0 views
The Uncharted Road
#ForgottenTown
The Jenkins family had been planning their road trip for months. It was meant to be a celebration: Marcus had just graduated high school, and his sister, Jada, had been accepted into college. Their parents, Tom and Renee, wanted to give their kids an unforgettable adventure before life took them in different directions. So, they packed up their old but reliable SUV, filled it with snacks and laughter, and set off on what was supposed to be a journey of a lifetime.The journey started smoothly. The family sang along to their favorite songs, played car games, and stopped at picturesque spots along the way. But as they ventured deeper into the countryside, their GPS began to act up. At first, it was a minor inconvenience, but soon the device completely shut down, leaving them to rely on old-fashioned road maps and intuition.As dusk approached, they found themselves driving through a dense forest. The road was narrow and winding, and the trees seemed to close in around them. The map showed no towns or landmarks in the vicinity, but just as they were beginning to worry about finding a place to stay for the night, they saw a sign: "Welcome to Kinsley. Population: 342.""That's strange," Tom muttered, scanning the map. "This town isn't marked here.""Maybe it's new," Jada suggested, but the peeling paint on the sign suggested otherwise.With few options, they decided to explore Kinsley. The town was eerily quiet, its streets empty and its buildings appearing frozen in time. They pulled up to a small motel on the edge of town. The neon sign flickered, casting a ghostly glow over the empty parking lot.Renee went to the front desk to check in. A bell tinkled as she pushed the door open, but no one came to greet her. After a few moments, a man emerged from the back room. He was tall and gaunt, with piercing eyes that seemed to look right through her."Good evening," Renee said, forcing a smile. "We'd like a room for the night."The man's smile was thin and humorless. "Of course. Just passing through?""Yes, our GPS led us astray, and we need a place to stay until we can figure things out."The man nodded, his gaze lingering a moment too long. "Well, you found the right place. But a word of advice—make sure you're indoors before sundown."Renee frowned but took the key he offered. As she turned to leave, she noticed a small sign on the counter: "No refunds after dusk."Back in the car, she relayed the strange encounter to her family. Tom shrugged it off, attributing it to small-town quirks. They found their room, unpacked, and decided to explore the town before dinner.Walking through Kinsley, they couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. The few locals they saw stared at them with cold, appraising eyes. The town felt trapped in another era, and not in a charming way.As the sun dipped below the horizon, the Jenkins family made their way back to the motel. They passed a group of men loitering by an old pickup truck, their eyes following the family with unsettling intensity.Once inside, Tom locked the door and drew the curtains. "Let's get some rest and leave first thing in the morning," he said.Night fell, and an uneasy silence enveloped the town. Suddenly, the sound of engines revving shattered the peace. Tom peered through a crack in the curtains and saw trucks circling the motel, headlights blazing.A sense of dread filled the room. "What do they want?" Marcus whispered.Before anyone could answer, a loudspeaker crackled to life. "Attention, visitors," a voice boomed. "You have until dawn to escape Kinsley. If you're still here when the sun rises, the hunt begins."Panic set in. The family scrambled to gather their belongings. Tom clutched a tire iron, the only weapon they had, and led the way out. They slipped through the back door, hearts pounding, and ran towards the forest.The trees offered some cover, but the sound of engines and barking dogs grew closer. "This way!" Jada urged, pointing to a narrow path.They ran for what felt like hours, the sounds of pursuit never far behind. The forest was disorienting in the dark, every shadow a potential threat. Just as exhaustion threatened to overtake them, they stumbled upon an old, abandoned cabin."Hide in there," Tom whispered.They slipped inside, holding their breath as the hunters' voices drew near. The next few hours were a blur of fear and silence. The family huddled together, praying for daylight.Finally, the first light of dawn crept through the cracks in the cabin walls. The sound of engines faded as the hunters retreated, honoring their twisted game’s rules.When they were sure the danger had passed, the Jenkins family emerged, weary but alive. They navigated through the forest until they found a main road, where a kind trucker offered them a ride to safety.As they drove away, Renee looked back at the fading trees. "We're never speaking of this again," she said.Tom nodded, gripping the wheel. "Agreed."And as the Jenkins family left Kinsley behind, they vowed never to let fear define their travels again, their bond stronger for having faced the darkness together.
