Slaughterville: The Beast Within
Date: 2024-10-01 05:00:00+00:00
Description: Beth tried to forget Slaughterville, but the town won’t let her escape. No one believes what Beth saw as a child when she witnessed the death of her little sister, not even the people in the very community she grew up in. The only person that believed her was her sister, Caroline. And now, Caroline has vanished. Fighting her own guilt for leaving and the skepticism of everyone around her, Beth must confront the beings and dark magic that makes her hometown of Slaughterville what it is… a dangerous facade with horrors swimming just under the surface. Beth has to figure out who the true enemy is
Publisher: Laughing Rogue, LLC

Slaughterville:

The Beast Within

Christopher Brown

Copyright © 2024 Laughing Rogue, LLC

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without the prior written permission of the copyright owner, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

ISBN: 979-8-89480-194-0

Printed in the USA

Laughing Rogue, LLC

Pine Grove, PA
http://www.laughingrogue.com

I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without my wife Kathleen. She has been the most supportive person I have ever known. She’s the toughest editor and always pushes for excellence.

~Chris

Chapter 1

Slaughterville. What a weird name for a town. Not like her name. Beth is such a boring name. Her full name is Elizabeth Marie, but that’s an old lady’s name. It’s not a good name for a nine-year-old.

She and her family just moved here from…

somewhere. She can’t remember the name. Seems like she’s been here a long time, but maybe she hasn’t.

She looks around the small town as Dad drives home from church with Mom and her two sisters. She’s stuck in the middle car seat just like she’s stuck as the middle kid.

People walk along the street, smiling and waving to each other. There’s lots of stores along the main street. She looks around at all the decorations for the Fourth of July party. The movie theater is

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letting out and people are laughing. ‘I wonder what they were watching.’ She wants to see the new bunny cartoon, but it’s not out yet.

A couple walks arm in arm down the street looking so much in love. A small, black cat runs into an alley, drawing her attention. ‘Did that cat really have two tails?’ She straightens up in her seat to try and get a better look at it.

A song, guaranteed to grab the attention of every child on Earth, pulls her away from the weird cat. The ice cream truck is parked on the side of the road and a man in a white outfit is handing out ice cream. She wants to get in line so bad. The melody from the truck is stuck in her head, and she begins to hum it, much to the displeasure of her sisters.

As they drive past the big park in the middle of the town, she marvels at the red, white, and blue decorations and flags. The park is filled with trees and benches for people to sit so they can feed the birds.

She looks up and is in awe at the dozens of parade floats lining the sides of the park. People are jumping, climbing, and decorating their floats. ‘There’s the Statue of Liberty! There’s a Christmas one!’

“Look! A bunny float.” Maddie keeps watching the Easter float with the giant bunny. Maddie is Beth’s younger sister, she’s seven. Her name is Madeline, but they always call her Maddie. Maddie has lighter hair like she does, but it’s not straight like hers. Maddie

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always wants to play with her, but she doesn’t mind.

She wants to teach Maddie about all the important stuff like gardens, stories, and playing her favorite games. Maddie reaches over her to point out the window.

There are so many bright colors and loud music is playing over speakers. She’s eager to play the games and win some prizes. She becomes so enthralled that she never feels the car stop in front of the General Store.

“Let’s get going.” Dad waves them all forward, urging them to gather around. “Hurry it up. Be careful getting out and wait for us.”

Caroline, Beth’s older sister, gets out and stretches. Caroline is older, almost eleven, and not like her at all. Dark hair, long and straight, goes to almost the middle of Caroline’s back. Caroline closes the door before Beth can get out of the car. Beth sighs and opens the door again.

Walking across the sidewalk, she and her family are greeted by a lot of people. This town feels happy. She doesn’t remember people in her old city saying hi. She doesn’t know these people, but they seem nice.

A rush of cold air hits her as the general store’s door opens. The store looks weird from the yellow glow of old lights inside. It’s like going back in time to the stores in Dad’s shows.

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The sweet smell of the candy on the front counter makes her want to skip supper and dive in to the bins. She walks inside holding one of her mother’s hands while Maddie is holding the other. Caroline walks in next to Dad.

“Mommy! Can we get some candy?” Maddie hops up and down over and over.

“I think you have enough energy already.”

Mom laughs and tries to hold on to the bouncing ball of Maddie. “I’m sure your Dad will get you plenty of candy at the parade.” Maddie tap dances along the wooden floor.

‘The store we had by our old house was bigger, but the people here seem nicer.’ People smile and wave while they work. Dad’s talking to the meat man and getting something for supper later. They’re talking and laughing about something, but she’s not going to be nosy.

She’s looking at all of the fruit. She knows she’s supposed to like the candy more, but she prefers strawberries. She’s about to ask Mom for some when a worker lady puts a finger to her nose telling her to shush. The lady reaches over, takes a strawberry from the pack, and hands it to her.

It’s better than she imagined it would be.

“Thank you.” She takes a moment to enjoy this thing that’s just for her. Until Caroline comes up behind her and claps her on the back almost making her drop her strawberry.

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“Whadda you got?” Caroline tries to look over her shoulder to see what she has, but she keeps turning away to keep it hidden. The nice lady shakes her head.

“Nothing. It’s mine.” She shoves it in her mouth and turns, holding up empty hands.

“Mom!” Caroline calls out, putting hands on her hips.

Beth tells Mom what happened, with Caroline interrupting like usual. Caroline keeps saying it’s not fair, asking Mom for something. Mom grabs a bunch of bananas. “You can have these.”

Caroline sticks her tongue out at Beth before turning and running over to a big rack of books and comics near the cash registers. Caroline picks up a comic book, and brings it to her. Caroline starts telling Beth something about a zombie bear and a cowboy. Caroline turns and begs Dad to get it for her. Caroline always liked that weird, scary stuff.

Dad doesn’t look too sure, but then he puts it on the counter.

“Did you girls pick something?” Dad asks Beth and Maddie.

Maddie jumps up and down again calling for candy. One of Maddie’s enthusiastic jumps sends her into Beth making Beth stumble. She looks down at Maddie, briefly annoyed. Maddie stops and looks up at her.

“Sorry.” Maddie leans against her and smiles

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in that way that always makes her forgive what happened.

She shakes her head knowing Maddie didn’t mean it, but still annoyed. “It’s fine.”

Maddie skips over to Mom, but trips on her shoelaces. Maddie almost falls, but Beth catches her, helping her stand. “Are you okay? Here. Let me show you again.”

Dropping to one knee, she takes Maddie’s shoelaces in her hand and goes through their favorite shoe tying song. Maddie watches intently like she’s learning the secrets of the universe. Maddie sings the song with Beth. She looks up and smiles. “Now, let’s go look at the toys.”

She and Maddie look at the small selection of toys. Maddie picks up a ball but puts it down. Beth hands Maddie a doll. Maddie looks into the baby’s eyes and falls in love. Maddie runs it over to Dad and jumps again, using her big eyes and cute smile to try and get Dad to get it for her. Dad looks at Maddie and smiles. Beth knew he couldn’t resist that look.

‘He never can.’

Pictures of pretty flowers draw her attention as she stands. There’s a small display of seed packs for all kinds of different flowers. She couldn’t have a garden in the old apartment. The old home was all brick and sidewalk, but this one has dirt and grass and trees.

She pictures her new house with flowers all around it.

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She pulls on her mom’s sleeve. “Mom, can I get some of these seeds? I wanna plant some flowers.”

Mom looks down at her. “You sure you don’t want a toy?”

She laughs. “No. I want to make the new house pretty with flowers.”

Mom takes her over to the rack of flower seeds and lets her pick out a couple of packs. “You can use my garden tools when we get home.” She smiles, all thoughts of being shoved long forgotten. She knows her flowers will be better than comic books or baby dolls.

They don’t spend much more time in the store, which she’s grateful for. She likes the fruit lady, but she wants to get back home to plant her new flowers.

She wants to make her new yard pretty for Mom and Dad. ‘As long as Caroline doesn’t try to ruin it.’

There’s also some woods behind her new house. There are a lot of pretty flowers in there, but she doesn’t want to go in the woods and get in trouble.

After paying for the groceries, Mom and Dad take the bags and walk out to the car. Dad is looking around, smiling. He hasn’t done that in a long time.

He used to be so sad because he was always working.

He would say that he wanted to give them a real home and not just an apartment in the dangerous city. Now, he’s happy. Now, instead of reading the bad news in the papers, he’s reading some of the posters that show

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food for the parade. She walks close to him, giving him a quick hug.

“You know Em, I think my favorite part of this parade is the food.” Her dad gives a big groan when he shifts the bags in his arms while he’s walking to the car.

“Jason, you know you love every part of these parades.” Mom walks ahead of them to unlock the trunk.

She turns around when Caroline calls out to someone across the street. It’s Uncle Dave! Well, he’s not really their uncle. He told them to call him that. He said he wants everyone to be family since he doesn’t have kids of his own. He’s really tall! He has dark skin and a dark, curly beard, but he has no hair on his head. His arms are as big as her head, and his belly is big and jolly like Santa Claus. He’s always really nice. He owns the diner and makes the best fries.

“Hey guys!” Uncle Dave jumps off the float and jogs across the street. “Hope to see you in for lunch soon.”

Uncle Dave reaches out and takes some of the bags. He helps load them into the trunk of the car. Uncle Dave has barely set the bags down when she, Caroline, and Maddie try to get his attention by jumping and calling his name. His laugh sounds so big and full! “Now girls, you know I can’t understand you when you talk all at once like that.”

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The girls try to cover each other’s mouths as they attempt to ask their questions. Uncle Dave leans down and points to Maddie. He always picks her, just because she’s the youngest. It’s not fair! “Maddie, hows about you go first?”

“Uncle Dave, will you have candy at the parade?” Maddie looks up at him excitedly.

As Uncle Dave stands back up, he says “Of course I will.” Dave laughs as he ruffles her hair and leans back down to get on her level. “Last year, I tried to toss fries, but you know people just didn’t like eating French fries off the ground. Guess I’ll have to give out candy instead.”

Dad laughs and shakes Uncle Dave’s hand.

“Good to see you again and out from behind the grill. How’s the diner business going?”

“It’s going great!” Uncle Dave says as he waves to a person passing by. “These parades always bring in the tourists, and they love to eat.” She knows she’s going to love it here and never wants to leave.

Caroline goes over to Uncle Dave and takes his hand. “I wanted to ask if you could help us build a fort. We wanna have a clubhouse in the woods.”

Uncle Dave suddenly looks serious as he looks up at Mom and Dad. Beth notices lots of stuff and knows more than they think she does. Uncle Dave’s already said no before when they asked, but Caroline keeps asking. She’s such a pest like that. “Now,

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Caroline, you know I told you to never go in there.

It’s really dangerous, especially as it gets near dark.

There’s wild animals in those woods. I would hate to hear that something happened to you. So, you listen to your old Uncle Dave and steer clear of there.

Okay?”

Caroline hangs her head, but she agrees. “I will.” Caroline has her fingers crossed behind her back. Turning to glare at Beth, Caroline silently warns her not to say anything.

Mom mouths a silent thank you and Uncle Dave nods. He looks down, smiling, at the clearly crestfallen Caroline. “Well, alright then. How about this? Next time your mom and dad bring you in for lunch, we can make you an ice cream fort! Better than some ol’ pile of sticks in the woods!”

That was the best thing that Beth heard all day!

She takes the hands of her sisters and jumps around in circles. She looks up at her dad with her hands folded, pleading. “Can we go to the diner now?”

“Not today, sweetheart.” Dad looks down at her and rubs her hair. “Uncle Dave is busy making the float, but we can come back tomorrow. What do you think about that?”

The three girls cheer and pile into the car as Dad walks to Uncle Dave and gives him a hug. She settles into her place in the middle...again. Caroline rolls down her window and hangs her arm outside.

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Caroline looks over and grins at her. She crosses her arms and looks out the front window. Maddie is practically hanging out the window looking at the floats and decorations.

“You and Janice really need to come over more often. You’re the first real friends we have in this town.” Dad says to Uncle Dave.

Uncle Dave laughs fully. “You can thank our wives for that. They’re getting along like bacon and eggs.”

“She’s like the sister I never had.” Mom smiles.

“I’m glad she invited me to the book club.”

The car rocks, shaking back and forth. Caroline and Maddie are bouncing around and yelling about ice cream. Dad claps his hands and rubs them together. “Well, we better be off, or those girls will bounce this car into a new time zone. It was great to see you again.”

She and her sisters wave goodbye as Mom and Dad get into the car. They’re excitedly talking about the parade, staring at the decorations as they drive away. Maddie pulls her attention from the joy of all the parade floats and asks, “Mom! When’s the parade?”

Mom’s already told Maddie like fifteen times today, but she tells her again so she’ll settle down.

“Next week, dear. We won’t forget.” Mom winks.

“Your dad wants those funnel cakes.”

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“You know that’s right!” Dad takes Mom’s hand, gives it a squeeze, and grins.

She looks to her sisters and says, “I can’t wait to see the fireworks!”

Caroline brushes a strand of long brown hair from in front of her face as she turns to her. “You know you’re just gonna be scared of them. You always are.”

Upset, Beth crosses her arms and puts her head down. “Not this time! I promise! I didn’t used to like them, but now I might.” Beth tells herself she will like them this time. ‘I’ll tell myself they’re just big flowers in the sky.’ She remembers the noises of the city, and they were very scary. People were shooting and making loud bangs. Fireworks and thunderstorms always remind her of those. She doesn’t hear those sounds in this town, so maybe she won’t be scared.

“I believe you, Scaredy Beth.” Caroline looks away and drums a song on her legs.

She is sick of them calling her that. “Mom!”

Mom turns, looking at both of the girls with disappointment. “If you can’t get along, we won’t be coming back for ice cream.”

She and Caroline both cross their arms, but say nothing. ‘Of course, Caroline is gonna ruin it for us.’ Beth silently looks out the window as the trees pass by. ‘I’ll prove them all wrong. I’m not afraid.’

As they leave town, she sees more and more

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trees. The road is lined with them, and she even spots a deer bending down to eat something from the forest floor. When they get close to home, there are fewer trees, but more houses. The first house on her street is a really big one that has a giant garden in the back with roses and everything. She can see them from the road as she rides her bike on the sidewalk. ‘I hope I get to go see them up close.’

She looks at all of the different houses on both sides of the road. The grass is mowed and dogs bark in a few of them. ‘Dad keeps saying he loves mowing the grass. I’d rather be playing or planting flowers.’

When the car pulls into the driveway, she looks at their home. It’s not as tall as their old place, but she loves it compared to the apartment. That was really small.

This house is blue and it’s long. She likes the kitchen because it’s new. ‘Mom already has her plants in the windows.’ The dining room has a small table, but there are big glass doors that look out to the back yard. The living room is fine, but she doesn’t watch much television. She’d rather be outside now that she has an outside to play in.

Her bedroom is across from Mom and Dad’s.

She used to share a room with her sisters, but now she finally has her own space. She misses spending time with her sisters talking all night, but she also likes her new room. ‘I like that it’s not in the middle.’

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Caroline’s room is next to Maddie’s. It’s filled with sports stuff, comics, and figures. It’s like a boy’s room. She knows she’s never allowed in Caroline’s precious room. ‘Caroline thinks she so much cooler because she can stay up til nine, but we gotta go to bed at eight.’

She looks at the tall wooden fence around her house and smiles. She likes that it covers the front and sides of her house because it makes her feel safer.

Dad wants to finish the fence because it stops at the back of the yard, and he wants to block off the woods so we don’t go in there.

She gets out of the car and shuts the door.

Caroline and Maddie are already running to the house.

They’ve been playing together a lot lately. ‘They don’t play with me as much since we got separate rooms.

That’s okay. I like the time to be alone. I guess.’

“Girls! Make sure you change out of your good clothes before you go and get all dirty!” Mom smiles after them as they go.

Small hands slap against the front door as Maddie tags it. Caroline is chasing her but letting her win. She laughs when Maddie squeals and says she’s on base. As soon as Mom opens the front door, Beth, Caroline, and Maddie push past each other and head to their rooms. She looks back and sees Mom and Dad smile as they bring the bags inside. ‘I like seeing them happy.’

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She’s looking at her room, still happy that she has something that’s all her own. She looks down as Maddie starts pulling on her arm. “Let’s go outside.”

She takes some clothes out of her closet. She’s still not used to having a closet all to herself. “I’ll be right there. I have to get my old clothes on so I can plant the new seeds. How about you go get ready to go outside.”

Tiny, fast footsteps let Beth know Maddie’s running down the hall into her room. When the door closes, she finishes getting changed and walks out to the kitchen. She asks Mom for the seeds and if she can go out to plant them. Mom smiles and hands her the packet. “Of course.”

Caroline and Maddie rush into the kitchen eager to go outside. Caroline grabs two bananas and gives one to Maddie. Beth stands there waiting.

‘Typical.’

Maddie reaches out and hands Beth hers.

“Here you go. You can have mine.” Beth looks down at the banana and smiles.

Her heart swells. Maddie was always nice to her. “No, thank you. You have it. I’ll get one from Mom.”

Caroline pushes past Beth. Beth sighs and walks after them. Maddie sticks right by Caroline’s side. Beth admires the back yard through the pair of sliding glass doors. She never imagined that she

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would have doors like these and here they are, her portal to her own wonderland. She can see almost all of the whole back yard. It’s so long! ‘And there’s plenty of room to play and plant flowers.’

As soon as they get outside, Maddie grabs her hand and tries her best to pull her along. She lets Maddie pull a little. “Come over and swing with us.”

“Maybe in a bit. I have to plant these first.”

She sits down on the grass and holds out the seed packet, shaking it so it makes a rattling sound. “You want the pretty flowers, right?”

“Can I help?” Maddie kneels down next to her and starts looking at the back of the seed packet.

She leans forward staring at the empty dirt and starts planning where she thinks a flower would look the prettiest. “I thought you wanted to swing.

How about you go get a swing ready for me? I’ll be there in a bit.”

Maddie hands her the seed packet. “Okay.”

Maddie stands up, brushes the dirt off her knees, and gives her a small wave. Maddie smiles and laughs as she runs to Caroline. “She said she’ll play in a bit.”

She eagerly jogs over to the shed. The gardening tools are almost out of her reach, but she pulls down the ones she needs. Caroline and Maddie run past her to the swing set. Caroline is holding one of the swing seats steady. “Come on, Maddie. I’ll push you.”

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“Stay where I can see you!” Mom leans outside the door and yells.

She moves over to the side of the house and begins to plant the seeds. She looks over at the tall fence, the shadow stretching ever closer. ‘I hope the sun can reach the new flowers.’ She loses herself in the fun of gardening. She’s thinking how nice the flowers will make the house look when Caroline runs over to her. “Hey. Whatcha doin’? Playing in the dirt?”

“No. I just finished planting the seeds.” She shakes her head.

“Oh good, you’re done then.” Caroline looks back at Maddie who is dragging her feet to slow down her swing. She turns back to Beth. “Come over here.

We wanna ask you something.”

She takes the tools back to the shed and closes the door. Maddie runs up and pushes her. “Tag!

You’re It!” Maddie laughs as she runs off.

Caroline takes off and gives Maddie a high five as they both run away. Of course, she’s ‘It’. She’s always ‘It’. She rolls her eyes and half-heartedly takes off running.

Beth, Maddie, and Caroline chase each other around the yard. Caroline stops near the back of the yard, her hands on her knees as she pants. Caroline stands and walks closer to the forest. Caroline tilts her head like she’s listening to something. Caroline calls Maddie over and points at the forest. “Hey! I

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think I just saw a bunny. You wanna go in there and help me find it?”

“Yeah!” Maddie beams and is ready to bound into the forest. She jumps up and down, pulling on Caroline’s arm.

Beth jogs over and stares hard at Caroline.

“You know Mom said we can’t.” Part of her wants to go into the woods to pick new flowers, but the rest of her knows she shouldn’t. She looks into the deep dark and is afraid of what she can’t see. She’s not brave like Caroline. She doesn’t have the trust and imagination of Maddie. She doesn’t know what’s beyond the trees, and she doesn’t care. She’s perfectly happy in her yard. ‘Thank you very much.’

Caroline walks over to Maddie and puts her arm around her shoulder, smiling. “Yeah, but she’s inside. We won’t go far. I just wanna see what’s in there.” Maddie mirrors the smile, eager to find out what has Caroline so excited.

Beth looks back to the house, trying to decide if there’s any way to talk them out of this without getting Mom involved. She knows Caroline, though.

Caroline won’t let it go without a fight. She looks back and forth, torn between wanting to do what’s right and spending time with her sisters. “We can’t.”

Caroline sighs and stomps. “Fine. You win, Scaredy Beth. Let’s play hide and seek right here then.” Caroline gestures grandly to the yard, open

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and relatively bare. There are a few trees in the yard, the swing set, the shed, and some toys, but otherwise it’s empty. “Gosh, where will you be hiding? Maybe on one of the swings or behind the shed. How will I ever find you?”

Caroline looks down at Maddie, smiling that mischievous way she does when she’s trying to get you to do something that will definitely get you in trouble. “Do you wanna go in the woods?”

Maddie looks up at Caroline. After a exchange of glances, Maddie says, “Sure.”

“That’s my girl! I’ll keep an eye on you.

C’mon! Let’s go!” Caroline pulls Maddie closer into a headlock.

“Let’s go, Beth.” Maddie reaches out a tiny hand towards her.

“I...I can’t.” She backs up a little.

“That’s fine...” Maddie looks down, for a moment sadness hides her smile. “I’ll get you some flowers.” Maddie turns and skips with Caroline to the forest. She watches them go, wanting to be with them, but not wanting to get in trouble.

Caroline and Maddie stop at the edge of the forest, something making them pause. She wants to make sure that none of them are going to get in trouble. She doesn’t want to do it, but she has to use the big gun. “Wait...If you go in there, I’m gonna tell Mom.”

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Angry, Caroline stomps over to her. Beth backs up as she approaches. Caroline looks like she’s going to start yelling. Just then, Mom calls out to them.

“Girls! It’s time to come in. Soon time for supper and then bed.”

Caroline bumps into her and pushes her, knocking her to the ground. Maddie reaches down and offers what help she can to her as she stands. Once she’s on her feet, Maddie runs past and disappears into the house. She shuffles to the door and looks up at Mom as she closes the door.

“Is everything all right, sweetheart?” Mom pushes a stray strand of blonde hair away from Beth’s face.

She shrugs and looks down. “Yeah, it’s fine.”

After supper, she goes straight to her room, closes the door, and climbs into bed. She’s asleep before she even feels the pillow.

The next morning, she gets dressed and looks out her window. It overlooks the side of the house where she planted flowers. She wants to get outside to check on them, but Mom never lets them play until after breakfast.

She plops down into a seat at the dining room table. ‘I still can’t believe I have an entire dining room!’ She’s really glad that her dad took his new job here at the post office and moved to this nice house.

She’s looking forward to starting school in the fall

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and meeting all new friends. They were too late to start this year, but she met some of the kids at the park, and they seemed nice. Most of them anyway.

Caroline slides into her chair, and Beth just stares as she wolfs down her food. Maddie sits next to her and digs into her pancakes. When breakfast is over, she and her sisters once again return to the wonderland of the back yard. They’re riding their bicycles over the yard. Caroline has been digging dirt all morning, making ramps and jumps for them to go over. She almost wrecked once, but she saved it. They all laugh as Caroline runs alongside Maddie as she tries to do a jump. Caroline helps Maddie balance as her bike goes over the top of the pile.

The girls are putting their bikes away when Caroline comes up to her. Caroline looks all around to make sure no one is listening. When she’s sure it’s safe, Caroline can barely contain her excitement. “I found something cool! Wanna see it?”

Maddie, always present and listening, brushes dirty hands on her dress. She jogs over to them and stares up at her. “I wanna see!”

“Of course you do, my little explorer.” Caroline ruffles her hair, making Maddie giggle. “You’re always brave! What about you, Beth?”

Beth looks back at the house. Their mother is in the kitchen, watering her plants. She knows she’s not going to like the answer, but she stammers out the question anyway. “I don’t know. Where is it?”

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Caroline coughs a bit. “Well…it’s, uh, it’s in the woods.”

“No. We were told to not go in there. Mom, Dad, and Uncle Dave all said no.” She takes a few steps back, distancing herself from anything to do with that plan.

“Come on!” Caroline pleads with her. “It’s not that far, and I promise we’ll be fine.”

She crosses her arms. She’s not going to lose her privileges. She doesn’t want to get Mom and Dad mad at her. “No. You go if you want. I’ll stay right here.”

Maddie pipes up, jumping with excitement.

“I’ll go!”

“Heck yeah you will. Let’s leave Scaredy Beth to herself.” Caroline hugs Maddie as they walk away.

Beth sits on the ground, haphazardly playing with a toy. “I’m not Scaredy.” She looks at down at the forest. Caroline and Maddie are skipping to the end of the back yard, she stands up and starts walking after them. Maddie turns back and waves for her to join them. Beth turns back to the house and stops. Beth looks as her mother passes by one of the windows. She looks back in time to see Maddie put her hand and head down and go back to following Caroline. Beth goes back to playing with her toys.

She sat there for what felt like hours, but it might have been only a few minutes. Eventually,

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she walks over to the edge of the forest and looks in. It’s deeper than she thought. She can’t see or hear Caroline or Maddie anywhere. From the house, she hears Mom yelling for her. “Girls! It’s time to come in. We’re going to Uncle Dave’s!”

She glances nervously between her mother and the forest. Her heart is pounding so loudly that she’s sure Mom can hear it. ‘Does Mom know? Did she see that Caroline and Maddie aren’t here? Will I get in trouble for it?’ “I told them not to go…”

She puts her hands to her face and yells for her sisters. A few moments go by, and she hears something rustling in the bush farther in. She can’t see what it is, but she calls to Maddie and Caroline again. The rustling gets louder and more frantic. She takes a cautious step forward. One more step and she’ll be in the woods. She looks at the bushes. “I know it’s you guys. Hurry up!”

She’s almost knocked over as something grabs her from behind. Caroline and Maddie start laughing and pointing at her. She looks back to the bush, but it’s silent now. “Mom said we have to go. Where were you?”

“Thought you weren’t going to go in the woods.” Caroline smirks, crossing her arms, mocking and accusing. “Ya know. Maybe I’ll go and tell Mom.”

Maddie tugs on Beth’s arm and looks up at her, cupping her other hand around her mouth trying to keep a secret. “We found a…”

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“Don’t tell her.” Caroline quickly steps in front of Maddie, moving Maddie behind her. “If Scaredy Beth wants to know, she’ll come with us next time.”

Caroline runs off to the house. Beth looks down as she walks. “I’m not Scaredy.” She can feel herself starting to cry, but she’s not gonna let them see it. She holds in the tears.

Maddie looks between the running Caroline and her. “I’ll tell you later.” Maddie takes off after Caroline.

When she walks into the house, Maddie and Caroline are already waiting at the front door. She keeps her head down and walks slowly toward the front door, keeping distance between her and her sisters.

“What’s wrong, sweetie?” Mom looks down at her.

She glares at Caroline. She thinks about telling, but she wants to go get ice cream. ‘If Mom and Dad find out they went in the woods, then none of us will get ice cream. Caroline always tries to ruin it for everyone. I didn’t do anything, but I’ll get in trouble.’

She watches out the open door as Dad lets the others into the car. “Nothing.”

“Well, if you think of what it is, you can tell me. I know it’s hard being in the middle, but it will get better.” Mom pats her on the back.

She shrugs and walks slowly out to the car.

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Mom stays with her the whole way. Mom opens the door for her and says, “Move over. Give Beth the window.”

She smiles as Mom gets into the front seat.

Dad pulls away, and she’s happy to be going into town. She buckles into her seat and stares at the front of the house. It looks so empty. Maybe she can get more flowers to plant there.

‘I don’t know why Caroline is mad, I didn’t tell on them. Probably just being weird again.’ She doesn’t talk to the others the whole drive into town.

Caroline keeps giving her weird, angry looks the whole time. She sighs and rests her head against the window. The car turns the corner, and she takes in the wonder of all the floats. She can’t wait for all of the fun she’ll have at the parade, and that excitement is enough to make her feel better.

The family pulls up to Dave’s Diner and walks inside. It’s oddly empty today. She wonders if it’s because of everybody in town getting ready for the parade. She walks over to her usual booth and slides in, still thinking about Caroline being mean to her and making her lie. Uncle Dave walks out and comes to the table. “Hello again! How is everyone? Seems like we saw each other only yesterday.”

“It was yesterday, silly.” Maddie laughs.

Uncle Dave smiles and ruffles her hair. He says hello to everyone as he sets down a pack of crayons

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and activity sheets and then takes their order. After their meal, Uncle Dave kneels down at the table. His head still nearly reaching as tall as Dad’s. “Now…did you girls listen to Uncle Dave and stay out of that forest?”

Caroline and Maddie look at her. They say in unison, “Yes.”

She sits there quietly. Uncle Dave looks at her.

“Beth, did you go in there?”

She should tell on them. She should let everyone know that they went into those woods and were bad.

She should. She looks at her sisters who are begging her not to say anything. Maddie is practically folding her hands and begging her to not tell on them. She sees the look in Mom’s eyes. She doesn’t want to lie to anyone, but as much as Caroline is mean to her, she doesn’t want to get Maddie in trouble. She doesn’t deserve it just for following someone’s bad idea. “No.

I was good.”

“Well then!” Uncle Dave claps his hands. The sound is loud, but she doesn’t flinch at all. “I promised you ice cream forts. Let’s get building. Jason, Em?

You two want dessert?”

“No. I am saving all the room for the parade.”

Dad looks out the window at the park.

Mom browses the menu. “I’ll have a coffee and cheesecake.”

Uncle Dave calls to the back of the restaurant,

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his voice clearly carries. “Janice, darlin’. Can you grab these nice folks a coffee and cheesecake?”

A sweetheart of a woman walks out of the kitchen. She’s not as dark as Uncle Dave is, but her hair is white, which is a cool color, and tied back in a bun. She’s really skinny and nice. She’s always smiling and happy. “Of course, dear. Now don’t you go eating that ice cream. You know what it does to you.”

Uncle Dave laughs and turns to the girls, holding a finger to his lips to tell them not to say anything. He winks as he eats a spoonful of green ice cream with chocolate. The girls giggle conspiratorially, and Maddie looks to see if Aunt Janice is watching.

“No promises. Okay, girls. Let’s get making.”

After filling up on food and getting hyper from ice cream overload, it’s time to go. Beth fell asleep in the car, but when she got home, she was ready to run and play.

Beth runs into the back yard with her sisters.

They play on the swing set, ride bikes, and then it happens. ‘Here we go again.’ She knew they were gonna ask. “Guys, I don’t wanna go in the woods.

We’re not allowed. I feel bad enough I had to lie to Uncle Dave for you. I don’t wanna do it again. Can you just not do this?”

Caroline bends down to look into her eyes and puts her hand on her shoulder. “Look. We went in a few times and we’re fine. I promise. I just wanna show

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you what we found and then we’ll come right out. If you do this, I won’t call you Scaredy Beth anymore.

I’ll even double-pinky-promise!”

“Please!” Maddie looks up at her, hands folded like a prayer, begging her to join in their fun.

Maddie’s excitement makes her give in.

She doesn’t want to disappoint her little sister. She wants them to play with her like they used to, so she caves. She doesn’t like it. She’s afraid of going into the woods, but she loves her sisters. “Fine. Just for a minute though.”

The other two girls throw up their arms and cheer. Taking her by the hand, Caroline and Maddie run off into the woods, pulling her along. She’s surprised by the coolness of it all. The temperature in the forest is a lot colder than the back yard. They push through the underbrush. “How long yet?”

“Not far now.” Caroline looks around the woods. She pulls back a branch and there it is.

Nestled against an old tree, piles of old pallets and planks are nailed together, standing a few feet high.

To everyone else, it would look like a mess of boards and branches stuck together, but to Beth and her sisters it’s a fortress for new adventures. She looks around the fort. She reaches out to touch one of the planks and gets a small splinter. “Ouch!”

Caroline comes over and looks down at the small drop of blood. She pulls out the splinter and

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drops it in the dirt. She blows on the small cut. “There you are. See. You’re fine.”

Maddie pulls on Caroline’s shirt. Maddie looks between Beth and Caroline. “Can we play hide and seek?”

“Sure! More places to hide out here. Just stay close.” Caroline smiles at Maddie.

Maddie jumps up and down. She takes Beth’s hand and shakes it. In the distance, a low rumble sounds. Her stomach starts to get those familiar butterflies of fear. “Guys. Just one game okay? I think it’s gonna storm soon.”

Caroline stands there, clearly in charge, and says, “Fine. Just one, okay? Now, you two go hide. I’ll count to ten, and then I’m coming for you!”

“Okay! You count. Come on, Beth!” Maddie laughs and leads her off into the forest. She makes sure she can still see her back yard from where she is.

A low, quiet rumble makes her look around.

That’s quickly forgotten when she looks down at Maddie’s excited face. “OK. You go hide right over there. I’ll be over here. Stay there so you don’t get lost.”

She climbs inside a pile of brush and peeks out. She sees Maddie run off behind a large bush.

Maddie crawls inside trying to make herself smaller to hide behind the leaves. She’s not very good at it, but Beth is glad she’ll be easy to find. The wind is picking up, making the branches and leaves sway.

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Caroline finishes her count. “Ready or not, here I come!”

Beth tries to burrow deeper into her spot when Caroline gets close. Caroline is scanning everything, and Beth wonders if she’ll see their footprints. ‘Please don’t find us. I don’t wanna be It again.’ She’s sure that her bright blonde hair clashes against the dark greens and browns of the brush.

Caroline runs right at her and tags her. “Ha!

Found you!”

A few drops of water start to fall from the sky as thunder sounds off in the distance, low and threatening. She flinches and looks around. “No fair…It’s starting to rain. We should get inside.”

Caroline helps her out of her hiding spot and puts her arm around her. She stumbles a little, putting her arms out for balance. Caroline reaches out to help keep her standing. “We will, but how about you help me find Maddie?”

“Okay!” She smiles, glad that Caroline is being nice to her again, like before. “I think I saw her run over there.” A flash of lightning makes them both jump.

They run over to the spot, each of them looking for Maddie’s hiding spot. They look around and see her footprints move further into the woods.

Raindrops are starting to splash onto the ground faster.

Moving around trees, and through underbrush,

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they come to a small clearing. A familiar pink shoe lies in the mud half hidden by dirty water. ‘What is this? Why would Maddie run off without her shoe?

And what’s that smell?’ Something dank and rotten comes to her on the wind. She looks up at Caroline, who’s face is scrunched with worry. She’s confused. “I told her to stay here.”

‘We’re gonna be in so much trouble if Maddie is lost!’ Her heart starts beating faster, in time with the rain drops. She looks around the darkening forest.

“Madison!” Caroline looks scared for the first time that she can remember. Caroline’s eyes dart around the forest, searching. “Come out! You win!”

Thunder crashes.

She grips Caroline tighter. She’s looks all around, hoping to see Maddie coming out of the trees. “Where is she?” Thunder rumbles louder. ‘Wait.

That didn’t sound like thunder.’

Caroline cups her hands to her mouth to make sure she can yell louder. “Maddie! Please! We have to go inside now!” The rain comes down harder, soaking the girls to the bone.

A low, dark rumble, wet and threatening, comes from behind them. They freeze in place. A shadow looms over them. They turn, but she doesn’t want to see whatever sounds that scary. A set of bloody claws rise up. The rain pours down her face, getting in her eyes when she looks up. She’s seen enough of Caroline’s comics. She knows a monster when she

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sees one. She tries to take a breath to scream, but it won’t come. “No…”

Strips of Maddie’s pink dress, splattered with something red, hang from the claws. ‘Please be strawberries...’ Her brain focuses on one simple fact to keep her from going insane. She can tell that this thing stinks, the odor burns her nose.

“It’s not real.” Caroline barely whispers the words into the wind.

‘Don’t say it!’ Beth squeezes Caroline’s arm tighter. ‘Don’t you say it!’

“Maddie can’t be...” Caroline’s final word is covered by a crash of thunder.

They stare up at the horror in the soaking rain and pounding wind. When the lightning flashes, the monster’s fur glistens and the eyes shine. The dress flaps like a flag before it falls, dragged along the wind into the darkness.

She can barely breathe as she stands there watching the dress disappear. Her heart tries to beat, but the weight of the grief she feels crushes her chest.

The wind pushes the rain into her eyes, but she can’t take them off of the dress as it flutters away. She absently reaches out for the fleeing fabric. “Maddie...”

As the monster howls, they scream! She scrambles backwards, Caroline right next to her.

Her heart races as shock threatens to take over. The monster walks closer, slowly advancing. The girls run

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for all that they’re worth. Brush and thorns scratch at them as they flee.

“Where are we?” She looks around the forest as Caroline pulls her forward.

“Not sure. We gotta hide.” Caroline huffs as she runs. She knows that Caroline could take off and leave her behind, but she never does. Caroline points to a hollowed log. “Let’s get inside.”

She quickly crawls inside and goes to the farthest end of the log. She can feel Caroline pushing up close to her feet. They try to be quiet, but their heavy breaths seem to echo in the cramped space.

The ground shakes when the monster tracks them down. ‘We’re not in here. Please, don’t find us.’ It kicks, and the log rolls over and over.

The girls scream as they’re tossed around inside the log. She isn’t sure, but she thinks she hears the monster laugh. The log suddenly stops. The rain pours in on them as the monster tears a large piece of the log away. Exposed, she knows they have nowhere to run. Their sanctuary is destroyed. ‘Oh God! Maddie...Why did we come in these woods? I knew it was wrong! I should have stopped them. It’s my fault.’

The monster stands over them. She can smell the wet fur. The monster’s saliva drips down on them mixing with the rain. She closes her mouth tight, afraid that she might taste some of Maddie’s blood.

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Lightning flashes, and thunder cracks so loud that she can’t hear the monster growling anymore, but she can still see it. The hunger in those yellow eyes freezes her in place. Caroline is holding her, and Beth can feel her tremble.

‘Run, Caroline. Get Mom and Dad.’ She wants to say it out loud, but she can’t. She doesn’t want to be alone with this monster, and she hates herself for it.

The monster draws a blood covered hand back and is about to tear them to shreds. They hold each other tightly as she waits for the pain, taking any small amount of comfort in being together. Their tears intermingle as they draw closer together.

A strong voice from behind the monster is calm, but assertive. “That’s enough. Back to your cave. I’ll deal with you later.” The man shakes his head.

Shivering, the girls stand up in the remains of the log. They watch as the monster and the man walk off. She watches them go, but her shock has taken over and she doesn’t really see them.

After the man and monster leave, the girls are left alone as the sun starts to set. That’s when the blissful numbness of shock wears off and they scream, tears fall down their face mixing with the rain.

“We gotta get Dad and Mom.” Caroline puts an arm around her, leading her home.

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She follows along on auto pilot. She stumbles and falls into the mud. Caroline picks her back up, and they hurry to the back yard. When they get close, she uses what breath is left in her to yell over the storm. “Mom! Dad!”

Mom appears in the open doorway, soaking wet and terrified. Dad is already behind her, scared and looking all around the yard. Mom runs over as they struggle to make it back home. ‘We were supposed to be safe here.’ Mom yells over the rain and thunder. “What happened? Are you two hurt?

Where’s Maddie?”

She didn’t see her pick it up, but Caroline drops Maddie’s shoe on the ground and collapses.

The lightning flashes, showing Mom’s confused face, and Dad is pushing past her. He looks down at the shoe and takes off running for the woods. She hears him yell Maddie’s name even when he gets into the forest.

