Prologue:
My twitterive is a creative non-fiction story. It is a story about my friends Mike, Steve, Gina and me. It has gone through four revisions. The first three all had major changes in them, which is why I made them have different drafts. The fourth revision just added more details to the story heightening the scariness. I struggled writing this twitterive. I didn't really understand twitter and how to develop a story from my tweets. My tweets were the linken logs to developing my story. I had my tweets have a haunted theme, because they led to my place. Because I was still unsure of what this project really was I used something familiar to me. I figured why not use a haunted place I visited with my friends as my place. I used the music to set the stage of my story. What I really enjoy about my twitterive is how I weaved in two stories together. I had Steve tell a scary story to add another genre. I hope everyone enjoys the end result!
Tweets:
Halloween is time for scary adventures #twitterive
There are a lot of trees here! #twitterive
Lights flickering can never be a good sign! #twitterive
you know what else isn't good? When everything around you is too quite. Its a downward spiral from there #twitterive
The sun set in the sky left an orange haze until the night took over #twitterive
Beware stress and stressful environments can lead to mental breakdowns. It can take awhile to recover #twitterive
Being hunted down and chased in a show is intense! #twitterive
Memories and stories have an impact on you #twitterive
A story can lead you on to a new path #twitterive
The anticipation is only the beginning #twitterive
Ever get the sense your being followed? Then you turn around and no one is there #twitterive
Is there any place to hide where they won't find us #twitterive
Tweets:
Halloween is time for scary adventures #twitterive
There are a lot of trees here! #twitterive
Lights flickering can never be a good sign! #twitterive
you know what else isn't good? When everything around you is too quite. Its a downward spiral from there #twitterive
The sun set in the sky left an orange haze until the night took over #twitterive
Beware stress and stressful environments can lead to mental breakdowns. It can take awhile to recover #twitterive
Being hunted down and chased in a show is intense! #twitterive
Memories and stories have an impact on you #twitterive
A story can lead you on to a new path #twitterive
The anticipation is only the beginning #twitterive
Ever get the sense your being followed? Then you turn around and no one is there #twitterive
Is there any place to hide where they won't find us #twitterive
Menantico Colony
Every year a group of friends go on a haunted excursion to give them a little thrill and each year they amp it up a notch. Mike, Steve, Gina, and Lia have been friends for years and they all love Halloween. The four of them take turns with making their Halloween trips. They first started out with just doing hayrides and carving pumpkins. That was small league for them though. They started going to haunted amusements parks because of the rides, but that wasn't enough either. The whole haunted appeal grabbed them each year. The haunted farms and cornfields became their favorites. They would switch them around depending on how far they all wanted to travel. This year they wanted to change it up a little though. So today, like every other October 1st, they have their Halloween Meeting.
"Alright guys, we need to decide what this years Halloween event is going to be.” Said Mike.
"Lets do something different, you know, I love the farm but it’s starting to become a little predictable.” Said Gina.
"I agree, I want to truly be terrified this year." Lia said.
"Well I have an idea, but its a little out there even for us." Said Steve.
"Well let’s hear it. We can't knock it out until we know what it is." Mike exasperated.
"Okay, it’s a village but it is abandoned, has been for years now, but its supposed to be haunted." Said Steve.
"Cool what’s it called?" Lia said intrigued.
"Menantico Colony." Steve said.
*******************************************************************************************
During the car ride there, they were buzzing with anticipation in their adventure. They kept bouncing around in their seats dancing to music surrounding the car. Well Mike stayed still since he was the one driving. There were so may trees in Vineland compared to Glassboro. The windows were filled with fields of over grown grass and trees of orange, red, and yellow. Mike pulled in to a development a couple of blocks away from the village.
"Okay everyone out. Were parking here.” Said Mike.
"Wait why aren't we parking in the village? There is a road that leads right into it." Asked Gina.
"Well..." Hesitated Steve.
"Well what? What aren't you telling us?" Lia said, starting to get agitated.
