birds were no longer chirping and there were no kids or cars to be heard. The wind too, had become calm. He backed up into his home, closing the door and locking it. He turned around to the TV, which wasn't broadcasting static anymore but in fact something more ominous, an emergency broadcast warning. It had nothing to say but the everlasting and rather eerie beeping of the warning said something was up. He observed it, adding the first thing to a series of odd and rather paranormal things to experience these next two weeks.

[Deramen]

Suzuki was sitting down when she saw two little girls.She smiled to them and walked to the door and opened it."Hey kids need thing?"Her English was bad but she thought they understood her.She waved for them to follow and they did she took them to the seats and asked them to sit."Would like anything?Got water or juice and some stuff."She asked while smiling.

[New Grestin]

Outside the police station, a man stood. He was tall, thin and exceedingly pale. He wore a large trenchcoat, a fedora covering most of his face. A set of odd goggles covered his eyes, a toothy smile sitting just below. People walked past, yet they didn't seem to notice him. He watched the man closely, as though he could see straight through him. He turned on his heel and walked down the road, stopping at a payphone and quickly typing in a set of numbers. To the untrained eye, they would seem random, but the man already knew the number. A brief dial tone, then the man spoke.

"Shane Richards, Session number 4512-312-H"

He paused for a moment, then spoke again. His voice was cold and emotionless, yet strangely unnatural sounding.

"Your father was killed in a shooting, for which you were indirectly responsible. You are sitting in your police cruiser right now, and there is sixty-eight cents in your pocket."

Another pause. The man never stopped to breathe.

"There is a woman at the Diner, approximately six minutes driving distance from your location. If she is not arrested within the next fifteen minutes, eight people will die. She has red hair and drives a 1999 Infiniti G20."

The man stared forward, blankly, a smile still on his face.

"I'll see you in time."

The man left another pause, then dropped the phone and walked away. He passed into an alleyway and disappeared, unseen by anyone around him.

[The New Greek Republic]

"2 weird ass calls in a row, who the hell keeps giving out my number." I said to myself as I looked around.to check for traffic.

I looked at the time, 9:12. The mystery man, well one of them, said I had fifteen minutes to get to the diner. The only place I could think of was the Waffle House right before you get to town. I turned the ignition and U-turned to heads to the place. I topped out at 50 miles an hour going as fast as I could without endangering myself. I seen the sign for the Waffle House "next turn" and slowed down, I almost missed it. But a hard, sharp turn is what the doctor ordered as I couldn't slow down just enough to smoothly turn. I pulled into the parking lot and got out of my vehicle with time to spare.

I walked into the restaurant, immediately being greeted with "Hi hon, what can I get for you?"

"Oh uh," I pulled out what I had in my pocket, only to reveal two quarters, one dime, one nickel, and three pennies... 68 cents. "I only have uh, 68 cents so unless you got a 68 cent special I guess not." I told her.

"Bathroom's in the back, then."

"I'm actually here for someone. Red hair, female."

"Right there, young buck."

I turned to where she pointed and walked to the woman, "Ma'am, Redwood Falls Police."

[New Grestin]

"Ma'am, Redwood Falls Police."

Janine turned to find herself face to face with a cop. She sighed, reaching into her pocket and grabbing her wallet. She handed him her identification and smiled awkwardly. The wind kicked up again, chilling her. She curled up, diving her hands into her pockets. Brushing her hair out of her face, she looked back over the lake for a moment. It was quiet, almost serene. As her gaze went back to the officer, she could have sworn she saw someone watching them. Yet, when she blinked, he was gone. She shook it off. Never should have taken this case, double the pay or not. She sighed, looking to the cop.

"How can I help you?"

[The New Greek Republic]

"Ma'am I hate to ruin your morning but you're under arrest." I said to the lady as I pulled out my handcuffs, I haven't had to use these for a really long time. "If you will, please stand up." I told her. "You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law, you have the right to legal consultance before speaking with police." I said as I took her hands and locked the cuffs around them. "If you can't afford an attorney, one will be appointed by the state.

