It had been a frigid, miserable winter and the roads had been quite unforgiving. Ernest pulled into the parking lot of a local bed and breakfast because the roads were compromised. He walked across the once grey parking lot noticing the snow was everywhere except around the buildings. It stopped at a 4 foot radius from the building. Ernest entered the B&B through the ornate, wooden doors feeling imprisoned by the unexpected Nor’Easter.

  “Hi. Do you have any rooms available?” Ernest inquired, shivering from the cold.

  “You’re in luck. This is our last room. How many nights will you be staying with us?” the clerk asked in an artificial tone.

  "I will be staying for a couple nights - just until the storm passes. Do you know any good places to eat?” Ernest asked.

  “We have a lot of great places around here, but I would have to recommend the Dent Diner. It's just one train stop away,” the clerk answered in the same artificial tone.

  “Well I’ll be off,” Ernest said walking away, fighting through cold alabaster winds .

  He grabbed a town map on his way out of the bed and breakfast. Locating the train station on the guide, he hastily put on his winter coat. As he began to climb into his F150 Super Cab, he noticed his tires had claw-like slash marks. Disconcerted, Ernest looked down at the map to see if there were any auto repair shops but there were none in the desolate, little town. He began walking down the street. He would have to deal with the tires after he ate. The sky looked grey and sorrowful, the snow falling like pallid tears from heaven. Ernest noticed that the streets were empty which was strange as it was Monday at 3:45 in the afternoon. Things should be bustling.

  As he proceeded on his quest to find the train station, he passed an alley and noticed a scaly smooth figure that didn’t appear human. He watched in disbelief as the entity sealed itself inside clothing that appeared to be human skin. Thinking it impossible, Ernest ventured cautiously in the cold strangely clean alley for further examination. He followed the figure through the alley to a rural area outside town. His journey concluded at a forest where strangely the snow melted and evaporated before touching the canopy.

  The forest was mysteriously emanating with the heat of a desert. He took off his winter coat and hid it in the bushes to conceal his presence. Ernest couldn’t shake the feeling something was off as he didn’t see any animals in the forest and there was complete silence. He began walking off trail, tailing the figure as it started speaking in the same artificial tone that the clerk produced.

  Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  “We are glad you decided to walk with us Ernest,” the creature stated matter of factly.

  Ernest came to the realization the creature was the clerk from town who provided him with directions to the train station.

  The clerk said, “Why don't we walk together?” in an eerily controlling tone.

  Everything inside Ernest told him to turn around and flee even if he had to hitchhike from the highway leaving his truck behind. However, his desire for answers about what he saw in the alley outweighed any instincts he possessed for self-preservation.

  “I would love to,” Ernest said, fabricating a smile as they began walking through the forest, the sullen, ancient trees their only witness. They walked down toward the heart of the forest and it began getting hotter and hotter until the heat felt like it was piercing his skin.

  “I noticed there were no cars in the streets. I was wondering why that is?” Ernest inquired, feeling weaker as the heat became stronger.

  “We don't use vehicles here,” the clerk said with a grin revealing serrated teeth with flecks of skin stuck on them.

  Eventually they arrived at a clear boiling lake with red stone caves leading to each building's cellar. surrounded by the reptilian townspeople. The outsiders, they lured there, felt weak from the heat emanating from the lake. The reptilian townspeople removed the skin enveloping them and watched the visitors collapse from the heat. The clerk was unveiled as one of the creatures as he removed his once human garb while basking in the scorching temperatures.

  “What do you want?” Ernest asked, attempting to rise but he was too weak and drenched in perspiration.

  “To feed,” the clerk answered in a shrill, grating voice.

  Ernest grabbed the nearest available tree roots pulling his burning body back into the concealment of the forest. He could feel adrenaline coursing into his arms providing him with strength. His legs were unable to propel him forward due to the burns he sustained. He crawled away as swiftly as he could, ignoring the thorns penetrating his burned skin as dragged himself through the briars. He eventually came to a halt and panicked looking back at the forest. Ernest was incredulous - the creatures had permitted him to evade them. He collected himself and returned to the bed and breakfast. Ernest entered through the back entrance leaning on the cold bricks. Following the corridor, all he could do was study the long hallway. The Victorian walls covered in florid crimson wallpaper accentuated an antiquated architecture abandoned by time. It was as though it had been usurped by the reptilian creatures he had escaped. Coming to the end of the crimson corridor, he found himself in a hot, waterlogged cellar.

  Out loud, he pleaded with the old house “Do you have any room to escape through?”

  “You're in luck. This is our last room,” the clerk said, elated from his hunt and ready flay and feast.