paraordinarypeople

[paraordinarypeople]

Currently on hiatus

Going to be rewritten

[paraordinarypeople]

Scene 1 - The Store

The moonlight was blasting the dry desert ground as the van roared by. Driving it was Samantha, staring straight ahead with a cold look in her hazel eyes. Next to her was Bryan, scanning the list of what food the group had left, while twirling his pink hair. Behind him was Ryan, who was tapping their fingers on the door while staring out with his yellow eyes. To Ryan’s left sat Ashley, who was picking at a scab on her pale arm. Behind them was Max, the smallest of the bunch, who wore thick rimmed glasses and looked a smidge pale. His hair was dark and greasy. He hadn’t gotten the chance to get a good shower for a while.

“So,” asked Ryan, “When are we getting there?” Samantha sighed, “Ashley, when are we getting there?” Ashley responded, “I told you the drive was gonna take a few days.” Ryan scoffed, “We’ve been on the road for a few weeks, I think we might be lost.” Bryan snickered. “Don’t laugh,” shot Ashley. Max looked out of a window feeling cold. “Well, this was your idea, Ashley,” observed Ryan. “Of course it was,” proclaimed Ashley, “I know how to plan for trips.” “Bryan,” Ryan countered, “How much food do we have left.” Bryan sighed, “Almost none.” Ashley looked shocked, “Is that true Max?” “Well, yeah, the cooler is almost empty,” Max said. Ashley scoffed.

Bryan, in a quick glance, spotted a General Store sign. “Yo, look! Human life!” he shouted. Samantha asked, “Hey, Ashley, wanna stop by?” Ashley sighed, “Yes.” “Yay! finally I can get some snacks,” said Ryan. Ashley looked back at Max and asked,“You’re okay with it right?” “Of course,” Max said, continuing to gaze outside his window.

Samantha parked perfectly. The group all hopped out of the car. The store was made of cracked wood and dusty windows. Light seeped through any crack and window it could find like a creature looking for escape. The paint was more like cracked skin slowly peeling off. On the side was a sign reading, “General Store.” “Hey Max,” Ashley chirped in, “Here’s some cash.” She pulled out a $20 and aggressively tried to put it in his hand. “Oh, thanks, but I have my own money,” Max said. “I insist,” she said. “Oh okay,” whimpered Max. Bryan wrapped his arm around Max, “Let’s go kid,” he said as he dragged him into the store. Ryan followed close behind, with their hands wrapped around their back. The glass doors creaked apart as Max, Brian, and Ryan walked in. 

The fluorescent lights burned throughout the store. Overall, It looked plain, if a bit dirty. “Hello, welcome to my small shop,” said an older woman at the register. Her hair was thinning and she had no look in her eyes. Her wrinkly face showed no expression. Bryan nodded as he dragged Max to the candy section. Ryan spoke up, “Hey, doesn’t this look exactly like a Dollar Sergeant's?” Bryan shrugged, “Well yeah but don’t all general stores look like each other?” Max nodded in agreement. “Anyway, what do you want Max,” asked Bryan, putting his finger on Max’s chest. Max looked down before Bryan quickly flicked his finger up hitting his nose. “Ow,” said Max. “Got you,” said Bryan, smiling. Max quickly spotted an item. “Wait, is this a Jupiter Bar?” said Max, “I’ve always wanted to try one!” Bryan quickly exclaimed, “then I’ll buy the whole bunch!” “Wait,” protested Max, “What about money for your shop?” Bryan waved his hand proclaiming, “I already bought all the necessary things. Consider this a gift!” Ryan smiled at the both of them before searching for snacks.

Ashley and Samantha walked into the store. “I need some iced coffee, what about you,” asked Ashley. Samantha stated, “I need to go use the restroom, if you can, grab me some water and chips.”  “No problemo,” chirped Ashley. Samantha walked into the restroom. Inside was dirt and grime. Along the corners and walls were massive cobwebs and dust. The floor somehow seemed wet and dry. Weirdly, there was no vandalism anywhere. She sighed and walked out. She hustled over to Ashley. “Why can't I see anything,” queried Ashley, staring at the freezer doors covered in ice. “Hey, don’t use the restrooms, they’re dirty,” said Samantha. “Okay?” said Ashley, confused. Samantha started to walk away when Ashley questioned, “Where are you going?” Samantha continued to walk as she said, “To warn the cinnamon roll.” Ashley snickered as Samantha walked away. Samantha slid her hands in her jacket pocket, now feeling heavier.

