4.

An A4 sized envelope posted into his new home late in the afternoon has Terrence Williams more than a little baffled. If missing two hours of time the day prior to this one isn't confusing enough then the information that has come his way surely is.

Misplacing two hours of time would generally be enough reason to go see a doctor but becoming a little preoccupied prevented him from considering such an option, besides he is not sick, he doesn't feel unwell, there are no ill effects. Physically he feels good and well, mentally he could do with a break and this in part is what has brought him to where he currently is. As far as it goes, there is nothing wrong with Terrence Williams, nothing that warrants any kind of visit with a doctor. There is that slight thing however of those two missing hours.

His mental health is good as far as he is concerned and even if it weren't so good, he would be fairly confident that he could deal with that by himself. Who needs doctors and psychologists? Besides, what has come through his letterbox may just keep him busy for a little while at least. This can only be a good thing ... one would hope. There is a proper mystery out there, Terrance already is being drawn to it on a number of levels though what is it that has him believing that he can do something about it?

What had been delivered to him were flyers and newspaper clippings of people from this town who have gone missing over a lengthy period of time. A jogger and her dog missing since April 1983, an older man missing since May 1997, two teenage boys missing since March 2000 and a seven-year-old boy named Todd Grogan who had been last seen running into the town park. None of these people ever to be heard from again, there is something more than or other than kidnapping and or murder going on here.

Mary must have posted these flyers and newspaper clippings to Terrence, sure who else would have done this? And if it had been her who delivered these items then where did she go once she had done so? Why didn't she knock and discuss these other odd missing stories with him? Perhaps she wants to allow him time to consider these things by himself.

Questions are building and no answers are following. A brief trip down to that park can't hurt; nothing bad can come by just having a look. There must be a logical reason for the disappearances that Terrance has become aware of. There is a dread in the pit of his stomach telling him to stay away but he can't help himself. Evening is on its way; it is still early and bright, so a brief walk it is.

Only a few minutes do pass by the time Terrence is back by that rather large car park. Despite its size and the number of spaces available to park, there are only three cars currently parked, none of which are particularly anywhere close to the other two. There are a few people out and about the town and none of them are paying any attention to the area Terrence has come to be at.

The pit of his stomach is telling him to go home, the rest of him is telling him to go on, don't stop now. Cautiously, he moves on ... already having made his mind up that he will not go beyond the entrance to the public park. It does not matter what he may or not believe, this is an observational visit. He only wants a brief look for now and nothing more than that.

Having come to be only a few feet away from that entrance Terrance has that look inwards. Trees and the likes do make it difficult to see all so far inside. A very odd moment this proves to be for those trees are swaying strongly as if a hefty wind is out in force. Where Terrance currently stands there isn't so much as a light breeze.

In what feels to be only a few minutes a heavy darkness falls. Terrance notices that the cars he had observed a moment or so ago are gone. Other than him, the car park is completely empty, void of all life, and the sky indeed has darkened. This can't be right; surely, he would have noticed those cars leave. Maybe not, for it has happened again, twice now in two days, it had been about five o'clock moments ago and now his wristwatch informs him that it is close to eight. What the heck is going on?

5.

During his second night in his new home, sleep did not come easy if it came at all. Terrance attempted to find rest; no matter how he tried it just would not find him. Lying in bed it was oh so difficult to remain still longer than a few seconds at a time. Tossing and turning, legs and arms inside the blankets then outside the blankets and back inside again, the blankets themselves cover him then are removed only soon to return and cover him once more.

Being so unable to rest, Terrance took the opportunity to get through some of the unpacking he had so far purposely neglected. Not having ever thought of himself as being a hoarder of any sort, Terrance had managed to acquire a rather large number of possessions for only one person living by himself. Half the things he has acquired haven't even been properly looked at let alone ever used.

The public park, its entrance and all its visible trees play on his mind as does everything else about this place. Then there is this Mary person. She appeared to be quite calm in Terrence's presence as he has been in hers despite the short amount of time which has passed since they first shared a pleasant hello. There is something quite odd there too, or so it seems to Terrance. Did she know that he, or someone like him, would be coming to move in to where Terrance has come to be? And what does she expect from him? Had she been looking for someone to aid her in a quest to discover what had happened to her brother?

