Across town, the quiet hum of the ceiling fan filled Kristi's small infirmary.
She sat at her desk, half-focused on the jigsaw puzzle she'd been slowly piecing together for months.
It was a sky scene. The central focus was a bald eagle holding a snake in its claw, clouds, the sun, and wide open field in the background. The kind of picture that didn't exist here.
Behind her, Jade lay motionless on the cot. His chest rose and fell steadily, his pulse strong.
She was taking a break, jotting notes in a worn journal when the sudden gasp snapped her upright.
Kristi spun around just as Jade sat bolt upright, eyes wide and wild.
"Hey... hey, easy," she said quickly, stepping toward him.
Jade looked around the room, disoriented. His breathing came fast, panicked. "Where the hell am I?"
Kristi lifted her hands, calm but firm. "You're safe. You were in an accident... your car crashed just outside of town."
Jade blinked, trying to process. "What? No... no, that's not... Where's Tobey?!"
Kristi's expression softened. "I'm sorry. I was told your friend didn't make it."
Jade stared at her like she'd spoken another language. "No. No, that's not true… H-he has to be fine, I was just with him. He was..."
Jade clutched his head, shaking it violently. "No, that can't be true!"
"Please," Kristi said gently, "just take a breath and sit back. I need to explain a few things."
"I don't want to fucking sit down!" Jade snapped, voice raw with grief and confusion.
That's when Kenny burst through the door.
He'd heard the yelling from the other room and rushed in, one hand resting near his holster.
"Hey!" Kenny barked. "Sit down."
Something in his tone, cut through all the noise in Jade's head.
He looked up, saw the hand Kenny had near his gun, and froze.
After a tense beat, Jade exhaled sharply and dropped back onto the cot in defeat. "Fine," he muttered. "Just… tell me what's going on."
Kristi and Kenny exchanged a look.
Kristi sat across from Jade, speaking slowly, carefully. "There's no way to leave. We've tried everything we can think of," she said. "You can drive in any direction. you'll just end up back here. Always."
Jade stared at her for a long moment, then burst into a sharp laugh. "Right. Yeah. Sure." He rubbed a hand over his face and leaned back against the wall.
"Okay, okay... So, let me get this straight. My car crashes, I wake up in some kimd of Podunk Twilight Zone, and you're telling me I'm stuck here? That I can't leave?"
Kenny stayed silent, his expression unreadable.
Jade's eyes darted between them. "You two are serious."
Kristi nodded gently.
Jade laughed again but there was no humor in it this time. "No. No, this is... this is bullshit. This is Tobey. It's gotta be Tobey."
Kristi blinked. "What?"
Jade stood up, pacing now. "Yeah, that son of a bitch! This is his idea of a joke. He's been waiting for payback ever since Vegas."
Kenny frowned. "Vegas?"
Jade spun on his heel, hands gesturing wildly. "Yeah! I sent a stripper to his room for his birthday. Classy, tasteful... okay, maybe slightly illegal but funny! And now, here we are in the middle of nowhere. Some cop, and a creepy nurse, all based in a small-town set straight outta Children of the Corn." He pointed at Kenny. "You're in on it, aren't you?"
Kenny blinked, deadpan. "Yeah, we flew in everyone, specially for you."
Jade froze, squinting at him like he was trying to see through the joke.
Kristi sighed, rubbing her temples. "Jade, listen to me. I know this sounds crazy..."
"No, no, no," Jade cut her off, pacing again.
"What sounds crazy is that you people think I'm buying this. Tobey probably rented out an old movie town, paid you all to gaslight me for a few days, right? Hidden cameras? Some cheap horror reality show bullshit?"
Kenny crossed his arms. "You really think your friend went through all this trouble to mess with you?"
Jade stopped pacing long enough to glare at him. "You don't know Tobey. The guy once bought a billboard outside my apartment that said I had chlamydia. So yeah... this is exactly his level of commitment."
Kristi knelt beside him, her voice calm but firm. "Jade. Tobey's gone. The crash was real. Your car smashed into a tree. You're alive. He isn't."
Jade's laughter faltered. He stared at her, eyes glassy but defiant. "You're lying."
Kenny stepped forward. "We not lying."
Jade's voice cracked. "Where the hell is he?!"
Silence filled the room. The hum of the ceiling fan, the creak of the cot. It was all too loud for him to handle right now.
