Chapter 41

CHAPTER 41

T hey’re not in any hurry to leave, I mused.

I figured with everything that had happened, those silly podcasters would scurry away from this nightmare before Christmas.

But the Scooby-Doo gang was determined.

Yes, they could be referred to as the Scooby-Doo gang. But I, in no way, would be a Scooby-Doo villain.

And I would prove that.

Soon, and very soon.

People might not think I had a plan. But I did.

Things had already been set in motion.

I sat in a rickety wooden chair in the old cabin in the middle of the forest, only a few miles away from the camp.

No one ever knew when I stayed out here, and that was the way I liked it.

It was the perfect place to think through everything I needed to do. And it was the perfect location so that when I needed to strike again I could.

I knew people all around town were wondering where I might strike again. I knew they were scared. That they’d change their schedules and routines because of it.

I smiled.

I liked having control over people. Fear was a powerful weapon.

I wondered if anyone questioned if I might strike in the same place twice.

That answer was yes.

This place was more personal. I needed to teach the people here a valuable lesson. But would they ever learn? I wasn’t sure.

Eventually, someone might figure out my plan, but I wasn’t holding my breath.

Could these people really be so dense? I thought I’d made the clues pretty obvious.

But apparently, I had not.

I took a sip of my drink. Peppermint hot chocolate.

The cabin had a small stove I’d been able to boil some water on. It had been a lifesaver on cold days like today—though I had to be careful not to let people see the smoke coming from the chimney.

This was my favorite treat.

Even if the memories of the person who’d created the powdery mix weren’t good.

There were other advantages to living out here where no one could find me.

I’d seen other things too.

I knew what certain people were up to.

And I planned to hold those things over their heads.

Yet another part of me wanted them to continue on with their secretive deeds. I knew one day it would all blow up.

At that thought, I reached across the table and grabbed a bag I’d found.

I stared at the substance inside.

People weren’t as smart as they thought they were.