It wasn't supposed to be raining today.
They closed the door, and headed back to their room. Page knew the rumors, about that other place. Anyone who grew up in Ashdown did. A place where it always rained, and there was magic... and mystery. Not only that, several people had gone missing. Including their coworker Zac, and then their boss, Prof Mixlin. Some other teenagers too. No one seemed to know why, and having so many people close to them vanish made Page nervous. They didn't want to sit around waiting to see what happened next. Maybe it would be them.
Quixote rubbed up against Page's legs and they stood up, leaving a static feeling. Page reached down and stroked the cat's face, thoughtful. "You wanna come with me, Bookworm? Maybe we can figure this one out together," they said, and picked up their book bag. If that place was dangerous, they would need supplies, wouldn't they? They put in a flashlight, some books, a first aid kit, a bottle of water. They grabbed their jacket and umbrella. That should be good, right? What people needed in dangerous situations like that. Weather-preparedness, important information they had stored away. They had to know...
They opened the door again, and crossed the threshold with closed eyes. Behind them, it looked... different, but Quixote was following them dutifully. Page glanced around at this... other place. It looked like Ashdown, sort of. Rainier. Foggier. They took a few steps, intending to find some other people, maybe near the college campus, or the library. The emptiness was frightening.
All the streets, everything they passed, seemed empty. "Hello?" Page asked. Maybe they should have seen where Edwin was before they left, tried to talk to them. But now they were alone. Well, almost alone. Their sweet cat was still following them. "Oh Quixote... where do you think everyone would be?"
---
A voice echoed in their head. Come and see. Page placed a hand over their mouth, tasting the words. Come and see. They had to. The park wasn't too far, after all. Come and see. They opened their umbrella and walked, Waite State Park their new destination.
They closed the door, and headed back to their room. Page knew the rumors, about that other place. Anyone who grew up in Ashdown did. A place where it always rained, and there was magic... and mystery. Not only that, several people had gone missing. Including their coworker Zac, and then their boss, Prof Mixlin. Some other teenagers too. No one seemed to know why, and having so many people close to them vanish made Page nervous. They didn't want to sit around waiting to see what happened next. Maybe it would be them.
Quixote rubbed up against Page's legs and they stood up, leaving a static feeling. Page reached down and stroked the cat's face, thoughtful. "You wanna come with me, Bookworm? Maybe we can figure this one out together," they said, and picked up their book bag. If that place was dangerous, they would need supplies, wouldn't they? They put in a flashlight, some books, a first aid kit, a bottle of water. They grabbed their jacket and umbrella. That should be good, right? What people needed in dangerous situations like that. Weather-preparedness, important information they had stored away. They had to know...
They opened the door again, and crossed the threshold with closed eyes. Behind them, it looked... different, but Quixote was following them dutifully. Page glanced around at this... other place. It looked like Ashdown, sort of. Rainier. Foggier. They took a few steps, intending to find some other people, maybe near the college campus, or the library. The emptiness was frightening.
All the streets, everything they passed, seemed empty. "Hello?" Page asked. Maybe they should have seen where Edwin was before they left, tried to talk to them. But now they were alone. Well, almost alone. Their sweet cat was still following them. "Oh Quixote... where do you think everyone would be?"
---
A voice echoed in their head. Come and see. Page placed a hand over their mouth, tasting the words. Come and see. They had to. The park wasn't too far, after all. Come and see. They opened their umbrella and walked, Waite State Park their new destination.
