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The Town Without Time - Narrated Scary Story

Tags: door turned deer


It's bad mom's voice quivered over the
phone I could tell that she was crying I
hated to hear my mom cry I'd die a
thousand deaths not to hear her start
sniffling how bad I asked choking back
tears of my own I don't know she cleared
her throat we're trying to get the next
flight out
but everything's booked up my parents
had never gone on vacation in all the
years that I've lived it wasn't easy
raising a kid on minimum wages no job
was permanent either but the little they
had they were able to work their way up
in industries they had entered out of
desperation I highly doubt my mother
aspired to a life in retail where she'd
miss holidays and soccer practices no
one wants to clean up another man's
but my father never bitched when he came
home with sustained coveralls there was
always food in my stomach even if they
had to skip a meal now that I have left
the house and went away to college at
first I might add they could save up for
themselves so this vacation was huge for
them this was the first time they
traveled to another country let alone
out of the southeast it's only fitting
they did it be cut short due to
emergency I'll go I said no no she

coughed you can't you have finals I'll
get an extension I said family comes
first I can't ask you to do that
I want to we'll be there as soon as we
can okay I said I've got this don't
worry be careful I will I love you love
you too
it was 1:30 3:00 in the morning an
ungodly hour and certainly not one in
which you want to receive a phone call
from your mom I woke up before the phone
rung and seeing mom flash over the
screen sent me into a mini panic attack
I knew nothing good would come from
answering their phone and yet I had no
choice but to press talk I had to go I
owed it to them I owed it to everyone my

