If I'm being honest, Salem gets a bad rap. So many stories get spread about the town being haunted or cursed or something else completely bizarre, but just by taking one step into the fresh air of the town you truly tell how amazing the is town is. The nature is beautiful, the people are so nice, and everything is so welcoming. I always get the urge to just walk to the office, but I always end up taking my car in the end. Call me old fashioned but I drive a dark green 1970's Dodge Charger, one of the only things my father was able to leave me when he passed away, he want the wealthiest man be he had pride in this old hunk of junk, and I share that pride.
Climbing in the car I hear a man shouting towards me, concerned I took the time to look towards the man. When I turned towards the voice I saw the owner of my neighboring apartment barreling toward me.
His name was Gus William, he had definitely gained wait in the last five years I've known him, making him a large man going at a very fast pace speed. He was wearing nothing but a white wife beater with very obvious sweat stains, and gray shorts and his casual slippers. Fortunately he was able to stop before barreling into me. He caught his breath before speaking.
"Listen man," he started to huff, " I know that you put a lot of effort into your investigations but you're completely wrong about your most recent investigation man."
"I'm wrong to think that the famous hauntings of the "Hometown Buffet", a literal eating establishment, with no connection to death in any way, is a total hoax?" I questioned.
"I know that it seems crazy man, but I go there very frequently."
Not surprising.
He continued. " When ever I go there I can't stop eating, and I always wanna go back, the old owner had to be haunting it in order to keep the place in business, you have to believe me."
"Mhm, okay, how about I get back to you on that and I can maybe see what I can do about that, I'll see you later Gus." I answered.
He shook his head at me once and then turned around to go back to his apartment as I got into the car and shut the door. I took a huge sigh and then snickered. As I said people in this town can be so nice, but that doesn't make them smart. This kind of thing happened a lot in my life, and it never got better. I twisted the key and took a second to appreciate the engines roar, as I pulled out of the parking lot.
I have lived here my entire life but I never get tired of driving through this town, on all edges of this town it is truly beautiful, I can't imagine living anywhere else. The drive is short but Long enough to enjoy the scenery.
Eventually I got to the office and parked in the front, I had become slightly important so I had my own assigned parking spot in the front. I mostly worked from home or around town but I get called into the office for more assignments when I'm finished with the previous ones. As I walked into the building people took a second to glance at me and then continued to go about there day normally. A familiar looking man ran up to me as I walked into the door.
My assistant, Mike Readon, walked towards me. He'd been my friend for even longer than Sarah, and we've never really had any bad moments in our friendship. He studied engineering but when his career didn't take off I convinced my boss to hire him and so now he's my assistant.
His hair stays curly and long for a man, he keeps on a blue sweater at all times a alternates between blue and black jeans, today it was black.
"Listen, man boss has a big opportunity for you but listen you should listen to me first before you go in there." He started to say as we walked to the bosses office.
I knew what he was referring to before he even had to say it.
"Listen Mike, if this is about that stupid vampire thing again you can let me walk to the office alone. Thank you."
"Ryland, you have to listen to me, this is some cult shit going on in our hometown, you love this town, and your job is to figure out the truth."
"No my job is to show people how being stupid can ruin this entire city, and right now you're being stupid, Mike"
"No, Ryland, you're the one being stupid here, you're a cynic and you're letting it cloud your judgement." Mike snapped at me.
"Listen you do not snap at me, I got you this job I can take it away, my job is to entertain people and I am not going to waste my time on freaks who dress up and drink pigs blood, now please follow me and the office and shut your damn mouth Mike."
I'm not entirely sure why I snapped at Mike, maybe I was scared and didn't want to admit it but it is what it is. He stayed silent as we entered the bosses office.
The bosses office was large compared to the other offices. The bosses desk sat at an angle in the corner of the room, and he sat in his leather chair behind it, with several of his most successful articles and degrees hung on his wall. He looked at me with hope that I'd be able to tak one the task that he had prepared for me.
"Listen, we have some good news Ryland, we found you a new assignment, but the downside of this is that apparently you have some objections to this investigation." My boss, Tuck Fried, began to say as Mike began to snicker behind my back.
"Listen, sir, I implore you to rethink your de-" I began to declare.
Listen here son, this company has existed long before you worked here, I know what's best for this company and this investigation is the best for this company. Understand?"
"I understand, sir." I uttered, although no part of me agreed with the statement.
"Then I trust you'll be able to handle it, I'll see you when the investigations is over now get out of my office."
I took a look at mike with disgust, and then walked away, I didn't want to talk to him at the moment I didn't want to talk to anyone at the moment. I burst out the front door of the office and into my car, I didn't take time to look at the town I just went home got out of my car and went into my apartment. My plan was to go in my room and just stay there but Sarah had other plans.
"Hey Ryland," she squealed as she popped up seemingly out of nowhere, " I hope you had a good day, hun."
"Did you go into town today?" I asked noticing she had changed out of her pajamas although it was a Sunday.
"Well of course I did, I felt bad about this morning so I went to the store and picked you up a new bottle of olive oil, double the size of the last one." She said and then smiled wide.
Whether it be emotions that overthrew me or my actual strong care for this girl I wrapped my arms around her very quickly and didn't let go.
"Whoa," she said shocked, "if this was the way to your heart I would've done this a long time ago."
"Shut up." I quickly said and squeezed tighter.
I sniffed the air, "Popcorn?"
"Yep. Its the second Saturday of the month which means movie night in your room, the popcorn is currently popping and the movie is currently waiting for us to press play."
"Well then let's not waste time." I said eagerly. "Also, we have a new case, I'll explain it to you in extent tomorrow but for now we have other things to worry about."
"Can't wait time hear it." She said as she grabbed that bag out of the microwave, "I'll see you in your room when your ready."
I hung my flannel on a chair in the living room and took a deep breath, I was happy to be home, and with my best friend who always seemed to make me happy no matter what. I went into my room to enjoy the movie and it ended exactly as every other movie night had. About ten minutes before the movie ends, Sarah falls asleep on my bed, and I pause the movie for her to finish it when she wakes up in the morning, I take my blankets and put them over her, kiss her on the forehead. Then I take an extra pillow and blanket out of the laundry room and get comfortable on the living room couch, it's not a glamorous life, but it's the life I love.