Chapter Text
It’s been a while since he had seen his friends. They were all so caught up in school and their organizations that it never came to their minds. At this time, he was casually biking to the Plaza Mall to meet up with them for a brunch. He biked through the streets and let the warm summer breeze touch his olive skin.
It was finally the beginning of dog days in Ironbark. The days he was most excited about when he was younger. He can’t say the same now that he’s older and is heading for college.
Ironbark Plaza Mall
The Plaza Mall, as usual, was bustling with people, especially during summertime. There were lots of children and teenagers lined up for the skating rink beside the soft-serve ice cream parlor. Eddy gingerly parked his bicycle at the bike rack before finding Sophie and Hilary.
A kid with a floppy mullet bumped into him, making him almost lose his balance. The boy gave him a nonchalant shrug and a mocking laugh and ran with his friends.
“What a weirdo,” Eddy rolled his eyes, fixing his jacket, dusting it off. He knew this mall inside and out, but it had been a while since he had come here. He needed to refresh his memory of the place. “Now, where was Tom’s Diner again?”
He didn’t have to look too hard, as Tom’s Diner had its bright, neon sign just two stores ahead. Summer had always been a fun time. Not to mention, the lack of school and responsibilities. However, he’d admit that he never liked threading through crowded places, and that was exactly the setting at Ironbark Plaza Mall every time.
“Eddy! Over here,” his two friends waved at him as his eyes awkwardly scanned the whole dinner. “I hope you don’t mind. We already got you your food. We remembered it was your usual.”
Eddy’s smile brightened. He hadn’t had Deluxe Hot Dogs and Whirling Pizza in a hot while. It made his stomach growl. “No, I definitely do not mind. These look good, and this right here is the real food that I need in my stomach right now otherwise I’ll go insane.”
Sophie chuckled, digging through her own burger and fries. “Right? I wish I was just a kid with no responsibilities and always had the time to visit the Plaza.”
“I mean, we are still kids at the end of the day. Club work is just stressing us out. It is our last year in high school, so they’re all making it count,” Hilary sighed dramatically. “By the way, I haven’t heard from any of you in a while, but most especially Eddy. You always seem so busy with org work. What is going on in your life? Have you decided which college you want to go to?”
Eddy had been dreading that question for a long time. Truthfully, he didn’t want to think about it. He couldn’t believe they were suddenly ending high school in a blink of an eye. That was one of the reasons why he buried his head deep into his organization as to not pressure himself with college planning and expectations. Eventually, he learned that he wouldn’t be able to escape from it completely. He knew he needed his friends’ opinions anyway.
“I am… at a loss. I really want to go to a music school, but it’s outside of Ironbark, and we don’t have enough money to move me out that quick, and on top of that… college tuition,” he ranted. “Obviously, you can imagine what my parents feel about it. They’re pissed, but at the end of the day, it’s my decision. My mom wants me to pursue premed for medical school. But I am the one who’s going to college and not them. I just need to get some more pocket money before I move out.”
Hilary nodded. “I get what you mean, Eddy. That really sucks. It’s true that they can never force you to give up your dream. We all want to go to a music school, don’t we? Although, it’s given that it’s going to be expensive since there aren’t that many universities out there that offer music as a major in college, especially not in our small town. Maybe you can get a little summer job so you can earn something.”
“That was what I was planning, but I’ve been looking for weeks. Looking at the number of students here spending their summer in Ironbark, there aren’t many more jobs hiring for summer break. They were all filled out,” Eddy explained. “I could do tutoring, but I haven’t thought of it much. It’s going to be my last resort if I don’t find anything else. Don’t you guys have summer jobs?”
Both of them shook their heads no. “I am going back to Winston Lake next week to help my grandparents with some farm work. I love the farm, and they could use a lot of help. It’s technically not an official summer job, but it can be considered as one.”
“I am going to visit my sister in Peterson; she’s taking music there, and I might go there too. Just to get situated,” Sophie said. “She seemed to enjoy it there.”
Hilary hummed. “Is that the one next to Roseburg? I’ve heard of it before, but I haven’t researched any music schools there.”
“Yeah! That one. Well, our extended family is in Roseburg, so that’s why,” Sophie answered.
“I never heard of a music school there. I should check it out and do some research later. Is the tuition there cheaper than in Lindsay?” Hilary asked, curious.
Sophie shrugged, sipping on her strawberry slush. “I don’t know much about it right now. I will inform you guys though when I get there. Maybe we can decide to go there too. I’ll call you guys.”
