Oasis Syndrome

A curse created from a Native American Tribe. A unknown tribe that had once lived at Oasis Planes. When the tribe was attacked and slaughtered by outsiders. Tainted with hatred, the chief cursed the lands as he died.

It turns out. For Dustville. Most of the town used to be run by Native Americans until they were overturned by other people from different nationality.

Scared of the curse coming to claim them, the residents of the town got desperate and resort to violence.

If any unlucky visitors were to come during the full moon on a summer day. Mysterious cultists ordered by residents would produce mass kidnappings and ritualistic slaughtering the outsiders to have them sacrificed to appease the vengeful spirits of the Native American tribes.

However, if they don't have enough people to sacrifice. A invisible plague created by the tribe known as the "Oasis Syndrome" comes and turns the residents into cold blooded monsters that will commit horrendous crimes.

The events only last for about a week for the vicious cycle to end.

Howie: And...That's the story of the Oasis Syndrome.

Jake:....

Melody:....

Tommy:....

Tessa:....

Dudley:...

They couldn't believe what they were hearing. So if Howie was true to his words. Then they were all in terrible danger.

In either two or three days, the Oasis Syndrome will come and the people here will turn into monsters.

Jake was bewildered hearing Howie's story. If this was some kind of sick joke. He wasn't laughing. But after learning so much about Howie. It was known that he was someone who do not play around. Seeing the seriousness in the older man's tone brought shivers down his spine.

Melody was horrified. Monsters. Cultists. Native American Tribes. Oasis Syndrome. All of this was too much for her brain to process to the point where it could overload her rational thinking. She wanted to believe all of this was impossible. She was going to either get a headache or shutdown. She wanted to calm down but the exact same time. She wanted to scream and lash out. At how she wondered. Her brothers? Tessa? Dudley? Howie? Herself...Fuck. She don't know.

Tommy wanted to start crying again as usual. Things were starting to take anoyher wrong turn and their chances for survival were becoming very low. What if they don't make it out of this town? What if they die? How will they die? Will they die by the monsters? The residents? Even an eight year old like himself can tell things were not looking good for any of them.

Tessa wasn't happy to hear such a story. Her car was missing. They were trapped here with no help or hope for survival. Misty was missing with a possible chance of being a victim to the cultist. What can they do? She didn't know what to do.

Unlike the others, Dudley couldn't remain calm or angry. He just felt... infuriated. Could they even trust Howie's story? Could they even Howie himself to begin with? Why is he even telling them all this? Isn't he supposed to be the enemy? What could he do...? What could all of them do?

....Nothing?

Melody: W-Wait...What about the monster we were seeing? What does that have to do with Oasis Syndrome? Does it have a connection to it?

Howie: Partially...The monster that you are seeing...is possibly chance called a Shade. A evil spirit summoned by the cultist to haunt them in their dreams, resulting in their deaths. That's why I'm telling you for own good. You must leave this place. Because what will happen soon...I can't help you when that time comes.

Dudley:....Then why are you helping us to begin with?

Howie:.....It's complicated.

Dudley: See. I told you guys we can't trust him.

Howie: I know you can't trust but I can assure you that I'm an ally.

Dudley: I don't believe you. I bet you'll stab us in the back later. The type of person who doublecross us! Are you working for the enemy?!

Tessa: Alright! That's enough, Dudley!

Jake: Now is the not the time, Dudley! We have to find a way out of here! I mean I know that's what we been doing for the past few days. But something has to help us in this situation.

Tessa: I agree with Jake. I just hope I can find Misty soon...

Dudley:....

Howie: What you guys do now it's not up to me. But I hope you do find a way out of this town. I'll take my leave. Please...get out of this town while you still can.

The Indian man left as everyone was left in their thoughts before they turned to each other. No one spoke a word as silence was all that was heard.

No one didn't know what to say or what to do. Things were tense between them.

Dudley: I...Uhh...

Everyone looked to Dudley as he spoke first.

Dudley: I'm going to continue looking for a way out myself. I'll tell you guys if I find anything...later...

He leaves the siblings' room after that.

Tessa: I...guess I'll go too. We'll talk again later on in the morning.

Jake: Yeah. Because tomorrow. We'll most definitely look for a way out.

They can't wait any longer than this. If they do, who knows what might happen besides the residents here in this town.

Jake: BTW...What do you think? Do you think we should trust Howie?

Tessa:....It's not just Howie I'm worried about. I'm also a bit concerned about Dudley.

Jake: Hmm? Dudley?

What about Dudley he wanted to ask but Tessa seemed to already beat him to the punch providing an answer.

Tessa: I mean...if it's just me...I could've swore he had a intense look in his eyes. Something that scream "Death".

Melody:....

Tommy:....

Jake: Are you sure...?

Tessa: Yeah. I know he don't trust Howie because he's an resident in this town. But still...the way he reacted though...it was scary...

Tommy: It was...

Melody: Tbh, I've never seen him act like that before. He always gave me the impression that he was some happy go lucky guy whose into cryptid things...but the way he yelled at Howie...it was like...

He was whole different person...

Jake:...

Melody: I hope it was just our imagination...

Tessa:...Yeah. But let's cut him some slack as well. In this situation, we should all be angry. Our lives on the line.

Jake: Yep. You're so right.

Tessa:....Hey...Jake...Guys...Do you think...we'll be able to find Misty...?

Melody:...

Tommy:....

Like earlier, no one dared to spoke a word. Seeing the stressed look on Tessa's face. Jake broke through the silence as he answered truthfully.

Jake: I...don't even know anymore.

Tessa: Yeah...I was afraid of that...I guess...I was just having wishful thinking.

She didn't say anything else as she left for her room...in tears...

Melody: Wait to go bro, you made her cry...

Jake: *Growls* What was I supposed to do? Lie to her....If anything, from Tommy's story, from what he saw in the mines, that girl could be good as dead.

Tommy:...

Jake: *Sighs* Let's just go to bed...maybe this time, we'll try to have some pleasant dreams...

Melody:....I hope so.

Tommy: Come on Barry...

The siblings went to bed early as the sun set down towards the night and the stars come out.

.....

Jake woke up in a start panting as he got up from his bed. He looked to his right to see that Tommy was still asleep next to him. Melody was snoring nearby in her own bed a few spaces away.

For some reason, Jake couldn't sleep.

He wasn't tired anymore and he wasn't hungry for any late night snack.

He turned his attention to the clock nearby to see that was one-thirty in the morning.

He didn't feel like going back to sleep either.

Jake:....Hmmm...Maybe I could step out for a bit...I could find something to help us get out of here...

He then looked at his siblings. He knows what he's about to do is risky. But if it helps get everyone out of here, he'll take that risk.

Jake quietly hops out of bed and puts his shoes on. He then grabs the flashlight next to him, opens the door, before looking back at his younger sister and brother.

Jake: (If I'm not back, I hope you guys delete my internet history and have Tessa take care of you guys...)

He never thought he would act like a big brother for once.

He let out a small sigh and put on a brave face. Surely, there's something in this town that they missed.

What he's about to do was crazy. He knows...but fuck it.

Jake:...Here I go...

He gently closed the door behind him and locked it before heading downstairs and leaving the motel.

His quest for answers starts now.