The amber waves of Timberland

Jillian was still trying to get her head around what she had seen. It might be easier to think of it as what she no longer sees. Wendell has vanished. She had watched him vanish. It had unsettled her so much, she had stopped walking. She could still see the flash of amber light.

They had been advised not to wander alone. She had been away for two minutes, three at the most. The door of the deli had been open. She had seen a quick furtive movement inside..

The Amber Waves

It had been her overactive imagination. It was understandable. Considering the circumstances. Timberland was a small rural town, inconspicuously located between two micro cities. However, things had felt off since they had arrived.

Jillian and Wendell had been the third unit on scene. Therefore, everything appeared to be serene and normal. In fact Jillian had been convinced it was a prank call, until more units arrived. Further still, there was no trace of the town’s inhabitants. It was as though the town had become a silent time capsule.

The discovery of the thing in the crater, had prompted the calls to the desert. She stumbles forward, moving carefully toward the spot where Wendell had vanished. Indeed, she brings caution because this must be what has happened to the town’s people. However, where the hell did they go?

She is almost in the exact spot where Wendell was standing. This is a good time to radio for back up. The other teams needed to know what she had observed. The thing in the crater is still glowing and pulsing a deep crimson. It warbles the senses to try and view it for any length of time.

Timberland

It doesn’t want to be seen. Her mind hears the thought. However, it isn’t her thought. She unclips her radio and presses the call switch. The thing glowing dully in the crater begins to brighten. Jillian requests a supervisor as the amber light begins to pulse outward.

The flash of amber light is extreme, and roils outward. As Jillian vanishes, her radio drops to the ground. The thing in the crater pulses angrily again. This time the flash is blinding, and washes over the whole of Timberland.