“We’re not sure of the exact time, only that their bodies have been out there for at least half a day. An animal got to them. Or what we think is an animal.”
I managed to close my mouth, albeit with much difficulty. “What you think was an animal?” I repeated. That one word; think, was enough to give me chills.
“The bite marks implied the jaw of this thing is at the very least twice the size of a bear.”
All I could see was the image of that wolf like creature standing on its hind legs and yowling at the moon, with a mouth bigger and wider than any animal I had come across. A knot grew in my stomach and I thought I was going to hurl. Was he really implying what I had seen, what I had run from, had now murdered a whole crop of men?
“You’re saying they were...eaten?” I asked. I didn’t want to say the gruesome words, but there was no way of getting around it.
“Mostly,” he responded. Right away my brain was flooded again, only this time by flashes of half eaten, rotting corpses without limbs or even necks. Now I really was going to hurl. “I’d ask you to not say a word about this, but truthfully, I don’t see how we’re going to hide it. People are going to notice this. So, if someone asks you, you don’t have to lie, but try to keep it contained for now.”
“Okay,” I agreed, but I could practically feel Priscilla’s gossip radar honing in on us like a missile. I’m sure she somehow knew more details than I did. “So, you think the thing that did this is what attacked me?”
Deputy Wilson sighed unsurely. “That’s what we’re trying to figure out.”
“I’d love to help, but I don’t know what more I can add. I already told you most of everything that happened.”
“Believe me, I’ll have a whole new set of ears this time.”
He sounded pretty desperate, and I truly did want to help. “I’ll do anything I can. What would you like from me?”
“I was thinking you could meet with one of our sketch artists. Describe what it is you saw and we can put it in print.”
“I can do that no problem, but... what is a sketch going to do? You going to hang it around the neighborhood and hope somebody turns this thing in to the authorities? I saw it firsthand, it wasn’t interested in surrendering. And its wrists were a little, I don’t know, monster-like for handcuffs.”
He scratched at his temple nervously. “Actually, I was hoping for a comparison.”
“Comparison with who?”
“One of the lumberjacks that was attacked.”
“You mean one of them actually survived?”
“Yes. As you can guess, he’s pretty spooked. He came into the station bruised, cut, bitten, rambling about what had happened. He was pretty weak and passed out on the spot. We’ve been keeping him there for observations. He doesn’t appear to have any family and he’s not stable enough to be released.”
“Oh, God, you think he’ll die?”
“I meant mentally stable. Whatever he saw, it’s left him rattled.”
“He didn’t lose his mind, did he?”
“Nothing dramatic like that, but we can’t get him to calm down. He won’t sleep, either, and apparently, he’s been up all night hiding in the woods so these things couldn’t finish him off.”
A chill went up my spine. “God, that’s creepy.”
“I probably shouldn’t have told you that, but you’re bound to run into him when you come down to the station, and I want you prepared.”
“When do you want me to come?”
“Not today. It’s a madhouse right now. Give me your number and we can arrange something.”
“Okay, that sounds good.” I told him my number and expected to see him put it into his cell, but instead, he went old school and jotted it down on a piece of paper from a clipboard in his car. I forget the service here is terrible and cellphones aren’t as popular. Thought I’d have to step into another dimension for that to happen.
“Do me a favor and keep your grandmother home as much as you can. I know she likes to do bingo on the weekends, but if you can talk her out of it.”
“I’ll try, but not much can stand in the way of that. It’s usually in the mornings, anyway. Wouldn’t that be safer?”
“Assuming these things are nocturnal.”
“If they weren’t, you’d think more people would have seen them. Max is in the woods all the time hunting and he’s never seen anything.”
“You talked to him about this?”
“About my attack, yes. I won’t tell him about this if you don’t want.”
“I appreciate it.”
“It’s the least I can do. You’re the first person to make me feel like I’m not losing my mind,” I replied with a morbid chuckle. I could see he was too distressed to even fake laugh back. I placed my hand on his arm—probably a little too intimately, but he needed the comforting touch. “Thanks for letting me in on this.”
“It’s not usually my way to involve civilians, but...”
“I understand.”
A voice came in over the radio inside his car, and Deputy Wilson gestured to it and said, “I need to get that.” and then hopped back into his car. He rolled down the window slowly and told me, “Stay safe. I’ll be in touch.”
“You too.”
And then he drove away.
As soon as he was out of my sight, and I had a moment of clarity, the fear set in. This wasn’t a freak accident. These people were slaughtered not long after I was also almost taken out. And Joe. Dear, God, Joe... if I hadn’t thought it before it would now become undeniably clear. Those things killed him. It wasn’t just my juvenile brain conjuring up stories. He was eaten.
I wasn’t sure what to do with myself the rest of the day. I had sent Owen home and I was too distracted by the ambulances and cop cars driving by every few minutes to get any real work done on the house. For the most part, I stood in front of Grandma’s house staring out at the forest wondering what exactly was inhabiting it and how deep into crazy my thoughts could take me.
