Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

EVER

R umors had surrounded Dupont Manor for as long as I could remember. Some were more believable than others, but there was one thing everyone in town agreed on: it was haunted by something evil.

Buried in the tangled woods on the edge of Marion Forge, the manor was a breeding ground for myths and dangerous superstitions. Only a few people had ever been brave enough to test the allegations. Those who did came back injured, out of their minds, or they didn't come back at all.

Such a shame, because it wasn't always that way.

Once upon a time, way before my parents moved us to this little town, Dupont Manor was known for its extravagant parties. Pictures hidden in the city's library showed society's finest attending the festivities, dressed to the nines. I knew because I'd seen them more than once, looking for answers. None of the articles I found mentioned why the parties ended, however, or what had become of the Lord of Dupont Manor.

The legends surrounding the place had always fascinated me, and the manor itself often haunted my dreams. I wanted to know more. I wanted to?—

"Everett," my mother's voice cracked like a whip across the diner table, ripping me from my daydream. I had no idea what she said three seconds ago, but the look of annoyance on her face told me it was important.

"I'm sorry." I adjusted myself in the worn vinyl booth, reining in my vivid imagination. "What did you say?"

A tiny sigh passed her lips and the annoyance disappeared, replaced by a sadness she couldn't shake these days. Her hair,normally well-maintained and dyed dark, was now streaked with gray and tied haphazardly on top of her head. She hadn't even bothered changing out of the T-shirt and leggings she slept in, even though it was almost one o'clock in the afternoon, and she had bags under her eyes.

"I asked if you were still going to help me move furniture Saturday?"

Moving furniture. Right. That's why she wanted me to meet her at this little diner in the middle of town instead of using my day off to catch up on errands: to discuss her impending divorce from my father.

They hadn't lived together in weeks, but she'd been working so much at the hospital she hadn't had time to get all her things. I'd tried a few times to run by and grab what I could fit in the back of my truck, but my work schedule was hectic, so I hadn't been much help. It also didn't help that Dad's new girlfriend was practically living there already.

"Of course." I nodded. What kind of son would I be if I didn't help? A terrible one. "Is Dad going to be there?"

"No." I could tell she was fighting the urge to roll her eyes, probably for my benefit. Even though he cheated and asked her to move out in a text, she hadn't bad-mouthed him once. She was a saint, better than I'd ever be. "They're going camping and won't be home all weekend."

Of course he wouldn't bother sticking around to help when all this was his fault to begin with. What a fucking tool.

"I'll be there. No problem." I offered a sympathetic smile just as the waitress showed up with our burgers.

The rich, savory smell hit my nose as she set them down, making my mouth water and my stomach growl. I thanked her, asking for a refill, and she winked, a smirk on her bright red lips.

"Sure thing, doll." She walked away with her hips swinging.

My mother waited until she was out of earshot to snicker. "She's gonna be heartbroken when she finds out you're batting for the other team, huh?"

I laughed, nearly choking on my first bite of french fry, and frantically reached for my half-empty glass of sweet tea. Normally, I would have said no, but the woman hadn't stopped flirting since I sat down at her table. I didn't know whether to ignore her or ask if the bearded line cook was single to give her a hint.

"Maybe," I muttered.

I ate in near silence while my mother rambled on about her weekend plans, nodding along to make it seem like I was listening. I was listening, kind of, but I couldn't get the Dupont Manor off my mind long enough to enjoy our meal. It had been nagging at me for months, practically calling to me, begging me to come investigate.

The strange call was getting harder and harder to ignore.

How did a place go from such grandeur to virtual obscurity? No one seemed to have the answers, and that mystery piqued my interest.

A forbidden landmark that made people speak in hushed tones and check over their shoulder when it came up in conversation was bound to hold unimaginable secrets. No one had ever successfully explored the abandoned mansion, but I was determined to be the first.

Then, everyone would finally know what—if anything—was actually lurking in those woods.

Starting with me.

As we ate, an ambulance flew past the restaurant, sirens wailing. Another followed shortly after. It was rare to hear them blaring in town—little ever happened in Marion Forge—but it was not entirely unheard of. Hearing two so close together set me on edge, but I swallowed down the unlikely scenarios that came to mind.

It was probably a car wreck or something.

We finished our meal and paid, stepping outside, and I took a deep breath. It was my favorite time of year, when the leaves began to change, turning everything into a multicolored painting around town. Even though it was the middle of the day, it was still cool enough to be comfortable in my jeans and long-sleeve flannel.