© All Rights Reserved
The Jenkins family had been planning their road trip for months. It was meant to be a celebration: Marcus had just graduated high school, and his sister, Jada, had been accepted into college. Their parents, Tom and Renee, wanted to give their kids an unforgettable adventure before life took them in different directions. So, they packed up their old but reliable SUV, filled it with snacks and laughter, and set off on what was supposed to be a journey of a lifetime.The journey started smoothly. The family sang along to their favorite songs, played car games, and stopped at picturesque spots along the way. But as they ventured deeper into the countryside, their GPS began to act up. At first, it was a minor inconvenience, but soon the device completely shut down, leaving them to rely on old-fashioned road maps and intuition.As dusk approached, they found themselves driving through a dense forest. The road was narrow and winding, and the trees seemed to close in around them. The map showed no towns or landmarks in the vicinity, but just as they were beginning to worry about finding a place to stay for the night, they saw a sign: "Welcome to Kinsley. Population: 342.""That's strange," Tom muttered, scanning the map. "This town isn't marked here.""Maybe it's new," Jada suggested, but the peeling paint on the sign suggested otherwise.With few options, they decided to explore Kinsley. The town was eerily quiet, its streets empty and its buildings appearing frozen in time. They pulled up to a small motel on the edge of town. The neon sign flickered, casting a ghostly glow over the empty parking lot.Renee went to the front desk to check in. A bell tinkled as she pushed the door open, but no one came to greet her. After a few moments, a man emerged from the back room. He was tall and gaunt, with piercing eyes that seemed to look right through her."Good evening," Renee said, forcing a smile. "We'd like a room for the night."The man's smile was thin and humorless. "Of course. Just passing through?""Yes, our GPS led us astray, and we need a place to stay until we can figure things out."The man nodded, his gaze lingering a moment too long. "Well, you found the right place. But a word of advice—make sure you're indoors before sundown."Renee frowned but took the key he offered. As she turned to leave, she noticed a small sign on the counter: "No refunds after dusk."Back in the car, she relayed the strange encounter to her family. Tom shrugged it off, attributing it to small-town quirks. They found their room, unpacked, and decided to explore the town before dinner.Walking through Kinsley, they couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. The few locals they saw stared at them with cold, appraising eyes. The town felt trapped in another era, and not in a charming way.As the sun dipped below the horizon, the Jenkins family made their way back to the motel. They passed a group of men loitering by an old pickup truck, their eyes following the family with unsettling intensity.Once inside, Tom locked the door and drew the curtains. "Let's get some rest and leave first thing in the morning," he said.Night fell, and an uneasy silence enveloped the town. Suddenly, the sound of engines revving shattered the peace. Tom peered through a crack in the curtains and saw trucks circling the motel, headlights blazing.A sense of dread filled the room. "What do they want?" Marcus whispered.Before anyone could answer, a loudspeaker crackled to life. "Attention, visitors," a voice boomed. "You have until dawn to escape Kinsley. If you're still here when the sun rises, the hunt begins."Panic set in. The family scrambled to gather their belongings. Tom clutched a tire iron, the only weapon they had, and led the way out. They slipped through the back door, hearts pounding, and ran towards the forest.The trees offered some cover, but the sound of engines and barking dogs grew closer. "This way!" Jada urged, pointing to a narrow path.They ran for what felt like hours, the sounds of pursuit never far behind. The forest was disorienting in the dark, every shadow a potential threat. Just as exhaustion threatened to overtake them, they stumbled upon an old, abandoned cabin."Hide in there," Tom whispered.They slipped inside, holding their breath as the hunters' voices drew near. The next few hours were a blur of fear and silence. The family huddled together, praying for daylight.Finally, the first light of dawn crept through the cracks in the cabin walls. The sound of engines faded as the hunters retreated, honoring their twisted game’s rules.When they were sure the danger had passed, the Jenkins family emerged, weary but alive. They navigated through the forest until they found a main road, where a kind trucker offered them a ride to safety.As they drove away, Renee looked back at the fading trees. "We're never speaking of this again," she said.Tom nodded, gripping the wheel. "Agreed."And as the Jenkins family left Kinsley behind, they vowed never to let fear define their travels again, their bond stronger for having faced the darkness together.
© All Rights Reserved