professor was known to arrive at his
office incredibly early to write the
book he assigned for classes his own
self-published book my writing
highlighted his writing process he'd
like to finish his classes in the early
afternoon eat dinner as a late lunch
spent some time thinking about his dead
wife and be in bed by 5:00 in the
evening hopefully he didn't feel like
sleeping in today I needed to talk to
him as soon as possible I got to the
English department doors around 2:00
they were locked so I had to wait my
back slid down the brick wall and I
hugged my knees the camp is set with an
eerie stillness in the middle of the
night resembling an oil painting in the
blurred vision of my crying eyes I felt
like the only person left alive my
breath billowed out into the unusually
cold January air and a shadow shifted
beyond the trees a dark figure scuttled
into the reach of a lamppost and James
Mason's hair swung wildly from its
recent bout with a pillow
his eyes hung heavy and his potato-sack
eyelids and I stood up when he got close
I haven't even had my coffee yet
professor Mason groaned I'm sorry I said
you wouldn't be here if you had good
news no I say
I guess I wouldn't bad news can never
wait professor Mason unlocked the doors
and nearly fell through he disappeared
into the shadows of the dark office and
I stood there
petrified over what he might say he
wasn't waiting up for me and that's for
sure
the door swung closed and I caught it
before it could snap shut I entered the
empty office and listened for a clue as
to which direction the professor went it
was utterly silent a light flicked on in
one of the back rooms a walk down the
hall and looked in on professor Mason's
sacred writing ritual
he took out a hot plate plugged it in
poured water from his thermos into a
teapot and let it heat up I was too
afraid to break the peaceful silence of
his tasks he set up a French press and
poured in fresh ground coffee beans and
he waited by leaning back in his chair
and staring at me with a nonchalant
amusement it'll give higher grades for
sexual favors he said if that's what
you're thinking no I said disgustingly
of course not now what the hell are you
doing here okay I said breathing deeply
in an attempt to calm my raging heart my
grandmother's in bad shape she fell and
hit her head and my grandpa can't take
care of her on his own and my parents
are overseas so I have to know what you
want an extension on your exam and term
paper [ __ ] he had me at a loss yeah but
no but listen to me
he said clasping his hands together
leaning forward with his elbows on the
desk and softening his voice life won't
pause at your convenience my grandma
I heard you [ __ ] you I thought
I couldn't even say my name at this
point anger consumed me and I wanted to
smash his ratty little face into the
desk shattering his framed family photos
look he turned his back on me and
rummaged through a cabinet drawer
he pulled a stack of papers from a
folder and slapped them on the desk you
can take the exam right now but I doubt
you finished the paper yet no I said
shallowly I haven't those are the only
two grades for the entire semester he
waited for my acknowledgment I could
only nod my head numb Lee so either way
you'd fail I looked over his smug smirk
and came to a finite decision it was
either be there for my grandparents or
pass the class some deep dark part of me
thought of a third option kill him I
dropped out of college right then and
there I'll never put work or school or
some [ __ ] obligation over my family
I saw how that affected my mom and dad I
saw how it wore them down with each
missed opportunity I'd stand midfield
and look to the sidelines without them
there the packed bleachers always felt
so miserably empty that's not the life I
want to lead I took off northbound on
i-95 from Miami my grandparents lived on
Myrtle Beach so I had a good 10 to 12
hours ahead of me I left in a rush and
it wasn't long before I had to pull off
the highway to take a piss I hit up a
rest stop for some relief the moment I
stepped out of a car the stars struck me
with all their glistening glory my
engine popped and sizzled under the hood
it was like the universe was passing
through me and not the other way around
I felt at ease by the freedom of the
expense it crushed by the nothingness of
the space around me
it was one of those smaller rest stops
with bathrooms on either side and a
vending machine in the middle
I hurried inside a stall I have a thing
about being seen when I pee and damn
near exploded before I got my junk over
my basketball shorts I let out of breath
and I was like my soul was squeezed out
of me I was left with an ultimately
satisfying calm that was shattered when
the door swung open and slammed shut
with a deafening echo I jumped my nerves
went haywire and a quiver spasmed up my
neck too hard boots stomped down with
each heel and slept the tiles with the
toes two-timed methodical and menacing
they clocked over to my stall and
settled before me the massive weight in
those boots crushed the dirt with a
prickling precision he pulled on the
handle and the locks smacked against the
door jamb the door shuddered as he
frantically pumped the door against the
hinges then he released the handle and
stepped back into the corner the
fluorescent lights burnt out and the
bathroom fell dark the silence made the
air heavier I could hear breathing from
the corner I'm not a big guy so I braced
myself to be mauled by a monstrous beast
the breathing ceased and I was left with
my pulse pounding against the walls of
my brain I waited for someone to make a
move but it felt like I was the only one
here to do so I couldn't tell you how
long I stood there trembling with fear
what the [ __ ] did this guy want money
sex
the thrill of acquiring both
hello I called out without thinking and
I was met by an empty echo ten minutes
went by before I turned on my phone
flashlight and Seana through the cracks
in the door I couldn't see anything
through the slit I bent down and flashed
the light in the corner no shoes no feet
no one it must have been bugging out I
mean I hadn't slept for more than two
hours that night I just jumped right on
the road and tossed caution out the
window maybe I needed a couple of hours
sleep in the car
yeah that's what the door lock crashed
against the jamb with the force of a
kick and I nearly fell into the toilet I
desperately sought an escape from the
coffin-sized walls there was only one
thing I could do fight or flight
I unlocked the door and drove my
shoulder through it expecting to be met
by a wall of meat and bones and organs
but instead smacked right into the tile
wall I swung my cell light around and
revealed an empty room I checked the
other stool ready for murder nothing
there was nothing my head throbbed I
needed to eat yeah that's it I got sour
patch kids and a soda from the vending
machine sugar could keep me going
another couple of hours
I couldn't sleep here I turned to the
car and my shadow stretched out before
me standing at the end of it was a man
blacked out by the night
his features were hidden under the
streetlamp sharp glare I was frozen with
fear expecting him to rush me with the
fury of a demon he just stood there in
the empty parking lot watching me as I
watched him no other cars were around

did he walk here who walks to a rest
stop maybe he was some truck driver
hopped up on meth I took a step forward
and so did he heading on a diagonal to
cut me off from my car i stalled for a
moment as did he we were trying to read
the others next move here we go I broke
out into a sprint to the driver's side
door and he rushed to the passenger side
I unlocked the car with my fob and
pulled open the door throwing myself
inside the door slams shut and I
double-click the lock button the doors
clicked and there was a thud against the
passenger door the car rocked on its
shocks the handle jiggled furiously
accidentally hit the panic button and
the yellow lights blinked to the sound
of a de-stressing horn I turned the
ignition kicked it into reverse and
drove the [ __ ] out of there I glanced
into the rearview and the shadow just
watched me as he sunk in the distance
making no more effort to chase after me
even with the red brake lights
reflecting off the trees around him he
stayed sunken in darkness
merging onto the highway my mind went on
cruise control when the sky began to
lighten I was taken aback by my
surroundings a light fog hung between
the trees lining the highway like a
hammock and a lazy deer grazed on the
grass and mere feet from the concrete
there was no way that I could have
traveled so far in a single night the
land was flat and marshy and dominated
by longleaf pines I must have broken all
known traffic laws last night the
shadows of the grazing deer got closer
to the road and I decided it'd be best
to slow down but like falling into a
speed trap where the limit goes from 70
to 35 I was too late a deer crossed into

