hide and seek

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows over the small town of Crestview, bathing the streets in a muted golden light. The heat of the day had settled, leaving the air still, almost expectant, as if it knew something was about to happen. In the corner of an old, run-down diner, a group of teenagers sat around a table, poking at cold fries and half-empty milkshakes. Billy leaned back in his chair, balancing on two legs, a lazy grin on his face. "Man, this town is dead. There's *nothing* to do around here." Mary, sitting beside him, rolled her eyes. "Maybe that's a sign we should head home," she said, her voice tinged with that sensible tone she always had. Being the daughter of a pastor gave her a sense of responsibility the others didn’t quite share. Across from them, Lisa tapped her nails on the table, her boredom evident in the glazed-over look in her eyes. "It's summer. We should be doing something *fun*," she whined. Alex, sitting at the end of the booth, leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with mischief. He was the troublemaker, always the one with a dangerous idea. "Well, I *do* have a suggestion. Something that'll definitely break this boring streak." The table quieted, everyone’s attention shifting toward him. Phillip, who had been absentmindedly playing with a napkin, looked up, sensing the shift in mood. He was the calm center of the group, usually the one to go along with things but never the instigator. "Spit it out, Alex," Phillip said, raising an eyebrow. He wasn’t sure if he was ready for whatever was about to come out of Alex’s mouth. Alex smirked, leaning back in his seat with the smug confidence of someone who knew they had a good story. "You know that creepy old house at the edge of town? The one they say is haunted?" Immediately, Mary tensed, shooting a wary glance at the others. "No way. That place has been abandoned for years. People have gone missing in there." Dorian, who had been quiet up until now, finally spoke. She always had this unsettling calm about her, her eyes constantly scanning the room as if seeing things the others couldn’t. "It’s not just a rumor. That house… there's something wrong with it." Her voice was soft but filled with an unspoken weight, the kind that made the others uneasy. Billy scoffed, his chair clattering down onto all four legs. "Come on, Dor, don’t start with that psychic stuff again. It’s just an old house. Probably rats or something making all those noises." "Rats don’t make people disappear, Billy," Dorian replied quietly, her gaze distant as if recalling something she'd rather forget. Phillip shifted uncomfortably. He trusted Dorian, and her ability to sense things had freaked him out more than once. But then again, it was just a house… wasn’t it? Lisa, always one for excitement, broke the silence. "Honestly, it sounds kind of fun. We go in, poke around a bit, and we’re out. No big deal. Plus, think of the stories we’ll have after." Mary shot her a glare. "Are you serious? You want to trespass in a *haunted* house for fun?" Alex grinned wider. "Exactly. Come on, Mary. You afraid of a little ghost story? Besides, you’re the pastor’s daughter. If something happens, you’ve got divine protection, right?" Mary crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed. "That’s not how it works, Alex, and you know it." "Come on, guys," Billy chimed in, sensing the tension but eager to break it. "It’ll be a laugh. Just a quick in-and-out. No one’s lived there in decades." Margot, sitting silently next to Dorian, had been watching the exchange with her usual reserved calm. She finally spoke, her voice soft but firm. "Maybe we shouldn’t push our luck. Sometimes places are abandoned for a reason." There was a brief silence. Everyone looked at Margot, surprised. She rarely spoke up, and when she did, it usually meant she had something important to say. Alex waved it off, though, not one to be easily swayed. "Come on, Margot. Don’t tell me you believe all that crap too." Phillip was torn. He didn’t like the idea, but part of him couldn’t deny the pull of curiosity. Something about the house had always intrigued him. Maybe it was the countless stories he’d heard growing up, or maybe it was something else—something deeper. Finally, he broke the silence. "Let’s just vote on it. Majority rules." The group exchanged glances. One by one, hands slowly raised. Lisa was first, eager as ever. But if anything happens, I’m out. I’m not messing with anything… unnatural." Margot didn’t raise her hand, but she didn’t protest either. She just stared down at her drink, her lips pressed into a thin line. "That settles it," Alex declared, standing up from the table, excitement buzzing around him. "We’ll meet tonight. Right at dusk. Bring flashlights. And maybe, just maybe, we’ll see if all those stories about the Damon house are true." ---