Mom kneels down in the mud and just stares at the shoe as it soaks up the rain and mud. She feels Mom reach over and take hold of her. She feels Mom shaking her. “Where’s Maddie? Girls?”

She starts to cry, and she can’t stop. Mom lets go of her, grabbing Caroline by the head and staring directly into her weary eyes. “WHERE IS SHE?”

Mom lets Caroline go and sobs into her hands.

When Mom screams, she forgets about the storm, but

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she’ll never forget her mother’s soul crushing scream as it echoes over the thunder.

It will be minutes until the girls can find the strength to get inside out of the rain, days until their parents accept that Maddie is gone, and a lifetime of pain for everyone.

Chapter 2

18 Years Later

A storm rages. Lightning flashes, and the rain falls in buckets. It’s a good night to be inside. John opens the door to his apartment. The rain drips off of his hat as he hangs it on the hook by the front door. His hands rest for a second on the hat before he inhales deeply and takes a step into the apartment proper.

The warmth of the apartment chases away the chill of the fall rain. The wooden floor squeaks loudly as he walks, his leather shoes clearly needing a polish.

He sits down to untie them, setting them beneath the bench by the door.

The apartment isn’t opulent, but it is comfortable. ‘Home, sweet home.’ He walks into the small kitchen and tosses his keys onto the table. He removes his badge and gun, carefully setting them

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next to his keys. He wants to get out of this wet uniform. He’s been on the job for a few years, and he loves the work, but nights like this make it hard.

Looking over at the living room, he notices every light is on.

Down the short hallway, and all of the lights are on there, too. He sighs. This isn’t the first time this has happened. “Beth? Are you there?”

Beth yells out to him. “In here!”

When he walks into the bedroom, Beth sits up in bed, pulling the covers closer. He sighs again. He changes out of his uniform and puts on comfortable clothes. The bed creaks when he sits next to her. He puts an arm around her and pulls her closer. “You can’t keep living like this. This constant worrying isn’t good for you.” He wants her to be safe, but it’s been a long time. He just wants to do something to make her feel better.

Beth shuts her eyes as a bright flash of lightning fills the night sky illuminating the streets and buildings in the distance. The several tall windows give a wide view of the city lit up by the electrical cacophony. “I just don’t like the storms. It’s been like this since Maddie…”

“I wish I knew how to help.” He pulls Beth closer. He leans his head on top of hers. More lightning flashes and thunder rattles the windows. “Maybe we shouldn’t have gotten an apartment with so many

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windows. I tell you what, we can start looking for another place for when our lease is over.”

Beth laughs a little, but the sound of thunder makes her cringe. “Maybe we can find a nice cave.”

Lightning flashes as a bird flies into the window. A bloody streak is left down the outside of the glass for a moment before the rain washes away any proof it ever existed. Beth nearly jumps out of the bed. She latches onto his arm and shuts her eyes tight.

Lovingly, he runs a hand through her hair trying to keep her calm and relaxed. He holds her tighter, smelling the flowery perfume she loves to wear. “Look, Beth. You need to talk to someone.

Maddie would never want you living like this. When was the last time you talked to Caroline?”

Beth pushes away from him and sits up. She looks away from him and slides off the bed to walk away from the windows. “It’s been years since I talked to her. We used to fight a lot, but we grew a lot closer after Maddie’s death. She wanted me to stay and help her look for the thing that killed Maddie, but I couldn’t do it.”

“Then Mom passed and we stayed in touch, talked a lot on the phone. She was even at my college graduation.” Beth pulls a tissue from a box on the dresser. “After Dad’s funeral, Caroline got the house, and I was already living in this city. We talked less and less after that. She got really obsessed with finding

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the creature and kept insisting I come back to help her. I just couldn’t do it…” She trails off into silence as she stares into the hall.

‘This isn’t gonna go well, but some things need to be said. You can do this, John. Okay. Here goes nothing.’ John runs a hand through his hair. “Have…

uh…have you thought about seeing someone?

Talking to someone again? It helped the last time.”

Beth turns back to him looking angry. “John, you know damn well no one will believe me. Even you don’t believe me because you didn’t see the monster.

You didn’t see her torn dress, smell the wet fur, and see blood on those claws!”

‘I’ve been trained to deal with people in traumatic situations, so why can’t I help her?’ He tries his best to keep calm. He knows there was no monster, and it was just some animal. He knows it was her shock and her underdeveloped mind that made her invent a monster to cover the tragedy.

He stands and walks over to her. Turning her to face him, he softly puts a hand on the side of her face, gently pulling her back to the bed. They both sit on the edge, and he looks down into her eyes. “Beth, dear, there are no monsters. They don’t exist.”

Beth pushes his hand down and stands up.

She walks to the other side of the room, putting the bed in between them. “You just don’t get it.”

He gets up and puts up his hands, his training

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in deescalation automatically kicking in. “No, I don’t know what you went through, but it’s been years.

I’m willing to be patient and help in any way. I just need…”

A loud ringing breaks the tension. From the dresser, an old rotary phone rings. Beth walks over, and hurriedly picks up the phone. “Hello? Yes, this is Beth. Who’s this?”

As she listens to the voice through the phone, the color drains from her face and is replaced with an expression of terror. Lightning flashes and thunder rumbles, but she doesn’t move. Instead, she raises her hand to her mouth. She looks like she’s on the verge of fainting, so John hurries over to stand beside her in case she needs him, his arm going around her waist. He guides her to sit on the bed, the cord of the telephone stretching across the room.

He gently takes the phone from her hand. He looks at her stunned eyes as he puts the phone to his ear. “This is Officer Martinez. Beth’s fiancée. Who is this?”

A deep voice with a slight southern drawl says,

“This is Chief Wallace of the Slaughterville PD. We’re calling to inform Beth that her sister and brother-in-law are missing.”

He stiffens and stands up straighter. He switches into the mindset of an officer, listening for details and trying to compartmentalize all of the information. “What happened?”

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“I don’t want to talk too much over the phone.

We found Caroline and Bill’s campsite, but there were signs of a struggle, and they’ve gone missing.”

Chief Wallace pauses and he can hear him shuffling papers. “From the looks of the things at the camp site, they’ve been missing for a couple of days. It’s best if Beth comes here right away. We could use all the help we can get.”

“Not again. Not again.” Beth rocks back and forth on the bed, and he can hear her voice tremble.

Tears fall from her eyes while she mumbles to herself.

She looks up, her need for help reflecting clearly in her teary eyes.

“Understood, Chief. We’ll be there as soon as possible. Thank you, sir.” John hangs up the phone.

“Hey.” He sits next to her and takes her hand.

He makes her look at him. “Hey…It’s gonna be alright. We’ll go and get this figured out. I’ll call my captain right now and cash in all of my days off. I won’t let you do this alone.”

“This is all my fault. Maybe if I went back when she asked me for help...What kind of sister doesn’t help? I’m terrible!” Beth sits up further on the bed as he packs for their trip.

“Beth, darling, you can’t think about it like that.” He turns to her, clothes in hand. “It’s gonna drive you nuts. We won’t know anything for sure until we get there.” He knows, through all of his training,

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that time is limited. If they don’t find them soon, they may not find them at all. He’s worried how far Beth will fall into herself if she loses more family to that damn town.

“But what if they’re gone too? It’s the same place, John.” Beth stands up and reflexively puts some clothes in a bag.

“We will find them.” He puts a hand on her shoulder and smiles at her. “You have to believe that.”

He hopes his expression is convincing. He wants to believe it, too.

*************************

Beth nods and continues packing. John grabs his gun and badge from the counter, and they both walk out the door into the dark and stormy night.

Their car pulls onto the city streets. The tall buildings get fewer and farther between. The city streets turn into highways. The miles pass, but the only thing she can think about is Caroline and Maddie. ‘We’re gonna find her. We have to. She can’t be gone, too.’

After many miles, she looks up at the sign that reads, Now Leaving Pennsylvania.

The air smells cleaner than she remembers.

When she was a kid, this drive into town was magical.

It was filled with hope and adventure. She looked forward to her new home and friends.

She looks out at the trees lining the highway.

‘Getting close now.’ She looks at the forest much

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differently these days. She doesn’t want to think about what’s hiding behind the trees. John is driving and absentmindedly humming along to the music on the radio. She looks at her cellphone and sees the number of bars decrease the closer they get to town.

Up ahead, is the line she never wanted to cross again. When she left years ago, she swore she would never see the other side of the sign again. ‘I can’t do this.’

There are wrought iron gates on either side of the road. Looming overhead is a large archway of dark iron that towers above the street with a sign that reads “Welcome to Slaughterville.”

She remembers that sign, it looked so hopeful when she was a kid. Now it’s just a reminder of some of the worst moments of her life. There’s nothing welcoming about this town.

The twisting and turning of her stomach makes her feel nauseated. The few yards between her and the sign seem to take longer than the rest of their trip. She puts a hand on John’s leg and squeezes. She looks over at him not needing to say anything.

“Everything will work out fine.” John puts his hand on hers. “We’ll find Caroline and Bill. Then, we can take some time and find us a new place with fewer windows.” She always liked that devilish smile of his. It always makes her feel comfortable and safe.

As they drive under the sign, she glances back at her phone and watches the last of the signal bars

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blinks and then vanishes completely, taking with them her lifeline to the outside world and safety.

“Caroline said our phones wouldn’t work here.”

“Sounds really peaceful.” John smiles. “Would be nice to be away from it all and not be bombarded with the noise of the world.”

“That’s how this place gets you. It’s all nice and peaceful until…” She trails off and breathes deeply.

She shuts her phone off and puts it in the glove compartment.

John pulls onto the main street, where the park’s trees are turning a myriad of colors. Their yellow and red leaves fall to the ground. She looks at the familiar shops. Some have changed, but most of them appear just as they did when she left. Despite looking the same, nothing feels the same as when she was a kid.

She stares at the decorations, the shops, and the people. She used to know a lot of people, but now she’s unsure if anything in this town can be trusted. As they drive past, she keeps an eye on them to make sure they don’t do anything suspicious. She glances down an alley and sees a cat wandering into the darkness. She quickly turns away, not wanting to see what’s down there. Pointing to the end of the road where it wraps around the park, she says. “The station is right there.”

John pulls into one of the open spots in front of the station and puts the car in park. She watches

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as he looks around the town. Having grown up in cities his entire life, she figures being somewhere without tall buildings must be strange to him. She watches him take a deep breath of fresh air. He looks comfortable, almost peaceful. ‘He’ll quickly learn just how wrong and deceiving this place actually is.’

“This place looks cozy.” John stands up out of the car, looks around, and stretches after the long drive.

The main street used to feel so new and exciting back when she was a kid. She chokes up when she thinks of the time Maddie saw the bunny float. “Yeah. This is definitely the town that time forgot.” She closes the car door and looks up the small set of stairs leading to the double doors of the police station. There’s a sign next to the door that reads Slaughterville Police Department.

She walks to the steps, but stops at the bottom, not wanting to open the door. She knows that once she opens this door, she’ll be at the mercy of this town again. ‘Caroline needs me.’

A strong hand grabs hers, her heart drops to her stomach. Whipping her head around, she sees John holding her hand and lets out a sigh of relief.

She feels a little calmer as they walk up the stairs.

John opens the dark wooden door and holds it open for her.

The station looks like a small office. At the

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front desk is an older woman, heavier, but looking as sweet as pure sugar. Her white hair clearly just came out of her curlers, all but the one she missed, and she’s working with some paperwork. Behind her is the bullpen which has a few desks and officers talking to each other. John waves to them, looking like he’s in his natural environment. Except, there are no criminals, not like in the city.

The nameplate on the counter reads: MARGE.

Marge looks up smiling, as John and Beth approach, and puts her pen down. “Can I help you, darlin’?”

Stammering, She looks down, her hands starting to shake. John steps forward, gently pulling her behind him. He looks at her and gently squeezes her hand before turning to acknowledge Marge.

“Good afternoon. I’m Officer John Martinez. This is Beth Taylor. We’re here to see Chief Wallace about Bill and Caroline Moore.”

Marge’s face shifts from bright and sunny to sympathy and concern. “Of course, dear. I am so sorry to hear about Caroline. We’re gonna find her though.” Marge turns back towards the back of the precinct and yells, “Chief! Folks here to see you bout Caroline and Billy!”

Chief Wallace leans out of the door in the back. “Send them on in then!”

Marge opens the small gate next to her desk and motions for them to walk through. Feeling all the

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eyes of the officers watching them, the couple walk back to the Chief’s office. The office is immaculate. A small stack of papers sits on a large wooden desk. The walls are lined with well maintained, albeit antique looking, cabinets. A single fern sits on the sill of a window that looks out onto the main street of town.

The moment that her gaze lands on the Chief, she is reminded of every small-town Sheriff. His wide-brimmed hat rests neatly on a coat rack near his meticulously organized desk. The Chief, standing a few inches taller than John, looks muscular with shaggy, light brown hair. Despite its well-worn appearance, his uniform is tidy and pressed. The star on his chest is polished. The revolver on his desk gleams with cleanliness, though the worn wooden grip reveals frequent use.

“Thank you for coming. Let’s get right to it. I need to get back for the search.” The Chief welcomes them by reaching out a hand. He shakes John’s and Beth’s hands in turn and gestures for them to take a seat.

“The long and the short is; they were last seen entering the forest, the one thats near the cabins.”

Chief Wallace moves behind his desk and sits in his chair. “We found a campsite that most likely belongs to them further in from one of the parking areas on one of our searches, but that’s it so far. We’ve been looking ever since they were reported missing, but so

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far nothing. We’re getting close though. We towed their car here, but it’s technically part of a crime scene so we can’t release it just yet.”

“Who reported it?” She hears John ask the question as she looks around the office. The furniture is a little different, but the smell is the same. It’s like the last time she was here when…

Chief Wallace shuffles the papers on his desk.

He picks up a sheet and reads it. “It was anonymous.

Look, I wasn’t here back when your other sister went missing, but can you think of any reason why Caroline would go back into those woods?”

With guilt and tension building inside her, she stands and paces around the room, anxiously twisting her hands with each word. “She said she wanted to find whatever killed Madison. She was always doing something like that, but she was always careful. She and Bill knew what they were doing and wouldn’t have gotten lost.”

John looks at the Chief and they’re both quiet.

She knows what they’re thinking even if they won’t say it and make her feel worse. She’s seen enough true crime shows to know what they’re too kind to say to her. If they don’t find Caroline and Billy soon, then there’s a good chance that they never will.

She stops her pacing and wraps her arms around herself. “Thank you, Chief. I know you’ll find them,” She’s trying her best to convince herself it’s the truth.

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“We want to help as much as we can.” John get up and puts an arm around her waist, making sure she knows she’s not alone.

Chief Wallace smiles as he puts on his wide-brimmed hat, pulling it down low. He rummages around in a drawer and pulls out a pen and paper.

He writes the directions to the search location on the piece of paper and hands it to them. “Well, meet us out by the forest in about an hour. Our next organized search starts then.”

The world around her fades away, and she barely notices John turning her away from the office.

She waves unknowingly, as she moves on autopilot.

“Thank you, Chief.” She’s happy to leave that office behind, the memories overwhelming even after all these years.

John shakes hands with Chief Wallace. “We’ll get something to eat and then be right over to do whatever we can.”

When the doors to the police station open and the cool, autumn air hits her face, she shakes her head, trying to regain her grip on the reality around her. She looks up at John. “I’m sorry. I…” she says softly, unable to find the words.

“No need to apologize. There’s a lot going on.”

John takes her hand and walks her down the stairs.

“We might be out there a while. We should eat something before we go.” John looks around the town square.

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“I’m not really hungry.” She opens her car door. Her head still swims from being back in this town, and her stomach is filled with fluttering fear.

“I know, but you won’t do Caroline or Bill any good if you pass out from hunger.” John starts the car and backs out.

When she sees the familiar sign, she smiles in spite of herself. Pointing down the road, she says,

“Fine, but we’ll go there and get something fast.”

The sidewalk leads up to the same glass and steel door that she remembers from so long ago. It still has the same hours and everything. Beth pulls the door and pauses for a moment when the bell rings, taking in the familiar smells. She looks around the place before stepping inside.

There are a few people sitting and eating, but her eyes narrow in on the spot she’s looking for. A memory of ice cream forts surfaces when she sees her favorite booth is open. She walks over and sits in the comforting seat, like she had done so many times so very long ago. Mom and Dad didn’t want to go out anymore after Maddie disappeared.

The kitchen door opens, and a large man, stockier than she remembers, pushes through. His beard is still black, but there’s a bit of gray at each of his ears. Otherwise, he looks the same. She gives a half smile, one that does not reach her eyes, when she sees him come from around the counter. Looking

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down at a pad in his hand, he approaches the table.

“Welcome, what can we…Beth? Is that really you?”

“Hey, Uncle Dave. How’ve you been?” Beth is delighted to see him after so long.

Dave leans down and embraces her. ‘There’s still one good thing in this town.’ He stands, placing a hand on the back of the booth. “We haven’t seen you since you left for school. Janice! Get out here!”

John looks over and grins. Beth looks eagerly to the kitchen door. A middle-aged woman, her white hair still pulled back in that familiar bun, wipes her hands on a towel. Janice takes off her crisp, clean apron and comes out to stand by Uncle Dave. Aunt Janice smiles sympathetically and reaches out to hug her. “Oh, it is so good to see you, but we wish it were under better circumstances.”

“Thanks, Aunt Janice. It’s good to see you too.”

She returns the hug.

Janice rests a hand on Beth’s shoulder. “Let me get you a couple of specials, on the house.” Uncle Dave nods to a shorter woman with long, red hair.

She grabs a couple of stained, white mugs and brings them over to John and Beth. She pours a waterfall of coffee into each cup, leaving just enough room for cream.

“Thanks, Debbie.” Aunt Janice turns to the waitress. “Don’t forget to take your break.”

Beth watches as Debbie sets the carafe down

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and goes through the back door. The bright light of the day pours into the diner. Her attention is drawn back to the table when she hears Uncle Dave and Janice excuse themselves. “It really is good to see you again.”

“Just please keep us informed. We don’t get much news, but you kids were like family,” Uncle Dave says warmly, before returning into the kitchen.

The doors swing shut behind him, cutting off the sounds of frying food.

“So,” John looks over at her, folding his hands.

“...this place seems nice.”

“Lots of places do until they aren’t. Uncle Dave and Aunt Janice are good people though.

Known them since I was a kid. They don’t look much different. They were Mom and Dad’s best friends.

They were there for us even after our parents died and gave me my first job.” She fidgets with the sugar container.

A sudden rush of emotions and memories come flooding in and she starts to tear up. John takes her hand. “It’s okay.”

The door to the kitchen opens once more as Uncle Dave brings out two plates of eggs and bacon.

Janice watches from the register looking sad. She has a sneaking suspicion that Aunt Janice is there more to look out for her instead of working on the register.

John and Beth eat their meal in silence, both

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wanting to hurry to the search site. She pushes around her food more than she is actually eating it.

She knows that she should eat but doesn’t really want to. ‘I just want to find Caroline and get the hell out of this town.’

She’s glad she got to see Uncle Dave and Aunt Janice again, but this place is like a storm cloud blanket. She will never feel easy or at home here ever again. John finishes his meal and looks over at her.

She forces down a little more scrambled egg, more for his sake than hers, and then wraps the bacon up for later. She smiles and waves as they leave the diner, promising to see them again soon. She’ll miss those two the most when this is all over and she leaves this place for good.

It took a little longer to find the search area than she hoped, but with GPS not working, they had to rely on the directions written down by Chief Wallace. Even with those, they got turned around once. Pulling into the large parking area, she sees several vehicles along with an ambulance. People are walking around in orange vests and talking to each other. Tables are set up with flashlights, bottles of water, and walkie talkies.

In the center of it all is Chief Wallace, standing tall and clearly in charge. He ducks inside his trunk and pulls out bottles of water and other supplies.

They walk over to Chief Wallace just as he puts down

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the bottles of water and stands up. His voice travels with authority as he says, “Okay everyone! Grab your gear and get ready to leave! Don’t be heroes, and don’t get lost!”

John walks over to the Chief and holds out a hand to shake. “Hey, Chief. Looks like a good turnout.”

“A few didn’t show, but there are good numbers today. Must’ve heard that you were in town.” Chief Wallace shakes his hand and gives him a radio. He turns to scan the group.

She grabs a radio and clips it to her pants before she walks over to the group, her hands clasped in front of her. She clears her throat. “I want to thank every one of you. You can’t know how much this means to me.”

Murmurs of thanks and comfort come from the crowd. She waves again and turns back around.

Chief Wallace steps forward and whistles to get the attention of everyone there. “Now, listen, we have a few rules you need to follow. Some of you that were here for the earlier searches know this, but, for those new here, listen up.”

Chief Wallace scans the crowd, making eye contact with any newcomers before continuing.

“Don’t go anywhere alone. I can’t stress that enough.

It’s easy to fall in a ditch or get lost, so stay with a partner. Don’t try to capture or pet any wild animals.

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They will probably bite you, and I don’t want to deal with that today. I want everyone to gather around here and get your sector assignments from the map.

We meet back here just before dark. John and Beth, you’ll be in sector 18. Now, we have a lot to do, so get going, and remember your radios!”

As Chief Wallace walks over to talk to John, she can’t help but compare their similarities in their stance and the systematic way they look around this place. “Can we take a look at their campsite? I want to see what happened,” John asks in his officer voice.

“You think we can’t handle this?” Chief Wallace narrows his eyes and looks down at John.

“No. That’s not what I’m saying.” John puts his hands up defensively.

“I’m just messing with ya, son. Let’s go.” Chief Wallace claps him hard on the back.

She and John follow Chief Wallace as he confidently makes his way along a winding path. The rest of the groups follow in twos and threes behind them, some splitting off to start their searches. After they arrive at the campsite, she and John walk over to a tent that looks like it was torn apart by a wild animal. Large slashes cut through the fabric and everything around the camp is thrown around.

The memories of slashes just like these from so long ago crash into her mind, and she relives it like it just happened yesterday. She breathes heavily as

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her mind flashes images of rain and teeth. The green canvas of the tent turns into pink cotton as she stares, shaking.

Eyes closed, the theater in her mind replays the events from so long ago. She focuses on the sounds around her, bringing her closer to the present. ‘She said when I get like this to breathe deep and even.’

Slow, measured breaths help to bring in clarity and push out the fear. For now. ‘I guess therapy wasn’t completely useless even if they didn’t believe in the monster.’

She watches John examining all of the different pieces. She’s seen him get into this mindset for everything from a robbery to where he put his keys.

John asks the Chief, “Is this the scene?”

Chief Wallace says, “Yeah, this is where they were camped. We found Billy’s wallet and their camping gear, but nothing else that gave a definitive identification.”

*************************

John’s analytical mind takes over, and the first thing he notices is that there’s no blood anywhere.

Nothing stained or splashed on the tent walls. The way the slashes have torn the canvas cloth to pieces should have torn through flesh easily. ‘With this much damage, there should be blood all over the place.’ He studies the overturned cooler, full cans of beer and food spilled all over the place. ‘Why didn’t the bears come and take it?’

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He continues to walk around, careful to watch for anything important that can tell him what happened to Caroline and Billy. There’s something about this site that bothers him. There’s a crucial piece that he’s just not seeing, but he’s not sure what it is. Maybe that’s because he grew up in the city or because he’s distracted worrying about Beth, but something is hiding here. ‘I will find it for her.’

“I need you to find them.” Beth walks over and puts her head on his shoulder. He’s drawn out of his head, back into the moment.

He pulls her in close. He’s probably going to have to break the bad news to her, that she lost another sister. He’s done it before with more families than he’d like to admit. ‘But I don’t have to do it just yet.’ For now, he can give her hope even if that’s all he can give. “It’s going to be fine. It doesn’t look like there were any injuries. Maybe this happened after they left. We’re going to find them.”

*************************

Beth is thankful for the words even if she doesn’t believe them. She’s been here before, and she knows how this ends. Her chest tightens as fear rises. She’s back in this same forest, picturing that day again. She takes a deep breath to steady herself.

“Sure. Right. Of course. Let’s get going.”

Chief Wallace is busy organizing the other groups, and she can’t wait any longer. She and John

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walk away from the main groups to find sector 18.

She doesn’t know exactly where sector 18 is, but John seems to know. She never had the best sense of direction. Through trails and off of them, John tries to find any kind of track or trace of either Caroline or Billy. Occasionally, he kneels down and looks at something, every time raising her hopes up, only to have it be nothing. She knows that he’s doing his best, but it’s been hours of searching. There’s been no sign at all of either of them. Loud crashing from the woods off to the right side of the trail causes her to freeze. “John…”

“It’s fine, dear. Look, it’s just some more searchers.” John takes her hand.

‘Oh, thank God.’ She sighs as a couple emerges from the trees. An average sized man and a younger woman walk over hand-in-hand. They’re fit and look like they’ve hiked the trails around the forest often.

She waves at them, and the woman says, “We’re so sorry, Beth. We didn’t find anything. We’ll be back out here tomorrow to keep looking if they aren’t found tonight. I hope they come home.”

“I appreciate it.” She flashes them an understanding smile and shakes their hands. “Thank you so much.”

The couple vanishes back among the trees, presumably heading back to the meet up area. She looks up at the canopy and realizes that she can barely

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see the tops of the trees. “It’s getting dark. Should we go back?”

John studies her intently. She can see in his expression that he’s reading her face as clearly as if she had said she doesn’t want to abandon the search.

“No. It’s only starting to get dark. We have enough light to see yet. Besides, we have the flashlights, too.”

She is secretly relieved, knowing that every minute is critical in their search to find them. She starts calling out to Caroline and Billy, desperately hoping to hear them answer. ‘Please, answer me.

Come on, Caroline. Tell me I’m being Scaredy Beth again. Tell me I’m worrying too much. Just tell me anything.’

John joins her in the calling. They’ve managed to walk fairly far from the camp and can’t see others. She lets out another set of calls when she stops suddenly.

She freezes and fear threatens to tear her mind apart.

A howl fills the forest. One she remembers. One she never wanted to hear again. ‘No...’

*************************

“What the hell was that?” John steps in front of her, scanning all around him. He draws his gun and goes on full alert.

Beth jumps and grabs on to him, nearly knocking them both over. From just beyond the tree line, a woman screams in pain. His instincts as an officer take over, and he sprints off in the direction

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of the scream. Over his shoulder, he tells Beth, “Go back to Chief Wallace. Now!” As he runs, his pistol is held tightly in one hand, and he pulls out his radio with the other.

‘Don’t have to worry about knocking myself out on a tree branch chasing perps back in the city.’

He quickly brings the radio up and clicks the button to call for help. “Chief! Anyone! Someone’s hurt. Get to section 18 now!”

He shoves aside a low hanging branch and listens for the sound. A low, guttural growl comes from just ahead. He takes off, leaving a clear path through torn brush, and bursts through into a clearing.

Shock stops him in his tracks as he stares at the scene in front of him. He’s never seen anything remotely like this. His radio falls to the ground, noise is coming out of it, but he’s too stunned to hear it. The analytical part of his mind looks for a way to rationalize what’s happening. He never feels his muscles move as he raises his gun in front of him.

Being trained in law enforcement and walking the streets at home, he thought he was prepared for just about anything. His usually commanding cop voice fails him this time. “What the…”

A wolf savagely paws and slashes a woman, sending a fountain of blood flying through the air.

She cries as it lowers its muzzle to lap up blood from her chest and stomach.

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His mind buzzes as he tries desperately to understand what’s going on in front of him. His training usually allows him to act logically and quickly, but there’s something fundamentally wrong here that’s making him confused and unsure. ‘Is this the thing that Beth saw? No wonder she thought it was a monster. This thing looks like a…No!’ He tells himself to snap out of it, someone’s in trouble and they need him. ‘It’s just an animal, dammit!’

‘Wolves get big. They’ve been known to attack humans when they get hungry. That’s all this is.

Right?’ He places the details of the wolf in a file in his brain to analyze later.

*************************

Beth breaks through the trees behind John as he turns towards her. The gun in his hand raised to eye level. It shakes slightly, but then quickly steadies.

She freezes, but not because of the pistol. She sees the monster everyone tried to say didn’t exist. She knew it was real even if she doesn’t want it to be.

If that thing is really standing in front of her, then Maddie was killed by a monster. She stares, her legs frozen from fear, and knows that she can do nothing to stop whatever is happening before her eyes. She looks at the body lying on the ground before the thing, but she doesn’t see the woman. She sees Maddie. She screams.

*************************

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The scream snaps John out of his stunned state, and he turns back to the large wolf standing over the woman. The gun snaps to the correct position, the sights firmly cemented on the creature before him.

He’s never seen a wolf this big, but then he can’t remember ever seeing one that wasn’t on television.

He fires, carefully aiming even through the fear.

Thousands of hours of range practice allow him to hit the creature. It howls again and his mind threatens to shut down.

He fires, instinct keeping the sights trained.

Blood fountains out from each impact. The wolf jerks as bullets impact flesh, but it doesn’t go down. John’s gun clicks empty, but he keeps pulling the trigger.

*************************

The monster stands up, rising tall on it’s hind legs. Beth backs up against a nearby tree, looking for any support, and somewhere to hide. It has to be nearly seven feet tall even hunched over. A clawed foot is on the woman’s chest, the claws drawing even more blood from her. She hears the woman whimpering.

‘Did Maddie die this afraid? In this much pain? Did this thing kill Caroline and Bill?’

The tears fall on their own, she can’t stop them even though she knows she can’t afford to break down.

She can only think about Maddie, Caroline, and Bill, and how they may have suffered. She doesn’t want to think about how Maddie was torn and bitten, but

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she can’t think of anything else. She can’t help but feel the pain they must have felt. Caroline and Bill.

‘Were they pulled apart by this...thing? Are we next?’

She stares as John shakes his head, ejects the magazine, and loads another. She knows it won’t be enough. A sudden realization that this is where they die floods over and through her. ‘Maybe we’ll all be together after. I hope we don’t feel it.’ She’s panicked as she envisions the claws pulling out her organs to feed the monster. She stares at the monster as John fires another series of bullets into it. Despite each hit and the blood that splatters from the wounds, the monster never goes down. Its cold, yellow eyes lock onto hers as it moves forward. She tries to back further away. Her eyes widen as the blood stops pouring from the bullet holes in the monster. “No…”

The thing crouches low and growls. Clawed hands dig furrows into the dirt as it readies itself to leap. She turns her head and closes her eyes. She doesn’t want to see it happen. She doesn’t want to see death take her. A loud and deep crack pierces through the woods, and she’s shocked she doesn’t feel the pain. Another crack and another.

She hesitantly opens her eyes as another crack sounds. The creature takes one more round in the back, the bullet punches a hole clean through the creature’s body. It turns at a speed that shouldn’t be possible and pounces, leaping a long distance to land a few feet away from the new shooter.

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His giant revolver pointed true at the monster, the Chief doesn’t move, doesn’t waver, and doesn’t show the slightest hint of fear. More voices break through her terror stricken mind. A few of the other searchers are coming through the woods from behind Chief Wallace.

The thing crouches down, blood coming from the fresh wounds, and it growls at Chief Wallace.

The Chief stands, tall and defiant, with his pistol still aimed at the monster. He narrows his eyes and says nothing, but the thing continues its low growl and advances slowly, carefully. Panic rises in her chest as she prepares to see the Chief torn to pieces in front of her.

To her great surprise, the monster turns abruptly and runs away. It just leaves. She watches it leap away into the forest. She counts one… two…

three more shots from Chief Wallace before he stops.

The Chief yells John’s name and then calls for help.

Hesitantly, she steps away from the tree and watches as Chief Wallace kneels in front of the injured woman.

“Jenny! Girl, can you hear me?” The Chief looks the woman over, surveying her injuries. He puts a hand on her wounds, the pressure helps slow the flow of blood slightly. It comes in spurts from between his fingers as he presses harder. He looks over his shoulder at the others who have just come to the clearing. “One of you get the damn EMTs!

Now!”

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Chief Wallace takes charge of the scene. He barks orders at the others, instructing them to put pressure on the many different wounds this poor woman suffered. Despite all the help, the amount and severity of the wounds make it unclear if Jenny’s going to make it.

Jenny gasps for air as her entire body convulses.

Blood flies from her wounds as she thrashes. Chief Wallace shouts, “Keep her steady and maintain pressure on those wounds dammit!”

Chief Wallace turns and walks over to them, slowly and cautiously. He never takes his eyes off of John as he holds a hand out and advances. He cautiously and calmly reaches up and puts a hand on John’s gun. The Chief talks softly to John as he pushes the gun down. “It’s gone now, son, you might wanna holster that thing.”

Holding her breath, both excited and terrified, she eagerly awaits their admitting that she was right all this time. That she and Caroline weren’t lying. ‘I’m not crazy! They know that we really saw something.’

John’s body relaxes as he comes out of his state of confusion and shock. He looks at the Chief’s hand on his gun and shakes his head. “Huh…what? Oh, yea. What was that thing?”

She can finally prove that it really was a monster all those years ago. And yet, even after seeing it, John doesn’t seem to get it, doesn’t want to say

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what it is. ‘The Chief was face to face with it. He’ll finally prove me right.’ She patiently waits for the Chief to explain to John that it was a terrible monster they just encountered.

EMTs from the clearing rush in with a board to carry Jenny out. Chief Wallace removes his hat, wipes his brow, and says, “Biggest damn wolf I ever saw. We get them here sometimes. Come down from the mountains when they get hungry.”

“What?” She can’t believe it! ‘It’s not right!

That’s not what happened. The Chief saw the monster.

It was right in his face and about to tear him apart, but he’s still saying it was just a wolf. Why can’t they admit to seeing monsters? Why are they making her feel like the crazy one? Would they ever believe her?’

The EMTs quickly, but carefully, take Jenny towards the ambulance, her moans getting weaker by the second. The rest of the crowd of people follow closely behind. “You think she’ll be alright?” She asks softly, still processing the last several moments.

“Sure hope so.” Chief Wallace puts his hat back on and watches the girl as she’s loaded into the ambulance. Turning to John he says, “Now, John, what happened out there?”

John seems to be regaining his composure.

A shake of his head seems to snap him back to his senses. “You saw as much as I did. That giant wolf was tearing into that woman, and I shot it. Then you shot it, and it ran away.”

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Chief Wallace looks up at the setting sun and shakes his head, “Well, it’s too dangerous now with that injured wolf out there, and it’s getting darker anyway. We better call it a night for everyone’s safety.

We can come back in the morning.”

She snaps out of her confusion and fear. She looks at the Chief and then at John. “No. We can’t leave them out there!” Her eyes desperately begging John to support her.

Breaking eye contact, John looks at the quickly darkening forest. “It’s too dangerous out here with that thing wounded. I know you want to stay here, but it’s not safe.”

She takes a deep breath, shocked. Her hurt and betrayal on display for everyone. She looks at the dark woods and then back at John. She’d give just about anything to not have to go in there. She may not be close to Caroline, but she can’t let this town have another member of her family. She has to save her. She has to show Caroline that she’s not Scaredy Beth anymore. She can’t do it alone. “John, I need you right now. I don’t want to go in there by myself, but I will if I have to. Caroline’s out there somewhere and I need to get her back. We are so close. I can almost feel her. I know she’s out here and needs us.

Needs me. I let her alone to look for this thing, and now…”

She turns away from John and starts walking, her flashlight lighting her path. She stops just before

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entering the woods and turns back to him. “I won’t lose another sister.”

John closes the distance between them. He looks at the darkening sky before saying, “There’s no talking you out of this, is there?” He wraps an arm around her and pulls her in close to his chest. She can hear his heartbeat, the steady rhythm is calming and assuring.

“I guess not.” She smiles, grateful for John’s loyalty and help.

“I didn’t think so.” John releases her and gestures ahead. “Guess we better get going then.” He looks back and sees the Chief shaking his head as he walks back to the main campsite.

Chapter 3

Beth and John are not used to walking in the forest after living in the city for so long. The tall buildings and labeled streets made it easy to find their way around, but there’s nothing like that in the deep woods. Instinct and observation are more important out here.

John’s eyes dart around their darkening surroundings, and she wonders what he’s watching.

She wishes she knew how to see things the way that he does. Each time he tenses up, she holds her breath, waiting for him to tell her that it’s safe. A stick snaps in the darkness, they stop to listen and watch, wary of threats hiding in the darkness. The fall leaves blow and rustle around them as the wind picks up the deeper they walk into the forest.

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The beams of their flashlights look for the hidden dangers. She stops suddenly as she sees a glowing pair of eyes. “John…”

John cautiously walks to where her beam is pointed and steps off the main path into the darkening woods. When he gets closer to the illuminated eyes, he sighs, and she can hear it. “Just a pair of marker tacks. My dad used to take me hunting on the weekends, and we’d use these when we hiked far off into the woods. They mark trails so we could find our way back. Might be on the right path then.”

She takes a deep breath, exhaling the fear.

She’s glad it was something mundane. She feels that the town owes her one after everything it has put her through. Still, she makes sure to stick close to John as they walk. Leaves shuffle and rocks roll as untrained steps disturb them. A crash comes from the woods to their right as something runs off into the darkness.

She gives a start and says, “What was that?” She grabs John’s arm, the flashlight wavering with her nervous shaking.

*************************

John raises his light high and scans the trees and bushes. He tries to remain calm because he knows that staying calm is going to help Beth. He wants to be strong so that she will feel safe and not worry. He knows there can be some dangerous things in the woods, but he does everything he can to act

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like things are normal so they can focus on finding Caroline and Bill.

“It’s the forest, probably a deer. Let’s keep moving. We don’t wanna be out here too long.”

He looks around the dark forest, wondering what’s hidden and watching them. “I need you to stick right next to me. I don’t wanna lose you.” He reaches out to make sure that she’s close to him.

He takes careful steps forward, always studying the ground for evidence of something passing through this way. He points to something on the ground.

“What’s this?”

*************************

Beth aims her flashlight where he pointed.

The brilliant beam cuts through the dark and lands on a set of paw prints, larger than any that either of them has ever seen. Her eyes widen, and her breath comes in short, fast gasps. “I can’t…” She starts to back away.

John turns and tries his best to soothe her before she panics. She can hear him, but his words seem far off. “Hey, hey…it’s okay. If you want, we can head back. It’s fine. We can come back first thing in the morning.”

She shuts her eyes and shakes her head. She doesn’t know how long she stood there, but she takes deep breaths until she relaxes a little. ‘I don’t want to be here. I hate this place, but I know Caroline

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needs me. I don’t think I could take another step if he wasn’t here with me. I know she’s going to be found because he won’t let me down. I hope I can be there for him when he needs me, too.’

She doesn’t want to see whatever made those tracks, but she has to save Caroline. She couldn’t save Maddie, but she needs to be there for Caroline.

“No…” It comes out as a whisper at first. “No, it’s fine. I’ll be fine. Let’s go.”

John keeps her right by his side. The flashlight beam finds the tracks quickly, but even her untrained eye notices that something is odd. The tracks start off with a long stride, but they’re getting shorter and shorter. Not just the stride is changing. The claws are disappearing. The pad changes from that of a wolf to…

John flicks his flashlights between the tracks behind him and the ones in front of him. ““No.

It can’t be.” John kneels down close to the tracks.

“What the hell is going on?” The tracks seem like they’re changing, but that can’t be happening.

She keeps close to John. ‘It was a monster, but no one believed me. Maybe now he will.’ She glances at John, her face letting him know that it’s okay to keep going. He nods at her and walks.

It feels like they’ve been walking for hours.

She’s exhausted. Her feet hurt and her back is strained. She wants to sit and rest, but she has to keep

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going. Caroline is out there, and she can’t give up.

