<img src="https://r11.fodey.com/2552/fbf46fea342e406b98e7fbe37db49d95.0.jpg">
[[Find out what happened]]3 days earlier
It's August 27th, 2008.
Maysville High School just started classes after a long, uneventful summer break.
Summer breaks are always uneventful in Maysville because of the small size of the town. Most summers are silent and the streets are empty. Kids usually spend their time in their homes, watching TV or playing videogames. It's almost depressing.
But on Friday, August 27th, something new came to Maysville, or should we say, [["someone"]] new.Your name is Louis. Louis Baker. You are 17 years old and just started your senior year at Maysville High School.
It's only the third day of classes and you already feel the senioristis setting in. You don't have any plans for college as of now and often think about just staying at home after high school to work for your father's local grocery store. You really don't care what you do after graduation, just so long as you graduate.
It's 8:46 in the morning as you sit in first period, History, waiting for the teacher, Mr. Nelson to arrive and start the tedious day of learning.
Class was supposed to start 15 minutes ago, but Mr. Nelson is running late, which you think is odd because he is usually very prompt with starting class right at the bell.
Over the hustle and bustle of impatient students, the classroom door slowly creaks opened, silencing the class, [[and Mr. Nelson walks in accompanied by an unfamiliar face.]]"Good morning class! My apologies for running a little late, I was in Mr. Knight's office to help our new classmate find his way here."
You listen to Mr. Nelson as he speaks, but your eyes along with the rest of the students' focus on the young looking boy standing next to him.
"Class, I would like you to greet the newest addition to Maysville High School. This is Evan Lowry."
The class remains silent, everyone seems in awe at the new face. You can't rememeber the last time someone new moved to Maysville.
[["Evan, why don't you give the class a short introduction?"]]Evan looks nervous as he shyly steps up to the front of the class.
"Hello everyone, like Mr. Nelson said, my name is Evan. I am 17 years old. I am a senior this year. Uhh I have a sister, but she didn't move here with us. It's just me and my dad, my mom and sister live back in our hometown in Lockhart, Arizona.
You can see Evan trying to make eye contact with the class as he talks, but he keeps focusing down toward the ground between sentences. Then, Billy, one of your long time best friends, speaks up from the back of the room.
[["Why didn't you guys all move together? Are your parents divorced or something?"]]
Typical Billy. He's always been the loud mouth, his personality and yours are the total opposite. But hey, opposites attract or something like that, right?Mr. Nelson steps in to field this question.
"Billy! Let's not pry on Evan's personal life, huh? That was rude."
But Evan seems unphased by the question and steps forward.
"No, it's okay Mr. Nelson, I can answer that. My parents had a disagreement a few years back. My mom didn't think my dad was raising us right, so they separated. I moved with my dad, and my sister stayed with my mom."
Evan's expression is grim and he looks right at Billy as he explains, his whole demeanor seemed to change for a moment. But his eyes return to the ground after he finishes.
[[The classroom is silent once again.]]"Well class, unless there are anymore questions for Evan, let's say we continue wth class? Evan, I see an opened seat right over there next to Louis, why don't you take a seat there?"
Evan nods and makes his way to the empty desk at my right.
"Now, if you remember last class, I assigned you to create groups of 3 for our first group project of the year. Is there anyone who either does not have a group or does not have 3 in theirs?"
No one speaks up.
"Well okay then, how about this? Is there a group who wouldn't mind having 4 people to work with?"
[[You know this fourth person will be Evan and want to be friendly to the new student so you raise your hand.]]
[[You know this fourth person with be Evan and you don't want things to be awkward in your group, so you remain silent.]]Seeing that no one else is willing to volunteer, you raise your hand.
"Ah, very good Mr. Baker. So you owuldn't mind if Evan joins your group?"
You feel Evan's eyes watching you as you tell Mr. Nelson that you wouldn't mind.
"Great, so Evan will join your group of 3 making it a group of 4. Who are your other group members that way Evan can see who he will be joining?"
You look around the room and tell Mr. Nelson that the other 2 members in your group are Billy and another one of your close friends, Kalob.
Evan looks to the other boys and gives a gentle smile.
"So it is settled, Billy, Kalob, Louis, and Evan. Thank you Louis for being so kind. "Now [[I will explain the project to you]]."No one volunteers to accept a fourth group member. You duck your head as to not draw attention your way.
"Hmm so there are no volunteers? Well then I will just have to choose someone so that Evan has a group to join."
