Sophia turned back to Montana. “Is ‘ere some place we could put ‘er where I could observe? Do you guys have a jail here for unruly campers?”
Shaking his head, he snickered. “No, we just called the cops an’ they put ‘em in jail.”
“So ya don’t have any rooms here that could hold ‘er?”
“Hmm, what about the freezer downstairs? We could always move the food. There’s a lock on the door so she can’t get out.”
Looking from Erica back to Montana, Trevor shook his head. “I would suggest ya think of another place. It’s too cold. Even for the Ice Princess.”
Stirring her coffee, Sophia shrugged. “Well, I guess we can watch ‘er. If she changes, we’ll deal with it then.”
Furrowing his brows, Montana shook his head. “So, you’re tellin’ us, we need to watch ‘er. If she does change, we need to get ‘er in the freezer? Wow, that’s a tall order. I mean outside was one thing, but now you’re lookin’ at a tight, closed-in area.”
Furrowing his brows, Justice looked around the room. “Yeah, that’s not happenin’, Doc. I watched the smallest girl in the campground rip a guy’s leg off like it was nothin’. I used to have to help ‘er get across the cable. She wasn’t heavy enough to go all the way. Why couldn’t we put ‘er in there now? We could watch ‘er from the safety of another room.”
Trevor adamantly shook his head. “Unless your goal is to kill ‘er, we can’t use the freezer. It’s cold in there. Too cold for a human.”
“Naw. We could turn the temperature down.”
“Even if ya turned it all the way down, she’d still die. Trust me. I got stuck in ‘ere for about ten minutes. I almost died.”
Nibbling on the inside of his lip, Montana looked from one to the other. “What about the storage room?”
Sophia looked at him. “What kinda place is it?”
“It’s a very sturdy door ‘at requires a code to unlock an’ open. The only way in or out is through the door.”
“Is there a window?”
“Yeah, but there’s only one in the door.”
“Are ya sure she can’t get out?”
He shook his head. “Not even. It’s small. Once she’s locked in ‘ere, someone has to let ‘er out.”
Justice nodded. “You guys keep ‘er occupied. We’ll get the storage room ready.”
Candice looked at him, questioningly. “How do you propose we keep her occupied?”
“I dunno. Use girl talk or somethin’.”
Montana looked at Brandon. “What’s in the storage room now?”
He shrugged. “Well, Matt told us to put all the out of date stuff in ‘ere.”
Sophia looked at Montana. “I can watch ‘er through the window?”
He nodded. “Yeah. Okay, let’s do this.”
Justice looked around. “Yeah, but how the hell are we gonna lock ‘er up?”
Sipping her coffee, Candice nodded. “Good question, because we can’t just push her in and run.” Then before he said it, she nudged Trevor. “And we can’t throw a rock either.” He smirked.
Brandon sighed. “We’ll have to figure that out when the time comes.”
Trevor clapped his hands. “Okay, let’s do this!”
Everyone separated, having gotten his or her coffee.
Montana looked around the room. “Could I have your attention, please?” Everyone turned to look at him. “The boys an’ I are gonna start makin’ rooms so we have a place to sleep. Everyone stay here. If you need anythin’ let Sophia or Candice know, an’ they’ll get one of us.” They looked at Sophia to Candice, back to Montana. “We shouldn’t be long. When we get back, we’ll start the showers so we can retire for the night. Well… except for those who have to stay up an’ keep watch.”
Winking at Erica, Brandon blew her a kiss. “Don’t miss us too much.”
Rolling her eyes, she sneered. “Don’t worry. We won’t miss you one second you’re gone.”
He nudged Trevor. “She wants me, dude.”
He laughed. “Yep, I can see that.”
Ian raised his hand. “Can I request a private room?”
Arching a brow, Montana looked at him. “Why?”
“I snore… loudly.”
Howard nodded. “Yeah, me too. When I start snoring, you guys won’t be able to sleep.”
