The following day involved more recuperating. However, on the fourth day of their vacation, the family decided to explore the old town.
Daylight did nothing for the ghostly town, only emphasized its empty streets and establishments.
Strange.
"It's 10 am. Why are we the only ones on the road?" Anaïs asked. Her parents wondered the same.
"Let's ride around, there have to be people somewhere." Her dad said, purposefully moving about the town. About an hour later, they stumbled upon a diner overlooking the canal with a packed parking lot.
"My GAWD, I think we found life." Charles triumphantly declared parking in the remaining spot. "Not gonna lie, about half an hour ago, I had my doubts."
"Remind me again why you choose this town for our getaway?" Naomi quipped, as they neared the diner.
Charles responded with a sheepish grin.
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The eatery was a small establishment housed in a cape cod-style structure overlooking the Eerie Canal. In true Eldritch fashion, the building had seen better days. The once-white paint on the softwood was chipped, revealing sunbaked hues at random depths. Its navy blue shutters, barely hanging on, creaked with the wind, their moans echoing across the parking lot.
Entering the establishment the Monets tried to position themselves in a way so as not to invade another's personal space; however, the ratio of crowd to building made that task difficult.
The people were yelling at a man behind the counter, their words hard to make out.
"Enough!" the man's voice bellowed through a megaphone. "We are here to find a solution, not point the finger."
Simmering down the crowd allowed the man to speak. Putting down the device, he began "I know for most, the news of what took place 2 nights ago is frightening. But I assure you, since the founding of this town, we have yet to lose a resident to HER!..."
"So while your concern is understandable, I am certain there is nothing for you to worry about," he said with full conviction.
"That may have been the case Mayor Roberts, but it's different now;given... she left the f*cking woods!" a woman in front of the Monets stressed. "Which is something; I might add... that has never occurred since the founding of this town" throwing his words back at him.
"Or given us a deadline" another added, the crowd yelling in agreement.
The Monet family wondered who was the SHE being referred to.
Leaning against the counter, rubbing the back of his neck, the Mayor continued "I can't say what spurred the change..." Staring at his lapel as if it held the satisfying answer his brain couldn't conjure.