Going through his possessions, he finds something he didn't know that he had. A small cardboard full of scented candles, varying sized candles coloured according to scent, it is quite possible this box came into his possession via his mum though if it had then she nor anyone else had said anything about it, here they are all the same. Maybe there is a scent or two that may settle him, aid him to find sleep.

When sleep did come, it was well after four before it did, and then at about half past eight Terrance awoke feeling as if had slept no more than five minutes. How can one be so awake and find it difficult to sleep at four in the morning and only to manage sleep to a point when a time to get up comes then he or she may be so tired upon waking it would be as if sleep had not come at all?

The mysteries of sleep are irrelevant when it is quite possible that a strange unknown force may be at work in a new place you had hoped to call home whether that home be a permanent one or one that comes with the hopes of finding peace and solace for however long such a thing might last.

An early morning walk of a different kind comes on this third day. It is not a walk of discovery or investigation; it is a walk of peace and quiet, an opportunity for to hopefully find that peace and quiet, an opportunity to find a moment of sanity, an opportunity to let his mind wander to wherever the hell it feels like wandering.

There is a cool crisp breeze coming across from the sea but not so cool that any kind of extra clothing would be needed. The sun is strong and bright, and its heat easily beats any battle against a crisp breeze whether that breeze be cool or anything otherwise. Still a breeze like this very much is as pleasant as is the gentle flavour of sea salt it carries.

Wouldn't you just know it? Peace and quiet does not last long as an interruption comes once again and once again it comes via this Mary lady.

'Good morning' she speaks as she approaches Terrence where he stands, close by silver coloured railing lost in a moment of looking out to sea. He hears her before he sees her, would he have moved to greet her if he had seen her coming or would another reaction have come?

Regardless of what may or may not have come she is here beside him, and he has all intentions of remaining a gentleman.

'Hey, you doing alright?'

'Yeah good, you?'

'Could have done with a bit more sleep last night but what the heck?'

'Opposite for me, I slept quite well last night, hope what I sent you was not the cause of the lack of sleep.'

'I figured that came from you' Terrence says while taking a second or two to look his neighbour right in those blue eyes of hers. They fascinate him but don't deter him from speaking, 'and I can understand why you didn't want to deliver the contents of that envelope personally.'

'I wanted you to see some of what I have and not be around to influence what you might make of it.'

'Not a problem and it is only some of what you have?'

'It has been fifteen years since my brother vanished, I've had some time to gather any and all information I believe may be of relevance. Would you like in on all I know?'

'I'm only here a couple of days and I am in way too deep as it is, no matter whatever it is I am in. No going back now. Would you mind if I were to join up with you later today?'

'Sure, I'll be home for most of the day, you can call over whenever you are ready and I promise, there'll be no kids.'

This made them both smile and was enough for the two to move on and temporarily part company, soon after which Terrence moved closer to the sea waters. Whatever it is he has got into, he is in it for what may be long haul. He doesn't need to be sold on anything. This is what the next part of his life is going to be.

Before this next part of his life can come, there is something else that needs to be overcome. Walking a wet sandy beach, Terrance removes his shoes and sock and turns up the hems of his trousers. He allows his feet to become wet. The water is cold, not a cold that makes him squirm or move away from the water ... rather it is refreshing, almost life giving. It feels so good he wants to feel more and feel more he does.

Terrence makes a move right into the water; he goes so far it that it sweeps him of his feet and aid is needed to retrieve him from the waters. He comes off not fearful or frightened, he appears to be happy, delirious even, and his laughter comes uncontrollably to the point that those who came to his aid most likely think him mad or someway crazy. What an odd moment ...

Three guys of athletic build are who came to the aid of Terrance, fetching him out of the sea waters and laying him on his back. They ask as to if there is anyone that they can call on his behalf. He replies that he is fine, he is beginning to calm down somewhat, so he is let be. Something odd and strange had momentarily taken him, made him do something very much out of character, putting his own life in danger.

Possibly the weirdest part of it all is that Terrence actually enjoyed it, his moment of madness and needing to be brought back from it. He had never done anything quite like that before. Temporarily he had no control over himself but somehow ... he knew, somewhere deep inside he knew, he was not in any real danger.