Eddy nodded, then fell silent. “I would just have to settle with the tutoring, I guess. I really don’t want to. As much as possible, I want to be exploring other cities for my university. I don’t want to stay here.”
For a while, there was a comfortable silence that lingered as they all turned their attention to their food. Then, Sophie spoke. “Actually, I know a family friend of mine that might need extra help in Roseburg. I remembered my dad mentioned it.”
The boy’s spirits lit up. “Really? What’s the job? What does it entail?”
“If I remember correctly, I think it was a gas station? The job was just to restock and do some cashier work since there’s a convenience store as well. The owner’s son is also going to be working there during the summer, so you won’t be alone,” Sophie informed, darting her eyes to the ceiling to think.
“That’s perfect, Sophie! I actually wanted to visit a music school there in Roseburg since it seemed to be popular and much cheaper than regular universities outside the town. I can totally have that job.”
Hilary agreed, “That’s really good. But what about your living accommodations while you’re in there?”
Sophie interrupted, “I think the owner’s going to be situating you in a motel near the gas station, with all living accommodations handled. He seemed to be really eager to have some employees. Maybe he doesn’t trust his son enough to leave him alone to work there.”
Eddy almost leapt up in joy but decided it would be improper to do in a public place. He settled on gripping the table in excitement. “I would love to take that job. Can you contact them and tell them I am interested?”
“Sure, I can. My dad knows the owne—“
“Isn’t this too good to be true? Is the son of the owner who’s going to be working there actually dead for three years ago?” Hilary squinted her eyes in suspicion, lightly joking. “That sounds incredible in theory, but I don’t know… if it sounds too good to be true, it might be. You guys know how it is.”
The other girl nodded. “Yeah, true, I understand. I mean, I don’t really know them that much, so I can’t tell you anything about them or if they’re entirely trustworthy, but I met the son before, and he’s very much alive.”
“Does he look competent?” Hilary asked, prodding the salad with her metal fork. “Or does he look like a potential boyfriend for Eddy?”
“Oh, come on. That’s never going to happen. I am just there to work!” Eddy protested, throwing his hands in a big gesture. “Besides, I don’t have any choice. I have to take the job, or else I won’t have the chance to move out and prove myself worthy to my parents. Maybe if I show him I am a good employee, he can get me a job there permanently while I am studying music.”
Sophie chuckled at Hilary’s questions, almost spilling her drink. “Sure… he’s also going to be a music major, so I think he will be perfect for Eddy.”
“Okay, damn, I think we’re done talking about him. Just send me the details later, Sophie? Please?” Eddy sighed. “Plus, I don’t want a surprise, messy, summer relationship with anyone because that’s going to fuck me up before college starts.”
“Yeah, I’ll call you later, maybe at 5PM? Don’t worry about Hilary; she’s just an overprotective mom. Also, loosen up a bit, Eddy. A summer fling is always fun,” Sophie grinned teasingly.
Hilary scoffed, “Well, because I don’t want any of my friends to get brutally murdered somewhere outside Ironbark. That’s horrifying.”
“Nobody is going to get murdered, and I will have the best summer job of my life,” Eddy replied, glancing outside the diner. “Should we line up for the skating rink? It would be fun. One last skating rink before summer ends and we all go on our separate ways for college.”
The two girls glanced at each other in silent communication and nodded. “Let’s do it!”
Welcome to Roseburg!
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay here?” Belle asked for the tenth time as Eddy unloaded his bags from the trunk of her car. “It’s the first time you’ll be far away from home. You have to call us if something bad happens, and I will come get you right away, okay? I’ll be here right at this motel.”
Eddy rolled his eyes lightheartedly, hugging his sister goodbye. “I’ll be fine, Belle. This will be a great opportunity for me to maybe unwind before college starts. I’ll check out the school you were talking about.”
“You know you can always come with me to Lindsay.” Belle returned the hug, her eyebrows creased in worry. “I have a space in my dorm for one more. It’s a great school, and you would love it there. My friends are nice and all the people there are nice too.”
“If something goes wrong and I don’t like it here in Roseburg, I’ll come study in Lindsay with you, I promise,” Eddy said, caressing his sister’s back. “I just think that I have to figure this out myself and earn some paper for college. I’ll be calling home every day. You have my word.”
After a series of sad goodbyes, Belle finally left, and Eddy was alone with his bags. He struggled to carry his bags all by himself to the second floor of the motel, but he managed. Eddy looked from side to side, it seemed as if nobody else was renting the other hotel rooms on the second floor, as it looked eerily quiet around the area. He paid it no mind and decided to meet the staff at the front desk to grab his key.
