Portal to the Void

By Bobby J. Corpus

Deep in the forests of Oregon rests a little town named Riverton. During summer vacation, Robert and his family soon learn that there's more to the town than just its long history. Ghosts and spirits are around every corner, and a sinister force is at play. All of which are connected through a portal that leads to another realm called "The Void."

After some research and near-death experiences, Robert, his sister, and two cousins discover the truth about the small town. To keep everyone they love safe, they will need to close the portal. However, their heroic acts won't be successful unless they defeat the evil spirits protecting it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Introverted Soul Collective Press
• Release date: Jun 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223711896

Bobby J. Corpus

Bobby J. Corpus is a writer from Houston, Texas. Most of his works are inspired by authors such as Stephen King and H.P. Lovecraft. When he’s not writing short stories at his desk, he spends his time playing video games and going on long drives around the city of Houston.

Book preview

Chapter 1: Arrival

Road trips are one of the biggest lies that have ever been pitched by adults to teenagers and children alike.

There were no fun car ride games, we made no fun stops from Texas to Oregon, and singing along to the latest greatest hit had died within the first 5 hours of driving; we weren’t even out of the state by then. When people talk about road trips, they mention all the positives, like enjoying the scenery, having deep conversations with one another, and singing the entire trip with the exception of stops. But they never really mention how your feet and back ache, how your head feels dull after sleeping in a crooked position, or even how boring it truly gets after a few hours of nothing happening.

When I checked the map on my phone, it showed that we were on Highway 20: the last road we would ride on for the rest of the trip.

The highway that was leading us to our destination was seemingly endless to the eye. Thick soaring trees and bulky hills had enclosed the road, and they all became denser as we were going deeper into what seemed like a forest. Sunlight gleamed over the tips of the trees as the sun started to set, and the twilight was going to be hanging above soon. It was barely the beginning of summer but seeing all the pines reminded me of fall and winter. It was so different from Texas. In fact, it was difficult to picture what a winter or fall would even look like where we were going. I could only imagine it looked like something out of a movie.

I had all the time in the world to stare out of the window of my aunt and uncle’s Suburban and daydream about that never-ending forest. Questions began to arise: What animals lived out there? Did anybody live off the land in Oregon’s forest? I wanted to ask the questions and talk about them, but no one at the moment was really in the mood to talk.

My younger sister, Ella, who sat next to me for the ride, was in her own world. Hidden in her short dark hair was a pair of white shiny earbuds that dangled from her ears as she blasted music. All I could hear was the bass and drums, but it was not enough for me to piece together who or what she was listening to. So, there was no point in trying to start a conversation with her. Even if I did, she would have put in very little effort, so she could quickly get back to what she was doing.

I tried my best to casually peek over my shoulder and look into the backseat of the Suburban. I saw that both of my cousins’ heads were leaning against the windows with their eyes completely shut. Their bodies would have been motionless if it weren’t for the vibrations of the vehicle rolling down the highway. At the start of the trip, they had been more talkative and alert. By the end of the first day, Ella and I rarely heard them say a word. Every so often during the trip, I could hear Cameron flipping the page of a book, or I’d hear the tapping of a phone keyboard from Gavin.

My mind was in such disarray and groggy from sleep that my consciousness was somewhere else off in the distance. Every once in a while, I’d overhear Uncle George and Aunt Mary’s conversation, or the air would be filled by the radio DJ’s overly hyped voice. None of it made sense to me.

I’d easily fall into the dream world. Some dreams were memories. Others were of our destination: Riverton. Being from Texas, I had little to no knowledge about the small town. I had overheard Aunt Mary talking about it to my mom when she had asked about it. Her long red nails tapped against the milk-white teacup, and she’d take long sips in between their conversation. Oh, yeah, it’s a nice, quiet town to work from home, raise a family, and heck, an even better place to retire, she had said. She added that every day the population and town were growing, and it was becoming a place tourists had to visit if they found themselves going towards Newport.

I couldn’t imagine a place like Riverton, even in my dreams. Each time I did, it looked like a small redneck town that you’d find somewhere outside the city limits of Austin. What is Oregon’s version of rednecks? It had to be a place where shops were outdated and populated with locals who did not have smartphones or a single clue as to what was going on in the world around them. Which probably explained why it was growing every day because so many people fantasized about escaping big city life; it was a pipeline dream that was so far from our reach now.