Mr. Nelson looks around the room for a moment, making his decision.
"How about you Louis? Would you be so kind to allow Evan into your group for this project?"
Just your luck. You feel Evan's eyes burning a hole through your head, you can't turn him down at this point. So, you look up to Mr. Nelson and agree to accept Evan into your group.
"Thank you Louis, can you [[tell Evan who the other members in your group are?"]]You look around the room, locating your other group members and tell Evan that they are Billy and Kalob (another childhood friend of yours).
Evan looks at the other boys and gives them a subtle wave and a gentle smile.
"Very good! Now that that has been settled, [[I will explain the project to you]]."//Later that same day//
You and the rest of your group sit outside the school entrance and discuss the project. Billy speaks up.
"Damn! This project is gonna suck! How does he expect us to write a whole paper on a historical place in Maysville? There is no history here!"
You can't help but agree with Billy. Maysville is such a small town as it is, you can't think of anything interesting about it either.
The group sits in silence until Evan shyly makes a suggestion.
[["I think I might have an idea for what we could do."]]The group looks puzzled at Evan. You didn't expect him to speak much, let alone make project suggestions on his first day here. But everyone listens seeing as you don't have any ideas of your own.
"Well, when my dad and I first talked about moving here, I did a little research on Maysville so I could know more about my new home. And I found this old urban legend on some dumb website that talked about an old abandoned house somewhere out in Winslow Woods."
The group looks around at each other, confused, then Kalob asks,
"An abandoned house? I've never heard anything about an abandoned house in Winslow Woods."
"Well, from what I read not many people do. It was abandoned over 100 years ago or something like that."
The group seems interested at the thought, you've been to Winslow Woods hundreds of times over the years, but this is the first you're hearing about an old house out there.
[[Evan continues]]"Apparently it was owned by a family back before Maysville became a town. They lived out there all alone and never left. The Waylon family is what the website said."
Evan's story was interesting, and you wanted to know more about this "Waylon family." Billy wastes no time in pushing Evan to go on.
"Well? What happened to the Waylon family?"
Evan's eyes shift down to the ground, and a timid smile crosses his face.
"It probably isn't true. It was just something I read on the Internet after all, some dumb urban legend."
"Come on, man! You gotta at least tell us what happened!"
Billy's demand for an answer shook Evan. His face turned red, [[but he continued.]]"Well, according to the legend, this family was... weird I guess. They only ever lived with each other, but the family kept growing... if you know what I mean."
The group knew exactly what Evan meant, but Billy had to say it out loud.
Oh god! So like, they had sex with each other and everything?"
"Yeah, that's what it said. They lived together, ate together, and reproduced together. I know, weird. But that isn't all it said. I guess when Maysville was being started, the family didn't like it. The website said something along the lines of 'people began going missing in Winslow Woods' and that dead bodies started turning up out of no where all cut up and everything."
Evan's story was starting to sound more like something you would hear around a camp fire. But you were still intrigued and wanted to know more.
"Well damn, so they didn't like people moving so close to them so they just started killing people?"
"Yeah that's what it sounded like to me. And obviously people didn't like that. So the soon-to-be towns people of Maysville took matters into their own hands. They went out into the woods and killed the family as some kind of revenge or something, [[all of them.]] Everyone looked at Evan as he finished the story. And then Kalob broke the silence.
"Now that you mention it, I do feel like I've heard of that name before and about some killer family in the woods. I read it on some creepy story forum once. If that is the same family as this one, I definitley never knew that it all happened so close to here. There's no way that it's the same, we've lived here all our lives, surely we would have known about some abandoned house in the woods right outside of town!"
Even looks embarrassed, then he agrees that it was probably just some story. But Billy wasn't so sure.
"I don't know man, what if it is true? Like, we haven't ever gone searching Winslow for something like that. We never even leave the trails. Maybe there really is an old house out there someplace.
Even though it's a far stretch, you can't help but think the same thing. But Kalob makes a good point
"Okay let's say there really is an abandonded house that used to belong to a killer family over 100 years ago out there. But we have to do this project Billy, it's due in 3 days! We shouldn't be worried about that right now.
Kalob is right, [[but Billy persists]]"No man! Think about it! If we could go out and find this house that dates back even before Maysville started, think about the history project we could do on it! It's something no one else in the class would do and it would be a hell of a lot more fun than learning about the rebuilt town hall or the mayor elections over the past century. I say we go looking for it! And if we don't find anything, then we still have a couple days to do something else."
