Welcome to Wakeford
g to you live from a train on the
window of the passenger car. The mighty Blue Ridge Mountains loomed in the distance, covered with tall
but feel rather congested in the city, sometimes, am I right? So for the next three months, I'll be updating my blog fr
Across from him sat a girl his age with long, straight brown hair and equally brown eyes. She was rather fixat
deline is coming with me for the trip to he
g a lock of her hair over her shoulder. Marti
'say hi,
his intentionally or was she just f
ay hi,
her phone for a moment
deadpan. Martin only slapp
die! You're making
never agreed to help you in your stupid ghost hunts!
of mysteries to be solved. And I
rning to her phone. Martin's overzea
hing else worth pursui
as a gun fetish," Ma
st shot since I was si
ck, shutting off his phone for the moment. "Besides, what w
in an unfamiliar
; we'll be stayi
Marty! When's the last ti
hink that
the middle of nowhere, I'd like some conn
texting. Martin, expecting nothing else from
lieva
nd new locales and legends for his YouTube channel, naturally agreed. Madeline, more accustomed to city living, and faced with the prospect of being away from her boyfriend, wa
was right that neither had ever ventured to Wakeford, Martin had long dreamed of traveling to se
akeford teemed with stories of monsters, ghosts, and strange goings-on. Folklore dating back to the colonial era (and even earlier) painted an
t) would derail his investigations before they even started. He sifted his hand through his ash blonde hair, won
RD. WAKEFORD. WE ARR
sudden arrival. It was only three hours ago when th
towing away her phone in her pocket. Evidently, she was not in the moo
the passenger car vestibules. Wakeford wasn't exactly a place tha
town in nowhe
home of family. Family was more important than anything. Even if
name in red cursive letters. The platform stood on stilts and was painted white, with a picket fence around the rims to protect people from falling off. Porters he
wiry grey hair was starting to thin around his scalp. A pair of tortoise shell glasses magnified
ds! Good
bilantly, throwing his arms aro
t less enthusiastic, as she joi
train ride. Lucky for y'all, I know just
at his red Chevrolet pickup truck. It was an older model, boasting a grille, headlights and front hood that were straight out of the 1940s. How this truck w
their grandfather was quick to play th
hool been? I heard
out the window listlessly. "I'm so glad t
arted thinkin' '
up. I haven't heard back fr
eat, leaned forward and expla
ight away. She wants to take a s
eah, you'll gain some good
for a little longe
reated to his seat with a snort. Looking out the window
l, with the sign "Mount Jackson Hotel" in large flashing lights atop the roof. The downtown business section was lined with mom-and-pop stores and small hole-in-the-wall retailers along a single main road. Further in the distance and closer to the mountain, Martin saw small shacks
ou'll like the restaurant here in town. Plus, t
one of you
you could say," he corrected
ollows my YouTube chann
me if one of your 15 subs
, would y
ke
e's no need for that. I won't be havin' you kid
ssi
ign reading BILLY'S BURGERS AND SHAKES. Signaling this
rboard floor, red leather seats, and a large vinyl jukebox reminded both Madeline and Martin of a scene fr
by a gold hairclip while bright blue eyes lit up under the fluorescent lighting. A touch of rouge tried (but failed) to hide the freckles o
almers. How've y
ou got a booth for t
o. Foll
s, Julia, ushered them in. Madeline could only express some agitatio
exist? I thought they
," Martin admitted. "I was ex
"The inheritance he left for me was just enough to keep this
line asked, shocked. "How old ar
arents ever teach you no
nd their booth and sat down. As she handed out
l be serving you today. So, Mr.
s. They're stayin' wi
et to meet the legendary twins." Madeli
ow about us?"
kled. "He especially has a lot to say about you, Martin." She leaned in
. He had another fan in this town, and never even reali
seen my
reek Park and the Old Stone House ones. Those were cool. Oh,
e. "My hair wasn't done right, and a crappy came
you looked mighty
are well informed, too. I was hoping to do some ghost hunting out her
here it
think I have something t
pted, "I just remembered tha
and and made her sit back down. The normally jovia
escapades. I'm responsible for you and your brother for the summ
Madeline mut
in place, Julia cleared he
nter, you ever heard th
ghts around Washington D.C. The local parks, houses of former politicians and even presidential residences were common targets. However, his knowledge
. Is it a real
!" Julia proclaimed, grinning wide. "I'll tell you t
their grandfather returned,
ed for something simple. In the downtime between ordering and waiting,
been doin'? I hear you g
bscribers." Their grandfather
od. You're fixin' to be an Internet s
e engage and really want to know more about the supernatural
le," Madeline scoff
grandfather pried, somewhat resentf
n living on this earth, I have yet to see any evidence
ver been in one a
elf in the process? To
age!" Steve
" Martin agreed,
s ghost hunts, she would, without fail, tell him off and demean his endeavors. He couldn't remember th
led. "I don't really ask others for help unl
t Jackson Hotel is haunted. Maybe
ith mushrooms and swiss cheese, with chicken tenders for Madeline, and a bowl of vegetable soup for their
ard it's crawling with ghosts. So, you'd
ting into his burger. "So, you say it's r
vel. Those orbs of sapphire were en
ster lives out near an old abandone
-like monster, what
wings and glowing red eyes with a stare that cuts right through you. And when it screeches
un?" Madeline asked sardonically with a devious smile. Martin
off, k
teve
heir car and almost dropped right in front of them. And when they flashed its lights, the red eyes almost blinded them before it flew o
that im
harbinger of bad luck. Whenever you see h
ly as he imbibed another spoonful of soup. He leane
n the bridge collapsed. They...ain't never been the same since that day. If you ever
g and frightening story like this. Even urban legends from the D.C. suburbs didn't compare to this. A monster that could bring
e I can find out
he local library." Martin looked to his grandf
there tomor
kids home. You must've had a long day. Julia, th
d it was very nice t
, same
is head, long after they left the downtown business section. It was not often he met his followers, but she seemed especially nice, he thought. Not only that, but she poin
n a long day since leaving Washington D.C. But the first day in Wakeford proved promising. Not only was he with his g
ne trail extended out to the factory from the main road. The factory was closed off by a chain mail fence with a warni
figure's back and a single, blood red eye seemed to track him as the truck sped along. Not minding the ongoing chatter in the front,
towards its back, almost recoiling in disgust. The eye almost cut through him, and Marti
the he
ye was the last to disappear, but even afterward, its indelible stare, one that cut ri
you guys