"Next stop, Jamestown. I repeat, next stop Jamestown."
The words had to be mulled over in his mind before they truly set in, the monotone voice of the bus driver causing him to think that it was electronic for a moment. Yet, in a manner of seconds did the thought turn away and his body began moving on autopilot to get ready to depart. Adjusting a lone beat up messenger bag, unlike the surrounding other passengers whom had hiking backpacks, and some even rolling suitcases into the aisle. To which he sighed in a expected annoyance as he was in the far back, yet it really didn't matter in the end. He was in no hurry after all, his final destination had no where to go and no one to visit them for a long, long time.
"Please mind your steps as you leave the bus! Move your luggage so other passengers can get through! Wait just a moment and we will begin to unload the remaining luggage!"
With a hop and almost a skip did he leave the ever growing din behind, greeted by a familiar sight. Cracked asphalt, boarded up windows - some even in the process of being covered, and a dust covered red, white and steel diner that surprised him each time that it remained opened. Some things never changed, or so one might think if they didn't spot a pristine billboard a few ways down the road reading; "Coming soon! New housing and apartments to Jamestown!"
Despite the dust, grime, and even grease that the little bell above the door hung to, it still gave a crisp chime as if it were brand new. The inside of the diner was amazingly, in better shape than the outside. Checkered floors spot clean, along with the teal blue seats that to the day hurt his eyes. There was a pair of older men at the bar whose hands shook each time they raised their mugs of piping hot coffee. Then a much younger man whose table had a few scattered photos along with a camera, whom was currently chatting with the very person who kept the place running. Piled high silver hair in a tight bun that a few stubborn wispy locks framed her face, her attire a faded teal dress with a matching white apron, and a smile that belonged to that of a young woman. Her eyes locked with his before he even opened his mouth.
"William? William is that you!?" She practically cooed as in a few quick strides she was upon him, pinching his cheeks as a grandmother would. "Why I knew I was going to see your face again! I told myself this morning, 'Annie, I do so believe today is that time of the year again for William to come and visit.' - and here you are!!"
She emphasized the last few words with one hand ruffling his dark and starting to silver locks, whilst the other patting his cheek. He couldn't help but smile and wince all at the same time. Behind him the chime of the bell sounded again, alerting Annie who didn't skip a beat. "Come on in! Come on in!! Don't be shy and pick any spot you want and I'll be with all of you in a just a moment!!"
The next moments were practiced, a repeat of the previous years. Annie ushering him, along with the other customers inside. To which she would specifically seat him at the end of the bar, closest to the window over looking the bus stop. To which, still had a few stragglers retrieving their luggage. The old waitress would ready him a cup of coffee in mere seconds, leaving him just as quickly to attend to the others. As he poured the cream and sugar would he hear her recommend the hot cakes and assorted other goodies, the older men at the bar calling for more coffee and Annie yelling back that they already had enough, the cook then responding with the amount they already drank. A few laughs and she would be back at his side. Asking him the usual script;
"Now tell me William, how are you?"
"Just fine Annie."
A click of her tongue, "You don't look fine, you're pale, skinnier than last year and did you get in a fight with a raccoon? How's work treating you?"
"Same as always; late nights, late calls, desperate folks, the worst kind of folks, the usual."
A trailing, almost inaudible; "I see." Before she would briefly turn and grab a chocolate muffin from behind her, placing it before him. He'd accept it, wordlessly. "You eating well at least?"
"As well in my line of work."
"I meant in the last few days."
Silence. All on queue, even the rushed footsteps of the older coffee addicts, the jarring chime of the door and the heavy footsteps that came to stop at his side. Annie's sigh was even on time as he turned to see the bus from earlier leave. The old cigarette smell came next, the phlegm filled clearing of a hoarse throat and the calloused, scarred thick iron cabled hands came into view. He would have rolled his eyes, but there was no point to the song and dance that was coming.
Nonchalantly did he take a sip of the still piping hot coffee, his eyebrows furrowing were the only indication of having burned his tongue. "Hi Sheriff Richard, long time no see."
"I can't believe, you brought your sorry ass back here boy." The man's voice was more gravelly, he was beginning to show his age.
The audible light reprimanded smack by Annie on the old brown uniform dress shirt might as well had been a slap to the face with how quiet the diner had gone. It was like a scene from some Hollywood movie. A diner, a sheriff, a waitress and an assumed "stranger" from out of town. William wouldn't have been surprised if someone had pulled out their cellphone and were recording them right now. It wouldn't have been the first time.
"You leave William alone." Annie hissed, whispered would have been too kind of a word. "He just came to visit his friend is all."
Here came the yearly argument, like an old married couple.
"Oh? FRIEND? Is that what we calling it now?" The way the old man said it reignited the anger in his chest. "Going through the godforsaken woods and making all of us remember?"
"As you should!" Annie screeched, startling the other customers. "All of you are so ready and eager to forget what thi -"
At this he stood, placing a ten on the counter and adjusting his messenger bag once more. "I better go and wait for the next bus. Annie thank you for the coffee, good to see you again sheriff."
Familiarty continued, the blue patched and rotting old bench at the bus stop. Yet, it still didn't break as he sat down with a sigh. Rummaging through his bag almost had him not see the sheriff walk out, spit in his direction with an utter look of disgust and get in his cruiser. Any feelings of hurt or anger were gone by this point of time, or suppressed rather as he had begun to flip through a small aged black notebook. Countless words flying by; the beginning crude and shaky lettering - like that of a child, some pages even dried as if from tears. Progressing through more refined strokes, hurried scribbles that bordered on unreadable, to patches of black, tattered pages and then just as quickly falling to her.
Dark locks framing a petite face, with darker lashes still set against startling eyes that appeared to look directly at you even if made of pen and paper.