You're surprised at the amount of logic Billy seemed to have on the subject. And you agree with him that this could be a pretty interesting history project. But you aren't so sure about risking your first project on something that might not even exist.
Evan speaks up
I'm actually pretty curious about the whole thing. I agree with Billy.
Kalob takes a long pause
"Alright, alright fine, I guess it would be pretty cool. What do you think Louis? You're the team leader, so what you say goes."
[[You agree with the rest of the group]]
[[You disagree and say that it would be way easier to do the project on something they know more about]]Billy's face lights up at your decision
"Then it's settled! Let's meet at Winslow Woods entrance tonight at 8. Then, let the search begin!"
Kalob asks one last question
"Why do we have to do it so late? Don't you think it would be easier to find something in the woods if we had some daylight?"
Billy looks at Kalob with his usual sarcastic grin.
"Aww what's wrong? Is Kalob scared of the dark?"
Kalob fires back
"No you idiot, it's just that we don't know what we are looking for or where it is and that would be a hell of a lot easier in broad daylight than in pitch black. But whatever, have it your way. Tonight at 8, I'll see you guys there, I gotta get home for dinner. Bye guys!"
Kalob jumps on his bike and rides away, then you and Billy do the same, [[leaving Evan at the entrance of the school.]]After making this decision, the rest of the group seems disappointed. But after more consideration, they eventually agree, though Billy is the most upset.
"Fine, we will do the project over the stupid capital building. You're no fun Louis you know that?"
You smile and jokingly punch Billy's arm. Then Kalob exclaims
"Alight let's get this project over with! We can just meet at my house tomorrow around lunch or something, I bet we can knock it out in a day."
Evan looks at Kalob, confused.
"How do I get to your house? I don't know my way around town that well yet."
"Oh duh, sorry man I forgot that you wouldn't knwo where my hosue is anyway! If you take a left out of the school parking lot and follow the street down 3 blocks, take another right and my house is the big blue one on the right side of the street."
[[Evan writes down these directions and everyone heads home for the day.]]//The next day//
You and Billy show up to Kalob's house around noon. His mom has lunch made and you all sit in the living room waiting for Evan to show up. But as an hour passes he doesn't show up.
The 3 of you wait another hour, passing the time palying videogames, but Evan still does not arrive.
"You guys think he got lost?"
"How could you get lost in Maysville? I bet he isn't going to show. Of course we would get stuck with the new kid who doesn't want to do any work."
Though you think Billy's assumption of Evan may have been a little harsh, you silently think the same thing to yourself.
"Well damn, I guess we should just go ahead and get started. If we [[knock this thing out quick]] then maybe we can catch the end of the Clippers game!"The rest of the night consists of boring research and dumb jokes from Billy. And you never hear anything from or see Evan.
After a few hours, the project is complete. It isn't the best work you've ever done, but you're glad it's done nonetheless. Then Billy says
"That damn Evan, left us to do all the work. I'm gonna have a word with him on Monday."
Kalob agrees with Billy and the two of them discuss what they're going to say and plan to tell Mr. Nelson about Evan's lack of work as well.
After the basketball game ends, you and Billy leave Kalob's house and [[head home for the night.]]The following morning you walk downstairs. It's almost noon, so you're expecting your dad to make some comment about sleeping your day away.
But when you enter the kitchen, there is no good morning or snide comment on your sleeping habits. Instead you see your parents at the kitchen table, both hovering over the Sunday paper, not speaking.
Curious about what they are so intensely reading, you walk over and notice the headline article.
THREE TEENS FOUND DEAD IN WINSLOW WOODS
You are taken back and confused about what you just read. Then your mom looks up and asks
"Do you know any of these boys?"
You read the names in the short article. Yes, you do know these boys. Anthony, Landon, and Thomas. All three of them go to your school, and you have class with them. One class with all three at the same time.... [[History]]You quickly run to the phone and dial in Billy's phone number. He has already heard the news, and seems a little freaked out.
"What the hell man? How could this happen? And in Winslow Woods too! Like, we were just thinking about going there the other night! Do you think Kalob know about this already?"
You both talk about how lucky you are that you didn't go to the woods Friday night and decide to [[go to Kalob's house]] to talk about it altogetherThe three of you talk about the death of your classmates all day, and also about what or who could have done it. Then Kalob brings up this point
"God it's a good thing we didn't go to Winslow. Whatever or who ever did this was probably out there! But why were those three out there anyway?"
