rustshore

[rustshore]

RUSTSHORE

Synopsis:

Rustshore is about a newly high school graduate, Cordelia, who has moved to an old tourist trap by the beach where her and her family used to go to all the time as a kid. It was a town on a giant boardwalk consisting of shops and activities for families that was mainly popular back from the 1980s to the 2000s before it started to rapidly decrease in popularity. This was due to the strange disappearances that had been occurring since the town of Rustshore was founded in the 1900s, but had increased by 2005. It was a place now known for its bad luck as tourists started piecing together all of the unfortunate happenings. Ferries sinking? Children drowning? People going missing? Scams? Losses? Tragedies? MURDERS? All of it had come to light. After these years, the town began to age from storms and lack of maintenance. What was the point of keeping an upkeep if Rustshore was too controversial to visit? Thus leading to rent being low enough for Cordelia to move in. However, maybe Rustshore was abandoned for a reason...

Schedule:

No new chapters planned for a little bit, we'll see!

Links:

Chapter 1 [Released] Chapter 2 [Released] Chapter 3 [Reworking]

Other Links:

Meet the Characters [Coming Soon] In Character QnA [Coming Soon]

Rustshore contains topics that may be sensitive to some people. Be cautioned! [13+] If you are interested in being notified of the next chapter, lets me know and I will gladly mention you! Author: @anord

[rustshore]

[Chapter 2]

Corey stood there at the dock, pausing for a second. She took a deep breath, the air was damp and heavy. The fog seemed to fade a little, still clinging on the now long gone fisherman. Corey could now see the dark water that laid below the pier. It seemed like a calm void from afar, but looking at it closely revealed how the navy waves would splash up towards the sky, like a hand reaching for the clouds. Those same clouds were growing more opaque as they spread over the sky. Rain would arrive soon. 

Corey started to walk down the wharf, careful to watch her step. With every step she took, more memories would run by. Past the now abandoned fish market was a younger Corey, her mousey brown hair wrapped in a long braid. She was making friends with a faceless girl who looked her age. She was a one-use friendship that didn’t deserve a reservation in Corey’s mind. Turning to the knick knack shop, another Corey stood proud, sporting a gimmicky tourist T-Shirt with ‘Rustshore’ printed across it in bright ink. 

Corey looked at the moldy storefront and sighed as her child self withered away. She crept cautiously toward a small bake shop that used to sell her favorite cupcakes: ‘Mama’s Cookies and Confections’. Shockingly, the lights inside were on and there was a figure waiting behind the counter. 

“What?” Corey whispered to herself, “there’s still people working here?”

She curiously opened the door and entered the dingy, decrepit store. The smell of soft sugar was an unsatisfying leap from the stinging saltiness outside. The rose and cream striped wallpaper was peeling at the edges, the goldish wooden tables were small and crooked, the lopsided counter was too short, and the light was yellowed, flickering, and radiated heat. 

An elderly woman was standing behind the counter. From her mouth a smile formed that stretched the wrinkles of her face. Her demeanor was warm. Her silver hair shone gold in the yellow light and her pink outfit was suited to keep her frail body from the chronic chills.

“Why, hello there love!” the old woman stated gently, “Welcome to Mama’s! What can I get for you dearie?”

“Oh! I didn’t know this place would be open!” Corey stammered.

“Baking is my passion! I may be old, but not old enough to give up on dreams!” the woman chuckled a hearty laugh.

“I remember this place from when I was a kid!” Corey slid her hand across the short glass counter, observing the small decorated treats available.  

“Ah yes, back when I used to get so many customers!” the woman’s smile faded as she sighed, “my cupcakes would sell so fast, I’d have to be in the back making more of them two hours after opening!”

Corey pointed at the last cupcake left. It was a dark chocolatey red color with light chalky frosting that would crunch like sand between your teeth with each bite. 

“THAT’S IT!! That was my favorite cupcake as a kid! Oh, how long I’ve waited to taste it again!!” Corey exclaimed as she hunched over the counter to gaze at its tiny beauty.

“Slow down there lovey!! In my many years of working at this darned place I have never seen anyone more excited for one measly cupcake!!” she grinned again as she pulled a glove over her fragile hand.

 “Well- I guess I should introduce myself! My name’s Corey. Short for Cordelia. I’m new in town.”

“Are you the girl renting the red cottage?”  the old woman softly lifted the cupcake onto the counter with a napkin under its wrapper.

“Yes! I am!”  Corey was bouncing up and down excitedly as she watched the cupcake being placed onto the counter.

“Well then, this first one is free for you darling Cordelia.” the woman smiled and slid the cupcake towards Corey.

“Wow- why thank you… uh…” Corey stopped once she realized she didn’t know the woman’s name.

“I’m Maria, but you may call me Mama,” she slid the cupcake over to Corey and smiled, “I’m your landlord!”

“Oh! I didn’t recognize you! You look a lot younger in your picture on the renter’s website-” Corey took the cupcake and happily licked the frosting. It had the same satisfying crunch just like she remembered.

“I should be closing soon, why don’t we go down to the houses together?” Mama offered.

“I’d appreciate that a lot! Thank you.”

“No problem dearie!” Mama stepped out from behind the counter and shuffled slowly to the lightswitch and flicked off the lights, “You know you could have lost your way out there without me going with you! Or worse!” 

“I think I could have handled it without your help. But thanks anyway” 

Maria smiled as she held the door open for Corey and closed it rather quickly after they stepped outside. Still, the fog managed to creep inside.