Kristi finally said softly, "We havent collected his body from the audi yet."
Jade froze. His mouth opened like he might argue, but no words came out. He just sat there, trembling slightly. Then he laughed again, much quieter this time, hollow.
"Of course you havn't," he whispered. "Of course."
He sank back down onto the cot, staring at the floor.
Kristi exchanged a look with Kenny, who shook his head, mouthing, "Give him time."
Kristi nodded. She reached out, gently placing a hand on Jade's shoulder. "Rest. I'll get you some water."
Jade didn't answer. He just stared straight ahead, his voice low, almost to himself.
"This is still Tobey. It's gotta be."
...
The door to the infirmary creaked open, and Boyd stepped inside, brushing off his jacket. His face was drawn and tired, the kind of tired that didn't fade with sleep.
Kenny looked up from where he stood by the counter. "Hey, Sheriff."
Boyd nodded. "How's our new arrival?"
Kristi sighed softly, glancing toward the cot. "Awake… and not exactly taking the news well."
Jade sat hunched forward, elbows on his knees, staring at the floor. His fingers tapped a nervous rhythm against his thigh.
Boyd approached slowly. "Mind if I come in?"
Jade didn't look up. "Let me guess... You're the big man in charge."
Boyd arched a brow. "Sheriff Boyd Stevens."
"Of course you are," Jade muttered, finally standing. "Every bad movie town's got a sheriff."
Kristi shot him a warning look, but Boyd didn't rise to the bait. He'd seen this before, over and over, the same cliche reactions. The disbelief, the bravado, and the cracks forming underneath it all.
Kenny spoke quietly. "He doesn't believe us. Thinks this is all some kind of prank."
Jade laughed, shaking his head. "Not some kind of prank... the prank. My best friend Tobey's a psycho with too much money and too much time. This? This is his masterpiece."
Boyd crossed his arms. "You think your friend staged all this?"
"Yep." Jade smirked. "Whole setup... creepy town, fake cops, sad doctor who clearly needs a hobby. Probably a hidden camera in that light fixture."
He pointed upward. "And hey, if this is a horror bit, you nailed the production design."
Boyd stared at him a moment, then said flatly, "You're not the first person to think that."
Jade's grin faltered slightly. "Yeah? And what happened to the others?"
"They stopped laughing," Boyd said quietly.
The room went still. Even the ceiling fan seemed to hum softer.
Kristi broke the silence. "Jade, you should sit back down. Your head took a hit."
Jade waved her off. "If this is all real... Which I still don't believe... it means something's wrong. There's logic to everything. There has to be."
He stood up, brushing off his pants. "So, Sheriff, I'm gonna check out your little town. Maybe I'll find your hidden film crew or your fog machine or whatever the hell's keeping everyone so freaked out."
Kenny frowned. "You can't just wander off. You don't know the rules yet."
Jade grinned, grabbing his jacket from the chair. "Rules? Yeah, sure. Don't talk to strangers, eat your vegetables, stay out of the woods after dark." He turned to Boyd. "That about cover it?"
Boyd's jaw tightened. "You step outside after sunset, and you won't make it to morning."
That stopped Jade for half a second. He studied Boyd's face, searching for any hint of exaggeration, or flicker of humor. He found none.
He gave a short laugh that sounded a little too forced. "Right. Got it. Monsters after dark. Fantastic."
Kristi frowned, stepping closer. "Jade, just... stay here until you're sure you can walk straight, alright?"
But Jade was already moving toward the door. "I'll be fine, Doc. I've seen worse hangovers."
Boyd sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "Kenny, go with him. Make sure he doesn't do anything stupid."
Kenny nodded reluctantly. "You got it."
Jade stopped in the doorway, glancing back. "Don't worry, Sheriff. I'll bring your town back a five-star Yelp review."
Then he stepped out into the sunlight, his bravado barely holding against the faint unease creeping in.
Boyd watched him go, then turned to Kristi. "He'll believe it soon enough."
Kristi nodded quietly. "They always do."
...
Monte finished picking out a few sets of clothes that fit him and shoved them into the smaller duffel. Tossing the weed to the side on top of the cases of alcohol that still lined the wall of the Sheriff station.
He set the bag on his cot and headed out to the diner to flirt with Sara.