Kalob's question rings in your ears. Why would they go out to Winslow? Surely they didn't know about the house, right? There had to be another reason. But you can't think of any.
You all sit and ponder the reasons until night falls and you decide to go home. As you lay in bed that night, you prepare youself for tomorrow's school day. You are sure that it will be like no other day you've ever had.
Then, [[you fall asleep.]]The next day at school is grim. You sit at your desk and listen to the silence accompanied by soft whimpers and sniffles.
The school bell rings and Mr. Nelson enters the class with a concerned look on his face. Then Billy whispers your name from the back of the class.
"Where the hell is Evan?"
You quickly look to the empty desk beside you and notice Evan was absent. Though you just tell youself he is sick or something, which would also explain why he wasn't at Kalob's over the weekend. But this theory is qucikly debunked when Mr. Nelson begins to speak.
"Class, I just want to start off by saying that we have endured a great loss this weekend. Three of our classmates have been tragically taken from us. My sincere condolences goes out to their friends and families. If anyone needs to talk, I will make myself free at anytime, and the conselor's doors are always opened to you as well."
The speech by Mr. Nelson is about exactly what you expected in this situation. [[But what he says next shakes you to the core.]]"While the identity of the person responsible for this horrific act was unknown to the authorities during early investigation, new information has surfaced. This information surprised me just as much as I'm sure it will you. From extensively searching the Winslow Woods, the police found a house. Inside this house, they were able to find fingerprints which led them to the discovery. The person who committed this crime was Evan, the new student who was introduced to you on Friday."
Gasps flood the classroom, and your head immediately turns to the terrified faces of Kalob and Billy. Kalob looks like he's about to be sick. Mr. Nelson continues.
"The motives behind his actions are unknown, and the police were not able to locate him. It turns out that Evan is not who we all believed him to be. He did not move here with his father, and his last name was not even Lowry. Evans real name was..."
You feel a cold shiver run down your spine as Mr. Nelson speaks the name.
"Evan Waylon"(set: $lastpassage to "Supplies")
When you get home you run straight up to your room and start thinking about the supplies you should bring with you tonight. You look around the cluttered mess you call your room and examine your options.
[[Flashlight]]
[[Pocket knife]]
[[Digital watch]]
[[Map of Winslow Woods]]
[[Lighter]]
You empty out your backpack of all your school stuff and start tossing your supplies in. You also pack a pen and a notebook so you can take notes on the house (if there is even a house) because you know Kalob and Billy won't.
Then you go back downstairs for dinner and [[wait for the time to come.]]You pick up the tactical flashlight you got from your grandpa Steve last year for Christmas. It has 3 modes: Ultra bright, normal, and emergency.
It's small and compact so it won't take up much space in your bag.
(link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last)You've had this watch since your time as a runner for the cross country team. You haven't used it since, but maybe you can now.
You think about the ways a digital watch might be useful. To know how long you guys have been out there? Or maybe to track how long you've been walking in a certain direction. You're still unsure, but it won't take up much space, so why not?
(link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last)You pick up the paper map of Winslow Woods you got from a field trip last year. It has pen marks all over it, tracing the lines of the trails you and your friends like to hike through.
This could be helpful in navigating the woods at night and might even be useful to narrow down where to search and where has already been searched.
(link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last)It's just an old zippo-style lighter that you bought from the convenience store a few months ago. You test the lighter to make sure it works.
It does.
Maybe if you guys get bored you can start a little fire while you're out there? You decide you would rather bring and not use it, than need it and not have it.
(link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last)You eat your dinner and watch some TV with your dad, eagerly trying to pass the time so you can get started on the search.
You notice it's about 7:30 so you tell your parents you are staying at Kalob's tonight for a school project. (The classic "I'm staying at someone else's house" lie.)
Your parents don't object, so you run upstairs to grab your backpack, jump on your bike, and [[make a beeline for the Winslow Woods entrance.]]You pick up the small knife. It has your name engraved on it. You don't know when you might need to use it, but you think it might come in handy if you need to cut some twigs or branches.
(link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last)As you approach the entrance to the woods you can make out the slight shape of someone standing there already. You ride closer and notice it's Evan.
"Hey Louis!"
You wave at him as you lock up your bike. Then you start walking toward him hoping Kalob and Billy will be there soon so you don't have to be alone with Evan for too long.
Trying to not let things become awkward, you try to start a conversation by asking Evan where he thinks you guys should look first.
"Well, I was walking through the woods earlier today after we school and I think I might have found something that could lead us in the right direction.