He opened the door. The wind chimes sounded as he looked around for the staff. He waited at the counter patiently, deciding it would be a bit rude if he kept pressing the bell sitting on the counter. Eventually, the staff came out of the restricted room, dressed all nice and formal.
“Good morning, how may I help you today?” The tall man, in his 40s with a doorman outfit, greeted him with a kind smile. “Do you have a reservation, or do you just want a room for the night?” He typed away on his old computer. Eddy assumed it kept a log of all of the reservations made and the guests.
“I have the reservation under Mr. Roy Yang. He told me I should just say his name at the front desk and you would know about the arrangement,” Eddy said, fidgeting with the hem of his jacket.
The tall man grinned wider. “Oh, of course. I know Roy very well.” He moved aside to grab the keys for the room. “You’re supposed to be in Room 202, correct? Here’s your key. You have a telephone in your room, and in your bedside table, there is a number to call the front desk. Just call if you need anything else, and please enjoy your stay.”
Eddy retrieved the keys from the staff’s hand, returning the smile. “I have to ask before I go. Is it normally this quiet around here? Are there no other guests right now?”
“We don’t usually get a lot of guests during this time of summer, but I assume they would all come a bit later. The first-floor rooms are all occupied, and on the second floor, where you are located, there’s someone occupying Room 201. You don’t have to worry; she’s just a nice lady looking for a vacation in Roseburg,” he informed. “Is this your first time renting a motel?”
“Actually, yeah, it is. I’ll just be staying for my summer job,” Eddy chuckled, loosening up. He felt a bit more comfortable after the staff initiated small talk.
“I see. You’ll be working at the gas station, correct? Roy mentioned that while we were speaking on the phone just a couple of days ago.”
“Yeah, I am. I am just new to Roseburg.”
The doorman nodded. “Well, if you’re looking for some good food, there’s a diner just a couple of blocks down the street. Usually, the guests just order from the front desk, but if you want to experience the diner for yourself, you’re more than welcome to. They sell very good food there that I think youngsters like you might like.”
“That’s great! Thank you for the recommendation. I’ll definitely check it out once I am settled.”
“Do you need help with your bags, Mr. Chen?” he asked kindly. “I can help.”
Eddy shook his head no in return. “Ah, no need. I already brought them upstairs before I came here, but thank you for asking.” He was glad that the doorman was easy to talk to and seemed great at his job. Eddy figured he will eat at the diner for lunch after he unpacks his things.
“By the way, before I go, what’s your name again?” Eddy asked.
“Oh, Mr. Chen, you can call me Charlie.”
He nodded. “Got it, Charlie. It’s nice to meet you, Charlie. You can just call me Eddy. The Mr. Chen thing sounds too formal.”
“Sure thing, Eddy. I’ll just inform Roy that you’ve already arrived.”
His room wasn’t all that bad. If you ask him, it was a little old-fashioned for his taste, but it looked cozy enough. Besides, he doesn’t think he has the right to say something if he will be renting the place for free. The place had the smell of old houses that reminded him of his grandparents’ house back in Ironbark. His bed was also clean and neatly arranged. Just like the doorman had mentioned, there was a piece of paper containing the front desk’s number in his bedside table next to the telephone.
He started unpacking his clothes and placing them inside the wooden closet. As he opened it, he couldn’t help but sneeze from the dust that had escaped from the cabinet. He noticed he didn’t have to fold his clothes, as the cabinet itself had a clothing rack. After that, Eddy decided to check out the bathroom. As expected, it was also squeaky clean. There was a singular mirror near the sink, and the showerhead was working perfectly.
He hadn’t even had the time to lie down on his bed when his phone rang. He fished it out of his pocket and answered without looking at the caller’s name.
“Hello?” he sighed, having no energy to hold up a conversation.
Thankfully, it was just his sister. “Eddy! Are you alright there? Are you already in your room?”
“Yeah, I already unpacked my stuff. It’s actually great here. The doorman was nice,” he sat up, looking outside the window. “He recommended a diner I can eat at; I’ll go there later.”
“That’s a relief. What about the other guests? Anyone suspicious?” His sister had just gotten out of the car, slamming it shut. “I went straight to the market after dropping you off. I realized we ran out of milk.”
Eddy snickered. “I drank it all.” He pulled the blinds open. “I haven’t met the other guests, but the doorman said the first-floor rooms were all occupied, and I have one neighbor next to me. It’s weird though; it’s so quiet around here. Maybe I am just not used to kids running around the neighborhood early in the morning. I am surrounded by forests here, after all.”
