Grim Tales from the Mountains: contos, #1

By Ricardo Almeida

Embark on a gripping journey through the eerie unknown with this chilling tale that unfolds in the heart of the White Mountains. Three months ago, a seemingly ordinary road trip to visit the in-laws takes a spine-tingling turn as the protagonist, fueled by a relentless bladder and an impending nightfall, stumbles upon a mysteriously deserted town.

As you read, the vivid descriptions transport you to a quintessential American town frozen in time, with its quaint houses, 24-hour diners, and abandoned police station that harbors a blood-curdling secret. The palpable tension builds as the couple discovers a desolate main street, eerily untouched plates of moldy food in a diner, and a police station adorned with cryptic, blood-red messages that hint at a sinister force lurking within.

The narrative masterfully weaves a sense of isolation and dread, heightened by the protagonist's futile attempts to reach out for help, with no cell service and an abandoned cop car as their only link to the outside world. As they delve deeper into the ghostly town, uncovering slashed tires and a package store that holds more questions than answers, the suspense tightens its grip.

Amidst the unfolding mystery, the characters come to life with nuanced details—the wife's unnerving nonchalance, the protagonist's escalating anxiety, and the ominous atmosphere that envelopes them. Each twist and turn in the story leaves you on the edge of your seat, pondering the sinister forces at play and questioning the very fabric of reality.

This riveting narrative invites you to join the characters on their unsettling journey, urging you to confront the unknown and grapple with the unsettling events that unfold in this deserted town. Buckle up for a tale that blends the ordinary with the supernatural, inviting you to explore the shadows and mysteries that lurk just beyond the surface of this captivating story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ricardo Almeida
• Release date: Nov 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223544920

Book preview

Table of Contents

Grim Tales from the Mountains (contos, #1)

3 months ago, my wife and I were on our way to visit my mother-in-law, living alone far

up in the White Mountains.

I had been driving for 5 hours and my wife Betty started saying that she needed to use

the bathroom and that she was really hungry.

My full bladder agreed with her on the first issue, though I also tried to make good time

and get there before nightfall.

On the street signs would become harder to read.

I had never been to Betty's mother's house before or even the county that had lay in.

I pulled over the car on the side of Main Street, looking down the center of the town.

It had everything the small rural American town usually had.

Quaint houses with blue siding, 24-hour diners, hardware stores and tobacco shops, liquor stores

and restaurants.

Majestic mountains rose all around us and the town itself was so high that I could see for

miles.

The air smelled clean and sweet.

Everything was here except.

And no people, my wife said, as if reading my mind.

I looked over at her frowning.

Yeah, this is bizarre, I said.

This place looks like it was hit by the black dad.

Where is everyone?

My wife unlocked her door and got out, pulling a cigarette from her purse and lighting it.

She gave the pack to me and I took one.

My wife looked pale and thin under the late afternoon sun.

Her black hair and dark eyes contrasting heavily with her light Irish tan.

Lately she seemed to have lost weight, but she wouldn't talk about it.

Every time I asked her if anything was wrong, she had said no, and I could get no more response

from her than that.

The fragrant Turkish tobacco of the camel cigarette instantly woke me up.

We didn't smoke in the car as it was brand new and it cost me over 25,000 that I didn't

really have.

The last thing that I wanted was burn marks on the seats and ashes flying everywhere.

She walked slowly down the sidewalk looking around, searching for the slightest signs

of movement.

I didn't even see an animal except for an occasional fly buzzing past on its way to

yeek garbage.

I looked into the diner window and I saw plates set out on the tables.

Mold grew wild on the food, strange patches of green and red and black sprouting filaments

and making the dishes unrecognizable.

Next to the plates I saw his cell phones and even car and house keys.

All the screens on the phones looked black, as if they had been sitting there for months.

A slight layer of grime and dust had settled over everything.

The door stood wide open, a cheerful sign reading, where open come in, displayed on the front.

That's gotta be a code violation, I said, pointing inside at the disgusting plates of

mold and fungus.

My wife laughed, but it sounded nervous and high pitched, almost desperate in its cadence.

Listen, Betty, do you think we should maybe call the police or something?

She elected me for a long moment and then sighed.

I mean, I don't know, she said, what crime has been committed, it's just an empty town.

Maybe everybody is at a funeral.

Her voice raised, hopefully.

I laughed.

What, they just abandoned their shops and restaurants with no workers and moldering food.

And by the way, there's a cop car right there, I said, pointing.

It sat on four flat tires covered in a thick coat of dust.

The tires didn't look damaged in