by Darien Cox
Elliot sighed and leaned into Nolan. “We don’t know that.”
“He’s only half human. His healing abilities are likely better than ours.”
Elliot looked up at Nolan, unable to help the shiver that ran through him. Looking at Nolan’s face, cheeks flushed from the cold, brown eyes that focused so solely on Elliot was like physical touch—it was a new experience now that they’d slept together. “You’re trying to calm me with your words,” Elliot said softly. “You know he’s probably going to die.”
Nolan, in spite of their surroundings and all who were present in the woods, reached out and stroked Elliot’s cheek with his thumb, then ran fingers gently through his hair. “I am trying to calm you. But I truly, honestly believe there’s a good chance he’ll be okay.”
Elliot smiled slightly and grabbed the fingers still threading through his hair. “Then so do I.” He kissed Nolan’s fingers then let them go, turning to watch the medics—but not before catching Tyler watching them with an unfriendly look.
Ignoring Tyler, Elliot watched as Baz was lifted onto the stretcher, then Rhonda put a tube in his mouth. “What are you doing?” he shouted.
“He’s not breathing, Elliot,” Rhonda shouted back. “We’re trying to stabilize him before moving him.”
“Elliot.”
Elliot turned around and saw Myles walking toward him. “Hey, Sheriff.”
Myles glanced over his shoulder before leaning in. “Tim heard Ogden’s name being thrown around by us earlier.”
“Shit,” Elliot said. “We all kind of forgot he was here.”
Myles nodded. “He remembers Ogden from the thing crashing into the lake this summer, and when we had to shut down the village to do a search. He’s starting to piece things together. He’s acting strange and I’m worried. This is your area of expertise. Can you please go talk to him? I don’t know what I’m allowed to say or not say, I need help.”
Elliot glanced back at Baz. Rhonda and the other doctors were still working on him, but Elliot saw no signs of life, no movement from their broken hybrid.
Christian approached Elliot. “I’ll keep an eye on Baz,” he said. “Go to Tim.”
Elliot nodded. “Okay.” He turned to Myles. “Where is he?”
“Back that way.”
“I’ll go see to him.”
“Elliot?”
Elliot turned back to Myles.
Myles’ blues eyes were pleading. “Tim’s my oldest friend.”
Elliot nodded. “We’ll take care of him. I promise, Myles. Nolan, is there any water?”
“Here.” JT tossed Elliot a bottle of water.
Elliot caught it. “Thanks.”
“You need help with that guy?” Tyler asked. “I have handcuffs.”
Elliot glared at Tyler. “That guy is Tim Patterson. You know him. You hung out with him at the haunted attraction, remember?”
“Maybe so, but he’s just become a big problem. Let me cuff him, Elliot.”
“Just stick with securing the area and try to stay away from actual people, huh?”
“Ogden’s gonna want the forest ranger locked up until we can assess things. Patterson found the Q-Tip, he knows too much.”
“Tyler.” Elliot’s teeth clenched. “If you refer to Baz as ‘the Q-Tip’ one more time in my presence we’re gonna have a serious problem.”
Tyler moved in close. “Dealing with information breaches is part of my job too, Elliot. Ogden will want the ranger dealt with quickly. I have higher authority than you, and I can pull rank if I want to.”
Elliot forced a cold smile, rubbing a hand over Tyler’s dark blond buzz cut. “Tyler. I like you. I do. In spite of your personality. Or lack thereof. But everyone here is on edge, and we’re all trying to hold it together. Including me. So I’ll say this as calmly as I can. If you even try to pull rank on me right now that pretty face of yours won’t be so pretty anymore.”
Tyler huffed. “You think you can take me, Elliot?”
“Probably not. But I won’t be alone.”
Nolan stepped up next to Elliot. JT followed, fists clenched. “There a problem, Tyler?” JT said.
Tyler sneered at JT, then Nolan. “You’re all a bunch of fucking pussies,” he said. “Too emotionally weak to do your jobs effectively. Ogden’s gonna hear about this.” He turned on his heel and stormed off.
Elliot let out a long breath.
“Go ahead,” Nolan said to Elliot. “See to Tim. I’ll make sure Tyler stays away. If he tries to interfere again I’ll break his nose.”
