The Woods: The Complete Novel (The Woods Series)

by Milo Abrams

James's heart sank with realization. "Shit, I must have left the cable back at my dad's house!"

  Owen flopped backwards onto the bed and groaned. "Oh, of course!"

  "I'm sorry," James pleaded, "I completely forgot. My dad was hurrying us and I guess I was so focused on just getting the camera I didn't think."

  They sat there disappointed until Jack popped out the SD card from the camera. "Well there's an alternative," he said, "all we have to do is find something to put this card in and we could load the pictures up."

  "Like what?" James asked, "our computers don't have SD card slots."

  "No," Owen replied, "but digital cameras do."

  Jack looked at him, "Who still owns a digital camera?"

  Owen smiled wide, "My mom does!"

  James shrugged. "Well I guess we have no other option. There's no way we would be allowed back at my dad's house. At least we have a plan."

  They walked out of the bedroom and found James's parents talking in the kitchen.

  "Yeah, the cop said that it wasn't unusual for that sort of thing out in the boonies, but he's never seen someone steal an entire gas tank before," Nolan said to Margaret.

  "Where you boys headed?" Margaret called to James as they headed out the door.

  James turned around and poked his head back inside. "We're heading down to Owen's, okay?"

  Margaret and Nolan looked at each other and smiled. "Have fun, dear," she said.

  "Thanks, see you later!"

  James caught up with the others and they started to walk to Owen's. While Jack lived right next door to James, Owen lived considerably farther away. Jack stopped and said, "Uh, I better pop in and let my parents know I'm home and where I'm going." He ran up to his house and disappeared inside.

  As they stood outside waiting, a crappy red Ford pulled into the driveway. It rumbled in a low growl, begging for a new exhaust, as Jack's sister, Nora, parked it and opened the door. Nora was heavyset, unlike Jack who looked like he'd blow away if the wind picked up too much. Her weight made her insecure which she combated with a sharp attitude and loud mouth. James found her extremely annoying but Owen was enamored.

  "Sup, kids?" she barked as she rolled out of the car. Her friend, another bratty looking teenage girl, got out of the other side.

  "Hey, Nora," Owen said sweetly, "how's it going?"

  She shrugged and rolled her eyes. "We'll see. Sweet party tonight but I have to ask my mom. God, parents are so lame." She looked over at her friend who took one last hit off a cigarette and then stomped it into the driveway with her sneaker. "I told you to finish that before we got back, you idiot!" She stomped over toward the house, completely ignoring Owen as he melted. Her friend quickly trailed behind.

  James sighed heavily in disgust. Owen, on the other hand, was giddy. He hopped around James as Nora disappeared inside.

  "Isn't she so cool?" he asked.

  James just shrugged.

  "I'm going to marry that girl someday," Owen gushed. James replied with a gagging sound just as Jack ran back outside to meet them.

  "Good to go," Jack said looking at James. “You going to puke or something?”

  Owen and James burst into laughter leaving Jack oblivious.

  “What,” Jack asked angrily, “what did I say?”

  Owen's house was across town, a good half an hour walk from James's, but in an equally nice part of the city. Bugby wasn't a bustling metropolis by any stretch of the imagination. As far as cities go it was a little weathered, even rough around the edges, but in overall good shape. It contained everything needed and nothing excessive. In other words, it was big enough to have more than one McDonald's but had enough space between the houses for people to have side yards—not just back ones.

  They arrived at Owen's house to find no one home. This wasn't uncommon because Owen's mother, Selma Sawyer, was the bank manager over at Bugby Savings and Loan. Being a forty-year-old single mother, she remarried to her job where she spent most of her time. She was so good with numbers that Owen often joked that Jack should have been her kid instead since he was so bad at math.

  His house was quiet and full. Selma became a sort of collector after her husband passed away—her passion for saving things served her well in her career.

  "Well, where is it?" James asked.

  "Uh," Owen scratched his head, "that's a good question. It could be anywhere. But I remember she has one!"