[New Grestin]

"Ma'am I hate to ruin your morning but you're under arrest." I said to the lady as I pulled out my handcuffs, I haven't had to use these for a really long time. "If you will, please stand up." I told her. "You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law, you have the right to legal consultance before speaking with police." I said as I took her hands and locked the cuffs around them. "If you can't afford an attorney, one will be appointed by the state.

Janine's jaw dropped as the officer went to cuff her. She backed away from him.

"What? What the fuck did I do?"

Just as she said that, a car came screaming past the parking lot of the Diner, screeching as it turned and went down the road. Janine paused for a moment, unsure of what to think. Suddenly, it dawned on her. Had she actually left just now, she would be dead. A chill went down her spine as she looked back to the officer. Everything clicked in her mind. The phone call, that weirdo on the other end, now this cop. Her voice trembling, she spoke.

"Why are you arresting me, specifically?"

[The New Greek Republic]

"Why are you arresting me, specifically?"

"Under the jurisdiction of reasonable suspicion." I said, it dawned on me that I had no actual reason to arrest this one. Oh, Roger is going to have my ass on silver platter. "Anonymous tip said you'd be involved in eight deaths." I said , pushing her toward his cruiser.

[Beiarusia]

>SNIP<

Sam strung a final chord, allowing the notes to echo off into dying silence before resting the guitar gently across her lap, a hand reaching out to the TIP can, finding the stamped metal with little difficulty. She counted three separate bills, holding each in turn and running her thumb against the monetized paper. Twenty, ten, and a… a one? The youth frowned as she slipped the money into an inner pocket of her jacket, muttering, “Cheap bastard,” before standing, guitar held by its neck with the other hand to guide her way up along the brick front of the Waffle House. Instrument secured and duffle bag in hand, Sam turned to face the entrance of the eatery, staring into the nothingness as if truly looking, clouded eyes seeing what others could not. She frowned, a bad vibe coming to her all of a sudden. No, it had been lingering since the arrival of the woman, light steps that did not belong to the town, forceful and with purpose but with a slight hesitation.

The outsider woman was looking for something. Looking for someone.

It would be best to not get involved. Nothing felt right, and Sam was certain that the woman held some part as to the reason why, whether intentionally or by mere coincidence. Either way no good would come from this, but the youth was not one to simply open a book and never finish. Involvement would satisfy her growing curiosity and, more importantly, allow her the knowledge to avoid such feelings in the future.

Resigned to what needed to come next, Sam stepped away from the small eatery, towards where she recalled the woman to be. A man was speaking to the outsider woman, and by the sounds of it she was under arrest. Perhaps a good thing but not the ending that Sam would prefer. This was only the beginning of the bread trail and for it to end so early in its opening act would truly be unfair, if not to anyone but for herself.

Sam spoke suddenly. “You’re not from here,” she asked the woman, stating it more as fact than query. Thinking, she reached blindly at the first thread to appear in the ether of her mind. “You’re looking for someone, aren’t you? Someone missing. Another outsider. Not from here.” The vagrant youth paused for a moment, eyes darting along the floor as if piecing together a puzzle when half the pieces were missing. A car screeched from somewhere along the road, revealing in its departure another thread. “MacGill.”

The name felt wrong, tainted; a shiver running through Sam. Perhaps this was a bad idea after all. She turned to leave, having planned on eating breakfast but no longer feeling hungry at the moment. She offered one final string of words before walking quickly away, wishing to put as much space between herself and the outsider woman.

"You're not gonna find her, and perhaps it's best if you didn't."

[New Grestin]

Janine stood there for a moment, dumbstruck as she was forced into the police cruiser. The vagrant girl's words resounded in her mind.

"You're not gonna find her, and perhaps it's best if you didn't."

She sat in the back of the cruiser and sighed. I've been here for an hour, and I'm already going to get acquainted with the police. She shrugged and laid on the back-seat. Janine eased back upright and spoke to the officer, figuring conversation might ease the tension.

"I'm Janine, by the way."