Ashley eventually found some. It was hidden far into the back of a small fridge, one that couldn’t hold much. She reached her whole arm into the freezer feeling around for it. Her arm began to feel ice cold as the freezer blasted it’s arctic winds on the new object. She grabbed the coffee and yanked her arm out with as much force as a train. Her arm flew out with ice attached to the skin. She started to panic. She scratched it trying to get the ice off. She scratched harder and harder like it was a plague on her skin. The ice eventually peeled off of her arm, but along with it came the outer layer of her skin. She was shocked at how cold it was. She couldn’t feel it. She stared at her arm. It looked red and was starting to burn. She tried to ignore the pain, not wanting to bother the others about it, and went looking for some bandages and water outside of the freezer. She tucked her arm behind her trying to hide it as she searched.

“Hey,” said Samantha, walking up too Max, “Avoid the restrooms, they are frankly disgusting.” “Oh, how bad can they be, they're just restrooms,” speculated Max.  Ryan bolted up from around the corner and slapped Samantha’s back. She stiffened up, and looked at Ryan coldly, “What the hell are you thinking.” Ryan stared at their hand, it was covered in a green substance. Ryan’s eyes widened, “There was a thing on your back. It looked like it was going to bite. It was like a bug, solid black with long spindly legs.” “Is there any of that goop on my jacket,” Samantha asked. Ryan shook his head, “I don’t know how, but no.” Ryan, still staring at his hand, went back around the corner. Samantha shook her head, “I know that idiot. That wasn’t some prank, I’m getting concerned.” Bryan’s eyes darted at Max, “Then let's hurry on out of here, yea?” Max nodded, “I’m starting to find this place unsettling. 

The group all met up at the register at the same time. “Hello,” coughed the old lady, “did you find everything all right?” “For the most part,” groaned Ashley, still looking at her arm. “Uhm yea, but you might wanna clean the bathrooms, they’re kinda dirty,” offered Samantha. Bryan slapped Max on the back, “Yep, seems like it!” Ryan nodded their head. “Good, good,” said the lady. The group put their items on the counter. She slid them all into a bag while looking straight forward and exclaimed, “That’ll be $17.11.” The group paid.  “Thank you, have a nice day,” she mumbled. “You too,” they all said. The group walked out of the store.

Ashley took the water and used it to wash her arm before she applied the bandages. Samantha, along with Ryan, hopped back into the van. Max and Byran sat down next to the van. “Open one,” said Bryan excitedly. Max did. A puff of dust was released which caused Max to cough. He looked inside and saw crumbs. He poured it out. The crumbs quickly became dust. “What the hell,” said Byran. Max looked shocked. Ashley looked over, adding, “I’ll get you a refund Max, don’t worry about it.

“Wait one second,” sighed Max, finally noticing her arm. “You should worry about yourself,” scolded Max, “I’m not some child like back in the orphanage, I’m 18, as much as an adult as you.” Ashley shook her head, “I’m fine,” she winced. “We’ll help the kid,” exclaimed Bryan, knocking on the van. “Ryan get out here,” shouted Bryan. Ryan hopped out, with a mischievous smile on their face, and exclaimed “let’s go.” Max grabbed Bryan and sauntered into the store together. 

Max, Bryan, and Ryan stormed up to the counter. “Let her have it Max,” said Ryan. Bryan pushed Max forward. Max, now realizing what he is doing, squeaked, “Uhm, it seems as though your store’s chocolate is just dust.” The old lady nodded. “So, could we get a refund?” The old lady shook her head, “My goods,” she said, her voice, now sounding very dry and dark, “are what you get.” Max croaked out, “Yes, but, this is quite frankly, ridiculous. Bryan shook his head, “lady, they’re dust. Literally dust.” The lady retorted, “So, you bought them, if you don’t have intentions of buying anything then leave.” Bryan scoffed. Ryan whispered quietly, “are her eyes closed?” Max looked closer, the eyes were not quite closed, but instead, sewed shut. The lady shrieked, “I don’t appreciate you staring at me, get out of my store.” Max, Bryan, and Ryan stood there for a while, then left. Ryan ran up to the car and banged on Samantha’s door while yelling, “Help us. She’s mean, you look mean. You can get a refund. Come on. Please.” Samantha opened the door and stepped out. “I have a lot of complaints, but I’ll add yours on the pile, I’m more worried about Ashley.” Samantha stormed into the store. The group, besides Ashley, cheered. Max spoke up, “Will she be fine on her own?” Ashley scoffed, “She is the strongest out of all of use.

