*Tommy's Pov*

We leave the motel to look for the missing lady named Misty Brooks.

Miss Tessa said the last time she saw her was when she leaving the motel yesterday to get a few items but after that, she hasn't returned since.

That's...very strange.

We helped Miss Tessa hanged up flyers with Misty's face on it.

"Have You Seen Me?"

Once again we gotten weird looks from people but Jake told me to ignore them. It's...kind of hard too when you feel someone's eyes watching you...

So...if Miss Misty went to get some items. She probably went to the store.

However, once we got there. We haven't gotten any leads on where she could be at.

The big guy that works there was no help either.

"Either pay up or get out!"

That's all he kept telling us...

So Mean...

Jake: Okay Tessa. Does the GPS say anything?

Tessa: According to the GPS, it says Misty's phone is close by the desert road.

Me: M-Maybe she's there at the desert road.

Melody: Why would she be there all by herself?

Me: I-I don't know. Maybe she's waiting for Miss Tessa to show up?

Tessa: Well...Even if she was, she would've told me that a day ago. If she did, I wouldn't be filing for a missing persons report.

Me: O-Oh...right.

That goes make more sense.

Jake: Lol. So dumb.

Me: Hey!

Tessa: Jake. Don't be mean to your brother.

Jake: You try living with him your whole life.

Tessa: It depends on how Tommy here acts. Also siblings should get along. You guys may not know it but you will need each other.

Melody: Yeah right. I would be fine without these two.

Jake: The feeling is mutual.

*Sniff* Why must they be so horrible...

Tessa: Guys. Come on. You'll make Tommy cry.

Melody: Isn't the first time. Don't worry. You'll get used to it.

Jake: Anyway. Let's hit the desert road and find Misty. We're close by anyway.

As soon as we made it towards the desert road. We all stopped upon seeing the sight in front of us.

Jake: No Way...

Melody: What the...?

Tessa:.....

I whimpered as I clutched my teddy bear, Barry in my arms. I couldn't believe what we were seeing.

On the desert road...was a bunch of big huge scorpions and hairy looking spiders all over the place blocking our way.

They looked scary...

Jake: Holy Fuck...

Tessa: Scorpions...

Melody: And Tarantulas...

Jake: Oh Great. Just our luck. Looks like we won't be leaving the desert town anytime soon with these bastards running around.

Me: W-Why not?! I don't want to stay here?!

Melody: Well...would you rather take your chances with a bunch of poisonous arachnids?

Me: I....No....

It's not worth the risk....

Tessa: But...But...Misty...

Jake: Sorry Tessa. If it makes you feel any better. We'll try again tomorrow.

Tessa: No...It doesn't make me feel any better. Every minute on this search counts. If I stop now, Misty could be in serious danger.

Jake: Alright....We'll continue the search. I think I know somebody that can help?

Melody: Who?

Yeah...Who? Did Big Brother Jake meet someone while he was out?

...

A few minute later, we followed Jake all the way to some bar that he seems familiar with.

We all took a good look at the place. It seems like the most decent place to be at out of this desert town.

Barry seems to agree as well.

Seeing that makes me feel safe.

Jake then walked on over to a table where does was a strange man at.

Jake: Dudley, dude.

Dudley: Hm? Oh Jake. Nice to see ya too, little buddy. Who are your friends?

Jake: These are my siblings that I mentioned. The glasses nerd is my sister, Melody, and the little crybaby here with the bear is our brother, Thomas. But you can call him Tommy.

We both glared at him.

Dudley: Nice to meet you guys~!

Tommy: H-Hi...

Melody hid behind Tessa who giggled a little at her antics. Oh that's right. Melody is not used to taking to others outside of her group chats.

Jake: Don't worry about her, she's shy.

Tessa: Ahem~!

Jake: Oh right. This young sassy lady is Tessa. We're in the same motel.

Dudley: Pleasure to meet ya too, Tessa.