  So the search began. The house contained boxes and plastic totes all over, most of which were filled with photo albums and keepsakes. There was also an ungodly number of books. Each room contained no less than three bookshelves with everything from cookbooks to old science textbooks. James and Jack had simply never noticed. Most sleepovers were spent at either Jack or James's house because it was easier for Owen to go there than it was for them to come to his. That and Owen's crush on Nora often kept him coming back. Any time they did go to Owen's, it was often straight back to his room where the computer and games were.

  Owen didn't read much, but Jack sure did.

  "Wow," Jack said, "look at all this stuff. I didn't know you had all these books!"

  "Yeah," Owen said casually, "my mom hoards books, too."

  After about an hour of digging, they gave up to have lunch and regrouped. They sat on the couch in the living room eating hot dogs and looking around. On the mantle above the fireplace was a twenty-year-old bottle of Crystal Pepsi, now yellow instead of clear.

  "Oh my God," Jack said, "is that unopened?"

  Owen looked up and laughed, "Yeah, my, mom found it in the garage a long time ago in a box and it hadn't been opened. Instead of pitching it, she kept it like it was going to be some sort of collector's item. Everyone always joked about it so she put it up there like a trophy."

  They all thought Mrs. Sawyer was strange but everyone felt bad saying it because of Owen's dad passing away. The world was hard enough to be in sometimes and even harder when alone.

  Uncharacteristically, Owen thought ahead. "So, what're we going to do once we see this thing?"

  This was a thought that none of the boys had up to that point. Jack and James didn't know what to say because they honestly didn't know.

  "Well, it would prove what I was talking about all along," James said.

  "Yeah," Owen replied, "but that's not doing anything about it. Should we show someone? What about the cops?"

  "Well," Jack said, "it might be a good idea. I mean, think of the danger such a creature would be to not only the animals and people of the area, but to everyone. Imagine if it went on a rampage here in the city?"

  "That would be a bad ass movie!" Owen yelled. "Imagine that shit, army moving in and hunting it down and blowing up buildings. Actually, might be a better game!"

  They all agreed. "Well, we’ve got to see the pictures first. We aren't even sure there's even a picture of it on there," Jack said.

  "Why are you such a downer?" James asked him.

  "What? I'm a realist that's all."

  "Well either way, we have to find that camera. I know it's around here," Owen said getting up before heading for his room.

  Finally, after another hour of digging around the house Owen found the digital camera at the bottom of his closet. "Oh yeah," he said slapping his forehead, "that's where I saw it."

  They crowded around it on the bed and Jack handed the SD card to Owen who flipped open the small panel on the side of the camera and popped it in. He clicked the flap closed, flipped the camera over and held the power button down. Nothing happened.

  "Shit," he pressed it again, "c'mon!"

  Nothing happened. He looked over at Jack.

  "Dead batteries?" Jack suggested shrugging.

  Owen opened the bottom and popped out two AA batteries. "You can lick these, right, and see if they're still good?"

  “You're thinking of nine-volt batteries," James said.

  "Oh," Owen felt stupid. "Well, there has to be more batteries around here somewhere!"

  They searched th
e house for batteries but came up empty handed. Frustrated, they all sat on the couch to sulk.

  James was the most frustrated. "It's like God doesn't want us to see it!" James was the only one of the three whose family had any sort of religious beliefs at all. Ironically, his parents were the ones who weren't together.

  "Well, I'm out of ideas," Jack said.

  "C'mon guys!" James was really upset. His entire summer up to that point had been centered on the monster and he had put more focus and attention on it than anything else he could remember. "We can't give up. I don't know about you, but I have to see this thing."

  "Well I have an idea," Owen said, "but you have to be adventurous." Owen was always looking for adventure and sometimes that meant doing things that didn't make sense or that he shouldn't do. This was one of those times. "There's a dollar store just up the road. Let's go get some batteries."

  "I don't have any money," James said searching his pockets for change, "do you?"

  Jack and Owen both pursed their lips and shook their heads.

