West Oak: Second Edition

By Kenn T. Childers

The little town of West Oak, Texas can often be a scary place. It's a place where a young man learns what happens when one tampers with free will, a new couple gets more than they bargained for when their car breaks down in the middle of the woods, and a quiet getaway by the lake gets a horrifying interruption. Dim the lights and take the journey with six spine-chilling tales together in one collection. And if you ever find yourself coming into West Oak, keep driving.

 

Stories include: A Gift for Riley, Something in the Closet, The Motel, Lady at the Dock, A Trip Through the Woods, and The Whistling Man.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Coffee & Scream
• Release date: May 3, 2021
• ISBN: 9781737118312

Book preview

West Oak

West Oak

Second Edition

Kenn T. Childers

Coffee & Scream

Copyright © 2021 by Kenn T. Childers

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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ISBN 13: 978-1-7371183-0-5

(Paperback edition)

ISBN 13: 978-1-7371183-1-2

(Ebook edition)

A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

First I would like to say thank you for purchasing this book. It's always nerve-racking for a new writer to take the plunge and publish their first work as they don't quite yet know their strengths and how readers will respond to their writing. That was me. Now reading this, if it's also you then I have to say that getting over that fear is the most important step!

When I first published West Oak back in 2019 it was one of the most exciting things I had ever done and since then my head has been crammed full of ideas that I can not wait to one day share with the world. Sure West Oak didn’t become an instant best-seller, but my fear of becoming an author was lifted thanks to all the positive reviews it received. I even got to experience my first book signing!

It is because of those two things that you now hold this second edition. While the stories are the same, some things have been altered to provide the best reading experience possible. For one, (and most important of all) some formatting and grammatical errors needed to be corrected. While fixing those I decided to change some of the wording here and there, and I combined some of the chapters in order to strengthen the flow of the narrative.

I hope you enjoy this new edition and I look forward to what the future has in store. If I could turn back time I would have started writing years ago. However, it's never too late to follow your dreams.

To my wonderful wife and family for always believing in me.

Contents

A GIFT FOR RILEY

SOMETHING IN THE CLOSET

THE MOTEL

LADY AT THE DOCK

A TRIP THROUGH THE WOODS

THE WHISTLING MAN

About the Author

A GIFT FOR RILEY

A Gift For Riley

1

Mitch Darrison's night had started like any other- normal. His mother was working late like usual and, like most nights, his routine mostly consisted of finishing his homework, microwaving whatever tv dinner occupied the freezer, then spending the rest of his time in his room playing video games until he could no longer keep his eyes open. Tonight however went a little different. 

The two bodies sprawled out in the kitchen were completely out of sight but that didn’t stop his mind from conjuring up images of some late-night jogger, or a neighbor walking their dog, passing by and trying to peer through one of the windows. So he kept all the lights off.

He sat on the carpet in the living room with his back against the side of the couch. Out of view from the kitchen- so the bodies couldn’t see him. The blood dripping from his hands caused his phone to feel slippery in his grip. A thick, oily smear followed his thumb as it slid across the screen and dialed three dreaded numbers: 9-1-1. 

9-1-1. What’s your emergency? a female voice said through the phone. Mitch sat petrified. His phone shook uncontrollably in his hand. 

9-1-1. What’s your emergency? the woman repeated. Then after another second of silence, she followed up with Hello. Is someone there? Now Mitch could sense the woman’s frustration as he panted into the phone. 

My n-name is M-Mitchell D-darrison, he said finally. He imagined someone reaching deep into his throat to yank the words out. I k-killed sss-somebody t-t-tonight. Get yourself together Mitch told himself. It wasn’t your fault.

It took the woman a moment to respond. Perhaps she thought it was a prank, he thought. After all, how many sixteen-year-olds often called to confess murder? He immediately dismissed the idea. Of course, she took it seriously. She had no choice. 

And where are you now? the woman asked. 

At home. My address is 1603 Mapleberry Drive. Atta’ boy Mitch, no stuttering.

I’ll send officers out right away. Stay put Mr. Darrison. The line clicked followed by silence. 

Mitch set the phone down to his side. He didn’t know what else to do but remain sitting there, engulfed in the room’s darkness until the police arrived. The night’s events played back through his mind like some horrible home movie. All he had wanted was for a pretty girl to like him. Now he was going to be thrown in prison for murder.

2

ONE WEEK PRIOR

The gravel crunched under the tires of Harold’s Jeep Patriot as it pulled up to the bank of the river. He climbed out and took a long note of the scenery. Red and orange hues stretched across the sky as the sun was beginning to make its way up over the trees. At this time of year, Harold knew it would be hot sometime around noon but for now, a cool breeze flowed over the sparkling water and through what was left of his gray hair. He closed his eyes as he listened to the sound of the water trickling in front of him. Birds chirped all around him as if to greet the morning. He let out a long, relaxed breath and opened his eyes. What a beautiful day.

