Chapter 4

Four

The drive to New Bedeville was long and dragging, taking most of the day. Cain had spent hours playing his obnoxiously loud music, drowning everything out in the car, the static rock giving me an aching headache.

My shades hid my gaze as it bounced from the never-ending tree line that grew alongside the road to Alaska's pastel colored hair. I caught a glimpse of her glowing blue eyes in the rearview mirror of the car, glancing back at me. I couldn't help but flash her a quick smile. Look all you want, darling.

She quickly pulled her gaze away, trying to hide the fact that I had caught her staring. My head turned, a cocky smile plastered across my face as my eyes returned to the thick tree line. I was pleased with the idea of her thinking of me, knowing she was sitting just inches from her boyfriend. Their relationship made no sense to me. They had been together for years, stuck in this awkward, toxic relationship. She had mentioned that she wanted to leave him but was scared to do so, worried about how he would react. Her fear and hesitation always made me suspicious of him, concerned as to why she was so fearful of him. Still, as much as I disliked the situation, I respected her wishes, biting my tongue and watching the fa?ade as if it was some sick play. I may not have liked the idea of them together, but I had my time with her, even if it was only as her dirty little secret. At least I was still hers.

A weathered gateway sign with rusted metal letters caught my attention as we quickly drove past: Welcome to New Bedeville, a place you'll never forget.

Well that's pretty fucking eerie.

The sunslowly began to set as Cain exited the main road, turning into the parking lot of a small-town gas station. The sound of gravel grinding beneath the tires filled the car as he pulled up to a rusted, ancient-looking gas pump. The blaring music immediately stopped as he killed the engine. Finally. A soft ringing pierced my ears, muddling the sound of nature as it slowly faded back to life around us.

"This place seems abandoned." Alaska eyed the remote, wood-cladding-covered building. She seemed uneasy by the small, ominous structure.

"We hunt ghosts for shits and giggles, and this makes you nervous?" Cain pointed to the gas station. "Come on, Bambi." I could see her face tighten in an attempt to hide her emotions from him as he opened the car door, annoyed. Alastair nudged Alaska's arm, melting her expression into a warm smile.

Ruby cleared her throat, fully aware of the uncomfortable moment. "Well," she clapped her hands together, Jinx's eyes watching her lips as they moved, "we're going to head inside and see if they have something to eat." Ruby looked at Jinx. "I bet they have that red licorice candy you like," she signed. Jinx beamed as she nodded, grabbing Ruby's hand, the two stepping from the car as they stretched, the sun now fully disappearing behind the thick treeline.

Cain, now already standing across the parking lot, held the gas station door open as Ruby and Jinx stepped inside, holding hands. His eyes remained heavily on the car, obviously waiting for Alaska to join him.

"Guess we should stretch our legs and walk around for a bit, huh?" she whispered, her hand sweetly stroking Alastair's head as he licked her face. She turned to face me. "You coming?"

I nodded, removing my shades. "Right behind you, babe."

She shot me a look. "Lazarus!"

"Oh, calm down." I brushed my hair from my face. "He can't hear me. Besides," I raised a brow, "you know you like it. Just be glad he's never heard the way I make you scream when we're alone." Alaska huffed, quickly opening the door as she stepped out onto the gravel pavement. She tried to hide it, but I noticed her smile, making mine grow as I shadowed the two of them.

Alastair's nose immediately rose to the sky, sniffing heavily. He stepped away from Alaska moving in circles, seemingly trying to locate the source of whatever phantom scent he was smelling. Alaska and I watched, confused, as he marched towards the edge of the gravel pavement, standing on the side of the small road. He froze, firmly in place as he stared intently towards the dark woods across the way.

"What's up with him?" I asked. I'd never seen the wolf break from Alaska's side so easily, let alone behave in such a strange way.

Alaska watched the wolf, equally confused, glancing from Alastair to the woods. "I'm not sure?" She patted her thigh, commanding him to her side, but he ignored her, unphased.

"You coming or what?" Cain shot from the open door of the gas station, impatiently waiting.

Alaska called to Alastair in an attempt to coax him to her side, but he only growled, his focus fixated on something unknown within the woods. Her worrisome eyes met mine, glowing as the sky darkened into warmer tones, the wind gently rustling the trees.

"I got him." I lightly touched her arm. "You go inside." I stepped to Alastair's side. "Go help your boyfriend." I spat the last word, unintentionally hitting a nerve.

Alaska hesitated, glancing from the wolf to me before shuffling to Cain. He slapped her ass as she entered the gas station, flashing me a devious grin as the door closed behind him. Fucking prick.

My head turned, looking down at Alastair as the hair on his back rose, his ears now flattened as he bore his canine teeth in a defensive snarl, his claws digging into the dirt. His sight remained glued to the trees beyond, unwavering. The wind picked up, carrying a strong, unusually foul odor with it that caused my face to twist in disgust. Was this what Alastair smelled? What the hell even is it? I choked on the thick, unpleasant odor, a cold chill shooting down my spine as I squinted, struggling to spot the threat amongst the trees that had set Alastair on edge.

The sky continued to darken, the golden hue of the sun fading away as the woods fell into thick sinister shadows. Sudden, faint movement caught my attention, my vision struggling to grasp what I saw. Deep within the ominous forest, peering back at me, was what appeared to be a set of red eyes, glowing far off in the distance. My stomach dropped, disturbed by the unnatural sight. The glowing eyes weren't like Alaska's or Ruby's—they were something else, something unpleasant and unnatural.

This can't be real. My body reacted, frozen in place as I continued to glare at those eyes, mentally trying to grasp at what they could be.Alastair huffed, startling me as I jumped, blinking in reaction. The eerie red eyes had instantly disappeared as if never existing, the uneasiness in the air melting away just as quickly. I scanned the forest, desperately searching to relocate them with no success. They were gone, as if never existing. It must've been my imagination. I shook my head. I was just imagining it.

"Alastair," I called to the wolf as he broke from whatever trance haunted him. He casually stepped to my side as if nothing had happened. "Come on, let's go."

Together, we headed toward the gas station. I hesitated a moment before glancing back over my shoulder, uneasy as to what I might see. The forest remained as it was before, the unearthly red eyes absent. Alastair brushed past me as I held the door open, exhaling a sigh of relief. It was probably just an owl or something, I tried to reason with myself, to make sense of what I saw. Pull your shit together. There's nothing out there in these woods that you should be scared of.