It was five minutes past midnight. Alison was lying in bed, watching a chilling horror movie. Even though the plot was becoming more and more repetitive in every movie, she still loved the genre. The wall-walking woman type of "The Curse" or the killing girl from "Ring." Thanks to this, she wasn't so scared because generally ghosts gave her the creeps. In real life she was a coward, and when watching horror movies she tried to pretend to be brave. She tried because every now, and then she would look anxiously around the dark room, intently examining every corner. She had the impression that a horrible phantom was also hiding in her place, which would attack her in a moment the same way as in the movie. Against this backdrop, her psyche was already ruined.
She jumped up anxiously when something tapped on the window pane. Even though a snowstorm was raging outside the window, she kept hammering into her head that it was an evil spirit that wanted to kill her.
Pretending to be brave only plunged Alison deeper. It would be better if she switched to thrillers.
The final credits appeared on the screen, and the girl stretched out on the bed and turned off the TV. She settled comfortably to sleep and snuggled her face into her pillow the moment the TV turned on again. Horrified, she slipped her head out from under the covers and looked at the screen, where a groat appeared to signify the end of the program's broadcast.
The girl laughed at her stupidity when she noticed that she was lying on the remote control. She put it back in the cabinet and, smiling under her breath, closed her eyes. She opened them wide as the TV turned on again. At that moment, she felt shivers that paralyzed her body with fear. She felt like screaming in terror and calling her grandparents, but she would rather not come off as a child. After all, she was already a woman and at this age should not be afraid of ghosts; however, this was scary!
With her heart beating loudly, she uncovered her face and looked around the room. Fortunately, she did not see anything disturbing. She reached out and fumbled with the cabinet, blindly trying to find the remote control she had put away earlier. The girl rose to a sitting position and looked at the window. She got the impression that for a moment, her heart stopped beating. She froze when her attention was caught by a black raven that sat on the window sill and stared at her. Alison swallowed her saliva, watching him with fear in her eyes. She was sure she had seen him before... She held her breath as he spread his black wings. It reminded her of the time she saw a human figure in a dream that acted identically to the bird.
The crow cawed then flew away, and the girl ran to the wall and found the switch in the dark. A bright light flashed in the room, and she breathed a sigh of relief. With her back leaning against a large closet, she tried to calm her breathing.
Did it actually have anything to do with that road? Was George telling the truth even though he disowned it because he would rather not scare her? What secret did that shortcut hide? Did she just start freaking out?
There were so many questions that plagued her, but she couldn't find a meaningful answer to them.
Was this town hiding some kind of secret?
*
Although she had been afraid to fall asleep all night — her eyelids finally drooped from fatigue, and she plunged into sleep. This time she had no nightmares. She woke up with a calm heart.
She looked at her watch, and a quiet moan escaped her lips. It was after twelve o'clock, and she was still in bed. In no time, she had brought herself to order.
There was her grandmother bustling around the kitchen preparing dinner. At the sight of her granddaughter, she smiled cheerfully.
- Did you get enough sleep? Since you came here, you looked tired. A long sleep did you good. -The girl nodded. - It will be dinner soon, so don't go anywhere.
- What about my car? Has grandpa taken care of it?
- He says it's in working order so far, but he doesn't know for how long," she replied.
Alison sat down at the table and looked out the window. Snow had fallen even more than yesterday. It had fallen a lot overnight, so she didn't even want to leave the house.
With a grimace on her face, she looked at her cell phone.
She still had no reception. It was slowly starting to annoy her. Why was everyone's phone answered, but she couldn't get in touch with anyone?
This town was clearly getting on her nerves.
She was getting a little bored. She thought, should she go downtown, since she had a working car?
Alison looked out the window and put her cell phone in her purse. The sky was clear, and the sun was shining, so it didn't promise to snow.
Although she didn't feel like leaving the house before, she immediately changed her mind when she realized she didn't have anything planned. She needed to get to know the town better. She hoped that she would be able to meet George. The girl wanted to get additional information from him.
What happened that night was strange, not to mention how frightening.
She parked the car next to the store and got out, carefully looking around. People passed by, watching her with evident interest.
She got the impression that some were brazenly scolding her in the process.
- It's good to see you. I guess it's a coincidence that we run into each other again. - She smiled when she heard George's voice.
She turned to face him, noticing that this time his hair was loose.
- In truth, I was hoping to meet you. Do you have time? You are the only person I know here.
- I feel honored. A lady from a big city decided to continue acquaintance with me.
- Don't mock me," she muttered indignantly.
- I said this in jest.
- Just like the last time? - The boy became serious. - I need to know the truth because strange things have started happening in my life since I found myself on that road.
