Bones

Chapter One

Hollow Groves was built on bones.

The wind blew through my hair as I leaned on the railing of the ferry taking us to the Hollow Groves. I couldn't see much of anything, fog surrounded us like a weighted blanket. All I could catch a glimpse of was the water: dark, cold and went on forever. Much like the ferry guide who wouldn't shut up about how haunted these islands were.

The first island we apparently passed was the Catacomb Tunnels, then the Unmarked Graved Cemeteries, next the Mines, and a fourth island that he is apparently forbidden to talk about. Luckily my family moved us to the fifth island: filled with carnivals, witchy and psychic shops, and other tourist attractions.

"The Hollow groves are falling apart." Terry, the very enthusiastic guide, confirms why my dad moved my brothers and I here.

As an architect he thrives on establishing a new structure while demolishing the old foundations, it's a challenge to him. Dad is all about starting over, I guess that's why he left mom.

"You're in my seat." Adam, my older brother, informed me.

I looked around us, my eyes falls on the empty seats on the ferry which tells me Adam clearly is trying to annoy me. Ever since Adam had to leave his girlfriend back in Toronto, he's been taking his frustrations out on me. Dad wouldn't do since he's mostly absent.

"Go pick on Noah." I suggest instead.

Our younger brother - the only one happy about the move to get away from his bullies, appeared to be annoying the crap out of Terry.

"You're in my seat." Adam repeated, as I moved over a couple seats just in time for dad to squish in between us.

"Should have left you guys to swim to the islands instead." Dad joked.

"It's not too late, Orion. I'll even give you a head start." Adam motioned to the dark waters.

"Ha. Ha." I responded lamely.

Uncomfortable silence fell upon us as we ventured further into the thick, heavy fog. The fifth island finally came into view. I expected a grand theme park, spooky decked-out streets like everyone is ready for Halloween, and colorful shops as told by Terry. Instead dull, boring docks appeared, along with the most mundane town square came into view and no carnival. It wasn't much which is why I guess dad took the job, to turn this place into an actual ghost town as it was described.

"Do you think we'll live right above a haunted house? Or next to an ugly, psychic witch? Oh, perhaps even . . ." Noah rambled on.

"A totally boring townhouse?" Adam cut off Noah. "By the looks of it this place ain't much." Adam said disappointingly, as if he read my thoughts.

We weren't going to live next to a haunted house as Noah mentioned or a hot psychic witch as I hoped, instead . . .

"A farm house right in the middle of a corn field!" Dad presented excitedly.

Before me was exactly that. A century old, beaten down farm house in the middle of a corn field in the middle of nowhere, away from the safe-not-so-stable town square but in the middle of the woods.

As my brothers and I grimaced, dad was smiling ear to ear. I could practically hear his thoughts regarding ready to take on a challenge and flip this town inside-out.

"I can make this work." Noah said approvingly.

"Welcome to my humble abode!" Terry said, literally appearing out of the woods.

"Wait, your place?" Adam complained.

"Never mind." Noah shook his head.

"It's ours." Dad clarified. "For now." Dad added.

Right about now I could feel a temper tantrum coming from Adam and disappointment seeping from Noah. Though this changed when Terry stated there's pizza waiting for us in the barn next to the house. Yup, barn.

"Race you." Adam took off, not giving Noah or me a head start.

"Ugh, so not fair." Noah chased after him.

"Come Bill, we have lot's to discuss." Terry nodded towards dad.

Dad waved goodbye as he followed him to the farm house as I was left wondering why my brothers and I weren't permitted in there until they were done discussing business. Everyone and everything about this town seemed sketchy, leaving a cold chill down my spine. Nonetheless I followed the trail leading to the barn.

"I swear it's colder in here than outside." Noah complained, shoving two slices of pizza in his mouth.

"Did you know Terry is also the mayor?" Adam informed us, ignoring Noah's complaints.

"I thought he was just the ferry guide?" I joined my brothers, grabbing a slice for myself.

Adam chewed with his mouth open, "He's both I guess."

"Why would the mayor of Hollow Groves ferry us here? That doesn't make any sense." I said.

"Heck do I know?" Adam shrugged.

Noah tried playing a video on his phone shortly afterwards but received no service, followed by an angry Adam who cursed that he needed to call his girlfriend. I groaned too, cause what else could I do without service? Come to think of it, Noah was right: it is colder inside than out.

Through the midst of the complaints and shouts of agony coming from Adam and Noah, I heard another coming from the corridor.

"Shut up for a second!" I whisper yelled to them.

"What are you on about now?" Noah responded until surely enough they both heard it.

At first it was just shuffling, then came muffled whispering and next came the shadow.

"Dad? That's not funny!" Noah insinuated he was trying to scare us.

Whoever or whatever it was, it's working.

"Knock it off, dad." Adam finally joined in.

The shadow remained far too still, dad was always moving. "It's not dad." I stated.

Suddenly the fear of being in the middle of nowhere with a possible stranger settled heavily into our bones.

Muffled laughter came from the shadow before it took off and before I knew it, Adam took off after him. "Enough of this crap!"

Noah chased after Adam when I motioned him to stay put, leaving me all alone with a second shadow.