my lane and I tugged on the wheel
swerving to avoid it the deer stood dumb
to the danger staring at me like the
specter at the rest stop my cast spun
out of control and crossed over to the
median and into the southbound lanes the
car nearly tipped when I finally came to
a screeching stop my heart was racing
and I looked back over to the northbound
lanes the deer had fled with his life I
never felt more alive and burst into the
happiest of tears I could smell the
burnt tires and the overworked engine my
flesh tingled with electric spasms I was
alive by the grace of God there were no
cars coming at me so I had a moment to
collect myself once I got back on the
highway I felt an overwhelming
thankfulness and sob freely thank you
thank you thank you I kept whispering I
turned on the music and the melodies
never sounded so pure I opened the
windows and the Earth's aroma filled my
lungs with purpose wind ran through my
fingers tickling my hairs thank you
a couple of miles down the road red and
blue flashing lights emerged over the
horizon on the southbound lanes the
lanes were completely blocked off and a
column of headlines
idled in anticipation as I got closer I
slowed to see a team of emergency
responders working on a total car they
took their time the car looked familiar
like I drove side-by-side with him at
some point in the night smoke rose from
the engine and the mangled body of a
deer was crushed in the grill a gurney
was loaded with a limp body and carted
slowly to the back of an ambulance there
was no need to rush the poor guy was a
goner
once again I cried knowing that it could
have been me no it should have been me I
was grateful and found peace never
having to go back to school such things
were so miniscule in the grand scheme of
things I was barreling down u.s. 17 just

north of Charleston when I heard the
tire blow the car jolted and sunk down
on the rear passenger axle I pulled over
to the side of the road to inspect and I
found a slash along the side
it was amazing to me that the bubble had
held on for this long must have happened
when I miss the deer a creeping part of
me thought otherwise
something lingered inside of me
whispering that it was the man at the
rest stop he did this he's responsible
for all of it of course that was
nonsense he didn't step out in front of
my car he didn't push my grandmother
over in the bathroom he probably wasn't
even real just a hallucination in my
mind
i limp my way to the nearest exit and
got off this wasn't your typical highway
exit there were no gas stations no fast
food options just abandoned food and
fireworks stands surrounded by an
endless woods
I must have crept for nearly three miles
every minute worried me more I was
probably doing serious damage to the rim
a costly misfortune I couldn't dream of
affording eventually the woods opened up