NEXT CHAPTER: [Coming Soon] PREV CHAPTER: [Chapter 1]

[rustshore]

[Chapter 1]

----

A sage green rain boot squishes the sandy mud beneath it. Long ago, the sludge used to be a dirt road, but after many years of rain, fog, and salty moisture from the nearby sea, the once dusty and sturdy road had melted into a slimy, boot-ruining slop. I guess Corey’s bike will have to wait beside a nearby tree a few feet away for now, or risk becoming a part of the hungry path. Each step yelped a disgusting, bubbly gurgle that echoed amongst the large overbearing oaks. The foggy mist was thick against the morning dew that hung on the poison ivy surrounding the road. The sun’s rays were being refracted into a lemony shimmer that radiated at the top of the mist. For poor Corey, it just looked like a gray cloak blanketing the small coastal town that laid ahead. Natural silence rang through her ears; the whispering winds, awakening birds, and chattering bugs that made the forest less eerie, but not by much. The lack of any human disturbance was off putting to Corey. Afterall, she’d been here before many, many years ago – when it was still the number one tourist destination in the state: Rustshore Pier.

Decades ago, the fog was absent. Rustshore used to be a brightly painted village that reached over the golden sandy beaches that stretched as far as young Corey’s eyes could see. Seagulls danced in the watercolor sky, pecking at tourist’s fries and snacks. Children were laughing, people were swimming below, and boats would float by on occasion. 

The town had always been outdated, even back when Corey visited yearly with her family. The Snack Shack on one of the platforms that reached far out over the water was Corey’s favorite place. The wood was painted bright yellow and white and always seemed new and clean, untouched by any disturbance. The sensation of the sea salt air and fried seafood had filled her whole body with the feeling of summer’s freedom every time she had gone with her family. Now Rustshore was like nothing Corey knew as a kid, and still to this day she had never seen anything like it ever again. 

Most of the town was built entirely on a giant dock. It was stunning, an ideal stop for vacations with family and friends. Locals worked at their own little shops on the pier while their cottages laid safe on land tucked away with the sand and beach grass just past the tall oak forest that hung over the dirt road; the only connection to the rest of the world. But after all these years, all of the vibrant life had been drained from the pier. The wooden foundation was corroding, the paint was all chipped, and everything was covered by the thick fog. Surprisingly, there were still people living there even though it looked so abandoned. However, the only residents were either unable to escape, or they died trying. The only life Corey could see now was a lone fisherman in a bright yellow raincoat sitting hunched over on the decaying dock that connected the road to the large pier. One of the two only ways in or out. 

Corey took a deep breath and stepped onto the creaky floorboards that once held her happiest childhood memories. Visions of her five year old self running up and down the same steps seemed so recent, yet only whispers of that memory remained in her head. 

The dock was creakier than expected, it screeched as she took her first step. The fisherman slowly turned his head to look at Corey. She couldn’t see his face through the fog, but she could definitely see his coat, it was practically hazard neon yellow.

“Ah, what do we have here? A newcomer?” he murmured, his voice sounded slimy like the mud just before the wharf.

“Yes! I guess?” Corey stammered, the fisherman already standing before her. He must have been pretty swift to have stood up already. It seemed like only a second ago he was perfectly perched leaning over the deep abyss with his feet dangling over the edge. 

The fisherman’s coat was tattered and seemed to melt into the fog, disappearing with his feet. He was a lanky man, the type to be always eating but never gain any weight. The mist surrounded him more than the rest of the landing, clinging to him like a needy child feeding off of his unnaturally pale skin. His boney fingers curled around his fishing rod, gripping whatever amount of life an inanimate object can have and squeezing it dry.

“What is your business here?” he sneered, “If you are here to investigate these parts due to some ghost stories, go away! All of those nasty rumors are false. Can’t you let this town be?”

“No actually,” Corey stated calmly, “I’m actually here to stay. I’m renting a place over there.” She had pointed to the group of small houses on land. They, too, were nearly consumed by the fog.

“Oh!” he scoffed, “Well personally, I’d advise you to turn back now. I dont think a person like you would be welcome here!”

“If outsiders aren’t welcome, then why was there a room for rent?” Corey questioned.

“I’m sure it was a mistake!” he uttered frustratedly.

“I don’t think it was a mistake sir,” she cleared her throat, “Anyway, what kind of rumors are there? Is there something I should be worried about?” Corey remarked.

“I’d be worried about your foolishly stupid ideas!” The fisherman leaned in Corey’s direction a little, his eyes widening.

Corey furrowed her brows at his comment, “Excuse me?”

  “You came to stay in some strange town you’ve never been to without doing a nick of research!! Just looking up the name Rustshore would give you headlines upon headlines of ghost stories and disappearances and murders!!” The fisherman complained.

“This isn’t some strange town! I used to come here all the time as a kid!” Corey rebutted.

“You clearly haven’t been here in a very long time.” The fisherman crossed his arms and looked Corey up and down. 

“Who even are you?!” Corey questioned.

“The name’s Floyd. Floyd Mcleod.” The fisherman sighed and picked up his rod and tackle box.

“I’m Cordelia. Call me Corey”

“I have a feeling that we’ll be seeing each other a lot.” he coughed into his elbow, revealing a couple strands of his strikingly long and unnaturally red hair, “Tell your landlord that I warned you.” Floyd turned away and faded into the fog as he left Corey at the entrance.

NEXT CHAPTER: [Chapter 2] PREV CHAPTER: [N/A]