As the conversation veered towards snoring and the inability to sleep while it was happening, the guides left the room. It held everyone’s attention as they all bragged about someone in their family who snored the loudest. Soon after the conversation died. They needed to think of a way to keep everyone’s attention. Taking a sip off her coffee, Candice motioned to Sophia. “Being a surgeon, you probably have some killer stories.”
“My life was never borin’.”
“Tell me one. Make it a good one.”
That was how they held everyone’s attention. Sophia began to unravel the gory details of a surgical nightmare. A woman came in for a busted appendix and when it burst, it started a chain reaction for more internal damages. It was so intense; like a ghost story that frightened them, but they couldn’t turn away. Everyone was dying to find out if the patient survived.
She shrugged. “That was when I realized we’d done all we could. It was up to her now.”
“Wow! That sounds crazy. What did you do then?”
“Not much I could do. I sewed the bleeder, closed the wound, an’ prayed everythin’ I did was enough to save ‘er. Doctors are just human bein’s, but people think of us as miracle workers. We can’t work a miracle. We don’t have an open phone line to God. We try to figure out what’s wrong, an’ how to fix it. Sometimes… there’s no fixin’ it. It’s about trial an’ error, an’ learnin’ from our mistakes.”
“Can’t all problems be fixed?” Erica asked, inquisitively.
“No. Everythin’ has an expiration date, includin’ people. Fad diets an’ wonder cures, not to mention those old remedies; slowly wears an’ tears on a body. Then again, we weren’t meant to live forever. Eventually we all die an’ our bodies give out on us.”
Walking back to the room, Brandon clapped his hands. “Hey, guys! We figured this is a good time for a tour. Everyone can take a shower an’ go to the bathroom. When you’re finished with all that, we can continue. We didn’t have a lot to work with, but it’s like a hotel.”
Standing, Howard stretched. “You made a hotel out of something that was once a campground? Do we get room service too?”
Erica growled. “It’s the least they could do after what happened.”
Brandon smiled. “We dunno how long we’re gonna be here, so we’re makin’ provisions just in case it’s longer ‘an any of us hope.”
The first stop on the tour was the bathrooms and showers. The bathrooms were like any other. Four bathroom stalls were on one side of the room, and three shower stalls on the opposite side. There wasn’t a lot of changing room. In the shower was a caddy with shampoo and conditioner.
Located on the wall of the door were two sinks on either side of the door. They were equipped with soap dispensers and a paper towel holder. There was one trashcan beside the door. The men’s room looked similar only they had two urinals installed where two sinks should have been.
The tour stopped as the showers started. Erica was the only one who didn’t bother and sat on the bench. There was a lot of hustling as people grabbed shampoo, conditioner, and a towel. They got louder, talking and laughing.
“You guys might wanna speed this along,” Brandon told them. “We’re only leavin’ the generator on for a short time.” The only response was laughing with more talking from either bathroom. After a half hour had passed, he looked at his watch. “Okay, if you guys could hurry up.”
Candice stood by the wall, towel drying her hair. She walked over joining him. When he looked at his watch again, she gently put her hand on his arm. “Relax dude. Give them time. Remember, some of them have body parts or blood on them. It might take a little while to get cle
an.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry I'm such a tyrant. I’m anxious to get everyone down ‘ere.”
Leaning over, she whispered softly. “I know, but just chill out. Hell, I know what’s going on, but if I didn’t… I’d know just by the way you’re acting.”
“Okay. You’re right.”
“Let’s talk about something else.”
He chuckled. “Okay. I know it’s none o’ my business, but I have to ask. What’s goin’ on with you an’ Zach?”
She arched a brow. “What do you mean?”
“Is everythin’ okay? Things seem a little… intense.”
She laughed. “That’s what you wanna talk about?”
“Humor me.”
“I don’t know. He’s always been obsessive about me.”
Resting a foot against the wall, he folded his arms across his chest. “What do ya mean?”
“If I leave the room, he wants to know where I’m going. It’s like he has to know everything I’m doing.”
“Why?”
She shrugged. “I truly don’t know. The whole reason for this vacation was to try and salvage our relationship.”
