The Old Man on the Hill

 "This is it Alejandro, you excited?" Charlie Blake, a tall, slim man of twenty-two, asked, adjusting his dress shirt that seemed ever-tightening to him as he looked himself over in the mirror.

"It's a big deal. Leon said he is already at Hannah's waiting." Alejandro Reyes, who impressed nearly everyone he met with his gargantuan size, called out from his room as he checked his camera one more time.

Charlie sighed, smiling in the mirror, checking his face for any blemishes or marks that might detract from his perfect appearance on camera. He knew this was it. He knew that day was the day that they would finally meet the Hill Children. Was it somewhat nerve-wracking? Charlie thought it was, he knew that no one had ever met with the Hill Children in their own domain before. Charlie knew that the Hill Children could very well be dangerous, anyone who really believed what they believe had to have a few screws loose anyway.

"You ready bro?" Alejandro asked as he appeared in the doorway. The pair left the house that day, meeting with fellow crew members Leon Ruffalo, Hannah Barker, and Patricia Cohen. They had no idea what they were getting themselves into. Had any of them had the slightest hint, the most miniscule clue, of the events that would transpire on White Grove HIll that day they would have ran away, they would have fled far away. Perhaps they'd all be alive.

You see, the Hill Children were a cult that seemed to have sprung up overnight in this peaceful midwestern town in Ohio. They were secretive, reclusive, and cautious, never letting a soul enter their gated community on White Grove Hill. The cult followed someone they called The Old Man on the Hill, but no one knew who he was or where he came from. No one even knew their beliefs, other than small tidbits folks would occassionally gather when one or two of the Hill Children descended into town, frail and almost starved, for supplies of sorts. The most known of these facts was that they truly believed the Old Man could alter reality.

So that day was the day. "His Children: Those Who Live on the Hill" was the working title of the documentary Charlie and his team would be working on. They hoped it would be a hit, they were entering new territory. So they foolishly left their homes and travelled to this small Ohio town, and this is where our story picks up. This is where I met them, though I do not play a major part in this story. I am simply the narrator, sharing with you what they shared with me. Or at least, what was left of them.

The group entered my bar, the Winking Gecko, on a mission, their cameras already rolling. They talked amongst themselves for a moment, likely introducing the town and opening their film, but I wasn't all that interested. However, my apathy would end as I was approached by the crew.

"Sir, would you mind answering a few questions for us?" Hannah, the most beautiful of the crew, asked. Flirtatiously brushing her long blonde hair behind her ear as she asked, as if she needed to further impress an old, ugly, bar owner like me.

"Sure I suppose. What's this about?" I asked them, I could almost see the joy brighten their faces. They were passionate about this.

"We're actually filming a documentary right now. We were just wondering if you could answer some questions about the Hill Children. What are your thoughts on them?" Charlie asked, Alejandro already filming while Leon held the boom stick. Patricia, who was holding another small camera, and Hannah broke off from the crew to talk to another, and I couldn't help but take a peak at Hannah's perfect behind as she swayed.

"The Hill Children? They're lunatics. What the hell would you kids be interested in them for?" I inquired, shaking my head in disbelief at the stupidity of youth.

"Well, we find the idea of a cult fascinating." Charlie responded, looking unfettered by my attitude.

"It's the same thing as monkeys flinging their turds at each other in a zoo. Ain't nothing to see. The Hill Children just stick to those hills 'til they starve to death."

"So you're saying they have a problem keeping their members healthy?"

"Hell yes they do. They're practically dying whenever they come down here."

"Well thank you sir, we've probably bothered you enough. That's all we needed." Patricia and Hannah finished their quick interview around the same time and rejoined the group. Though I had to protest, I figured it probably wasn't all that safe for these kids.

"You'll never get in there kids, they don't let anyone in."

"Well, actually," Patricia, a petite but loud girl with curly brown hair, spoke up "I managed to get an interview with them."

"How the hell did you manage that?"

"I literally just annoyed them until they finally caved in. Seems that the Old Man, whoever he is, was actually excited at the idea. They do have a website you know, it's pretty freaky."

Sure enough, the Hill Children did have a website. This I already knew, and it WAS freaky. It was a bright red page, no designs or text other than the words "He Knows" written in a very small font in the dead center of the page and the word "Join" written in the top right. If one were to click "Join" they would reach a sort of contact us page. In reality, it was simply a direct message to join. However, this site is no more.

The group left my bar, and this is where I leave the story for now. I would do nothing interesting, not until later. Not until it all would end.