SINISTER RETREAT

Boy, am I tired. My body needs a break. My neck. My back. Everything hurts. Good thing I have a long week off. Work has been so hard. Lately I've been having a hard time keeping up with my co-workers.

I need to get away from the city, from the smell and the noise. That's why I found the perfect place to go. Mountain Oasis is the perfect place to go.

I already arrived. I look around and I'm blown away. This place is breath taking. I grab my stuff and walk inside. Wow, it's even more beautiful in here.

I walk to the check in desk. "Hi my name is Juliette Blake. I'm checking in." I wait a few minutes while the lady looks my name up. I can't wait to explore more of Mountain Oasis.

"Hello Ms. Blake and welcome to Mountain Oasis. We are glad to have you with us. We have a few rules I would like to go over with you. First rule. This is a silent retreat. Which means Once I give you the key to your room you are not allow to talk. Second rule. If you talk, you will be asked to leave and one more thing. No refunds will be giving. Understand Ms. Blake?

"It's the reason why I'm here. I need peace and quiet."

The lady name Eve hands me the key to my room and a list of activities. That lady gives me the creeps. I smile and leave. No talking. No noise. No foul smell. Only the smell of the mountains is what I need.

I walk to my room and as I'm walking, I see just how beautiful Mountain Oasis really is. There is a spa room, yoga room and a hot tub. There are nature walks and so much more.

I can't wait to get started. I find my room. I open the door and walk in. Wow, my room is so beautiful and it smells good. I out my bags down and open them. I'm changing into something more comfortable.

Perfect and peaceful. Now time to explore. I leave my room. I begin to walk while looking at the map. Not only is there a spa room and a yoga room but also a movie room, an art room and a dance room. I'm liking what I'm seeing. But something seems off.

I continue walking while still looking at the map when I bump into someone. I look up and smile. I begin to open my mouth and say sorry when I remember I can't talk. I mouth "I'm sorry." The man smiles and nods.

I continue along. That was embarrassing. There are so many people here. The young and the old. I find a bench and sit down. I close my eyes taking in the sounds. I never knew nature can feel so good.

I open my eyes and see little kids running having a good time. Their parents right behind them. I wave at them and they wave back. I wonder if this place is too good to be true. Every where I look the people seem to be smiling and laughing. No one is angry or sad.

Maybe it's just me and the product of where I grew up. I look at my phone. it's 5 pm. My stomach is rumbling. Dinner time is in half and hour.

The dinner hall is really beautiful. Many people are here. They are getting in line. I join the line. I grab my good and find a place to sit down. I begin eating. The food taste so good. I look at the activities for tomorrow. I think I will go on the nature walk.

The trail on the map looks good. What is this? There's a red X on one of the trails. I wonder why that is I try not to let the red X bother me but I can't help it I'm curious.

I thought the quietness of the mountains would get on my nerves but it hasn't. I look around me and see the people are in good spirits especially the family of four. Those kids are adorable. But I can't help feeling something evil is lurking in the shadows. Mountain Oasis is too good to be true.

I don't know what it is or why I'm feeling like this. I was happy when I got here. But since meeting Eve and seeing everyone so happy something in me has changed.

Sleep is catching up with me. I get up from my seat and throw the garbage out. I begin to walk to my room. As I'm walking to my room I hear noises. People are talking. I thought this was a silent retreat.

I follow the nosies to the yoga room. I peek in and see a group of people. They look like they work here. They are talking. What about? I stay as still and quiet as possible. I listen to what they are saying.

Oh My God! one of them saying "What do you think of this batch of people?" They guy response is "They are better than the last group." The lady is asking "Who is next?" They all looking at each other and say "The family of four." I quickly leave and walk as fast as possible to my room. What the hell did I just hear?

No something else must be going on. But that funny feeling is coming back. They can't be hurting people. It has to be something else. Maybe they are discussing some activity they are doing with the family. Tomorrow I'm going to wake-up and the family is going to be in the dining hall for breakfast.

I can't sleep. My mind keeps drifting to the conversation I heard. What is going on here? I cam here to get away from the city to find peace. Now I feel scare. I don't know what to do.

I get up from the bed and begin to pace back and forth. This pace is so beautiful. The scenery is breath taking. What if something sinister is lurking in the shadows?

Why of all the days and of all of the people dose this have to happen the me? I need to get my head on straight. I need to go back to sleep and tomorrow the family will be at breakfast. I try to go back to sleep but I can't. I hear noises coming from outside.

I get up from my bed and look outside. It's the same people from the yoga room and they have the family. The family is not putting up a fight. It looks like they are in a trance.

It's my first night here and I'm dealing with something sinister. My mama once told me don't go looking for trouble. My mama isn't here. It looks like they are going into the woods. I put my clothes and sneakers on. I leave my room and follow them.

The red X that's where they are going. Good think I have my map with me. I follow the trail. Walk quietly Juliette. I reach the fork. Instead of going right, I go left.

I keep walking and walking until I hear voices coming from up ahead. I see light coming from there too. I walk a little further then, I hide behind a bush. I watch.

I see them. Oh My God! What are those things? What are they doing to the family? Oh God! they are being put into those things and being strapped in. Their eyes are closed. They are not moving. The doors are closing. Nosies are coming from those things. They shoot up into the sky. I watch in horror.

What the hell did I just witness? I have to leave. I turn around and begin to run. I bump into something hard. I look up and it's the man from early today. I jump away. He could be one of them. "Don't be afraid. My name is Kyle. I don't work here. I'm investigating the disappearances that have been occurring here."

Should I believe him? I don't know. It could be a ruse to get to me. "I'm not going to hurt you.I really am investigating the disappearances. Look." Kyle takes out a badge. I look at it. He works for the FBI.

My name is Juliette Blake. I saw something unbelievable.Something I can't explain." Kyle explains to me that numerous people have disappeared from Mountain Oasis in the last decade with out a trace.

I tell him what I saw. The people that disappeared are never coming back home. Kyle asks me to help. I agree. I'm scared I could be next but this is too important not to help.