I could have been one of those people. I could have been chomped up into little bits to where I wasn’t even recognizable to my grandma. Well, more unrecognizable. I just wouldn’t even be here anymore and there wouldn’t even be enough of me to put into a coffin for a proper funeral. Why, and more importantly, how did I get away from this thing and live when several men couldn’t fight this thing off? How did I get so lucky?
The whole thing got me thinking about death and too many dark things to process, that I knew I needed a break from it all.
I went back inside and attempted to give all my attention to the form Molly gave me to fill out for the auction. I was expecting just a few questions, but the dang thing felt like a short novel. I answered less questions to get my driver’s license.
Perfect first date: Rock concert or dinner and movie?
Rock concert, obviously.
How many awards have you won?
Does student of the month in first grade count? Eh, I doubt any guy is going to be impressed by first grade me. God knows my teacher wasn’t.
More romantic: Sunset over ocean or over mountain?
Well, damn, that’s hard.
“Doing your taxes, dear?” Grandma asked as she sat down in her lounger. I had the papers spread out all over the floor and was doodling my answers onto the sheet I had balanced between my knees.
“Wrong time of the year, Grandma,” I responded. “Hey, Grandma, do you think I’m more unconventional or old fashioned?”
“I’ve only ever cooked on the old fashioned.”
My face scrunched. “Wait, what?”
“The oven.”
I bit down on the cap of my pen. “I said unconv... you know what, never mind.”
“What are you filling out, dear?”
“Answers for the dating auction.”
“Oh, isn’t that exciting? That’s how I met your grandpa.”
“What? No way. That really happened?”
“Yep. He bid on another girl.�
��
I frowned. “That’s not very romantic.”
“He went home with me, though, didn’t he?” she said with a cackle and then elbowed me in the rib. It actually kind of hurt. Her elbow felt like shark teeth.
“What’s it like getting bid on? Is it as awkward as I imagine it in my head?”
“Oh, not at all. You just have to work what your mama gave you. Or, preferably what your father and grandmother gave you.”
I coyly smiled. “I don’t know, I’m not too good with crowds. I’m not horrible with people one on one, but having them all standing around staring at me like I’m cattle? I keep wondering how I should stand. I don’t want it to be too beauty pageant or school play.”
“Show me.”
I set my papers down and crawled off the floor. I got into my position which was my legs close together with my feet crossed and both my hands on the lowest parts of my hips. “How’s this?”
“It looks like you’re holding a pee in.”
I uncrossed my legs. “I was afraid of that. What if my legs were further apart?”
“Now, now, let’s be ladylike.”
“So, either trash hoe or look like the I-gotta-pee girl all night?”
“Only one of those gets the fellas, dear.”
“I’ll stick with urine girl.”
“As long as you’re comfortable with it.”
“That stance is actually the furthest from comfortable,” I replied and sat back on the floor to continue with the filling out of the answers. Talking to Grandma was a good distraction, but even she could only distract me for so long. “Hey, Grandma,” I said.
“Yes, dear?”
“I think it’d be a good idea if you didn’t go out past dark for a while.”
“Why’s that?”
“All those sirens and everything... there were some animal attacks. Possibly the same thing that came after me. So, until we hear that it’s been caught, you should probably stay inside.” I told Deputy Wilson I wouldn't tell Max, but not my grandma. No way was I going to keep a secret that would put her in danger.
“Shoot, dear, I barely leave the house as it is. Unless for bingo.”
“Bingo is in the morning, right?”
“Sometimes.”
“Well, make sure you let me take you or you do a group thing.”
“Of course, dear,” she agreed, and I smiled. It was nice that she didn’t feel the need to fight me on this. Knowing there was something out there lurking in the woods with bloody intentions, living so close to my grandma made me feel very uneasy. I got lucky, but someone my grandma’s age wouldn’t. I couldn’t bear the thought of something happening to her.
It took me ten minutes, but I eventually finished Molly’s form. Everything from favorite color to where I’d like to go on my honeymoon, half of which I never thought about in my spare time and had to BS my way through. I checked my clock, saw that it was only 5 p.m., and figured it was still early enough for me to head up to Priscilla’s (yeah, it was a store, but it may as well been hers).
Again, totally done with walking, so I hopped in my Bug and drove to her store.
“I finished my form,” I told her and slammed it down on the counter for dramatic purposes. She didn’t look impressed, so I scooped it back up. “Did you finish yours?”
“Yesterday.”
“You want me to take it to Molly’s for you? I know you don’t get along.”
“She already picked it up.”
“She did it?”
“Was all pissy about it, too. She kept whining about how they changed the date of the auction. Ooh, big deal, it went from Friday to Saturday, but dear Lord, did she freak out about it. She was acting like it was the literal end of the world. It’s one freaking day. Get over yourself.”
“Maybe she has to work.”
“She’s an Avon lady.”
“Maybe I’ll wait if she’s in a bad mood.”
“This was yesterday. For all I know she’s on one of her sugar highs today.”
“Yeah, well, the last time I saw her, she didn’t seem too happy with me.”
“Welcome to the club.”
“I think she’s buying into the idea that Max and I got together.”