“What was wrong with it?”
“I’m tired of his jealousy. I thought if we got around other people, he’d chill out some.”
He nodded. “That hasn’t worked?”
“No. He’s just gotten worse.”
Looking down, he whispered softly. “Did ya ever give ‘im any reason to be suspicious?”
“No. I’ve never even looked at another man.”
“Maybe it’s not you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Maybe he’s the one ‘at wasn’t faithful.”
She looked up at him, curiously. “If he was the one who cheated, why would he be jealous of me?”
“Because you didn’t know.”
“Huh?”
Raising both brows, he sighed. “If you didn’t know about his cheatin’ then maybe he doesn’t know about yours.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t cheat.”
“He doesn’t know that. His guilt could be portrayed to you because of what he might not know.”
Confused, she looked at him. “What?”
He chuckled. “Cheaters figure because you don’t know about their indiscretion, maybe you just might have one or two they don’t know about as well. It gets in their head an’ starts to fuck with ‘em. They start lookin’ for somethin’ that isn’t there until they find the littlest thin’.”
Staring at the floor, her brows furrowed, biting on the inside of her cheek. “Wow. I never thought about that. He did have to go to a lot of overnight hotel seminars for his job.”
He shrugged. “It’s just a thought. If he gets to be too much just come an’ chill with us.”
“I might take you up on that.”
“Good, I hope ya do.” He winked at her before looking at the people leaving the showers. “It looks like everyone’s finished. Are we ready?”
“Yep, let’s do this.”
Turning to the group, he was back to his usual charming self. “Okay then. On with the tour!”
Everyone fell in behind them. Each one talked about something different. Most of the conversations were about home, families, and hoping they were all safe. Despite the leering glare from Zach, Candice walked beside Brandon, talking in low tones. “What’s the plan to get her in the room?”
Leaning closer, he sighed. “I don’t have a clue. What if we just pushed ‘er in?”
“No. That’s not very safe. What if we drew attention to the room? When she got close enough, we lock her inside?”
Thinking about it, he nodded. “That might work, but what if other people go in at the same time? How do we keep them out an’ her in?”
“Hmm, good question.”
“We’re here. Let’s work some magic.” Turning to the group, he smiled while pointing to the room. “Here we have our private suite.”
Rachel looked in through the door. “Like what makes it a private room?”
“Because there’s a door for privacy. If ya step inside, you’ll see it’s quite roomy. Lots o’ space.”
Popping his head in, Trevor nodded. “Wow! This could be the ultimate room, ya know?”
Brandon agreed. “Oh hell yeah. We could fit two people in here. You know, in case ‘at one wanted to share with someone.”
Trevor turned to Erica. “What about you, Erica? Want a room to yourself? Ya seem like a private room only kinda girl.”
She shook her head. “No.”
Brandon grinned. “I dunno. It looks like a sorority room to me. Check it out! You could hang a couple of posters on the wall an’ really make it yours.”
Looking around, Rachel whispered to the others. “Did he just say she could like hang posters up on the wall?”
Ian nodded, whispering back. “Yeah, but I’m not sure where she’d get them. It’s not like she can stroll to the local Walmart.”
Brandon winked at Erica. “You could even get one o’ us in here for some cuddle time.”
Trevor smirked. “Hang it up, Romeo. She’s totally all over me.”
“Dream on Casanova. She’s been checkin’ me out since ‘ey arrived.”
Glaring at the two of them, Erica grunted, rolling her eyes. “Stop arguing about me. Neither of you is my type. Ew.”
Brandon put a hand on his heart. “Oh, I’m totally crushed. No one’s ever said that to me.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah. Like I believe that.”
Looking from Candice to Erica, Brandon gasped. “No way. Dude, are you gettin’ the same vibe I am?”
Looking at Brandon, Candice arched her brow. “What?”
Trevor nodded. “I sure am! I think the sorority sister might be into another type.”
Bumping fists with Trevor, Brandon laughed. “That is too hot!”