“That sounds like heaven, but also the last part is terrifying.”
“The forests here are fine, Belle. It’s actually relaxing. I doubt there would be wild animals chasing people around,” he said, taking in the breeze. “I can’t wait to stroll around before I start working for real.”
Belle laughed. “It’s not really a vacation, Eddy. Remember, you have to check out your school and your job.”
“Right… unfortunately,” he joked. “I’ve got to go now; I’ll dress up and go to the diner.”
“Okay, Mr. Independent, talk to you later. Don’t forget to lock your doors before you sleep, okay? That’s important. Also, close the windows and roll the blinds down—“
Eddy interrupted, “Belle, I got it. You sound more like Mom than our actual mom.”
“Just making sure… Well, catch you later.”
Rodeway Diner
He expected the diner to be bustling with customers, but to his surprise, the whole diner was empty. He got the same chills as he did when he first stepped into the motel. He was the only person there except for the workers behind the counter. He felt a bit awkward as he chose a table.
He noticed the workers whispering to each other in his peripheral vision before his eyes settled at the glass wall to stare outside. Eventually, a girl came up to him to take his order.
“Welcome to Rodeway Diner! What would you like to order?” she said, all smiles, with a notepad prepared in her hand.
“Uh yeah, can I get the roasted steak here and just some burger and fries?” Eddy started, glancing at the menu he was holding.
The girl keenly took notes. “I got that. Do you want anything to drink? We have it on the back page of the menu if you want to look.”
“Oh, I am feeling the Coke float here. I want to get that,” Eddy answered. “Excuse me, is it usually this quiet in the diner? Sorry to ask, it’s my first time in Roseburg, and I expected there would be a lot of people eating at this hour. Sorry again if that’s a weird question.”
After the girl had finished writing, she replied, “No, not a weird question at all. Yes, actually, the visitors usually come like two to three weeks after the start of summer. You just happened to come a week earlier. We already got used to it.”
Eddy nodded. “Oh, I see. The staff at my motel said the same.”
“You said you’re new around here?” she asked, passing the notes of his order to her other co-workers. “Where are you originally from? We noticed it was the first time we had seen you around Roseburg.”
“I am originally from Ironbark. It’s not too far. I just came down here for my summer job,” Eddy answered, glad that the workers were warming up to him. “Have you heard about the gas station in Roseburg? I am sure you have. I’ll be working there for the rest of the summer.”
Eddy discreetly peeked at the girl’s name tag, which said Molly. She paused for a while at what he said, visibly thinking about her next words. “Everybody knows that gas station. Everybody that lived here in Roseburg. I think you should be careful around there. There’s a lot of news lately in that area. Actually, not just lately, but over the years already. It just sparked up again recently.”
That statement worried Eddy to the core. He wanted to know more about it. “Why? What happened in the gas station?”
Molly shifted anxiously. “I am not trying to scare you if that’s what you think I am doing,and the news isn’t exactly talking about the gas station, but the road in front of the gas station and the woods, too. There are a lot of reports of missing people around that area. I don’t think any of them had been found, and it’s been years. We think the police had stopped trying to find them.”
“I see. I’ll try to be careful then. I really need the job. Thanks for telling me about it, anyway.” Eddy nodded.
Molly smiled. “Don’t get me wrong, Roseburg is such a nice place. That’s why a lot of people go here for vacation during the summer. I think you’ll have a nice time, regardless. If you need recommendations on where to go, you can always ask us here.”
“I think so too. I’ll keep that in mind! Thanks… Molly.” He hadn’t taken a good look at the waitress, but as he did, he noticed a plaster on Molly’s hand. It seemed as if it was badly injured. “Are you okay? Your arm…”
Molly quickly hid her arm behind her, smiling anxiously at Eddy. “It’s fine. I just got into a bit of an accident in the kitchen yesterday, but it’s all healing up pretty well.” As she finished her sentence, a loud groan was suddenly heard from the back area of the diner. The waitress spared him no other glance and hurriedly checked the cause of the sound. Eddy thought that it was nothing; maybe the cook had just slipped or something.
Later, as he finished stuffing his stomach with the food from the diner. He decided he would look into the missing people that Molly had mentioned. He asked for the directions to the public library before leaving the place. He thought he could use the computer there to search for the newspapers at that time.
