The Town That Time Forgot: contos, #1

By Ricardo Almeida

Embark on a spine-tingling journey into the mysterious town of Crier's Creek with this captivating narrative. As the clock ticks on the dashboard, the eerie silence descends upon the nondescript town, revealing a rust-belt charm frozen in time. The author skillfully paints a vivid picture of the once-bustling streets, now devoid of life, where short, squat buildings stand as ancient fossils, and the only signs of existence are the ghostly glow of streetlights.

Feel the protagonist's unease as he grapples with the profound silence that unnerves even the most stoic individuals. The author masterfully conveys the surreal atmosphere, where the absence of familiar sounds amplifies the mystery of the abandoned town. The sense of nostalgia and familiarity clashes with the inexplicable emptiness, leading to a journey filled with uncertainty, curiosity, and a touch of fear.

As the protagonist navigates the desolate streets, a chilling revelation unfolds—the entire town appears to be uninhabited, leaving only the remnants of a once-vibrant community. The author skillfully weaves a narrative that explores the unsettling aftermath of an unexplained event, leaving readers on the edge of their seats, yearning for answers.

With each passing moment, the tension rises, and the protagonist's quest for understanding propels the reader deeper into the enigma of Crier's Creek. The narrative seamlessly blends elements of mystery, nostalgia, and a hint of the supernatural, creating a story that lingers in the imagination long after the last word is read.

Step into the shoes of the protagonist as he grapples with the surreal emptiness, mysterious radio signals, and the unnerving feeling that the town holds secrets waiting to be unraveled. In this atmospheric tale, the reader is invited to join the journey into the heart of Crier's Creek, where the line between reality and the unknown blurs, leaving behind an unforgettable experience that will leave readers questioning the boundaries of the ordinary.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ricardo Almeida
• Release date: Nov 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223147916

Book preview

Table of Contents

The Town That Time Forgot (contos, #1)

I glanced on at the clock on my dashboard.

1002 it read, and glowing green numbers amidst the darkness.

Almost 30 minutes on the dot since we had entered the town.

It was a nondescript little place.

Short, squat, gray and brown buildings with signs introducing local businesses.

Lining the streets in the areas where small but homey residential houses bunched close

together amidst well-kept lawns were not.

Nothing to picture ask, but a standard rust belt town that although it had clearly seen

better days had kept on chugging until it was a passable, if not at times a pleasant

place to live.

I knew the type well.

My own hometown in central Illinois had been much the same.

Beyond that I was familiar with this very town.

Having passed through it on my way to the campsite with my friends, Phil and Clay, and I had

spent the weekend at.

It reminded me of days past, the sort of place frozen in time.

It was that familiarity perhaps, limited though it was that made the place stand out to me

on the way to our campsite.

The town marked the four hour point of our drive, and had been made as something of a

landmark as we had determined to stop there for gas and some snacks on the way back.

Yet as we pulled off of the empty highway, the first thing that had begun to grip me

was the silence.

From the moment that we had entered the town, driving down would seem to be the main road

through the place.

We had been greeted by nothing more than these staggering silence, and the smell that seemed

a linger faintly.

There are a few things that can truly and deeply unnerve a person.

One of those things is true and utter silence.

I'm not talking about the silence of a quiet home, with neighbors, cars and distant yapping

dogs audible from behind your walls.

No true silence, especially in a place where there ought to be the opposite.

That was what we experienced rolling back through the town that had previously been as

busy as any other along the highway.

What the exception of my vehicle, and that which carried my friends behind me, there

was nothing.

No distant roar of traffic on surrounding streets, the odd squeal of a break, a honk

of a horn and a call of a pedestrian.

It was more than just a lack of noise however, there were no birds or joggers or people walking

their dogs, no