  "Well, this is where the adventure part comes in," Owen leaned in and lowered his head with a menacing grin. "We steal them."

  "Steal?" James sat back waving his arms, "No way."

  Jack thought for a second. "Wouldn't it be easier just to walk back to James's house and see if there are batteries there?"

  Owen thought for a moment. "Do you have any at your houses?" he asked.

  "Everything I have takes triples," Jack said, "I'm sure of it."

  "You?" Owen looked at James.

  Frustrated over the whole situation already, James was too scatterbrained to think. "I—I don't know. Even so, we have to walk a half an hour back to my house and then hope there are batteries there. And if there aren't then what option do we have? Walk another half an hour back here and go to the dollar store anyways? Any idea how late the store is even open?"

  "That's true. Factor in meal times and bathroom breaks, and Owen's plan is beginning to sound more efficient," Jack said.

  "Besides," Owen smiled, "it's a lot more bad ass."

  19

  The heist was on. Owen headed the mission, primarily because it was his idea and because he was the main component. James and Jack were too frail and fragile to hold up to any serious conversation with an adult that involved lying. Upgrade that to stealing and they were dead in the water. Owen, on the other hand, was a wolf in sheep's clothing. His skills in the manipulation department, if honed and used for evil, would've made him an ideal villain.

  They stepped outside and Jack hesitated. "Okay, explain the plan."

  "We walk in, you two create a distraction and I get the batteries," Owen said. "Simple as that."

  "I don't know if I can work with that, I'm not very good at improvising. Can't we plan this out a little better?" Jack sat on the front steps.

  Owen thought for a moment and then spoke to Jack as if he were a baby. "Okay, here's the plan. We will walk all together to the dollar store. We will go in together—

  "There's no need to mock me, Owen!" Jack yelled.

  "Fine, fine. Just walk in and look at stuff like you're going to buy something. Stay up front by the registers so that you keep them up there with you. Their attention will stay focused on you if you're around them. Don't make a lot of eye contact and act natural! While you do that, I will get the batteries. I'll slip them in my pocket, meet back up with you and we will pretend to look at stuff together and then leave. Deal?"

  "Sounds good to me," James said.

  "Wait," Jack interrupted, "what if you get caught?"

  "Then we run. Haul ass and don't look back."

  "Okay, okay, but what if he recognizes you? You'll never be able to go in there again. Or what if they give the cops a description of your face?"

  Owen smiled and turned his hat around so the bill faced forward. "I've got that covered. You see this bright pink hat? Total distraction. I'll wear it forward and its color will be so distracting the guy won't remember my face, he'll just remember my hat. If I have to I'll burn it."

  Owen had given a convincing performance. James was on board but Jack was still on the fence.

  "Okay, but what about cameras? How are you going to get the batteries with all the security cameras?"

  "Jesus Christ, Jack," Owen yelled, "let me worry about that. Can we go now?"

  "All right," Jack sighed, "let's do this."

  The three boys walked down the road to the dollar store casually as if they had done it hundreds of times before. As they walked up to the door, an infrared laser from a sensor was interrupted by their bodies and the door slid open with a smooth fluid motion. They broke free of the heavy grip of the muggy summer and stepped into the cool crisp air conditioning of the store. Inside there was only one clerk, a retired factory worker who needed something to fill the time he gained from retirement that he hadn't prepared for. The old man's round glasses glimmered above sagging jowls for cheeks. He smiled at them sweetly as they walked in. Owen pulled the hat over his eyes and Jack waved at the clerk.

  James elbowed Jack once they disappeared down an aisle. "Ow,” Jack yelped, “what was that for?"

  "You're going to draw attention to us," James whispered.

  "Isn't that the idea?" Jack asked, "we are the distraction, right?"

  "I don't know," James looked around, "I've never done anything like this before!"

  "Would you guys cut it out?" Owen barked. "Okay, the batteries are up near the registers, they moved them apparently. So, I need you two to go check out the ice cream in that freezer. You'll be in direct view of the old man. I'll get the batteries and meet you there, okay?"