A silver chain dangled from his clenched fist. He opened his large calloused palm. A blue, heart-shaped pendant rested amongst his wrinkles, glimmering in the light above him. He scowled at the sight of it. The river stretched on for at least a hundred more miles before eventually feeding into the lake (Lake Hampa he believed it was called). The current would carry the necklace the entire way before dumping it at the bottom of the lake amongst the other trash and lost treasures- where it’d be lost to the world forever.

With all the strength he could muster, Harold hurled the necklace towards the river. A splash confirmed his throw was successful.

He turned around and made his way back to his jeep where he sat in the driver seat staring out through the windshield towards the necklace’s watery grave. What a beautiful day.

He opened the glove compartment and pulled out a black revolver his dad had given him many years ago before passing away. The steel along the frame was marked with scratches and the wooden grip was now stained with sweat but it was still his most prized possession. It was also still very reliable and currently had a good heft to it.

The grip shook in his hand as he slowly raised the gun to his head. The steel muzzle felt cold against his temple. Beads of sweat formed along the back of his neck and slid down into his shirt.

Before his index finger squeezed the trigger he had one final thought- he was finally going to be free. What a beautiful day.

3

Mitch's Monday started out just like any other regular Monday at West Oak High. He was among the group of students to have lunch first and as the students shuffled through the cafeteria he made his way to the same table he and his friends always sat at and pulled the same lunch he always made for himself from its brown bag. PB&J, a bag of chips, and a Dr. Pepper. 

He sat by himself until finally his two best friends, Ryan and Deborah (or Deb as they called her), approached the table. Their red plastic trays made a small thud as they set them down in unison before both taking a seat on the hard plastic bench across from him. 

To Mitch, Deb and Ryan were the epitome of soul mates. Their secret crushes formed on one another all the way back in elementary and shortly into the first year of middle school they began to date. They’d been together ever since. They were also the stereotypical high school couple you would see in every teen drama imaginable. He was the funny, cool jock who always starred in every sport the school offered and she was the equally popular blonde hair, blue-eyed cheerleader every guy stared at during the games. With their status quo they could have easily left nerdy, scrawny and socially awkward Mitchell Mitch Darrison out of their lives at the beginning of high school but luckily for him, they never did. 

Despite Ryan being a sports fanatic he also loved to play video games and the two of them often hung out in Mitch’s room after school blasting aliens or terrorists on his Playstation. Deb happened to also be a big comic geek and the two of them would often have conversations about superheroes (it did not matter which ones). The weekends mostly consisted of the three of them hanging out at one another’s house watching cheesy horror or sci-fi movies, laughing at the corniness, and stuffing their faces with junk food. These things made Mitch still relevant to their lives and it seemed like nothing could ever separate them from one another. 

As the two sat down, Ryan noticed Mitch in a dreamlike state. He nudged Deb and they both turned their heads. Immediately they knew what had Mitch’s mind so occupied. Riley Robinson sat a few tables down from them surrounded by a group of other girls. They all giggled amongst one another, no doubt gossiping about other students. 

Careful Mitch. You’re drooling, Ryan mocked. 

Just talk to her, Deb said. She shook her head at him like a parent would to a child who had just snuck into the cookie jar. 

I know, Mitch said. You guys have told me about a million times. 

So then what’s the holdup? Deb said with an arched eyebrow. 

I don’t know. We’re just not in the same circle anymore. 

So what? Deb protested. We've all known each other since middle school. You don't forget your childhood friends. Just go start a conversation. Not all girls become vicious bloodsuckers once they become popular. 

The idea of just starting up a regular conversation about the good ole days of middle school caused Mitch to have a mental panic attack. Sure they had talked a couple of times in class but Mitch never considered those to be real conversations.  I’m gettin’ around to it, he said. 

Well then I’m gonna help you get around to it, Deb said. Her birthday’s this Friday and she’s already said she’s throwing a party. We’re going. 

Chills ran up and down Mitch’s spine. He didn’t consider himself to be one of those kids who went to high school parties. However, on multiple occasions, he wished he was. Especially the ones Riley attended. Perhaps then they could consider themselves friends rather than just classmates. At least in his mind, that’s what they were. Also not that he considered himself a stalker or anything but he was fully aware this weekend was her birthday. 

Babe, tell him he’s coming with us, Deb said, looking at Ryan who had just stuffed his mouth full of chili cheese fries. 

You’re coming, he obediently replied through the mouthful of greasy potatoes.

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Mitch spent the rest of the day trying to come up with ways to stop Deb’s plan. He’d run them