Then you notice that Evan is still wearing the same clothes he wore at school. You thinks it's odd that he came here instead of going home.
Before you can ask what Evan's clue is, you hear Kalob and Billy yelling back and forth at each other about the who the best basketball team was. They clearly disagreed with each other. They lock their bikes up right next to yours and [[start walking in your direction.]]"Hey guys! Are you ready to find the murder house?"
Billy seems way too excited by the fact that people were murdered here. But everyone enthusiastically agrees.
"So, where should we start boys?"
Kalob's question reminds you of what you were thinking about before they arrived. You tell them about Evan's discovery and ask him to tell everyone what it was.
"Well, I was just so excited after school so I came straight here and started looking around. I didn't realize how big this place was until I actually walked through it. But while I was out there on one of the trails, I noticed this little pathway that turned off the trail a little. Like it looked like it wasn't supposed to be there. I was thinking that maybe it could lead to something."
You all ponder Evan's discovery, then Billy adds his own commentary.
"There are spots like that all throughout the woods, man. They're just spots where people have walked off the trails, I wouldn't think too much about it to be honest. If you ask me I think we should start over near the old cemetary. That seems like the kind of place we could find an abandoned house."
Kalob makes a snide comment toward Billy.
You idiot, just because there's a cemetary now doesn't mean there was over 100 years ago. There being a cemetary has nothing to do with where this house might be."
You think Kalob makes a valid point as the group is at a standstill [[trying to figure out what to do.]]Everyone just stands there looking at you as if waiting for you to make the final decision. But even you have no idea where to start looking.
You think about where you think might be a good start, but rather than guessing, you decide to be logical about it.
You yank your backpack off your pack and [[open it.]]You sift through your bag for the one thing that might be able to help you guys choose where to go.
[[The Lighter]]
[[The Flashlight]]
[[The Map of Winslow Woods]]
[[The Pocket Knife]]
[[The Digital watch]]The light won't do much good in making this decision.
(link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last)The falshlight won't be able to help you here.
(link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last)After searching through all of the supplies you brought, you finally feel the small folded paper map of Winslow Woods burried at the bottom of your bag.
You lift it out and unfold the map. Kalob understands your plan.
"Ahh good idea, we will look at the map for the largest areas that we haven't been before. Nice thinking Louis!"
You hold out the map so everyone can see it.
<img class="irc_mi" src="http://www.pedalers.southport.org/BNPLoop.JPG" onload="typeof google==='object'&&google.aft&&google.aft(this)" width="608" height="441" style="margin-top: 66px;" alt="Image result for nature park map">
Kalob looks at the map and then asks Evan,
[["So where was this path you think you found?"]]You definitely can't use the pocket knife to help here.
(link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last)You look at the watch and notice the time reads "8:23." You guys have been standing around making no progress. You put it back and keep searching.
(link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last)Evan looks at the map, you can tell hes trying the retrace his steps while following the lines on the map.
"It was right over here!"
He points to a spot on the map at the far left side. Then he starts to explain
"The path was somewhere around this spot. And it looked like it led inward toward this big untrailed area."
Everyone looks at the map, following Evan as he drew a path with his fingers toward the middle of the middle of the woods. Billy speaks up.
"Damn! That's over 5 miles from where we are right now, how far did you walk earlier? Either way, I still think we should go this way toward the cemetary."
Billy draws his own path on the map, leading our attention in the opposite direction of Evan's. Kalob chimes in.
Billy, the cemetary doesn't mean anything. Plus, we go that way all the time, we've never seen anything suspicious in that direction. We hardly ever walk back as far as where Evan is telling us to go. I think we should start in that direction. What do you think Louis?"
[[You agree with Kalob and vote to follow Evan.]]Billy groans at your decision.
"Dammit Louis! You just don't want to piss off the new kid! If we don't find anything over there I'm gonna be pissed!"
You explain to Billy that Kalob makes a good point. You have never explored the direction Evan suggested in much depth. So, that leaves the most potential to find something. Then you offer to buy him lunch for a week if you don't find anythign just to calm him down.
"You sure know the way to my heart. But I'm still pissed at you."
The four of you start the hunt for the Waylon family, [[walking single file to the western parts of Winslow Woods.]]You walk and walk and walk. After walking for what felt like miles, listening to Billy crack jokes at Mr. Nelson and sing obnoxious 80s songs, Evan speaks up from the back of the group.
"I'm pretty sure it was right up here. Keep looking on the right side, you'll know it when you see it!"
