A cherry red 1987 Chevy truck bounced down a forested road. The sun was lower in the sky, indicating that it would soon be dark outside. To the teenagers inside, the time didn’t seem to matter. Well, at least two of them. Steven was in the driver’s seat, looking ahead at the road. The music was blasting on the radio, shaking the windows and the truck. Stacy was shouting and singing the songs. The three in the back were not as amusing. John, Josh, and Maryanne looked out the windows nervously. They kept asking when they would get to the park.
“I’ve got a test due next week; this better be quick!” John said.
“I need to go study my math textbook,” Maryanne added. “Some of us have priorities which you don’t seem to have.” Josh didn’t reply but nodded in agreement.
Stacy stopped singing for a moment and looked at the back seat.
“Oh, relax, you three. You need to learn to loosen up. Stop being little teacher’s pets. Have fun for a change from our boring lives.”
“Says the one who got detention last Tuesday because she couldn’t stop whispering in class,” John snarked. Maryanne chuckled.
“I hear that you’ll have to repeat all of high school because you couldn’t pass math and-”
That statement set Stacy off, and she flew into a rage.
“I’ll SHOW YOU WHO CAN’T PASS MATH!” She unbuckled her seat belt and attempted to crawl into the backseat. But she was forced back into her seat in the front.
“Stacy. That’s enough.” Steven’s calm but firm voice said. Stacy tried to fight him but was forced back. Steven looked at the backseat.
“That’s enough from you three, too.”
They protested, but Steven put a hand up. He shot a look at Stacy, who stopped fighting him.
“Stace and I were going to go to this park I found. If you two want to go back so bad, I’ll turn this car around right now.”
The three passengers in the back were silent. The rest of the drive was like that.
Eventually, the truck reached a dirt road in the forest. Steven stopped and turned off the truck.
Stacy looked up, her face turning into a smile. She looked excitedly at Steven, but he didn’t smile back at her. Rather, his expression read disappointment and frustration. Stacy’s smile faded. Steven got out of the truck, and Stacy followed. The three passengers got out of the truck.
Steven pointed to an opening in the forest and then faced the group.
“That’s where we go to Forest Park. This is your last chance to say no and leave.”
John, Josh, and Maryanne all looked at each other before replying.
“Fine, we’ll go with you. And we’ll behave.”
Maryanne turned to Stacy.
“I’m sorry I said those things about you. I was messing with you. Peace?”
Stacy stared for a moment before replying. She nodded.
“I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have freaked out like that. Let’s have a good time.”
“I hope this is worth it,” John said as they all began walking away from the truck.
Stacy ran ahead to catch up with Steven. He avoided her gaze.
“Steven, I’m sorry.” He looked up.
“I knew it was a risk taking them; I just…wanted them to enjoy it as we do.”
Steven looked back at the group following, and then back at her.
“I forgot why I don’t spend time with all of us together,” he said. “You’re always getting into it with them, Stacy, I just…I want to enjoy spending time with you.” Stacy nodded. Then she slapped him on the arm.
“I love spending them with you, dummy. With them or without them here, let’s enjoy ourselves. If they get too chicken, we’ll just come back here by ourselves next time.”
So off they went, walking into the forest. Steven and Stacy ran ahead of everyone, leading the way. The forested road crept on, leading them deeper into the woods beyond. The farther they walked, the darker it got. The trees got thicker, the dirt path rougher. Steven held the map in one hand and chatted. The group continued to walk, walk, and walk. It was almost dark when Steven finally said that they were almost there. He shined his flashlight into the trees, looking for the marker on the map.
Josh suddenly ran ahead of everyone. He ran so fast that only Stacy saw him. By the time she did, he was already several steps ahead of the group.
“Josh, wait!” Stacy called. She ran after him, and Steven looked up in alarm.
“Stace, wait! Don’t just run off. You don’t know where you’re going!”
Stacy continued to run after Josh until he stopped at a clearing in the path. He stood there, staring at something on the ground. Stacy took a minute to catch her breath before walking up to him to lead him back to the group.
“Josh, why did you run away from the group?” He didn’t reply. Stacy shone her flashlight and waved it at him. But he stood still, staring at something on the ground.
Stacy rolled her eyes and followed her flashlight to where he was pointing. She cocked her head, a mix of confusion coming over her. It was a black trash bag. Stacy laughed and walked over to it. She looked at it and kicked the bag. Stacy paused for a moment. The bag didn’t feel right. She looked up at Josh, who was shaking his head. He wiped at his glasses. He seemed to have recovered himself.
“Geez, sorry, Stacy. I…I don’t know what came over me. Let’s…let’s go back.” He looked at her with concern.
“Stacy?”
Stacy stepped closer to the bag and kicked it again. Something soft broke in the bag. She slowly untied the top and opened it up. Stacy fell back. An instant, overwhelming smell erupted. Stacy plugged her nose. Like garbage and something dead. The last statement made her eyes wide. Something dead.
Stacy opened the bag all the way this time. There were clothes. Ragged, old, and torn clothes. She looked closer. Bones stuck out of the socks, pants, and shirt. And the head. It was a crusted skeleton. A rope tied around its neck.
There was a thud. Josh fell over. And Stacy stared, unable to comprehend what she was seeing in front of her. She heard the shouts of her friends in the distance. Hands shaking, she looked closer at the bag’s contents and poured them out. Something fell out. An old, blood-stained paper. Stacy looked at it and gasped.
It was a ticket to enter Forest Park.
To be continued.
Helenmollybooks 