“Good. Princess needs a kick in the ass.”
“It’s none of her business, but I don’t like the overall gossipyness of it.”
“Don’t worry about her. She’s a bitch to everyone,” Priscilla said with a wave of her black nail polished hands. “Oh, by the way, hear about all those dead guys in the woods?”
I slapped the desk with my hand. “How do you always know this stuff?”
“I have very long ears,” she teased.
“Deputy Wilson figured it would leak quickly.”
“You talked to him about it?”
“Yeah. He actually swung by my place because of it.”
Her face contorted into a weird mess of puzzlement. “Why?”
“He thinks what attacked me is connected.”
Priscilla rolled her eyes back. “What, your little Loch Ness Monster?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Nessie doesn’t walk on land.”
“It’s really sad when even the cops are so clueless they start believing in monster stories. No wonder this town is stupid. We don’t even have professional law enforcement.”
“They just want me to go to the station and tell them what I saw.”
“What, they going to bring the animal in for questioning?”
I felt a bubble of heat and could smell a faint aroma of raw meat, and sure enough, Henry came walking in. “Hi, Cora,” he said and dorkily waved. It was my soul brother wave.
“Hey, Henry.”
“You guys talking about the date thing?”
“We just passed it.”
“Oh,” he said slightly disappointed. “Priscilla tell you I’m bidding on her?”
“No you’re not, fungus!” Priscilla yelled. “It’s bad enough we work together. I don’t need your mouth breathing over me during every other portion of my life.”
“Hey, if he’s got the cash,” I said.
“Don’t encourage him,” she droningly pleaded. I could feel the laser beams coming out of her eyes and through my skull. “It’s bad enough you both believe in pixies and unicorns. I really don’t need you double teaming me.”
“Face it, you can’t tell me that I’m wrong anymore. First Joe disappears without a trace, then I’m attacked, and now there’s a bunch of dead people out in the forest. How many more people need to be eliminated before you acknowledge what’s going on?”
“Look, I hear weird noises, too, but it’s just wild animals.”
The phone on the counter suddenly rang, and until that moment, I didn’t realize this place even had a phone, let alone one on display. Priscilla answered it and then promptly forced it in my face and let it hang from her fingertips. “It’s for you,” she said.
“Me? Why would someone call me here?”
“From the sounds of it, it’s either an exhausted jogger, a pervert, or your grandma.”
I took the receiver. “Hello?”
“Oh, dear, I caught you. Good.”
“Is something wrong?”
“The police called looking for you. They said they wanted you to come down to the station. Please, dear, whatever it is, we’ll get through it together. Just tell me it’s drug related and not a sex trade thing.”
“What? Grandma, no. I’m not in trouble. Nobody is in trouble.”
“Oh, good. I don’t think the girls at bingo would have been so forgiving.”
“I’ll go by there right away and then I’ll be home, okay?”
“What?”
“I’m gonna hang up the phone now, okay, Grandma.”
“What?”
“I’m hanging up.”
“Now?”
“Yes, in three, okay? One, two, three.”
“Dear, are you still there?”
I sighed. “Yes, Grandm
a. But I’m hanging up now, all right? See you when I get home.” I set the phone down, sure that Grandma was still on the other end waiting for me to count again.
Priscilla folded her arms and chuckled. “Aren’t you a charming duo? I’m getting an astounding image of you in fifty years.”
“Well, at least I don’t have to make long distance phone calls to my relatives in hell.”
“Ouch,” she replied with a satisfied smirk.
“I’m surprised Deputy Wilson wants me down there already.”
“Maybe he has the hots for you.”
“Yes, it must be my irresistible charm and wit I heard so much about in junior high.” I stuffed Molly’s forms back into my purse. “Guess these will have to wait till tomorrow. The deputy calls.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
It wasn’t quite dark out, but the sun had practically dropped below the horizon; an image that didn’t sit well with me at all. But I was going to the police station, where men whose careers were being swift with guns and protection would be. If there was any place I was going to be safe, it was there.
You know, as long as I got home before dark.
The station was small, but pretty busy. Lots of people passed back and forth through the halls and main entrance, and the woman working at the desk (her nametag read Dolly, a blonde somewhere in her thirties) was busy on the phone and I had to wait a few minutes before she could talk to me.
“What can I help you with, sweetie?” she asked after hanging up the phone.
As soon as anyone called me a nickname like I was a kid, I resorted back to that mindset. “Um, Deputy Wilson called for me to come in.”
“You Cora Nash?”
“Yes.”
“Just one minute,” she said and picked up the phone. It must have gone right to his office because it sounded like she was speaking directly to him. About ten seconds later, a door down the hallway popped open and Deputy Wilson was there.
“He’ll see you now,” she informed me.
“Cora,” he said and gestured for me to join him down the hallway. I did a quick skip and practically raced to join him. I wanted everyone there to see I had permission to go down that hallway, so I didn’t get in trouble. I know, it sounds stupid, but it’s an old habit I had during school, always being afraid of getting in trouble for going where I wasn’t allowed.
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