Happy Town

Beth walked as fast as she could; her breaths came out in deep heavy puffs. “Slow down Rick. I can’t keep up with you!”

They were walking on what had been a road, but it was overgrown and barely visible. Rick charged along the path with confidence of a soldier. They were best friends, but complete opposites from hobbies to movies. Beth was shy, out of shape and a nerd. Rick was on the track team, hated school and outgoing. They had been friends since grade school and usually Rick was the one who suggested what to do.

Beth caught up to Rick and took a moment to catch her breath.

“Beth, we need to get you in better shape.”

“I didn’t notice.”

Beth looked up at Rick and smiled if it wasn’t for him she wouldn’t get out at all. He was tall, skinny and eyes as blue as a husky. On the other hand; Beth had black hair, chubby and very short. Rick could be spending his time with the popular kids at their high school instead of her.

“Let’s get going.”

Rick put his hand down and helped her up and Beth noticed a weird look in his eye.

“Maybe we can go on more hikes together.”

Rick reached his arm over and Beth a half hug. “That’s the spirit and trust me this place is worth it.”

“Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise.”

They walked along and the land changed. The brush became thicker, the trees taller and the path became less clear. Large rocks were littered everywhere and they both needed to be careful. The path went up a hill and they worked together, and reached the top. Beth took in the view. In the middle of nowhere a smaller version of a town.

“It’s amazing Rick! What is this?”

“The set for an old show called Happy Town or something stupid like that. The studio that filmed it shut down a long time ago and I guess everyone forgot about it. My mom is obsessed with the show and I was out hiking and found it.”

Beth looked at the town; they were on higher ground so the view was perfect. There was one street with picture perfect houses lined along it. They reminded her of quaint homes from 1950’s, little ramblers with white picket fences. There were six homes in all and one stood out, it was painted brigh blue with brick details. After the homes came the center of the town and looked like any middle America’s main street. Cobble stone sidewalks with a few stores. Beyond that was a library, police station and city hall.

They walked down the street and Beth noticed something odd right away. The grass was kept up and the houses looked ready for filming.

“How long ago did they stop filming?”

“I don’t know, like fifty years. The show was only in black and white, so it’s pretty old.”

“Then who has been taking care of it?”

“What do you mean?”

“Rick this place has been unused for years and its perfect.”

They quickly walked past the houses until they were in the front of the fake stores. Beth and an inner voice scream, “Get the hell out here! Now!” There was a shuffling noise, it sounded like it came from one of the buildings. Beth thought she saw movement in the corner of her eye. The hairs on the back on her arms stood up. She had a strange feeling that they were being watched.

“Did you hear that?”

“Beth stop being weird.”

“This place is creeping me out. I want to leave.”

“We can leave; I wasn’t trying to upset you.”

“Thanks, Rick. That means a lot.”

They turned around and started to leave. Beth looked over at Rick and noted the look of disapointment on his face. It was like someone kicked his puppy.

“What’s wrong Rick?”

“It’s stupid, but I brought you out to ask you out.”

“I never thought of you more than a friend.”

“Why do you think we spend so much time together?”

Beth opened up her mouth to speak, but a loud crash broke her concentration. The house on the left had a freshly broken window. They both looked at each other in surprise. Rick grabbed Beth’s hand and they started running. Another window shattered, they quickened their pace. Beth looked behind to see a cloaked figure sprinting towards them.

“Uhhhg!”

Rick made a strange noise and his body crumpled to the ground. Beth felt herself topple over and slid forward, rocks scraping the skin on her hands. Adrenaline rushed through her body and she kept running. Beth was filled with guilt, she had left Rick behind. The hill was straight ahead, Beth running as fast as she could. A pain started in her side, it was sharp and quickly spread. Her lungs burned. An explosion erupted in the back of her head, she was falling forward and the ground stopped her fall. Then the world turned gray than black.

Epilogue

The cloaked man dragged the bodies into the house. They were both dead. There was a trail of blood, bone and brains that needed to be cleaned. He pushed back his hood revealing a face of horror. His skin was missing, revealing the muscles of his face. His eyes seemed to pop out, veins protruded and pulsated in anger. Once he was a man with a name and flesh, but something terrible had happened. He no longer remembered his name and could not remember anything all. All he knew was waking up in agonizing pain and wondering until he found this place.

After puting the bodies in the living room, he surveyed his catch. Both of them were young and he knelt down feeling their skin. The girl’s skin was much softer and since she was fat and had more to offer. He would start with that one,he sliced off her clothes. Yes, this would do just fine. Then he started cutting the flesh off her back.





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