The Hidden Mysteries of the Town of Padere

By Rachel R. Fillmore

Taylor is just a normal 18-year-old girl,... or was she? Welcome to Padere, a small town on the coast of Washington State dated back in the 1700s where many secrets lay await for Taylor's discovery. The curiosity biting at her finger tips sent her to being lucky, or even blessed, to live through the events of a cult suicide gone wrong, kidnappin

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookTrail Publishing
• Release date: May 7, 2022
• ISBN: 9781637677391

Rachel R. Fillmore

Married now for 17 years, stay at home mother of 2 amazing autistic boys, ages 14 and 4. I was born and raised in Texas with a dream and goal to write and finish a book since I was just a child. Book writing is my ultimate dream and passion which continues to be the fixation that inspires me with more stories to write.

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Copyright © 2022 by Rachel R. Fillmore

Paperback: 978-1-63767-738-4

eBook: 978-1-63767-739-1

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022902987

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

This is a work of nonfiction.

Ordering Information:

BookTrail Agency

8838 Sleepy Hollow Rd.

Kansas City, MO 64114

Printed in the United States of America

Chapter 1

H

e flew right by the

town sign that says, ‘Welcome to the Town of Padere.’ Not even looking at it because he already knew everything about it. It was the place that held his past, a place that held dark secrets. A place that might even tell him the answers he has sought for all over the world. Answers about why was his mother taken from him? Why did she look for her own answers from a witch only to have her life taken away? 

He pulled into the parking lot of Broken Café. Now, this was a place anyone could come to and it would never change on you. The sign had a missing ‘r’ and it wasn’t lit up anymore. The only change was that and the building needed a lot of work done on the outside of it. No pretty flowers anymore, just cigarette butt’s littered the once manicured flower beds. Gone were the parking lot stripes and in came the cracks with weeds. How did they let this place get so out of hand? He hasn’t been here since he was a kid, and this was a sore sight to see when first coming into a nice town. He sure did hope the rest of it wasn’t like this.

He hoped no one would recognize him. It had been 20 plus years since he’d been here. He walked in through the red door of a 1950s setting and headed straight for the counter to sit on a stool that he had once sat at when he was a kid. He grabbed a menu and searched for his favorite, hamburger with cheese and bacon, and a side of sweet potato fries. He couldn’t believe they still had it. There in front and center. The name was changed. It was now called ‘The Special’.

Everyone had their eyes on him while he was looking over the menu. Who wouldn’t look? He was a stranger at this point. He even looked the part of an outsider, well biker outsider anyway. It didn’t matter he just continued to ignore them. They would all know soon enough who he was and why he was back.

Can I help you, hun? The waitress was waiting with her pen to the pad and a blank face. She then smiled, probably thinking he was slow or something. What would you like darlin’? I don’t have all day, there are other customers here too.

Uh yes, I will have the bacon cheeseburger with sweet potato fries and a coke, please.

Coming right up.

Ok well, that was a bit awkward. Maybe he was being slow or she was trying to hurry the order. Didn’t matter anyway. His thoughts went silent and he looked around the room to see if something was different. Not a thing. However, there was a man looking at him from the booth behind to his left. He looked familiar, but he couldn’t place him. Then he heard him get up and walk his way. Great, now he wondered what it is was he did this time.

Young man, do you mind an old man sit next to you? He was a black man about 80 something years old with a ratty old brown hat. He seemed nice enough, maybe he could share some wisdom my way. Old people tend to be the wiser ones, at least that’s what his grandfather taught him to believe.

Sure the seat is yours. His plate showed up all piping hot. He grabbed the salt and ketchup, then went to town on the fries. You needed to salt them while they’re hot and greasy then smother them in ketchup. He went on eating his food while the man sat there in silence and drank his coffee. He figured the old man just wanted to sit with someone for the company. He enjoyed the company anyway even if it was in silence. 

He finished soon enough and drank the last sip of his coffee. So young man, what is it your searching for?

He didn’t expect the old man to talk, he’d been silent for like 20 minutes now. Totally took him off guard and thought why and how does he know that he was searching for something? So he come back at him with a question.

Sir, how is it that you know I’m searching for something?

I know a seeker when I see one. The answers you seek are here and there, and even where you will least expect to find them. You’re on the right path boy, just keep following your gut and not so much your heart. The heart is weak and unknowing. Don’t put your trust on the ones or the things that will trouble you further into despair. Trust God always and let Him be your guide. With that, he stood up and nodded at him then turned to walk out the door. He faced forward and went back over the words of the old man.

