Saturday came and Ava was having many mixed emotions. She didn’t know what she was going to expect today but she really wanted answers. She dressed up in a yellow floral dress and grabbed a white coat. It was a very hot day, so she didn’t really need anything warm. There was a soft knock on the door; Ava’s mom answered it.

“Ava!” Lucia called.

“Noah is here!”

“I’m coming Mom!”

Ava ran down the stairs and put her shoes on and grabbed her leather coat.

“Hey, Noah. You ready?” Ava asked.

“Yup.”

Ava walked out of the house and as she was about to close the door her mom stated.

“You two be careful ok?”

“We will Mom. I’ll text you when we get there.”

“Ok. Bye honey.”

Ava waved goodbye as her mom shut the door.

As they were walking towards the bus station, Ava couldn’t help but notice Noah looking at her.

“Is there something wrong?” she questioned.

“What?”

“You keep looking at me. Is there something on my dress?”

Ava quickly looked down at her dress to check for anything.

“Or is it my face?”

Ava vigorously wiped her mouth and face.

“Stop that. Calm down, there’s nothing wrong,” Noah reassured her.

“So why are you looking at me like that?”

Noah’s face went red.

“Uhm. Because... Because. You look pretty in that dress. Yellow suits you.”

“Th-Thank you.”

They both broke eye contact and looked ahead. Ava’s heart was pounding with happiness. She couldn’t believe Noah just said she looked pretty. They reached the bus station and entered the bus sitting next to each other. They sat on the bus watching people leaving and entering the bus, until it was just the two of them. They were no longer in Reapermore town.

The fury of the dark clouds loomed over the houses, slowly engulfing the town in its darkness. The main road that led to and from Ridgefall was now indistinguishable from the surrounding landscape. Dust and debris littered the roads within the town while unkempt gardens are cluttered with forsaken possessions. Some doors were shut tightly, others were broken down. Windowpanes hung perilously from their hinges and here and there drapes had been flung out by the wind. Ridgefall, once bustling with life and brimming with light at this hour was now a mere distant memory of better times. The air which was once filled with the many sounds of a growing community had grown eerily quiet. The silence was only broken up by the occasional animal sound and gust of wind.

Ava and Noah both looked at each other, fear consuming their bodies. They both swallowed, loud enough for them to hear. They both looked around the town, wondering what they got themselves into. They walked ahead through the streets standing very close to each other. Ava looked across the street to see a small alleyway.

There was a man, He was tall. Dressed in a suit, only slightly astray. One corn of his collar was flipped upwards, the end of his belt stuck out of its loop. The grease from his hair seemed to run down his face and onto his neck, highlighting his hollow cheeks and low brow bone. His black eyes were piercing against his pale white skin. She could not decipher whether they showed deep concentration or a vacant mind. She could see his nostrils flare as if each breath he took angered him more than the previous. His face was that of a madman. The man looked at Ava with a murderous look. Ava quickly looked away and walked closer to Noah.

“You okay?” he questioned.

“Yes. Let’s keep going.” Ava quickly said.

He noticed her worriedness and held her hand, not looking at her reaction. Ava got startled when Noah held her hand, but she soon got adjusted to the feeling and smiled.

The streetlight flickered, casting an eerie glow. The cracked pavement looked like gashes. A lone lorry came thundering down the street. It was quickly swallowed in the dark. Ava shivered as a cold gust of wind rushed through her body. They kept walking until they found Hanging Hill Lane.

They walked down the street looking for a shop named Timeless Treasures. It felt like they were walking for ages. They then found a homeless man on the side of the road. Ava pulled Noah towards the man.

“Excuse me, sir?” Ava inquired.

The man looked at Ava with a disoriented face. It was as if he was lost. Ava tried catching his attention.

“Do you know where Timeless Treasures is?” Noah asked.

“Leave. Leave before it’s too late...” the old man groaned.

Ava and Noah both looked at each other confused of what the deranged man was saying.

“Can you please point to us where Timeless Treasures is?” Ava politely asked.

“Save yourselves...” he continued.

He mumbled a few things that they couldn’t hear. They both looked at the man, then suddenly he pointed to the left of them with his bony fingers.

“Beware...” he ended.

They both walked across the road to the other side. Ava looked back, wondering how the confused, old man managed to get there. The further they went the more the street smelt like rotting animals. Ava and Noah both covered their noses with their free hands. When they saw the broken signboard they immediately regretted ever coming. They stood in front of the shop, terrified as to what was inside. It wasn't too small, and it was quite old. If anyone were walking past it outside, they'd probably walk away without giving it a second chance.

The windows were smashed into pieces, but it seemed like no-one actually went inside. The door was hanging by one hinge and it was as if it had been raided. The wind blew by carrying all the newspapers and rubbish with it.

Ava tightly held unto Noah's arm in fear, wondering what was behind that door.