“Thanks.” Elliot impulsively grabbed Nolan round the neck and kissed him powerfully on the lips, letting it linger for a few seconds before he pulled back. It was like a touchstone, centering him.
Nolan looked taken aback, eyes wide.
“Wow,” JT said. “Just when I thought this day couldn’t get any more surreal.”
Elliot chuckled. “Shut up.”
He headed off through the trees, spotting Tim Patterson ahead in the distance. Tim sat on the ground, back against a tree. Knees pulled up, he rested his arms on them, staring off into the woods.
Elliot crouched down beside him. “Here. Drink this.”
Tim glanced at him, then looked away. “I’m not thirsty, Elliot.”
“Drink it anyway. Just take a sip. Please?”
Tim sighed and snatched the water bottle. He spun the cap off with his palm then took a sip. “That body’s not really distorted from a fall, is it?”
Elliot sat on the ground facing Tim, legs crossed. “What do you mean?”
Tim’s eyes lifted and focused on Elliot. “It’s not a person. Is it?”
“Of course it’s a person.”
Tim looked down, twisting the water bottle in his hands. “I’ve heard the rumors over the years. Something fun to think about when we were kids at camp. Myles and I even sat outside one night after curfew. Eleven years old. Looking for UFOs in the sky.” Tim’s eyes squeezed shut and he blew a breath out. “I think I’m gonna throw up.”
“No judgement if you do. But please try to drink some more water.”
Tim set the bottle aside, a slight tremor in his hand. “Not thirsty.”
“Tim—”
“Where’s the black guy?”
“What black guy? Darwyn?”
“Cut the crap Elliot, you know Darwyn’s one of my friends.” Raising his hand up, Tim said, “I mean the real tall guy in the suit. That freaky government fucker that came in when that fugitive was loose in the village. Him and all his little cronies.” He studied Elliot for a reaction.
“You mean Ogden.”
Tim stared. “That’s why you and Nolan and the others were so involved with the search. That’s why Christian was on the beach that day they pulled the thing up out of the lake. You all work for him.”
Elliot made no reaction, opting to just let Tim talk it out. It was starting to become clear that Tim would likely need to be processed by Ogden. Sign a nondisclosure. The whole deal. But right now, Elliot just wanted to make sure his state of mind was intact. “How are you feeling now?”
Tim scowled at Elliot. “How am I feeling? I’d feel a lot better if you’d counter a single thing I’ve just said. If you’d make a wiseass remark and tell me I’m nuts. But no. I’ve never seen you look so serious, not in ten years, Elliot.” Tim gasped in a breath and hung his head. “Fuck. It’s not a person over there in the ground, is it?”
When Tim’s shoulders began to tremble Elliot knew he needed to calm him fast. There would be time for mind-shattering revelations later. Time for a distraction.
“Hey.” Elliot shuffled closer and took one of Tim’s hands in his. “Remember the night we slept together?”
Tim huffed and looked up. “Barely. Why?”
“Just realized I never told you something. You’re a really good kisser. Even blasted drunk.”
Tim scowled, but a smirk curved his lips. “You trying to distract me?”
“Is it working?”
“I’m sorry Nolan and I took off the other night at the haunted attraction,” Elliot said. “Nolan didn’t mean to be rude to you. We had an emergency. Some punk broke into my house.”
Tim looked up. “Nolan’s in love with you. Isn’t he?”
“Why would you say that?”
“I have eyes, Elliot. It’s been pretty obvious Nolan’s obsessed with you. Also, you’re wearing his gold Arctic Angel tee shirt under that jacket. I’ve seen him in it at the pub. Jacket’s a little too big for you too, so I’m guessing that’s Nolan’s as well.”
Elliot nodded. “Yeah. I borrowed some of Nolan’s stuff.”
“Because you woke up at his place this morning. Right?”
Shifting his eyes away, Elliot nodded. This was awkward but at least the distraction tactic was successful. “Yeah. I woke up at Nolan’s this morning.”
“I’m glad,” Tim said. “It’s kind of a relief.”
“What do you mean?”