Not like with Maddie. ‘Maybe if I was here with her, she wouldn’t be missing. Maybe if I told Mom and Dad, Maddie would still be alive...’

“The tracks lead over there.” John aims his flashlight ahead of him. As they push through the forest, they’re constantly looking around and paying attention to the different sounds.

They step through the trees and into…not a clearing exactly, but there is definitely a path leading to a large cave opening. The tracks are not as deep as they were in the beginning. It’s almost as if the thing making them lost weight. She stops as she watches the tracks disappear into the mouth of the cave and are swallowed by the darkness inside.

“Hold on a second.” John pulls her off to one side. “We can’t just run in there blind.” The cave entrance is only a few feet away. She can smell the mildew and musty air coming from inside.

When John turns off his light, she has to catch herself before she screams. She takes a few deep breaths to steady her nerves. “Warn me next time.”

After apologizing, John turns off her light, too.

He puts his flashlight in his belt and hands hers back to her. She rubs her arms for comfort. She hates this sudden darkness that seems deeper after the brilliant beam of light is turned off.

John whispers, “We need to be quiet. If there

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are any wolves out here, we can’t let them find us. I hope they can’t smell us over all of the forest scents.”

John looks back the way they came, and then he turns to the cave entrance.

The moonlight makes the darkness a little more bearable. The light reflects off of a small patch of something that’s glistening on the stone walls. She and John get closer, and they see it’s a bloody hand print. There are several of them leading deeper into the cave. They’re smeared and smudged, but clearly hand prints from a human. She leans against the wall, careful not to touch the wet blood. She peers as deep into the cave as her vantage point will allow.

She jumps and turns when John takes her by the arm.

“Listen.” John holds up a finger in the air to emphasize the seriousness of what he’s about to tell her. “I need you to wait out here. It might not be safe in there. If you hear anything, run like hell and don’t stop until you get to the Chief. I need you to promise. I can’t do this if I think something will happen to you.”

She gives John The Look. She will not be left outside while her sister is in danger. Not again. ‘If that monster did take her, this is probably where it took her. I won’t leave another sister alone.’

“No. Look...” John shakes his head. “Just for once would you...”

She crosses her arms and cocks her hip. As

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much as her feet hurt and she’s worn to the bone physically and mentally, she has to go into that cave.

John stops suddenly, shaking his head. “Never mind. You won’t listen anyway. Let’s just be quiet.”

John turns back towards the cave. “Just stay behind me. I don’t want to be out here too long. It’s getting pretty dark.”

She nods and they walk into the cave. The narrow entrance isn’t very long. Large rocks are scattered around the tunnel, clearly moved to the side. The main pathway is clear, and she can almost make out a few feet in front of her. She listens closely for the sound of something or someone moving. Not hearing anything, she puts a hand on John’s back to let him know that she’s there.

‘What if she’s there? What if she’s not? What if...No. I can’t think like this.’ She moves forward carefully but quickly, making sure to watch John for any signs that they need to run.

It isn’t long before they come into the cave proper. It widens out into a space almost as large as her first apartment. John turns on his flashlight, but she leaves hers turned off for now. It takes a few moments for their eyes to readjust.

With each sweep of the flashlight, she both hopes that she’ll see Caroline and is afraid of seeing her torn apart. She gasps when the beam lands on a pile of torn pieces of clothing covering the cave floor.

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She exhales deeply when she sees that the clothes are empty, her head swimming a bit from the sudden shock.

Bags of fast food papers, drink containers, and other garbage are piled into one corner. John reaches down and picks up a torn t-shirt. His voice is low, but it echoes in the cavern. “What in the world? Who would be living here? Hey. Do you recognize any of these clothes? Could they belong to Caroline or Bill?”

She looks over the pile of clothes, turning on her flashlight and shining the beam over the dirty stash. She lifts up a few pieces before putting them back down again. “I don’t think so. I can’t be sure.

It doesn’t look like her unique style, but who knows what she would have worn for camping.”

“That doesn’t mean that they aren’t here. We just have to keep looking.” John studies the clothes in the light.

There’s something she never expected to see in this dank cave, a bookshelf. A few of the books look well read. The titles are in a language that she can’t read, and the last time she checked, Caroline didn’t know any language besides English, and she butchered that more often than not. She doesn’t see anything that screams Caroline, but she’s not an expert in investigating. She saw a bunch of cop shows, but she doesn’t have John’s training.

A table is covered in newspapers showing

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disappearances and missing persons going back decades. She wonders if they have one for Maddie and starts to leaf through the papers when she smells something. She freezes because she’s smelled that once before. Then she hears the growl.

She didn’t see the offshoot tunnel when she came in. The low light must have made her miss it as they searched. The shadows are deep, but the flashlight’s beam shines on the sleek fur and shining eyes of four wolves. A faint growl comes from deeper in the cave. “John...” She backs away, slowly, towards John.

Claws clack on the stone as four wolves stop at the mouth of the offshoot, some sitting and others pacing back and forth. The part of her brain that’s still able to think clearly is glad they aren’t the monster that took Maddie. ‘Not that I wanna pet them or anything. I don’t feel like losing an arm today.’ She takes fast, shallow breaths as she backs up. Her hands shake, her legs are looking to run of their own accord.

Her eyes won’t look away and they won’t close either.

The wolves bark and snarl without moving forward. It’s like they’re waiting for something from the deeper darkness. They anxiously paw the ground, digging deep troughs into the dirt. A deep, resonating growl that’s equal parts pain and hunger pours out of the offshoot. Was there another sound underneath it?

Something else? A laugh? A cry?

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She’s frozen in place from the growl she’s heard nearly every night since she was a kid. She knows that it will be the last thing she hears. When the growl changes to a scream, she snaps out of it. Through the echoing of the cave, she can hear what sounds like bones snapping and fabric tearing. There’s a violent scraping of something sharp on stone. Whatever is back there coughs and growls.

She barely feels John shove her towards the entrance. He pushes her forward, making sure that she’s in front of him and away from the wolves.

“Run!” As they take off, she stumbles a bit trying to get her feet under her. She grabs the wall as she runs, trying to steady herself. She risks a look back and John’s eyes are telling her to keep moving. There’s something desperate in them.

Her flashlight wavers. She doesn’t want to do it, but a survival instinct kicks in and she turns the light back into the cave. She needs to know if the wolves are coming to tear her apart. The flashlight shakes from fear. The beam of light lands briefly on a giant shadowed figure stalking out from the offshoot.

The wolves stand there, the hair on their back standing up as they tense to run. She expects them to charge any second, but they keep their vigil. ‘Are they guarding whatever is in the tunnel or waiting for orders?’

Her stomach turns and twists with anticipation.

She knows that she’s about to be hunted. John puts

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a hand on her back and pushes her towards the cave’s exit, but her legs won’t let her move any faster.

Adrenaline and fear lend her speed, helping her move despite the fatigue. They emerge from the cave into the night air. The clacking of claws on stone tell her the wolves are right behind them.

The pack howls as they give chase. John turns and fires a few shots back at the pack, giving her time to run farther ahead. Bullets ricochet off of the cave wall. The muzzle flash from John’s gun gives her brief moments of light in the dark forest. One of the wolves yelps in pain as a loud crack from the bullet pierces the night. Still running, she glances behind for a moment and sees that at least one of the wolves is down and not moving. John fires again while running. Cries of pain from the wolves tell them at least some shots landed.

The large figure stumbles and trips, clearly still hurt from earlier and the new gunshots slowing it down considerably. The thing growls and barks as it kneels in the dirt. She gets a good, but brief, look at the monster and wishes that she hadn’t. She pauses for a moment, terrified. ‘It looks the same as...’

John quickly catches up to her, his presence and urgency snapping her back to the present. She doesn’t know much about wolves, but these are behaving strangely. One of the pack rushes forward to attack them. The rest of the pack stays with the monster. John fires and bullets throw up dirt right

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in front of the wolf. It slides in the dirt and stops, growling at John who takes that precious pause to turn and run.

She looks around the whole time she’s running.

This doesn’t look like the same forest as when they arrived. The trees are wrong and the path is gone.

Terror has her legs moving despite her confusion. She has to keep running, the sounds of the approaching pack are getting closer. ‘I thought we’d be dead already. Why haven’t they caught us yet?’ She dodges trees, ducks branches, and pushes forward as her strength is failing her.

Something stringy and sticky tugs at her face.

She reaches up to pull it off, but it clings to her. The more she grabs, the more entangled she becomes.

She stops suddenly to free herself. John crashes into her back and both of them tumble to the ground.

They force themselves to stand, more of the strands attached to them.

She slowly looks up and is amazed at the strange, gossamer strands falling like a curtain from the trees. The white strands glimmering in the moonlight. Her internal warning system is going off making her step back away from these trees. “I am not going in there.”

The howls are louder now, and she shivers as they reverberate through the night air. John quickly looks back and forth between the oncoming wolves and the unknown dangers ahead.

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“Either we go through this, or the wolves get us.” John takes her hand and charges forward. She stumbles a little as he pulls her along, but she keeps moving out of desperation.

Her free hand is waving away the thick strands of whatever is hanging from the trees. The ones that connect cling to them as they push through. John almost trips as a few of the strands cover his eyes, but he keeps his footing. Pulling it off of his face, he turns to look behind him and he pauses.

The strands are thick, but semi-transparent.

She can see the wolves through the strand’s swaying dance in the night wind. The wolves are stopped at the entrance to this gauzy forest. The monster stands at the edge, blood trickles from a series of gunshots.

All of the wolves sniff the air and pace back and forth.

They’re whining and pawing the ground. The smaller wolves look up at the monster, and it snarls.

She pulls John behind one of the trees. She realizes the wolves are acting strangely. She has to lean over to hear John’s whisper. “I think maybe they lost us. Not sure how, but it looks like they did. Let’s keep still.”

She sneaks a look around the tree. Her foot drags through a pile of leaves making a rustling sound. ‘Please, don’t let them hear me.’ She won’t forgive herself if she’s the reason another person she loves is killed. She looks down to make sure she

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doesn’t step on more leaves. She’s taken aback when the ground is bare. A loud thud hits the ground a few feet away. Something large and hairy and skitters off into the shadows of the forest.

One of the wolves paces back and forth, growling low as it smells the air hunting Beth and John. She brings her arms in close and presses against the tree. She’s doing everything she can to make herself invisible. The monster snaps at the wolf, but it barks back. They seem to be talking, but she couldn’t understand them even if she wanted to.

The wolf snaps and nips at the monster who continues to loom over the smaller wolf. The monster gives one more growl before backing away a few steps.

The smaller wolf turns and steps carefully into the forest towards her and John. It cautiously puts a paw down with each step, constantly sniffing and moving its head looking for them.

She grabs John’s shirt, needing something to hold onto. She wants him to tell her to run for safety, but she hates herself for wanting it.

The wolf crouches low, digging it’s back paws into the dirt. It spots her, she knows it, and it prepares to leap. A sudden yelp and whine brings her out of her turmoil. She can’t believe what she’s seeing.

The wolf cries in pain as something reaches from the damp forest floor and drags the wolf underground!

She only saw a stirring of the ground cover before the wolf disappeared as if it never existed.

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A cracking tree branch makes her look up in time to see a spider the size of a small dog falling quickly towards her. The hairy legs splayed wide as mandibles click and clack. The forelegs reach out to grab her. She screams and throws her arms up in front of her, dropping her flashlight to the ground.

Its strangely solid body lands on her, knocking her to the ground. She stares into the unfeeling black eyes as the fangs descend. She shoves with all she has, and the thing rises but tries to wrap the rest of its legs around her. She closes her eyes involuntarily.

She feels the unnatural strength of the many legs as they start to wrap around her body. Stiff, bristly hairs scrape against her skin. She feels something hot and wet drip onto her face as she smells rotten meat.

She wants to scream again, but opening her mouth might let in whatever is stinging her face.

Soon the fangs will pierce through her flesh turning her into a meal for the spiders. Her tears flow, but not of sadness. Rage and fear fill her as she tries to hold the thing away from her. Her arms shake from the strain. Her arms start to bend and buckle as she feels the odd musculature flexing and moving beneath her desperate hands. A loud plop sounds as more things fall to claim their part of the meal.

The heavy weight is suddenly gone. She didn’t see the kick from John that sent the spider flying to land and roll in the dirt. She screams as she stands.

Her hands immediately go to her mouth as she

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realizes what she’s done. As more spiders fall, their frenzy driving them to attack and consume, they run.

They don’t know where they’re running to, but it’s better than here.

She slides as her foot crushes through a spider.

She shakes the carcass off as she runs. The sudden absence of howls and barks tells her that the wolves were gone. “Where are they? The wolves are gone.”

“More worried about the giant spiders right now! Move!” John screams as he runs.

A heavy thud makes them turn and John nearly stumbles, but he keeps his footing and fires his pistol at an advancing spider. It’s forelegs are raised to grab and hold while the mandibles flex ready to send poison into their system. She hears a soft, wet splotch as the round punches through the arachnid.

They tear through a final curtain of webbing, leaving that nightmare behind. She stumbles and falls, and John pulls her up. He aims his pistol at the spiders, but they aren’t being followed. The spiders are gathered at the edge of their webbed forest, climbing the strands and emitting a high pitched screeching.

“Why aren’t they coming?” She steps forward, amazed, and stares at the moving swarm of spiders being held back by an invisible barrier.

“I don’t care. Let’s get out of here while we can.” John backs up, pulling her along.

In the clearing is a large home, three stories of

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old wood and peeling paint. Dark windows stare down at them. A strange, but familiar, feeling permeates the space filling her up with the desire to curl up and sleep. Something about this place makes her feel so at home that she forgets all about the webbed woods.

“This place…it…”

“We need to get inside! We don’t know where they are, but that’s our only shot at safety. Maybe someone in there can give us a hand.” John pushes her forward, bringing her out of her stunned state.

She takes in the oddity of the house. She doesn’t know why it was built so far into the woods. She only knows she has to get inside. She feels a strange desire to settle in and stay there for a long while. “I don’t think the wolves followed us.”

A reverberating howl makes John shake his head. “Had to say something…Let’s move.”

They run up the creaking wooden steps of the front porch, the door stands open. Leaves and other forest debris are blown inside. John leans to look around the corners. “Guess no one’s home.

Something doesn’t feel right.”

“I don’t know.” She’s almost wistful when she steps onto the porch. “Could be fine. We need to go inside.”

John steps up next to her as a gust of wind pushes them forward. They stumble a bit but make it over the threshold. Once inside, John slams the door

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closed, locking it as though it will stop the savagery of the wolves.

John leans against the solid wood and breathes deeply. She absently moves into the living room, putting a hand on an old rocking chair, wanting nothing more than to sit and rock. ‘It would be good to get some rest.’ She shakes away the thought, turns away, and looks for something, anything, that will help fight off the coming pack.

She looks out the window next to the door.

Hope rises when she sees the front of the clearing is empty. She takes a moment to catch her breath in the solid home feeling safer since they came inside.

She looks back to the rocking chair. ‘Maybe I will sit down for a while. No...wait. I have to get to Caroline.’

In the main room, there’s only old pictures, doilies, and the rocking chair. Dust covers everything in a thick coat, and it’s clear no one has been in this place for decades. Wooden floors creak and groan as she walks around searching through everything she can to find a weapon that she can use to keep them alive.

The kitchen is empty, an old pot-bellied cast-iron stove stands cold. She rummages through the drawers, constantly looking back at the living room, hoping to find something that she can use to defend herself, but finds nothing useful.

“This is my last magazine. Look, if it comes to

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it, you need to run. Don’t wait for me.” John moves around in the main living room. He’s loading bullets into his magazine. When he slams it into the pistol, he looks worried.

“Where would I run to?” She shakes her head.

“We’re surrounded by wolves and giant spiders. We’re safe in here. Besides...”

She stops speaking suddenly when she notices something grab John’s attention. He pulls the curtain back and quickly lets it fall. She can see the worry he’s trying to hide. She steps backwards, looking at the stairs next to her leading up. Her heart is a rhythmic drumbeat getting louder and faster. She points at John’s gun. “What’re we gonna do when that runs out?”

John walks over to the staircase looking up to make sure it’s safe. She and John jump as the door rattles. Growling and barking come from outside as the remaining two wolves start slamming themselves, again and again, into the wooden door. From where she’s at, she can see the monster stride into the clearing. ‘It looks like it’s getting stronger.’ The monster’s stumbling and pained movements all but gone. “Get upstairs. We’ll figure something out.”

A wolf crashes through the window, and the glass shatters. Shards of glass stick into its flesh and blood pours onto the floor to be soaked up quickly by the dry wood. She runs up the stairs, the handrail shaking as she pulls herself upwards.

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The injured wolf snarls as John’s gun answers with a bark of its own. A few rounds punch through the wolf’s chest and head. John rushes to the stairs.

“Move!”

She feels John pushing her forward. The wood sags and moans under her feet. She hears the front door shatter and break as the deep growl from earlier echoes up the stairs. John takes aim and fires downstairs at something. The muzzle flash lights up the stairwell and a few shots find their mark. The wolf howls in pain and the thud as it collapses echoes up the stairway.

She chances a look and sees the monster step over the body of the fallen wolf. It looks up at her, and her soul freezes. She can’t breathe. Her legs scream at her to run, but she can’t. As the embodiment of murder stalks up to meet her, she’s frozen in place. It’s claws tear into the wall, pulling off the wallpaper. The paper hangs from the claws. She looks at it and sees a pink dress. She stutters as she tries to take a breath to scream. She can’t. She starts to collapse against a nearby wall.

Her body is suddenly moving, but she’s not telling it what to do. John shoves her inside a room and slams the door shut. He’s saying something. Once the lock clicks, she sees the sturdy wooden door, the dark stain somehow being her focal point. The floor vibrates as the monster gets closer to its prey.

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She subconsciously takes in the room. It looks like someone’s study. Dark wood is the main theme.

The walls are a deep, dark cherry color and the furniture has a similar hue. The curtained windows let in the fall moonlight that seems brighter than it should be.

It wasn’t this bright before they came in here, but now beams fall all over the room showing the dust in the air and some of the shining decorations. She pulls a curtain aside and checks outside the window. The moon is nearly overhead. ‘How could it have gotten this late so quickly?’

She’s drawn back to reality once the monster slams into the door. The seemingly solid door rattles, and her nerves are about at their limit. She watches as John pushes a heavy-looking cabinet up against the door. It only covers the bottom half of the door, but she hopes it’s heavy enough to keep the thing out.

Behind a large wooden desk sits an old leather chair. ‘That looks nice.’ She settles herself in the deep cushion and exhales. She’s staring at the things on the desk. A journal, inkwell, and old pens that must have told some interesting stories she will never get to read. A rattle pushes the cabinet a little away from the door and she sees John push back. “I knew they were real. I knew there were monsters.”

“Beth.” She hears John speaking, but it’s coming from far away like it’s being said under water or through thick syrup. “I need you here. We gotta get out.”

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John grabs hold of the desk she’s sitting at. She smiles in spite of everything and watches as he tries to move it up against the cabinet to help brace the door.

She notices him struggling to pull it, but she doesn’t really register what’s happening. Her mind dances between reality and denial.

John shoves and heaves the large desk, his foot slips as he forces the heavy object towards the door, it moves inch by precious inch. She wonders if the running and the injuries are getting to him. ‘Maybe he should sit down for a little while. Oh...What’s that?’ Another rattle and a large crack appears in the door. She ignores the danger and stands up, looking towards the windows.

Her mind is running on instinct as she walks.

She runs a hand along the curtains, feeling their soft, thick cloth. “Maybe I can tie some of these together and we can climb down.” She opens the window. It’s tough to lift at first, but she manages to gain enough room to climb out. Smiling at this small victory, she turns to tell John, but the window slams shut. ‘How rude!’

She struggles to open it again, and every time she does, it slams itself closed. She backs away and shakes her head. Bumping into the large desk as John is struggling to push those last few inches.

John, finally gets the desk placed behind the cabinet. He breathes deeply and quickly, regaining some of his lost strength. Wiping his forehead, he

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rushes over to the window, pulls aside the curtain, and looks outside.

“Already tried that.” She sits in the leather chair and spins in a circle.

“Too far to jump.” John slams a hand against the window frame.

“You should really see someone about that anger.” She giggles and spins some more.

Another powerful blow crashes against the door, and the desk starts to shift. John runs over, crouches low, and puts his shoulder into the desk. He grunts and groans as he pushes with all he has left.

She can see John trying to hold the door closed, but her mind tells her that it’s not real. This can’t be real. She’s in her apartment and having a nightmare.

When John and the monster start roaring, she gives a small chuckle and starts to bite her fingernails.

‘Sounds like someone’s mad.’

Each time the creature slams its large bulk into the door, the room shakes, dust falls from the fixtures, and the knick-knacks on the shelves shake.

She rocks in the old chair, wrapping her arms around her stomach. “Monsters…”

John’s head glances quickly back and forth between her and the rattling door. He curses before he turns and hurries over to her. He kneels down next to her, stern but pleading. “Look, we don’t have time for gentle here. They’re not monsters. Big wolves sure, but monsters don’t exist. Now, get up and let’s move.”

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The door rattles, and the crack widens. The wolf’s eye can be seen through the crack. The muzzle pushing through for a good sniff of its prey.

The insanity of the moment threatens to take her the rest of the way away from reality. Her mind is reflexively blocking out the crashing monster, the splintering door, and the howling cries. Her voice is emotionless. “Must be a big damn wolf then.”

Claws splinter and rend the thick wood. The monster’s howl becomes more intense, it’s claws start pulling larger pieces of wood away, and it can nearly reach inside.

John grabs a chair and she can’t help but think how ridiculous this all looks. She starts to laugh in a quick and stunted burst in spite of the horror around her. John stacks the chair on top of the cabinet at the door and says, “Get up, and help me!”

Whatever John might have said next is choked off, quite literally, as the monster forces its impossibly long arm through and grabs the distracted John by the throat. It pulls him across the wood and up level to its muzzle. The eager maw trying to snap onto John’s throat, but the door is preventing it from eating.

Experiencing this from the safety of her insanity, the laughter threatens to flood over her again.

She can hear John’s choking gasps. She shakes her head as he struggles against the clearly more powerful monster. When John raises his gun and aims through the door, she cocks her head. When the gun clicks

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empty, that’s all she can take. Her mind blanks, and the laughter pours free.

She giggles as John struggles for air. The monster’s head breaks through the door and the wood digs deeply into its flesh as it pushes forward disregarding the pain it must be feeling. John’s gun falls, landing in slow motion. She watches the moonlight glint off the pistol and the dust swirl as it disturbs their flight. She laughs at the futility of it all, watching John swing ever weakening blows at the monster’s clutching claws. She finds it hilarious that his feet are kicking, and they knock his pistol out of the beam of moonlight. As his knees buckle, she knows that both of them are dead, but she can’t find a part of her mind that cares. Absently, she shrugs as she realizes they will never find Caroline, and no one will find them. ‘Guess this was a wasted trip. Well, this is it. It’s impossible to get out of this now.’

A bright light blinds her for a second, making her flinch, and she looks at the offending object. It’s a letter opener. Her brain clears of the fog. She picks up the letter opener as John’s gasps for breath come slower.

She stands, confident, and runs over to John.

Drawing back, she screams and slams the blade into the monster’s forearm. The monster screams in pain.

Not a howl, not a bark, but a scream of real pain.

Her head gets clearer as she realizes it sounds almost

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human. And she likes it. “Hey Johnny, wolves don’t choke you with their paws!”

The monster releases John and he falls to the floor. Blood flows from the monster’s wound, but so does smoke. The blood boils and steams as it falls to the wooden cabinet. It smells like tangy dirt, musky and earthy. She looks at the fallen John, who is gasping for air and trying to stand. Amazed, she looks at her weapon held in front of her. The blood on the blade sizzles before burning, flaking off, and falling away.

Through the break in the door, she can see the monster’s muzzle pushing through the door. Saliva drips and falls inside the room. The blood smoke curls around its face. It slams a large fist into the door and the ever-widening crack turns into a giant hole. The yellow eyes of her nightmares stare directly at her. She backs away, hoping her small blade is enough, but knowing it’s useless because she doesn’t have anything left in her to fight.

An arm, muscular and covered in fur, reaches for her. She can feel the shadow of death coming closer as the monster shreds more of the door. Which is why she’s so confused when the monster suddenly grabs its head and screams loud and deep. After a moment, it growls and turns to bound down the stairs. She runs to the window as the monster leaps out the front door. The remaining wolf follows it into the forest.

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She leans against the window trying to get a better look as a tall, thin man steps out of the woods.

The Tall Thin Man, hidden by shadows, stands in front of the monster. She turns because she doesn’t want to see the man torn apart. When he doesn’t cry out in pain, she looks back. She can tell that he’s saying something, but it’s hard to make out. The distance and the closed windows make it difficult to hear, but she thinks she can make out part of what he said.

The Tall Thin Man points off into the darkness of the forest and the wolves leave, their heads down as they lope off. When the Tall Thin Man looks up at her, she can feel his presence. ‘Is it him? The same guy?’ She notices he’s carrying a giant wolf skull in his hand that glows faintly blue. He smiles at her before turning and walking away into the shadows.

Thinking more clearly, she grabs John by the arm and helps him stand. He staggers as he catches his breath and clears his head. He stumbles, looking around the room looking for the monster. “What happened? Where’d they go?” John wobbles on his feet, and she guides him to a chair. She holds the smoking blade gingerly. John squints and struggles to fit this oddity into his rational world, the world of evidence and interviews.

“Are you finally ready to admit what you saw?

I told you there were monsters in this town. Now

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you’ve seen them!” She walks over and leans on the writing desk.

“Beth! Come on.” John tries standing, but he wavers and falls backwards into the chair. “We’ve talked about this already. There are no monsters.

They’re rabid or sick or something. That’s it. That’s why they’re so big.” John looks out the window.

“Must be something in the water around here.”

She paces in front of John, holding the blade in front of her. “I know what I saw. They weren’t normal. There was a guy out there talking to them like they were his pets! They should’ve torn him apart, but they were listening to him. I think I heard him say something about making her talk. Then he just points, and they leave like they were trained.”

John looks confused, he holds a hand up to her to slow her talking. “What man? What’re you talking about? And what’s on that letter opener?”

In the moonlight, the final wisps of smoke dissipate from the letter opener. She walks over to the blood on the cabinet and touches it with the blade.

The blood immediately starts smoking and the smell is overpowering. “I think this is silver.” She walks over and puts the letter opener right in front of John, making sure he can see what’s happening. “Come on John. Look at this. Normal blood doesn’t act this way and wolves don’t have thumbs. They can’t choke you!”

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John tries to stand, and she takes his arm to help steady him. “Whatever this is, we need to get the police out here and into that cave. We can leave out all of the weird stuff until we know more. I am not saying I believe we’re dealing with monsters, but I can admit there’s something happening that I’ve never seen before. The spiders, the cave, and all of…

this is just too much right now. Let’s get the Chief and the rest of the police force out to the cave and find out what someone didn’t want us to find.”

She starts to argue, but that’s when the house starts shaking. “What the fresh hell is this now?”

The plaster walls crack, and dust fills the room. The windows rattle, the ceiling cracks, and the floorboards roll and undulate like the waves of the ocean.

“Give me a hand!” John is already moving. He starts pulling the barricade away from the door.

She shoves the blade into her pocket and takes the hard wood in her hand, the blood on the cabinet runs onto the floor. She reflexively pulls her hand back when it gets too close to her. The house cracks and shifts, tilting as it shakes. This makes it easier to slide the cabinet and desk away from the door.

The already cracked and broken door falls off of its hinges. She and John push through and fall against the far wall. The floor tilting and undulating beneath their feet. They watch as the stairs flow and ebb like waves. The stair’s railing is nearly on its side.

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“Follow me.” John pulls himself along the wall and grabs the railing.

“What’re you doing?” Beth grabs him.

“We don’t have time for this. The place is coming down and we need to get out. When I get down there, you need to jump. I’ll catch you.” John inches forward as the house shakes and shifts. The floor is almost the wall. John leaps over the railing and slides down the wall. He reaches up to her, motioning for her to jump.

Her hands shake as she grabs the railing. ‘You can do this! You have to do this!’ A violent shift of the house sends her forward. She tentatively puts a leg over the railing. Spindles crack as the house moves.

Sensing the imminent collapse, she pulls herself up and over the railing. The railing snaps and catches her foot. She tumbles down, knocking a picture off the wall. Before she hits the bottom, a strong hand grabs her and keeps her from crashing into the splintering floor. She stands, runs a hand through her hair absently, and looks back up at the broken rail.

Another rumble from deep within the house gets them moving. They quickly half stumble, half run to the front door, keeping a hand on the former floor to steady themselves. John tries to shove it open, but it won’t budge. “The shifting must have jammed the door.”

“Now what?” Exasperated, she throws her hands in the air.

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John smiles and claps his hands together. The mind is a strange thing. It can play memories at the most inopportune times. One of the first things she noticed about John was his smile. It made her feel happy and safe. She sees it again and knows that everything will work out fine. “We gotta ram it.”

They glance at each other and silently agree to the next part of their plan. Taking a few steps back along the wall, they run for all they’re able, their balance as shaky as the house. When they hit the front door, it opens and then slams shut, knocking them backwards. John curses. “One more time.”

They run back even farther to get more momentum. They take off with as much speed as they can. John’s foot gets entangled in a candle sconce that she knows wasn’t there a second ago. They couldn’t have missed it. “I can see why you left this town.”

She helps John up to try again. They jump over things that seem to come from the wall as they run.

When they hit the door this time, they both put their shoulders as well as their frustration, fear, and anger into it. The door slams open, becoming more of a platform than an entryway. It starts to close, forcing itself up to seal them inside. John climbs up on the door and braces his feet against it. He pushes on the wall as she tries to climb out.

She pulls herself forward as John strains to hold the door open. While her body struggles, her

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mind is fighting against a desire that isn’t her own.

Something is talking to her. ‘No, stay here! You have to stay inside! You’ll die out there!’ She forces one hand, then a leg onto the door, trying to ignore the voice. John’s muscles strain and he grits his teeth while trying to hold the door open as it tries to shake him off. “Hurry!”

‘I gotta get out of psycho house.’ Lunging forward, she can almost grab hold of John. Cloth wraps tightly around her ankle, and her face slams into the floor. The voice in her head laughs as it pulls her back inside.

She screams and grabs hold of the door frame.

She pulls, the muscles in her arms burn from the strain. Her fingers tighten around the door frame, but the house is stronger. Her hand slips, and she starts sliding back inside. Her nails bend and break and she claws the wallpaper trying to find purchase.

John’s hand reaches down and grabs her arm.

Using the house as a brace, he pushes against it with one hand, and pulls her with the other. All the while, the door slams against his back, violently trying to dislodge him. The knob crashes into his head and neck.

John’s face shows all of the strain and pain he’s trying to ignore. She pushes through her own pain, knowing John won’t let her go. She loves that about him. She kicks and turns, trying to break free. She’s

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doing everything she can to help him as he tries to save her.

The house shifts again, and she collides with the doorjamb. Something hard stabs her in the leg.

The blade! She reaches her free hand into her pocket and pulls out the silver blade. She starts sawing at the fabric.

Little by little, she cuts and tears at the carpet as John pulls her. The house bucks, shakes, and moves even more violently, like it’s trying to toss them back into its gullet. She saws faster and faster, ignoring the cuts she’s giving herself knowing that being devoured by this demonic home would be much worse. She fights through the fear and pain because she needs to bring Caroline and Bill home again.

John’s voice is a shock to her, making her look up at him. “Hold on.” He lets go of the house and uses both hands to grab her. Muscles strain and bulge as he leans backwards pulling with all that he has left.

The door is closing quickly, but the carpet rips free.

She flies out of the house and lands in the hard dirt, rolling to a stop a few feet from the house.

John falls next to her, and they both watch as the house sinks into the forest floor, the dirt covering it like it was never there. The only thing remaining is a mailbox, the red flag standing up.

They take a moment to gather their wits, looking around and expecting the wolves to pounce.

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John helps her to her feet. “Didn’t know you had earthquakes in this part of the country.”

Exhausted, she dusts herself off and inhales the fresh night air. They help each other make their way through the woods. When nothing immediately jumps out to attack or maim them, Beth is relieved.

The quiet doesn’t feel normal anymore. She looks up at the moon overhead. It’s shines a light that looks like it’s leading them out and to safety.

Time loses meaning in the darkness of the forest. They don’t know how long they were walking, but they just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Exhaustion replaces the adrenaline rush of the last couple of hours making everything else just out of focus. When they break through the trees, she just stares. “What in the hell? We weren’t near here.”

John stands steadier and walks on his own.

“What do you mean?”

She crosses from the forest into the back yard, and an instant release of tension makes her shudder.

It doesn’t look like it changed much. The toys are gone, but the shed’s still there. The same fence still blocks the view from the neighbors. She walks over to the side of the house and kneels down looking at the empty dirt wondering where the flowers went.

“This was my old home.”

Chapter 4

Beth walks away from her empty patch of dirt where her flowers used to bring color to the dark days. The moonlight shines on the home. She doesn’t know exactly what time it is, but she knows something isn’t right. She could swear it was later, but it looks like the moon is just coming up now. It was nearly over their heads in the forest. When she tries the sliding glass doors, they won’t budge.

“When we were kids, our parents used to keep a spare key hidden inside a creepy little garden gnome just in case we got locked out.” John follows her as she walks to the front of the home. She wonders if Caroline moved the key from where Mom and Dad used to keep it.

“It was right over…here.” She walks confidently to the right corner of the home. “Looks like Caroline

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got a new gnome.” On the ground standing resolute amongst a patch of tall weeds is a garden gnome dressed in biker gear. It’s got one tiny middle finger lifted high to let all of the other gnomes know to stay out.

Turning the gnome over gives a welcome tinkling sound. She reaches inside for the key, pulling it free. The familiar act of a more innocent time takes her smile to a time when she was actually happy. She doesn’t know what to expect, but she takes a deep breath, looks over to John for support, and opens the front door.

The door opens into a dark home. She reaches out instinctively and turns on the lights. She looks around hoping to see Caroline and Bill sitting at the kitchen table wondering what the hell is with these people walking into their home.

The place is empty with no one there to greet them. She looks at the clock, surprised it’s only just after 7 p.m. She doesn’t understand what’s happening, but being in this house, in this town, isn’t making it better. She looks down the long hallway and sees the doors all closed. She walks down the hall, running a hand along the walls.

Opening the forbidden door, she isn’t shocked when she sees the exercise equipment in what used to be Caroline’s room. She was always one for fitness.

She turned Mom and Dad’s room into storage.

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Caroline said she couldn’t stand to be in there, that it didn’t feel right to sleep in their room. Maddie’s room hasn’t been opened in years as far as she knows, and she won’t be the one to open it. ‘And of course she had to take my room as their room.’

*************************

John reaches for a telephone. He picks it up and dials the Slaughterville Police. A few rings later, and a weary officer answers. “Hello. This is Officer Martinez. We were in earlier about the search party.

Is Chief Wallace around? It’s important that we talk to him.”

The officer on the other end of the line sounds like a young officer who drew the short straw of second shift in a small town. “Good evening, this is Officer Jefferson. I heard about you guys coming in. Chief’s not here right now, can I do anything for you?”

“We just had an incident during the search, and we need to get with Chief Wallace to explain what happened.” He shifts the phone to his other ear.

“Yeah, I heard. Poor Jenny. Heard she might not make it.” A shuffling of papers can be heard over the phone, and he hopes he didn’t interrupt the man’s paperwork. He remembers those days and not with fondness. Officer Jefferson continues, “Now, I could take down a report if you want, or you can wait to tell the Chief later. He’s at the hospital with Jenny,

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getting her statement. He said it was important he did it himself.”

He keeps a cautious eye on Beth while she looks around the home before she disappears into the back of the place. ‘She’s probably trying to find something to focus on to keep her mind busy. Good.

The sessions weren’t useless. Don’t want her having another breakdown like in that house.’ “Thank you very much. I think we’ll head over to the hospital.”

“Good to hear. He should still be there for a bit. If you need anything else, let us know.” Officer Jefferson seems eager to get back to completing his paperwork, and John doesn’t want to be any more of a distraction.

He suddenly curses and slaps himself in the forehead. “Wait!” He can’t believe he forgot, but with the chase and the near death from a collapsing house, he forgives himself. He still feels embarrassed to ask, but he has to do it. “We had to leave our car at the search site. Is there any way you can give us a ride to get it?”

Officer Jefferson laughs. “Anything to get away from this desk. Give me your address and I’ll see you in a little while.”

He picks up an electric bill sitting next to the phone and gives the address to Officer Jefferson.

“Thank you so much. We’ll see you soon.” He hangs up the phone, still shaking his head about the car.

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*************************

Beth didn’t hear the short conversation, but she hears John hanging up. She comes back down the hall and leans on the wall. “What’s going on? Is the Chief coming?”

John says, “He wasn’t there. The officer said he’s at the hospital. Hey, remember Jenny?”

“Oh my. I completely forgot about her. I am just terrible.” She puts a hand to her mouth.

“It’s not like we haven’t been busy. He said Jenny may not make it, and the Chief is there interviewing her now.” John leans on the chair.

She paces around her old home. ‘This feels so weird. Like the house isn’t mine anymore, or I’m not worthy of being in here.’ She glances down the hall at Maddie’s door. “Maybe we should go. We need them to get back to that cave.”

John sits on the end of the table. She watches as he fidgets and keeps looking around the house.

‘He looks nervous. He’s not usually like this.’

John suddenly clears his throat. “We’re going to get a ride to pick up the car.”

“Forgot all about the car, too.” She rubs her temples.

“Me too. Not much we can do until he gets here. Then we can go to the hospital and talk to Chief Wallace.” John pulls the blinds up a crack and looks out the window.

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A few minutes later, she hears a car pull up outside of the house. John walks to the front door.

“He’s here.”

The patrol car is clean and relatively comfortable as long as you’re not cuffed and struggling. She snaps her head around, looking at the other houses. ‘Great.

The neighbors just saw me get into the back of a police car. Now they’ll think I’m a criminal.’ She sees a man across the street taking out his trash and watching them. She slinks down, trying to make herself as small as possible, and puts her head between her hands trying to hide her face. ‘I thought the monsters were gonna kill me, not the embarrassment. I’d rather be back with the spiders. Okay. Maybe not them.’

The drive to the search site is filled with small talk between John and the officer about rookie troubles. She follows most of it, but she doesn’t have the reference for it. She takes this time to try and think about what happened and how she’s going to explain the last few hours to Chief Wallace. She can barely explain it to herself, and she was there for all of it.

When they get to the site, John and the Officer shake hands and say that they’ll stay in touch. She has always been amazed at how easily John is able to make friends. She couldn’t do that. Maybe it’s because after Maddie, she withdrew for a long time. ‘I never was a social person. After the way everyone treated me after Maddie, they didn’t believe me, so why should I ever

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trust them? It even took a long time to warm up to John.’

She’s already in their car when John slides in.

“I see you made a friend.”

John looks out the windshield and waves as Officer Johnson waves and gives the siren and lights a quick hit. “Yeah, he seems like a good guy. Might be good to have a friend in this town. Well, let’s get going. Tonight might be a long one if we go back to the cave.”

She feels the tension and rumbling in her stomach as fear takes hold. “Yeah, we could use all the help we can get.”

A short ride later, and they pull up outside of the hospital. The lobby is nearly empty. A few patients are there waiting their turn, but nothing serious. The man behind the counter looks ragged and run down, but he tries to hide it with a welcoming smile when he sees them.

She rarely gets to see this side of John. He’s in his element as he walks up to the counter. He shows his badge and asks about Jenny’s room. The man gives him her room number and points to the elevator. They thank him before walking towards it.

