It was a normal school excursion, and the kids were so excited to be going to Alien Rock to study the rock formations and see if they could find any traces of gold in the small creek that ran through the bottom of the valley between the two gorges.
Everyone knew the stories of disappearance and mystery about the rock. It was part of the local folklore, and their teacher relished the opportunity to regale them with tales of the rock as they travelled along in the bus.
They all had their instructions, question sheets and working in pairs they had enough to keep them busy for some hours.
They were to meet back at the bus, parked in a cleared parking area at the base of the rock for a lunch break and to discuss their respective findings.
The girls reported the eerie feeling of someone watching them as they’d moved about among the rock formations. One girl was sure she saw someone slip behind a rock at one point. Their reports spooked the ones who had found the whole task boring and dull.
The teacher looked about counting heads and found he was two short. “Anyone seen Alice and Janice?” he asked.
Blank looks were all he received, and he went in search of the girls. He was gone some time and returned empty handed. It was then panic set in, and most of the students demanded they call for help and return immediately on the bus.
The teacher called for help. Loaded the students onto the bus and waited until help arrived before he allowed the bus to return with another teacher from the school.
He helped with the search, grew frantic himself as the extensive search turned up nothing. Where could they have gone he asked himself?
Parents arrived, more searchers and the School Principal, herself worried.
The true story of Alien Rock was only known to a few, and in the town below the rock the news of the missing girls filtered down there. A few eyebrows were raised among the older drinkers at the town watering hole. One looked at the other, and a nod told them all they needed to know.
Written for: https://scvincent.com/2017/08/03/thursday-photo-prompt-watchers-writephoto/
Morpethroad 
Reminds me of a movie which may or may not have been based on the true account. Can’t recall the title, of course…
Picnic at Hanging Rock? It was made in the 70s I think and they are making a re-make of it…
YES, thank you!!! I’m patting myself on the back for even matching the movie to your story 🙂 Fried brain syndrome…
An eerie tale well told. Good job.
Thank you good sir you are most kind..
Disquieting… and as mysterious as the place in the photo…
Thanks Sue good image to write to.
It is a strange place too…
Discomforting, to say the least. Great pace. And great post..
Picnic at Hanging Rock and 2001: A Space Odyssey are the only films that my children have pronounced so creepy they never ever want to watch again. Your little story is in the same vein.
Yes I can remember the Picnic movie freaking me out to. I think they are remaking it at present.
I wonder if they’ll do any better than the original.
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