Finish The Story Contest - WEEK #24 The Town That Changed

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The Town That Changed

Change blew in on the air that morning, whispering through a sleeping town. An eerie quiet rested along the main road, early commuters not yet disturbing the grey dawn. A wisp of waning moon, brushed pink with the gentle glow of the coming sun, hung low in the ombre sky.

A subtle shift rocked the heavy foliage of scattered trees, rippling between the houses. The cool silence of night still clung to the shadows. A lone ginger cat stalked between the sentinels of bins guarding the curbs. It paused, hair bristling along its back as it sensed a disturbance rushing past.

A lone mournful howl echoed in the streets, erupting into a sorrowful symphony as others took up the canine call.

Not a single harsh bark interrupted the lament that awoke the town that morning.

Back doors opened onto gardens, not quite the same. Concerned residents in an array of dressing gowns, coats and slippers, padded outside to find the same, inexplicable sight.

Theo hadn’t been home in months. He had told his mum he was getting clean. It was a lie. He hadn’t been clean in years.

The dark country road snaked before him, a twisting river of retreating night. She had insisted he came home for the wedding. Theo couldn’t stand her boyfriend, but his mum had half chewed his ear off over it, and he couldn’t deny, he owed her this.

He swore under his breath. The rising itch was dancing across his skin. The hard edge cutting inside him. He needed another hit. He had been driving since 1am, he loaded up before he set off, but the ragged scraping of the comedown was consuming.

He glanced at the road, he hadn’t passed another car in hours, and he knew these twisting roads.

One hand on the wheel, he fumbled through the bag on the passenger seat. He couldn’t face that c*nt sober, Aunt Hazel would help.

His skin flushed with the intense bliss coursing through his veins as he approached the sleeping streets.

Dawn was pushing towards the horizon, her soft pink glow catching the clipped moon.

Theo was speeding when he got to the town. He heard the hair-raising call of neighborhood dogs, raising their cry as one.

Then he saw it. The change. He couldn’t look away. He didn’t see the tree

(My Ending)

His eyes opened he could smell some smoke and felt a pain across his chest. He was able to pull himself out of the car. Stumbling away from the wreck he sat down on the grass and closed his eyes. What was that? The moon was big in the sky but he hesitated. He had to check. Sometimes Aunt Hazel can play tricks on you. Yet there it was still in the sky not the moon but a single eye staring down at him. Quickly he looked away not wanting to get paralyzed by the gaze again.
He called his mum. She arrived to get him never looking up. Never even talking about that eye that loomed in the sky. They headed to her house as if nothing was wrong. He looked around as she drove. No one was outside no other cars passed bye. They arrived and headed inside where the boyfriend waited. All the curtains where nailed closed. Coming back from his old room he could hear whispers then a few shouts he made out a few words…dangerous, night. The boyfriend stormed out as he walked in.
Mum, you see it to don’t you? She let out a nervous laugh. Oh that it’s just a trick of the light. Come sit down. He wasn’t going to play these games. Walking right over to the window and pulled the curtains open. He pointed, that isn’t any trick of lights mum. The eye was looking around. His mum shouted to as she ran towards him. Hearing fear in her voice he started to close the curtains. Just then the eye turn and stared at him. He couldn’t move. He heard a voice low and soft. “I love you all, stay with me” she closed the curtain and slapped him, the trace lifted.

That feeling was amazing that voice so sweet. You can’t look at she said. Once it has you it never lets go. What is it? We don’t know it just appeared at first nothing happened then people started to fall into a trance. It felt good and everyone was doing it till people stopped waking up. Don’t look at it again it she made him promise.

Lying in bed that itch returned racing though his body but he didn’t look for his bag. Instead he stared at the window. His life he had been chasing happiness. He couldn’t resist he sneaked into the back yard and laid in the grass looking up and the eye. It stared deep into him and the feelings and the voice returned “stay with me it said” He no longer resisted. A smile crossed his face.

When she found him part of her was relieved. That smile on his face was something she hadn’t seen in years. They came to take him and few tears fell. She would be able to see him they said. So sure they would wake up on day. She wasn’t so sure.