The elevator doors open to a clamor of sounds.

There are nurses quickly moving from room to room dealing with one patient or another. More than once, she’s jostled as someone in a white coat rushes past

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her. John, standing taller than she is, points to one of the rooms. “There it is.”

The room wasn’t too hard to find, especially with the two officers standing guard outside of it.

The door to the room stands slightly open. A large window looks in on the patient, the curtain drawn back. The officers keep a close eye on them as they approach.

The Chief is inside talking to Jenny. Beth can hear the slurred speech. ‘Hopefully she’s just on some strong painkillers.’

“...and they all leff. Said had go home. We’ll get ‘em nex time.” Jenny raises a hand and lets it fall, flopping onto the bed. Her line to the IV swinging from the motion.

“Can you remember anything about the attack?” The Chief remains stoic as he writes down her statement.

Jenny’s groggy voice sounds softer as the medication takes a stronger hold. “No. Iss all foggy.

Think was a bear. Din’t get a look good. Knocked clean over and blacked out.”

“Well, you just rest now. That thing won’t be bothering you anymore. We shot it, and it probably went off to die.” Chief Wallace smiles as he puts his hat on.

“Oh good, I’m not the only one then.” Jenny half laughs and waves a hand in the air.

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“Now, don’t you go talking like that. I have a feeling you’ll be around for a long time.” Chief Wallace walks over to her bedside and puts a hand on hers. He smiles a disarming smile. “You get your rest now, and I’ll be back to check on you when I can.”

She’s startled when Chief Wallace turns and acknowledges them silently. His eyes are clearly telling them to wait and not say a word. She watches nervously as Jenny looks out at them just before closing her eyes, the pain medication taking her blissfully into a deep sleep.

Chief Wallace shakes his head and turns to look at them. She starts to feel uneasy as his face goes from kind to professional in an instant. She’s wondering if the kind and caring Chief was an act he puts on to keep people at ease. She remembers the Chief from when Maddie was killed. It was a different guy. It would have to be, this Chief isn’t old enough to be him. That Chief from before was really nice. She hopes he retired to somewhere more pleasant than here. Chief Wallace nods to the two officers standing watch. “Keep a close eye on her. Don’t let her leave.”

Chief Wallace stands in front of her and John.

“There something I can do for you two?”

Her hands in her pockets, she looks up at John, and she sees him with a similar professional look as the Chief. John stands straight and commanding.

“We should go somewhere with more privacy.”

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She puts her hand up. “We can go to the chapel.

Spent a lot of time there after mom was admitted. It was quiet…”

Chief Wallace waves for her to walk. “Let’s get moving then.”

The elevator ride and walk to the chapel is silent. It isn’t long before they’re in the hospital chapel. The same stained-glass window that she saw before she left town is looking down on her again.

She used to stare at it while the doctors were with Mom. She never wanted to see it again, but strange times make you do strange things. She moves to the back of the chapel as John closes the door.

“Something strange happened after you left.”

John recounts the last few hours to Chief Wallace telling almost everything. She understands why he doesn’t want to talk about the monsters, but she wishes that John would have admitted it to her. She knows that normal people can’t stand against that monster alone. She’s seen it kill, and she doesn’t want anyone else getting hurt meeting it. Besides, she knows how it would sound to anyone who never met one of these monsters.

Chief Wallace takes off his hat and runs his fingers through his hair. He exhales, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. He cocks his head and narrows his eyes, studying them like it was an interrogation.

“So, you think one of these big wolves got Caroline and Billy?”

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She walks over and stands behind John, offering the support he might need to tell the truth.

John leans on the back of a pew and looks at Chief Wallace. “This seems like the most obvious, but something about the campsite isn’t sitting right with me. There was no blood on the scene.”

Chief Wallace nods in agreement and rubs his jawline, the stubble giving a scratching sound. “Yeah, I noticed that too. It’s why we’ve been searching the surrounding woods for them. I think they were attacked by something, and then they took off. They got lost and may still be out there waiting to be rescued.”

She looks hopeful for the first time in days.

She even manages to give a small smile. “You really think so? Because we found this cave. It was filled with the strangest stuff. Newspapers, clothing, and it looks like someone was there.”

Chief Wallace turns to look at John. “And you didn’t find any sign of Caroline or Bill?”

John looks less sure now, like he’s let down a mentor. He hangs his head as he answers. “Well, that’s when the wolves attacked. We didn’t have a lot of time to look around. We had to get out of there.”

She’s hanging on and dreading the Chief’s next words. Chief Wallace looks at the altar. “We can’t know for sure what happened until we find them. Let me get a few men, some more guns, and tomorrow we can search those caves.”

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“Thank you, Chief, but I was hoping we could go tonight.” Hope fills her with a renewed determination. She uses that to keep the day’s events from overwhelming her.

“I really am sorry. I wish there was more we could do, but we’re a small town. I’ll do my best.”

Chief Wallace puts a heavy hand on her shoulder.

She and John drive silently back to Caroline’s place. When they get inside, she feels strange being back in the same house that she grew up in. The same home that used to hold her family.

John makes a lot of noise as he rummages around in the kitchen. She picks up and moves pillows around the couch. ‘Mom always loved these pillows.’ The cupboard doors close with a bang.

“What’re you doing?” She hurries into the kitchen.

John looks back at her. “We gotta eat.”

“Doesn’t feel right.” She gives him an annoyed and confused look. “We shouldn’t be doing that.”

“I think they’d want us fresh and ready to go, not starving.” John picks up a jar of pasta sauce and some spaghetti.

She turns and walks back into the living room.

“Fine, but that’s it. I want this to be the same as it was when they left.” She wanders around, straightening up things as she goes. She wants Caroline and Bill to come back to a home.

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After a quick meal, she and John get some much-needed sleep. She doesn’t want to sleep in their bed. John offers to take the chair and she can have the couch. “I’ve slept on worse during the academy days.”

She dreams about long hallways, running, and a set of eyes that keep appearing right behind her no matter how fast she runs. She wakes up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat and looks over at John.

He’s still asleep, but knowing he’s there is enough to get her back to sleep.

She wakes up in the morning, and John isn’t there. She throws the covers off and stands up. She starts to panic for a moment before hearing him out in the kitchen. She steadies herself with a hand on the coffee table, taking a few deep breaths. She looks around her old home, taking a moment to think about when she first got here.

John looks over at her sitting on the edge of the couch and greets her. Through her still waking brain, she mumbles something of a good morning to him. She stands and walks down the hall to use the bathroom. She subconsciously looks away from Maddie’s room. She misses those innocent times.

She stops. She can feel the pain choking her, but she doesn’t shy away from it. She puts a hand, lightly, on Maddie’s door and whispers an apology.

When she comes out of the bathroom, John is coming back inside. He’s carrying their luggage.

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She’s glad that he remembered these things. He sets it down, and she goes about getting new clothes for the day. John picks up his usual; a t-shirt, jeans, and a flannel before he walks back to the bathroom for a shower.

She’s been feeling overwhelmed and has barely taken the time to process what’s happened so far.

‘Just a few days ago, I was happy. I was about to get married. Now, I’m searching for my missing sister, running from monsters, and just trying to get people to believe me.’ An old family portrait sits on a side table. She stares at it, lost in thought.

The door to the bathroom opens, steam pours out filling the hallway. John comes out and is already ready to take on the day. She marvels at his ability to keep to a routine as he sets his gun on the table and starts loading his magazines. This is the most normal that things have been since they got to this town.

When John puts the gun back in its holster, something clicks in her mind. She gives a small start as the memories from last night come rushing forward. She catches her reflection in the glass door of a cabinet on one side of the living room. ‘Oh, God.

I look terrible!’

Through her reflection, she thinks she recognizes something. She walks closer and opens the door. Inside is a wooden box. When she opens the box, it holds a set of antique cutlery.

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She pulls out a large silver knife and looks at her reflection in the blade. She tilts it and lets the sun reflect off of the edge. She walks over and puts it on the table in front of John. “Do you think we should take some of these? Silver. Kinda glad our mom collected these now.”

John stands up. He put all of the extra ammunition he has into his pocket. “Not sure I believe that’ll be necessary, but it can’t hurt to have a few knives on hand. Of course, most of those are butter knives. Not sure they’ll be all that effective.

The carving knife might be useful. All I know is that letter opener seemed to hurt the damn thing. If it was because of the silver, then I’d take as much as we can carry, then we’d sound like a tambourine when we’re walking. I say we take one or two. We should be going, but I’m gonna check on things before we leave. Something doesn’t feel right.”

“I’m gonna jump in the shower.” She gathers her clothes up as John walks outside to the back yard. He’s still out there when she finishes. She’s not sure what he’s looking for, but he must not have found it. He comes back inside, shaking his head, and looks through the curtains at the front of the house. Something startles him because he steps back quickly and drops the curtains. She tries to look out the window, too. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m pretty sure there’s some creep watching us from across the street. I think I saw a pair of

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binoculars that looked like they were pointed over here.” John studies their observer.

“That’s super creepy.” She stands next to John and looks carefully out the window between a gap in the curtains. “I think I saw him outside last night when we left to get the car. Why do you think he’s watching us?”

“Not sure, but we’ll have to keep an eye on whoever it is. Let’s get going.” John double checks to make sure his gun is still in the holster.

She wraps the knife up in a cloth napkin and puts it into her jacket pocket. The handle sticks out but being able to put her hand on it makes her feel safer. She grips it tightly before they walk outside.

“Yeah, I hope we find her fast. I don’t want to be out there in the dark again.” She locks the door and puts the key back inside the garden gnome while silently wishing him to watch the house.

John unlocks the car doors when he suddenly tenses up like he’s ready to act. She watches his head snap up and focus across the street. She follows his gaze and sees the curtains close as the pair of binoculars are hidden. Without looking at her, he holds up a hand. “Hold on a minute.”

Walking across the street with determination, John puts the car keys into his pocket. She calls after him. “Where are you going?”

“Just wait here.” John holds a hand up again

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as he stalks up the walkway. His hand instinctively goes to his pistol making sure he can reach it if he needs it.

She knows he really doesn’t want her to do it, but she follows him anyways. “What’s going on?” She remembers the couple that used to live there. They weren’t friendly, but they were fine.

John sighs as he reaches the front door. He takes a deep breath before knocking. He isn’t subtle about it, and makes sure that the pounding could be heard nearby. She hears the trained authority in his voice. It doesn’t sound like John to her. “Open up. I know you’re in there. Why are you watching us?”

A few moments go by before the door is opened slightly. Through the small crack, they can see a small, foppish man standing there. The binoculars he was using to spy on them hang from his neck.

When he talks, the thick British accent is a surprise.

“What do you want?”

“I want to know what you think you’re doing spying on us?” John puts a hand on the door holding it open just in case the man tries to close it.

The man straightens at this insinuation, righteous indignation overtaking the fear response.

The door is still only slightly ajar, and she can see the chain securing the entrance. “Sir, I wasn’t spying on you. I’m in the neighborhood watch, and I was doing my job. What are you doing here? I don’t think I’ve seen you before. Why are you staying in that house?”

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John continues to push on the door, but the chain prevents it from opening fully. John begins interrogating the man, ignoring the questions. “Did you see anything strange at that house a few days ago?

The people inside went missing and we’re working with the police to find out anything that we can. If you know something, it’s your duty to report it as neighborhood watch.”

The man steps back a little, the chain on the door holding securely. “I told the police everything I know. I saw them packing some camping gear. They left in the morning and never came back.”

She looks at the man, silently pleading for any morsel of information he may have. “Sir. You’re the last one to see my sister and her husband. Please, is there anything else you remember? Anything at all, no matter how strange it might seem?”

The man takes a deep breath before answering.

“If there was anything else, I would have told the police. Now, good day.” The man pushes on the door forcefully slamming it shut. Several locks click into place.

“Well, that was strange, but so is the rest of this town.” John walks back down the driveway towards the car. She follows closely behind him.

“I can’t believe I used to be happy here. Let’s just go. We have to eat before we get back to the search.” She quickly gets into the car.

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She and John pull into the parking lot of the diner. There are a few cars in the lot, but they’re sure they can get a booth. The jingle of the bell over the door is a familiar and welcome sound that she wasn’t sure she’d hear again after last night. Her favorite booth is taken, so they sit in a different one. Aunt Janice is at her cash register, Uncle Dave is in the kitchen making something special, and Debbie is taking and delivering orders.

She turns, pulled out of her thoughts, when John starts talking to her. “You sure you’re ready to go back out there?”

She notices him looking at her closely, almost like a suspect. His eyes watch for hints or tells.

“Of course not, but I have to. Caroline’s out there somewhere, and we need to find her. And Bill.”

John reaches across the table and takes her hand. “Fine, but we need to be ready this time. We won’t be going out there half-cocked. I don’t want to have any more surprises like last time. We need to make sure we stock up. I could use more bullets, and I am not going anywhere without snacks and bottles of water.”

Just then a clinking of plates draws their attention. In front of them is a plate of eggs, bacon, and toast. Uncle Dave smiles at both of them. “I saw the two of you come in. Figured this might be what you need. I heard about what happened.”

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John’s face turns almost emotionless. She recognizes that familiar change in John as he turns the analytical part of his brain on. “How’d you hear?

It just happened last night.”

Uncle Dave looks around the diner. “One of the people from the search party was in earlier and told me about poor Jenny. They said she was tore up pretty bad.”

John shifts in his seat, facing Uncle Dave. His voice is much more authoritative than before. “What did they tell you?”

Uncle Dave leans on the table, and it creaks under his weight. “Well, they said you guys found poor Jenny, and she was attacked by a bear or something. Hope she’s okay.”

John points to the bandage on Uncle Dave’s forearm. It’s a gauze covering wrapping completely around Uncle Dave’s forearm. “That looks like it hurt. What happened?”

Uncle Dave laughs as he pulls his arm back. He looks at the bandage dismissively. “You know how it is in the kitchen. I was cutting onions this morning and wasn’t paying attention. I let myself get lost in thought and, well, it happens. Remember, be careful with big knives. Well, the grill don’t wait for no one.

Good luck out there today.” Uncle Dave turns and walks back through the swinging door to the kitchen.

John moves over to her side of the booth.

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He leans in as if he’s going to kiss her on the cheek.

She’s surprised when he holds there for a second. He whispers while keeping eye contact with her. “You see that?”

She’s not sure what she was supposed to have seen. She glances around the diner to see if there’s anything suspicious. “What?”

Even though he’s facing the parking lot, she wonders why he’s watching out the window. She doesn’t get it at first until she notices the reflection of the kitchen. John keeps watching as Uncle Dave’s reflection makes food. “His forearm. Same one as the…thing.”

She pushes back and looks right at John. She keeps her voice down as much as she’s able. “What’re you talking about?”

“Not here. In the car.” John stands up, their food left untouched, and puts some money on the table. He takes her hand, smiling the whole time, and pulls her to the front door.

“What’s the matter, honey? You didn’t like your food?” Aunt Janice looks at them and then at their table.

John, like the Chief, goes from one set of emotions to another. He goes from concerned to friendly in a moment, a disarming smile can be a dangerous weapon. “Sorry, Janice. We’re not feeling well. Must still be shaken up from seeing that poor girl all torn up.”

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‘How does he change like that? Has he ever done this to me?’ She lets the glass door close, the tinkling bell rings. She catches Aunt Janice keeping an eye on them as they leave the diner. Through the diner window, she studies her as she takes plates back to the kitchen.

*************************

As the car moves along Main Street, John stares out the windshield, intent on what’s in front of him.

He has an uneasy feeling that he was initially sure was because of the case, but now it’s something…

else. This town. It’s just too...perfect. He watches out the window as people go by, wave, and smile at each other. The same people that looked friendly yesterday suddenly seem untrustworthy. His suspicions about Uncle Dave have made him distrustful of others around the town. He’s brought out of his observations when Beth starts talking.

“There’s no way that thing was Dave. I’ve known him since we moved to this town. I call him Uncle Dave for crying out loud. He couldn’t do that to Caroline or Maddie. He helped us look for Maddie.”

He runs his fingers through his hair. It’s a nervous tick he’s had for as long as he can remember.

Whenever he gets deep into thought and is trying to work out a solution, the movement seems to help center his mind like he’s clearing the table or shuffling

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around paperwork. The world he’s used to is one built on a foundation of facts and evidence, but this case has him hitting the wall of strange and unusual. He tries to file everything into its proper place.

He looks at all he’s seen so far through the lens of logic. “Let’s say we take everything at face value.

We have to look at it like this. Dave is a large man, but, more importantly, he wasn’t injured when we saw him yesterday. Today, he has an injury in the same spot as that…werewolf. There. I said it. I don’t believe it, but I said it. If I can say that, I would like you to at least consider what I’m saying.”

Beth nods at him and looks down at her hands. “Okay. I’ll try, but he did say he cut himself this morning cooking.”

He shakes his head as he turns onto the road leaving the main part of town. He sees the town square recede into the distance in the rear view mirror.

He reaches over and takes Beth’s hand. “You cook. I know you’ve cut yourself. How many times have you been preparing food and cut your forearm? It doesn’t make any logical sense.”

Beth looks unsure. She turns to face front and looks out at nothing in particular. As the drive takes them through a more secluded part of town, he takes his eyes off the road for a second to look at Beth.

She’s watching out the window as they pass a large farmhouse, the rustic wooden fence leading all the

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way to the road. A pack of large dogs run to the end of the driveway and bark as they pass. “I just don’t know. How could he try to kill us one day and then bring us eggs and bacon the next?”

He pulls into the parking area for the search and shuts off the car. “I’m not saying anything with complete certainty, but this is very suspicious. I’ve learned over the years to trust my instincts and they’re telling me that something’s off here. Let’s just agree to keep an eye on him.”

“I will admit that it looks weird, but I’m holding out hope you’re wrong on this one.” Beth opens her car door.

Chapter 5

In the parking lot of the search area, Beth is happy to see a lot of the same vehicles and people as yesterday.

John steps out and together they walk down the pathway to the campsite. When they arrive, John once again examines the area.

People are milling around getting their flashlights and radios. John doesn’t seem to be paying attention to the organized chaos going on around him as the searchers get ready for another long day. She watches him, amazed at how easily he can slip into this role of authority and logic. It’s like investigating comes as naturally as breathing to him. She doesn’t want to interrupt, so she watches him for about fifteen minutes. When John suddenly stops, tilts his head, and runs a hand through his hair, she walks over to stand next to him. “What’re you thinking?”

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“When we were talking to the Chief last night, I said that the scene just doesn’t look right.”

John gestures to the campsite. His brow furrowing in thought.

She knows she doesn’t have his education and training, but she still tries to take in the scene so that she can see what he sees. “I remember, but for some reason, I don’t see it. What’re we looking at?”

“Look,” John gently, but excitedly, pulls her in front of him. He is in his zone here. He moves differently, purposefully, as he walks around the campsite. He kneels down in front of the tent. He points at the different pieces of camp equipment.

“does this look like a place that was torn apart?”

“Well, yeah. Look at the place. It’s obvious.”

She squints, trying to see the clues.

“Exactly. Just look at it.” John moves forward.

He picks up a piece of tent cloth. “There’s no blood.

Nothing anywhere to indicate that someone was injured.”

“But the place is destroyed.” She follows closely behind as he walks around the campsite. She really looks at the place, but she can’t seem to see it the same way that John does.

“Exactly. This place was destroyed, but I think all of the damage was done after the fact. Look, over here.” John uses a large stick and picks up a cooler that was crushed. “The sleeping bags are shredded,

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the pillows are torn open, and all of their bags are tossed everywhere, but again no blood. I think that whoever did this tore the place apart after Caroline and Billy left. It might be that the same person that took them trashed their stuff.”

She’s amazed. She’s never seen John so excited.

It’s like this is what he was born to do. She’s heard him talk about cases, sure, but she’s never been there when he works. She bends down and looks inside the tent. She picks up one of the sleeping bags, the stuffing inside sticking out. “That’s one option. What else are you thinking?”

She watches him put a hand to his head, and he pauses midway through his hair. “Well, what if they ran off and left the site before the camp was destroyed? All of this comes back to it being so...

clean. I know. There’s a lot that looks like chaos, but it just feels wrong.”

John steps out of the tent and stands up. He’s looking around at the crime scene. He doesn’t seem to notice the people that are gearing up for the search, like they don’t exist to him right now.

“Clearly there are signs of a struggle. That much is obvious. Things are tossed, torn, and a general mess.” John gestures to the campsite again.

“Most reasonable people would think that some kind of fight went down here. Normally, I would agree with them.”

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Her nervousness and excitement make her impatient. She starts making a circling motion with her hands, urging him to continue. “But..?”

John smiles, and she knows he’s in his natural element. He’s where he was meant to be, maybe not in Slaughterville, but at a crime scene piecing together those errant clues others might miss. “There’s no evidence of it. No blood, no bodies. Aside from everything being slashed or tossed around, there is nothing that indicates someone was hurt. That leads me to think that they weren’t here to hurt someone, but to look for something.”

She sees the campsite in a whole new light. She never thought of it that way because she was stuck in fear for Caroline and Bill. “So, if they were looking for something, what were they trying to find?”

“That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it?”

John looks off into the forest towards the same path that they took when they found the cave. She steps forward to stand beside him. “I don’t know what they’re after, but it’s probably why Caroline and Bill are still missing.”

Looking around, she makes sure that no one else is listening. “Yesterday. That man said something about getting her to talk. You think he meant Caroline?”

John puts an arm around her. “There’s only one way, and one place, to find out. I know you don’t

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wanna go back there. Hell, I don’t wanna take you back there, but if we’re going to find out anything else, I need more clues. At least this time we won’t be alone.”

She shuts her eyes and takes a deep breath. A few moments and breaths pass, and she opens her eyes. She looks even deeper into the woods. “The cave…”

“Yeah, the cave.” John looks around. “Where’s the Chief?”

“He’s supposed to be here.” She notices Chief Wallace is nowhere to be found. “He said he’d have help today.”

“Excuse me.” John walks over to a uniformed officer, and looks at his name tag. “Officer Washington, is the Chief coming? He was supposed to meet us here.”

Officer Washington finishes handing a person their equipment and turns to John. “Good morning.

You’re Martinez, right? The Chief said to tell you he’s running late. Something came up that he had to deal with, but he will be here later this afternoon.”

She feels suddenly hurt and uneasy. She can’t keep wasting time like this. Caroline and Billy might not have much left. She really wanted the Chief and their protection, but she’s not going to let them keep her and John from going. Wringing her hands, she walks up to Officer Washington. “He said that he’d

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be here with people with guns. We were supposed to go to the cave we found.”

“Ma’am,” Officer Washington holds his hands up. “I can only tell you what I know. I am sure the Chief will be here as soon as he can.”

“Can you get him on the radio? It’s really important.” John reaches over and picks up a flashlight and radio. “I’ll keep handing out the equipment while you get him on the line. Please, from one officer to another.”

Officer Washington resigns himself to the task. She listens as he steps away and reaches to the radio on his shoulder. “Chief. It’s Washington. I have Mr. Martinez and Ms. Taylor here. They’re asking for you.”

Even she jumps when The Chief’s voice booms out of the radio. “Washington, I told you to let them know I have something important to take care of!

I’ll be there as soon as I can, but this is life or death.

Now, get off the damn radio!”

Officer Washington looks admonished as he fiddles with his hands. Anger and annoyance flash on his face when he talks to Beth. “Yeah. He’ll be here when he can.”

She smiles sympathetically at him. “Thanks.

I’m sorry.” Officer Washington acknowledges her and goes back to dealing with the search efforts. She walks back to John, and pulls him to the side to get out of earshot of Officer Washington.

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“What’s going on?” John walks with her, looking back and forth between her and Officer Washington.

She looks around nervously. “I’m sure you heard, but the Chief won’t be here until later.”

“Yeah. I heard.” John looks around to see what she’s looking for. “I guess we have to wait then.

Maybe we can do something around here to help.”

Her frustration and fear lend more venom to her voice than she intended. “If Caroline and Bill are in that cave, every second we wait is another second they’re in danger.”

“I know that.” John’s brows furrow as he looks down at her. “What do you want? Should we go in there alone again? That didn’t work out well the last time.”

She stands straighter. “I understand. I know we should wait, but I can’t. I need to know if she’s there.”

John puts a hand to his temple and takes a deep, calming breath. He laughs a little while he shakes his head. “You’re going to go again no matter what, aren’t you?”

“You know me so well.” She gives him a half smile and a playful push. “Wanna come along?”

“Of course.” John sighs and gestures for her to lead the way. “I can’t let you go alone. Besides, I wanna see what else is in that cave.”

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As they check to make sure that they have everything, John looks over at her. “Hey, we’re looking for a new place. Maybe we can find a nice place in the woods. I know you had your heart set on a nice cave, but the last one didn’t work out. I’m not giving up, though.”

“Yeah, the houses around here seem to need some work, too.” She touches her knife and gives a forced smile. “After those two, I’d rather stay in an apartment filled with windows.”

She and John take the same path they took yesterday, heading deeper into the forest. She keeps looking around waiting for something to jump out and attack them. She reaches down and takes hold of the handle of the silver blade. It’s solid and makes her feel stronger. They move into a familiar clearing and John starts to pace around the open space.

“Are you sure we’re in the right spot?” She walks closer to John. She rubs her arms absently.

“I know it is.” John points to a spot on the ground. “Take a look at this. It’s where that woman, Jenny, was attacked. You can see the patch of ground that’s been disturbed. There’s blood on the leaves. We went that way.”

She looks around. She’s seeing the same thing that John is looking at, but it just looks like a patch of the woods. “I will take your word for it. Where to now?”

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John stands up and walks in a new direction.

She hurries over. John is looking at something on the ground. She bends over thinking that she might be able to see tracks. “What are we looking at? You think this is where we went?”

“I can’t be completely certain, but I think there’s enough evidence here to say we went this way.”

John steps in front of her and starts walking into the forest. She makes sure that she stays as close to him as she can. She looks up, searching for dangers that might be dropping from the trees again.

*************************

John realizes he’s walking alone when he only hears his own footsteps. For a moment, he’s afraid that something happened to Beth, so he stops and calls out. “What’s wrong?”

Beth points up to the tops of the trees. “Is it getting darker?”

He squints when he looks up at the setting sun. “I didn’t notice it, but yeah. We haven’t been out long though.”

Beth rubs her arms as the temperature starts to drop. “Did the same thing last night. I don’t like this.

It’s getting colder.”

He walks over to her and puts an arm around her. “We can go back if you want. Do you want my flannel?”

“No, you keep it. And you know we can’t go

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back, but I appreciate the thought. I know you’re just looking out for me.” She steps out from under his arm and starts walking.

“I didn’t think so, but I wanted to give you the option.” He follows behind, resigned to his fate.

“Well, let’s get going.”

He knows it’s only around noon, but it already looks like it’s late afternoon and the sun is going down. Beth lifts a branch up as she ducks under it.

“Maybe we’ll get lucky, and the place will be empty.”

“We can hope,” He grabs the branch from her and bends it out of his way. “but at least this time we know what we’re getting into.” He pats his pistol, feeling much safer with the familiar weight on his hip. Standing a little taller, he keeps walking.

*************************

Beth’s feet and legs hurt. She wasn’t the biggest jogger in the city. Between yesterday’s hike, the escape from the wolves, those horrid eight-legged abominations trying to eat her, the house that tried to suck them underground, and now this walk; she’s already exhausted. She stops, breathing deeply, and leans against a tree, looking at the forest all around her. “Shouldn’t the cave be around here somewhere?

We weren’t walking this long the last time.”

John walks past her. She watches him looking around at the trees. ‘What does he see that I can’t?’

“I thought the same thing. With it getting

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darker, we might have passed the clearing. We had to have missed part of the path.” John walks back and forth a short way on the path.

“We’d better find it soon.” She looks up and notices the deep red light of sunset hitting the tops of the trees. ‘We didn’t walk that long. Why is the sun going down?’

“Beth...” John’s voice seems far away.

“John! Where are you?” When she looks back down, she can’t see him. She didn’t notice him disappear. ‘How far could he have gotten in like a minute?’ She reaches into her pocket and grips the silver knife tightly.

“Back here!” John’s voice is distant, but it echoes among the trees.

She pulls the blade from her pocket and holds it before her. The red sunlight turns the blade crimson.

A rustling off to her left makes her turn as something runs off. Her breath is coming faster and faster. Her eyes dart back and forth. Her senses are turned to maximum as she looks for John. The blade shakes as she moves it back and forth, keeping it in front of her. The darkness is taking more light away by the second. She reaches for her flashlight and realizes she never took one. ‘No. Not him, too.’ “Hello?”

A loud crash from her right makes her scream!

She instinctively slashes out with the silver knife, and she smiles triumphantly when she hears the cry of

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pain. ‘You won’t take me!’ She stumbles backwards until her back is pressed against a tree. The blade wavers as she holds it in front of her. Whatever came after her is on one knee. When it stands up, she’s blinded by a flashlight. “Beth! What the hell was that?”

She drops her knife when the light shines on John. His shirt is cut, and a trickle of blood leaks out of the wound. “Oh my God! I am so sorry!” She runs over to him and starts patting herself down for something to stop the bleeding. She continues to apologize while she frantically reaches into each pocket.

“You need to be more careful!” John winces as he presses against the wound.

“I heard a creepy sound, and then you pop out of the dark!” She picks up the knife and cuts the pocket of her pants. She hands it to John.

John takes the cloth and cleans up the blood. “I found the cave, and I didn’t want to turn on the light.

I needed to keep the light off so that I wouldn’t let anyone in the cave know that I was looking around.

If I’d have known I’d be stabbed, I might have risked it.”

“I am so sorry.” She steps back a few steps, her eyes tearing up. “I didn’t mean...Is it bad?”

Her hands shake and she feels like she’s ready to run or fight. John chuckles a little. “Well, it isn’t

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fun. It’s still being cut with a knife, but it isn’t bad.”

She knows he’s probably just trying to make her feel better, but she loves that he says it.

“Do you wanna go back and get stitches?” She looks back down the path. She’s not sure what John will say, but she wants him to say no. She wants him to stay with her, but she knows she’s not thinking clearly.

“No.” John pats the wound a few more times, the blood slowing already. He tosses the cloth to the ground. “We came this far, and we need to at least check.”

She smiles a thank you to him. She walks over and, as she gets to John, he bends down and kisses the top of her head. Together they walk into the clearing.

‘It looks so much...darker, deeper than the last time.’

She feels a tightness in her chest as she looks at the place. The thought of going inside makes her feel dizzy and anxious. ‘No choice. I gotta go in.’

A few steps in, John stops and holds his breath.

He closes his eyes and listens. “I don’t hear anything, but still be careful and quiet.”

She follows right behind John. She matches his slow and careful pace even if she’s not as quiet as she’d like to be. John stops just before the opening to the large cave and whispers. “Look. I need you to listen to me this time. I need you to stay behind this big rock. I’ll go have a look around. If it’s safe to

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come in, I’ll call you. If I say run, get the hell out of here.”

She reluctantly agrees and watches as John silently make his way into the tunnel. He keeps to the side, one hand on the tunnel wall. He crouches and does his best to walk silently. Just before he gets to the end of the tunnel, John stops and looks like he’s listening carefully. A soft, but pained cry can be heard traveling through the cavern and down the tunnel. She stands and gasps.

John whips around to glare at her uncharacteristically sternly all while still trying to remain as quiet as possible. He forcibly gestures to her to stay in place.

She crouches back down. The cold strength of the rock is a comfort. She peers around the edge of the rock. ‘What if it’s Caroline?’

John straightens up and continues on without her. She watches as he disappears, and she realizes that she’s truly alone. ‘Oh, sh...’

*************************

John listens carefully. A whimper comes from a small offshoot. It’s the same branch where the creature and the pack came from last time. The crying gets slightly louder the closer he gets to the passage.

‘There’s someone down there.’

Looking back over his shoulder, he realizes he can’t see Beth anymore. He wants to go back, but he

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has to keep moving. He told her that he’d check, and he can’t let her down. He moves along the passage, the sounds getting louder. When he gets to the end, it widens into another cave, smaller than the main one.

There’s a faint light from a small candle flickering and casting dancing shadows. He sees a woman curled up on a dirty, torn blanket. Her hair covers her face as she sobs into the ground. He hears a rumble that couldn’t have come from her. He looks down, and on the stone floor lies a large wolf, sleeping. It’s in between him and the woman. John steps, kicking a small rock that skitters and clacks across the ground. The sound echoes, but the wolf doesn’t move.

The sobbing stops suddenly, and her head comes up. He’s never seen her in person before, but she sure looks like Caroline from the pictures Beth had shown him. He raises a finger to his lips in the universal sign of staying quiet and whispers. “You Caroline?”

The girl sits nearly upright. She’s clearly not been taken care of regularly. She looks down at the wolf as it breathes deeply in slumber. The creature’s barrel chest rises and falls. The long, red hair bristles as it dreams.

“I’m John. Beth’s fiancé. She’s here, too.” He motions for Caroline to come closer to him.

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Caroline’s eyes go wide, and she looks hopeful, but still frightened. She cranes her neck like she’s trying to see behind him.

“She’s just outside this cave.” He tries to be as quiet as possible. “Let’s go.”

She holds up her wrists and there’s a rope holding her in place. She shakes her head, silently saying that she can’t move.

He starts to curse, but stops himself. Any noise could wake up the wolf in front of him. He watches it move its tail as it sleeps. Patting his pockets, John brings out a pocketknife. He looks at Caroline and makes a motion like he’s going to toss it and she nods back in understanding.

Holding his breath, he tosses the knife. He watches as the knife tumbles through the air. When it passes over the wolf, Caroline reaches out her hands to catch it. It lands solidly in her hand, and she clicks it open. It sounds louder to them than it should. The wolf shifts in its sleep, but stays sleeping. He lets out the breath that he was holding.

Nervously, he watches Caroline cut the rope.

It sounds so loud in the silence. He waits and expects the wolf to turn and tear him apart at any second.

Time slows in these moments of tension and terror.

He looks over at the wolf and a lot of odd things stand out to him. It’s larger, sure, but it doesn’t look...right.

The arms are longer, the legs are laying outstretched.

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It looks like it could stand upright. The wolf’s face is turned away from him, but maybe if he...‘I gotta know. I need to see. I need proof because I know I’m not crazy. They can’t be real.’ John turns quickly when he hears the rope fall. Caroline finished cutting it. He sees her fold the blade and put it in her pocket.

‘Hopefully, she doesn’t need it again.’

Utilizing his training in dealing with victims, he waves her towards him trying to appear friendly and safe. She struggles as she tries to stand, making sure to not get tangled in the rope. He knows that this won’t be easy for her. He keeps one eye on Caroline and the other on the wolf just in case.

She stands, knees shaking. A dirty hand reaches up and wipes away tears, smearing the dirt on her face. She puts her back against the wall, trying to remain as steady and unnoticed as possible. Bare feet slide along the rough stone.

Sweating despite the cave’s cold and damp interior, he takes several slow, deep breaths as he tries to keep his cool. He’s waiting on her, ready to act if the creature if it moves. Caroline stays as far away from the muzzle of the creature as she can. She raises her foot, and a rock must have been stuck because one falls. He draws his pistol, aims at the wolf, and raises a hand to get her to stop. She immediately freezes in place as best as she can. She tries to breathe as quietly as possible.

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They watch as the wolf fidgets and rolls. He knows she can’t hold up her leg for long. The torture and undernourishment clearly made her weak. To her credit, Caroline holds still. It’s only after the second minute that she starts to shake. He motions for her to continue, and she starts to put her foot down.

The wolf twitches in whatever carnal dream of chasing prey it’s having and its tail swings under her foot. She can’t stop herself in time and he tenses.

A shaking and tired foot steps on the tail. Caroline starts to back away.

As the wolf howls in pain, he curses. His pistol was already aimed at the creature, and he fires. The gunshot echoes loudly, and the bullet slams into the creature. He aims the gun at the creature’s head and fires. The bullet pierces the creature’s eye. Blood fountains and the creature raises its head for a second.

Blood comes from a mouth trying to howl or bark.

As the head falls to the floor, the wolf changes. The body shifts and the red hair sheds, cascading onto the stone. ‘What is that?’

Caroline pulls on his arm, but he’s stunned.

He’s not looking at a wolf. ‘It’s a woman!’ Caroline’s insistent tugging pulls him out of his confusion. He doesn’t have time to process this right now. He has to get Caroline out of here. He places it in his mental file for later. John turns to Caroline.

She looks from him to the woman on the floor and freezes. “It can’t be...”

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Beth’s scream echoes through the cave, and John’s breath catches in his throat, his eyes going wide. “John! Hel...!” It cuts off and John runs for everything he’s worth.

“Dammit! Let’s go!” John’s not thinking about Caroline as he runs. She’ll either follow, or she won’t.

As Beth is thrown over the shoulder of a muscular monstrous looking creature, he pours on a burst of speed. It’s so tall that its head nearly reaches the roof of the tunnel. The broad body and shoulders move lithely with frightening speed and power. Beth looks like a child compared to the creature. She’s yelling and beating its back trying to get it to drop her. ‘How many of these werewolves are there? I can’t believe I’m using the plural of werewolf!’

“Come on!” He curses to himself. ‘Beth wouldn’t want me to leave Caroline here.’ He runs back and takes Caroline by the arm, dragging her along the tunnel. Running as fast as Caroline will let him, he tries to catch the creature. It only takes seconds to get to where Beth was hiding, but each moment is filled with him blaming himself for not keeping Beth safe. ‘She’d be fine if I took her in with me.’ When they get to the rock where Beth was hiding, there’s a glint of silver in the dirt.

Caroline stops to grab the blade. She holds it and looks more confident. He snaps at her. “We gotta go!”

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Caroline stumbles a little. Days of fatigue and torture must make it difficult for her to move quickly. He sees her struggling to keep up with him.

As much as he needs to get to Beth, he won’t leave Caroline behind. His sense of duty won’t let him abandon someone in need. Caroline pauses for a second, breathing heavily.

Caroline is clearly trying her best to move faster. Her eyes are begging him to run after Beth, and to leave her behind. She waves a tired hand at him. “Go get her. I’ll catch up.”

He reaches under her arm, giving her enough help to relieve some of the stress and pain from her weakened legs. Caroline takes a deep breath and runs with John’s help. “We’ll find her together.”

They scan the clearing. He isn’t sure which way the werewolf left because it looks like the forest grew up thicker in the few minutes that they were inside the cave. Listening carefully, He’s sure the beast is running through the brush to his right. The sound of twigs snapping gets quieter as it rushes off, loping farther away into the woods. He hears Beth scream, but it seems like it’s coming from many different directions. “John!”

“This way!” Running to the right, he pulls Caroline to where he heard the twigs breaking. They skid to a stop when a different voice echoes through the dense forest. It’s a younger voice, softer but still frightened. “Caroline! Where are you?”

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Suddenly, Caroline reaches for her chest. She nearly falls to the ground, stunned, and her face goes white. She says one word. “Maddie?”

“Caroline, come find me.” The soft voice lilts through the treetops. “I need you. It hurts.”

*************************

“Maddie!” Caroline forgets all the fatigue, pain, and humiliation of recent days. She runs with everything she has left, leaving John behind. Branches and sticker bushes add scratches to her already bruised body.

“Where’re you going?” She barely notices as John calls after her. “Beth’s that way!”

“It’s Maddie! She’s still alive!” She pants hard as she runs.

*************************

John catches up to Caroline quickly. He puts a hand out in front of her. She stops suddenly, but it nearly takes them both down to the dirt. He spins her around and looks into the wide, frantic eyes filled with terror. “Caroline, listen to me. I need you to focus. It can’t be Maddie. She’s been gone for years.”

