Kisses from the Grave - Chapter 4 (standard:Ghost stories, 2982 words) [4/8] show all parts
Author: kissofthehungry	Added: Jan 22 2005	Views/Reads: 2830/2199	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Mark is determined to find out what caused the house to be put on the market, but the town's lips are sealed. Meanwhile, he experiences more strange occurances in the house.

When he went downstairs, the smell of french toast made his stomach
gurgle.  His mother hadn't made breakfast since he was little and he 
hadn't realized how much he missed it until that moment.  His dad was 
already at the table, wolfing down his portion and nodded in 
acknowledgment when he sat down. 

"How'd you sleep?" his mom asked, setting a plate down in front of him
and heaping on three slices of the sweet bread. 

His mouth drooling, he grabbed the syrup and replied, "Fine."  He never
talked about his dreams with his parents, it was bad enough he had to 
suffer through them, he didn't want to relive them too.  Also, he 
didn't want to mention that he had sleepwalked.  That would only worry 
his mother and they might do something extreme to stop him from 
sleepwalking.  It wasn't something that he had enjoyed but he had a 
feeling that there was a purpose to it. 

"I'm going to the hardware store to pick up some supplies, want to come
with me?" his dad asked, his mouth full of toast.  Mark was shocked, 
his dad was inviting him to do something with him?  There was no way he 
was going to refuse, maybe his dad was finally forgiving him. 

"Yeah sure, that sounds great," he didn't mean to sound so enthusiastic
but he was excited that his dad had actually asked him to do something 
with him.  It didn't seem possible.  Homemade breakfast and a trip to 
town with his dad all in one day. 

After breakfast, they hopped in the car and began to drive to town.  It
was a half hour drive but it seemed much longer, for even though his 
father had invited him out, he didn't talk at all.  So, Mark spent the 
ride staring out the window at the tree groves and fields with the 
occasional country house looming into view.  His enthusiasm had died 
within five minutes of being in the car with is dad.  He was just as 
cold as ever but it was still something that he had invited him out. 

He thought back to the accident, of all the lives that had been lost. 
Benny, smart lively Benny, who had the world going for him.  Benny had 
been there for him through everything, it seemed weird that he was 
gone.  Who would get into trouble with him or help him through the 
tough times?  It didn't seem real that he was gone even though he'd sat 
with him as he died.  Mark almost expected a phone call from him asking 
if he wanted to go catch a movie or dive into one of his far fetched 
schemes. 

Then his mind was on last night, the kitchen, with it's invisible guest.
 What had really happened?  Had he been imaginging the whole thing?  
Though, he didn't really believe that, especially not after the dream 
with Desiree.  Something was trying to use Desiree to get a message 
through which was why he didn't mind riding in the car with his silent 
father.  He'd get to town and ask around, someone had to know 
something. 

The hardware store was a little mom and pop kind of place, Al's
Hardware, guaranteed to not be found in any other town.  The town 
itself, more like a street with buildings on it, looked as if it had 
been removed right from the scene of a ghost town.  The buildings all 
seemed to be leaning one way or another and were in desperate need of 
paint.  There were a couple cars but no people out on the street. Mark 
found himself wondering if everyone was dead, a horror movie come to 
life. 

Then they walked into the hardware store and a smiling old man was at
the counter, "Hey Mark, if you want, go explore a bit.  Get to know 
this place.  Just be back in an hour."  He looked at his dad, as if 
unsure of what to do.  Explore?  Explore what, but he nodded his head 
and turned back out of the store.  For a moment, he stood looking 
blankly about, wondering what he was going to do.  The market store 
jumped out at him and he promptly strode over. 

The place was more alive than it appeared to be.  Inside were three
cashiers, all older and gossiping amongst each other.  One was helping 
a brunette woman with a baby check out.  From somewhere back in the 
store, he heard two men talking to each other, discussing the placement 
of some product.  He was surprised, he had expected emptiness or slain 
bodies cast about. 


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