Surprisingly, there were a few people inside the library, mostly couples who were reading books together. But again, it was eerily quiet inside. He went straight to the computer to begin his research. Through his digging, he found out that what Molly said was right. Over the past decade, countless people had been reported missing at the same location every time. At the Roseburg Road in front of the gas station. The police department couldn’t explain what is causing the phenomenon.
As he scrolled down, he read the last of the news below. The latest disappearance just occurred a week ago.
“A week ago… that means it’s still happening now,” Eddy murmured under his breath. There weren’t a lot of details in the news. They did mention that the guy’s name was Andrew Thompson and he was a tourist visiting the small town. He went to the Hollow Creek, and a few days later, he was deemed missing. “Well, that one’s not on Roseburg Road. Who is responsible for this? Perhaps… it’s an unrelated case?”
Whatever it was, it surely is another missing person report that should not be ignored. After reading the article, he decided to print out all of the newspapers and brought them to his motel.
“Hey, Charlie! Do you have a minute?” Eddy asked. Charlie was dusting off the couch in the lounge room of the motel. “I just wanted to ask you something.”
Charlie nodded, hesitant. “Yes, Eddy? Ask away.”
“Did somebody named Andrew Thompson check in at this place about a week ago?”
Charlie paused for a moment to think. Then, he moved to the counter to search on the motel’s computer. “Hmm. It seemed like he did. I wasn’t the doorman a week ago; I just started. That doorman would be Gerry. He probably served the gentleman you’re talking about.”
Eddy nodded slowly, taking a mental note of the information he got. “I see. Thank you for that.”
“May I ask what’s the matter? Did you know the guy?” Charlie questioned. It was clear that he was merely curious. “I apologize if I am probing.”
“No, it’s fine. I just happened to look at a newspaper, and it said there that he had been missing since a week ago,” Eddy half-lied, showing Charlie the page of the newspaper where Andrew’s black and white photo was plastered.
Charlie frowned. “That’s… not great at all. To be honest with you, I don’t really know much about Gerry’s guests, but I do know that there are countless cases happening in this town.”
“Do they have any theories as to why it was happening?” Eddy pressed. “I mean, by the looks of it, I don’t think any of that is coincidence if it had been happening since the past decade.”
The doorman simply beckoned him to lean closer as he whispered something. He made sure no one else was there to hear it. “I heard people talk about a supernatural being. They called it the Roseburg Ghost. I personally don’t believe in it. People make up stories to explain the otherwise unexplainable. I think they were just abducted by some sick person out there.”
Eddy grimaced. “And the police don’t seem to care anymore?”
“The police had been useless ever since then. It’s unclear whether they’re truly doing their job or not.” Charlie continued dusting off the couch. “So, do you believe in the Roseburg Ghost?”
He shrugged. “Not really…? I believe they were abducted too.”
Charlie slightly froze, his expression changing. “Eddy, Mr. Chen, I recommend you shouldn’t probe anymore in these types of affairs in this town. It’s not safe for you, and we don’t know what really happened out there. It’s better to stay out of it. Out of sight, out of mind, really.”
Eddy slowly nodded, taking in his words. “I will. I just got surprised. It’s my first time here after all, and I’ve never heard of it until now. So, I am a little worried.”
“Don’t take it too seriously. Just a piece of advice from an old man like me,” he flashed Eddy a kind smile before returning to his work. Eddy knew to go back to his room and finally halt his questioning. Charlie was right. It wouldn’t be good if he suddenly got too involved with the cases. He just couldn’t stop thinking about it, though. It all seemed strange.
He scoffed, locking all of his doors as Belle told him. “Roseburg? More like Ghost Town. I never thought it would be this creepy. Maybe Hilary was right… that I never should’ve come here…”
Eddy reached his windows. While he was slowly closing the blinds, he caught the figures coming inside the lobby. They all had long, dark capes strapped behind them. Eddy’s eyes widened; he instinctively ducked out of their sight and watched through the slits of the blinds.
The figures disappeared inside the lobby area. Eddy waited by the window until they finally emerged once again. He thought they probably had booked the other remaining rooms.
“What the hell are they?” Eddy thought to himself. He was thankful that all of the lights in his room were already shut off. Some of the men approached his room.
For a little while, they stood right outside his door. Eddy slammed a hand into his mouth and calmed his breathing so as not to alarm the men outside. Eventually, their shadows beneath the door walked away and opened the door a few rooms next to him.
He breathed a sigh of relief and stealthily went to his bed. He would surely ask Charlie about it tomorrow.
“Hilary was right… I never should’ve come here…”