“I have never been here before,” I said to Alana. We had been best friends since we were in kindergarten. She had lived with her grandmother since she was five. Every summer, she returned to Echo Ridge to visit her parents. 

 

She had never offered to bring me to her hometown.

 

“I’m not sure how I feel about it here. This place has mixed feelings for me.” 

 

I nudged her elbow. “Cheer up. This is our last trip before college, we are going to make it absolutely epic.”

 

She gave a quick smile, but her eyes were trained on the road. 

 

I still wasn’t sure why she picked Echo Ridge as the place she wanted to go for this trip. I had tried to convince her that a beach trip would be more fun, or even a Midwest town filled with corn. Every time she would visit her family, she would come back…different. She would be distant for a few weeks after, and barely want to hang out. With every trip, it seemed like it got worse.

 

Needless to say, I was not necessarily excited for this trip.

 

“Is it always this foggy? Even in the summer?” I asked.

 

“It only gets worse in the winter,” she said. Her voice was flat. “It should break up by mid-day.”

 

“Well, why don’t you show me some sights? Well, if we can see them through the fog. Do you have a favorite place that you like to go when you visit here?”

 

“I have just the place,” she said. She perked up a bit, the first honest emotion I had seen since we had left this morning. 

 

She pulled into an ice cream coffee shop. “It’s always the small towns that have the best treats.” 

 

I followed her into the shop. It was so nice to get out and finally stretch. I wished that I brought a jacket though. It was chilly here.

 

The shop was cute, almost like a vintage malt shop. There was even a jukebox in the corner. Over by the jukebox, there was a large cork board, filled with missing persons signs. Some of them were old, almost tattered. 

 

There were layers of them.

 

Alana popped up behind me. “I’m hungry, let’s order!” She took my hand and led me to the counter. 

 

I glanced behind me at the posters one more time. 

 

We ordered from a teenager, wearing a red and white striped uniform. I ordered a giant iced mocha and waffle chips, and I ordered two scoops of chocolate chip ice cream for Alana before she had the chance.

 

“What if I wanted something else instead?” she asked.

 

“You’ve had the same ice cream order since we were six years old. If you suddenly changed, I would think you were an alien inhabiting Alana’s body.”

 

Alana insisted that we eat outside, even though it was cold. 

 

I didn’t argue, she was finally acting more like herself. Maybe she just needed some sugar as a pick-me-up. We giggled over our college plans, the sororities we were going to pledge to, all the parties we were going to attend, and all the cute guys we were going to meet. We didn’t mention the fact that we wouldn’t be going to the same school. 

 

I ignored the sinking in my stomach at the thought of not enjoying those things with her. 

 

It was best just to pretend.

 

After we finished, she said, “I’ll show you around. We have plenty of time before the firework show starts.”

 

We hopped back into the car, and I cranked up the heat. I listened to her tour as she drove down Main Street. Main Street itself was very short, maybe half a mile, but the buildings were cute and historic.

 

“Why is everyone watching us?” I whispered. I squirmed in my seat.

 

Rows of people stopped in their tracks and stared as we passed through.

 

“They are pretty leery about strangers,” Alana said. 

 

“Any particular reason why?” I asked. I sank down in the seat.

 

“The locals have to rely on themselves a lot, and don’t trust outsiders. Plus, people get more worked up around this time of year. Summer is the busiest time of year, with tourism and stuff. Here, let’s go somewhere there are not a lot of people. Since you seem uncomfortable with your new local celebrity status and all.”

 

“Does being a local celebrity come with any perks, like free ice cream?”

 

“I’m sure there have to be some perks involved.”

 

She drove over an old rickety-looking bridge and followed a blue sign that said “Historical Site: Hotel.” I could see a large hotel in the distance. We were getting closer to it, but she took an abrupt right turn down a dirt road. The car jostled and my mocha almost fell out of the cupholder. 

 

“Um, is this safe?” I asked, holding the drink and hoping it didn’t slosh out of the cup.

 

“Relax, Deb! It will be worth it soon, I promise.”

 

“Ok,” I said.

 

Alana was not wrong. The view was worth it. 

 

“It’s one of Echo Ridge’s best kept secrets. Well, one of many,” she said with a shrug. “Only the locals know about it, and not even all of them do.” 

 

I looked up at the magnificent waterfall. I could feel the spray on my face. The ground was soggy under my feet. A part of me wondered if the ground could absorb me into the soil if I stood here for too long.

 

“Wait, that’s not a waterfall,” I said. I had to speak up, the water was so loud.

 

“No, it’s a dam, and that’s the spillway. It doesn’t really look like it though, not from this angle. I used to come out here whenever I needed to get away from my family. It’s so peaceful.”

 

“I suppose so,” I said. I looked up in mixed appreciation and horror as the water poured from the dam.

 

There was a mossy, damp bench a little further back. Alana led us over to it and sat down. I stood by her. I kept eyeing the water, not wanting to turn my back on it. 

 

At least it was a little quieter over here.

 

We stayed out here for a while, until I got too cold. We emerged from the trees on our way back to the car, and I was pleasantly surprised that Alana was right, the sun was finally out. “Oh, now this is gorgeous.” 

 

We made our way back up the bumpy road. I held my drink for good measure.

 

Alana took a right turn towards the hotel. “This place has been here for quite some time,” she said. “It’s called the Centennial Hotel, after all.”

 

“Interesting,” I said. I studied it as we approached. Parts of it seemed like they were from the early 1900s, like the black iron carriage lights that lined the parking lot and the hand-carved “Centennial Hotel” sign that sat above the door. Parts, like the security cameras, were definitely more modern.

 

The interior was also a hodge-podge of decor. The furniture in the lobby looked like it belonged in the Victorian era, and looked about as comfortable. But the hotel was painted in bright colors, almost like a home from the 70s. 