Truthfully, I was not even that excited about going to Oregon. It was a chance to reconnect with family like Gavin and Cameron; and from what I heard, they did not want to go, but their demeanor changed once they were told that Ella and I were going as well. That’s what made the 35-hour trip worth it.

Coming into view was a rust-colored sign that read: WELCOME TO RIVERTON, OREGON!

The town became more visible with each mile we drove. The sky was gleaming a bright white aurora from the town lights. The sun was barely beneath the horizon, but the tall trees that surrounded the general area had hidden the last remaining rays of sunlight. The dusk sky was a light pink hue that was not yet covered by the clouds. Becoming brighter as each second passed, I could see medium-sized business buildings.

Even though we were in the city limits, we actually drove a bit off course and away from downtown Riverton. It was only a short drive from the main plaza and shopping center section of Riverton.

Reflecting off the windows, the neon lights of shops and stores poured through the Suburban’s windows. It piqued my curiosity to want to see the main area of town if that’s what a single street looked like during the evening. I had a good feeling that Aunt Mary and Uncle George would be bringing us there soon, and I was more than excited to experience it.

Somewhere along the drive, the Suburban came to a halt in front of a tall, black gate and a fence that was decorated with small arrowheads peaking at the tops. The vertical row reminded me of native’s spears, now used for keeping out unwanted guests. Engraved into an iron sign was the name Vinerest.

Aunt Mary rolled down her window, and I heard four beeps from the metal keypad followed by a chime before the main gate opened automatically.

Fancy and secure.

Vinerest was obviously a brand new neighborhood that had recently undergone thorough construction. A lot of the giant stone and brick homes that scattered throughout Vinerest did not have cars or lights on their driveway. For Sale signs were littered over most of the fresh lawns.

Finally, Aunt Mary said, as she parked the car in front of her home. We’re here!

Cameron and Gavin had those internal clocks that knew you had arrived at your destination even while you were asleep. They were ready to move before my sister and I could even unbuckle our seatbelts. Gavin’s eyes were dark and tired, and Cam wiped drool from the side of his lips as they grabbed their things while Ella and I opened the doors.

Backs popped and fingers cracked as the four of us stretched for the first time in several hours. It felt good to get the blood flowing through my body once again as Oregon’s cool wind blew across my face.

Come on, wake up! Cameron said to himself as he stomped his feet around awkwardly.

I’m going to pretend he’s not related to me, Gavin said under his breath.

Ella and I overheard and chuckled.

Oh, calm down, Cam, Aunt Mary scoffed. With the click of a button, she opened the rear door for us to grab our luggage. The drive wasn’t that long!

You’re right, Gavin said sarcastically. It should have been longer. We only got here a day sooner; I think because Uncle George was driving the first day. Maybe you should have let him drive the rest of the way, Aunt Mary!

He wishes, she rolled her eyes.

Uncle George sneered under his breath, but Gavin was right. Our Uncle George had a long history of being known for going any speed limit that allowed him to get anywhere he wanted fast. He never got pulled over or crashed once from his insanely fast driving. However, his driving always resulted in him receiving a lecture from Aunt Mary on the importance of driving safely, or her saying: You’re going to kill us all someday, and I’m going to be pissed!

There was a nice reconnection being made between us all, and I had felt it the moment we set out on the road to Oregon. A sense of assurance that things were going to go well this summer was being promised upon us. This was meant to be. The perfect way to bring us together and closer.

I gazed upon the vast brick home that rose before me as I stood in its shadow that was casted by moonlight. It was intimidating at first glance, but I began to warm up to the idea that this was going to be home for the rest of the summer. Once I realized this was going to be our safe space, it didn’t feel so bad after all.

Chapter 2: The House on Auburn Boulevard

The front porch of the home was decorated with a handful of potted plants and blooming scarlet flowers. The rustic-brown doormat had Welcome printed in black bold letters surrounded by a lighter brown rope texture. To the far left was a wooden porch swing that had rough brown cushions sitting upright. On both ends of the swing were two little glass coffee tables that had dark framed legs holding it in place.

It was easy to envision my aunt or uncle coming out there on a cool morning with a cup of hot coffee in their hand to get some fresh air before they went to work. It seemed like the perfect spot to clear your mind before a long day. I could already see myself carrying out those actions and routines all summer long.

