Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 18302 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 92(@200wpm)___ 73(@250wpm)___ 61(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18302 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 92(@200wpm)___ 73(@250wpm)___ 61(@300wpm)
It was like I was living in some soap opera and everybody was chomping at the bit for the next new “news.”
“So, what’s so scary about this guy aside from people in this town running their mouth and him being a big motherfucker?” Jax asked, and I kind a liked him for his attitude toward the subject.
“Well, he’s big, like six-five or some shit, and he probably weighs the same as two men. He’s all hard muscle from probably tearing down trees with his bare hands.”
I rolled my eyes again. At this rate, my eyes would get stuck in the back of my head.
“Sounds like you might have a thing for him,” David said, and everyone but me laughed.
“I’ll be back,” I mumbled and stood. I didn’t have anywhere to go, but I had to get away from there.
I walked over to the edge of the clearing. The spot we picked to camp for the night overlooked the town of Thickwood and Lake Aspyn. It was beautiful with the lights of the town shining, twinkling like little diamonds. It looked incredible this high up.
I leaned against the tree and crossed my arms, and although it was April, spring weather this high up was still pretty cold. I tightened my jacket around me and continued to look down at town. I imagined all the people sitting at their dinner tables right now, kids getting ready for bed, businesses starting to close down for the night. After eight, Thickwood was pretty much a ghost town except for a few establishments that stayed open, one of those being the bar.
I pictured the town during the day, how Ridge Elementary would have screaming kids running around the playground. I looked over at Lake Aspyn, picturing the Fourth of July party the town had every year. I was daydreaming about all the things I loved about Thickwood, the traditions, how although everyone liked to gossip, we were one big community, more like family. I looked in the general direction of where McKenzie’s Diner was located, the little family owned restaurant I waitressed at.
I started to get lost in the sights, woodsy smells, and sounds all around me, when I heard the snap of a twig behind me. I straightened and looked over my shoulder. It was dark, too dark for me to see very far into the woods. I could hear Riley and Ashley laughing, his two buddies doing the same. I could see the firelight from the campfire off to my left, but the noises had come from my right. It was most likely an animal, maybe a fox or a raccoon.
I was about to turn and look at the town once more before I focused on heading back to where everyone was, when I heard more twigs snapping. It was loud, closer. It certainly didn’t sound like a raccoon or small animal running along the underbrush. My heart started beating a little bit faster, and I pushed away from the tree, not stupid enough to stand there and try to guess what was out there.
I made my way toward the campsite, glancing over my shoulder, expecting some crazed maniac with a chainsaw to start chasing me. I’d seen one too many horror movies, that was for sure.
Once I was back around the campfire, I heard Riley switch topics and start talking about the high school football he used to play, how he was the “star quarterback” four years ago. It almost took my mind off the feeling that we were not alone out here, that maybe there was something else, someone else nearby.
Being in the middle of the woods with darkness surrounding you tended to have all sorts of things creep up in your mind. Ax murderers, serial killers, maybe a deranged hermit living in a cave was stalking us. Although the reality was it was probably just an animal, a deer, or more likely a raccoon. I focused on the flames in front of me, telling myself everything was fine. We were alone. But in the back of my mind, a tingling on my nape told me I didn’t know if that was actually the truth.
“Hey, are you okay?” Ashley asked, and I nodded.
“Yeah, I just thought I heard something,” I admitted and looked over my shoulder, suddenly feeling extremely stupid for thinking it was something other than wildlife. I looked over at Ashley and saw she was looking behind me as well.
“What do you think you heard?” she asked.
“Probably a raccoon or something,” I muttered.
That was it. Right?
Chapter Two
Mateo
They were on my property, drinking beers, acting like they weren’t trespassing. I’d seen the fire from my living room window and instantly became pissed. I’d built this cabin high in the mountains to get away from people, and everyone in town knew that. They gave me my privacy.