“Get off me! I know what I heard!” Caroline shoves his hand off of her.

“Maddie is dead, but Beth is still alive.” He gently forces her to look into his eyes despite her struggles. “She needs us now. I don’t know what this is, but it isn’t Maddie!”

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A gurgling laugh suddenly comes from everywhere. It’s like the trees are amused at their pain.

He ejects his magazine and checks how many bullets he has left. He slams it back into place, relishing the weight of the pistol. He turns to Caroline.

“Something’s going…”

He barely feels the impact as he’s knocked to the ground. His gun flies off into the underbrush.

His head slams into a rock and he suddenly feels dizzy. What’s he doing again?

Chapter 6

A hulking creature in tattered and rotting clothing stands silently. It’s wearing an old flannel shirt over a naked chest. Its jeans are torn and wet, stained with the mud from the forest floor. The hulking creature’s boots have holes, one is missing its sole. Its grey-green flesh is covered with sores and gashes.

A yellow, thick liquid oozes out of the wounds as it moves. It stands there, breathing heavily. When it smiles, the teeth that aren’t rotten are missing, leaving gaps that let the putrid breath escape easier. Cloudy, white eyes look right through its victims.

Caroline looks around frantically. She knows she picked up the knife. She can’t find it. She can’t believe she dropped it. ‘Where is it?’ She doesn’t see it, and time is running out. The only thing near her

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is a pile of heavy rocks. She bends down to pick up one of the sharper looking rocks. When she crouches, something in her pocket pokes against her leg. ‘It’s John’s pocketknife! Almost forgot I had it.’

She picks up a rock she deems worthy and stands. Reaching into her pocket with her free hand, she pulls John’s knife out and opens the blade. ‘It’s not gonna do much, but it’s better than being a weak again.’ She bounces the rock in her hand, readying herself to throw it. She shifts her right leg backwards for balance and draws her arm back. Rock and knife in hand, she stands ready.

*************************

John lies on the ground, shaking his head to remove the cobwebs from the impact. He looks over when the hulking creature starts walking towards him. It smells like an old swamp. The sloshing sound when it walks is unnerving. It gurgles as it laughs, the bubbling water in its throat makes an eerie sound.

He raises a hand to wave it away while he struggles to clear his mind. He can hear the hulking creature’s footsteps squelching like it’s pulling a foot out of deep mud, even though the ground is dry.

A large stone careens off the hulking creature’s chest. It leaves a tear in the mottled flesh that leaks a yellowed liquid, thick like tree sap. The rotted smile never falters as it marches forward. One of the blackened teeth falls to the ground. Another rock

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impacts the hulking creature, and it sends yellow pus flying. A blob of it lands in front of John. As the thick liquid soaks into the dirt, it bubbles. The acidic smell of it makes his eyes burn.

*************************

Caroline stands there with another large rock in her hand. She’s had enough of being a victim, and her anger lends her weakened arms some strength.

She hasn’t eaten or had much to drink since she was captured. Her hands shake as she hefts her improvised weapon.

She draws her rock back and prepares to throw it. She hopes that this one will get lucky and break through that slick flesh, crushing the rotted brain.

She wants to send it back to the mud and grime that it seems like it came from. Her throat is hoarse from disuse and the lack of water, but it still has some of the defiance that helped her survive this long. “Back off, freak! Get away from him!”

The hulking creature’s neck creaks and cracks like branches and twigs as it turns its head towards her. The sloshing sound from the hulking creature’s chest is loud in the forest. ‘I don’t know if I’m gonna be sick or lose my damn mind! Probably both!’ She knows the forest is supposed to be a place of peaceful serenity. It’s supposed to be quiet and bring people back to nature. Instead, this town corrupts even those places. It gives us…this. It takes away those that you love and replaces them with monsters.

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The hulking creature smiles wider and starts to speak. It starts raspy, but the voice quickly turns into the familiar soft, upbeat tone of Maddie. Her voice should never be heard from that bubbling throat.

“Help me, Caroline! I’m all alone, and I need you to be here with me. It’s cold.”

She gasps and steps back. She can’t catch her breath. Fear steals her air as soon as she takes it in.

Even after all she’s seen and done in this town, she isn’t sure she’ll make it through this. She’s spent years trying to find creatures, but this is one of the worst she’s seen. ‘This thing sounds exactly like Maddie.

Why? How?’

The hulking creature giggles just like Maddie used to do when they played in the back yard. She starts to cry. The tears fall, but she doesn’t want to break down again. ‘Gotta keep it together. I can’t lose it now! They took so much already.’

She’s been doing a lot of crying these last few days, and she hates herself for it. She isn’t some weak-willed coward. She’s been tracking and training for a long time, but she hasn’t eaten or slept in so long.

She’s so tired. She wants Maddie back so badly. ‘If I give myself to it, will it let Maddie go? Does it even have her? Would it make up for getting her killed?’

She throws the rock with a force that is strengthened by hearing Maddie’s voice. It sails quickly and true, tumbling end over end. She watches

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it fly exactly to the spot she was aiming for. She hopes that this rock will end the nightmarish thing. She prays for the first time in a long time. ‘God, I am so tired. I need your help. I don’t have the strength to do this. Please, just let this work!’ She needs that rock to be more than just a piece of stone. She needs it to be divine justice. Proof that life isn’t just chance and pain. It may be because she was so hopeful, but when the rock hits, she wants to just give up. She wants to lie down and rest forever.

The hulking creature doesn’t move when the rock impacts it’s face, knocking out a few more of the blackened and broken teeth. It chuckles as new teeth, already rotted, push through dark, putrid gums. It clacks its jaws together. It looks down at the rock lying there on the ground and then back at Caroline.

It stops laughing.

Quickly wiping her eyes, she wants to turn and run. She wants to get somewhere safe so she never has to see this thing again, but she can’t. John came for her when no one else did, and she won’t let him die.

And Beth, she can still save the only family she has left. She stares at the hulking creature. ‘Toughen up, girl!’ A deep breath helps clear some of the fog and weariness.

She tries to keep the thing’s attention on her as John barely sits up, his head lolling to one side.

She stands as tall as her weakened legs will let her.

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She yells, jumps, and waves her arms as much as she’s able. She’ll do anything to make the hulking creature want to come for her. She pushes her long, dark hair out of her eyes wishing she had something to tie it back.

She risks a glance and sees John almost standing upright, but he stumbles back like he’s had a few too many to drink. He reaches back to grab the nearby tree to support himself. He wavers for a moment before his hand slips. He falls to the ground, his back scraping against the bark of the tree trunk.

She vows to keep one eye on John, but her main focus has to be on the hulking creature stalking closer to her. It still talks in Maddie’s voice, the strange gurgling that was there earlier is gone. Hearing the barrel-chested hulking creature calling to her, just like Maddie used to, sends chills of terror through her. “Stop it! Stop sounding like her!” Fear roots her feet to the spot and sends her stomach sinking. She wants to lie down and rest on the cool forest floor.

“Beth is with me now!” The hulking creature puts its hands together in front of it like it’s praying.

“You can come along, and we can be together again.

We can play in the woods all day. It doesn’t hurt for long. Then you just go to sleep. Don’t you love me?

You know this was your fault. I died because of you, but you can make it better.”

She knows this hulking creature isn’t her

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sister, but she still tears up hearing Maddie blaming her because, ever since she died, she blamed herself.

‘I took Maddie into the woods. I convinced her to follow me. She was always my little explorer.’ She told Maddie that she would protect her and keep her safe on their adventures. She couldn’t keep that promise.

She got Maddie killed.

Her already dry and cracking throat closes, words not able to come out even though all she wants is to scream, to call to Maddie, to tell this town to rot in Hell! She just wants Maddie back, but she knows it will never happen. The only form of solace that she can have is knowing Maddie is at rest. ‘Is Maddie really at peace, or is this damn town torturing and using her?’

“Come and be with me.” The hulking creature reaches out to hold her as it smiles. Boils pop and leak acrid slime that runs down its face tracing what would be laugh lines on an actual human. The knuckles in its hand crack and pop wetly as the hands flex.

She acts faster than she thought she could. She lashes out with the pocketknife and slams it into his throat. “Maybe that’ll shut you up.”

The flesh around the hulking creature’s neck sloughs and falls, the blade tumbles to the ground.

In Maddie’s voice, it says, “Why would you do that?”

*************************

Through the fog in his brain, John hears the

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hulking creature talking in a little girl’s voice. He can’t quite make out what it’s saying right away, but, through blurred vision, he can sort of see that it’s moving towards Caroline. He shakes his head trying to dislodge the cotton surrounding his brain.

He forces himself to his feet with one last push. He starts to run, stumbling a little, but the momentum is enough that when he crashes into the hulking creature, they’re both knocked to the ground.

He grabs for anything on the hulking creature he can reach. He wants to hold the hulking creature in place so Caroline can get to safety. The hulking creature’s slippery, slimy skin almost makes him lose his grip, but he grabs hold of its shirt, his mind racing. His head is slowly clearing. He holds onto the shirt with the strength of the desperate. “You are not getting back up you sick freak of a thing!” The creature rips itself free and rises, leaving him holding a scrap of the muddy shirt.

The hulking creature swipes a hand backward, and it connects solidly with his midsection. He feels his breath escape his lungs. The lucky hit to the sternum knocking the wind out of him for a second.

Wheezing, he rolls over and tries to push himself up.

He watches as the hulking creature, still on its knees, flexes its hand.

Dirty fingernails on the end of decaying fingers extend into sharpened claws. It slashes at him

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surprisingly fast. He tries to evade, but he feels the burning pain of the filthy strike as it drags across his stomach. He rolls with the blow. He knows that if he hadn’t let his instincts take over, he would have been torn to shreds and his intestines would be spilled onto the mossy ground. ‘Just add these to the rest of

‘em. No time to feel them right now. Push it down and get the job done!’

The two of them stand up like worn out boxers in the final rounds. Where the hulking creature stands taller with some unnatural resilience, he’s swaying from pain and exhaustion. A growl resonates through the forest and he realizes it’s coming from him.

Preparing to move to one side or the other, he tries to anticipate where the hulking creature will attack next. The creature stalks to the right, keeping a constant rheumy eye on him. It clacks the claws still slick with blood while a bubbling gurgle of a laugh comes from the monster’s throat. He can’t believe he’s using that word. ‘Monster.’ It feels so foreign and wrong, but what else could it be? He has to stay focused on the creature. Trying to keep the hulking creature distracted and uninterested in Caroline is paramount.

A risky feint makes the hulking creature slash at him. As quickly as he steps forward, he pulls back just out of reach of the claws. He feels the wind as they get uncomfortably close. The stench of whatever was on the hulking creature’s claws assaults his senses.

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‘God. What is this thing? It’s not human.’ He wasn’t fully ready to admit to what he’s been denying to himself ever since that wolf in the clearing earlier.

His training and life have told him that things like this aren’t real. Places like this damn town aren’t real.

Monsters don’t exist, but there it is, standing tall, deadly, and ready to turn him into its next victim.

The part of his mind that’s still in denial is shut down. ‘Can’t help anyone if I’m having a mental breakdown. This is just another violent perpetrator.

That’s all it can be for now.’

Maybe a fight for his life isn’t the right time to ponder this. The slash in his chest burns with a sickly, radiating heat. The pain does its job and clears his mind. “Caroline, run.”

*************************

Caroline’s breath comes in short gasps as she tries to keep her whole body from shaking and shutting down. Her mind starts to wander, and thoughts of the last few years start to seep in. She’s been looking for the monster that took Maddie from her family. She told herself that she believed. She’s even seen some weird stuff, but nothing like this.

What was she thinking? ‘I can’t do this. We’re gonna die here…just like Maddie. And now Beth’s gone because I got captured. I can’t save anyone.’

Her arms feel like lead weights are tied to her hands. She doesn’t know how much longer she

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can stay upright. Her legs tremble from fear and weakness. She hears John yelling at her. Her mind is as tired as the rest of her. She knows that this town is strange and things are rarely what they appear to be, but she’s not seeing the trees move and sprout from the ground to fill in the empty patches around them.

She doesn’t see the rocks form and sink into the dirt.

She can’t be seeing that.

Desperately, she looks around for any way to get away from the hulking creature. ‘What the...that wasn’t here a minute ago.’ Moonlight shines on a pathway. She tries to understand what’s happening, but her mind must be playing tricks on her. She sees a strangely familiar set of bushes. It looks like the place where Maddie... ‘That’s not possible. We shouldn’t be anywhere near there.’

She doesn’t quite understand what’s going on, but somehow she really is close to home. She takes off slowly running, limping from the weakness in her legs. She’s praying for the safety of her house. When she gets to the start of the path, she hears John scream.

The anguish stops her dead in her tracks. Turning around, she sees John land in the dirt and slide to a stop. He’s moving slowly, trying to get up. She wills him to get up, but he doesn’t seem to be moving.

Staggering forward, she keeps her head turned to watch John while trying to pay attention to the path in front of her. The brutality being inflicted

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upon him is sickening. Concern and fear distract her from running. The root sticking up catches her foot.

She trips, falling face first into the ground, the impact sudden and painful.

A bloody nose is one more lesson learned.

When she looks up, there’s a freshly cut tree stump. A beam of light shines down through the trees and lands on a large axe embedded in a stump. The wooden handle is worn, the head of the axe looks pitted, but the blade looks sharp. ‘Well, that wasn’t here a second ago. Maybe something is finally going right.’

The axe handle feels sturdy, powerful. She takes strength from the solid wood. It feels warm.

She pulls on the axe, but it refuses to budge. The wood creaks and groans as the head of the axe shifts.

She repositions and pulls with everything she has left. She hears John trying to stop that thing and it makes her pull harder. Her knees start to buckle. The fatigue from her capture and lack of food keep her from pulling the axe free.

The hulking creature picks up John and throws him. John’s limbs don’t seem under his control. He doesn’t use them to slow his fall or protect his head as he slams into the ground. He lands and rolls until he’s a few yards away from her. John isn’t moving. He doesn’t make any sound. ‘I hope he’s still alive.’ She owes him for saving her, but she can’t even pull this stupid axe from this stupid tree!

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The hulking creature walks over to John and stares down at him. She grunts and groans while she strains, pushing and pulling, against the solidly embedded axe trying to force it out of the wooden sheath. The creature laughs as it turns away from John to face her. It’s claws flex dangerously.

A surge of strength, made more intense from fear and desperation, fills her. She pulls with everything she has, placing a foot on the stump for leverage. ‘Move! It’s coming! Pull it out or you’re both gonna die!’ These thoughts come so fast she can barely keep up with them. ‘It’s all your fault. You got captured. You made Beth come back. All you’ve ever done is get the ones who love you hurt!’ She groans as she pulls, and she could swear that she felt the axe move.

She doesn’t let up the pressure for one second.

She knows this is her last chance to get it free. If she doesn’t get it done, then that thing will tear her to pieces. She can’t let it get her. She spent her whole life trying to take on the things in this town that killed Maddie. ‘Pull dammit! You didn’t last this long and put up with so much pain just to die here in these damn woods!’

The hulking creature runs, and she gives out a guttural yell. She didn’t know it could run. She heaves as she feels the hulking creature bearing down on her.

Her fingers start to slip off of the worn handle, but

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she doesn’t stop. The next moments seem to stretch on for hours as the hulking creature gets ever closer, but the axe doesn’t move. When the hulking creature gets so close that she can see the different shades of green and yellow of the skin, she gives one final surge of strength enhanced by terror. The axe flies free.

When the resistance of the axe ends suddenly, she flies backwards and ends up sprawled on the ground. She gives a loud laugh filled with surprise after finally freeing the axe. While it hurt, the fall was a blessing. It took her out of the way as the hulking creature’s claws slash down. Chunks of wood from the stump scatter around the path.

The hulking creature turns to face her as she struggles from pain and mounting panic. The hulking creature’s smile never falters. The gurgling heavy breathing threatens to turn her brain off as much as the exertion wants to shut down her body.

She crab-walks backwards until she feels the sharp edge of a large rock press into her bruised back.

She uses the leverage to help stand up just as the creature starts lunging for another attack. As the fear and adrenaline start to lose out to exhaustion, she reaches deep inside and uses the last of her fading energy to lift the axe. The blade arcs in a half circle in front of her. Time seems to slow as she realizes that all of her effort, pain, and loss was for nothing. The blade strikes the dirt instead of the hulking creature.

She leans on the axe handle for support.

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Adopting a stance like a boxer who knows this is his last round, she stands on the balls of her feet ready to use whatever she has left to swing the axe.

She wants to shove the blade through the thing’s head before she falls. “Come on! Let’s go!”

If a creature that looks like the one before her should really exist, it should never have the ability to make the sounds that it is making now. The hulking creature’s dead tongue licks over the rotted teeth. The head tilts one way and then another before it speaks in Maddie’s voice. “Why did you let me die? It hurt so much. I thought you’d save me. I called for you, but you let it get me.”

Her exhausted mind cannot take any more.

She knows that Maddie’s accusations are right. It is all her fault. The pain and guilt overwhelm her, and her mind shuts down. The more that the voice continues, the further she falls into darkness. Her ability for rational thought is nearly gone. Civilization is a trap for our more primal side. Her mind activates that primal mode as a self-defense mechanism for one more strike. ‘I am not giving in to this thing! It will not take me!’

When she screams, she swings the axe with her remaining strength. The axe swings in a wide arc, whistling through the air as it slices. It’s not enough.

The creature’s sloshing hand swats the axe out of her grip, and it laughs. The gurgling cacophony of a

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drowning ship full of people. She knows she’s dead.

She’s accepted it. That animal part of the brain knows that she doesn’t have anything left and she tilts her head. The movement exposing her neck.

*************************

John dives into the back of the hulking creature’s knees, a squishing sound is accompanied by a snapping of whatever passes for a bone in it’s leg.

It falls to the ground. A reflection of light off of metal reveals the axe lying in the dirt. He picks it up, stands up, and swings the axe over his head. As he brings it down, the hulking creature looks up.

He ignores every piece of pain, every cut, and every bruise he’s taken over the last couple of days. He uses frustration and anger to power the blow. When he swings, the air sings a deadly song. The steel blade of the axe rends the air and cleaves the soft, wet flesh of the hulking creature’s neck. A snapping sound, a spurt of green liquid, and the axe slices through sending a spout of water and yellow ichor into the air. When the axe finishes the deadly arc, it ends up buried into the ground.

The hulking creature’s head rolls along the ground leaving a trail of yellow-green blood that looks more like swamp water. The foggy, white eyes focus on him, and oddly seem clearer than they were before. One last burbling laugh sends spittle and broken teeth to the forest floor.

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Slowly, the hulking creature’s body dissolves with wisps of green smoke pouring from the carcass, hanging close to the ground like the mist blanketing a swamp. Decaying flesh exposes wooden sticks for bones and pours out more of the swamp water blood to soak into the ground. In a short while, the hulking creature is gone, like it was never there. Even the smell dissipates, something he’s grateful for. He hopes the hulking creature is really gone. Caroline stands shakily and breathes deeply a few times. “Oh my God. I hate this town!”

“Not really fond of it myself.” He limps over to Caroline and reaches out to help keep her steady.

When she’s standing, he scans and listens for any trace of where the monster took Beth. ‘It’s gone. I lost her. I’m gonna need help to find her after I get Caroline back safely.’

“You know. Normally, I wouldn’t feel comfortable talking about things like this.” Caroline takes the offered arm and together they hold each other up. “People just aren’t ready to hear about the monsters living in this town, but I figure since you just saved me from one, you might be ready.”

Wiping sweat and blood from his forehead, he takes a deep breath that holds more than oxygen.

When he exhales, he pushes out the rest of the wall that was keeping him from truly understanding. He doesn’t want to believe in this stuff. He shouldn’t, but here it is. He fought it. He barely survived it. He

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pulls open those files he’s been collecting in his mind and looks through each one, carefully examining the evidence. After everything he’s seen, it’s getting harder to ignore the strangeness. “Yeah, hard to deny it with what we just saw.”

Reaching for his gun, he’s hoping for the familiar weight in his hand. When it isn’t there, he has a moment of panic before remembering it was knocked out of his hand. He limps back to where they first were attacked and starts hunting for a glint of metal in the brush. He sees the pistol under some ferns and picks it up. He wipes the dirt off on his bloody shirt, cursing to himself, and puts it back into the holster feeling a little more normal.

Pacing back and forth, she searches the clearing. “I could swear there was a path here.”

“Had something like that happen last night.”

He inhales deeply to clear his head. The cuts and bruises making it difficult. “Took us right to your place.”

“Well, it doesn’t seem to be there now.”

Caroline gestures to the now full forest.

“Well, the car should be back that way. Let’s get going.” He looks around the clearing, trying to get his bearings. “We need to get back and call the Chief and report Beth missing. We need their help.”

“And get a shower.” They both walk off into the forest. “Maybe something real to eat.”

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When they’re walking along, Caroline looks off into the distance. “I think I know where we are.

We camped over there.”

“I noticed that too.” John pauses. “I wasn’t going to say anything. I figured it might be too much right now.”

“I need to tell you something.” Caroline looks like she’s struggling to move. “Billy. He’s gone. The monster killed him. Right in front of me.”

His jaw drops, but he quickly regains his composure. “Caroline. I’m so sorry.”

“Thank you.” A shaking hand pushes back dirty hair and she looks at him. “There was nothing I could do. I...Look, let’s get out of here. We can talk more when we’re not in the most haunted woods in America.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” Scanning the forest, he’s on alert for anything watching or waiting to pounce.

“Let’s get moving.”

They pass by the clearing where they gathered for the search and continue down the path to the parking lot. The parking lot is empty except for John’s car. He places the axe into his trunk before gingerly climbing into the front seat. Caroline is standing in the gravel lot, looking all around. “Dude, where’s my car?”

For the whole drive back to Caroline’s, they sit in silence. John’s been thinking of how to get the

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information from her, but there’s no easy way to do it.

When they pull up in front of the house, he decides that the direct way is the best way. “Listen…I need you to tell me, what happened to you. Anything you know can help us find Beth.”

Caroline grabs the key from the gnome and opens the front door to her home. “It started simple enough. After Maddie died, I was obsessed with finding whatever did this. I started this all alone.

I didn’t have much luck, but then a couple years ago I met some people who had their own painful experience in this town.”

Tossing the key down on the coffee table, she walks into the kitchen to grab a couple bottles of water.

“We came together and started this group. We call ourselves The Citizens. We were trying to investigate and stop this town’s weirdness. There’s where I met Billy. We thought looking into the strange stories was a way to help me deal with Madison and Billy to help deal with what the cultists did to his older brother.

We ended up falling for each other. Shared trauma has a way of bringing people together.”

Caroline throws him a bottle of water and sits on her couch. “Even after we got married, we still kept searching. We found someone who was amazing at research. He lost something important, but that’s his story to tell. With his help, we started seeing weird patterns everywhere, like everything was, I

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don’t know, connected. Things started to get really serious with more frequent occurrences, or maybe we were just more informed and able to recognize the incidents. Anyway, last week we all met here…”

Chapter 7

Caroline, Billy, and a few others are gathered in her home. There’s a small man with dark hair passing drinks out to the rest of the group. A large whiteboard on wheels sits in her living room. She listens to the casual conversation and, while she knows that they’re about to talk about a dark topic, these moments of happiness are rare and should be cherished.

At the very top of the board in large letters is the phrase: The Citizens. She scans the whiteboard looking over their collection of strange events, missing person’s reports, death notices, and articles referencing strange sightings. Some things are crossed out, others are circled, and a few are even underlined.

Lines are drawn connecting several of the different notices and events.

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“We all know something is coming.” She walks over to the board and points to a label that reads The Asylum. “When we did our investigation, we saw the ghosts there, and we got some really good EVPs.”

Grabbing a red marker, she draws a line from The Asylum to an event titled The Cult. “We followed those robed weirdos to the cemetery and stopped whatever they were doing, but what we’re after this time is something else.”

Billy’s long, red hair is pulled back into a tail.

He’s wearing an old jean jacket over a black t-shirt.

His jeans are well worn. He looks around the board trying to understand what connection she’s trying to make. “So, what’re we looking at here?”

The dark haired man holds out a glass to her, and she takes the offered drink. “Thanks Reese. I have no idea what the thing is, but it has to be important.

Whoever is in charge of this delivery sent out those robed cult people to secure it. If they want it, it is our job to keep it from them. We’ve all been hurt by these people, and we can’t let them hurt anyone else.”

Reese finishes handing out the drinks and sits on the edge of a chair with his glass of port. He points at an image in the corner of the whiteboard.

“We believe that this is where they’ve been storing deliveries from the cultists. We think it’s the town hall, but we don’t have definitive proof. The armored trucks always pull up at night in back of the pharmacy.

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A few days later, someone delivers the package to its final destination.”

Billy steps away from the board, walking around the room. “Yeah, but we can’t just jump anyone coming out of there. What if it’s a lady getting her gramma’s heart meds?”

“I tend to agree. So, the best time to take it would be at the pharmacy when it’s being delivered.”

Reese waves at the whiteboard and quickly stands.

With all of his movement, Reese accidentally spills some of his drink on his tweed sweater vest, the stain lost amongst the blinding pattern.

“We need to figure out how we can get the next package, regardless of what it is, from the back of this armored vehicle before they give it to whomever the contact is.” Reese pulls out a handkerchief from his pocket and dabs at the stain.

She inspects the board carefully. She looks over the connections and skims the articles that she’s already read several times. She’s willing the articles to give her new information that she didn’t have earlier.

Tracing her hand along the drawn lines helps her to organize her thoughts.

A larger man with a bald head, glasses, and well-worn leather jacket carefully sets down his favorite baseball bat with barbed wire, leaning it against the wall next to him. She’s not sure what brought him to The Citizens, but she’s always been glad to have him around. “Hey R.D. Did you get any new info?”

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R.D. is short for Reginald Davidson, but he prefers R.D. and has ever since he was a kid. He wrings his hands a little, nervous at the question.

“Uh…yeah. We did, but are you sure you wanna know?”

“Just give us the overview.” Clearly uncomfortable, Reese holds a hand up to pause R.D.

“We don’t need every detail.”

“Right. Right.” R.D. nods along. “Well, let’s just say that we found one of those cult people by himself. We were able to…coax some information out of him.”

R.D. looks at his resting bat, and he seems lost in thought. “He didn’t know what they were bringing in, but he did say they’re coming in tomorrow night around 2 a.m.”

“Okay. So, we have time to get ready.” Caroline looks at the board again.

“Do we want to know what you guys did with the cultist?” Billy sets his drink down.

R.D. looks over at Billy. “Yeah, maybe you don’t. He’s still alive, sore, but secure. We’ll let him go when this is all done. Right, Robert?”

“Of course.” A bearded man, older than the rest of them, leans against the opening to the kitchen.

He has a cup of coffee in his hand. His beard and long hair are fully gray, his hair tied back in a ponytail.

He looks like an athletic Santa Clause in his round

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glasses, hoodie, and sweatpants. “Yeah. Absolutely.

George and Nissa are watching over him now. No need to worry about him, but I don’t like leaving them alone for too long. Something’s off about these cultists.”

“Good to hear he’s secure.” Billy looks both relieved and scared at the same time. “Now…about tomorrow night.”

Reese stands up and walks over to the whiteboard. He turns it over to a clean side and picks up a marker from the tray. “The first thing we need to decide is; who is going and who is staying.”

“Well, we should take as many as we can. We can’t risk this thing getting into the wrong hands.”

R.D. moves to stand with Reese.

Billy joins them. “We don’t know what it is though. Is it a weapon, a bomb, or some tinker toys?”

“Well, it can’t be anything good if they’re going to all this trouble to hide it.” She sits on her couch looking at the group.

“The guy said it was small, but he wasn’t sure what was in it.” R.D. turns to look at her. “Said his master didn’t tell them such things. Can you believe that? Someone in this day having a damn master?”

Reese draws a few squares. One for the town hall, one for the police station next to it on the left, and a few more for the different shops on the main strip. In the center of town he draws a large public

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park, it runs from one end of town to the other. He put a stick figure at the top of the park for the giant statue of the town founder.

Reese draws in the main road that travels around the park. On the left side of the map, he put squares from top to bottom to represent the community center, pharmacy, bank, and finally the diner. “The pharmacy should be our main focus.

Getting the object before they can deliver it is vital.”

On the right side of the map, squares were drawn for the funeral home, hardware store, theater, and general store. He draws each of the roads leading out of town to the residential area and to other parts of Slaughterville.

“We can park here, out of sight.” He points to a patch of trees that he drew in the town’s park.

“They’re thick enough at this time of year to hide our van so the approaching truck won’t see it.”

“They’ll be bringing the package in the back of the pharmacy, so we should go behind the bank.”

Robert looks the map over. “Then we can see when the truck pulls up.”

Reese looks over the map. “That would give us a good vantage point, but you must remember that the bank probably has security cameras all over the place. Wouldn’t do to get caught.”

“If we knew what direction it was coming from, we could just set up something to stop the

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truck before it gets to the pharmacy and take it then.”

Billy refills his glass.

“He didn’t know much about the route.”

R.D. rubs his knuckles absently. “Just knew that it was coming tomorrow, and he didn’t know who was supposed to pick it up.”

Feeling uneasy, a pervasive, negative part of her is questioning if they can really do this. “There’s a lot of shops along the strip. Lots of cameras.”

“Okay. Look.” Robert holds up his hands telling them to wait a second. “We know that the truck is coming to the pharmacy, right? That leaves only two ways it can come in. From the top by the community center or from the bottom by the diner.”

Robert circles the two sections of the map and then draws lines at the top and bottom of the road. “If we set up barricades that look like road construction here and here, the truck will have to stop at either end. Then we take the package and meet at the car in the middle. The one that sees the truck will radio that it’s there so the others know to remove their barricade and meet at the van.”

R.D. looks at Robert. “I had no idea you were a criminal in your youth. That was what…84 years ago?”

“Oh ha! Ha, Ha.” Robert fake laughs. “That was so funny. At least I have hair.”

Everyone in the room laughs. The tension

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that they all felt breaks. Caroline lets them continue.

‘They need this.’ She stands up from the couch and waits for the last remnants of laughter to die down.

“OK. Now that we have a plan, we’ll take tomorrow to get everything ready and set up.” She addresses the group, gesturing at the map as she does. “Billy and I will bring the walkie-talkies. R.D., you and Billy get the barricades. We’ll set them up around midnight just in case they’re early. Billy, you and Robert can take one end of the street by the diner. R.D. and I will take the other end by the Community Center. Reese, you’ll be at the van. We need you in the middle in case one of us needs help.

You’re our escape plan.”

Clapping her hands, she continues. “Now, someone needs to go and relieve George and Nissa for the night.”

“I’ll go.” Reese holds up his hand.

“Me too.” Robert waves. “They can come back and relieve us so we can rest before the…event.”

“Okay. Good. Now the rest of us, get some sleep.” Caroline claps her hands together. “Good night, everyone. I know everyone is nervous, but we got this!”

After a few minutes, everyone files out of the house, saying goodbyes as they do. She and Billy are left alone to ponder what’s about to happen. Billy puts his glass in the sink. “You think this is wise?”

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Grabbing a sponge to help with the cleanup, she stands next to him at the sink. “Not like we haven’t been after them for a couple years. We finally have some good information. We need to go for it. We need to stop them so that there are no more Maddie’s in this damn town.”

“No. I get it.” Billy holds up a placating hand.

“I know why we’re doing this. We’ve all lost someone to this town. But…what if it’s a trap? What if they know who we are, and this guy was sent there to tell us what we wanted to hear?”

“I know.” She stares absently out the small kitchen window into the darkness. “I thought the same thing. I just don’t think we can risk letting them get something they obviously need.”

“Well, at least we have the rest of the group to help in case we need them.” Billy dries his hands.

“Come on. Let’s get to bed. It’s a long day tomorrow.”

The next day goes by both too quickly and not fast enough. The anticipation of the evening’s event weighs on her mind. She knows she has to hurt these cultists like they hurt her family. ‘Am I ready to take on something so huge though? Do I really want to put my friends in danger? No…they’re old enough to make their own decisions. If they didn’t want to be here, they wouldn’t be. Right?’

That evening, by the stroke of midnight, the barricades are all set up. Each of them are in their

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positions with Reese waiting next to their van, ready to start it up for a quick getaway. She looks over at R.D. and is impressed by his calmness. He looks like he’s been practicing for things like this his entire life.

Whatever thought she was going to have next left her as she nearly jumps out of her position. A squelching noise seems to fill the silence of the night as someone keys the walkie-talkies for a radio check.

She looks all around the town square and at the shops, but no one comes out to check on it. Maybe they are alone and this was all a setup.

R.D. doesn’t move. He’s perched there on the balls of his feet, ready to act in an instant. She wonders just what he used to do before coming to Slaughterville. Her mind is in the middle of inventing an elaborate backstory for her friend when something snaps her back to reality.

It’s just after 1:30 a.m. when the diesel engine growls as the armored truck finally pulls up in front of the northern barricade. She and R.D. watch from their hiding spot as the driver gets out to move the barricade, but he seems concerned about the strangeness of it all. He puts a hand on the barricade to move it, but then takes it off. He rubs his chin, craning his head to see all around.

She’s initially stunned when she sees the driver.

He’s dressed like everyone else. There’s nothing on him that screams, ‘Look at me! I’m evil!’ She stares

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at the driver. ‘He looks so...normal. How far does this reach if they can have people like him working for them? He looks like someone who could be my neighbor, but here he is like an evil FedEx!’

She’s not sure what happened in that instant.

Maybe he caught sight of them, maybe he smelled R.D.’s cologne, or maybe that lizard part of the brain is telling him something is wrong. Whatever the reason, the driver starts moving, cautiously at first. He backs away from the barricade, his head darting back and forth. She knows that they’re busted when the driver looks right at them, and his entire demeanor changes. He runs back to the truck.

A surprising burst of speed sends R.D. rocketing towards the driver. His footsteps are strangely quiet as he runs, like he was trained to act in silence. Like a missile, R.D. is locked on his target.

No longer caring about the noise it will make, she hits her radio and calls the others. “Guys! He’s trying to bolt! Come here. Now!”

As the driver is climbing into the truck, R.D.

slams a shoulder into the truck’s heavy door. It pins the driver in place. He whips the door open and spins the stunned man around, facing away from R.D.

R.D. wraps a large arm around the neck of the driver and lifts him off the ground. The choke hold making the driver’s legs shake and kick. Until they stop. The guard goes limp, and R.D. sets him on the ground, carefully.

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She jogs over, not as stealthy as R.D., looking for signs that someone saw them. Seeing no one, she kneels down next to the driver, checking his pulse.

She breathes a sigh of relief. It’s still there. “What was that?”

Still in the zone of an adrenaline rush, R.D.

goes through the guard’s pockets. “You thought we were gonna ask him nicely and maybe the evil cult would just hand over their package? Besides, he spotted us. I had to do something. Now, where’s the key?” R.D. pulls out a key for the truck’s back door from the driver’s pocket. “Got it.”

R.D. hands her the key and she goes to the back of the truck, while R.D. stays with the driver.

She wants to get whatever is inside and be gone as fast as possible. Inside of the truck is a box. A decorated wooden box with a bronze clasp. It looks old, but well kept. It’s securely tied down to keep it from moving.

There are strange designs carved into the lid, but they don’t have time to decipher them now. She pulls out a knife and cuts the straps. As she picks up the box, she notices it feels heavier than it looks like it should.

‘Whatever’s inside must be really heavy.’

By the time she jumps out of the back of the truck, R.D. is already lifting the driver to throw him into the back of the truck. When R.D. closes the doors, the stress and adrenaline must have gotten to him because the doors close with a bang that echoes clearly.

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The van pulls next to them, the side door open. Reese motions for them to hurry inside. From down the street, Billy and George run towards them, George lagging somewhat behind. She lets out a string of expletives as a light in the pharmacy comes on. A group of people in robes comes pouring out.

They point at the van and charge. She can feel panic set in as robed cultists run right at them. She and R.D. leap into the van, trusting in Reese to pick up Billy and George and get them to safety.

The van’s headlights are suddenly bright as the engine revs. The tires squeal as the van whips in a half circle, nearly tipping from the inertia. It barrels up the street in front of the pharmacy, scattering cultists and knocking some down.

The van slams to a stop next to Billy and George. They dive inside. She makes sure to protect the object they stole as she gives thanks that her friends are safe...so far. R.D. slams the van door closed.

Reese whips the van to the left and drives through the park, spitting up grass behind them as he slides and skids, speeding away from the cultists.

When the unlikely group of thieves make it onto the opposite street next to the hardware store, Reese slams the gas pedal down, taking off into the night, the cultists left alone in the street.

Reese is in the driver’s seat, the pedal practically stuck to the floor. “Think they followed us?”

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In the back of the van, R.D. is constantly looking out the rear window. “I don’t see any other vehicles, so I think we’re safe.”

Billy grins and leans over Reese’s seat. “So, why are you still driving like we’re in the Indy 500?”

Reese slows down a bit. “Right. Sorry.”

“I’ll take the van to my place.” Robert turns to look at Reese, sweat streaming from his forehead.

“I have a barn I can hide it in for now. Then, I’ll get George and Nissa and we’ll put that guy somewhere he’ll be found. Damn. Not sure how much longer I can take all this excitement. I may have to retire soon.”

“Oh, come on. You’re not that old.” R.D. claps him on the shoulder. “You’ve got at least a good two to three weeks left in you.”

They all laugh despite their fear. Reality will come crashing down soon, so they allow this moment of levity to happen. The van stops in front of her place. The entire drive took only a few minutes, but it seemed so much longer. They quickly pile out, looking around in the darkness for headlights coming up the road behind them or strange figures to pounce from the nearby hedges.

Robert moves around the front of the van to get into the driver’s seat. Once everyone is out of the vehicle, he drives off. She watches and wonders if that’s the last time she’ll see those taillights and Robert.

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When they’re inside, she locks her door. She leads them all to the kitchen table and sets the box on it. The bronze clasp opens easily, but the feeling that it sends through them all makes their souls feel slimy.

She looks over the symbols on the lid, but she doesn’t recognize them. “I don’t like this. Are you sure we should be opening it? It feels...wrong.”

Reese crouches down just enough to get a close look at the box. He runs a hand over the symbols and studies them carefully. He traces each one of them gingerly. “I’m sure that I might have seen something like this, but without more research, I won’t know for sure. At first glance, they seem to be for protection or disguise.” Reese opens the lid.

Billy gasps audibly. “What the hell man! That thing could have been filled with anything. Scorpions.

Poison.”

“Yeah, gotta agree.” R.D. raises an eyebrow even as he steps back away from the box. “That was kinda crazy, but I guess crazy is our thing now.”

She reaches inside the box and pulls out an old book. The cover is thick leather. The tanned skin of some creature that she doesn’t want to think about.

It feels scaly, pebbly, and pulsing. ‘Feels like the book is alive. Like it has a heartbeat.’ She hands it to Reese and feels better just having it out of her hands.

Reese turns it over and looks at the book from all angles. “Just what is this?” He sits down in the chair and places the book on the table.

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She’s sure that Reese barely notices them. They could all start a dance off, and Reese would still be engrossed. She looks over his shoulder as he opens the book. “Not sure, but if they went to all this trouble to hide it coming in, it has to be important. Right?”

“And if they wanted it, we need to keep it from them.” Billy grabs a pack of lunch meat from the fridge and tosses it to R.D.

“Don’t even know who they are exactly.” R.D.

pulls out a few slices of meat and starts eating.

Reese’s hand reaches out to touch the pages of the book. “The page’s feel...rough. Stiff like it’s some kind of thin leather or thick parchment.” He leans closer to the book, studying the writing. “Are you seeing this?”