Laughing, Tim wiped his brow. “Ah, shit. I guess I’m relieved because now I can blame you for him not being interested in me. Instead of blaming myself. I’ve been feeling like an ass. I’m so attracted to him, and when I think about talking to him it’s all cool and calculated in my head. Then when he’s standing in front of me I go all ‘Hey bro, you’re hot, wanna pound beers?’ and shit. All this dumb, ridiculous crap comes pouring out of my mouth.”
Elliot laughed and gave Tim’s arm a squeeze. “I’m sure he didn’t notice.”
“Oh, I’m quite sure he did, but thanks.”
“Nah. He never said anything to me about it. He likes you just fine.”
Tim shook his head. “I know I come off as a smooth operator who’s got it all figured out, but I can get kind of awkward sometimes.”
“Guess what, Tim? No one thinks you’re a smooth operator.”
Tim laughed, then stared at the ground for a moment. “It’s an alien. Right?” His eyes flicked up to Elliot. “That’s why it’s so tall. So…strange looking.”
So much for distraction. “Is that what you think?”
“Don’t do that, Elliot. This isn’t therapy. I’m freaked out and still feel like throwing up. But I’m a grown man and I’ve seen some shit. Don’t patronize me. Please.”
“I’m not trying to patronize you.” Sighing heavily, Elliot leaned back. “The door you’re asking to step through right now? There’s no turning back from it. It doesn’t have to define you and it doesn’t have to change your life. But no one’s immune to what it can do to your mind. Learning the world you live in isn’t quite what you thought? Some people shatter. Some people drink. But some people are strong and they find a way to deal with it. I think you’d be the latter, Tim. Do you?”
Tim shivered and pulled his coat tighter, wrapping his arms around himself. He let out a whistle of breath. “I was through the door the second I found him. Tried to deny it. Use logic. But something deep inside me just knew. His fingers.” He looked up at Elliot. “They have an extra joint.”
“Yeah,” Elliot said. “They do.”
Staring into Elliot’s eyes, Tim said, “Elliot. Am I in danger?”
“No.” Elliot held onto Tim’s knees and leaned in. “No, we’re gonna take care of you. And Myles has got your back.”
Tim blinked. “Myles knows. He already knew. That’s why he ordered me not to call anyone.”
Elliot nodded.
“Fuck.” Tim’s face crumbled. “Am I the only one on the outside? How deep does this…oh, shit.” He turned away and wretched, then took in three quick breaths.
“Hey, easy.” Elliot rubbed his back. “Myles has only known a couple months, okay? It’s not the Twilight Zone, you’re not the only innocent in the middle of a vast conspiracy here, all right?”
Still doubled over, Tim nodded.
“This is going to be a lot to process, but you’re going to be all right. I promise.”
Tim straightened and leaned against the tree again, eyes closed. He took a deep breath and let it out. “What happens now?”
“You’ll have to come with us when we go meet up with our boss. He’s on his way in.”
“Because of the…” Tim pointed back toward the trail. “The thing.”
“Yes.”
Tim’s eyes opened and his lips tightened.
“You’re scared. I know. Try to remember this happened to Myles too. He’s still stomping around the village, doing his sheriff thing. He’s still Myles, right? Nothing bad is gonna happen to you. We’ve got your back, okay?”
Nolan came through the trees. “Elliot. He’s breathing. They’re moving him now. We have to go.”
Elliot stood. “He’s breathing?”
“Yeah. Still not conscious, but yeah.” Nolan smiled. “Rhonda got him breathing.”
Elliot let out a relieved laugh. “He’s breathing. Good. Okay.” He held a hand out to Tim. “You ready?”
Tim took Elliot’s hand and rose to his feet. “I have my vehicle here.”
“Myles said you can ride with us,” Nolan said.
Looking pasty, Tim nodded and glanced at Nolan. “Get the feeling I don’t have a choice in the matter.”
Nolan raised a brow at Elliot. “He’s through the door,” Elliot said.
Nolan stepped forward and wrapped an arm around Tim’s shoulders. “You all right?”
“Yeah. I’m good, Nolan. Thanks.”
Tim flushed slightly, and Elliot was glad to see it. If Tim could still blush over Nolan touching him, it spoke well for his state of mind.
Nolan kept his arm around Tim and gave him a squeeze. “Come on, buddy. Let’s go.”
