Tourist Trap

Arthur's feet hurt, but he wasn't paying attention. The pain had faded to the back of his mind, that is what happens after four hours of walking. Another car passed him on the highway and then another and then another. Three days into the trip he stopped expecting people to ask if he needed a ride. There was no mistaking him and his backpack. Arthur was a hitchhiker and people knew it. They kept their distance and he was just fine with that. Ben had joined up with him two weeks ago.Arthur didn't know where Ben came from, but he was a welcome journey-mate. After looking him over Arthur figured that Ben was at least part wolf. No dewclaws, distinctive fur, and the whistling made it obvious. They made a good pair.

As they saw the small town slowly becoming larger Ben stopped and ran into the field to his right. Arthur continued walking; Ben would disappear from time to time only to appear the next day. More steps. More steps. He came to the first gas station. The bell rang out as the door opened.

"Excuse me, Ma'am, do you have a phone that I can use? It would have to be long-distance."

 The lady looked up with a face void of expression. "Phone's dead."

Arthur looked around at the interior. "Any water in here?" He couldn't find any.

"Out." She still had that same blank look.

"Okay, thanks anyways." He walked over to the refrigerated wall and grabbed a sprite. Arthur placed it on the counter in front of the woman. Her name tag said Sue.

"Sorry hun, register's broken. Don't worry about it; just enjoy." Her face changed to a devious smile with a wink.

"Okay, thanks..."
As the door closed behind him he heard the bell again. Arthur would have preferred water, but

Beggars can't be choosers,

he thought to himself.  As he started to guzzle the soda the taste surprised him. After the initial shock he gagged. It wasn't sweet or even cold. The cool liquid he held in his hand was warm in his mouth and tasted salty and metallic. Arthur looked at the green plastic bottle that he was holding. Nothing had changed. He poured a little in his mouth and swirled it around. He spat it back out almost immediately. It still had that warm coppery taste. Turning around to go back into the store he found that the doors were locked. The lights were off. Arthur set the bottle of the spoiled soda on the step at the door and continued to walk.

Night was coming and the sun was setting. Arthur didn't like this town so he didn't stop to rest. Finding his way in the town square he saw an elaborate fountain. It looked like it belonged in some old Gothic monastery in Europe. Gargoyles seemed to stare at him. A young lady appeared to be sitting at the fountain. She was staring directly at Arthur. He couldn't change his path without making it obvious that was was avoiding her. She was attractive, but something was wrong with her eyes. He couldn't tell in the little light that was being provided by the street lamps. More steps. More steps.

"Hey."

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Have a drink from the fountain. Its real good," she said with a lingering southern accent.

"Sorry, ma'am, that looks more like mud than water. Whatever it is, I have to keep movin'."

"It isn't either, but stop and have a drink. You won't regret it; everyone likes it." She took hold of his sleeve as he was passing.

"Ma'am?" Arthur was confused. Then he saw her eyes. They were dilated almost to the point that she didn't even have an iris showing. Her pupils were unnaturally large. She wouldn't let go.

"Ma'am, I need to keep moving, please let go." She didn't instead she scooped up the liquid in the fountain and threw it at him. She had good aim. It hit him on the mouth. He spat it back out. It tasted exactly like the sprite from the store. He jerked his hand back wiping the mud from his face.

"What the in the world is that?" He started to back up, but still heading the way he wanted to.

"You don't like it? Its honey, everybody likes it. Why don't you like it? Nuthin' but the blood of Jesus..."

"What are you talking about? What? I'm leaving." Arthur turned and started jogging.

The girl screamed.

Arthur started running. He had no idea what was going on and didn't care to find out. A man stepped out in front of him and they both fell into a heap. The man got up. He was in a mechanics jumpsuit and from the look of the grease he had on him he had been working.

"Why don't like our honey, son? Its nuthin', but the blood of Jesus. Doesn't it taste good?"

"No it doesn't! It tastes like..." It struck Arthur with the force of a mac truck.

Blood.

The man's eyes widened as he heard Arthur stop short his sentence. His eyes weren't right either.
 "You know him don't you?" He shouted at Arthur with fear and urgency in his voice.

"We have a right to be here, you know! Leave us! Leave us! We don't want you here!"

"Jesus, what is going on here?" Arthur whispered a small prayer.

"Ahh! Don't say his name! Get out! Get out!"

Not knowing what to do, Arthur started running to the edge of town. The sun being gone completely it was hard to see, but he could make out the forms of others walking out of buildings one by one.

"Jesus make this stop." Out of breath Arthur could barely say the words.
 
His prayer was met with screams from inside the town. He had to stop running. He was so thirsty. He hadn't had any water all day. He looked up. Only the girl aJnd the man were standing where he could see. They had twisted looks of hate.

"What are you doing here?"

No response.

Arthur started to pray, "Jesus..."

Before he could utter another word the man and girl started screaming again.

"Make this stop. Help these people." The screaming stopped finally.

The man and girl collapsed and didn't get up. Arthur couldn't decide to leave or to check them out. He walked over and looked at them. He wasn't sure if they were still a threat or not.

"Hello?"

The man's eyes opened.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Arthur," he said as he helped him up. "Do you know what is going on here?"

"I don't know, why is my daughter on the ground?" He picked her up. "She must have had one of her fits again."

"I need to get going. You guys gonna be okay?"

"Yeah, you need a place to stay, son?"

"No thanks, I just as soon get outta here."

"Suit yourself, be careful though; its dangerous out there."

The next morning Arthur woke up in a field just outside of town with Ben licking his face.

"Good morning, Ben. Lets go get something to eat." Just as he said that Arthur looked up to see the blackberry bush that he had missed the night before.

Ben just whistled.