Silence. That's what first got Spence's attention. The dead, looming silence. How in the world could a place be so silent? Granted, he was in the stinking boon docks, but come on! There should be crickets! Rats or something! Jeesh!

      Spence never did like the countryside. He never liked the rolling hills or the fresh country air. He didn't even like to sit on front porches and sip lemonade. It gave him the creeps. Man! That's what stopped him from marrying Candi. Sweet Candi.....

Well, he wasnt going to think about her anymore. She was the one girl he had ever truly loved and he had pushed her away with his stubborness. She had wanted to marry and live on her father's farm. She had wanted six kids and a lot of animals. She had wanted to feel free and run barefoot with the wind caressing her long golden lockes. She had wanted to live.

      Spencer, on the other hand was a banker. He was clean cut and crisp. That's what he wanted from life. To be known. To be important. To be somebody. Spencer Black, with his perfectly chiseled features, deep tanned skin, and slick black hair, wanted to DO something with his life - and that did not include smelly animals, pig pens, or millions of kids at his ankles. 

      He regretted letting her go now though...Candi, beautiful sweet Candi...

    Man! He couldn't stop his running thoughts out on this still countryside. This all too still country side...

    He knew he hadn't been out this way in years, but he wasn't crazy either. Something was wrong. The still cold silence was not right. Something was off.....

      That's why he had come in the first place. Candi's phone call to him (the first phone call in several years actually) had done more than stir his heart back to life. It had been something in her voice. Some kind of odd sense of fear had trembled in her words. He remembered the conversation vividly.

      "Spence, how you doin'? Hey," without even waiting for an answer(not that he could give her one with his heart in his throat)"I was thinkin' how about you come an' see me sometime. I do miss you Spence."

      "Well, ummm, uhh, well... Candi, I..." He couldn't think of an answer to save his life. Why had she called out of the blue like this. And asking him to come see her?!

      "Hey Spence, I really need you to," her voice waivered as if she were about to cry. She NEEDED him! Candi? Strong, vibrant Candi? Needed Spencer?

      Her next words made his decision for him. "I don't know what to do. I need you here with me."

      "I'm coming Candi."

      Those were his last words to her. He hung up and packed a quick bag. Next thing he knew, he called in to work and was on the road to...To where? What was he doing? Did she still have the same affect on him as she had when they were teenagers? This was crazy, yet there he was, on his way to hicksville in the middle of the night.

      After stopping to relieve himself by a tree(not that anyone would be around for miles to see him) his phone fell from it's holster and he had a short search and rescue. After finding it (in front of his face camoflauged in the shaddows of some large rocks.) his head began to throb. Whoa! He really needed some ibuprofen. Wait a minute...this road was pitch black a minute ago. Now it was as if someone turned on a dim light in the distance...

      But now that he was here he knew something was wrong. Much more wrong than he had imagined. He felt slightly woozy as if he had a shot (a large shot!) of vodka, and almost lost his balance.

      Shaking his head slightly to ease the drunken feeling off, he watched the vauge light move far off over the hills. What the...