STORY BREAK - Tent Town: Part II

Liam knew he had to get to the bottom of this mystery. But where to even begin?

Over the next few weeks, Liam discreetly made inquiries with locals about Tent Town and its residents. Most feigned ignorance, but Liam detected a quiet unease rippling through the countryside whenever he brought it up.

Late one night at a rural dive bar, Liam pressed for information from a heavily intoxicated farmer. After many rounds bought in exchange for bits and pieces, the farmer slurred about sinister government agents lurking and "making people disappear." Liam's blood ran cold.

He began staking out the abandoned Tent Town site daily, hoping to spot any clues. One afternoon, his vigilance paid off. Two men in dark suits emerged from the tree line, clearly searching the area. Liam sank down in his car seat, watching their ominous investigation through binoculars.

As the men crept back into the shadows, Liam summoned his courage and pursued on foot. He tracked them a mile deep into the dense forest before losing their trail at a gurgling creek. But on the mossy bank, Liam spotted something that made his breath catch - a worn leather bracelet engraved with a name: Caleb.

Liam recognized it as belonging to a Tent Town child he had met once. Did this mean Caleb and the others had fled through this forest? That they were out here somewhere in hiding? Liam's mind swirled with possibilities.

He ventured deeper into the wilderness following any signs - trampled undergrowth, abandoned campsites. Liam shouted Caleb's name desperately until his voice went hoarse. But only silence answered. Not a soul could be found.

With frustration mounting, Liam searched for the agents again with no luck. It was as if the forest had swallowed everyone into its mystery.

Late one night camping in the woods, Liam was awakened by a distant scream that turned his blood to ice. He burst through the brush towards the sound with his flashlight but found no one. The next morning, his campsite showed signs of being rifled through while he slept.

Liam hurriedly packed to leave. That forest held grim secrets he could not unearth. Its darkness had enveloped Tent Town completely, leaving Liam haunted by unanswered questions.

He prayed Caleb and the others were safe, somehow untouched by the sinister forces that had invaded their haven. As Liam turned his car toward home, the forest's shadows seemed to cling to his mind, threatening to draw him back into their entangling web of unfinished truth.

Liam drove faster, desperate to escape the looming trees and secrets. But even on the open road, he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, followed. Each pair of headlights in his rearview mirror made his pulse quicken. Were they government agents, coming to ensure he kept quiet?

Paranoia mounting, Liam decided not to head home but instead to the anonymity of the city. He wove through dark backstreets, constantly checking over his shoulder. But the ominous feeling only grew.

Exhausted and rattled, Liam pulled into an alley beside an abandoned warehouse to rest and gather his wits. He reclined his seat, trying to calm his racing mind. He was safe here, hidden away. Tent Town's mysteries were far behind him now.

Liam was just drifting off when a crash jolted him upright. His eyes darted around the alley but saw nothing amiss. Probably just some stray animals scavenging. But then he heard hushed voices and saw shadowy figures slipping into a side door of the warehouse.

Liam's breath caught in his throat. They'd found him! The government agents must have tracked him here somehow. He had only seconds to get away before they captured him too, just like Caleb and the others.

Heart pounding, Liam opened his glovebox and grabbed the hunting knife he kept for emergencies. Hands shaking, he crept from the car toward the side door of the warehouse. He had to stop them before they reported back his location. It was the only way he'd truly be free.

Knife raised, Liam slipped inside, blinking to adjust to the dimness. He swept his sights around the stacks of dusty broken crates and rusty old equipment until he spotted a figure moving slowly across the warehouse. A faint smell of perfume in the air.

As the figure continued to creep, the sound of broken glass crunching startled Liam, he bumped into a crate and caused a loud crash. He knew he was spotted, it was now or never, without hesitating, he lunged towards the figure. 

"Tent Town" by Oscar Mendieta Bravo

Want to read more? Check out my other short stories: "The Unknown Parallel" on Blogger, inspired by the Twilight Zone series! 

Link: The Unknown Parallel