The letters on the page are moving. The symbols shift and switch the more they’re observed.

She starts to sway and feels like she’s going to be sick.

Reese closes the cover and rubs a hand over his eyes.

“I can’t do this. I don’t think we’re meant to see it.”

“Well, great.” Billy throws his hands up and turns away. “This was for nothing.”

“Wouldn’t say it was for nothing.” R.D. throws the empty plastic bag into the garbage can. “We may not know what it is, but at least they don’t have it.

That’s something.”

“Well.” Reese puts the book back into the box.

He holds up a finger in contemplation. “There is something we can try. Do you remember Dwayne?”

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“Who?” Billy looks confused.

“You remember him, man.” R.D. walks over to the table and pushes the wooden box closer to Reese. “He’s the guy who kept shouting to everyone that he could see things. Said he could hear things.

Said people weren’t really who they claimed they were. That nothing in the town was real.”

“I remember.” She stands up straight, keeping a hand on the back of Reese’s chair. “No one believed the guy. Who would? So, he got tired of trying to make people believe, and he left town. Last I heard he lives in the woods by himself.”

Billy stands next to her. “Is that the guy the mayor tried to have committed?”

“Yes, I remember hearing about that.” Reese closes the wooden box, securing the clasp. “If only we knew then what we know now. We would have paid more attention to poor Dwayne.”

Billy yawns out of reflex. “Sorry. Tired. And Dwayne the Hermit is our only option?”

“Unless you have another idea, that’s the best plan I have right now.” Reese stands and rubs his eyes. “Billy and Caroline can head into the forest. If you’re questioned, you can tell anyone who asks that you’re camping. Nothing odd about a young couple camping in the woods for a romantic getaway. R.D.

and I will gather the others and try to see if any more shipments are incoming. If we find out anything in the meantime, we will keep you informed.”

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“Do we even know where he’s at?” Billy paces around the room.

She puts a hand on his shoulder. “I know we’re all tired and frustrated, but this is a good plan.

I heard a lot of stories about people seeing him near the old campground. We can start in that area. We’ll set up camp and hike around. At least we’ll get some alone time.”

“Well, at least we have a place to start.” R.D.

stretches and yawns. “I need to get to bed.”

Each of them agrees that Reese should hide the book and not tell anyone else where it is. That should keep it out of the hands of those people. After everyone leaves, she and Billy know they won’t be able to sleep right away, especially not with the worry that they were followed. Instead, they gather up the supplies for their camping trip. Once their car is packed, they get showers and a few hours rest.

When she wakes up the next morning, closer to mid-morning, the weight of the night’s activities hits her. She sits on the edge of the bed for a long time just breathing, centering herself. She thinks back on what they’ve done and can’t believe she’s still here. She almost breaks down when she realizes they kidnapped and, probably, tortured someone. ‘Oh my God. We kidnapped someone. We took someone off the street and tortured them! How? How can I be a part of that?’

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The mirror mounted above her dresser shows someone filled with frustration, fear, and torment.

She barely recognizes her reflection. She sees the back yard in the mirror and remembers. ‘That’s why I have to do this. No matter what it does to me, I have to do this for her.’ She stands and walks over to the mirror, daring it to rebuke her. “We’re the good guys.”

“Hello?” Billy calls from the living room, the smell of a pot of coffee brewing dragging her out of her reverie. “You say something?”

“No.” She turns from the mirror and gets dressed. “Just talking to myself.”

Billy is out there making all sorts of noise and she, who is most definitely not a morning person, just wants to go back to bed. She knows she can’t.

What they have to do is too important. “I’ll be right out.”

After she finishes up, she slowly shuffles into the living room. “I think you just might be an angel sent from Heaven, Billy Moore.” On the coffee table is a plate of bacon and eggs along with the dark liquid she craves. She’s not a philistine, it has cream and sugar, but she does like it strong.

They finish their breakfast, but don’t want to put off things any longer. They drive to the area where they heard Dwayne had been seen either rummaging through trash or taking food from unsuspecting campers. A few hundred yards into the forest and

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they set up camp. Billy takes his time with the tent and she unloads her pack.

“Should be a good central spot to start a search.” Billy looks around the spot. “Now…where is this guy?”

She puts a few items in her backpack. Water, energy bars, and other necessities. She checks that she put in their flashlights and that they still worked.

Never can be too careful in this town. “We best get looking. We won’t find him here. Let’s start that way.”

“This will help us find our way back.” Billy pulls out a set of some metal objects that look like large thumbtacks. Their faces are bright orange and the sun reflects off of them brightly. “Put them in the trees, shine a light, and boom…instant path back to camp.”

“I hadn’t thought of that.” Caroline’s impressed.

“Where’d you get those?”

Billy turns them over in his hand. “My dad used to use them all the time when we hunted.

Helped us find our stands in the dark before sunrise.”

Every dozen yards or so, Billy would push one of those large tacks into a tree. After one of these times, he comes back to her laughing. “Ha!”

“What’s so funny?” She gives him a confused stare.

“I put two in that one. Someone’s gonna think

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theres a really tall animal out there.” He jumps over a log and back onto the path.

“Sometimes, I just don’t know about you.”

Caroline shakes her head as they walk.

They walk for a while, and she marvels at how he can get around so easily in these woods. She never had that much of a sense of direction. She puts a hand up to block the sun from her eyes. “Didn’t we come through here earlier? It looks kinda familiar.”

“This forest is definitely weird.” Billy steps confidently over a fallen tree branch. He moves like he’s done this forever. “Same things happened to us when we were younger. Sometimes it looked like the trees moved or the paths changed. Figured we were just getting turned around. Looks like we’re on a good path though.” Billy shines a light backward and even in the light of day she can see some reflection from those tacks in the trees.

“Well, as long as you know where we are. I guess we should keep going.” She checks all around her. “It’s nice out here. If we weren’t looking for an insane hermit, I might even say it was pleasant.”

After another hour or so of walking, they come across a wall of brush. Like it was put there purposely to hide something. She touches it. “Looks like it was made.”

“Yeah,” Billy looks it over carefully. “it looks

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like a homemade blind. Sticks and brush piled up for camouflage. This could be it.”

They push the brush aside and walk through the opening. In between a set of large trees is a ramshackle shack. It’s clearly made from whatever wood was lying around. That doesn’t mean that it’s not nice. She’d like to retire to someplace like this once all of this town’s business is taken care of.

Billy crouches low and walks very slowly. He deliberately puts his feet in spots to avoid making noise. She follows, making sure to step in the same places. When they reach the bottom of the stairs leading up to the cabin’s door, Billy stops suddenly.

“Something’s wrong.” Billy puts a foot on the bottom stair, like he’s not sure that he wants to go inside. He reaches behind himself and holds out a hand to stop her from coming closer. “Can you feel it? Something’s just not right...”

She feels the dread, too. It’s an ominous feeling worming its way inside her, making it hard to take in a breath. She gives a quick, shallow inhale and is hit by a strange smell that seems to have appeared out of nowhere. She looks up at the shack’s open door. “We have to go in. He could be in there, and we need his help. Or maybe he needs our help. Either way, we can’t stay out here.”

“We need to be careful.” Billy takes a tentative step up the stairs. Their creaking gives him pause.

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“Stay behind me.” Billy pushes on the door to the shack, opening it all the way.

The smell that they thought was strong was tame compared to what comes pouring out of the shack. The smell is like a physical punch in the nose.

She’s far enough away that she only gags, but Billy opened the door. He stumbles back down the stairs and gets sick all over the forest floor.

There are no lights on inside the cabin. The electric company wouldn’t be welcome here anyway.

There are no solar panels, but there are plenty of open windows. The sunlight shines through them trying its best to disinfect whatever is making that smell.

They walk through the doorway, and they’re in the living area of the small shack. There’s an old recliner chair that one would have called red if it hadn’t faded from being in the sun into more of a puce. Someone is sitting in the chair, facing the open window away from them.

“Dwayne?” Caroline tentatively calls out to the person in the chair. “Hello?”

“Something’s not right here.” Billy reaches out and grabs her arm. He pulls her towards him. “Feels like someone’s watching us. Can’t really explain what it is...I think we should leave. We don’t need to be able to read the book to keep it away from those cult people.”

“We need this guy.” She steps forward,

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carefully putting one foot down securely before lifting the other. “It’s the reason we’re here. If Reese can use what Dwayne tells us to give us an advantage, we gotta take the chance.”

“Fine,” Billy shakes his head. “but let’s be quick and get out of here.” He steps around the chair, the smell making his eyes water. She’s close, but she tries to stay back. Billy curses and jumps back. She gasps and inhales more of that horrid smell making her head swim and her stomach turn.

The gruesome display in the chair might be described as an older man, but they can’t be entirely sure. His face and chest are completely shredded. She stares in horror. His internal organs are sitting in his lap, there’s a strange marking carved on his forehead, and… ‘Why? Why did they remove his eyes?’

She backs up against a wall, her hand covering her mouth, her eyes never leaving the carnage. She knew there was danger in what they did, but she didn’t imagine that it could end up like this. That one of them would be left in a dark cabin in the woods torn to pieces and discarded. “Oh God…”

Billy backs away from the chair, his wide, fear-filled eyes staring at the grisly sight. He moves towards the door they came in while horribly fascinated at the state of the disemboweled corpse. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

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Billy screams in pain and terror. He never saw the claws that whistled through the air, but he felt them slide across his throat, tearing his neck to ribbons and sending a fountain of blood falling freely. He gasps as he falls. From the deep furrows carved into his neck, rivers of blood flow and stain the wood floor. Billy’s life drips through the cracks in the floor to land in the dirt below. He has a few, precious, moments left, and he uses them to look up into Caroline’s eyes. His pain-filled face wills her to run. He tries to reach out to her, to grab her, to protect her, but he can’t move. He needs to tell her he loves her. He wants to scream it, but each breath comes shorter and faster until they stop.

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Caroline’s eyes go wide as she runs to catch Billy. She falls to her knees, sliding in the ever widening pool of his blood. She calls his name, but he can’t hear her anymore. She pulls his body close to her, trying to find any sign of life. His head flops to the side, exposing the meat and bone underneath, as his blank eyes stare at nothing. Billy’s blood still pours out and covers her clothes as she sobs, rubbing a hand over his cheek and apologizing. Her tears turn her vision blurry.

Rocking back and forth, she holds Billy’s body tightly as she weeps. A growl, or was it a laugh, makes her look up into the muzzled face of the nightmare

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she’s had since she was a child. It’s deep black fur mottled red with Billy’s blood. It’s gray ears twitch.

The face of the monster that put her on this path.

The face that killed Maddie and now Billy.

She freezes. She wants to move, run, or fight this thing. She wants to tear it to pieces just like it’s done to those she loves, but she can’t. Despite all of the crazy things she’s seen in Slaughterville, this is just too much for her. She lets the instinctual part of her brain take over. She screams a pain filled challenge at the werewolf. She puts a protective arm around Billy as the werewolf stalks towards her.

A giant bear trap maw of teeth opens wide above her. So hungry is the werewolf that saliva drips down onto Billy’s corpse. It growls deep and low; the sound reverberating in the small room and punching her in the soul. The werewolf draws back a clawed hand still covered in Billy’s blood and she’s back in that forest when she was a kid.

She sees Maddie’s torn clothes on the thing’s claws. She smells the wet dirt as the rain fell. She feels the charge of ozone right before lightning strikes.

She pulls Billy in tighter wishing she could have held Maddie one more time. She closes her eyes knowing that once it’s all over, she’ll be with Billy and Maddie.

A voice opens her eyes. “Enough. I told you not to kill them. We need them to find the book.” A tall thin man stands in the doorway. He walks into

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the shack and stands next to the werewolf, clearly unafraid. He looks down at her and Billy in disgust.

He makes a tutting sound before turning away. “Take her to the cave. We need her for now. Make sure she talks. And get her new clothes. I don’t want your pack’s hunger getting the better of them. Oh, and keep her guarded at all times.”

The Tall Thin Man kneels down in front of her. She looks up into his face. He gives her a small smile filled with malice and condescension. “Well, well. We weren’t expecting you so soon. We knew the same people who took the book might come here, so we took care of the problem. Now that you’re here, we’ll need that book.”

“I...I don’t...” Caroline’s mouth opens and closes as she struggles to breathe and speak through the grief.

“I was afraid of that. Well, he won’t tell me where it is.” The Tall Thin Man takes a handful of Billy’s hair in his hand and turns the dead eyes towards him so that he can look into where Billy’s soul used to be. He lets it go to fall against her arms.

“So, it’s up to you.”

A short while later, she can’t be sure how long, she lands on the cold stone as the werewolf drops her. Grief and terror make it hard for her to think of anything but the current moment.

A deep voice comes from a gravelly throat.

“Get dressed.”

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She takes the clothes and looks down at her own blood-covered clothing. She cries again and can’t believe so much has happened. Just this morning she was happy. She had a life that she loved. She had Billy. Now? She’s alone, scared, and about to die. ‘I probably deserve this. I took Maddie into the forest.

I told Billy that we had to go in that shack. It’s my fault.’

A wave of guilt slams into her and she heaves, covering the stone floor in bile and pain. She slides back across the stone until she hits the hard, cold wall. The sharp points of rock dig into her back and she lets the pain distract her. She wants it. ‘I deserve it.’

Pain, physical and emotional, makes her mind swim. Regret, fear, and self-hatred scream at her for a long time. A horrid smell draws her back to the present, and she stares absently at the bloody clothes left in a pile next to her. She remembers the werewolf returning and tying her hands together with strangely deft claws. She’s been alone since then, her thoughts and last images of Billy her only company. She shifts around a little, half-heartedly trying to get the ropes loose. Suddenly, she hears someone talking. A light shines and reveals a small tunnel.

Patient footsteps get closer and closer. The Tall Thin Man from the shack comes into the cave.

“I’m not going to waste any time. I want what you

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and your friends stole. If you don’t give it to me, you will die.”

She slinks back against the wall and tries to find comfort or a place to hide in the cold stone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Let me go. I won’t tell anyone. I promise.” ‘Oh, God. He looks like the guy when Maddie...’

The Tall Thin Man laughs at her and paces around the small chamber. His footsteps echo as he walks. “You really think it matters if you do. We own everything already. If you die here, no one will look for you.”

She knows the only thing she has over them is the book. ‘As soon as they get that book, I’m dead anyway. I can’t tell them where it is and put anyone else in danger. I’ve already lost so much to this town.’

The Tall Thin Man shrugs. “Fine. Stay quiet.

We have some time yet, but not much. Patience is not one of my virtues.” He leaves the cave, leaving her cold, alone, and tied up in the cave.

As soon as the echo of the footsteps fade, she quickly starts tugging, biting, and twisting the ropes trying to get free. They won’t budge. She stands as best as she’s able and starts rubbing them against the sharpest rock she can find. She hears someone moving around in the other part of the cave. It being so close adds to her need to run. She alternates watching the ropes as she tries to cut them and the tunnel in case the werewolf gets hungry.

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She works the rope against the rock for a long time, but she’s no closer to freedom. Her chest heaves from the effort. She feels dizzy and can’t stand any longer. She collapses on the ground from exhaustion, her last thoughts before falling asleep are of Billy.

Screaming and pleading fill her small cavern.

Groggy, she sits up. ‘Sounds like it’s coming from the main cave. Some poor soul.’

The Tall Thin Man comes back into the cave.

He places a lantern onto an iron hook in the wall, lighting the small chamber. She closes her eyes against the light. She’s been in the dark for so long. Behind him comes the werewolf dragging a crying woman by the arm. The woman kicks and screams in her panicked attempt to get free.

‘It’s no use. This woman will die here, too.’

Caroline doesn’t have the energy to flinch when the werewolf tosses the woman roughly onto the stone.

She rolls in the dirt, bounces with each revolution, and squeals in pain when she lands against a large rock.

When the woman looks up, a dirty, but familiar face under a tangle of white hair stares at her. The same face that fed her and her sisters ice cream and held her close after Maddie was killed. “Aunt Janice?”

“Caroline?” A river of tears fall from Janice’s fear filled eyes. “What’s going on? Why am I here?”

The Tall Thin Man ignores Janice’s pleas

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and bends down to look at Caroline. She wants to reach out and strangle him, but she doesn’t have the strength. She has to smell that dank must coming from his robes. “Caroline. We need that book. Give it to us, or she dies.”

“What’s he mean?” Janice looks first at the man, and then at Caroline. “What book?”

“It’s okay, Aunt Janice. We’ll get out of here fine.” She tries to reach out to Aunt Janice. She’s known Aunt Janice since she was a kid. ‘Is that why they brought her?’ “They won’t do anything because they need something.”

“You’re right.” The Tall Thin Man walks over and kneels down next to Aunt Janice. “We do need that book, but we don’t need her.” He pulls out a knife and slices a narrow line down Aunt Janice’s cheek.

As Aunt Janice screams, Caroline stares at the Tall Thin Man. An ember of anger is fanned brighter.

It gives her voice an edge. “Leave her alone. She isn’t part of any of this.”

“I am giving you, and her, one final chance.”

The Tall Thin Man sighs in frustration. “Give us the book and we will leave you both alone.”

Her stubborn streak has always been there ever since she was a kid. She knows it’s gotten her into trouble, but it’s also been something that has given her a lot, too. “I am not giving you that damn book.”

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“Please,” Aunt Janice has a hand up to her face, putting pressure on the cut. “just give it to him.

I don’t wanna die!”

“Janice, if they get it, we’re dead.” She looks into the frightened face of someone her parents loved.

She hears the silent pleading as Janice’s blood leaks through her fingers. Her eyes beg for forgiveness. “It’s the only thing keeping them from winning.”

The Tall Thin Man stands up and waves a hand towards the main cave. “Get in here.”

The werewolf comes thundering into the cave, its head nearly reaching the ceiling, and Janice’s eyes go wide. Her heart breaks as Janice’s sanity leaves her.

It reaches down and easily lifts Janice up by the back of the neck.

“Please…” Janice’s frightened, bloody face looks desperately at Caroline. “Whatever it is they want, just give it to them. I don’t wanna die!”

The Tall Thin Man pulls out a large, curved knife. He turns the blade in the light of the lantern watching the colors change as they danced up and down the blade. He points the knife at Caroline.

“Last chance.”

She wants to scream, lash out, and kill this man. She wants to tell him everything to save Janice, but she knows she can’t because it will put the others in more danger. Instead, she sits there and stares at them. She hopes that this thing can feel the anger and hate that she’s projecting out at them.

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“They’re gonna kill me.” Janice chokes and pulls at the claws grasping her throat. “Please! Give them the book.”

Caroline stands up straight, walking as far as her ropes will allow, getting closer to the werewolf.

She takes a deep, purposeful breath, but doesn’t say anything.

Resigned, the Tall Thin Man throws his hands in the air. “Fine. Remember this death is your fault, too.” He slams the blade into Janice’s stomach and lifts, cutting deeply. Janice screams and clutches her stomach trying to keep her precious blood inside.

She falls to her knees as her intestines flow out from between her fingers. A puddle of blood stretches across the cave floor. Janice topples over, her face splashing in the blood.

The smell is what hits her the most. It reminds her of so many things. Copper, pennies, the cabin, Billy, the forest...Maddie. She cries tears she didn’t think she had left as she lunges for Janice. She strains at the ropes, pulling with all she has. The rope tightens and tears her flesh, but she still reaches. “I am so sorry.”

The Tall Thin Man stares down at her as he moves around the room, never breaking eye contact.

He casually and dismissively gestures at Janice’s bloody remains. “Get that out of here and then clean this trash up. Get someone in here to watch her.”

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The Tall Thin Man turns with an air of aristocracy. He takes the lantern and walks down the tunnel, leaving her alone in the cave with the smell.

She can still smell it long after it’s been washed away by some freaks in robes.

She’s thinks it’s the next day, but she can’t be sure. Her captors try a different tactic. A trio of robed people shuffle into her prison. Each of them takes out a baton made of black wood. The dim light from the lantern they placed on the hook reflects off of the polished wood.

Screams pour freely, filling up the cave with anguish. With each blow, more bruises bloom like dark roses on and under her skin. She doesn’t know how long she was beaten, the pain is all that she can think about. They hit her arms, chest, back, and legs making sure to never hit her in the head. ‘They must be avoiding my head so I don’t forget where the book is.’ They stop hitting her, and she lies there on her stomach.

The cold of the stone floor soothes her bruises.

The robed people never ask her a question, but she knows what they want. They silently stare at her, unmoving and waiting for her to respond to their unasked question.

She doesn’t have much physical strength left.

The lack of food and water in addition to the torture has drained what she had left. Physically, she knows

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that she’s broken, but she pictures Billy and Maddie.

Their faces make her will stronger. ‘Mom always said I was stubborn.’

She pushes herself up, in spite of the pain, and rests on one elbow. Her long hair covers her face and hides her pain. She looks out through the strands and stares at the assembled cultists. ‘I’m probably going to die in this cave. As soon as I tell them what they want to know, they’re going to kill me.’ For the first time, she notices the Tall Thin Man standing there observing and waiting for her to break. She’s not going to give him that pleasure. She won’t let him know that she’s broken. “Oh, hey. When did you get here? Sorry I didn’t get a chance to tidy up.”

Between the blows, she can hear the Tall Thin Man demanding the book’s location. She can feel her mind getting fuzzier, blocking out some of the blows on reflex. She’s sure she passed out a few times.

The pain has turned from sharp and sudden to a deep agony.

She doesn’t even notice when they stop hitting her. The Tall Thin Man is standing there with a hand up casually. She hates him passionately for treating her pain with such dismissiveness. Like he’s doing the laundry.

The Tall Thin Man never takes his eyes off of her as he addresses the cultists. “All of you. Leave.”

‘Oh, God. Let it be over. Just let it all just end.’

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A musky, dirt smell wafts into the cave when another werewolf stalks inside. She’s not sure who the animal is, but it is smaller than the other one. The red hair definitely different, sleeker. It lies down in its spot on the floor making sure that she can’t leave.

The Tall Thin Man places a bottle of water and some scraps of bread onto a plate and puts it in front of her. She sneers at him and kicks it across the room.

He shrugs and leaves her with the werewolf.

She doesn’t remember passing out, but time passes as her life is filled with more of the same. She can’t think of anything except the torture. It continues on and off throughout her captivity. Each time, the Tall Thin Man comes in and asks her for the book.

Each time, she stays silent. The cultists leave and give her time to recover before they come back in and it all starts over again.

After one of the beatings, she finds the strength and uses her cracked, dry throat to curse the Tall Thin Man who hums a strange tune as he walks away. She can hear the bastard talking with someone.

A strange voice comes from the tunnel, speaking reverentially. “Sir. We have news. The sister, Beth, is in town.”

“Beth...” She feels guilty because her first thought was one of hope. She wants Beth to come and save her. The elation leaves quickly as she remembers that Beth isn’t familiar with what’s really happening in the town. Beth hasn’t seen what she’s seen.

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Shutting her eyes, she prays for relief, help, or salvation to rescue her. She knows that Beth won’t hear her, but she hopes that someone out there is listening. ‘Please help. I know I’m dead, but get Beth out of here. She doesn’t know what’s out there. She won’t survive this town.’

“Well, this sister might be good leverage.”

The Tall Thin Man’s laugh echoes down the tunnel.

“Bring her to me.”

The other voice continues. “There might be a problem. She brought someone with her, and he’s a cop.”

She can hear the dismissive tone as the Tall Thin Man speaks. She can sense that he isn’t afraid of being found out. “It might make things interesting, but I know that you will not fail. Bring Beth here.

If our guest won’t talk, let’s see how she likes losing someone she really loves.”

That was the last she saw or heard of the Tall Thin Man and the robed people. They didn’t come back. It was only her and her guard dog alone in the cave. She looks at the sleeping werewolf and wants to run, but she knows she couldn’t escape even without that werewolf lying there in front of her. ‘But I can’t give up. I don’t have much left, but they damn well won’t take it from me!’ She finds the sharpest rock, and continues sawing away at the ropes.

Chapter 8

Caroline pulls her legs up, hugging her knees. Tears cut through the grime on her face leaving tracks of sorrow. She hates that she’s crying because of them.

Even though they can’t see her, she doesn’t want to give them the satisfaction of thinking they broke her spirit. “…and that’s where I was until you found me.

I wouldn’t tell any of them where the book was. They starved me, beat me, and threatened to kill me. The funny thing is, I couldn’t tell them where the book was even if I wanted to. I really don’t know. We gave it to Reese to hide so that no one but us Citizens would know.”

John walks around the living room, using the couch to help keep himself steady. “It might be for the best. As long as we have that, we have leverage.

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I’m surprised you held out. I don’t know many that could have.”

Her eyes lose all focus. She feels haunted.

“Wasn’t much they could do to me after killing Billy and Janice. But now they have Beth, and she’s all I have left! The last time we talked, we argued. I can’t leave it like that.”

She stands up, her legs shaking and knees wobbly from the exertion and turmoil she just experienced. When she gets her balance, she feels a sudden change. She’s more determined. She starts to sway.

John rushes over and helps her to lie back down on the sofa. “You need to rest. You’ve been through a lot and won’t be any good to Beth if you run yourself ragged. Sleep, eat, and be ready to go back at it.”

Caroline looks at him through half-closed eyes. She gives a small laugh, the first one she’s had in so long. She points an accusing finger at John’s bloody clothes and beaten face. His bruises covering a lot of what she can see. “Look who’s talking.”

“Fair enough.” John nods. “We could both use some rest. I just don’t know if I can with Beth missing.”

Grunting through the pain, she forces herself to sit up. She takes a calming breath, more to sort out her own anger, frustration, and fear. “They’re not going to kill her. I believe that. They need her to

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get to us so they can get their book, and right now The Citizens and you are the only ones who know that Reese has it. I still can’t believe Debbie was one of them. I shouldn’t be surprised there’s monsters everywhere, but still. How many times did she hand Billy and I food or ask about our day?”

Seeming to try and make sense of everything that’s happened, John paces around the room and runs his hand through his hair. She knows that this town never makes sense even on the best of days.

John rubs his chin and talks to himself before stopping and looking at her. “I knew I knew her from somewhere. She’s the waitress. Listen, just follow me on this one. Beth and I were in the woods, and we were chased by those wolves. We found this big house and ran inside. When we were in there, the werewolf came in and tried to kill us. Beth grabbed this silver blade and stabbed it. That hurt it.”

She sits up straighter, gripping the edge of the couch. “So, we know that the gunshot to the head and now silver can hurt them.”

“Yes, but that’s not the point.” John waves her comment away. “When we went for breakfast, we saw the diner owner, Dave, had a cut on his arm in the same place. I told Beth that I thought he was the werewolf, but she didn’t believe me.”

She starts to say something but stops herself.

She does this a few times before finally just blurting

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out what she wants to say. “Wait. Whatta you mean Uncle Dave? You think he’s the big werewolf?”

Pacing around the room, John looks like he’s pointing to clues only he can see. “I’m not saying anything definite, but it sure as hell looks like it. It’s a big coincidence, but I don’t have proof yet. It seems likely though.”

Her current state of fatigue and hunger isn’t helping her comprehension, but this doesn’t make sense. “Yeah, but if it was Dave, why did he kill Janice?”

*************************

John sits down in the chair next to the couch.

He reaches into his pocket. He takes his badge into his hand and rubs a thumb over it. That badge is the one thing that seems normal in this freak show.

A few days ago, he was a normal police officer in a decent enough city. He was walking the street and learning as much as he could so he could make detective. ‘After all this, I’m not so worried about the exam. I’ll sign up to take it as soon as I get back.’

Now, he’s running through the woods, fighting giant spiders, having his fiancé kidnapped, and talking about werewolves in normal conversation.

“That’s the thing. I don’t know. Maybe it wasn’t him.

They seemed like a happy couple when Beth and I were in there, so I can’t see him doing it, but you know the old saying. In murder cases, it’s often the

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spouse or relative. The only thing we can say for sure is that Debbie was one of them. She worked at the diner. Dave is the owner of the diner, and he had the same injury as the werewolf from that house. I know it’s circumstantial, and I would probably tell a witness that it wasn’t enough, but I also know what I’ve seen. It just feels right, and I’ve learned to trust these gut feelings over the years on the beat. We need to talk to Chief Wallace, now.”

*************************

Caroline recognizes the frustration, the panic, the need to do something. Anything. She’s been feeling it for years. She hates to be the one to stop him. “John, we can’t. He’s not there this late at night.

We have to go in the morning.”

John picks up his gun and loads his magazines.

“That’s it. It’s the last of my ammo.” John puts the gun in the holster on his hip. “Yeah, but there’s other officers there.”

She reaches out to him from her couch. She knows that with the adrenaline and fear waning, she’s not in a position to move much less hunt a creature.

She feels her head falling, but catches herself. “We can’t know who to trust.”

John stops at the front door. He hangs his head and leans his forehead against the cold steel door. “Dammit…I know, but I hate sitting here doing nothing.”

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Caroline groans as she gets up. “I know. Believe me, I do. But you’re right, we need to get some rest.

Beth will be fine, but we won’t be if we don’t rest.

And a shower. I feel gross.”

John shuffles to the kitchen and pours water into a coffee pot. Caroline watches as he makes a pot, his body clearly moving on autopilot. Sleep quickly wins their internal battle, and she lies back on the couch, falling asleep.

Early the next morning, she wakes up, startled at the growling. For a moment, she’s sure that she’s back in the cave and the werewolf is coming back for another round of torture. It takes a few seconds to calm down. ‘Just my stomach. I’m starving.’ She doesn’t exactly feel refreshed, but she’s not as worn out as she was the night before. The weariness is still there, the bruises are starting to stand out, but her determination and drive are stronger than the pain.

She and John have something that they need to do that’s more important than rest and recovery.

John is already at the kitchen table with a coffee and a fresh set of clothes. ‘Guess he took a shower last night. Did he get any rest or was he on guard all night?’ She sees the blanket on the chair and figures that he slept there to be near the front door just in case.

She walks out into the kitchen and sees something that’s just this side of Heaven. A plate of

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toast and eggs. “Oh, thank you! You have no idea...”

The rest of what she said was muffled through a stuffed face.

“I figured you would want something more than water and old bread.” John puts a little more sugar in his coffee.

Wanting to be rid of the dirt, grime, and blood, she walks to her room. She doesn’t want to go inside.

She doesn’t want to be in the room without Billy. She can’t. She looks down at her bloody, dirty clothes and takes a deep breath. She closes her eyes and takes a heavy step inside. She almost breaks down when her foot lands on the thick carpet. She smells his cologne, but that’s fading and soon it will be a memory.

Walking over to the dresser, she takes out some clothes. She picks out things she knows will let her move quickly and won’t be restricting. She looks at Billy’s clothes hanging in the closet. She closes the closet door harder than she intended. John calls to her from the living room asking if everything is good.

“Yeah, it’s fine. Just the closet door sticking.”

She gingerly walks to the bathroom. She peels off her clothes and throws them into the garbage. She looks up and down her body, mentally noting the bruises and vowing to give each one of these cultists the same treatment. Stepping into the shower is hard.

She can barely lift her legs, but she knows the hot water will do her some good. She looks at her bruised body like it belongs to someone else. She’s in there for

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a long time, the water hiding the tears as she breaks down. She feels the pain, the stiffness, and the grief.

The grief is the most painful part of it. She looks at the dried blood on her hands, knowing that it isn’t hers. She wants to scrub Billy’s blood off, but then he will truly be gone. Washed down the drain and discarded. Like she never had him with her. A knock on the bathroom door makes her jump.

John taps again on the door, and Caroline answers. “Yeah, it’s fine. I’m about done. I’ll be right out.” She listens to him walk away. Taking a steadying breath, she finishes up, gets dressed, and goes to the living room.

John grabs the keys, his gun and badge, and they walk outside to get into his car. They drive directly to the police station, and John pulls up right out front. Caroline notices that the town square is all but empty. She gets out of the car and walks over to John. She can feel the pain and stiffness in her body, but doing something is making it seem better. Once this is over, then she can let herself grieve for Billy.

*************************

John pushes open the main door to the police station and marches inside, Caroline following closely behind him. Marge, ever present at her desk, nearly jumps out of her skin. ‘That could mean something completely different in this town.’ He walks over and stands beside her desk. “Sorry, Marge.”

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Marge puts a hand over her heart and takes a few quick breaths. “It’s alright. Just wasn’t expectin’

that right away this mornin’.” She sets down her steaming cup of coffee. “Now. What is it you...Oh my stars!”

Leaping out of her chair, Marge comes around the desk to give Caroline a crushing hug. “Girl, we’ve been lookin’ all over for you. What happened? You okay?”

John understands the shock, he’s had it himself, but this isn’t the time for it. “Marge. We need to see Chief Wallace right away. It’s life or death.”

“Of course.” Marge fans herself for a second as she returns to her seat. “Oh, I just can’t believe you’re back. It’s so good to see you, but you look terrible.

Have you seen the doctor?”

He feels the same frustration that Caroline is trying to hide with her smile. Urgency lends some forcefulness to her tone that Caroline might not have used with someone like Marge. “Hey, Marge. I love you, I really do, but we don’t have time to get into it right now. If we want to catch the ones that took me, we need Chief Wallace.”

Marge stutters for a moment She exhales deeply and settles back in her chair. She absently fiddles with her curlers. John can tell she’s trying to get herself together. Marge settles in, brushing the front of her blouse. “Well, he’s not here. He went

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out to the campground this morning. You know they just opened that. It’s good for the kids.” She leans in closer. “Well, it was until...”

“Marge. Sweetie.” Caroline leans in a little closer, desperation making her tone firmer than usual.

“Right.” Marge waves a hand in front of her face. “Anyways, it seems someone went crazy and killed a bunch of camp counselors. He’ll be out there all day.”

“Sorry to hear about that. I hope they catch whoever did it, but I need to see the Chief. Can you tell me where the camp is?” Marge fiddles around her desk, looking for the address. She hands him a piece of paper. “Thank you, darlin’. I really appreciate it. We’ll be back later to chat.” When they leave, he looks back and can see Marge watching them as they go, wiping tears from her eyes. Before he shuts the door to the station, he hears Marge blowing her ample nose into a tissue.

He gets into the car and double-checks the directions. He pulls out onto the main street and heads towards the campground. ‘God. Now I have to wonder if the perp is human or a damn monster.

I miss the days of running down drug dealers and thieves. I wonder if a lot of the cases here are really monsters.’ “Just how many people are killed in this damn town?”

Caroline turns to look out at the idyllic main

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street. Shops pass by, people wave, and children play in the park. “Too damn many.”

A short drive later, John and Caroline turn off the road and pass under a rustic wooden arch. From the arch hangs a sign that reads Camp Slaughterville.

The car’s tires crush the gravel underneath them as they pull into the large parking area.

A police car takes up one of the spots. He parks next to it, staring at the black and white paint and symbol of the town. It takes him back just a few days ago, and he wishes he was in the driver’s seat patrolling his old neighborhood.

His observational training kicks in, and he takes in the scene. An old boxy truck sits alone, not bothering to obey petty things like parking spots. The voices of everyone around, children and emergency response teams, is a garbled mess. An ambulance sits in the grass, the back doors open and someone sits on the edge, wrapped in a blanket. There’s an administration building to the right of the parking area. Behind that there are a series of cabins lined neatly into rows.

The gigantic Lake Slaughterville is on the left. The large boat house is between the parking area and the lake. Next to the boathouse facing the parking area, canoes and kayaks are stacked on a rack close to the short path down to the lake. ‘Really sells the camp vibe. Makes people want to stick around and play in the water.’ Farther in the distance is a large cafeteria.

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Through large windows, he sees rows of tables and chairs just waiting for campers to come in and sit for a good meal. In front of the cafeteria, there’s an open pavilion with a massive metal fire ring, the fire long since extinguished.

He easily spots Chief Wallace who stands taller than a lot of the people around him. Even more than his presence, it’s hard to miss that hat even in this small town. He crouches down to talk with a young girl who sits on one of the logs lining the parking area. John’s training tells him that she’s completely in the throes of shock. He can see the fear and grief behind the blank face. She’s cradling a large can of something that he can’t make out.

*************************

Chief Wallace has that voice that very few men have. When he needs to, he can make his voice project authority and fill up any space that it’s in.

Now though, it’s softer. Almost caring. “Is there anything else that you can remember? You’re not in trouble. We just need to know what you saw.”

The girl looks up at him since he’s still taller than her even crouched. Her gaze isn’t focused on him. She isn’t really focusing on anything in particular.

‘This girl’s gonna need some help and soon. I hate that I gotta keep her here longer.’ He reaches up, taking off his large hat. “Why don’t you hold onto this for a little.” He places the hat on her head. The brim coming down almost over her eyes.

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She stammers a little, her mousy voice a stark contrast to the chaos around her. “No…that’s it. A lady in black and white came out of the dark and killed our friends…”

A tap on his shoulder makes him turn and stand up. An officer whispers something to him. “Thank you, Murphy. Let’s get these kids into an ambulance.

Make sure that this one gets to see the psychologist.”

He turns back to the little girl, bending down to look in her eyes. “I am sorry. I have to go. I’m gonna need the hat back, but you can keep the pudding.”

Murphy reaches down and helps the girl stand before leading her off to the ambulance. Chief Wallace turns to watch them leave and sees John coming up to him with Caroline right next to him. “Caroline?

Where’ve you been? Where’s Billy?”

*************************

Caroline feels like she’s on the verge of breaking down when she hears Chief Wallace say Billy’s name.

Her mouth opens to speak, but nothing comes out.

The words get stuck in her throat, threatening to choke her. She puts her head down so she can take a moment to gather the strength to talk. ‘I gotta tell him. I don’t want to say it out loud because then it’s real. It becomes a police case. It becomes real, and he’s really gone.’ She thought she would be ready, but...

She looks up when Chief Wallace reaches out and puts a comforting hand on her shoulder. The

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Chief’s stoic face looks down at her, and she feels safer when his bright blue eyes lock onto hers. She coughs, but manages to stammer out a beginning. “I don’t know how to say it. I can’t believe it myself. It doesn’t seem real, but I lived it.”

The words flow out like a raging river once she starts speaking. She’s been holding them, and the emotions that go with them, back for so long. She has to say it though. If she doesn’t tell Chief Wallace, then those monsters will win. “Billy’s dead Chief. He was killed. This strange man killed Billy, took me to some cave, and tortured me for days. Debbie from the diner was there, but she’s dead. They killed Janice, too. When John found me, one of them took Beth.

She came to help me, and now she’s gone! We think Dave might have had something to do with it, too.”

She doesn’t know if she can stop the flow of words, but when Chief Wallace holds up a hand to her for a pause, she somehow listens. She waits, breathing quickly, and notices the confusion on Chief Wallace’s face. “Whadda you mean Debbie and Janice are dead? Diner Dave? What does he have to do with this?”

John steps forward to stand next to her. She watches him as he looks around to make sure that they can’t be overheard. She feels terrible for thinking it, but she’s almost thankful that most of the people are preoccupied with whatever happened the night before.

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John starts to talk, but stops. He looks like it is hurting him to let out whatever he’s trying to say. After a few false starts, and a frustrated look from Chief Wallace, John spits it out. “Dave’s…I can’t believe I’m saying this…he’s a monster. I think he killed Janice, tortured Caroline, and kidnapped Beth.”

She stands there feeling exposed and naked.

She crosses her arms protectively in front of her, trying to keep the world away. ‘Why would he believe us? Who talks about monsters?’

She’s not surprised when the Chief steps back and exhales loudly. He puts his hands up telling them to hold on a moment. He adjusts his hat as a reflex. “Now, just you wait a damn minute. I just saw Dave this mornin’ at the diner. He didn’t say nuthin’

about Janice or Debbie. There’s gotta be some kinda mistake.”

