“I’m just saying! If dentists reuse teeth for practice, do they do the same thing with amputated limbs?” Nick cried out as we walked down the street.

“And I’m just saying that this isn’t the kinda thing that you talk about in the street in the middle of the day! Wait until the night time like the rest of us.” Sarah argues back. This argument had somehow been going on for a good ten minutes. Maybe it’s a sibling thing. We weren’t too far from the tracks so I figured that I should probably remind them that we weren’t planning on spending the entire afternoon debating the morality of using someone’s severed arm to teach med students.

“Not that this isn’t an absolutely thrilling topic of conversation but we’re almost there and I for one, want my sour worms.”

Sarah flashed me a look of confusion, “sour worms? When did you have time to get those? I thought you worked all day.”

“Nick and I met up at the shop before we went to get you.” Sarah whirled around to look at Nick, her eye’s squinting at him in anger.

“You didn’t tell me you were going to get snacks!” She throws her hands up in the air, “I for one would have loved to know that I didn’t have to spend all night looking for things to bring.”
Nick turned to me, as if I would help him get himself out of that one.

“You’re on your own buddy.” I said, shaking my head at him.

“Thanks you’re a real pal.”

“Don’t think that I didn’t see that you didn’t grab anything for me either Max!” If looks could kill, I think I would’ve gone up in flames.

“Well you see Sarah,” Nick shakes his head at me, shooting me a pleading look, “You’re brother didn’t think to tell me that you were coming until after we left. Otherwise I would have gotten you something.” Sarah once again turned to glare at her brother. “I’ll share my stuff with you though, since there really wouldn’t be enough time to go get you anything else.”

“It’s not about the sweets Max!” I saw Nick prepare to gesture along with her, “it’s about the principle.” I shook my head at her, what can I say except that she’s a theatre kid. “Besides, why do you guys wanna go down the tracks anyway, it’s not like there’s anywhere but forest along them.”

“A couple of weeks ago some stoners went down to the tunnels and spray painted a pretty cool mural along the entrance-way. We figured it would be a good opportunity to get my photography skills up.” Nick answered, gesturing to one of the bags he was carrying.

“So what, were you going to get Max to pose in a couple of them?”

“That was the plan yeah.” I turned my gaze away from the light on the trees on the side street.

“Why’re you asking?” Sarah shot a scrutinising look in my direction.
“Well I mean…” She gestures to me, “what about that.” I couldn’t help but frown at the question.

“What’s wrong with what I have on? It’s one of my only days that I don’t have to wear a polo shirt.”
“Your shirt has a science pun on it.”

“Yeah, and?”

“Whatever, you do you.” Sarah turned back to the street, and seemed to startle, pointing at the end of it. “Look, there’s the tracks! I didn’t realise we were so close.” Nick also seems to startle.

“You guys really don’t pay attention huh? I literally just said we were almost there.” Sarah huffs at me, and picks up her speed so she was walking in front of us. It didn’t take long to get there, Sarah still a couple a steps ahead of Nick and I. I look around at the trees, watching the afternoon light turn the tips of the leaves gold. “God this place is pretty in the afternoon.”
“Yeah…” Nick says, “too bad about the rest of it though.” Sarah bursts out laughing in front of us, causing the rest of us to follow suit. We continued on our way down the tracks, laughing and chatting along the way. Every now and again Sarah would point out a place that we could stop so Nick could get some photos in. By the time we got to the graffiti, we must have stopped about ten times beforehand. It was a good thing that we had the entire afternoon for this walk, wouldn’t want to get stuck out in the woods at night. Everyone that’s anyone knows that there all types of ghouls, ghosts and long leggedy beasties out there.

“We’re finally here guys!” I said, pretty goddamn excited to finally have a spot to just sit for a awhile without worrying about Nick taking yet another photo of me.

“Oh hell yeah, I wanna see what this graffiti looks like!” Sarah ran over to the tunnels, her footsteps echoing with the quiet of the forest. “Oh my god”

“What?” Nick asked, jogging over to her. I see him pause just outside of the tunnels and stare at one of the walls. He had an unreadable look on his face. I fastened my steps, trying to see what gave them such a reaction. It wasn’t until I got a couple of steps from Nick that I was able to see what it was that was spray painted on the wall. I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“Don’t laugh! I can’t believe we came all the way out here for this!” Nick gestured at the wall, a look of anguish on his face.

“I don’t know Nick, it’s pretty realistic looking if you ask me. These guys must be professionals.”

“It’s a good thing nobodies asking you then, isn’t it Max.” Nick said, turning to shoot me a deadpan look. The entire time Sarah was just stared at the wall in disbelief.

“So what’re we going to do now then? I doubt you want to take pictures of that.” He sent a glare my way.
“I don’t know Max, maybe I’ll have you pose next to it, call it two di-“
“Oi- remembers there are kids around” I cut him off, gesturing to his sister who was still looking at the wall what the hell.

“Who’re you calling a kid gramps.” Sarah said, finally looking away from the graffiti. Oh thank god
“ANYWAY. Since we can’t take pictures here for obvious reasons,” Nick said, gesturing once again to the wall, “what’re we going to do with the rest of the afternoon?”

“I say we go back into town and grab more snacks. Maybe even go to Karen’s house, see how often we can walk past before she gets suspicious.” I suggest. Sarah threw a look at me, “don’t judge me, I used to live down the street from her. You do what you can to keep entertained when you’re like 9 and not allowed to walk anywhere else.”

“But we’re already out here, why would we go back into town?” Sarah asked.

“What are we going to do out here though?” Nick replies.

“Die.”

“Max! No we won’t die out here. I have a better idea though.” I gave Sarah a suspicious look. What’s she playing at? “We should go explore the woods.”