"I wonder what all the fuss is about," my mother whispered, and my gaze followed hers to a storefront a few doors down. A handful of people had congregated, and although I couldn't hear them, I could tell their conversation was urgent.

Something unsettling hooked behind my navel, and I exchanged glances with my mother.

"I don't know, but it looks important." My eyes drifted back to the small huddle of people. A young couple hurried across the road to join them, a few stragglers on their heels, and curiosity burned through me.

What the hell was going on?

"There's only one way to find out." Mom jerked her messy bun toward the group of people and took off without another word. I followed closely behind, my heart skipping a nervous beat.

First ambulances, now this. Even though I couldn't know for certain, something told me the two were related. What were the chances of two strange things happening back to back in a town where nothing exciting ever happened?

Slim to none.

The closer we got to the crowd, the more snippets of conversation I picked up on.

"...said it was an animal…"

"...bobcats this close to town…"

"...up there near Dupont Manor…"

The name of the manor nearly stopped me in my tracks, but my mother beckoned me closer so we could eavesdrop. We fell into the huddle, standing just behind a middle-aged couple, listening as two men frantically updated the group.

"You said they were two boys, Henry?" an elderly woman asked.

A dark-haired man in a collared shirt nodded, wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. "Both teenagers. Probably still in high school. Police said they went missing last night, but we just found them not long ago."

"What happened to them?" someone asked.

A flutter of chatter rolled through the group, a mix of speculations and accusations, but everyone fell silent when the dark-haired man spoke up again.

"We…we don't know," he sighed. "It looked like they'd been attacked, but they were both unconscious, unable to tell us anything. By the looks of it, it was some kind of animal. They had scratches and bite marks all over them…" His voice trailed off.

"You said they were found near Dupont Manor?" The question left my lips before I could stop it, and a few curious glances whipped in my direction, including my mother's.

Henry nodded. "Not ten feet into the woods. It looked like…" He swallowed hard, like he was struggling to find the right words. My stomach turned at his hesitation, and I shifted back and forth. What doesn't he want to say?

A second later, he broke his silence.

"It looked like they were trying to crawl out of the woods and didn't make it before they passed out," he said. "They're banged up pretty good, but I reckon they'll pull through."

Another wave of comments rippled through the crowd, which had grown considerably over the last couple of minutes, everyone huddling together on the sidewalk.

"Go home and hug your families," the man on Henry's right urged, raising his voice so everyone could hear him. He was red-headed with a neatly-trimmed beard. "Hug your kiddos, and for God's sake, stay away from those woods."

An ominous feeling weighed in the air as the crowd began to disperse, and my mother and I headed back up the sidewalk to where we parked. My insides turned and my mind raced, my unanswered questions multiplying.

"It's so sad," my mother said when we stopped next to my red pickup truck. She shook her head. "Terrible, what happened to those kids."

I nodded in agreement, hardly listening. I was too lost in my own thoughts, wondering what the fuck could be hiding in those woods. Wolves? Bobcats? Bears? Living near the mountains, anything was possible, but this was the worst attack I'd heard about in months, maybe years.

"Crazy," I muttered to fill the silence.

A beat passed before she said anything else. "Okay, sweetheart, I'll see you this weekend." She pulled me in for a hug. "Maybe sooner, if you feel like visiting your lonely mother."

"Yeah, right." I chuckled, pulling my keys out of my pocket. "If you need me, call me."

"I will." She crossed her arms over her chest, but didn't move from where she was standing. There was something else she wanted to say, I could tell by the uncertain look in her eye.

"You okay?" I cocked an eyebrow at her.

Normally, she said what was on her mind without hesitation. She didn't have a filter and didn't care if she hurt anyone's feelings. The fact that she was quiet was unsettling.

Finally, after a long moment, she nodded. "I'm fine, but… just promise me you'll stay away from that place," she said, her tone pleading. "I know they're on the opposite end of town, but please don't go near those woods."

I understood her concern. After losing my older brother as an infant, she'd always been over-protective of me. Losing her only living child would destroy her. The story of the teenage boys being attacked was sure to spike her anxiety and make her worry even more.

"Of course, Mom," I said, forcing a smile. I pulled her into a one-armed hug, squeezing her shoulders reassuringly. "I'll stay far away from the manor. You have my word."