 

We carried our bags up to our room. It was small. It smelled a bit damp. 

 

“Wow, this carpet. It’s so red,” I said. 

 

“The locals used to joke that it was to hide all the bloodstains,” Alana said. Her smile was flat.

 

“That’s not very funny.” I sat down on my bed. I glanced at the clock behind Alana. It was broken, it had stopped at 9:05.

 

Alana stood over by the foot of her bed, staring at me with her empty expression.

 

“You ok?” I asked.

 

She nodded slowly.

 

“I think I’m going to freshen up.” I breezed into the bathroom. “What the hell is wrong with this place?” I whispered to myself. “And, what the hell is wrong with Alana?”

 

I debated calling my mom to come get me. I didn’t like it here. And, Alana seemed so off.

 

This wasn’t at all what I was hoping for for my last trip before college.

 

I took a breath. I gazed at my reflection. I noticed a clock in the bathroom. This one had stopped at 2:13.  “Just suck it up. Let’s see how it goes after the firework show. If it’s still creepy, then I will leave.” 

 

I smoothed my hair and gave myself a final approving look and then walked out. “Holy shit, Alana!” I jumped backwards. She was standing right in front of the door, smiling. “You scared the absolute hell out of me.”

 

“We should probably get there for the fireworks show.” 

 

“Already? It’s not even close to dusk,” I said, checking my watch.

 

“People like to get there early. Plus, there are food carts and all sorts of vendors, too. It’s a big deal.”

 

“Ok, yeah. That sounds great.” Honestly, being anywhere but this creepy hotel would be fine by me. I was certain I was not going to be able to sleep tonight.

 

We drove to a large park wordlessly. There were numerous white tents already set up in a long line. There was even a live band and hundreds of people were milling about. 

 

“Wow, you weren’t kidding,” I said. I got out of the car, and we started visiting the vendors. A lot of them had Echo Ridge visitor memorabilia, like keychains, stickers, shirts, hats and brochures. Most of them were firework themed.

 

I eyed a black shirt with gold accents. “Oh wow, pretty! I love gold. What do you think, Alana?” I pointed at the shirt, and read the front. “July never ends here,” I read. “Hm. Weird.”

 

Alana didn’t respond, she just studied me as I looked through the other items. “They definitely lean into the firework theme here,” I said.

 

“We are known for our firework show, after all. It’s an Echo Ridge summer special.”

 

“I had never heard of it before you mentioned it. It must be another well-kept secret.”

 

Alana nodded.

 

I only looked at her out of the corner of my eye. I knew she was wearing her hollowed-out expression again.

 

We circled around the vendors a few times. I got cotton candy, and we settled on the green grass and ate it. I half-listened to the band. They weren’t a style I was normally interested in, but they were pretty good. I tapped my foot to one of their songs, “Endless Summer.” One of their other songs, “July Never Ends Here,” was pretty good, too.

 

“What do you think about Echo Ridge?” Alana asked me. 

 

I glanced at her. “It is definitely different,” I said. “I’ve never been anywhere like it before. What do you want to do for the rest of the week? Is there somewhere to go swimming, or maybe hiking?”

 

“We could do all of those things. There are so many places to explore here.”

 

“I believe it,” I said.

 

Dusk was finally on the horizon. The atmosphere seemed to almost electrify. People started looking at the sky, and groups started talking excitedly to each other.

 

“It’s almost here!” Alana said. 

 

Finally, the first firework was launched into the sky, and the crowd cheered. “Wow, this really is a big deal around here,” I said to myself.

 

“Shh! Watch the fireworks!” Alana said.

 

“Ok,” I said, stuttering. I returned my gaze to the sky.

 

I felt a twinge in my head. Was I getting a migraine? Maybe it was just the weird day catching up with me.

 

I watched one of the fireworks explode, and I almost doubled over. It felt like something ricocheted in my head. It was like a bright flash, a glitch almost?

 

I held my head. 

 

“Watch the fireworks,” Alana hissed. “It’s part of the tradition.”

 

“Sorry, I’m trying. I just don’t feel so good right now.” I tried to watch them, but with every one that exploded, it felt like something burst in my head, like blood vessels rupturing in time with the fireworks.

In the flashes, I saw myself running through the forest. Another burst, and Alana and I were swimming in a lake. Another, and we were sitting in the ice cream shop again. And again.

We wore different clothes each time. The cars changed. The storefronts changed.

But we never did.

“How do you feel?” Alana asked.

 

“Better, I think?’ I said.

 

“Good. That means it worked.”

 

“What worked?” I asked.

 

“Things were perfect. I didn’t want to lose you after this summer.”

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

“You know how it is. Long-distance doesn’t work with dating. It doesn’t work with friendship, either. I didn’t want to lose you when we had to leave for college. I found a better way, better for both of us.” She squeezed my hand. “Echo Ridge is…special. Not all of it acts right. Parts of it loop, parts stay stuck in a certain state. This part just stays stuck in eternal summer. The fireworks reset everything.”

 

“Eternal summer? Loops? Ok, you’ve clearly lost it, Alana. I’m leaving now.”

 

I got up to walk away. The fireworks faded into the distance, and everything grew too quiet.

 

I froze when I saw the crowd. 

 

It wasn’t the same crowd who I spent the afternoon surrounded by. 

 

Everyone was dark, almost blending in with the dusk. Their eyes were white voids. Hundreds of pairs were trained on me.

 

I looked down at Alana. She was smiling again, but her eyes were empty and white.

 

I tried to run, but I was rooted to the ground. I saw my arm. Dark as dusk.

​

“Oh no,” I whispered.
 

I hugged myself and held my face in my hands.

​

Were my eyes voids too?