Work Text:
As we make our way back to the trail head I hear Benny grumbling about the map, Arlo trying to convince Marley that the myth Heraclese is better than the Disney Hercules, Charlie is just taking pictures. It’s a nice time for it too, early spring when everything is blooming. And I am just thinking about the next debate that the debate team is going to argue about, not really focusing on anything around me other than the soft thud of our boots hitting the packed dirt.
“Ugh, Benny how much longer until we get back, I have to prepare for my next swim tournament.” Marley complains, breaking the peace.
“Not much further, just up this hill.” Benny calls back gesturing towards a steep hill, one that Charlie fell down on our way here.
The hardest part is always last. I mentally complain but it’s really not that difficult as long as you avoid the mud. Which on the way up I fail to do and wind up falling backwards into Arlo with a small yelp of surprise.
“Oh! Vicky, are you okay?!” Arlo asks, his voice laced with concern.
“Yeah, I’m good thanks for the catch.” I answer before Arlo suddenly lets go and I fall to the ground. Rude.
I get back up and continue, following Benny out into the small gravel parking lot that’s desolate other than Benny’s, Arlo’s, and some ranger’s vehicles. This is where we split up, Benny getting into his truck, Charlie hopping in on the passenger side and me hopping into the back. Then Arlo and Marley hop into his truck.
As we set off for the long drive back to town I look out the window as the scenery blurs past. There’s no other cars. Odd, but who can complain? No traffic so we can get back faster.
As I’m just thinking about everything going down I’m jostled out of my thoughts by the truck coming to a sudden stop. I just slam into the seat in front of me and Charlie lets out a shocked yelp in surprise. “Benjamin!” Charlie snaps turning to him.
We all get out and I finally see what Benny suddenly stopped at. A vehicle just stopped in the middle of the road, another odd thing, more annoying but there’s never an abandoned vehicle in the middle of the road, though it also doesn't look old so maybe the person inside is hurt!
I take a step closer, “I can go check it out if you want.” I offer.
“I go, just in case.” Arlo calls, coming up from behind us and standing beside me
“Alright, let's go then!” I respond, making my way towards the car with Arlo following close behind me.
As we slowly make our way towards the car, I start to feel some anxiety rise in my chest. This is starting to feel like a bad idea. What if there’s something inside there? I take a deep breath before stepping up to the car window only to see there’s no one inside the car, no driver or passengers. It’s once again odd.
“There’s no one inside!” Arlo calls back towards everyone else.
“Then let’s just head back to my place and we can create a plan!” Benny calls back.
I look at Arlo before we both head back and everyone climbs back into their respective vehicles. As we make our way back I try to see if I can contact 911 or maybe some kind of news station but everything seems to be down. This is bad. No contact with anyone. As I slowly panic I don’t even notice that we’ve already made our way back to Benny’s house. It’s small, 2 bedrooms, a kitchen, living room, and a bathroom but that’s enough for us.
Once we all enter Arlo immediately tries to get the TV working to see if there’s any news about this. Benny starts to pace muttering to himself, presumably trying to come up with a plan of action. I start to talk with Marley and Charlie, though admittedly it doesn’t take long for our conversation to go straight to an argument about if we should stick together or separate and try to find out what’s going on. I’m arguing that we should stick in groups of two or three to avoid being alone. Charlie is arguing that we should never leave our groups. ANd Marley is arguing that we shouldn’t be confined to groups at all.
“Marley, if you hate us all so much that you don’t even want to be in a group with us then fine! Go!” I snap at her, my voice filled with venom as I do so.
“Fine I will!” She snaps back before rushing out of the house and slamming the door on the way out. It was a loud slam that got everyone’s attention on… me.
I try to rush out after he immediately regretted my harsh words but Charlie grabs my arm keeping me from following Marley outside.
“You’ve ruined enough already. Don’t even try.” She tells me her voice harsh. But she’s not wrong.
I was the one who told Marley to go. I was the one who insisted on that stupid hike in the first place which is what put us into this situation. It is my fault and my fault alone. “I’m so sorry.” Is all I can mummer before I start to sob. I can’t stop myself from doing so either, everything just feels like it’s too much right now.
“It’s late, let’s just head to bed,my parents room is probably locked so me and Arlo can take my room. Marley and Vicky can take the living room.” Benny says, he's trying to be calm but there’s a shake in his voice that throws off the calmness.
We all agree to that. Benny and Arlo head to his room to sleep with I take a soft chair and Charlie takes the couch.
“Vicky, I’m sorry about what I said, my intentions were never to make it seem like it’s your fault.” Charlie says, though I’m already half asleep, both mentally and physically drained from this. “Good night.” She mummers before everything goes silent and I fall into a dreamless sleep.
By the time I wake up I notice that Charlie is gone and there’s a note on the coffee table. It reads
“I’m sorry, I needed to clear my head so I went out to look for Mars
-Carlie”
I think about going after her until my stomach growls and I remember I only actually had breakfast yesterday. So I get up and make myself some toast, quickly eating it when Arlo comes out of his and Benny’s room he looks nervous only to completely freeze when he sees me finishing my toast.
“Where’s Charlie?” He asks hesitantly.
“She went after Marlye, did Benny also leave?” I ask and Arlo just nods in reply.
Arlo makes himself food and we both decide to look for them together. We spend most of the day doing that and by the time the sun is about to set we agree that we should eat something at the very least. We can’t continue if we’re starving ourselves, so we head into a gas station to get some chips and anything that we don’t have to cook since the power seems to be out and neither of us know how to use a generator.
As I look through the shelves I hear a soft cry that sounds concerningly similar to Marley. I decide to walk over to it, it’s coming from behind a door with “EMPLOYEES ONLY” over it. When I twist the handle and push I find the door completely unlocked. Weird.
But when I enter a horrible stench enters my nose and makes me gag a little, though I push through telling myself I need to fix my mistake and save Marley.
It only takes a few steps before the crying stops and something with sharp stinging claws grabs me, I shriek terrified and manage to kick it running out of the room and then the store, the thing still chasing me.
“Arlo!” is all I manage to scream as the thing grabs me again, it’s keeping me from looking at it and as it starts to bring me back to the store I see Arlo rushing out of the store and then freezing to see the thing holding me.
He then runs away leaving me. I feel its grip slowly crushing me, pain shooting through my body until I black out.
I shoot up in a bed, it’s my bed, I’m in my apartment, that was a dream, but I’m still crying. My wake up alarm on my phone is screaming. I need to get ready for work. Maybe I’ll try to write about this nightmare down later, I’m sure someone would love to read about it.