Sandstorms

It had been a week since the Umbers arrived in the city. Since their arrival, more disappearances had happened. Triple the usual amount. Five hundred disappearances in just a year. It didn't sound like much but considering what Emplton used to look like, with all the busy streets, it was. Schools were now permanently closed, in hopes it would lessen the amount of disappearances. Of course, those efforts changed nothing. Eventually, the police found some hints about the disappearances. Several hints, in fact. They would all lead to what would eventually be called the Sandstorms. A phone beside a sandcastle on the beach. A purse beside a half dug hole. A bit of dark red, dried up blood in the sand. Then the Umbers moved in. They were uneducated on the city's dark history. They had no idea their were several people vanishing and possibly even dying. They reached their destination, their new home at 10 pm one night. The neighbors didn't know about them until a week after. Still, it was a mystery of whether or not they were somehow involved in the missing people. "Jason, let the cat out. She's been in a carrier for six hours. She deserves fresh air." The woman said as a young teen stepped outside the Victorian house the next morning after they moved in. Jason rolled his eyes but went back into the house to do exactly as told. However, he couldn't find the cat anywhere so just went back out, making sure the front door remained wide open behind him. Suddenly he heard sirens. The type of siren was indistinguishable from others. He couldn't even decipher where it was coming from. Though it did sound like it was coming from two streets over. He ran out the door, tripping over the front steps but catching himself before he fell on the cement driveway as that would have been quite painful. He walked to the end of the driveway and look right, then left, hoping to spot where the sirens were coming from. One, two, three. The police cars whizzed by, going so fast that their lights were now blurring together. Jason stood there, dumbfounded. Nobody had told him that his first day in a new home would lead to this intense mystery. He sped down the street,following the cop cars. He stopped when they did. At the edge of the beach. A giant crowd of at least 200 people stood there, blocking his view. He heard screaming and crying, now wondering what was happening to them. He stood there but just for a second before hurrying over to the crowd. His curiosity was overwhelming him. He had to know what was happening. He pushed his way through the crowd before someone stopped him, blocking his view. Jason attempted to shove by the person. "Let me see!" The teenager screamed. He was holding back tears, fearing the worst. He knew nobody here and yet he felt connected to them all. The officers ran over, telling the crowd to back up. They did so obligingly. Jason, however, remained. In front of him he saw a piece of paper with black fingerprints and wet red liquid on it. He picked it up, curious. It read: Underneath the sand There are twenty Underneath the sea Remains the rest Do not go searching It will not end well. Horrified, Jason threw the paper down on the ground. He put his hand over his mouth, eyes wide. He was stifling a scream. What the hell was going on in this city?