"Pretty girl? She your girlfriend?"
Williams heart practically tore from his chest as he whirled around, off setting his balance enough to the point of catching himself on the bench. The old wood biting his hand, back aching upon impact and the notebook snapped shut. There behind him, smiling innocently stood a young man. Messy brown locks, an amused smile on his face and a camera hanging from his neck.
"Hey easy there, I'm nobody important."
Williams heart said otherwise.
"At least no one important yet." The young man mused as he continued to smile, making his way to sit beside the still recovering man. "Names Thomas Harbin, photographer and up and coming journalist." He even provided a business card.
Reluctantly did William take it, flipping it once to see if he belonged to the local paper. To which he didn't, that was one less thing to worry about at least. Or so he thought.
"So, I take it that Sheriff doesn't want you to go though the haunted godforsaken woods?"
"The what?" William blurted, looking at him quizzically and funnily enough for Thomas to laugh a bit at him.
"Oh c'mon, you sure as hell are a local. Or at least were?" Thomas inquired, lifting his camera and looking through it as he continued. Pointing it this way and that, the shutter going off every few moments. "You'd have to be out of state not to know about this town's dirty little secret. Or at least not give a rats ass about moving into the new suburban areas. Maybe both?"
"You're looking to move here?" William shot back, actually shooting back the business card at Thomas.
"Oh hell no! I wouldn't want to move next to an abandoned orphanage where the kids were killed for fun." Thomas caught his business card. "No matter how deep in the woods it was."
"The children were murdered by the so called benefactor of the place who masqueraded as a caregiver as well. The coward offed himself before he revealed the graves of the children they couldn't find."
Thomas coughed awkwardly at the explanation, sure he had read the criminal reports, but he sure didn't act like he did. But before he could offer an apology, the long awaited bus arrived. William wordlessly stood and got in, Thomas following shakily behind. Silently did the bus driver take their change, motioning them to take a seat in the much smaller bus. It shook and heaved as it began it's journey. Both men lurching as the road it began to take was littered in bumps, potholes, and uneven asphalt.
A small smile of satisfaction came to William's face as he overheard Thomas curse under his breath at the treatment his bottom was getting. Speaking for himself, he was used to it and besides he wouldn't be on the bus for long.
As was the yearly expectation, silence gave way. Outside, interlacing branches and leaves passed by. The ground carpeted by brush, stone, and the occasional animal skittering about. Despite the year long absence, he recognized the few landmarks. The decayed and rotten bus stops for one that littered the road every once and a while. Their signs just barely visible. Ghostly even. Yet, he still saw it.
4242564
The old stop chord on the bus dinged, and soon after did it crawl to a stop. With a sigh did the bus driver say, "Mind your steps boys."
Once more did William have to pause, his mind trying to catch up to the moment. 'Boys?' Turning around, he visibly grimaced at seeing Thomas there. To whom, merely waved at him. Wordlessly did he turn away, adjusted his bag once more and began to walk. The woods greeting him like an old friend, welcoming him home.
"So,"
William wanted to sigh in annoyance, surprising himself that he hadn't already for the past ten odd minutes.
"Why this route? I mean, if you're not going to the orphanage?" Thomas asked, minding his footing as he almost tripped over another tree root. "The bus takes you directly into the center of the suburban housing. I even heard that it can take you to the only inn they got set up."
"Because my friend lives at the edge of said suburban area. It would take me longer to walk from the bus stop to her place. Cutting through the woods is easier."
"I see, she must of gotten the place dirt cheap! I mean, uh, thanks for not rushing off and leaving me behind!"
This time William did sigh, if his eyes rolled any further into his head he would have to audition for a movie. "Even the best hikers who come through here get lost."
"And not because of other reasons?"
"I wouldn't know, I only visit once a year." William explained, behind him Thomas gaped in an attempt to try and deter the conversation. "Why are you going to the orphanage if you already know what happened there? I'm not a cop here, but I can report you if you're thinking of breaking and entering."
"Hey, hey now! There's no need for that! I'm just going to see if the rumors are true!"
One look over his shoulder and a raised eyebrow had Thomas continue.
"There's been all sorts of stuff online over the years of how there are apparently ghost children, crying children, pictures of figures in the cracked windows, and don't even get me started on the numerous tv shows of the place!"
"And you're going to confirm it?" Here they came to a leveled hiking path, further down over the edge you could see another and another.
"Yes and no. But, I want to find the truth."
Before William could even begin to ask, a small blur caught his eye. From the other hiking path below them it wizzed by again and then another much larger, but just as small appeared. A boy, hands covering his head as he was struck by what William now realized was a rock. The child had been running away from whatever or whoever was assaulting him, defending himself crudely and with only the mindset to escape. Leading him to trip and fall right over the edge of the hiking path.
Without hesitation did William leap into action, quite literally as he ran down the path asymmetrically to where the child had fallen. The branches and brush scratching at him, clawing at him to go no further. He refused, determination driving him and somehow preventing him from tripping over his own feet himself. A small form greeted him quickly enough. Shaking, shivering, a small lump of a dirtied t shirt and shorts with a mop of dirty blond hair still being covered by scratched up hands.
Without hesitation did he kneel next to him, hands carefully going to make sure he was alright. "It's ok, I'm here now. You're going to be ok."
The boy stopped shivering immediately, hands going to curl under him as if he had a stomach ache. This didn't stop William however, his mind solely focused on this child. Was he injured? Why was he out here alone? Who had been throwing rocks at him? He payed no mind to the sun now stained an orange red with wisps of purple at its heels, or how the remaining light bounced off his necklace that had peaked through.
"It's ok, I'm here to help."
The next thing he knew, was pain at his skull and neck as the chain was ripped from it.