to a small town forgotten by time the
cars were vintage and kept in mint
condition the kids ran about in front of
their homes in their Sunday best women
strode down the sidewalk gossiping under
meticulously groomed poodle clips soft
Bob's and pageboy hairstyles their
dresses were simple but elegant the men
had cropped hair and their neutral
button downs were tucked into slacks
that rested near their belly buttons the
town was buzzing with activity in the
golden glare of the High Noon Sun I
pulled into the parking lot of a
piggly-wiggly
the sign above the supermarket was a
large blue circle with a pale yellow
cartoon pig smiling at me while wearing
a white triangular service hat cocked on
the side of his head I got out of the
car and looked down at the sunken rim
[ __ ] I popped the trunk and lifted the
hatch to the spare tire and got out the
iron and the jack looking at them as if
they were alien objects this was one
thing my father never had the chance to
teach me another casualty to his busy
schedule I didn't know what the hell I
was going to do with these useless
objects maybe I could check the menu
howdy
a voice chimed from behind me
I turned and saw a man wearing a tucked
in white dress shirt navy blue tie and
matching blue slacks his hair was combed
over and greased with pomade his smile
was crooked like the television stars of
a bygone era he strode over gracefully
until he was standing by my side looking
down at the torn-up threads of what was
once my tire looks like you're in a bit
of a pickle he chuckled yeah I said I
don't know the first thing about
changing tires he held out his hand and
looked down to the jack
never a better time to learn them right
now are you sure I asked I don't want to
be a Bert why of course son it would be
an honor
I dropped the heavy Jack in his hand and
his strength didn't drop an inch he went
about changing the tire with proficiency
he showed me where to place the jack how
to loosen the bolts and lift the car he
wouldn't let me touch a thing
and dirtied up his white wardrobe
without care he never big-eared or
cussed like my old man used to do for
even the smallest household tasks he
simply smiled and went about his duty
there you go
he dropped the jack and the vehicle
settled on the donor he kicked the tire
to make sure it was firmed now he mused
I don't suppose you'll get very far on
that there donut but if you head up the
road to Deer Run and hang a right you'll
come across a mechanic's shop at the end
of the road place called Henderson's
I'll give him a call and let him know
you're coming you'll fix you right up
thank you so much I said I can't tell
you how much this means to me goes to
show you still good people in this world
he said with a smile you're living proof
I shook his hand and nodded respectfully
I walked back to the car turned back to
him hey what's your name so I can the
door to the piggly-wiggly closed and I
saw his shadow passed by the windows and
disappear into the depths of the store a
mother pushed her shopping cart by me
the baby kicking wildly in the seat he
was holding a spinner and he giggled and
it made my heart smile I found the
mechanic shop at the end of deer run
easy enough and mr. Henderson sent me up
with the closest tire he had that could
match my set it ain't exact but it ought
to do he said I pulled out my wallet and
fished through my remaining cash most of
it was gone with the gas hopefully I
could cover it Henderson held out a
patient hand no sir Henderson said
you're already paid in full I argued
with him but his southern pride wouldn't
allow him to back down he explained to
me that Roy Morrow offered to foot the
bill is that the manager Piggly Wiggly
yes sir he said the very one I can't let
him pay for this I said he's already
done enough you gonna have to take that
up with him Henderson said thanks again
I shook his hand and despite the grease
and calluses and scars it was the smooth
as flesh I've ever felt I wanted to go
back to the Piggly Wiggly and thank Roy
again for his kindness but it would have
taken me out of the way I was worried
about my grandparents and this flat took
up more time than I'd hoped I figured
that I'd come back on my way south and
pay back my debt then I got into Myrtle
Beach just as the Sun was setting and by
the time I entered the hospital visiting
hours were long over I'd come this far
the nurses wouldn't stop me I waited
until they were busy until slipping
through the double doors when I entered
I found my grandpa snoring in a chair
positioned in the corner of the room I
approached grandma and her eyes
fluttered awake they sparkled upon
seeing me
Richi a voice cooed is that really you
yes grandma
I nearly cried it's me I never thought
I'd see you again
I'm here you see that Bethel rich is
here with us I looked over to where she
had turned her focus the room was empty
except for the three of us not to
mention I knew who Bethel was from
photographs and stories she was
grandma's sister she died just before I
was born my grandmother used to always
say that she gave her life so I could
have mine that always made me feel
guilty for breathing I pressed my lips
against her hand and kissed it as she
said he's really here my parents
couldn't catch a flight back to the
States until a week later so I made sure
to watch over them once grandma was
released from the hospital the next
morning all of her tests came back fine
but her mind was clearly scrambled after
hitting her head on the lip of the tub a
bruise not shot out of her forehead in
an almost comic proportion I don't know
if you've ever cared after a loved one
suffering from dementia but I found it
easier to play into her fantasies that
way I wouldn't leave her all confused
until she forgot about it again and
moved on to the next thing sometimes she
recognized me and other times she seemed
to be horrified by my presence
it was worse at night my grandpa was a
proud man so he didn't let me help out a
whole lot so my efforts were best
provided when he wasn't around that's
when my talents shined
I slept in such a shallow state that
even the quiet Creek from her Walker
would wake me
I'd leap out of bed and help it to the
bathroom grab her from under the armpits
and lower her to the seat she'd often
make a mess and I'd clean her up some
nights had awakened to the clatter of
fine china then enter the dining room to
find her sitting at the head of the
table set for a feast the silverware was
polished and placed meticulously she'd
speak to each absent guest in turn
mainly her father sister and a few
people I didn't know I'd watch from
beyond the shadows he she tilted the
teapot pouring air into the cups I'd
often stand in the shadows and watch I
learned a lot about her life that way
she'd recount stories that I didn't know
she still had access to like how she got
a toy rocket for our eighth birthday and
the first time she'd popped it off it
flew and hit her mother between the eyes
or how her father took her to the
World's Fair and they walked up the
steps to see the New York skyline from
Lady Liberty's crown she'd cackles so
loud that my grandfather would wake up
and escort her back to bed the party's
just gettin started
she'd say one night I woke to the sound