George took the girl to a nearby café. They ordered hot chocolate, which warmed Alison up enough, and it was delicious.
- You said that since you drove on that road, strange things started happening in your life. What did you mean by that? - The boy asked, and she put down her cup and looked him in the eyes.
- And you won't consider me crazy?
- I have seen many unexplainable phenomena, so take it easy. I will certainly believe you," he stated, to which she nodded.
She carefully explained to him the whole story related to the shortcut. She also told him about the nightmares and what happened to her last night.
George listened to her carefully.
- So all those stories the locals told turned out to be true. Apparently, a long time ago, people were dying there. They were lost without news, so it was decided to close this road. I have no idea how you managed to get there," he revealed.
Alison sipped her hot chocolate.
- So you're saying that no one has returned from there? Then why did I manage to get there, and more importantly, who was the boy who helped me then?
- I'd like to know that myself. What's happening to you now must have something to do with it. This road certainly hides a dark secret," he said, and the brunette looked at the window.
Is it possible that the stranger who helped her was a ghost who died there? No, after all, it's unreal. Ghosts don't fix cars. Besides, he touched her arm. It had to be a person.
- If everyone died without saying a word, why didn't anything happen to me?
George shrugged his shoulders in response.
- You won't know the truth until you go back there," he suggested, and the girl opened her eyes wider. - Otherwise, the nightmares will intensify.
- I will never go back there in my life, especially not after what I heard.
- It's the only solution for you to find out why you ended up there.
Alison looked in the window, and her attention was caught by a boy who was walking past the cafe. She got the impression that she knew him from somewhere. Suddenly, without a word, she bolted from her seat as she realized that it was the mysterious brunet who had helped her on that road.
She ran out of the café and frantically looked around at the people; however, he just so happened to disappear from her sight. She got the impression that he had vanished into thin air.
- Are you all right? - George asked, running out after the girl.
- Yes, I just thought I saw a familiar person," she replied, not stopping to look around. - But apparently my imagination is playing tricks on me.
*
Although she was terribly afraid, she agreed with George that she would return to that place. He managed to convince Alison that he would not solve the case otherwise.
Was it actually a good idea? She was shaking like a jelly out of fear. At the very thought of going back to that place, a cold sweat was pouring over her.
She was afraid.
She stopped at the entrance that led her out of the ill-fated shortcut that day. George got out of the car and looked around.
- This is strange. Ever since I was a little boy, this crossing had been closed. People avoided it by a wide margin, not knowing of its existence. How is it possible that someone has reopened it?
- I don't know, but I feel those strange chills again. Besides, it's already dusk, and the snow is up to my ankles," she replied, rubbing her frozen hands. She hadn't brought gloves with her, so she felt as if her hands were going to fall off from the frost.
- Alison, I know you're scared, but you're in no danger. Since you left there safely, you can go back there. You need to know the truth; otherwise the nightmares won't stop. This definitely has a connection.
The girl nodded her head.
- I know, but I'm afraid.
- If I could, I would go with you, but for me, it could be dangerous. You understand, don't you?
She nodded again and looked at his hands.
- Can I borrow your gloves? - She asked, and the boy wordlessly took them off his hands. She thanked him and looked around the neighborhood. Single cars were passing by, and they were standing at an entrance that led straight into a nightmare.
- Alison, I'm not forcing you to do anything. It's just that this may be the only solution to get rid of the nightmares," George declared, looking at her carefully.
- I think I should go back there and find out the truth. I stay up all night, praying incessantly. Since I succeeded once, I'll get out of there a second time too, right? - She asked nervously, so George forced a smile.
- I'm sure you will. After all, you're a firm believer, aren't you? - He asked, pointing to her pocket, where she had a rosary tucked away.
- Yes. I think last time someone up there listened to me because I met a boy who helped me. If it hadn't been for him, I probably wouldn't have come back from there either," she muttered, then added more loudly. - But I have to take the plunge.
- Alison, are you sure?
- Yes. I think you should go to the bus stop now. Thank you for driving me here. Thanks to you, I have gained courage. I want to personally see what secret this shortcut hides. I have enough nightmares every night," she said, smiling nervously.
The boy came up to her and unexpectedly hugged her.
- I wish you the best of luck.
She smiled as he walked away from her.
- In that case, I'll see you, George," she added, then got into the car. She fired up the lash and, taking a deep breath, drove deep into the woods. The boy immediately took his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed a number from his contact list.
- She drove there. I think this time everything will go our way," he replied, and a fake smile appeared on his face. He pulled a rosary from his pocket, playing with it between his fingers. - It must go well.