It’s dry and dead outside. The building’s windows have been boarded up and the picnic tables that line the parking lot are rotten and buried by the over grown grass. Why has my father pulled into this place? Oh yes I remember, we used to stop here on our way to Maine all the time. So many great trips up there to see Grandpa and Grandma. Wait a minute, we are on our way up there. What has happened here?

My dad slows the truck to a stop and forces the shifter into “park.” The truck bobs for a second in place and my dad clicks the key back. My hands are clenched around the top of the seat and I can only stare at the front door of this building. The truck door is forced open.  I jerk my head to the side to see what had happened. Oh, it’s only Dad. He has an unusual smile on his face as he asks me to jump out of the truck. “I’ll catch you,” says he. The door is slammed behind me. Where is my brother, Peter? He is supposed to be here with us. He always comes to Maine for Thanksgiving and hunting. My head turns back towards the truck. Where did it go? Oh I can see it, but it is atleast a mile away. We have only been walking, but for a few moments, and already I can’t see my brother.

The sidewalk in front of the building is crumbling apart and filled with sparatic patches of brown grass. There is the front door. What could Dad possible want to show me in here? The detail across the front door is more vivid than before. The door has been ripped off the hinges and resembles more of a large swinging salon door from the old west, rather than a heavy duty door of an inhabitied business establishment. “You wanna open the door for Dad?” I shake my head. My dad sighs and nudges me forward. I look back at him in worry. Is he freakin’ kidding me? I look up at the door like David looking to Goliath. I press my hand against the door peaking through the cracks of the wood. My hand slides along the length of the door as it opens. “OUCH!” I fall forward in through the door.

My hand is throbbing. A piece of old wood is sticking out from the palm of my hand. “What the?” I say as I look past my hand onto the brand new black and white tiled floor. I peer up at the room and notice that Grand Central Terminal isn’t as busy as this place. Where did all these people come from? I turn my head to find Dad. He isn’t there just a brand new green door. Dusting off my pants I stumble to my feet and scan the room. The parking lot showed no signs of life, yet, this place seems to be the talk of the town. Families eat at tables, people ordering food at the different vendors, and small children scurrying about the floor. “Dad? Dad, where are you?” Where is my father? I started shuffling through the crowd. It seemed I was starting to grab the attention of some of the people. I nod back trying not to make eye contact.

I come to the end of the vending area. No sign of Dad. Ooo, a window. My, what a beautiful day outside. All the kids playing on the picnic tables and there’s Dad’s truck right in front. Oh, There’s Dad! “Dad, Dad in here, I’m in here!” I tap on the glass. There is no response. I scream again at him again as I turn towards the crowd to see if anyone has responded to my cries of help. Oh that’s interesting. Everyone is looking at me. There is a crash on the front door. My heart pounds against my ribcage, no one else responds. I look out the window again. My father swings his sledge hammer towards the building. Bang. Bang. I look back at everyone. They are pointing back into the middle distance. What is this? I approach the crowd in search of an answer. The crowd separates and my stomach begins to turn. There it is. Laying in the middle of crowd. A young girl lay on a stretcher with her dialysis machine next to her. Her eye is black with a blood stained face. Bruises from where someone’s fist, most likely, connected with her face. Her hospital robe is three sizes to big for her. Bang. Bang. Finally we make eye contact. A tear glides down her cheek. My eyes fill with water and I begin to brace myself. The girl let’s out a soundless shriek. Her mouth, wide open, as if screaming bloody murder, emits no sound and I fall to the ground, covering my ears, as if I can actually hear her. Bang. Bang. Dad, where are you? My body is frozen and everyone remains standing above me motionless. Help me someone? Dad, save me. Bang. Bang. Crash! My dad falls through the door.

It goes black…