of her crying and lept out of bed I
thought I'd find her in the bathroom
squirming around in a puddle of her
blood a face streaked with manic crimson
the bathroom was dark and empty and his
sobs fluttered from around the far
corner of the hallway like always I
approached on soft feet to hide my
entrance she was pleading through her
tears bent over with her elbows on her
knees speaking low in confidence like
someone whispering a confession to a
preacher I don't know what to do she
said I'm worried for him no I don't
think he knows I shifted my weight
trying to get closer and the wood
creaked underfoot
she turned sharply to me and her face
recoiled in fear she was shocked by the
sight of me pale in the moonlight
flooding through the window you're not
supposed to be here she snarled I heard
you crying I said
I wanted to make sure you were all leave
me alone she hissed I'm not ready you
should get back to bed
I said softly reaching for her forearm
upon touching her skin she snapped her
forearm away I'm not ready
her eyes were wide and wild I'd never
seen her like this she turned mad as if
spitting venom in an attempt to ward me
off she didn't recognize me as her fear
was channeled into an unbridled rage
that erupted out of nowhere I'm not
ready I don't want to go that's okay I
assured we can stay a little longer
leave me alone I won't go with you I'm
not ready a light came on in my
grandpa's room and he hurried out to us
what's going on what are you doing I
don't know I stammered I was just trying
to get her back into bed come on he
whimpered with worried come on dear
let's get back to bed I'm not ready I
don't want to go he can't make me it's
okay my love
my grandfather cradled her in his arms
and escorted her out of the chair it's
all going to be okay he barely had to
touch her and she moved to his whim
it wasn't power or dominance or fear but
reverence they would dance partners for
life when he swayed to his right she'd
step to her left
she didn't repulsed his guidance but was
lulled by it like a melody the door to
their bedroom shut gently behind them
and her cries were reduced to silence
almost immediately I was left in utter

despondence
my parents came a few days later and
took over the duties from my grandfather
I had to return to Miami to get my stuff
and flanked my parents that I had more
exams I couldn't bring myself to tell
them that I was going to drop out quite
yet on my way down I wanted to stop by
the old Piggly Wiggly and give Roy a
proper thanks for going out of his way
to help me out not to mention I wanted
to pay him back somehow once I pulled
off on the exit
I stopped by one of the fruit stands and
grabbed a peach cobbler
perhaps Roy's wife if he had one he
would appreciate it as I rolled into
town I couldn't help but notice a
strange nostalgia that crept deeper into
my psyche the structures were the same
but they weren't in their former glory
they were dilapidated and ruinous the
windows to the shops were boarded up and
the mannequins set dusty eternally
staring out into the empty streets
barbecue grills were rusted and turned
over on their sides absent of the smoky
aroma of charred meat reaching into the
heavens the street lighting hung absent
of color or power in the town square and
the clock atop the bank no longer
counted the time
when I reached the parking lot of the
Piggly Wiggly I couldn't figure out what
the hell it happened in only a week the
pavement waved over growing roots and
cracked over the shifting earth weeds
and grass grew out of the concrete and
streaks I got out of the car and took
the peach cobbler with me
my shadow hit underfoot the supermarket
itself was just a structure without a
sign peering through the spotted glass I
could see one or two non-essential items
like Crisco still on the shelves but it
was absent of any life the roof had
caved in some time ago and sharp beams
jutted into the gray overcast skies I
heard an old melody that poked my ears I
recognized it as one my grandfather used
to play on Saturday mornings Ambrose and
his orchestra in the middle of a dream I
followed the brass band around the
corner of the building and the trumpets
flowed across a small golden field from
the open windows of an old Victorian
house with a wraparound porch the wind
blew the curtains out of the open
windows the clouds dissipated and the
colour returned to the earth I placed
the cobbler on the porch banna stone
knocked on the door a shadow raced
across my peripheral vision and a young
boy's giggle caused me to turn sharply I
stared out across the empty overgrown
field I shook it off and reached for the
peach cobbler my fingers stopped upon
touching the tray a slice had been
carved out of the pie and only a divot
remained
the wind blew through my fingertips and
the leaves rustled and shook I stood
before a perfect day lost and alone in a

ghost town

you

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"The Town Without Time"



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The Town Without Time - Narrated Scary Story

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