Hun? What was it you were just looking at? And who were you talkin’ to? Why you and I are the only ones left in here Shug. The waitress had her hands on her hips and now a questioning and concerning look on her face.

You’re telling me you didn’t see the old man sitting right here next to me for the past 20 minutes? The one drinking coffee while I was scarfing down my lunch? He stood up to dig his wallet out of his back pocket. This was crazy coming here he thought and maybe he should just go somewhere else for answers. The waitress noticed his frustration.

No, wait. I think I know who you’re referring to. Come with me, I have something to show you. She came around the counter and grabbed his hand. Then he walked behind her and was led to a wall that held photos and obituaries and events from the town and its people for like the past 40 years. She pointed to a picture and obituary of the very man who sat next to him a few moments ago. Is this him?

Oh man, I can’t believe this. Yes, that’s him! How did I forget this story? I know him and his family. He stood there with goosebumps forming all over the place.

Well Mr. Joseph Frez likes to come chat with the townsfolk every so often, but he only shows up when he wants to. I think he had something important to tell you or he wouldn’t show. And how is it that you know him? He died like 20 plus years ago. She stood there staring at Mr. Frez’s photo.

Um, well never mind that part, you will know soon enough how I know about all of this. Just have some faith in a stranger who’s not actually a stranger. Look, I know I sound off, but to change the subject, is there a motel or something I can get a room for a night or two? I am a little early coming in and right now I just want to get my bearings and catch my thoughts up on what just happened. Can you help me out or do I just need to leave? He began to turn and face himself towards the front door to show he was leaving despite her help.

No, I will help and I will let this go, but only for this one time until I find out who you are. She went back behind the counter and pulled out a plastic container that held business cards. She grabbed one and placed it on the counter for him. 

He picked up the card and read, ‘Tender Bed & Breakfast’. Oh, he knew of that place too, and was surprised to see it was still in business. Okay, off to the familiars of this town. He said thanks and left for the market to grab some stuff before heading to the bed and breakfast. Hopefully, there was a vacant room.

It was fall already, and the leaves began to change into different golden colors. I love this season, the weather cools down and it was time for my favorite jacket to come out of the closet! It’s a dark shade of purple that has faded over the past couple of years. Probably time to toss it and get a new one, but I needed it this one last time. My mom bought it for me a couple of years back from the thrift store when I was 17. She thought I’d love it till it died, and that was true, it was near the time to bury it in the trash. However, I felt its life had one more chance at another cold season to keep me warm.

This season was going to be different this time, although, I felt it wasn’t going to be a good one. The hairs on my arms stood straight up suddenly without warning. It was as though the bumps were sounding an alert for the day. A chill ran through my bones as I hastily put on my jacket. Then a feeling of dread shot to my gut, and I knew something was going to happen today, something horrible. I knew this because every time this feeling occurred something would happen and it was never anything good. Like the last time my big brother was in a car wreck with his girlfriend, she died but he somehow survived without a scratch. That same day my dad’s church building was broken into, and Satanic graffiti was written everywhere. Nothing was stolen, just a lot of damage. Luckily, the insurance paid for it and my dad was unburdened by one misfortune only to deal with another. There were other instances like this in the past, so whenever this dread of fear arises, I’m on high alert all day and it usually came in threes. 

It was a bit chilly and partially cloudy, but I decided to walk to the town library to search for a new book, only because it wasn’t far from the house. So I walked instead of taking my bike. This library was the biggest I’d ever seen, well, maybe the only library I’ve seen in person, even for a small town like this one. The story about the library is one of the original settlers who came in with money and wanted this to be the grandest site out of the rest of Padere. (That’s pronounced Puh-deer-e). Our quaint little piece of a coastal town was named after a Spanish monk, like some 300 years ago, but let’s save that part of the story for later.

The wind was blowing in n`icely, just nice enough not to mess up my hair. I still felt that same chill as I walked in the front door to the library bookstore, not that it was cold inside, it’s just that it was the same chill I left the house with.

 I was thinking I might read the Twilight series like my friends had. They say the books are better than the movies, but sometimes I’d rather watch a 2-hour movie than reading all the time. Oh, well, I do read all the time so I can’t say that I would want to cut time out from doing that.