"The village is private property.” Said Mike.
"Okay so that means what exactly?" Asked Gina.
"It means that if we get caught we could end up in serious trouble." Lia said sourly.
"Well lets not get caught then.” Said Steve.
Lia gave Gina a look relaying that this was a bad idea. Circumstances changed and Lia was not willing to get arrested for some fun.
"We did drive all the way out here." Mike said.
"I don't know.” Lia said, looking at Gina for some back up.
"Okay we go in take a quick look around and then get out. If we see anything suspicious we jet it back to the car." Said Gina quickly.
Mike and Steve nodded in agreement and opened their doors. Gina gave Lia a small smile and started to get out as well. Lia was out voted so she followed behind them. As they started walking Lia's excitement was now replaced with apprehension. She had a feeling this was now a very bad idea. Looking into the orange haze of the sky she realized once they reached the village they would be swallowed in the darkness of the night.
“Okay Steve since we have a bit to walk why don’t you enlighten us to what happened here.” Lia said, as they came up to the dirt trail.
“So this place used to be a village that contained mentally ill boys. Of course back then people just thought they were trouble. Any way this is how the story goes…." Started Steve.
"In the early 1900's in Vineland New Jersey groups of boys were held against their will. They were considered feeble minded and shunned from society."
"Thats horrible!" Lia interrupted.
"Hey no interruptions." Said Steve playfully.
"As I was saying, the boys were forced to work on this land doing hard labor for the owners. More and more boys kept on being sent to this place. Anyone who saw a boy disturbing their peaceful neighborhoods sent them to Vineland."
"I guess the phrase boys will be boys wasn't applied yet?" Joked Mike.
"Nah that excuse wasn't made for us yet." Said Steve wistfully
Lia gave Gina a questioning look. She was starting to wonder if this was for real or not. Gina just shrugged her shoulders at her.
"Okay continue on and then I can decide if this is bullshit or not." Said Gina.
"Alright fieisty, so this land became known as the Vineland Training School. To everyone else it was a safe haven to the troubled boys. However, what actually happened there was a different story. The owners of the school treated the boys like slaves. They whipped them when they thought they were slacking in their work, and deprived them of water and food. The occasional boy would end up passing out from dehydration. They paid for that by waking up to being drowned in water and then whipped for their lack of strength." Steve paused from the look on Lia's face.
"I'm not sure I want to hear the rest." Lia said quietly.
"Its just a story and its almost over." Replied Steve.
"So the owners really should have known better then to have that many boys together and not expect them to fight back. One night, a group of the boys brought some of their tools with them back to their dorms. They managed to sneak in the main house and smash in their owners skulls. The group took over the facility. The next morning, they informed the others that they were finally free. Even though they relished in their freedom, they wanted revenge to those who sent them there. Its said they were able to trick those responsible to come and visit the facility. They were never seen or heard from again. The group of boys that killed the owners were never satisfied though. They enjoyed killing and torturing so much that they eventually started picking off the other boys a little at a time. The other boys never knew when they would strike and had no where else to run to so they stayed until meeting their death." Said Steve, pausing again to look back at the girls.
"Seriously?" Asked Gina
"It is said that the spirits of the group of boys remains protecting their land. Anyone who trespasses is never seen again." Finished Steve, as they finally hit the end of the trail.
“Okay I’m officially creped out now.” Lia said.
“It’s just a story, not like its true I just thought it would be fun to check out.” Said Mike.
“Whatever.” Lia muttered.
“So all I see are trees and the dark. How are we supposed to see in here?” Asked Gina.
“Well that’s why flashlights were invented.” Mike said, as he pulled out a few mini flashlights from his pocket.
“Yeah Benjamin Franklin was thinking of us when he invented the light bulb.” Lia added sarcastically.
“If we are trying not to get caught here wouldn’t flashing lights be a give away?” Asked Gina, as they turned them on.
“That’s why we are only going to use them to see where we are walking. Its not like we will use them the whole time. That would take the fun out of it.” Mike chuckled.