You keep trudging forward, eyes focused downward on the right side of the trail. Then you notice what Evan must have been talking about.
The grass on the right side of the trail was noticeably walked through. But not only that, there seemed to be stones lining the path, as if someone had set them there themselves. Kalob makes the first observation.
"What the hell? Is this one of the trails?"
You look down at the map and assure him that there is no trail that leads off of teh one you are currently on.
"Then what is this? It looks like someone made this trail, and not just walked through it, but like took the time to line it. This wasn't just someone who wanted to go off the trail, this would haev taken a long time!"
Everyone nods at Kalob's remark. [[Everyone but Evan.]] Billy looks at Evan who doesn't seem as confused as the rest of you.
"Is this the "weird" path you were telling us about?"
Evan replies,
"Yeah. It didn't look natural, or normal for that matter. WHat do you guys think?"
"I think we should go see where it leads! Even if it doesn't take us to the Waylon house, I still wanna see what someone took the time to move all these rock to lead to!"
You agree with Billy. Though you are a bit cautious and nervous about what may be at the end of the trail. It looks like the grass was recently walked over too. What if who ever made this is still out here?
The group decides to continue down this man-made path, [[hoping to stumble across something at its end.]]You all turn down the path and walk into the woods. Leaving the trail and making the map useless from this point on.
The trail goes on and on. Lined with stones the entire way. You become uneasy at the thought of why someone would take the time and go through all this effort. I had to have taken weeks at least.
You have been walking on this unmarked path now for about two miles. You haven't come across any other trails or signs of human-made structures, it seems like no one had ever even been out this way before. No one but the person who made this path.
After about another mile, Billy speaks up from behind you.
"God damn! How long is this stupid path? It just keeps going! If we don't find anything soon I say we turn back. We've been out here for like four hours already, maybe we should just pick another idea for this dumb project."
You all stop and look at Billy, you're surprised that he is the first one to suggest quitting. You expected Kalob to be the one to want to stop. before you can say anything, Evan speaks up for the first time in a couple hours. [[You almost even forgot he was there.]]
"Come on guys, don't quit yet! It's only a little bit further!"
You look at Kalob and Billy who both look unsure and pretty exhausted. Then it hits you. Evan said that as if he knew that they were getting close. Kalob must've been thinking the same thing and he presses Evan.
"Wait, how do you know it's only a little further, Evan?"
Evan seems shocked at the question. Everyone's attention turns to Evan, waiting for him to respond.
"Oh, I didn't mean it like that. But, I mean, this thing can't go on forever you know? We've got to be getting close to whatever is at the end of it!"
Not exactly convinced at Evan's deliberate back track on himself, you're still pretty curious about where this suspicious path leads. You look back to Kalob and Billy who are both looking at you.
"What do you say leader? Should we keep going?"
[[You decide to continue down the path.]]
[[You decide you've searched enough and that it's time to head back.]]Billy complains again, but follows your decision anyway. The four of you keep walking, searching for anything to make this all worth while.
Another 10 minutes passes when you notice finally notice something a change in scenery. About a hundred yards ahead of you, you can make out an opening in the path. Kalob was the next to notice.
"Guys look! I think the path comes to an end up there! Come on! Let's hurry up!"
You all starrt running toward the opening, seeing that the path actually does end just ahead. When you reach the end of the path, you start shining your flashlight all around the small field you've stumbled into.
[[Then you see it.]]Kalob and Billy agree with your decision, but Evan insists even further.
"Are you guys really going to come all this way just to turn back? Don't you want to see the Waylon house? We've already been walking for four hours, what's another one or two?"
Billy shoves me aside and steps up to Evan.
"'What's another one or two?' Are you serious? We've been out here all night and haven't found anything but some stupid stones lining a dirt pathway. How do you even know that there is a "waylon" house out here? It was just some stupid story you read on the Internet."
You could tell Billy was getting fed up with all this hopeless walking, and it seemed like he was taking it out on Evan now. To stop it from escalating, you step in between Billy and Evan. You can see Evan becoming fustered.
"I'm not saying that there is or isn't a Waylon house, but I just think that we've come too far to just give up. Being the new kid in a new town isn't easy you know? I just thought that if I could come in and show some locals something cool they haven't seen before, I don't know, then I thought maybe I would be cool too."
Billy backs off a little and Kalob looks at him with a scolding expression.