Tessa: Same! Nice to meet you too! If you have a time machine, would you go back to the future?

Time Machine?

Dudley: Uhhh...

Tessa: Or how about...if there was something you had done and had regretted in the past, would you change it?

Jake: What is this, 21 questions? You should cut to the chase, Tessa.

Tessa: Right right. I'm getting to that. So Dudley, was it? You been here for how long?

Dudley: Three days now.

Tessa: Great! Okay! Do you know a girl named Misty Brooks? She's my best friend and she's currently missing? Have you seen her?

The man Dudley paused for a moment as if he was deep thought but shook his head.

Dudley: Sorry. I'm drawing a blank here. I don't know anyone named Misty Brooks.

Tessa: I see...

She sounded disappointed...I would be too if Barry was missing and nobody could be able to find him.

Dudley: I have seen some flyers recently around town though.

Tessa: That would be us!

Dudley: Oh. So you're the one who posted them up. How long was the girl gone?

Tessa: More than 24 hours. I asked for help from the police but to no avail.

Jake: Yeah. Those bastards just brushed her off.

Dudley: Wow. How rude...

Melody: It was very rude. I mean... isn't it their job to help people insteading of dismissing a case of person's disappearance. They should get fired for that.

Tessa: Yeah! I agree! Poor Misty...I'm really worried.

Dudley: I'm...sorry for your loss. I hope you do find your friend.

Tessa: Thank you! I hope so too!

Jake: So...do you know anything about this, Dudley?

The atmosphere around us got tense after Jake asked that question.

Dudley: Well....I may have something...Ever since I came here. I have noticed something strange about this town...

Tessa: Like what?

Dudley looked around for some reason. Almost like he didn't want no one listening on our conversation...

Dudley: Well...Have you received any...Strange looks ever since you guys got here?

Melody: We...sure have...

Tessa: Me too.

Jake: Wait...You too Tessa?!

She nodded gravely. Oh...I don't like this. Not at all. I was really hoping we would forget about all this.

Dudley: Funny. I received those looks too. At first, I thought it was just my mind playing tricks on me. But the after that, I noticed I have received a few stares from others since I came to this town. Almost like...I wasn't wanted here...

Jake: Guess that applies for us as well. I did remember seeing the innkeeper acting suspecious before the dog was killed.

That made both Tessa's and Dudley's eyes went wide.

Tessa: What?!

Dudley: A dog...died?

Jake: Yeah. The receptionist lady was acting really suspecious when I mentioned the dog. She claimed it wasn't hers but the name on the dog collar proved otherwise...

Dudley: Hmmm...

Melody: Okay...We're getting off topic. What does all of this have to do with Misty?

Dudley: I don't know but it could be just an coincidence...

Coincidence...?

Dudley: I mean...this Misty girl is missing, the police brushing it off, and the people here are acting strangely as if we never exist to them. Also...

The dog...It was mutilated...why...?

Why would someone kill an animal and just...leave it behind? Only to come back for it...

Jake: What...are you getting at?

Dudley:...I heard some rumors going around. For some reason, I get the feeling this town doesn't take two kindly to outsiders.

We all went quiet after he said that.

"You kids are strangers to this town. Be Warned. Strangers Don't Last Long Here."

Hearing that made me remember the strange old lady words. There was sinking feeling in my gut. I don't know why...but now I feel really scared.

Jake: So you're saying... it's possible that Dustville is hiding something?

Dudley made an weird smile that didn't sit right with me. I wasn't the only one. Miss Tessa seem to caught onto it as well while Jake and Melody remained clueless.

Dudley:....Call it an intuition...you know how the story goes in horror novels. Think about it. A missing person's case. Someone dying a day later. The townsfolk acting a suspecious an brushing it off as an accident. Everybody in a small town is in on a secret. A dark secret that nobody outside the town must know. Once then the visiting main character slowly begins to suspect that something is terribly wrong.

I clutched onto Barry even more.

I want to go home...