Just one moment, Aunt Mary said, as she patted her pockets to find her keys. Her hands disappeared into her purse and came back out with a set of sparkling silver keys. A few clicks were all it took to open the tall, dark door to the belly of what seemed to be a giant beast.

The door opened into a long, dim, and narrow hallway. Clicks from everyone’s heels hit the cherry-black wooden floors, and it reverberated all throughout the home. Framed pictures of friends and family garnished the walls. There was a picture of my mom and dad on their wedding night. I almost did not recognize dad, with his bushy mustache and sideburns. There were even pictures of Ella and I when we were kids, and another of Gavin pushing Cameron on a swing.

Opposite of the pictures were two glass doors that lead into a small office. It was dark inside the room, but I was able to make out the shapes of the desk and desktop that was set up. A few feet away from the office and to the right was another hallway. However, this one was narrower and shorter. Two doors sat towards the very end of the hall: one in the center and the other on the right side.

Come this way, Aunt Mary said and took us down that hallway.

She opened the first door on the right which led into a bedroom. The room had a strong scent of lavender that came from a little cube that was plugged into the wall. It was a small room for a guest bedroom that had a queen-sized bed. A heavy, white comforter hugged the entire bed, and a small throw blanket barely covered the top of it. There were also fluffy pillows with flower designs at the edge of the headboard. Our footsteps hushed once we stumbled onto the soft, light gray carpet of the room. Should we have taken our shoes off before entering? I ignored the thought and gazed all around and stopped when my eyes met my own in the reflection of a mirror that was attached to a large drawer dresser. Across the dresser’s surface were fake, tiny, potted flowers and more framed pictures of family. Lastly, there was a dark gray nightstand that matched the headboard and bed frame, and it had on its surface a small steel lamp.

Welcome to our first room on the house tour, Aunt Mary announced. This is where you will be staying, Ella.

This is lovely! she excitedly said, as she sat her bags down next to the bed. I want to see the rest of the house first before I start to unpack.

Aunt Mary nodded.

And this is your bathroom, Uncle George said, as he opened the door that was in the dead center of the hallway.

Ella’s bathroom was just as nice as the room she was going to be staying in. The ceramic tiles were freshly polished and gleamed off the light. The stainless steel sinks also shone brightly as they sat upon white marble countertops. The bathtub, which was parallel to the sinks, was large and deep. Deep enough to be considered Ella’s personal indoor pool. In addition, it also featured a long shower head. The only thing the bathroom was missing were all of Ella’s makeup and toothbrush.

This is perfect! she said.

Lucky you, Ella, Gavin said with wide eyes.

Yeah, lucky you, Cameron added. I’m pretty sure all the guys here are going to have to share one bathroom.

Don’t get too far ahead of the tour, Cam! Aunt Mary chuckled. Come on, let’s go see the rest of the house.

We were once again back into the main hallway. That’s when I noticed that the hallway was connected to four different rooms: the office, the hall that led towards Ella’s room, a dining area, and the living room. Next on the tour was the dining room, which was on the left side of the house.

With the flick of a switch, the light revealed a large, dark mahogany table that was nearly polished and clean, just like everything else we had seen up to that point. Dangling above the table was an elegant chandelier. The walls had a few pictures and even a modern painting that looked mostly like minimalistic line art. But besides that, they were mostly bare. Far to the right was a small, single door that led to something or somewhere, but I was not curious enough to wander off by myself. Sitting in the back corner, next to one of the windows, was a tall grandfather clock that was also made out of mahogany. Its ticks boomed as its silver pendulum motioned from side to side, like the way a magician uses a pocket watch in an attempt to hypnotize someone.

Just letting you all know now, but no one is allowed to eat here, Aunt Mary said gravely for the first time. This table is only used for special occasions. Like for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners, for example. There is another table in the kitchen that will be used instead of this one. Got it?

We nodded quickly.

The next room was the living room and kitchen area. The living room had a towering ceiling but the actual space itself was a lot smaller than I had expected it to be. A long beige couch sat in the center of the room facing toward a large HD television that was sitting on a spacious shelf that complimented the cherry-black flooring. The shelf itself contained a DVD player and had movies next to it, just waiting to be played. In the left corner was a light brick fireplace. I could already smell the oak burning before it was even being used.

In the back, near where the television was sitting, was another hallway. And right by the archway that connected the main hall to the living room was a carpeted staircase that led into darkness. That’s where my curiosity was at!