Hi, Taylor! Good morning young lady, can I help you look for something? The front desk clerk asked as I laid my books on the counter for a return. She knew me by name, of course, so did everyone in this town. And she could probably relay information about me that I don’t even know. I liked her though. She looked and played the role of a librarian clerk very well. Tall, slim, dark brown hair tied up in a bun with a pencil stabbed through it, and the most intriguing pierce blue eyes I’d ever seen too. Not to mention her smile, it melted even the hardest of hearts. Just to note, she stopped a robbery once at the local grocery. It was a man she grew up with, so they knew each other, and because of that, she was able to coax him out of trouble. She got an award for it and has it hung up on the wall behind the front desk.

No, I’m good Sandy. I whispered back in reply. She never whispered, but I would, just to remind her of where we were. She gets lost in those fantasy books and almost every time forgets she’s the librarian and she’s still in the library. I laugh a little each time. It’s good for someone to get away even if it’s just in a book.

I headed straight for the fiction section of new arrivals and began my browsing. I decide that the Twilight series can wait for another time. I wanted to check to see if anything new caught my eye. You know there’s one thing I hate about libraries and bookstores. It makes it hard when you have to search on the bottom row that’s practically on the floor, so you have to get on the floor yourself just to be able to read the darn titles. Why is there a need to have bottom shelves? Inconvenient right? Well, it is to me, and just for note’s sake, I’ve complained about it to everyone in town at least twice or more, because you know people do forget important things such as this tragedy. I’m just saying.

Well if it isn’t the one and only Taylor Drybread! How’s it been going with you lately? Why on earth would anybody be bothering me during my search for books, I have no idea.

Why I’ll be a bare-naked poodle! Hey Meagan. I haven’t seen or heard from you all this summer. What you been up to? I couldn’t believe I was seeing my old friend again. Meagan literally disappeared after her mother had a suicide accident and then her parents divorced a few months after her mom had recovered spontaneously. We all assumed she had just been given ‘happy’ pills and they both just relocated somewhere else. Here she was, and I was still sitting on the floor with books scattered all around me as usual. (Oh, just to note, the phrase about the naked poodle, well I said it because Meaghan once had a poodle that was always shaven to the bare skin with only a puff for a tail.)

My mother and I found a place just outside town to live and work. They’ve been good to us and have helped my mother change her wicked ways around for the better. Now I’m here with some other girls to pay forward our respects to the Headmaster of our group. Meaghan was looking around the place as she was talking. I think she was trying not to make much eye contact with me. Something was odd about her being here.

I wasn’t liking what I was hearing either. It sounded more like she was a part of a cult who had brain-washed her and her mom, and now she was about to do something stupid. That’s what I got out of it, or maybe my thoughts ran too freely, and I wasn’t in my right mind. Whatever it was, I was getting that chilly feeling of dread again and I had to take a second breath of air.

Well help me off this floor so we are eye to eye in this conversation. She grabbed my right arm and I grabbed a shelf for more support and up I went. So, you said you were here for what again? Just so I could be very clear on this, I asked her to repeat what her intentions were.

So, again Taylor, I’m here on a mission to pay forward my respects to our Headmaster. I’m also here to let you know you should leave and leave now. I don’t want you to see what’s going to happen, but please know that I love you dearly my friend, and I’m doing this for you and my family. Now please, no more questions. Just go and take others with you as you head out the door. Like now is good! Go, Taylor! She motioned towards the door while waving her arms in that direction for me to go quickly and that she was a little irked because I wasn’t moving fast enough.

I suddenly felt sick and fearful at the same time. Was this the one thing that was going to happen today? And why did it have to be her, Meaghan, my childhood friend? No Meaghan, I won’t leave you. I will stay and see whatever it is that’s going to happen. I said this while she was shoving me out the door and yelling at everyone to get out of the building now. No, I won’t go, and you can’t make me. I didn’t know that she was strong enough to push against my weight and shove me out the door. What kind of workouts was she doing? Well that didn’t matter, my old friend was asking something of me, and I should try to abide by her wishes and go, but that was the hard part. She all-of-a-sudden shows back up just to tell me bye and shove me out the front door while she’s begging me to leave and not ask why.

Yes, I can! Now out with you, and don’t come back in here Taylor, please do what I ask just this once, please! She begged and tears started forming in her eyes. She wiped them away and left my sight to head back inside. I stood there frozen for a brief minute, then turned to walk away as others pushed past me out the door and into the town square, but I shoved past them and went back to the door and peered in the window.

I really don’t want to do this Meaghan, said Sarah, a young girl of only 12. 