After a few minutes had passed Samantha walked back out. She looked very sick. The rest of the group ran up to her. She fell onto her knees, clutched her stomach, and covered her mouth. Her eyes were wide as she was gasped for breath. “What happened,” questioned Ashley. “She has no eyes, there were no eyes, just holes. Holes. Forever just holes,” gasped Samantha.  “We need to leave,” declared Ashley. “Ryan, come help me with Samantha,” shouted Max. Ryan and Max lifted up Samantha. Ashley opened the back of the van. Max and Ryan laid Samantha down. Max and Ryan hopped into the back while Ashley ran to the passenger seat. Bryan started the car and started to pull out. Then the car shut off.

Bryan looked down at the steering wheel. “What,” he mumbled, dazed. Samantha looked up at Bryan, why aren’t we moving,” she babbled. Ashley looked at the store. The old lady had stepped out, or that was what she assumed.

The place where her eyes should have been were instead perfectly round empty sockets. Her face, now equipped with a gaping smiling, showed her rotten teeth appearing as bars in a cell. Looking into it, Ashley couldn’t see anything, just a void. Her body looked twisted and bent in all the wrong directions and when she moved she seemed to stutter and shake like a poorly done puppet with splinters. Bone was poking out through the skin like shards of shrapnel that were coated in hot oil. Spilling out of her was some foreign substance, leaking like a cracked fountain filled with tar. Ashley couldn’t help but stare at the twisted and broken suit of some creature from a nightmare. Bryan kept trying to start the van, turning the key over and over and over. Ryan looked back at Max and Samantha as Samantha began to gag. Ryan couldn’t look away. Max quickly began to look for water. “Max, what the hell,” screamed Ryan pointing at Max’s face. Max felt his face, water was pouring out of his eyes. Max screamed.

The van finally started. Ashley moved her eyes over to the old lady’s arm. It was snapping and cracking and breaking, but also reaching. Reaching for the van. Bryan slammed on the gas. Samantha finally threw up. Rolling on the floor was a black solid orb. Samantha grabbed it, opened the back of the van door and chucked it. The old lady's smile grew wider and wider as the ball neared her. She caught it. When Samantha looked out, she saw the old lady standing there. Samantha shouted, “I’m sorry!” The lady grasped the orb tightly before she slid it into one of her eye sockets and walked back inside, appearing pleased. Max’s eyes returned to normal. Ryan slammed the doors shut.

“What happened,” asked Bryan. Samantha looked at Max, and Max at her. Ryan was staring at the both of them. Ashley was breathing heavily. “I... I’d guess that was an encounter with a ghost,” said Ryan. Samantha cleared her throat, “Nothing I couldn’t handle.” Max looked at Samantha, “What happened in there?” Samantha shook her head, “When I went in there, I told her all of my complaints, maybe not so peacefully.” She continued, “She opened her eyes and I just felt so much dread. I ended up running, something I promised myself not to do anymore.” Max reassured, “None of us could have done what you did. You are the only one who would have been strong enough to focus through all of that.” “I’m going to pass out for a bit,” said Samantha. “Max,” began Ryan, “are you, okay?” “I… I think so, just a bit dehydrated,” noted Max. Ashley chimed in, “Hey, I think we are going to be alright. The thing seemed okay with the apology.” Byran countered, “For all you know that thing cursed us.” Ryan exclaimed, “Let’s just try to be nice to people working now, hopefully that’ll prevent any sort of curse.” Bryan nodded slowly letting off of the gas. Max looked out his window, watching the bright pale moon make its mark on the dry desert ground.