  "Yes, sir!" James said saluting Owen.

  Owen left down the aisle while James and Jack went for the ice cream freezer. Once there, Jack looked over at the clerk who was eyeing them and he waved again. This time the clerk just stood there.

  So stupid, Jack thought, why did I do that? They looked in the freezer at the ice cream, digging around like they were looking for something.

  "Look back," James whispered, "and make sure Owen is at the batteries."

  "Okay," Jack nodded. He turned around and yelled as the old man was now behind them.

  "Can I help you boys find anything?" he asked.

  Knelt down by the batteries, Owen grabbed a pack and heard Jack yell just feet behind him. He quickly jumped up at the sound and smacked his hat on the rack above him, knocking it off.

  "Uh, no sir," Jack panicked, "w—we're just looking at ice cream."

  "I see," the clerk said, "well is there anything in particular you're looking for?"

  "Uh, yes, actually we—um," Jack stammered.

  Owen walked up behind the clerk with his fist balled at his side. He stepped slowly and watched the clerk carefully while his breathing deepened.

  James stepped in to try and save Jack, "Drumsticks!"

  "What?" Jack and the clerk said at the same time.

  "Drumsticks!" James said again, "I see there aren't any Drumsticks in the freezer, do you have any more?"

  The clerk's raised eyebrow softened and he began to think aloud. "Hmm, well I think all we have in there is all we have, but I could check the back. Hang on a minute," he said and then shuffled to the back of the store.

  "Great going," Owen said.

  "Let's get out of here!" Jack hissed.

  "No," Owen stopped him, "real great going. We can't just leave because now it'll look too suspicious. And what are you going to do if he has Drumsticks? You don't have any money!"

  "Shit," James said. He didn't think of that.

  It was too late to do anything, the old clerk was already on his way back, shuffling his feet across the laminate floor.

  "I'm sorry boys," the clerk said, "but we're all out of those."

  "That's okay, thanks!" Owen said shoving his friends out of the store.

  They walked across the parking lot and then stopped a good distance from the door. Their nerves started to settle. Jack and J
ames looked nervously at Owen.

  "Well, did you get them?" James asked.

  Owen smiled and pulled the pack of batteries out of his pocket and showed them. "Boom, bitch," he said.

  Suddenly they heard the clerk yell at them from the door, "Hey, you!"

  "Shit," Owen froze, "busted, boys."

  He gripped the pack of batteries in one hand, hiding it behind his back as he turned around to face the clerk.

  "I knew it was you," he yelled as he slowly made his way across the parking lot.

  Owen turned to see the old man coming at him and waving his bright pink hat in the air.

  "You don't forget a face wearing something so bright. Here," he said tossing the hat back to Owen.

  "Thanks," Owen said, replacing the hat back on his head and quickly turning to walk away with James and Jack.

  "That was too close," Jack blurted out once they were out of view of the clerk.

  "You're telling me, I was the one responsible for this job," Owen laughed.

  Back in the living room, Owen nervously opened the camera to replace the batteries. His hands shook as he ripped the battery package open with James and Jack staring at him.

  "You okay?” James asked.

  "Hell yeah," Owen smirked, "just still pumped up."

  With a flick of the wrist and some real tactile clicks, the old batteries dropped to the floor like spent shell casings and the camera was loaded. Owen flipped it over so the screen on the back faced them and held the power button. The LED light next to the power button came to life and the screen became a slightly lighter black. The excitement in the boys bubbled as the camera software loaded and the screen on the back became like a window through the device.

  "Okay, how do I do this?" Owen wondered aloud.

  "Hit this button," Jack said reaching over to help,” it’s the menu button, then probably—

  "I got it, I got it! Jeez!" Owen said snatching the camera away like an animal preventing its food from being taken. He found his way through the camera menu to the SD card storage. He stopped and took a deep breath. “Okay, here we go!" He pressed the button one more time and an error message appeared on the screen.

  INCORRECT FORMAT. FORMAT NOW?