She gingerly pulls up her sleeve to show the marks from where the rope dug into her skin, rubbing it raw, and leaving wounds. “I get it, Chief. I felt the same way. Uncle Dave was there for my family since I was a kid. I don’t wanna think he had anything to do with this, but it kinda makes sense, maybe. I don’t know!”

Chief Wallace starts pacing around the parking area. He kicks a few rocks. After a few seconds, he stops and looks at them both. “How about this? Let’s

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go see him and get this all straightened out. Then we can all have a piece of pie while we figure everything out.”

She’s having a hard time holding back the anger and frustration. Every time she thinks of the death, destruction, and pain from the last few days, her blood boils. She thinks of what the Tall Thin Man did to her and wants nothing more than to shove something sharp and rusty into his eye several times.

Her expression turns hard. “Yeah. Even if Uncle Dave’s not involved, we know Debbie was. We have to tell him about Janice.”

*************************

John and Caroline get into his car and leave the campground. Chief Wallace follows closely behind them in his truck. He takes a deep breath, his nerves always get heightened when he’s on the way to interrogate a suspect or investigate a crime scene. This one is more personal. ‘I need to keep it professional. I can’t let emotions get in the way of the investigation.

It can make me miss something important.’

He knows that what’s about to happen is going to be hard to believe, but he can’t force the Chief to believe. Chief Wallace has to experience it just like he did. He wasn’t ready to believe, even after he saw the monster in the woods. He knows Chief Wallace will probably have the same resistance because both of them have been trained to value logic, evidence, and proof.

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“So, when we get there, we have to let the Chief handle this.” He looks over at Caroline in the passenger seat. “We’re too emotionally involved.”

“Won’t be much talking.” Caroline starts to argue, flexing her stiff fingers.

He understands the emotions she’s working through. He’s feeling the same way. “We don’t stand a chance at killing one. I barely made it out, and that’s because it was called away. We have to let this play out. If we go in talking about werewolves, they’ll throw us in the psych ward.”

“Yeah. I know. I just feel like I need to do something!” Caroline gives her patented mischievous smile. “You could always just shoot him in the head.

Worked on Debbie.”

He chuckles. “That might work, but then we wouldn’t know where Beth is. Plus there’s the whole getting thrown in prison for murder thing. We need to get her back. Just…when we get to the diner, we need to keep cool.”

“Afterwards we can skin him and make a nice rug.” Caroline rubs her bruised wrists where the ropes held her in place on that cold stone floor.

He pictures a roaring fire and in front of it is a wolf skin rug. A memory makes him turn to Caroline.

“Didn’t Debbie turn back to human? I don’t think you want a Dave rug on your floor. Might scare the visitors.”

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The rest of the ride is silent. They pull into the parking lot, and he can feel the adrenaline rise. He’s learned to keep it contained, but it’s still there. The building excitement makes his mind race, his heart pound, and his senses are dialed to their maximum.

Chief Wallace parks next to them and gets out. Caroline step out of the car and pulls her hair back in a ponytail. John exits the car and shuts the door. He locks eyes with Chief Wallace, he can tell that they both know what’s about to happen and that things can get very dangerous. The two officers nod in solidarity. Chief Wallace checks his hat. John adjusts his pistol. They walk to the front of the diner.

‘This is our hero walk. Just like in the action movies.

This is where we drop the bad guys.’ Chief Wallace grabs the door handle and pulls.

The bell over the diner’s door jingles when Chief Wallace opens it, taking the lead. John remembers that bell and how quaint it seemed when he first got here. ‘Was that really only a couple days ago?’

Holding the glass door open, he steps inside.

‘This place is empty. Not a single customer.’ He makes damn sure to keep full eye contact with Dave who is just looking up from whatever he was getting from underneath the counter. He watches Dave’s face closely, studying it for anything that will give away the truth he might be hiding. While Dave tries to disguise it, he’s clearly shocked. ‘Gotcha.’

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“Caroline. Glad to see you back here safe and sound.” Dave smiles as he wipes down the counter. “It’s been too long. Have a seat. Can I get you anything?” Dave pulls out a notepad and looks around the room. “Chief, John, do you guys want coffee or something?”

He continues to stare at Dave looking for definitive proof. Chief Wallace waves away the question. “No. We’re not here for lunch.”

A friendly and disarming smile appears out of nowhere as Chief Wallace walks over to lean on the counter. “Now, Dave. I don’t mean to be short here, but I’ve had a long day already. I heard some strange things, and I need to ask you some questions. These good folks are telling me that…and I don’t know how to say this…Debbie and Janice were killed.”

“That’s impossible, Chief.” Dave looks around his diner, shock registering on his face. “Look. Hey Debbie! Come on out here.”

The kitchen door swings open, Debbie walks through carrying a tray of coffee cups. She stops, her eyes give away the shock at seeing John and Caroline.

She sets the tray down carefully and stands next to Dave. She looks up at Dave expectantly.

‘This can’t be her! How’s she here? Was it really her? It was dark in the cave.’ From behind him, he hears a quick inhale. He stares in disbelief at the waitress standing in front of him. “What…But…I shot you. In the cave. You were dead.”

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He doesn’t turn, but he can hear Caroline’s incredulity. “No…”

Debbie looks disapprovingly at him. She gives a small shake of her head before setting out several coffee cups. ‘How is she acting so normal? She has to know that we know.’ She walks over to the brewer and takes the pot. As she pours several cups, she makes sure to watch them all. “And that wasn’t polite.

Especially after we were so nice to you and Beth. It really hurt, John. It took me over an hour to recover.”

When Debbie smiles, John could swear he sees sharp teeth just behind it. ‘We got her. She just said it!’ He looks over his shoulder at Caroline in triumph, and he sees concern, fear, and anger on her face.

He turns back to see Debbie reach into her apron and pull out a couple of clean spoons. She sets them on the counter and smiles at Caroline. “Cream and sugar?”

Hearing Caroline snarl, he moves to make sure she’s behind Chief Wallace and himself while still intently watching Debbie. He hears the anger and frustration as Caroline practically growls a threat.

“You and I have a reckoning coming.”

“Not now.” He looks back at Caroline. “Please.

Remember Beth.”

Dave gives that same welcoming and disarming smile that John saw the first day he stepped into this diner. “See, its fine. No one was killed. I think you

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need some professional help, John. And Caroline, didn’t I tell you to stay out of the woods?”

For all his talk of self-control, he loses his temper. He lets the anger get the best of him and lunges forward. “You son of a bitch! Where is she?”

His balled fist slams solidly into the cartilage of Dave’s nose. A loud crunch is heard, and blood starts to flow…for a moment.

Dave doesn’t move an inch. It’s like he never felt the blow. He stands there as durable and strong as Atlas. “That was interesting.”

Drawing back to launch another blow, someone grabs him under his arms and effortlessly tosses him back to land on a table. “John. Calm your ass down, you’re a cop. This isn’t how we behave.”

‘Okay. That hurt. Chief’s heard it all though.

Can’t believe he tossed me so easy.’ He can barely move as the Chief easily holds him in place.

“Sorry, Chief. Lost my head.” He looks over at Caroline who is backed up against the wall near the entrance. She looks shocked and a bit jealous.

Chief Wallace glares down at him, disappointment all over his face. John looks past the Chief staring daggers at Dave. Dave laughs and smiles. “You have absolutely no idea the hornet’s nest you walked into.”

“Well, not a nest. I would say more of a den.”

Debbie sips on a cup of coffee.

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The anger overwhelms him and he surges forward, trying to push past Chief Wallace. All decorum and professionalism forgotten as he charges.

Chief Wallace doesn’t budge. ‘What the hell is this?

It’s like running into a brick wall.’ The Chief wraps an arm around his chest, reaching up behind his neck to restrain him.

Some part of his mind recognizes Chief Wallace’s strength. ‘It’s gotta be the stress. I’ve been pushing myself hard, and I’ve been pretty beat up.

Yeah, the Chief has that hillbilly strength and he’s taller than most apartment buildings, but still...he should at least move a little.’

Gritting his teeth, he enters into that state of calm that’s just on the other side of rage. Where everything slows. Where you have pure clarity and know that your monster will beat theirs. “Dave. I will kill you if you don’t bring her back. Right now!”

Dave pulls out a white cloth rag from under the counter. He slowly wipes the blood from his face.

John can hear the cartilage in Dave’s nose resetting with a loud crackling sound. Dave taunts him. “You should really listen to the Chief, John. Beth needs you to keep your temper in check.”

He knows that she didn’t want to believe that it was true. Shock and betrayal fills Caroline’s painful plea. “No. It can’t be you. Why?”

He pushes away from Chief Wallace, and

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Caroline steps up next to him. They both look to the Chief, begging him to do something. “Wallace.

You heard him admit to it. Arrest this monster now.

Make him tell you where Beth’s at.”

Just then the kitchen door swings open, and Janice walks out. A cup of steaming tea in one hand and a glass of water in the other. She sips the tea and shakes her head at all of the commotion. “You could have told them where the book was, Caroline. You have no idea how much that knife hurt.” She takes the cloth from Dave and dips it in the water before wiping the blood from his face.

*************************

Caroline is stunned. She can’t believe what she’s seeing. She knew there were creatures and horrors in this town, but she had no idea it was this bad. ‘Are there any real people left here? Are they all just monsters waving at each other on the street pretending to be human?’ Her mind races and screams and laughs and cries. “I trusted you. How could you do this? We were family!” Her heart falls to pieces, plummeting into the depths of her gut.

Some part of her notices Chief Wallace walk behind her and John. His head is down slightly as if he’s contemplating a horrible decision he really doesn’t want to make. “I am sorry for both of you.

Wish it didn’t have to come to this. If there was any way to avoid it, I would.”

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‘He’s really gonna do it! They’re gonna pay for what they did. It will finally be over.’ Her surge of hope and relief washes away the pain. She almost reaches out to grab a hold of John and hug him, but she stops herself. ‘Wait, did he say both? There’s three of them?’

Chief Wallace turns to look at her and John.

‘Why’s he looking at us? We didn’t do anything.

Watch them! They’re the dangerous ones!’ The Chief adjusts his hat. “We tried over and over, but you just wouldn’t listen. Caroline, darlin’, you really should’ve just told him where the book was.”

Caroline turns to look at Chief Wallace, praying that she’s wrong. She searches his bright blue eyes…no. ‘Not blue. They’re yellow now. Why are they yellow and so bright?’

Chief Wallace smiles. His sharpened teeth make his words slur just a little. “Now, this is how it’s gonna go.”

She and John exchange looks, but she can see the same fear and confusion that she feels reflected back at her from John’s face. ‘It’s all of them. I can’t trust anyone. What about John? Is he in on it?’ When John really sees her, his expression changes and goes back to a solid and determined mask.

*************************

John takes a step backwards and instinctively draws his pistol. ‘This isn’t gonna do much good

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here, but maybe it’ll give us enough of a distraction to escape. I can’t just stand here while Caroline and Beth are in danger.’ He shifts his weapon, moving it between Chief Wallace, Dave, Debbie, and Janice.

“Get back! All of you! We’re leaving!”

The bell over the diner door chimes and he turns, looking for the next threat to come from this hellish town. Several men walk in. They laugh and joke, all blissfully unaware of the standoff. When one of the men realizes what’s going on, he tells the others to stop. Their hope for a good meal is gone.

He knows he must look like a maniac with his gun pointed at these four respected members of their community. He’s aware that he probably won’t make it out of this alive, but he knows damn well he’ll take as much flesh with him as he can from these monsters.

Chief Wallace looks at John and smiles. His teeth are no longer sharp, and his blue eyes replace the yellow. He still has the speed of the beast and uses John’s distraction to knock the gun from his hand.

Dave, Janice, and Debbie are backed up against the far wall behind the counter, looks of mock horror and fear plastered on their falsely innocent faces.

One of the men from the lunch rush picks up John’s fallen gun and points it directly at John’s head.

John forces himself to look as nonthreatening as he can. He knows that getting shot won’t get Beth back.

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Caroline looks like she’s on the edge of insanity, and John understands. Here’s the man they thought they could count on, and he’s one of them. One of the monsters. A damn werewolf hiding among the sheep.

And the worst part of it all, John feels like a sheep, helpless and waiting for the slaughter.

Leaning in close to John, Chief Wallace looks him directly in the eye. There’s no fear and no need to raise his voice. The Chief whispers softly so that the others can’t hear. “I’m disappointed in you, John.

I thought you were a better cop than this. You really should have used your head. I mean, the clues were all there.”

Chief Wallace spins him around. He’s placed so many on criminals, but he never thought he would feel their cold steel tightening around his wrists. He’s in shock and turns to look at Caroline.

Chief Wallace walks him over to one of the tables and makes him sit in the bench seat before turning to Caroline. “And you. I just can’t believe you would fake your disappearance. Why? We looked for you for days. Some of these fine gentlemen lost work hours and took their families into those dark woods to look for you. All that time you were faking it. And poor Jenny...” Chief Wallace shakes his head in mock sadness.

Some of the men look angry at hearing this.

The one with the gun hands it over to Chief Wallace

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who puts it in his waistband. “Can you gentlemen help me get them to my truck?” Murmurs of ascent flow through the men. Two of them walk over and lift John up by his arms. ‘Not sure which hurts worse.

Them practically tearing my shoulders out of their sockets, or the Chief being one of the werewolves.’

They frog march him out to the truck.

Chief Wallace puts handcuffs on Caroline.

He makes a show of talking loudly for everyone in attendance. “We’re gonna take these two for a ride to the station. And thank you all for helping apprehend these criminals.”

A short and silent ride later, John and Caroline are pushed through the doors of the Slaughterville Police Department. Marge looks up in shock as they move past her, Chief Wallace looks straight ahead as he takes them through the bullpen and into the holding cells.

Chief Wallace takes off their handcuffs and shoves them into the cell. There’s a pair of bare beds, a pillow for each, and nothing else. John starts pacing the cell like so many perps that he’s placed behind similar bars. ‘Never wanted to be on this side of the bars. It looks...feels different.’ He runs his hands through his hair. He’s doing all that he can to force his thoughts into some semblance of order, but each time they keep returning to Beth. All that he can picture is Beth being tortured, maimed, or killed. Looking

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over at Caroline, he can see similar thoughts running through her head. ‘How much worse is this for her?

She already lived through this once before and lost someone she loves. Now people she thought were family are betraying her. I wouldn’t trust anyone.’

In mid-step, he turns and grabs hold of the bars. His knuckles whiten as he squeezes the cold iron bars. He’s trapped and he knows it. Heart pounding and brow furrowed, he suddenly realizes how those animals in the traps felt from when he was younger.

He’s at their mercy. ‘There’s not a damn thing I can do about it.’ They have him and Caroline in a cage and all the while Beth is out there probably hoping he can come to save her. She doesn’t even know he found Caroline.

He slams a hand against the steel bars and curses before going to sit on the worn bed. He can feel the springs poking up at him, but it’s the least of his concerns right now. An hour or so passes as they sit in silence, neither one knowing what to say to the other. Each of them lost in their own despair and confusion. Caroline turns to look at something.

A surge of adrenaline and fear hits as he follows her gaze. He doesn’t know why the door was left open, but through it, he can see the familiar bullpen. The officers working and chatting like it’s just a normal day. Like their Chief isn’t a werewolf.

‘I was one of them this morning. I’d love to be filing

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paperwork again. For Beth to be at home when I get there after a long day. It’s so different from this side of the bars. Much less friendly.’

Marge’s voice carries through the large bullpen.

It’s excited and happy, just like it was when she saw Caroline was safe. ‘Is Marge one of them? She doesn’t seem like it, but neither did Wallace.’

A chair creaks and groans. When it moves back, he can see Marge’s sweater on the back of it.

When Marge speaks, he’s filled with both anger and fear. “Dave. It is so good to see you, hon’. It’s been entirely just too long.”

“Darlin’, you just have to stop in for lunch some time soon. Bring your husband and those sweet grandkids. We’d just love to see ‘em again.” Dave’s booming baritone disgusts John’s ears.

“And how have you and Janice been?” He can hear the smile in Marge’s voice. He’s angry she’s being duped like this, but there’s nothing he can do about it.

“We’re just fine.” Dave answers back, but John can hear the faint frustration in Dave’s voice at the forced pleasantries. Now that he knows what tells to listen for, he can hear the deception in Dave’s speech.

“Actually, Chief Wallace said I could bring some lunch for your new prisoners. Show them that there’s no hard feelings. You know, prove that there’s good people like you and Janice in this great town.”

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“Bless you, dear. They do say that forgiveness is good for your soul. They’re in the back dear, go on ahead.” He just knows that Marge is eating all of this up. She’s taken in by Dave’s charm. He understands because he and Beth were the same just days ago. He sees Marge’s aged hand reach back and pull her chair back to her desk. He hears it creak and figures that Marge sat back down. “Just what’s this now?”

John stretches, trying to see further into the bullpen, but the angle doesn’t let him see all the way to Marge’s desk. Dave must have set something down on her desk because John can hear paper rustling and the sound of a container opening. “Just some of our famous apple pie. Thought you might like a treat seeing as how you do so much for this town.”

Marge thanks Dave again. John hears more rustling as she rummages in the bag. He can hear heavy footsteps coming closer. Dave’s shadow looms through the doorway as he walks towards the holding cells.

Dave pauses just outside the door to the holding cells and stares at them. Now that he’s not talking to Marge, all semblance of a smile has gone from his face. He walks through the doorway like he owns the place. He closes the wooden door, and looks at them with cold, hard eyes.

While Caroline sits on her bed, John catches the defiant sneer on her face. Dave doesn’t seem to

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care. John stands up and walks right next to the cell bars ready to attack the moment there’s a chance for revenge.

“Well, look what we have here.” Dave leans against the wall directly across from the cell. “I bet today turned out a lot different than you thought it would.”

“I don’t know how just yet, but I am going to find a way to kill whatever the hell it is you are.

That’s a promise.” John squeezes the metal bars until the bones in his hand threaten to break. “How’s the arm, Dave?”

“Now, now John.” Dave ignores the baiting question, shakes his head, and tuts disapprovingly.

“That kind of talk isn’t good for Beth’s health. Or yours. I didn’t get you into this. I didn’t drag Beth back here or make her and her friends steal what’s ours. Did she tell you she’s a thief? She’s the thing you’re supposed to be arresting, right? This isn’t my fault. I don’t want to hurt anyone, but we need the book.”

He stamps his anger down, putting it in a bottle that he promises himself he will open later. Dave pushes away from the wall and stands up straight. He struts over and looks John right in the eye, getting practically nose to nose to him. Dave smiles, his teeth normal and not sharpened fangs. “Come on, John. I can see you wanna kill me. Well, now’s your chance.

Go on. Try something.”

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He knows he can’t. Not because he’s afraid, but because he can’t risk Beth’s life. Dave exhales a laugh.

“There’s a good boy.” Dave reaches out and pats him on the head. “Now, I’m sure you’re curious, so I’m gonna throw you a bone. At this point in time, Beth is perfectly fine. She’s being fed and cared for. For now. What happens to her next is entirely up to you.”

Caroline stands and lashes out. She storms up to the bars. “You’ve lied to me my entire life. How can I trust you now? I need you to prove it, Uncle Dave.”

Dave rolls his eyes and ignores the attempt at making him feel anything close to guilt. “OK, children, Beth doesn’t have time for this posturing.

Your little investigations have been tolerated for a long time. Didn’t know it was you, of course. We just knew someone was snooping around again. You’re not the first either. There were others that went down the same path. You have no idea the trouble your actions caused. You think because you saw a ghost or cultists that you know anything? You know nothing! You’ve done nothing but harm the people of this town with this stunt.”

He looks back and forth from Dave to Caroline. ‘What’d they do? Is all of this really their fault? No...Dave’s a monster. We have to be on the right side...don’t we?’

“This is my last try at peace.” Dave drops the

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bag of food in front of the cell. “Eat. You’ll need all the strength you can get. The food’s good. I made it myself. Then, when you’re done, get us the damn book, and we can forget all of this. John, you can have Beth and then you can leave our town for good.

We won’t come after you, and we will hopefully never see you again.”

“Bring the book to the campground tonight.”

Dave opens the door to the holding cells and stops, turning around to look at them, not caring that the door is open. “Best be quick though. Tonight’s the full moon and I tend to get…cranky.”

Dave shuts the door, leaving them alone.

John paces around the cell, trying to come up with a real plan. “I need you to tell me where the book is hidden.”

Caroline stares at him. She looks hurt. “John.

I’ve lost too much already. I’m not giving him that book.”

He steps towards Caroline, he stands as tall as he’s able and looks down at her. He’s not the friendly man who shared coffee with her, and he’s not her stalwart rescuer. He’s a man looking to save the woman he loves, and that makes him dangerous. “We have to give him that book. It’s that stupid book or Beth’s life, and I’ll be damned if I am letting anything stand in my way. We know what that son of a bitch is, and what he’s capable of. All I want is to get Beth

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and get out of this town. You want to come with?

Fine. Great, but the rest of this town can rot in Hell for all I care.”

All her frustration, pain, and anger appear to be boiling just under the surface. She’s looks like she’s about to unload all of it at John, but is interrupted when the door to the holding cells opens again. He turns, angry, expecting to see Dave’s mocking face.

Instead, it’s Marge, apple pie crumbs on her shirt, and limping slightly favoring her right side. She unlocks the cell door and seems loath to do it. A disappointed shake of her head is directed at Caroline. “Get out.”

“What?” Caroline looks confused at the statement.

Marge steps aside, giving them plenty of room to leave without her having to touch them. The jovial tone and pleasant demeanor are gone and in its place is contempt. “Ya heard me. Leave. Chief Wallace said to let you out. Don’t know why, and I don’t like it.”

Something in Marge appears to softens just a little, her face loses some of the venom. “Caroline.

Look, I feels bad for ya, I really do, but there’s no excuse for what you done. You lied to us all, and people coulda been hurt lookin’ for ya. And you, Johnny boy. You come into town actin’ all nice and heroic and here you go and attack people. I don’t know what to think right now, and I could just spit.”

‘She’s a good woman. I doubt she knows

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what she’s working for. I can’t blame her.’ He feels horrible that Marge hates him so much. Like if your grandmother suddenly stopped speaking to you.

“Now, get out before I decide the Chief might not know best and just keep you in here.” Marge points a finger towards the exit and stomps a foot, standing straight and solid as an arrow. “And don’t forget to take your stuff. It’s on the counter.”

He reaches down and picks up the bag of food.

When they get outside, he opens the bag and inside is a couple of plain hamburgers and fries. Caroline looks at him, baffled. “What’re you doing?”

“Haven’t eaten all day.” He pops a fry in his mouth and shrugs. “Besides, he’s not gonna poison it. He needs us to get the book. You want some?” He offers the bag to her. She rolls her eyes, but reaches inside.

After grabbing their possessions, John walks down the steps of the police station. He looks around the town. ‘Looked like a nice place the other day. Looks wrong now.’ Now, all of the shops could be a monster’s den. The people walking and waving probably have a few literal skeletons hidden in their closet. John watches the shadows, looking for the next monster to jump out and try to attack them.

“Dammit.”

Chapter 9

“What is it?” Caroline jumps and looks around. ‘What’s coming to kill us now?’

John points down the main road to the end of the street. “We need to go get the car.”

‘At least it’s nothing serious.’ Caroline looks to where he pointed and curses. “Well, we should be fine. They want us to get the book, so they won’t come after us until we get it.”

The walk down the sidewalk to the car didn’t take long, but it felt so much longer to her. They throw the empty food containers and the bag into a nearby bin. As they pass people on the sidewalk, she can’t help but wonder what they know. How many of them knew what happened? The people stare, sneer, or ignore them. She sighs. “Well, at least you won’t have to live here when it’s done.”

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“Wait, you’re staying?” John stops suddenly.

“These monsters are everywhere and they clearly aren’t afraid to do whatever it takes to stop you and the others.”

“Look around you, John.” She gestures widely like she’s taking in the whole town. She shakes her head and keeps walking. “Not all of these people are monsters. Sure, they don’t like us right now, but that doesn’t matter. I can’t let them go through what I did.

I won’t let them have their own Maddie incident.”

“I get it. I admire your determination.” John tilts his head and shrugs. “We can talk about it later once we have Beth back safely, but you’re welcome to come with us if you change your mind.”

The people in the diner look out at them nervously. John gets into the car. Caroline shakes her head and gets into the passenger seat. She nods towards the diner’s large window. “You see Janice watching us?”

“Yeah, maybe someone will give her a silver quarter.” John starts the car and puts it into reverse.

“Back to your place then?”

“Yeah. Let’s go home.” She watches out her window at the strangers on the sidewalk.

“It’s a real shame.” John looks around at the shops while he drives away from town. “This place could be so much better than it is, but something’s taken that away from the regular people.”

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“You guys could stay. We could always use the help.” She looks over and punches John in the arm.

“No. I don’t think Beth’s right for this kind of life. She’s...fragile.” John stares out the front windshield. “Let’s just find her and get her out of here.”

“I get it. Even as kids, she wasn’t the most adventurous person around.” Caroline absently scratches her nose and then folds her hands onto her lap. ‘How can I get him to understand how important this is?’ “We both know that as soon as Dave, and whoever controls him, has that book, we’re all dead.

But...with someone with your training, we might have a chance.”

John pulls onto the road leading to her place.

His entire demeanor turns cold and calm. “I know. I don’t expect them to be honorable. The thing is, we have to try everything we can to get Beth back. Once we have her, then we can deal with Uncle Dave and his pack if he tries anything at the exchange. After that, well, we can talk about it if we all make it.”

John parks in front of Caroline’s place and gets out. She gets out of the car and starts walking across the street. She doesn’t look back when she hears John calling to her. “Where’re you going?”

John catches up to her, and she looks over at him. “We need to see someone.”

John looks at where they’re going. He points

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at their destination. “This place? Creep was watching us all day.”

“Oh, good.” She laughs and smiles. It feels strange to laugh after everything that’s happened.

“Just let me do the talking.” She rapidly knocks on the door. When the man answers the door, Caroline waves. “Hey, Reese. Good to see you.”

Reese looks stunned. He stammers before he speaks. “When I saw you coming up the walk, I thought I was hallucinating. This town being what it is, I’m still not entirely sure it is you.” Reese leans out his front door, looking around. “Where’s Billy? What happened?”

Her smile falters. She knows he didn’t mean it, but the question tears out her heart. Tears try to fall, but she doesn’t want to give this town any more tears. She tries to force it to stop, but one manages to escape, rolling freely down the side of her face. Reese puts a hand on her shoulder, and she looks up into his eyes. “It’s...uh. Just me. Billy’s gone.” Caroline gestures towards Reese’s living room. “Look, can we just come in and talk?”

“Of course. Of course. Please come in.” Reese steps aside to let Caroline in.

“Wait a minute, you left the book with this guy?” John steps into the entryway and looks at Reese who coughs reflexively. “No offense intended.” John extends a hand to Reese. “Hi. I’m John. It’s good to finally meet you formally.”

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“Yes. Sorry about before.” Reese shakes the offered hand and offers an apologetic smile. “We can’t be sure who to trust. There’s a lot of strange people around these days. You understand.”

John nods and let’s go of Reese’s hand. “Yeah, I get it. I may have overreacted too. Been under a bit of stress lately, but we can talk about that. Maybe inside?”

“Yes, sorry.” Reese steps back. “Have a seat.”

Reese shuts the door and she watches as he goes through the routine of securing the several deadbolts and other locks on his door.

John is watching as Reese clicks the last one into place. She catches the look on John’s face when he turns to her. She smiles and shrugs. “Better safe than sorry.”

The foyer is a stone path leading from the front door to a modern, pristine kitchen. The sunken living room is three steps down. There’s a small television, a couch, a recliner, a coffee table, and a large open space. She wonders how many times she’s sat in that chair or fallen asleep on that couch during a long night of research. There’s a hall to the right of the foyer, and she knows that it leads to a couple of bedrooms and the bathroom, but she’s concerned about one room only.

She reaches into the refrigerator and cracks open a bottle of water. She didn’t realize until the

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cold water hit her stomach that she was so thirsty.

She finishes the bottle as Reese and John come into the kitchen. The boiling kettle whistles and Reese rushes in to make himself a cup. “John, would you like some tea?”

“No. Thank you. Never got the taste for it.

I won’t turn down a bottle of water though.” John catches a bottle that Caroline tosses him. Together, they sit around the kitchen table.

Reese looks up at her and blows the steam from his tea. “Now, tell me everything.”

A long story later, and Reese is sitting there staring. His eyes wide with shock. He hasn’t touched his tea for a while. The cup shakes when he tries and fails to pick it up. “Oh my. Well. Gosh. It’s one thing to suspect these things are happening. Now we have real and tangible proof of actual monsters. And you’re telling me that they want the book we have?

“And you still think he was the best choice to guard this book?” John shakes his head. She looks at John. ‘God, he looks so tired. I’m glad he’s here, but I feel terrible. I wish that neither of them got dragged into this.’

Reese, clearly offended, sips his tea before speaking. “Well...”

She interrupts Reese’s rant by holding up a hand before addressing John. “Reese is someone I’ve trusted for longer than I’ve known you. He knows a

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lot about this town. If anyone can keep the book safe, it’s him.”

“Well, I couldn’t do it alone.” Reese smiles back at her. “We’ve all worked together to make sure they didn’t get the book. I’m just making sure they can’t find it again.”

“Look, I get it.” John shakes his head. “You guys have done this for a while. Reese, I guess you’ve kept the book hidden so far. I just need to know where it is so that we can get Beth back.”

“We haven’t decided exactly what we’re gonna do with the book, but yeah, we really do need it.”

Caroline stands up and throws her bottle away.

Reese stands up, pushing his chair in. He leaves them alone in the kitchen. She walks over to the foyer and watches Reese go into the room she remembers as the records room. R.D. started calling it that because we stored everything in there, and it just stuck.

Moving boxes, shuffling papers, and a few choice words come from the records room. She chuckles a little before going back to the kitchen. A short while later, Reese returns. He places the wooden box on the table and flips open the lid. Inside rests the infamous book. She still doesn’t know what the thing says, but she can feel the weight of it. The worn cover and aged pages look solid. There’s an aura of nauseating pressure coming from it like an entire ocean pressing down on your soul.

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“I tried learning the language, but I can’t stand to look at the thing for more than a few minutes.”

Reese quickly closes the box’s cover. “It wears you down just looking at it. If you think it will help you get Beth back, then you may have it. I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“I hope so, too.” She looks at the symbols on the wooden box, running her hand over the engravings. ‘Is this even human language?’

A presence in her mind is pushing her to run.

She wants to get as far away from the book as she can.

She stands up and goes to the living room.

On a round wooden table sits an old rotary phone. The cord is long enough to reach the couch at best. She picks up the receiver and listens to the dial tone for a moment. She feels sick when she realizes that she knows the number she’s about to dial by heart. They called it often since she was a kid. When she or Billy didn’t feel like cooking, they called this number. A long research session with The Citizens?

Call this number. She hates herself for knowing it so well, but she dials it anyway.

A voice picks up on the other end of the line.

“Dave’s Diner. Dave speaking. What can we make fresh for you tonight?” He’s jovial and friendly like he just didn’t threaten to kill them all. Like he didn’t torture her for days.

“We have the book.” Caroline tries her best to keep her voice flat and emotionless.

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The sounds of the diner fade from the other end of the line. Caroline assumes Dave went into his office so none of his customers know that they’re being fed by a werewolf. “Well, look at you. I knew ya could do it.” She notices an immediate change in Dave’s tone. He’s not the happy diner owner looking to feed a loyal customer, now he’s the monster underneath. It’s a darker, deadlier tone. “Just in time, too. I looked outside and it’s gonna be dark soon.

Now, you best not be lyin’ to me, little girl. I’ve been patient, but if you don’t have that book, Beth won’t survive my disappointment. Best be moving. I’ll see you at the cabins.”

Caroline twists the phone cord imagining the entire time that it’s wrapped around Dave’s neck. ‘I used to hold onto that neck when he’d give us piggy back rides.’ “We’ll be there.” Caroline slams the phone down onto the receiver. “Sorry, Reese. He just…

Aghh. I can’t stand it. He was at my birthday parties.

Was he always this thing? Did he always wanna kill us?”

“No need to keep dwelling on this.” Reese guides her to a familiar spot on the couch. “You didn’t know and he gave you no reason to suspect.

Some monsters hide very well.”

*************************

John knows he shouldn’t do it, but he has to.

‘I just don’t know if she can go through with it. I

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need this book to keep Beth alive. I can’t worry if these people get mad at me.’ He keeps an eye on each of them, waiting until they’re not looking. Reaching inside the box, he takes hold of the book and slides it under his shirt. He pulls his flannel shirt closed, making sure that it hides the book.

He closes the box and leans back. A sudden wave of nausea hits him and he nearly doubles over.

Something sick, slimy, and hot burrows into his brain. He’s never felt the need to run so badly. He nearly throws the book across the room, but manages to barely put it back into the box, closing the lid.

A wave of relief hits him almost right away. He stares at the ornate cover with the strange symbols.

‘Guess it’s back to Plan A then.’

John sets the box down on the coffee table.

He stands there behind Reese, looking expectantly at Caroline for some information. “What’d he say?”

*************************

“I told him we had the book, and we’d bring it to the campground.” Caroline looks at the box resting on the coffee table. She marvels at how such a small thing can cause so much trouble. “He said we better not be lying or he’ll kill Beth.”

“Alright. Good. We know where he’s gonna be and when. The only thing we need now is something to stop him.” John paces around the living room. He rubs a hand through his hair. “When Beth and I saw

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him in the house, she stabbed him with that silver blade, and it hurt him. They don’t heal so good from it. We saw he was still hurt the next day. So, we need silver. We had the knife, but we lost it in the woods.”

“That’s on me.” She hangs her head and feels terrible. “I had the knife and dropped it when that swamp thing attacked us. I tried to find it, but I couldn’t.”

“It’s not your fault. That was a…unique circumstance.” John keeps pacing. “We were having a long day. Too bad we don’t have time to melt down that silver set you have at home. We need something fast.”

“Oh my.” Reese’s head snaps up like he suddenly remembered something important. “I think I have something you can use.” He takes off quickly down the small hallway, waving for John and Caroline to follow him.

“You holding out on us, Reese?” Caroline gives a wry smile as she stands up.

“After you went missing, I had to make sure I was protected.” Reese walks past the records room and stands before another one. “I’m not in the shape to fight them physically.”

Reese pulls a key from his pocket. Unlocking the door, Reese, John, and Caroline walk into a room where cardboard boxes sit along one wall. Cabinets lined with books and newspapers are along another

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wall. Storage containers, dressers, and trunks are set in other spots. He reaches into an unassuming cardboard box and pulls out a light-colored wooden box with a symbol engraved into the lid.

Caroline looks at the light-colored wood.

“Hopefully this one is nothing like the other wood box.”

Reese walks past her and John, setting the box on one of the shelves. Reese runs a hand over the symbol. John leans in and looks at the design on the lid. “What’s this mean?”

“I don’t know.” Reese places his hands on the side of the box. “The person I got it from said it has to be there.”

“Meaning what?” She looks at the box, anticipating danger.

“I don’t know exactly. I haven’t had time to research it properly. Once we solve this, I promise that I will.” Reese lifts the lid, and he turns uncharacteristically serious. “There was an antique store nearby…”

*************************

It was the day that Caroline and Billy disappeared, but he didn’t know anything about that yet. Reese is at home, a warm cup of tea sitting on the table. He places the box with the book in the records room. He still finds it funny that they call it that.

He knows they think of him as the bookworm. The

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one who stays out of trouble and does the research, and he’s fine with that. He has no desire to get into the thick of it and would much rather spend the day looking through an old set of books instead of trading blows or hiking through the woods.

The short drive into town takes him to the local public library. He waves to Cindy, the librarian, and spends the morning looking through the library’s archives. He’s looking for any information about Dwayne or about the strange writing in the book. Reese spends a few hours gathering data and compiling it in the way that only he knows how. He doesn’t find a ton of information, but he was able to find a notice in an old newspaper about the sale of some land in the woods to one Dwayne Fink. He beams at his discoveries. ‘Maybe I’m not the tough guy, but I can still help, in my way.’ this, he goes to the hall of records to get the coordinates.

Armed with data, he has to get it to Caroline and Bill. It’s after lunch when he gets to the parking area. Caroline’s car sits in the lot. He steps away from the gravel parking area into the wilderness. ‘Well...

here we go. About to leave the civilized world for one of dirt and bugs. And people do this for fun? Huh...’

He knows they were supposed to be around here somewhere.

He walks the narrow path, dodging tree branches and cursing the insects. He swats at

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something particularly annoying, distracting him. He almost slips when he steps on something. He looks down and it’s a can of food. ‘What’s this?’ Bending down, he picks it up, turning it over. ‘There’s another.’

He walks further finding a few more until he gets to an open clearing.

The campsite in front of him is destroyed. He gasps and looks around at the thrown gear, scattered food, and torn fabric. “Oh, bloody Hell. What happened?”

Tearing open the flap to the tent, he desperately hopes to find them alive. A wave of fear and concern crashes over him. ‘Empty. Where are they? What was that?’

Something large and loud crashes through the brush near the edge of the clearing. Part of him hopes that it’s them, but it sounds too heavy. A low growl activates his flight or fight and he’s never been much for the fight part.

The trees seem to fly by as he runs. The need to make it to the safety of his car and civilization is all consuming. As soon as the parking area is in view, he’s already hitting the button to unlock his car door, over and over, until he grabs the handle. He practically dives into the driver’s seat and starts the car. “Right.

Let’s get the police out here. They can handle this better than I.” He drives away quickly at first intent on heading directly to the police, but he pulls over.

He works through some possible scenarios.

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‘What if there’s someone in the police department we can’t trust? What if they use his call to track him back to his home? None of them would be safe.’ Reese taps the steering wheel as he ponders his current situation. ‘No...the best thing is to make an anonymous call.’

He drives until he sees a payphone. Rummaging around in his car, he finds enough change to make one call. He dials the police and anxiously awaits their answer. An officer picks up the phone and Reese starts to speak. He realizes quickly that they will know who he is. His accent is quite distinct. Quickly, he puts on one of the worst American accents that has ever been uttered. “Well. Yessiree. I need to be reportin’ a missin’ person. They was at the campin’ spot near the kid’s camp. Yous needs to come and find ‘em.”

The officer thanks Reese for telling them about the situation. “We’re on this now. I’ll call Chief Wallace and get him out there right away.” Reese hangs up quickly and hopes that no one ever records these messages.

The sun is starting to get lower and a red sky is chasing away the blue. As he drives back home, an unfamiliar, but powerful, urge draws him to one of the streets on the outskirts of town. He recognizes this road. He’s been on it a few times, but he doesn’t remember seeing this shop. ‘Well, that’s new. Wonder what’s inside.’

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It’s a shop that looks like it was built from an old home. It simply says Antiques. The uncontrollable urge continues, forcing him to pull into the parking lot. Moments pass as he sits there in silence. Reese shakes his head to clear his thoughts. ‘When did I shut the car off?’

The storefront window is filled with a lot of odd and eclectic things. He walks through the old wooden door with the large glass panels. When he’s inside, he smells the dust in the air and old wood.

He’s never felt more comfortable in a shop. He looks around the shelves, still unsure as to why he stopped here in the first place.

A voice sounding like a deep chill on a winter wind comes from behind him and makes him jump.

He nearly drops the snow globe he was holding.

“Good afternoon, sir. I think I have what you need right over here.”

*************************

“And then he handed me this box.” Reese shudders as he finishes his story.

“And then what happened?” Caroline’s mouth is open in shock.