“Alright follow me.” Said Mike, moving forward.
There were trees everywhere; the bark on them as far as Lia could tell, was old and rotted. As they moved further ahead, Lia saw a house in the distance. She heard a crunching noise behind her breaking through the silence of the night. She whipped around, backing away from the noise and bumping into Mike in the process.
“What’s up?” Mike said, as he steadied her.
“I heard a noise.” She said, still on edge from the story, she began flailing the flashlight, pointing it by the bushes where she heard the disturbance.
“I didn’t hear anything. Come on lets keep going before we loose the other two.” Said Mike, turning around.
Giving the spot one last glance Lia turned around to follow the others. They caught up with Steve and Gina staring at the building in front of them. It was a two-story house with overgrown vines covering the left side.
“Who wants to go in first?” Asked Steve.
“Into the house. Are you nuts? You don’t even know if it’s stable!” Lia said, moving to stand next to Gina.
“It will be fine, come on what are you afraid of?” Taunted Steve, as he started heading closer to the house, Mike was only a few steps behind him.
“I’m not scared. I just don’t think it’s a good idea.” Lia said defensively.
“Yeah we can just check it out from the outside. There’s no need to go in there.” Gina added.
“Well we are going in. You guys can stay out here if you want.” Mike said, as Steve cracked open the door, the creaking of the door disturbed the quietness that surrounded them.
As they disappeared into the house Gina and Lia stayed rooted to their spot. After a few minutes Lia had a suspicious feeling that they were being watched. She turned in a slow circle, her flashlight piercing the darkness.
“What are you doing?" Asked Gina.
“I don’t know. Maybe we should…” A thudding noise from the house cut her off.
They both turned around going towards the house. Entering the house they could see how bad it was deteriorating. There were several boards on the floor and the stairs appeared to be rotted.
“Into the house. Are you nuts? You don’t even know if it’s stable!” Lia said, moving to stand next to Gina.
“It will be fine, come on what are you afraid of?” Taunted Steve, as he started heading closer to the house, Mike was only a few steps behind him.
“I’m not scared. I just don’t think it’s a good idea.” Lia said defensively.
“Yeah we can just check it out from the outside. There’s no need to go in there.” Gina added.
“Well we are going in. You guys can stay out here if you want.” Mike said, as Steve cracked open the door, the creaking of the door disturbed the quietness that surrounded them.
As they disappeared into the house Gina and Lia stayed rooted to their spot. After a few minutes Lia had a suspicious feeling that they were being watched. She turned in a slow circle, her flashlight piercing the darkness.
“What are you doing?" Asked Gina.
“I don’t know. Maybe we should…” A thudding noise from the house cut her off.
They both turned around going towards the house. Entering the house they could see how bad it was deteriorating. There were several boards on the floor and the stairs appeared to be rotted.
“Mike?” Gina called.
“Up here!” He yelled.
“Great I swear if I fall through these steps, I’m going to kill them both.” Lia muttered to Gina as she started to climb the staircase.
Lia was half way up the steps when she realized she didn’t hear Gina behind her. Lia turned around to see Gina frozen staring into the front room.
“Gina what’s wrong?” Lia asked.
“I thought…. I could have swore I saw movement over there.” She whispered.
“Its just probably Steve trying to scare us. Come on the stairs seem to be okay so far.” Lia said, heading up the rest of them.
They both reached the second level peering into the rooms. There was no sign of Mike or Steve.
“I’m starting to think this was a bad idea.” Gina said, to Lia.
Turning into the next room they saw the boys. Steve kept hitting his flashlight, only flickers of light coming from it.
“Yeah well I thought it was a bad idea once I heard we could get arrested.” Lia said to her.
“What are you two doing up here? I thought you were just going to take a look around downstairs?” Lia asked them.
“We were and then I thought I heard footsteps up here.” Said Steve.
“Then Steve pushed me into the wall thinking it would be a laugh.” Mike added disgruntled.
“I told you I didn’t push you! Your imagining things.” Steve argued.