“I know, right?”
Candice cringed. “Ew! That’s not happening, dude.”
Erica nodded. “Yeah. Not happening.”
Walking in the room, Sophia looked around. “You’re right! This reminds me o’ my dorm room. It could make ya feel at home, Erica.”
Backing away from the door, she shook her head. “No. I don’t want it. Give it to someone else.”
Shrugging, Rachel walked in, glancing around. “It’s like nothing fancy. I’ll take it if she doesn’t like want it.”
Candice groaned. That wasn’t supposed to happen! She walked through the door, looking around, before turning to Brandon. “Fuck it! If she doesn’t want it, I’ll take this gold mine.”
“You mean we’ll take it,” Zach said, correcting her.
Rachel turned, looking at Candice, suspiciously. “Like excuse me. I said it first.”
“Yeah, but they wanted it for Erica.”
“So?”
“If she’s not going to take it then I want it,” Candice told her.
“Fine. I say we like draw straws since we both want it. Even though, I called it first.”
Zach shook his head. “Candice and I should have it because we’re a couple. We need a room with a door.”
“You think just because you’re like part of a couple, you should like get special privileges?”
“Well, there are,” he motioned his hand back and forth from him and Candice, “two of us versus your one.”
Sophia shook her head. “We thought Erica could have ‘is room.”
Arching a brow, he looked from Erica back to Sophia. “Why?”
“She’s lost the most people at one time.”
He shook his head. “Fuck that! We’ve all lost someone.”
“She needs privacy to mourn.”
He glared at her. “It should be by the degree of need. I think it’s perfect for us.”
This was really getting out of control, and Erica kept getting further from the room. Thinking fast, Candice looked in the corner. She hid the half-smirk before anyone saw, squealing, “Oh my God!”
&nbs
p; Hearing Candice screech, Zach took a step back. “What?”
“Check out the baby mouse! It’s so cute. It’s pink and little. Aw, it looks like it’s gonna die.”
Rachel raced out with wide eyes, shaking her head. “Ah, hell no! You can like have it if this place has like mice?”
Brandon shrugged. “Most places do. Usually, ya don’t see ‘em, but they’re there.”
Ian ran out of the room. “I don’t like mice. Good thing the health department isn’t here. You’d get closed down.”
Howard smirked. “Careful now. Someone might claim you planned this to make sure no one found your mice infestation.”
Turning, glaring at Howard, Rachel gasped. “Wait, we have like a mice infestation? In other words like more than one?”
“Where there is one…”
“I’m not like sure which is worse. Be out there in a tree safe, or like in here with the mice. I don’t like mice.”
Racing to the corner, Trevor pushed Candice out of the way to see. “Where? I wanna see!” Furrowing his brows, he turned to look at her. “I don’t see--”
She nudged him with her elbow. “Look harder. It’s right there!”
“Ow!” He rubbed his ribs.
She pointed to the corner. “You can barely see it. It’s the tiny pink thing.”
He peered closer, smirking. “Oh. Wow. That thin’ is tiny. I don’t see what the big deal is. It’s just a mouse. Someone give me a shoe.”
Walking over, Brandon peered over his shoulder, looking in the corner. “Aren’t they good for eatin’? It shouldn’t be hard to skin. We’ll just chop it up an’ watch for the bones.”
Shaking her head, Rachel gagged. “Ew, you’re like sick. Did anyone like ever tell you that?”
“Put it between two slices o’ bread. There’s a sandwich for someone.”
“Are you like serious?”
He nodded, looking back at her. “Hell yeah. Throw some honey mustard on it an’ we have a ham sandwich. Eat that shit up an’ not know the difference.”
She rolled her eyes. “Anyone who like thinks a mouse can be disguised as ham like isn’t cooking for me without supervision.”
“Baby, you can ask anyone. I’m one o’ the best cooks.”
Trevor grinned. “He means anyone who’s lived. It’s not half bad when he doesn’t fuck it up.”
Beautiful Death (Bella Morté Trilogy Book 1) Page 9