Reese looks pale when he turns to her. “Never ask me about that again. I tried to go back and find the store, but I couldn’t. I tried. I wanted to find it.

I drove down the same street, but it was gone. There was only an empty lot. You two are the only ones that

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know, and I would appreciate it if you never tell the others about it. Now. Here you go. It’s all yours.”

Resting in the box is a silver revolver on a blanket of red velvet. The weapon is an old-fashioned six-shooter straight out of the old west. Reese turns the box so that John can see inside. Above the weapon, in the lid of the box, right underneath a symbol rests six silver bullets arranged in a circle and tucked into cloth bands. The pistol and bullets are each carved with markings that shift from the recognizable to the alien and back again.

“Thank you, Reese.” John picks up the revolver, and it feels like it was built to fit into his hand. “This just might be what we need to save everyone and keep the book.”

She admires the weapon. It looks sleek and deadly, shining even in the dim light. “Not to mention taking out some monsters so that no other innocents have to die needlessly.”

“Well, I was never good with those things in the first place. Couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn if I were right next to it.” Reese looks down sheepishly.

“I wasn’t sure why he was adamant that I needed the weapon until tonight.”

‘It’s about time. We can finally start fighting back for real against these monsters.’ “At least one of us will have a chance to take him out.” She’s curious then when Reese suddenly exclaims and puts a hand up.

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“Something you said earlier just hit me. I must be losing my touch. I completely forgot I had this.”

Reese opens the drawer to the cabinet and pulls out a knife. It’s thin bladed and about five inches long.

The leather sheath keeps it secure. When Reese pulls it free, it looks brand new. He replaces it and hands it to Caroline. “It’s silver. Should help you out there.

I know it isn’t much, but I don’t have another gun. I wish I were going with you.” Reese smiles nervously.

“Okay, that’s a lie. I don’t ever want to see one of those things, but I wish you luck all the same.”

“Do you have any other bullets for this?” John places the pistol in his waistband.

“No.” Reese looks apologetic. “The shop owner told me how to make them, but it’s a...devilish...

process to make more. I didn’t have the time or the resources on such short notice. Those six are going to have to be enough. I hope you’re aim is true.”

She and John nod to each other. They silently agree it’s time to go. It’s getting later with each passing second. After good-byes are said, they grab their gear, the wooden box with the book, and get into the car.

Reese waves at them before shutting his front door.

She knows Reese locked every lock in his home and won’t sleep until he hears from them. She hopes that it will be good news.

John takes a deep, cleansing breath and his eyes become focused. He turns the key, pushes the

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gas pedal to the floor, and slams the car into drive.

The tires squeal as John whips the car around in a half circle and tears off to the campground.

Chapter 10

Camp Slaughterville’s sign sways as they drive underneath it. The gravel is loud under the tires. The burned out bulbs of the parking lot are like missing teeth, casting light with pools of shadow. One of the overhead lights flickers, the beam reflecting a strobe off of the set of stacked canoes and boating equipment.

John pulls next to one of the wood posts and puts the car in park. He takes a deep breath and rubs his hair. Tired, hurt, and...well, scared. ‘I mean, who wouldn’t be? I’m here after a werewolf!’ John grabs the door handle and takes a deep breath. “Here we go. You ready?”

Caroline unbuckles her seatbelt and reaches for the door. The wooden box holding the book sits

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on her lap. “Let’s get this over with.” She tucks it under one arm as she steps out of the car.

“Wasn’t sure you two would come.” The sudden booming voice easily carries on the night air. John and Caroline both turn, fast enough to get whiplash, each ready to run or fight for their lives.

“Can’t wait to see how you think you’re getting out of this alive.” Dave’s car is hidden in the shadows of the administration building. He slams the car door so hard that the frame rocks from the force. Dave stands up to his full height and seems bigger than he was when they saw him earlier. The large belly from years of diner food is still there, but John doesn’t let it trick him. He knows that Dave is dangerous. Dave’s shirt sleeves are stretched to their limit, and John can see the corded muscles flexing underneath.

When Caroline starts to walk forward, Dave gives her a warning growl and holds up a large hand to stop her. That once friendly smile appears on Dave’s face, and John wants more than anything to remove it. Dave points at them as he straightens up.

“You just wait here. I’ll be right back.”

*************************

Dave goes to the back of the car and opens the trunk. Caroline hears a pained whimper coming from inside. ‘Beth...’ Dave looks over at them and gives them a wink. With one powerful hand, he reaches in and wrenches Beth roughly out of the trunk. Her

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feet kick and bang against the trunk. Dave lifts her to hang in the air. Her throat is held tightly in his hand.

“Let her go, now! We have your book!” John screams into the night.

As they watch, Dave starts to change. Bones snap and reform as he gets taller. Muscles stretch, reform, and tear his clothes. His glowing eyes are bright, but his sharp teeth are more distracting.

She watches him reform, reshape, and break.

She flinches at the sound of the snapping bones, but most of her wants it to hurt. She wants it to feel worse than what they did to her. She smiles hoping it’s true.

He doesn’t complete the transformation. He still resembles a human, but barely. His facial features still look like Dave, but sharper. More wolf-like. His nose is upturned, but he still has the jawline of a human even though it has a distinct covering of deep black fur. His ears are longer. ‘They’re not black...’

She recognizes the color of the fur and the gray hair on the ears. She knows now who killed Billy.

She pulls out her knife and brandishes it at Dave.

“You…”

“If you want this to end well, set the book down carefully and back off.” When he speaks, it’s half speech and half growling.

“Not now, Caroline.” John steps in front of Caroline to stop her. “Dave, let her go, or you’re not getting anything.” He uses one hand to hold her back while she looks the werewolf in its cold eyes.

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A dark howling laugh pours from an inhuman throat. “Do I look stupid to you? You have no leverage here. Put the damn book down or she ends up like her little sister.”

She can’t breathe. She wants to fall down, to bury herself into the dirt, to do anything other than hear this. ‘Uncle Dave...did he really feed us, tell us to stay safe, and give us ice cream? Did that sick monster console us even after he was the one that killed Maddie?’ She can tell that Beth feels the same emotional punch to the stomach.

She tries to push past John. She’s tough, but John keeps her behind him. Beth struggles hard against the partially clawed hand gripping her throat.

“Keep your pet back, John.” Dave squeezes tighter until Beth can barely choke out a gasp. “No, I didn’t kill little Maddie. That was my Alpha. He got too...free with his kills, and I was told to get rid of him. So, I guess I could say, you’re welcome. I did get your revenge for you, after all. Now, you need to know that we will do anything to get that book. We can’t let you have it, it’s too important.”

*************************

John pulls the pistol he got from Reese out of his waistband and points it at Dave’s expanding chest.

The revolver clicks as he pulls back the hammer. Light shines on the barrel. “Let. Her. Go.”

Dave’s movements seem so strange being made

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by monstrous features. Dave shakes his head, clearly frustrated at them for not complying immediately.

He steps a little closer and stands like a gunslinger, holding Beth’s struggling form aloft. Her legs kick the air uselessly, and Dave barely notices the movement.

“Fine. I can see how this is gonna go. Remember, I tried to be civil.”

Dave opens his mouth wide. The sound comes from deep within and echoes through the whole campground. The windows of the administration building rattle and threaten to break. Shattering bones and reforming muscle transform Dave from his nearly human visage into a gargantuan creature.

The roar releases the beast within.

He’s seen a lot these last few days, but this nightmare still rattles him throwing his aim off slightly. When the gunshot rings out, the bullet flies past Dave’s head. He curses as he realizes that he only has five shots left.

Dave tosses Beth to one side. John can only watch as she flies through the air and rolls to a stop.

She cries out in pain as she crashes into a wooden post at the edge of the parking lot bringing her to a sudden and sickening stop. Her arm is bent unnaturally around the post. The crack was loud enough to hear from where he’s at, but her scream was louder. He wants to run to her.

His feet suddenly fly out from under him.

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Rolling through the dirt, he wrestles with something wiry and furred until they tumble to a stop. He stands up and looks at the light-colored fur as it flexes its claws at him. The face changes and becomes more human. Debbie looks back at him. “Surprise.”

Caroline runs and kneels next to Beth. He makes sure to walk carefully, keeping himself between the girls and the werewolves. ‘I really hate using the plural of that.’ He’s hoping they see him as the threat and leave them alone. When he was hit, he felt the gun leave his hand. He scans the ground desperately looking for the only thing that he’s sure will kill the werewolves in front of him.

He hears Caroline talking to Beth. “Are you okay?”

He holds his breath until he hears Beth’s response. “Me? What about you?” ‘Thank God.’

Debbie darts forward and back, always staying just out of his reach. She jumps in, laughing as she does, and swipes at John. Dave stands there, his arms at his sides, but clearly ready to act. He tries his best to protect the girls, but after everything that’s happened, he’s not sure how much he has left. Pain and exhaustion make him want to lie down, but his duty and love makes him stand stronger.

John keeps moving, trying his best to keep the werewolves’ attention on him all while trying to find the gun he dropped. Debbie strikes fast, landing a

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blow to John’s head that rocks him back. She drops back to stand next to Dave and laughs.

“Playtime is over.” Dave pats Debbie on the head. Dave looks up from her and stares. His yellow eyes glinting in the flickering light focusing on John and the girls. “Give us the book. Now.”

*************************

Caroline holds Beth’s arm and tries to hide her concern. She knows Beth’s arm is broken badly. She feels horrible when she slides the book into Beth’s good hand. “I don’t wanna ask you to do this, but I need you to keep this safe. Don’t let them get it, no matter what. And keep it closed. Long story, I’ll tell you later.”

Caroline closes the wooden box and holds it tightly. ‘I wish we weren’t here. I wish we didn’t have to do this. I just wanna be home, sitting around the table with Beth and Billy. If we didn’t take the book, none of this would have happened.’ Caroline pushes those emotions down with a deep breath and reaches out for Beth.

*************************

Beth and Caroline help each other stand up.

Beth smiles through the pain and nods. She hides the book behind her back using her good arm, keeping it as secure as she can. She backs up quickly, putting her back to a stack of canoes and kayaks. She slides the book onto one of the kayaks, hiding it with the seat.

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*************************

Caroline watches the chaos unfold in front of her. She knows there’s a lot of threats around them.

‘We can do this!’ She bounces on the balls of her feet, ready to move fast.

She makes brief eye contact with John. ‘I need to help. I need to stop this, but how? What am I supposed to do against these monsters?’ She gets distracted by Debbie taking another swipe at John.

Dave takes advantage of this. She saw him move, but he was just too quick. One second he’s standing next to Debbie, and the next, he’s right in front of her, towering and menacing. She flinches back a step and backs into a wooden post, stopping her. ‘Here’s where I die, and there’s nothing I can do about it.’ She looks over to John, hoping for help, but he’s in a deadly dance with Debbie.

Dave’s face is halfway between wolf and human. There’s no need for that voice to yell. The deep reverberations are felt as much as heard. “Give us the book. Now.” The guttural sounds it makes mimicking speech are terrifying on a primal level.

The closer Dave gets to her, the heavier the box feels in her hand. She holds onto the box with one hand. The other slides carefully into her pocket.

‘Please, don’t look. You don’t see it...’ The handle of the silver knife gives her hope that she can save the others.

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*************************

‘I’m not as fast or as strong as these monsters.

Just gotta be smarter.’ John catches lightning fast movement out of the corner of his eye as Dave takes off after Caroline. He’s brought back as a set of sharp claws whizzes just in front of his eyes. ‘If I turn. If I run, she’s gonna kill me. I need to find a way out of this.’

He watches how Debbie moves. She’s fast, but reckless. She likes to gloat. She’s cocky. John gets hit a few more times, never enough to really rock him, like she’s toying with him.

Debbie slips away, and it’s then when he sees it. Her pattern. This time, he waits. When Debbie charges in, arrogance making her sloppy, he steps aside. He slams a fist into her sensitive lupine nose.

She cries in pain, and he grins.

‘Just like hunting. Don’t shoot where they are, shoot where they’re gonna be.’ A renewed energy fills him that he knows he’s going to pay for later. When Debbie charges this time, it’s not for play. She’s looking to maim or kill him. He sidesteps just as the claws rake past him. He brings his foot up and slams it onto Debbie’s knee, the bone becoming a check-mark as it snaps. Her leg collapses, and he runs to the girls.

He rushes forward, digging hard into the dirt and rock as he runs. Dave towers over Caroline. As

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Dave reaches out to take the box, John crouches low and jumps on his back. He wraps his arm around Dave’s throat trying to choke the werewolf.

‘Wish I had that gun right now. Gotta do whatever it takes to stop this thing. Give the girls a chance to run.’ Dave shakes and tries to throw him off. He catches a quick glimpse of Debbie as she gets up, her leg already healed.

Dave moves like furred lightning as he reaches back and drags John over his shoulder. “Enough of this!”

Supernatural strength lifts John by the throat.

John’s eyes narrow as Dave growls and leans in close to him. Saliva drips onto his shirt and Dave’s breath smells like death and rot.

He swings a series of punches, desperation and the desire to protect those around him making them land with more force. The thought of these jaws tearing into Beth’s flesh turn normal punches into pile-driver blows. The hits land uninterrupted.

Punches that would have felled a normal man were barely noticed by Dave. Dave’s head doesn’t flinch much as the hits land. ‘Nothing. It’s useless. I can’t stop. They need me to keep fighting.’

His stomach fills with lead and rolling lava as he’s lifted into the air quickly. When he’s slammed down hard, the ground impacts his skull, and everything is covered with a hazy overlay. There’s a

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loud scream. ‘Oh, God. It’s me...’ Rocks grind and scour his flesh as he’s pushed against the dirt. Dave’s powerful arm tries to shove him through the ground giving him an impromptu burial. Dave, nearly feral, bends to growl dominance in his face.

*************************

‘One second I was looking death in the eye, and the next John’s riding him like a rodeo bull.’

She looks down at the blade in her hand. ‘Maybe I can slip Dave this present while he’s distracted.’ She gathers her courage and readies herself to run.

Before she’s able to take a step, Debbie strides into her field of view and stands guard over her once again, crossing her arms in front of her. Debbie takes a quick glance behind her and seems to be enjoying the carnage as John is beaten and strangled. The lupine jaw slurs the words slightly. “Where you think you’re goin’?” She smiles a feral grin at Beth and Caroline, saliva dripping onto the ground.

When Debbie turns to watch as John is slammed into the ground, she makes her move. She takes a step towards Dave, but Debbie keeps pace, stretching her impossibly long arms wide, preventing her from getting to Dave.

When Debbie licks her fangs, Caroline can practically feel them penetrate her throat. She shifts the box in her hands, Debbie follows it. Debbie flexes her claws and crouches low. She waits for the attack

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to come. When it does, she’s shocked at the speed and agility. She doesn’t even feel the box leave her hands, but she watches as Debbie moves back away from her. Debbie holds the wooden box in her clawed hands, turning it over and examining it.

‘We’re screwed.’ She curses as Debbie opens the box.

Debbie’s muzzle moves and it sounds more like barks than words. “The case is empty.”

The blindsided slap from Debbie sends her flying to one side. Through the pain, she forces a smile as she sees Beth throw a weak kick at Dave’s head. ‘Wonder where she got the nerve to do that.’

Dave’s wolfish face turns to Beth with an expression of annoyance. His face becomes less wolf-like. “You’re next.”

*************************

Beth’s ribs crack as Dave’s free hand lashes out.

The impact is frighteningly loud. She flies through the air backwards and, once again, lands hard in the grass. Cradling her broken arm as she rolls, she squeezes her eyes tightly shut against the pain.

She crawls along the ground using her only good arm, the gravel and stone tearing her skin. The broken bones in her arm grind against each other, and she nearly passes out from the pain. She uses the kayaks to help her stand and reaches into the hiding spot where the book rests.

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*************************

‘Don’t you even look at her!’ John struggles to think, much less move, as Dave stands up and stalks towards Beth. He’s left to lie in the dirt and rocks.

He takes deep breaths and tries to clear his head. His bruised and raw throat struggles to take in oxygen. ‘I gotta keep him away from her.’ His head buzzes, and the dizziness makes it hard to push himself upright.

His mind flashes images of their first date, their time in the park, and other intimate moments. ‘Push yourself up! He’s gonna kill her!’

He runs a hand through his hair as he stands, the wet blood flowing from one of several gashes is smeared into his hair. He pulls his hand down and looks at the red covering it. He roars his own challenge as he runs. Pain and fatigue make him stumble, but it doesn’t stop him. He screams as he dives and wraps shaking arms around Dave’s legs. Beth screams as Dave and John fall to the ground rolling over and over, each trying to come out on top.

He fights to hold onto Dave’s legs as he thrashes about like a tornado of fur, teeth, and rage. His hands slip and slide, the strength fading the longer he holds on. ‘Not sure how much I got left in me.’

Suddenly, Dave stops trying to kill him. Dave’s head snaps up and turns. Following his gaze, John sees Beth drawing an arm back. In her hand is the book. She’s going to throw it into the lake. ‘Clever

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girl.’ Dave roars again and charges, tossing John off of him.

Rolling in the now painfully familiar gravel and dirt, he recovers in time to see Dave grab Beth’s wrist before she can throw the book. The grinding crack of bones makes Beth cry out again. Beth drops the book into the wet grass, the cover falls open. Dave stares at the strange writing on the pages, almost transfixed for a moment.

He tries crawling to Beth. The pain and confusion making it hard to move. He digs tired fingers into hard earth and pulls. ‘Get over there you worthless piece of...’

Keeping hold of the broken wrist, Dave shakes away the effects of the book as he lifts Beth into the air. She stares back into the werewolf’s eyes, angry and defiant. John can barely see as he pulls himself forward. ‘That’s my girl! Give ‘em hell.’

Dave’s muzzle widens into a twisted smile. The yellowed fangs coming within inches of Beth’s face.

“Your pain was all for nothing. We’ll just take the book once you’re dead.”

*************************

Caroline moves her head as the empty wooden box comes flying at her. Pulling herself up using one of the wooden posts, she struggles to stand. The snap of bone and a cry of pain draws her bleary eyes. Dave has Beth suspended in the air. The wind must have

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been knocked out of her, because the words she wants to project barely reach past her lips. “Let her go...”

She shakes as she tries to stand, bracing herself on the post. ‘Gotta get to Beth.’

The pages flutter as the book falls, landing open on the ground once again, like it desires to be read. Debbie lustfully looks at the book and takes off running. ‘Can’t let her get it! This is our last chance!’

She runs with her last bit of will. Debbie is right in front of her, she almost has her. She draws the knife back just as Debbie grabs the book. Beth weak moan cuts through her focus. She sees Beth’s silent pleas for a quick death. Beth turns her head away, closing those teary eyes as she cries. Suddenly, she’s back in the forest, a little girl again. Her promise ringing in her mind. Dave opens his jaws and leans into Beth ready to devour her. She has one chance. One moment.

She pulls out the silver knife and strikes.

The blade reflects the moonlight before it sinks into Dave’s furred bicep. Dave drops Beth and she crumbles into a heap. She smells burning fur and meat as the wound smokes and bubbles. She grabs the handle of the blade with both hands and drops to her knees. The blade rips and tears as she descends. Smoking blood and a screaming howl fill the campground.

She twists the blade as it hits bone and pulls hard. She uses the momentum of the fall to roll,

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ignoring the pain of the stones as she does. She shakily forces herself to stand, making sure to keep an eye on Dave and Debbie.

A sharp crack draws her attention. Wood splinters fly as John shatters an oar over Dave’s head.

She uses this opportunity to run after Debbie as best as she’s able, brandishing the silver knife, the blade still smoking with Dave’s blood.

John stands there holding a broken piece of oar looking up into the yellow eyes of malice incarnate.

Dave growls a command to Debbie. “Keep an eye on them. Don’t let them leave. I’m going to be hungry after killing this one.”

*************************

Debbie is fully transformed, her red fur shimmers in the moonlight. She loves the feeling, the power it gives her. She snaps and growls as she moves into position. She stalks around the parking area making sure to keep those girls in sight. She gives a few false lunges at the dark-haired one keeping her distracted and focused on her.

She laughs when the blonde one tries to crawl.

The pain and fear she smells make her mouth water.

‘Why bother remembering the names of food.’ She can see the odd way the girl’s wrist and arm move and shift. ‘The marrow will be easier to get at now. Their fear makes them taste better.’ She stalks forward, relishing the terror when their backs hit the stack of

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canoes. She snarls out a taunt. “Nowhere left to go now, little snacks.”

She makes an exploring swipe at the dark-haired one. She draws back quickly as it lashes out with something. She lets out a roaring scream. ‘Must be silver to burn like this.’ She watches as the smoke rises and the dark-haired one smiles. ‘I’m going to make her feel it all as I eat her slowly.’

She hears the bark of her Alpha and turns.

Dave’s shaking his injured arm sending blood flying into the gravel. “I told you to just watch them. Don’t play with my food.”

*************************

Dave, in his full transformation, stands two feet taller than John’s six-foot. Dave looks down and slowly walks forward. Dave snarls, his tongue licking across dagger-like fangs.

John pants, trying to give his lungs much needed air. He doesn’t know how much he has left in him after these last few days. He looks around for anything to help him against this beast.

Dave charges, fully leaning into the attack.

John tries to dodge, but a clawed hand flashes forward and grabs him around the neck. ‘How the hell am I gonna beat these things? I can’t. They’re just too damn fast. Too strong.’ He chokes and gags as the taloned hand squeezes his throat. His head swims. ‘I need to keep them safe.’

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Dave picks him up effortlessly. He feels weightless as he flies through the air until he crashes into a nearby tree. Coppery blood pours from his mouth from some unknown injury. ‘Oh, God! It hurts! No. Push it down, John! Ignore it. Get up, kill this monster, and save the girls. Then you can rest.’ He reaches up to a low hanging branch and pulls himself to his feet. His eyes widen as the branch snaps, and he falls to one knee.

The ground shakes as Dave stomps towards him. With his head down, he clutches onto the broken branch. He swings it up with everything that he has left. His pain and fear empower the blow. The sharp end of the stick digs deep into Dave’s eye. The monster howls in pain as blood fountains forth from the socket. He releases the branch when he gets hit by Dave’s wild swing. This time slamming against the administration building’s wall and sliding to the cold earth.

The air leaves his lungs as he slumps over onto his side. The dirt stings as it grinds into the many cuts and scrapes. ‘This is it. I got nothing left. Everything’s broken. Maybe just a small rest.’ Breaths come hard for him as he watches Dave tear the branch from his eye with a sickening splorching sound. He sees a new yellow eye forming already. ‘Oh, come on! Nothing can stop this thing. If only...’

His vision goes black as his head lolls to the

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side. When it hits the ground, his eyes snap open.

He doesn’t look at the werewolf, instead he watches Beth huddled against the canoes, cradling her broken limbs. Caroline stands in front of Beth using the knife to hold Debbie back.

On a subconscious level, he feels the kick to his ribs, but it’s crackling static amongst all the rest of his pain. He slides backwards under the administration building, the darkness calming. ‘As far as final resting places, it could be worse.’ Looking up at the floor of the building, he can see the gaps in the wood. He wonders what people will think when they find his body under these floorboards. Will they blame the camp staff for his death?

He knows no one can hear him, but he has to get the words out. He needs to give voice to his final words. “I’m so sorry, Beth. I couldn’t save you or Caroline. It’s my fault for not being strong enough or fast enough. I should have been better.”

Dust from the floor above falls onto his face and he instinctively turns his head to the left. A bright light nearly blinds him. He’s a long time Catholic, and he always heard about the white light at the end.

Part of him is surprised he gets to see it. ‘Strange.

Thought I would see more of my family here to come and take me home.’ He blinks the dirt, sweat, blood, and tears out of his eyes. ‘Wait a minute. The light...

it’s coming from...’

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A laugh tries to escape through pained lungs, but it’s trapped. The pistol Reese gave him is right there! When he was knocked down, it must have been thrown under here. It must have been waiting for him to take it up again. The light from the parking lot makes the pistol shine in the dirt. The elation is quickly lost as he feels clawed hands grab his feet.

He stretches bruised muscles and reaches for the gun.

Weakened fingers grasp hold onto the wood handle like a life raft in the ocean.

His back scrapes against the dirt and rocks as he’s easily pulled out from under the cabin. Still on his back, he skids to a stop and stares at the bright stars in the black sky. The view is quickly obscured by the devil’s eyes. Dave grabs the front of his shirt and pulls him from the ground.

Dave opens his muzzle wide, the red chasm opened behind sharp teeth. He knows he’s only got seconds before those fangs pierce his skull and brain.

A weary arm raises the pistol and places the barrel against Dave’s temple. Clouds cover the bright moon.

He gives as much of a smile as his bruised and puffy face will allow.

He gives Dave a moment to realize just what’s about to happen. He watches as lupine eyes first register concern, but then turn to amusement. Dave forces a gravely laugh. “You know that can’t kill me.

I am going to...”

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He pulls the trigger filling the projectile with his anger and pain. The bullet tears through flesh, breaks bone, and sends Dave’s brain flying out the other side of his head. Smoke pours forth from each side of the wound. They both drop to the ground.

Debbie’s screeching howl echoes loudly. Dave’s corpse transforms from the beast to human once again. For a moment, he wonders if Dave will return like Debbie did, but the smoke coming from the hole gives him hope.

He staggers forward. “You’re next.” He extends the pistol pointing it at Debbie.

Debbie bares her fangs, growls a scream, and crouches, ready to pounce.

*************************

Caroline winced when Dave violently drug John out from under the big building. ‘Wish I could be more help.’ She wants to tell Beth it’s all going to work out, but she doesn’t feel it. She’s sure that they’re about to die here in the dark and the dirt.

Both of them laugh in spite of themselves when the loud crack of gunfire fills the night. She can see the gore and smoke pour freely from the back of Dave’s head. ‘Hard to remember an order without a brain.’

When Debbie screams, Caroline knows it’s her only chance. She leaps forward with the silver blade, slamming it into Debbie’s spine.

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The silver blade pierces through the front of Debbie’s throat. The smoke rises up into her nostrils.

She has enough time to smell her own burning blood before collapsing onto her face, the bestial form fading to become a human once again.

“Bitch.” Caroline reaches down and twists the blade before pulling it free.

After wiping the blade on her pants and putting it into her pocket, she rushes over to help Beth stand. She’s careful not to further injure Beth’s broken bones. “You alright? Where’s the book?”

“Not really feeling the best, but we’re better than they are. I dropped the book back there.” Beth stands through the pain, tears falling from her eyes involuntarily.

“Can’t believe we made it out of this. I was worried there for a minute.” She laughs despite her pain as she walks Beth to the car.

“Maybe you’re meant to do this after all. What do you think about staying?” She shifts Beth’s weight as gently as she can.

Beth laughs, a sound she didn’t know she missed so much. “We need to get John.” Beth looks at John who is struggling to get to them. “Oh no. He looks so...”

She rubs Beth’s back as they walk. “I know.

I’ll get him. He’s been through a lot, but he’s strong.

Just wait until we tell you what happened. First, I’ll

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get you to the car. Then, let’s get you and John to the hospital. Guess we can’t call you Scaredy Beth anymore.”

Beth laughs at that. “Haven’t thought about that name for a long time.” She looks over at John who is still crouched on one knee, panting. “Think he still wants marry me?”

“For better or worse right?” She laughs full and loud.

John manages to crawl a few feet towards the car. His cough sounds fluid and labored. “Beth…”

“I’m okay!” Beth tries to reach out, but she winces in pain. “I’m over here.”

She gets Beth settled at the car, leaning her against the hood, before turning to help John. She kneels down close to him and smiles. “You don’t look so good.”

John coughs a glob of blood onto the ground.

“You should see the other guy.”

“Guess we’ll have to find a new place to eat.”

She pulls him up and slides under one of his arms helping him to walk.

“He did make some good eggs. Maybe...Oh, man. I can’t believe I forgot about her.” John struggles to his feet.

“Who?” She pulls him along gently.

“Janice. She’s still out there. Chief, too, now that I think of it.” John looks off into the darkness.

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“Gonna have to find them and take care of them.

Not tonight though.”

*************************

The cold, hard steel of the car is refreshing compared to the rough stone and dirt. John puts his hand on the hood and places the silver pistol into his pocket thankful for the four shots left. ‘Need to get Reese to make more of these.’ He wants to fall over and sleep, but, when he looks up and sees Beth’s face framed by her wisps of blonde hair, he forgets all about the pain and pulls her close. His heart races, this time the dizziness he feels isn’t from pain, but relief. He doesn’t want to let her go again.

He tries to be careful, to not to hurt her any more than she’s already been hurt. He holds her as tightly as he can. He finally lets himself feel the fear of never seeing her again and the relief that she’s with him. He starts to tear up, but he doesn’t want her to see him like that. He looks into her eyes and pushes a stray strand of hair out of her face. “Hey.”

She looks up into his blood-covered face and smiles. “Hey. Sorry about all…this.” She gestures at the campground.

“No, it’s fine.” He smiles. “I was thinking about going camping anyway. Wanna get hitched tonight? We might be able to find a priest somewhere in this town.”

Beth leans her head into his chest. “I’d hug you, but both of my arms are broken.”

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“I’ll do it!” Caroline wraps an arm around each of them. “I can’t believe you’re getting married.”

Caroline looks suddenly sad.

Beth stands next to her, leaning against her sister. “I am so sorry. I wasn’t thinking. They told me what happened when they had me tied up. If you don’t want to...”

Caroline stops her, the smile clearly forced.

“No, it’s okay. I want you to be happy. He would want you to be happy. Come on. Let’s go get you guys hitched.”

“Maybe after the hospital.” Beth says as she stands up straight.

They laugh and start to get into the car. John moves toward the passenger side. “Can you drive, Caroline? I might pass out on the way.”

A rustle from the darkness makes them each curse as they turn towards the stack of canoes. The Tall Thin Man looks back at them as he bends down and picks up the book from where it laid in the grass.

Straightening, he wipes the wet cover on his robe and examines it in the moonlight. “I wish this all could have gone differently.” He puts the book back into its ornate box.

Before closing the lid, The Tall Thin Man looks the book over and picks little pieces of grass from the cover. He gives a dismissive look at Dave and Debbie as they lay in the dirt. “At least now things can go back to normal.”

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*************************

Caroline, Beth, and John are still by the car.

John struggles to stay upright, Beth is clearly afraid of the man who kept her captive, and Caroline knows she has to get the others to safety and can’t go after this man. Their frustration is palpable.

The Tall Thin Man walks off into the darkness towards the main road. The lights of a vehicle come on and the engine starts. It was apparently waiting for him. The side door opens, the interior light cuts through the darkness, and a robed figure reaches a hand out to help the Tall Thin Man into the van. The door closes, and the taillights fade into the distance.

Chapter 11

A short van ride later, the Tall Thin Man walks up a dark, musty pathway past a long history of gravestones. The gigantic mausoleum stands ominous in the moonlight. He effortlessly pulls open the heavy wooden doors and proceeds down a set of damp stone stairs.

He opens a wooden door and walks into a large room. The center of the room holds a large, stone altar with symbols and grooves cut into it.

Candles in metal sconces illuminate the shelves against the rough stone walls. On those shelves are all manner of horrific things like a large wolf skull, a vial of sickly green liquid, a silver cross, and more. Books of arcane and other nature fill several bookcases.

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A few feet away from the stone altar is a large podium. It’s wide enough to hold several instruments and other items for performing rituals. A man in a robe, his face hidden in shadow, stands there expectantly. He says nothing as the Tall Thin Man walks over and bows his head and places the book on the podium.

“Master.” The Tall Thin Man steps back and folds his hands deferentially. “I am sorry to report that two of the wolves have died.”

Master waves a hand dismissively. “They can be replaced. They aren’t the concern. The book was what we needed to keep her under control.”

They take familiar positions around the altar and chant in a language that couldn’t be understood by many of the best scholars. This language hasn’t been spoken since humans took their first steps on the Earth. The shadows in the room thicken, deepen, and expand to fill the room until they reach the candle flame. When the candles flicker out, the room is covered in darkness. The chanting rises in intensity and symbols, previously invisible on the wall, flare up with sickly green fire.

Their chanting grows stronger and more guttural. Wind flows through the room from an unseen source. They raise their hands high into the air. Their robes flap and rustle as the book’s pages flutter. The wind picks up and pushes stronger. The

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green light flickers before going out, the wind dies down, and the candlelight returns.

“What the hell happened?” Master closes the book’s cover, studying it intensely.

“I don’t know master. It was probably my fault. I didn’t chant well enough.” He’s confused and concerned, wondering if Master will kill him for his failure.

“Nonsense. It must be something else.”

Master’s glare lets him know to stop talking.

He turns the book to face Master and flips through the pages. He stops at one section and gasps.

“Look! Pages are missing.”

*************************

Pulling the book closer, The Master inspects the spine and finds remnants of torn pages. He curses and slams the book closed. Picking the book up, he squeezes the book tightly and makes to throw it against the wall. He takes a few deep breaths and lets the book go to fall onto the altar. Stepping back, he takes off his glasses and cleans them on his ceremonial robes. He looks down at the book and shakes his head. “Those morons have killed us all.”

*************************

At the same time that the Tall Thin Man and his Master are discovering this betrayal, the Slaughterville Hospital is experiencing something they never expected. In her room of the ICU, Jenny

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stirs. The large gashes along her chest and stomach knit together. The machinery connected to her starts to beep rapidly as her heart-rate and breathing increase.

Sitting bolt upright, Jenny reaches to her mouth and rips the intubation tube free from her throat. She looks around the room, but she’s alone.

The lights are brighter than she remembers. She stands up and walks over to the bathroom, staring into the mirror. As she rubs a hand over a nasty cut on her head, it heals. The staples fall to tink in the sink. She leans closer to get a better look in the mirror. ‘I had brown eyes...’

A pain in her gut makes her double over. She falls to the cold tile as her bones start to crack, heal, crack, and stretch. She writhes on the floor, trying to scream, but the sound won’t come out. Her arms elongate, her fingers turn to claws, and her face stretches to fit her new jaw and teeth. Knees rearrange themselves to accommodate new legs. Muscles strain and tear. Her hospital gown falls forgotten to the floor. Hair grows all over her body as she stands, stalks into her room, and stares out the window at the full moon.

‘I feel...stronger.’ She flexes hands that look nothing like her own, but they feel like they’re the ones she was meant to have. Powerful muscles feel like they could do just about anything.

292

Christopher

Brown

A beam of moonlight falls onto her hospital bed. Jenny cocks her head, letting her new senses take in the sights, smells, and noise. Even more, she feels the call of something she doesn’t understand yet.

She looks out of her window, staring at the tree line in the distance. ‘Home...’

Jenny crouches low, the muscles in her legs tense like a spring. She unleashes the gathered strength and leaps, crashing through the window. The glass cuts her deeply, but the injuries heal almost instantly. She lands on all fours feeling the concrete beneath her.

The scents of the wild fill her nostrils. She sniffs the air and turns towards the forest. ‘Food...’ She growls low and lopes off into the night.

*************************

Beth is standing at the car with John and Caroline just after the Tall Thin Man left the campground. She takes a breath. “I can’t believe we made it out alive.”

“Speak for yourself.” John laughs and spits blood onto the ground,

“That’s two wolves that won’t be hurting anyone.” Caroline looks at the two bodies lying in the dirt.

“Before we go, I need to get something.” She stands, pain clearly showing on her face.

“What? We need to go.” Caroline stops Beth from walking away from the car.

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“Before I hid the book, I tore out some pages and stuck them in the red canoe.” She looks over to the stack of canoes and kayaks. “Not sure if they mean anything, but if they needed the whole book, they’re probably pretty mad right about now.”

“Good thinking.” John smiles at her. He sways while he props himself up using the car. “Let’s burn them so they can’t get them back.”

She walks over to John wanting to hold him, but her broken arms make that impossible. “But we need to get you to the hospital.”

“This is more important.” John leans on the car, blood streaking on the hood. “We’ll both go as soon as it’s done.”

*************************

Caroline reaches into the center console of the car and pulls out a flip lighter. She gives it a toss in the air before jogging over to the canoes. She reaches into the darkness of the canoe, praying that there’s no little monster in there waiting to take her hand off.

A sense of elation fills her when she pulls the pages free. They’re no longer pulsing. Instead, the pages feel cold and wet in her hand, like they’ve died. A voice whispers in her head, sounding far away and muffled.

She can’t make out what it’s saying.

Over by the pavilion, there’s a fire ring in the sand. She shakes away the gargling voice and runs to it. Beth meets her at the fire ring as she kneels down to place the pages in the circle.

294

Christopher

Brown

Beth stands there watching as Caroline lights the pages. The smell is tangy and earthy. It’s like smelling a standing body of water on the hottest summer day. Beth cringes at the smell. “I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but it definitely wasn’t this.”

The pages catch fire quickly, but burn slowly.

The pages seem to be fighting the flames, but after a few minutes, they turn to ash. The blackened pieces flit through the air, embers glow on a few of them.

One of the burning pieces gets too close to Beth and she blows on it. “Okay. Good. Let’s get going. I’m not feeling so hot.”

As the fire goes out, she turns and walks towards the car. She looks back. “You coming?”

Beth stands and stares at the fading embers. A grunt of pain from John makes her turn. She watches as John stumbles to the passenger side of the car. He looks like he’s ready to collapse and sleep for a week.

Caroline hurries to the car, reaches in through the open driver’s window, and turns on the headlights.

”There you go, Beth. Can’t have you falling…”

Caroline turns, the smile on her face disappears.

“What the hell?” There’s a woman standing behind Beth.

Seconds slow to an eternity as Caroline takes in what’s happening. The woman is young. Even in the shadows, her skin shines pale especially in contrast to her jet black hair. She’s wearing something that

Slaughterville 295

Caroline immediately associates with a maid outfit.

The woman’s dark eyes are filled with indifference.

An axe rises behind Beth. ‘No...not again!’

*************************

Beth smiles when she sees the lights of the car come on. “Thanks, Caroline.” She’s confused as Caroline starts running to her. “I always loved the smell of the…of the…”

*************************

Beth’s skull splits cleanly as the blade falls. The gleaming metal stops when it hits her neck. Blood pours like a river, bone splinters and flies, and brains leak out falling to the ground with a splat. Beth’s body falls to its knees before collapsing to lie in the dirt.

John screams and tries to run despite his injuries. “Beth!”

Caroline collapses to her knees, hearing her mother’s cries, but they’re coming from her. The insanity of the situation threatens to shatter her mind.

Welcome
to

Slaughterville

This book is a love letter to all B-Movie horror films from the 70s to the present day. I started the Slaughterville world back in 2012 with the board game series. In fact, I would use the cards from the game to add extra Easter eggs to this book (and the future ones!). Can you find them all? Here are a few:

Want More Horror Adventure?

Check These Out:

The Award

Winning Board

Game That

Started It All!

Create Your Own

Story with the

Slaughterville

Roleplaying Game!

Coming Soon!

After the tragic events from the first book, John and Caroline are in a fight for their lives against a killer who cannot be stopped.

Will they survive

Thank you!

I want to start by thanking each and every one of you that has picked up a copy of this book. It means a great deal to me that you will put your faith in these stories. I cannot wait to take you on this journey where not everything is as it seems and big surprises are just around the corner.

If you enjoyed this book and want to keep up with new Laughing Rogue projects, join us by using the QR Codes below. We would love to hear from you!

Chris

Laughing Rogue YT Channel:

Laughing Rogue Facebook Page: Twitter/X: @LaughingRoguePA

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Table of Contents

- Chapter 1
- Chapter 2
- Chapter 3
- Chapter 4
- Chapter 5
- Chapter 6
- Chapter 7
- Chapter 8
- Chapter 9
- Chapter 10
- Chapter 11