Crestwood Investigation

Chapter 43: No Escape

As the three friends Tyler, Joshua, and Hannah climbed into Joshua's car outside the warehouse the atmosphere was heavy with sadness and uncertainty of what the future held, the weight of recent events hung over them like a dark cloud, Tyler slid into the backseat while Joshua took the driver's seat and Hannah settled into the passenger side.

As Joshua turned the key in the ignition the engine roared to life but the familiar hum of the car's motor offered little comfort in the face of their grim new reality, with a heavy heart Joshua pulled out of the warehouse parking lot the headlights cutting through the darkness as they drove away from the scene of their recent ordeal.

Silence filled the car as they navigated the empty streets of Crestwood each lost in their own thoughts, Tyler stared out the window, his gaze fixed on the passing buildings as he thought about his near death experience and the loss of their friends, while Hannah fidgeted nervously with the hem of her shirt as she tried to not break down more right now, Joshua's hands gripped the steering wheel tightly his knuckles white with tension as he wrestled with the loss of Michael, Emma and Lindsey

Tyler spoke
"I can't believe this is over, I can't believe how it happened, I can't help but feel guilty I didn't make it."

Joshua replied
"No, don't blame yourself, you were at risk as much as everyone else was, when we get out of Crestwood we need to get ahold of some people before we head back to our homes, I hope Isabelle and Pete are not too worried."

As they approached an exit that would lead them out of Crestwood, they thought of what would come next but as the car neared the boundary of the town, a sudden jolt rocked the vehicle causing Joshua to swerve to a stop.

"What the hell was that?" Tyler exclaimed his voice laced with confusion as he glanced around the car searching for the source of the disturbance.

Joshua was deep in concentration as he peered through the windshield, his eyes narrowing in disbelief. "I don't know," he replied his voice tinged with unease. "It felt like we hit some kind of barrier but I didn't see anything."

Hannah's hands trembled as she reached out to touch the invisible barrier her fingers meeting only empty air "This doesn't make any sense, did I never actually wake up?" she muttered "Why can't we leave Crestwood? What's keeping us here?"

The realization dawned on them sending shivers down their spines, it appeared they were trapped ensnared in a web of uncertainty and despair with no way out, questions swirled through their minds, each more troubling than the last, was this their reality now? Were they doomed to remain in Crestwood forever?

With a heavy sigh Joshua turned the car around, the tires crunching against the pavement as they retraced their path back towards the heart of Crestwood, the once familiar streets now seemed to stretch on endlessly an endless maze of uncertainty and fear.

As they drove in silence again the weight of their predicament pressing down on them like a suffocating blanket.

Each passing moment only seemed to deepen the sense of unease that hung over them like a dark cloud, their thoughts consumed by the mystery of the invisible barrier that had thwarted their attempt to leave the town making them feel as if Rache somehow is doing something.

With a heavy sigh Joshua broke the silence that had settled over them, his voice tinged with concern and unknown "I think we should go back to my house" he suggested his gaze fixed on the road ahead. "We need to tell Isabelle what's happened with everything she needs to know the bad news and we figure out our next steps for that barrier now."

Tyler nodded in agreement a sense of relief washing over him at the prospect of seeking refuge in Joshua's home "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea" he replied "Maybe Isabelle can help shed some light on what's going on and we can figure out how to break through whatever barrier is keeping us trapped here and look it up online some."

Hannah's brow raised in thought as she considered their options, her mind racing with possibilities. "And we can't just leave their bodies out there" she added softly "We need to give them a proper farewell."

With a sense of purpose driving them forward Joshua navigated the familiar streets of Crestwood his hands steady on the wheel as they made their way towards his home, the journey passed in silence each of them lost in their own thoughts as they grappled with the enormity of their situation.

As they pulled up to Joshua's house a wave of relief washed over them, the sight of the familiar building offering a brief respite from the chaos that had engulfed their lives, with a sense of urgency they hurried inside the door already unlocked and closing behind them with a soft click.

Joshua leading the way felt a bit of relief to be at home with his wife and son, however, the sight that greeted him shattered any semblance of peace he had hoped to find, his eyes widened in horror as he took in the grisly scene before him, Isabelle and Pete laying motionless on the floor, their lifeless bodies marred by the brutality of their deaths.

"No... no this can't be happening... No.." Joshua murmured his voice trembling with disbelief as he rushed to their side his hands shaking as he reached out to touch them, but as his fingers made contact with their cold lifeless skin the reality of their deaths washed over him like a tidal wave leaving him reeling in shock and horror.

Tyler and Hannah stood frozen in place their expressions a mirror of Joshua's own shock and horror, the air in the room felt heavy with grief and despair as they struggled to comprehend the unthinkable tragedy that had unfolded before their eyes.

Hannah's hands flew to her mouth in horror as tears welled in her eyes, the sight of Isabelle and Pete's lifeless forms sending a wave of nausea coursing through her body "Oh my god... no this can't be real" she whispered.

But Joshua could only stare down at his wife and son in a now stunned silence, his mind struggling to process it all, he saw the stab wounds over their bodies that looked brutal.

With trembling hands Joshua reached for his phone his fingers fumbling with the keypad as he dialed the emergency number "We need help" he said his voice choked with emotion as he relayed the grim details of the situation "Please send someone as soon as you can, it's my wife and son, somebody killed them."

The line back simply did a deep demonic chuckle that sounded like... Rache!
"You banished me from your world but you're in my realm now."