Chapter Sixteen
Nolan squinted through the windshield as they followed the convoy of cars down one of the dusty backroads of Singing Bear Village, curving around the mountain. He sat beside Myles in the passenger seat, Tim and Elliot in the back.
A van holding Baz and the medical team were out in front of the convoy, followed by Brett and Tyler in a truck. Then Christian and JT in JT’s SUV. Myles’ sheriff’s vehicle was last in line. To Nolan, it felt eerily like a funeral procession.
“Does the deputy know?” Tim asked from the backseat. “Darwyn?”
“No,” Myles said. “Very few people know, Tim.”
Tim huffed. “Then why are we headed toward the Arctic Angel Brewery?”
“We’re not,” Elliot said. He leaned forward and looked at Nolan. “Right?”
“Of course not,” Nolan said. “I’m not sure where we’re going but Ogden will have a location set up. With a makeshift medical lab, Rhonda said.”
“I’m telling you guys,” Tim said. “Arctic Angel Brewery is the only thing down this road. Aside from the odd Moose. This is one of the most rural roads in the village.”
“I know that Tim but something else must be down here if Ogden’s sending us this way. Quint Bonner owns the brewery,” Nolan said. “He’s just a villager.”
“Yeah, I know Quint,” Tim said. “Big ginger guy with the beard. He’s not one of you?”
“Tim, for Christ sakes!” Myles snapped. “Not everyone in the village is involved. Quint’s not one of us, and stop talking like we’ve all become pod people.”
“Oh, so sorry Myles,” Tim said. “Kind of just found out my best friend’s been lying to me for months about fucking aliens roaming around the forest I oversee.”
“There’s nothing roaming in your forest, quit overreacting, this isn’t all about you right now. Check your ego, man.”
“Fuck off, Myles.”
“You fuck off.”
Nolan rolled his eyes. Yep, those two are definitely childhood friends.
Someone’s phone buzzed in the backseat. “Whose phone is that?” Myles asked.
“Well it’s certainly not mine,” Tim said. “That asshole JT took it from me.”
“Watch your mouth,” Nolan said, glancing back.
Tim glowered for a moment, then sighed and looked out the window.
“It’s Ogden, texting me,” Elliot said. “He’s been in touch with Rhonda. Had to make a stop off but should be here within the hour.”
Nolan sighed. “Never thought I’d say this, but I’m glad he’s coming.”
The convoy slowed, and Nolan’s eyes widened when the van in front took a left. A sign with a stencil of an overflowing beer mug read ‘ARCTIC ANGEL BREWERY’ with an arrow. “What the fuck?” Nolan whispered as the other cars followed.
“Told you,” Tim said. “No one listens to me. No one tells me anything.”
“Give it a rest, Tim,” Elliot said.
“Don’t start with me, Elliot. And by the way I lied. You’re a shitty kisser.”
“No he’s not,” Nolan said.
Elliot snickered.
They followed the cars up the long drive, the huge log cabin style building that was Arctic Angel Brewery up ahead. A wooden sign hung over the big double doors, along with two carved bear statues holding beer mugs on either side. The convoy drove past the brewery, then took a right, circling around the back of the building. They passed several large shipment trucks, then stopped outside the delivery dock.
“Where the fuck are we going?” Myles whispered. “What are we doing here?”
The giant door above the receiving dock slid upward. Quint Bonner appeared at the entrance, a husky redhead with a gray-speckled beard, wearing a flannel shirt. He waved and shouted, “Bring the van inside! The cars can park where they are.”
The van drove in.
“Told you,” Tim said.
This time, none of them responded. They were silent as they got out of the car. JT, Christian, Brett, and Tyler did the same, all of them trotting up the stairs and entering the warehouse. It smelled of hops and cardboard, Boxes of Arctic Angel beer lining shelves along the walls. To the left a large tent forged of filmy plastic was visible. They watched as Rhonda, Shane, and the doctor with the poppy eyes opened up the back of the van. They carried out the stretcher, Baz’s long white hair hanging off one end. They moved quickly, carrying Baz through a curtained opening in the filmy tent.
Tyler walked off into the warehouse, pulling out his phone.