Hole in a Field, Chap 21

A little while ago I wrote a short story for the L. Ron Hubbard "Writers of the Future Contest".  I did not win, and I know why, my story is really more horror than Science Fiction or Fantasy.  But I decided that I will post each chapter here on my blog.  There are 37 very short chapters, for a total of 15,000 words, about a fifth of a modern novel.  Here is the start.

Chapter 21:

Todd sat in a local doctor’s office, empty aside from himself and the bed which Allison rested on. He didn't remember the ride over aside from the old-time ambulance, anachronistic in its own quaint way.

Todd sat next to Allison’s bed, facing the opposing wall. Through the window he could see the sign that overlooked the office, and it was blank.  “That’s weird.”  Todd narrowed his eyes, thinking hard about the blank sign. He turned and started, “Ali…”  Reminded of her condition, Todd turned away from her and looked back at the sign, then down at his feet, and back out at the sign.  “No history,”  he said.

Todd began to pace the room, thinking back through all of the things that had led to him being there.  “Farmer falls into a hole.  Agents fall into a hole.  No history of holes.  No history of anything.  No legends, no celebrities, and no landmarks really…”  He had gotten that last bit of info from the town library, but he didn't remember how.  He didn't remember talking to anyone there.  He didn't remember the name of the library.  What was the name of the park they had been in?  There weren't any names on any businesses; they all just had “Laundromat” or “Antiques,” he didn't remember any Pizza Hut, or McDonald’s.

“What about the paramedics?”  Todd said to himself; he tried to remember how Allison had gotten to the Doctor’s office, the faces of the guys who had helped them… or were they women?  Was there more than one?

Todd was at this instant lost in thought. Bits and pieces were falling into place in his mind and the as they did so the gaps became all the more clear and distinct to his sight, but unfortunately that sight did not take notice of the slinking shape twisting its way across the floor.

The shape moved like mist rolls, twisting like the shadow cast by a wind mobile, moving toward the unconscious Allison.  As it neared the bedstand it contorted to be tall rather than long, and took hold of the bed where she laid unprepared. It moved upward it its strange fashion, up the side and across the bed, over Allison, and then it was gone.  And Allison was awake.

She was silent and her eyes were still distorted in color. She sat up, all while Todd remained looking out at the blank sign outside.  She rose then, still silent, and crept up behind Todd, who somehow remained lost in thought.