Later on Avery came back in and handed Zach a plate heaping with a mixture of wild edible roots, greens from their garden out back, and stale bread crumbs.

“A growing boy needs his vegetables,” Avery said snickering.

“Oh get out here you scamp!” Zach said, throwing the damp cloth.

Avery ducked like Zach had thrown a cast iron pot at him, “Ok Ok, but don’t forget to eat it slowly.” Avery said smiling.

“I won't,” Zach said.

He grabbed a large piece of lettuce and munched on it as he sat down to do some paperwork. He was rifling through some old inventory reports when he heard a knock to his door. 

“It's open…” Zach said.

There was no response nor did the door open.

“Avery? It’s open!” Zach called out, but the only response was the door knocking again.

Zach got up from his chair and walked over to his door. Opening it Zach saw nothing, then there was a sound like a finger being dragged down the hallway wall away from Zach. Curious, he followed it all the way to his front door. The knocking now came from the front door which was right in front of him.

He opened it but saw nothing, it had grown dark and everyone was either in bed or in the tavern. The sound of gravel crunching started to move away from Zach towards the town square. A chill ran down Zach’s spine, but still curious Zach followed. When Zach got to the town square, which was deserted, the sound stopped.

The old fountain that always was off during the night was on and an Eerie red, blue, yellow glow was coming from the water. Zach stepped up to the fountain and a smell of rotten eggs lofted out of it.

‘Brimstone’ Zach thought, as he took a step back.

“Soon” the voice from his dream said coming from the fountain. Then everything was normal.