Behind us was the kitchen area. The first thing that had caught my eye was the kitchen table Aunt Mary had mentioned. It was nothing fancy, but it was not cheap either. It was a rectangle-shaped table made out of some kind of light wood. There was enough room just for the four of us, but it left out Aunt Mary and Uncle George. I didn’t think it really mattered because that’s when I noticed that there was a small bar-like area in front of the kitchen that had four tall-legged chairs to sit on. Unless that’s where we were going to sit.

As for that random door I saw in the previous room, it just so happened to be another way to enter the kitchen.

The kitchen had everything anyone could ever ask for and perhaps more: a dark fancy oven with a stove on its surface, a large and wide gray metallic refrigerator, a stainless steel sink, a black and steel dishwasher, white granite countertops, an expensive coffee maker that could also heat up water for tea and hot chocolate, a thick toaster, and dark wood cabinets. There was also a pantry to store canned food and other goods, which was probably the only thing that was lacking.

Aunt Mary must have read my mind because she said: Don’t worry, I’ll be doing some shopping tomorrow. Whatever you guys want; I’ll get it for you.

Behind the dining table was a large glass window, and next to it was a glass door with blinds.

Curiosity got the best of me, so I took a peek to see what was out there.

Outside was a small yet spacious porch. A few chairs and a coffee table were set up. And in the far back corner was another fireplace.

This place doesn’t have just one fireplace but two! I said to myself excitedly.

The first thought that came to mind was having a s’mores night on a cool evening.

In my right peripheral vision, I saw another door that was facing towards me. It was slightly open, and I could see that it was almost completely dark inside. I assumed it was probably the master bedroom based on the king-sized bed and a door that was either a walk-in closet or the master bathroom. Before I could even ask, Aunt Mary was already leading us to the next hall that I had seen.

The final hallway on the first floor was probably the narrowest and cramped in comparison to Ella’s bedroom hall. You could take about 10 steps, and you would have walked the entire hall. We learned that this hall was connected to five different rooms. At the very end of the hall was a bathroom. Next to the bathroom were two doors that sat side by side, and they were the other guest bedrooms. On the opposite side of the hallway was the garage and laundry room.

I caught a glimpse into the laundry room and did not see much. The only thing that did catch my attention was how humongous the washer and dryer were. There was enough room to do everyone’s clothes at once.

This is where you guys will be sleeping, Aunt Mary said as she opened the doors.

The bedrooms were about the same size as Ella’s. Even the beds were queen-sized. Everything was similar except for the fact that Ella’s room had a more feminine touch. Our blankets and pillows didn’t have flower designs, nor did we have fake potted plants sitting on the dressers and nightstands. Even the scent of lavender was absent in the rooms. Instead of everything being white, the comforter and sheets were a teal color with gray pillows.

There’s plenty of room for all of you, Aunt Mary said. However, one of you will have to share a room and bed. It does not matter to me, so you guys are going to have to work it out on your own. If I find out that someone here is sleeping on the couch, all three of you are going to get it! She jokingly waved her fist in the air, but we all knew she was serious about what she was saying.

I could see the annoyance in Gavin’s face. In fact, he was the only one to grimace when Aunt Mary said that we were going to have to share somehow.

I don’t mind sharing my room and bed with Cam, I took the bullet without hesitation.

It was true for the most part. I really did not mind, and I did not want to start a conflict between Cameron and Gavin. Otherwise, we’d probably all end up sleeping on the couch or worse.

Cameron agreed and set his belongings in the room that was closest to the bathroom. I did the same before checking out the bathroom.

Of course, the bathroom was much smaller than Ella’s. However, we did have double sinks, and there was a door that separated the sink area from the bath and toilet. Just like everything else so far, the bathroom was perfect. It was decorated in a similar style like Ella’s, and everything was nearly glossed over.

Besides the master bedroom, there was one last room to see.

We followed Aunt Mary towards the base of the staircase.

Go on ahead and start dinner, Love, Aunt Mary told Uncle George. We’re just about done here.

He nodded tiredly and made his way towards the kitchen.

Aunt Mary then hit a light switch that lit up the staircase. There was another switch at the very top that I assumed also controlled the light. I gripped the wooden rail as we slowly ascended to the top. Aunt Mary hit another light switch that would illuminate the final room.

To my surprise, this area was actually bigger than the living room. It had a medium-sized