Grandma's House

Ed now had to go to Mill's Grandmas, so couldn't sit around while watching scary videos and playing video games, he had to get ready and see if he could rent a government vehicle for 24 hours. The city of Cantonuk has a very proactive and transparent government body running many programs, not just in the city but all around the country of Cress. All these programs require a small transaction fee, which for Ed wasn't a worry as he has always been frugal.

Luckily for him 2 cars were available; a two seater and a small 4 door van. The 2 seater was the obvious choice for him so he went with it. Eating dinner with Mills family can be stressful as the amount of money they make in a month will be equivalent to his life work, so the solution to that was to hit up Jeremy Webber. Jeremy could be described as a street physician but most people just say drug dealer.

He sold all kinds of things: downers, opioids, herbs with hallucinogenetic effects but what he was here for was a flower called sibannac. It had calming effects and was actually legal in Cantonuk but only with a medical card, which was actually difficult to get as you need a real reason for it. So the next best way to get it was well, illegally. Being caught with this stuff without a card depending on your situation carries up to a year of jail time, and if Jeremy was caught he would be in a world of legal trouble.

Pulling up to the regular meet spot Jeremy was already there smoking a cigarette fidgeting with his lighter. He was tall and pale, even paler than he was before the last time he saw him. Speaking with a hoarse voice that sounded like rusty sandpaper scrapping together he got the words out "Hey bro, what you need."

"Just a few grams of sinnabac, yo you feeling good man you look paler than normal." Ed said actually kind of worried for him.

"Yeah nothing much besides stress, you know how life can be, too much going on and too little emotion to care, that will be 45 by the way." Jeremy said this as he was packing the good good away, but something about his tone made Ed not believe he was telling the entire truth.

With that out of the way it was on to Mills Grandma's house located in Timberlands Forest. Most forest properties inside Cress's border are owned by the wealthy and are out of the way of the hustle and bustle, so driving there took 45 minutes of scary stories told by one of Eds favorite narrators Dr. Dreary.

The road buzzed with brown noise as a slick silver two door zoomed down while a narrator could be heard saying 'many bodies found without kneeca-' but before he could finish Mill's grandmas could be seen prompting Ed to turn off the video.

After pulling into the driveway the distinct smell of freshly baked bread permeated Ed's nose.

"Yo man welcome back come inside" bursting out of the door Mills grabbed Ed and dragged him inside in one fell swoop. Greeting his parents and grandparents faster than the time before practically breezing past them, but for a good reason at least in Mills mind

showing all the food laid out Mills went on to list all his favorites.

"We got cheese n crackers, spring rolls, calamari, some type of fish eggs, this really good cheese fondue, these pot stickers, oh and my favorite beef ravioli parmesan."

'Damn' Ed thought with a watering mouth, 'I could see why you were in such a rush now.'

"Yo before we eat I got some stuff to smoke, want to?" I said in a quiet whisper

"Hell yeah let's go." Mills was down as he usually was.

After making an excuse after eating a few appetizers the men were out behind the house near a big red wood barn overlooking a nice thick forest canopy. The sun set long ago with the last of its light being eaten by the earth itself. Smoke was rising in the air and disappearing as fast as it came. Coughing, laughing, and music was playing 5 minutes into the smoke session and the vibes were immaculate.

Talking about mysteries and true crime stories while having a good time listening to music was a blessing indeed, all was well when a distant yet clear and bold voice was heard by Ed through the music.

"Hello Xavier ... come ... here"

Turning down the music to hear better Mills questioned Ed "Yo what you doing turn the music up man."

"No no shut up, listen." Deadly quiet Mills and Ed sat there waiting for 15 seconds when they both heard clear as day another distant but voice, coming from the forest, not from the house-hold but definitely from the forest. "Xavier come here and help me sweetie."

Both Mills and Ed looked at each other confused because that was a 100 percent his grandma speaking.

"Why would she be out there now, did she sneak past us into the tree line." Ed expressed his opinion but Mills started walking and gestured for him to come, so Ed did.

"What the hell is she doing out here, we have to make sure she's all right." Mills was worried for the worst.

"Xavier sweetie just a little help please." The voice got quieter, making it harder to hear the closer they tried to get to it.

"Just wait a second, stop seriously she is getting quieter." And with that bit of sense both Mills and Ed stopped inside a very dark forest quite a ways from the tree line.

"What ... I don't" Mills was confused and so was Ed but there was a time and place for discussion and the situation has got both of them officially scared now, and the one feeling in both their guts was telling them to stop and go back to the house, now.

The tree branches were swaying in the wind, the moonlight breaching through with every sway. Blood was pumping fast and not a single insect or animal could be heard apart from Mills and Ed. Everything felt off and there was only one remedy, that was to run back to the house. So when a twig snapped and leaves rustled Ed went to turn to Mills for reassurance and confirmation to run, but he was gone. Turning his head more toward the house he sees Mills hauling ass back form where they came from deserting Ed.

"Goddamn it Mills" Ed roared angry at Mills for leaving him alone in such a fast and quiet manner.

Ed's heart leaped into his mouth and his vision tunnels unlike anything before when huge loud footsteps behind him started to chase. "Shiiiit." Yelling profanities as high as a kite, more scared than he has ever been, Ed almost pissed his himself running out the treeline past the barn.

Courteous enough to open the door for Ed while he was running for his life Mills was yelling and gesturing to him to go faster.

Crashing through the open front door Ed hits a couch catching his momentum while Mills locks up the door. Turning on the outside lights Mills looks out the window for something and anything.

"The hell was that an animal or something, is your grandma here and not out there." Ed was confused and wanted to make sense of what just happened, but Mills just looked at Ed and said oh shit.

They both rushed to the livingroom where the family was gathered playing a fun boardgame while storage battles was playing in the background on the T.V.

Asking in a calm manner like nothing happened just 5 seconds ago Mills asked his grandma "Hey what were you calling us for when we were outside ."

She just responded with a confused look and said "I haven't moved from my seat for the past hour, are you sure that was me."