"Damn dude, chill out. You don't gotta always get violent when you're tired you know? I guess I kind of agree with Evan here. How about we walk for a little bit longer. If we don't find anything in the next 30 minutes, then we jsut accept that there is no Waylon house and we all go home. Would that make everyone happy?"
Billy nods with a pounting look on his face and Evan looks up at Kalob and thanks him for standing up for him.
[[You all trudge on.]]In the far corner across the opening in the trees, you can make out what looks like a building. But not just any building, a very old looking building. Billy gets overly excited at the sight.
"No fucking way! That's the house! It has to be! Look at that thing, how the hell is it even standing?"
You all run toward the decrepit house, and you think the same thing Billy is thinking. It's a wonder how this thing staying standing. Billy runs right up to the front door and places his hand on the door knob.
"Hmm, what the hell? Hey guys! I think it's locked. How could it be locked?"
Billy makes a good point, a house this old, there's no way there could be working locks on it. You grow suspicious, but Billy grows more anxious.
"Come on, let's a find a way in! There's gotta be a window we could break or something. Louis! Me and you will go around the left side, Kalob and Evan, you go the other way. If you find a way in, yell for the others!"
You're cautious to split up in a situation like this, but Billy has already made his way to the left side of teh house.
"Louis! Hurry the hell up!"
You look at Kalob and Evan, they also seem unsure, but Kalob nods and says,
"Go on Louis, this house isnt that big, [[Evan and I will meet you guys around back."]]Against your better judgement, you agree and quickly run after Billy who has already rounded the corner of the house.
When you catch up to him you notice he has picked something up. It looks like a hammer.
"Look what I found! I bet I could bust out a window with this thing!"
Billy looks at the side of the house, then notices a small window near the back which looks like it would lead to a basement. Without any second thoughts, he runs to the window and reers the hammer back.
You stop him. You tell him that you should look for another way before he goes busting windows, but he doesn't seem to like your suggestion.
"Come on Louis, don't be a bitch, it's not like anyone lives here. I mean, look at this place! No one's been here years!"
You think about what Billy said, then,
[[You tell him to go ahead and break the window]]
[[You tell him not to break the window and look for another entrance first.]]Billy grins, as if that's exactly what he wanted to hear. And without any pause, he swings the hammer at the glass window. The window shatters, sending glass shards in every direction.
"Hell yeah! That's what I'm talking about!"
Billy bends down and starts clearing out what was left of the window, and after finishing, he looks up to you with a toothy smile.
"Well? Are you ready to check out the murder house?"
You nod to him in agreement, though you can't shake the uneasy feeling that this isn't right.
But there's no turning back now, Billy was already halfway through the window.
As he gets his entire body through the opening, he disappears into the house. You can see the faint shine of his flashlight as he looks around the basement and you can hear him rummaging through unknown items.
"Louis! You coming? You gotta see this, man! There's some weird stuff down here!"
Not wanting to leave Billy inside the house all alone and interested in what he is looking at, you follow him.
[[Entering into the Waylon family house.]]"Ugh, I swear, you're such a pansy sometimes. Alright fine genius, where do you think we should look then?"
You observe the side of the house, looking for any possible way to get inside without having to damage it. The you see the cellar door. It was like one out of the old tornado movies where houses had entrances to their basements from outside doors too. You point at it and Billy takes off.
"Ahh okay, good eyes hot shot."
You and Billy approach the double doors. They didn't appear to have any locks on them. Billy reaches down toward one of the handles and gives it a strong pull.
The door flings opened and stairs to the cellar are made visible.
"Damn, I didn't think it would be that easy. Good call Louis. You wanna check it out?"
You look at Billy who seems to be enjoying this way too much and urge him to enter first.
"HA! I knew you'd be too scared. [[Alright let's go!"]]Billy enters the cellar, ducking his head under the lip of the other door. Before you know it, he disappears into the dark room under the house.
You can barely see the shine of his flashlight as you hear him rustling around, knowcking things over in his path.
"Louis! You coming? You gotta see this! There's some weird looking stuff down here!"
Not wanting to leave Billy inside the house all alone and interested in what he is looking at, you follow him.
[[Entering into the Waylon family house.]]Now that you're inside the house, you start to see some of the "weird" stuff Billy was talking about. You scan your flashlight through the dusty room where you can see what appears to be a wall of rusty farming tools. Sythes, hoes, shovels, and a whole lot more just hanging up on the walls.
The thought crosses your mind about just how many of these tools were used in the Waylon family murders over 100 years ago. You feel shivers run down your spine. But you're snapped out of your gruesome thoughts by Billy's voice.