Look your family volunteered you for the sacrifice, so, for the sake of the people’s survival, you have to. Meaghan looked around the library as the remaining people moved outside. The group of girls all dressed in long white dresses were moving to stand in a straight line, side by side, and began the ritual. Meaghan was the leader in this and was chosen for this mission, although she felt deep in her heart that there was a possibility that what she was about to do was wrong. Nevertheless, it had to be done. She wiped the tears from her eyes and made a straight face, looked at the girls with firmness, and started talking in a commanding voice, but it was just to hide what she really felt. Alone and no way out, if she didn’t do this then the consequences would be far worse.

Now girls take out your vials, look straight ahead to the people outside and let’s begin our prayer. Meaghan took her vial out from the little pocket sewn on her dress and held it tight. Shaky hands that became cold, Meaghan nearly dropped her vial to the floor. Wondering what would happen to her if she didn’t make this a successful mission made her sicker and just wanted to get this over with. The thought of her mother giving her up for another man’s child was devastating to her in every way, but what could she do with such rejection and failure from her mother. Her heart was already broken, she was broken, and nearly fell with weakness from heartache, but she stopped the tears, stood straight, and held up her vial in front.

Our Father, Sam, blessed be his name. We give our lives for him in honor of his glory and love. Oh, Father Sam, we love and adore you. Let your light shine on earth and forever after this world is done. We ask this in his precious and blessed name, Amen! Then they pulled the vials close to their chests, opened the lids, and one by one they drank the liquid substance. I stood there watching the entire thing through the front door window. This was a suicide mission, all for a man they called Sam. Why? I wanted to run in and stop them as soon as I saw the vials, but for some reason, my feet were cemented in place. And then one by one they fell to the ground, some started having seizure-like episodes with foaming white stuff coming from their mouths, a couple of others just fainted and fell to the floor like lifeless dolls. However, there was one girl that still stood out of the 7 of them was Sarah.

My uncle soon came to my side while I remained standing there blocking half of the doorway. He grabbed my shoulders lightly and moved me to the side, so the police and emergency medical team could go in. I was in so much shock that I didn’t even know how long I’d been there blocking the way. You’d think they would have already moved me aside, but I guess uncle was there before them.

Taylor, are you okay bug? He’d been calling me that since I can remember, something about me hating bugs and getting scared every time I saw one. So, he decided to name me after those horrid little creatures. I think most of them have a sole purpose in life just to be constant nuisances. Taylor, answer me please!

Okay, I guess, except I just lost one of my friends. I pointed in the direction of the door, and tears started falling down my cheek. The scene seemed to play out in slow motion and then got a little foggy.

Who’d you lose? He had that confused look on his face, like how’d I get involved with someone like that. Persistent he was, which I knew it was vital for any details as to what happened and why, I tried to get the words out.

Meaghan, I lost Meaghan. She came into the store and found me in my usual place, and we started our hellos and stuff, but then she got crazy on me and said I needed to get out and don’t ask her any more questions. So, she pushed me out the door and I turned back after everyone was out and watched the whole thing. There I said it. What a nice way to end a friendship. This made no sense and I was getting mad about it while the silent tears began to subside. Why would she say she was doing this for me when all it did was break my heart and send my insides screaming for revenge on this Sam guy. How dare he brainwash these young, beautiful girls into suicide just for his sake! Oh, I’m so enraged by this whole thing. My face began to feel hot and I knew I just needed to leave this chaos in my uncle’s hands. 

Taylor, Hunny, let’s get you home to your dad and you can come by the station later and give me a statement. I can tell when your mad and right now you need to cool off and talk with your father, he’s expecting you anyway.

The parking lot of the library filled quickly with people from town and even those who usually passed through our town just to get to theirs. There was panic and awe, some even shedding a tear or two. All of them wondering what all the commotion was about, gossip traveled through them like cutting butter. The people and the librarian that was witness to the scene began getting questioned by the police. Even some were sent down to the station because there were more people than expected at the time of the event. Sandy was crying and blubbering and trying to talk all at the same time as she answered the officers’ questions.

I’m not sure why those girls were there and why they came here to do this. It’s absolutely horrible! Why would anyone do such a thing? I’m not even sure who I should be sorry for, the girls or their families? Sandy wiped her runny nose with a tissue and followed the officer to her car.

I got in the back of the police truck of my uncle Justin’s brand-new SUV. All black and white with his name on it as the Chief of Police in town. Someone from town had donated their assets to the police station all because they weren’t going to live much longer, and they had no relatives to pass it along to. I thought that was very gracious of the man, so