Breakfast Serial Episose 1: The Bridge

Sam stood on the narrow, one-lane bridge and silently looked down at Fox Creek. What was normally just a trickle had been transformed into white water by the recent rains. The sign at the end of the bridge claimed that the little town of Simonton, Ohio was ten miles down the road, but Sam found it difficult to believe he had walked that far. He had begun his walk in an attempt to clear his mind of all the problems that had been weighing him down. His marriage. The church. Before he knew it, his pace had picked up until he was nearly sprinting. It was only when he hit the bridge that it occurred to him he would never outrun the wreck his life had become.

Not unlike the tree limbs and debris that were caught in the current of the Fox, Sam’s life had been spiraling out of control. What had once been beautiful had turned dark and murky. Things had finally reached a breaking point and Sam Campbell’s life would never be the same.

Jump.

Sam instantly reacted to the voice he heard. His hands patted the pockets of his jeans as he looked up and down the road. No one was in sight and he had managed to forget his cell phone yet again. The voice had been just a whisper yet had resonated in his head. Even now he could hear the voice trailing off into the distance. Sam swallowed hard and looked down at the water; wondering if the voice was just in his head.

Jump!

This time the voice was louder. It was accompanied by a cacophony of whispers that seemed to flow from underneath the bridge. At the same moment a dark figure appeared just beneath the surface of the water only to disappear with the current under the bridge.

Sam raced to the other side of the bridge and peered into the water only to find nothing. He told himself the shape had just been a tree branch; more of the debris that had been sucked into the creek as it escaped its banks. But that didn’t explain the voice and the whispers that still seemed to echo from beneath the bridge.

“I’m going crazy.”

Sam slowly fell into a seated position with his back to the side of the bridge. He had always felt like he had a couple of screws loose, but now he was positive. Shapes … voices; could it have been his own mind advising him to jump and put an end to his painful life? Sam dismissed the notion; even his subconscious was too fearful to contemplate suicide – although, he had chosen to stop running on a bridge.

Jump you worthless maggot! Do the world a favor!

Tears began to flow down Sam’s face. The world would be better off without him. Sarah’s life would most definitely improve. After all, it would take months for anyone to notice he was gone.

As Sam sat pondering his life and possible death, a shadowy arm slowly reached over the side of the bridge. Muddy creek water dripped off of extended talons as they reached ever slowly for his shoulder.

Life or death? The normally indecisive Sam Campbell was surprised at how quickly he reached a decision.

Without warning the talons dug into Sam’s shoulder with an iron grip. He struggled briefly as pain seared through his torso; in an instant, he was pulled over the side of the bridge.

Hell was loose in Simonton, Ohio.