"Hey! Come over here and look at this!"
You notice Billy over in the far corner of the cellar, he's holding something. You make your way to him and take a closer look at what he's picked up.
"What the hell do you think this thing is?"
You observe what Billy has in his hands. It looks like a doll of some sort. You take it from him and [[examine it even closer]]. freaked out by whatever it is, you put it back down on the bench where he found it. Then you notice a box sitting under the bench.
[[You pull out the box to see what's inside.]]It's something that resmebles a doll or something. There's no doubt that it was made by hand becasue of the crude stitching and asymmetry of the two buttom eyes. It's made out of some kind of brownish red cloth that, but it looks like it was stained that color. The material feels familiar to you. Like a burlap sack. And its stuffed full of something.
Some of the stitches are torn and you can tell this thing is very old. But you have no idea what it is or why someone would make it.
Regardless, it's creepy looking and you don't want it in your hands anymore.
(link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last)What's inside the box makes you feel queasy. There's a terrible smell as you pull open the flaps and reveal its contents. Billy looks over your shoulder and is just as confused as you are.
"What the hell? More dolls? Are they all the same as this one?"
You don't want to touch anymore of these things so you step aside and let Billy examine them.
He turns over the box and dumps all of the handmade ragdolls on the ground. All of them are the same brownish red color and they all appear to at least resemble the first one Billy found.
"What are these things? And why are there so many?"
Billy looks at you as if you have an answer for him. But you don't. You both sit there is silence for a moment, trying to make sense of these odd looking figures and what they could be. [[But the silence is broken by a crash from above.]]The both of you jump to your feet simulatneously.
"Oh shit! What was that?"
You don't know what it was, though what you do know is that it came from upstairs. Was there someone else inside the house? Was it just Evan and Kalob, or is there someone else here?
Billy, as recklessly as ever, starts inching his way to the stair way at the front of the cellar which leads to a door to the upstairs. You cautiously follow behind him.
When he reaches the stairs, he slowly starts to climb them. One step at a time, creaking with every step. A rustling along with footsteps just outside the door freezes Billy in his tracks.
You heart is beating faster and faster as the footsteps slowly get closer to the door, then the door knob jingles and begins to turn.
Billy retreats back down the stairs, but his eyes never leave the door. Now he's standing right beside you, and both of you wait to see who is in the house with you.
[[The door slowly swings opened.]]With door now fully opened, you and Billy focus your flashlights at the top of the stairs. There's a figure at the top, staring downward at you and Billy.
"Guys? Are you down there?"
Evan's voice echos down the stairwell andthe feeling of cool relief floods your body as if someone poured a bucket of ice water over you on 100 degree day. Billy yells up at Evan.
"God dammit Evan! You scared the shit out of us! Why didn't you just yell out to us before you opened the door?"
"Oh sorry! I heard noises down there and I wasn't sure if it was you or if someone else was in the house."
You understand his fear because you thought the exact same thing.
"Well damn! Alright so it looks like you guys found a way inside from your side of the house too then, huh?
You look up at Evan who is standing the top of teh stairs.... alone. In a worried tone, [[you ask him where Kalob is.]]Evan pauses for a moment at your question, but then he answers.
"Oh, he went upstairs to look around and told me to go get you guys."
You grow uncomfortable at the thought of Kalob looking through the house by himself, especially if there's anything else as weird as the things you and Billy found. Evan breaks your thought.
"You guys need to come check it out up here, this is definitely the house we were looking for."
Billy responds sarcastically.
"No shit Sherlock! Did you guys find anything up there?"
Evan doesn't respond, instead he just turns away and starts walking in the other direction. You're starting to grow suspicious of him, then Billy says,
"There's something weird about that guy. He didn't say a word during our whole hike here, except for when we tried to turn back, you know? Now he's acting even more strange.
You completely agree with Billy's observation on Evan, you've noticed the same thing. [[You both make your way up the stairs and into the rest of the house.]]Double-click this passage to edit it.After about another 20 minutes of walking, you are about to suggest calling it off.
But then you notice something about 100 yards ahead of you. There appears to be an opening in the path. The trail lined with stones also seems to die off. Kalob is the next to notice.
"Guys look! I think the path comes to an end up there! Come on! Let's hurry up!"
You all starrt running toward the opening, seeing that the path actually does end just ahead. When you reach the end of the path, you start shining your flashlight all around the small field you've stumbled into.
[[Then you see it.]]