Chapter 1

Chapter One

Merrik

I want to put my head down on my desk and howl…okay, I want to beat my forehead against the smooth wood surface until I'm senseless and then howl. Frustration sits heavy in my chest and clogs my throat until I want to start a fight just so I have a reason to wind up bloody and confused. Not that I would be the loser.

"Merrik, you okay?" I fight back a growl of irritation at my brother's interruption. It isn't his fault. None of this is his fault. It's just bad timing.

And that is the most vexing thing of all!

"Yeah, I'm alright."

"You want to go get drunk and fight someone in the bar?"

Maybe when I was younger, I would take my brother up on his offer. When my father was still in control. Now… I'm too damned old to get in bar fights and wake up the next morning not quite sure what I did the night before.

I shake my head as he comes in and closes the door behind him. My brother is the only other person I let in this office without explicit permission. And that's probably because he is my brother.

"Is it about what I think it's about?"

I give him a brief nod. His eyes become cloudy, like my head feels, over the fact we have problems at a time when we so do not need them. At least I'm not feeling this level of frustration on my own.

"I've got my guys out doing everything they can to find the asshole."

"I know you do. No one is blaming you for anything. Hell, no one is blaming me…for now. But you know as well as I do, they look to us for protection and guidance."

It won't always be that way. If we don't find the bastard who's causing the frustration and pain, then eventually everyone will be looking at me and my brother and blame will be thrown. I can't just sit and wait for that day to come. It's not in my nature.

"I'm doing runs every night and calling in the twins for extra eyes and ears."

My brother's eyes narrow and he huffs heavily, "Come on, don't do that!"

Even sunk in irritation like I am, I can't help but laugh at my brother's reaction to hearing I'm calling the twins in. He's always had a thorn in his paw over the two men.

"Isn't there something else we can do? Those two are…crazy, half unhinged, psychos who always make things worse no matter where they go. Do we really need another unhinged psycho running around? Don't we have enough of those? If you bring them in then we'll have three maniacs out there doing God knows what!"

I arch my brow at him. He knows exactly what that means.

"No, I'm not questioning your motives or your actions for that matter. I'm just…pissed it's come to this is all."

"Damn right, you're not." I give him a grin. "Nobody is more aware of how crazy the twins are than me."

We were at Camp Dire with them, the camp I now own. One of the reasons Kenneally doesn't like them is because they nearly drowned him one summer. Lucky for him it was the summer I realized who was in charge of things…me! I made them sorry they ever tried that shit with my brother and from that moment on they've been chill with most everyone… except Ken. He still carries a little grudge about things and more often than not they end up in a fight before all is said and done. They poke at one another something horrible and can't be left alone for very long before everything turns into pure chaos.

"Fine, bring them in…but if they start shit Imma shoot them! And I'm the sheriff now. I know how to make it look accidental. Not that anyone would question why I would've put a bullet in either one of them."

With that, he stands and leaves my office as I chuckle at his ire. As soon as he makes his way down the stairs, I sober up and turn my attention back to solving the problem at hand. Time is of the essence, not only do I have innocent campers coming in for the week, but I have counselors to keep safe as well. On top of all that, every soul in this town looks to me for protection from the terrors found in the dark.

Kids and counselors aren't the only things out in our woods anymore. Something is stalking our town bringing fear and death with it. Hunting down the weakest and most vulnerable of our tiny community. Some THING is murdering women and children, and I plan to turn the tables on it. I will hunt it down, tear it apart with my bare hands, and stop this madness that has infected our peace and security.

Because that is what I do!