(28th of May, 1999)

7:30 AM

It was quiet the morning of the 28th here in Small Pines. An earie fog had set throughout the now ghostly town. Empty and uninviting. A shell of its former, rather upbeat self. Kimberly and Nathan traveling throughout looking for any survivors, but there were none. Kimberly wondered how the whole town could disappear so fast. There weren’t even any bodies…

“Where the hell did it go!?” Nathan asked as they drove around the vacant town. “I don’t feel their presence anywhere…”

“I mean the whole town has been assimilated. This Seeker of yours probably left.”

Nathan was starting to get concerned. He wasn’t certain what the creature would do next. And his psychic link to the creature hadn’t provided any clues as to its whereabouts within the last twenty-four hours. Not a single headache or vision. He was lost as to what to do next. They tried finding a working telephone to alert the authorities as to the fate of Small Pines, but no matter where they looked… nothing.

“Here hold off a second.” Kimberly told Nathan as he pumped the brakes.

His tires screeched. “What is it?” Nathan asked.

Kimberly asked Nathan to stop by her house really quick. She wanted to check on her cat Toto as well as grab a few things. “I’ve got some 9mm ammo there as well as a map of Maine. We have to determine where to head next.” She told him to which he agreed. He got back on the road as she gave him detailed directions.

Upon arriving at her house she asked him to stay behind while she went in. Not having sensed anything nefarious, Nathan reluctantly agreed and let her go. She entered her house yelling “Toto! Toto!?” Her cat wasn’t here. She sighed, twirling her hair before sitting down on her couch for a moment. She scanned the room with a sense of melancholy as a photo could be seen on a counter across the room. It was a family portrait. It had her mother, a larger balding man and herself. She walked over to it and picked it up.

She looked at it as her eyes began to water. “I miss you mom…” She said as her voice began to break. “I- I really wish you here right now… I need your help!” She said as she began tearing up. Paying no mind to the man in the photo. About half an hour later she stepped from the house. Leaving the front door wide open as she did. Nathan who’d been waiting outside was starting to worry until he saw her.

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“Are you okay?” He asked as she placed a case of ammo and bag of clothes on the ground. Spreading a map of Maine open on the dash. “Kimberly…”

“Here.” She said. “We need to head to Northwest Piscataquis. Get some food and see if your little Spidey sense works there…” She continued as Nathan stopped her.

“Kimberly… I need to know you’re alright if we continue to work together…”

She placed the map down for a moment. Crumpling the fringe of its sides in her hands. Shaking she said “I’m not but… what else can I do? My whole town. Everyone I’ve ever known is gone.” She slammed the map down as she looked at him with a scowl. “I’ve known you for two days! TWO DAYS! And I’ve known you longer than anyone else alive! Do you realize how hopeless that makes me feel? Do you have any idea what that’s like!?” She huffed and then looked away. Staring out the passenger side window of his truck avoiding his gaze.

She was almost embarrassed by her outburst. She wanted to apologize but couldn’t bring herself to. “…” Nathan sat there speechless for a moment. He wanted to say something but relucted not wanting to cause any more drama. “I get you. Northwest Pi- Pica… Piscato- what was this place again?” Nathan joked to lighten the mood, yet genuinely incapable of pronouncing it.

Kimberly giggled a little bit. “Piscataquis. It’s North. I’ll start giving directions when we get out of town.” She told him.

“Of course officer. Ready for our ride along?” He said as she punched him lightly on the bicep. Unintentionally feeling his muscular arm. Blushing a little bit. “Just drive you idiot.” She said softly.

(2nd of June, 1999)

Several days had passed as the two stayed at a Bed & Breakfast in North Piscataquis. Nathan had a violent headache as they headed into the small village. Indicating to him that they’d been heading in the right direction. He felt bad but now… they were basically just waiting around for further signs of where the Seeker might have gone.

Kimberly sat there at the end of the bed, keeping her eyes on the news in case of any violent outbreaks. What she did eventually see was an exposé on the news about Small Pines. And the mysterious disappearance of the entire town. Kimberly kept her eyes glued to the TV as the reporter talked about Detective Dwayne Drew, who’d gone missing amidst a murder investigation he’d been conducting in Small Pines. Nathan wearing only a pair of jeans emerged from the restroom. Having just taken a shower.

He was drying his hair with a towel as he stood next to where she was sitting. He recognized the man on the TV. Bringing it up as Kimberly tried not to stare at his wet muscular abdominals. Get it together… she thought as she redirected her attention.

“He must’ve come back…” She said feeling a bit guilty. “Frank was right.” She then said. Bitting her thumb as she lowered her gaze. Nathan taking note of this as he looked down at her.

I’m sorry Kimberly… he said to himself. Incapable of saying this out loud. I failed you all… I failed those boys… I failed my ancestors.

Nathan sat down with a sense of defeat. Brushing up against Kimberly. She was taken aback by this at first. But relented, even finding comfort in this as the two watched the exposé together. “We’re going to end this Kimberly. And then you can rest easy.” He said. His conviction steadying. “It’s only a matter of time before it shows its hand again…”