Stepping out of the station, Monte walked up the street. He saw Ethan and Meghan still playing on the swing, their laughter echoing faintly down the quiet road.
Monte looked up at the sky, noting the position of the sun. It had to be around two or three in the afternoon.
He walked over and said, "Hey, Ethan. You hungry?"
Ethan hesitated but nodded. "Yeah, but Mom and Dad aren't back yet."
Monte smiled. "Come with me to the diner. We'll get you something to eat."
Ethan fidgeted. "I don't know... I don't want to get in trouble."
Monte glanced toward the porch. "Miranda, would you let them know where he is if they come back?"
Miranda nodded. "No problem."
Monte turned back to Ethan. "See? Everything's all set."
Ethan nodded and turned to his friend. "Bye, Meghan. See you later."
Meghan smiled. "Okay."
Ethan ran to Monte's side, and together they walked up the street toward the diner.
---
When they stepped inside, the smell of coffee and fried batter wrapped around them. Sara looked up from behind the counter and smiled.
Monte grinned right back. "Hey, beautiful."
Sara laughed softly. "Hi. I see you made a new friend."
Monte nodded. "This is Ethan. He and his family just got here last night." He lifted Ethan up and set him on a stool at the counter.
Sara leaned down, smiling warmly at the boy. "Hi, Ethan. What can I get you?"
Ethan fidgeted a little before answering. "Monte said you have good pancakes."
Sara chuckled. "It's a little late for pancakes…" She saw his expression fall and added quickly, "But I'll make an exception... just for you. Don't tell anyone."
Ethan's grin returned instantly. "I promise."
Sara straightened up and turned to Monte. "And for you?"
Monte smirked. "Something savory."
Sara nodded. "Be right back."
She disappeared into the kitchen.
---
Ethan leaned closer to Monte and whispered, "She's pretty."
Monte grinned, ruffling the boy's hair. "Yeah, she is."
Meanwhile, in the backroom, Sara had just given the order to Tian Chen, convincing her to make pancakes especially for Ethan.
She went to the supply closet to grab a few rags but froze mid-step as a sharp pain cut through her arm. She gasped softly, clutching it.
In her mind's eye, she saw it. Her skin splitting open, a message carving itself into her arm.
KILL THE BOY! HE MUST DIE!
The words burned through her thoughts as a voice echoed inside her skull relentlessly. Multiple voices at once, screaming in anger.
Sara pressed her hand to her arm, stifling a groan. It felt so real, like fire under her skin, but when she looked… there was nothing there.
No blood. No wound. Just smooth, pale flesh and a throbbing ache that shouldn't exist.
Tian Chen, hearing her, hurried into the closet. "What's wrong? You okay?"
Sara forced a shaky breath. "I'm alright. Just a bad headache."
Tian Chen frowned. "You tell Kristi, okay?"
Sara nodded slowly. "I will."
"Good," Tian said, guiding her out of the closet. "Sit. Rest until the food's done."
Sara did as she was told, sitting on a bench near the kitchen door, trying to calm her pulse
When the pancakes and Monte's meal, a seared chicken breast with savory green beans, were ready. Tian Chen plated them both, adding a small dish of maple syrup beside the pancakes.
Sara stood, forcing a smile as she carried the tray.
"You good?" Tian Chen asked, studying her face.
Sara nodded. "I feel a lot better."
Tian Chen watched her go, unconvinced.
Sara pushed through the kitchen doors and walked up to the counter.
Monte raised a brow. "Everything okay? Thought you'd be right back."
Sara set the plates down in front of them and smiled faintly. "Yeah, I just had a headache and had to sit down for a bit."
Monte nodded. "You should take a break sometime. Get some rest."
Sara smiled softly. "Yeah. I haven't been sleeping well."
Monte was about to reply when Ethan suddenly exclaimed, "These are the best pancakes!"
A few heads turned briefly toward the boy before everyone returned to their meals.
Sara smiled. "I'm glad you like them."
Monte chuckled. "Told you her pancakes were as good as she is pretty."
Sara blushed, shaking her head. "You're such a flirt."
Monte leaned forward, smirking. "You like it."
Sara giggled, twirling a strand of hair, even as the voices in her head whispered again. Kill the boy, kill the man, end it now.
She forced the sound away, holding onto her smile.
Then suddenly...
BANG!
The diner door burst open, the bell above it clattering violently.
Everyone turned.