“You know what, it doesn’t matter, lets just get out of here before the roof caves in.” Lia said, turning to Gina looking for support.
But Gina wasn’t looking at Lia; she was looking at the doorway. Her face scrunched up in distress.
“If Steve was up here then who was downstairs?” She whispered to Lia.
“Up here!” He yelled.
“Great I swear if I fall through these steps, I’m going to kill them both.” Lia muttered to Gina as she started to climb the staircase.
Lia was half way up the steps when she realized she didn’t hear Gina behind her. Lia turned around to see Gina frozen staring into the front room.
“Gina what’s wrong?” Lia asked.
“I thought…. I could have swore I saw movement over there.” She whispered.
“Its just probably Steve trying to scare us. Come on the stairs seem to be okay so far.” Lia said, heading up the rest of them.
They both reached the second level peering into the rooms. There was no sign of Mike or Steve.
“I’m starting to think this was a bad idea.” Gina said, to Lia.
Turning into the next room they saw the boys. Steve kept hitting his flashlight, only flickers of light coming from it.
“Yeah well I thought it was a bad idea once I heard we could get arrested.” Lia said to her.
“What are you two doing up here? I thought you were just going to take a look around downstairs?” Lia asked them.
“We were and then I thought I heard footsteps up here.” Said Steve.
“Then Steve pushed me into the wall thinking it would be a laugh.” Mike added disgruntled.
“I told you I didn’t push you! Your imagining things.” Steve argued.
“You know what, it doesn’t matter, lets just get out of here before the roof caves in.” Lia said, turning to Gina looking for support.
But Gina wasn’t looking at Lia; she was looking at the doorway. Her face scrunched up in distress.
“If Steve was up here then who was downstairs?” She whispered to Lia.
Steve and Mike looked at her questioningly not having a clue as to what she was talking about.
“No one was down there Gina.” Mike said.
“I saw something moving though.” She said.
“Okay I really think it’s about time we left.” Lia said.
“No one was down there Gina.” Mike said.
“I saw something moving though.” She said.
“Okay I really think it’s about time we left.” Lia said.
Steve went first with the rest of them trailing behind him. They walked down the hall slowly. I think its safe to say we were all officially spooked. Just as they reached the staircase a door slammed behind them sprinkling us with dust from the ceiling. A boy was standing in the hall. He was chalky white, only wearing suspenders and trousers. Deep red gashes were covering his exposed chest. Lia was frozen still transfixed with the boy behind them.
“Lets go!” Screamed Gina.
“Run!” Yelled Mike.
"Lia come on!" Steve yelled.
Lia couldn't move though, she was stiff as the boards scattered on the first floor. All she could do was stare at the boy in front of her, replaying Steve's story in her head. Mike and Steve each grabbed an arm and dragged her to the staircase where Gina was panicking. Taking one last look, they saw the boy start to follow their steps. The four of them all at once started rushing down the staircase. Gina tripped over a foot and fell down the rest of the steps.
"Gina!" Lia screamed, snapping out of her haze.
Mike rushed down picking up her unconscious form. He looked down at her and felt her breathing against him. Then Mike felt dampness on his arm, that is when he saw the blood. Lia touched the back of Gina's now damp head. Pulling her hand back she saw red. Steve nudged them to keep moving his eyes on the boy now at the top of the staircase.
"Let's get the hell out of here." Whispered Mike, going through the front door.
Steve and Lia followed him running up the dirt path. There were crunching noises coming from up ahead. Lia fumbled for her flashlight in her pocket. Turning it on and flashing it before them they saw branches moving from the trees up ahead. The three of them came to a stop.
“What are we going to do?" Lia asked.
“Which way should we go Steve?" Mike asked, turning towards him.
Before Steve could answer them, several boys started coming through the trees. The boys started approaching them from all sides. One boy appeared to be dragging his leg. His leg was bent at an odd angle, with what looked like his bone sticking out of his skin. The taller boy who was blocking the trail smiled at them. Lia screamed seeing his blood stained teeth. The boy smiled wider raising his hand urging them to come forward. The three of them instantly started moving backwards. Steve looked behind them only to see the boy from the house, and he was not alone. There were now two others with him. Mike held Gina tighter in his arms, while Steve gathered Lia in his, as the boys started running towards them.
“Lets go!” Screamed Gina.
“Run!” Yelled Mike.
"Lia come on!" Steve yelled.
Lia couldn't move though, she was stiff as the boards scattered on the first floor. All she could do was stare at the boy in front of her, replaying Steve's story in her head. Mike and Steve each grabbed an arm and dragged her to the staircase where Gina was panicking. Taking one last look, they saw the boy start to follow their steps. The four of them all at once started rushing down the staircase. Gina tripped over a foot and fell down the rest of the steps.
"Gina!" Lia screamed, snapping out of her haze.
Mike rushed down picking up her unconscious form. He looked down at her and felt her breathing against him. Then Mike felt dampness on his arm, that is when he saw the blood. Lia touched the back of Gina's now damp head. Pulling her hand back she saw red. Steve nudged them to keep moving his eyes on the boy now at the top of the staircase.
"Let's get the hell out of here." Whispered Mike, going through the front door.
Steve and Lia followed him running up the dirt path. There were crunching noises coming from up ahead. Lia fumbled for her flashlight in her pocket. Turning it on and flashing it before them they saw branches moving from the trees up ahead. The three of them came to a stop.
“What are we going to do?" Lia asked.
“Which way should we go Steve?" Mike asked, turning towards him.
Before Steve could answer them, several boys started coming through the trees. The boys started approaching them from all sides. One boy appeared to be dragging his leg. His leg was bent at an odd angle, with what looked like his bone sticking out of his skin. The taller boy who was blocking the trail smiled at them. Lia screamed seeing his blood stained teeth. The boy smiled wider raising his hand urging them to come forward. The three of them instantly started moving backwards. Steve looked behind them only to see the boy from the house, and he was not alone. There were now two others with him. Mike held Gina tighter in his arms, while Steve gathered Lia in his, as the boys started running towards them.
Missing Young Adults from Gloucester Township
By James Steams
Inquirer Staff Writer
A group of friends were last seen on October 25 2011. The friends were last heard to be heading to Vineland to check out the abandoned Vineland Training School. This place is private property and has had problems with trespassing before. Three years ago, three adults were arrested for trespassing on the property. They claimed to be reporters from Weird NJ trying to take pictures for an upcoming article. This group starting from the left side is Lia Dunn, Michael Zomberg, Regina Stahl, and Steven Norris; have not been seen on the property. Michael Zomberg's car was found two miles down from the Vineland Training School. If anyone has information on any of these individuals please contact the Gloucester Township Police Department.
By James Steams
Inquirer Staff Writer
A group of friends were last seen on October 25 2011. The friends were last heard to be heading to Vineland to check out the abandoned Vineland Training School. This place is private property and has had problems with trespassing before. Three years ago, three adults were arrested for trespassing on the property. They claimed to be reporters from Weird NJ trying to take pictures for an upcoming article. This group starting from the left side is Lia Dunn, Michael Zomberg, Regina Stahl, and Steven Norris; have not been seen on the property. Michael Zomberg's car was found two miles down from the Vineland Training School. If anyone has information on any of these individuals please contact the Gloucester Township Police Department.
Epilogue:
I struggled with my revisions on this story. I could not find any newspaper articles to add to this unfortunately. I decided to fictionalize the expedition and add the ghost story to have my friend Steve telling it. I divided the pictures into the story matching them up. I am happy with the expansion of the expedition. To add another genre, I put a fictionalized newspaper article. The ending seemed off when I originally thought I was finished. When I added in the newspaper article, everything came together. I'm especially happy that I was still able to leave the ending up to interpretation for the reader. I worked really hard on this project and its revisions. So I am pleased to finally say it is finished!