Return to Red Creek Nathan Hystad (e books free to read .txt) 📖

Paul looked deep in thought. “I think it can be, Detective.”

“How so?” Rich asked, finally joining the conversation.

“Because there aren’t many jobs in this area. Have you seen the state of this town? It’s deplorable. It was crappy when I was a kid, and twelve years ago, it was even worse. Now these people are lucky to find work anywhere. You know as well as I do that Gilden doesn’t have much more to offer, other than the strip mall stores or hospitality. People would work for the dealership because it’s probably one of the only thriving businesses in the entire area,” Paul said.

Tom wasn’t sold. “What else, Taylor? You guys were thinking someone was back in town. Who?”

Taylor’s eyes widened. “I don’t know if this is of any use, but I remembered something. Trevor Hayes said an old lady was on the sidewalk watching as the shadow attacked him on his doorstep. If it wasn’t for the pizza delivery boy showing up, Trevor thought he was a goner. If the shadow was too weak, someone had to help it feed. Oh my God, Dad,” Taylor said, looking at Paul.

Paul leaned toward his daughter. “What is it, Taylor?”

“That’s it. The bond the Schmidts made with the creature never ended. Someone came to Red Creek after Katherine Smith killed herself in prison. There’s no doubt in my mind. It’s back. And it’s hungry.”

Taylor’s words sent shivers up Tom’s spine. “Wait, did you say an old lady?” he asked too loudly.

“Yes. That’s what Trevor told me,” Taylor answered.

Tom thought about the witness’s description from the night Brittany had gone missing. Stewart had told him there was a woman walking in the fields, wearing a white jacket. When the lightning flashed, he’d seen a dark shape. Maybe there was something to the insane story. Tom didn’t believe for a second that a shadow was doing it, but he was sure they were onto something about the Smiths. It was either family or a copycat, and he intended to catch them before the night was through.

“What is it? What about the old lady?” Paul asked.

Tom started to get up, his knees popping and cracking as he did so. “We have to go.”

“Where?” Paul asked. “The orchard?”

“No. To Gilden. We search this dealership before anything. My gut’s telling me it’s involved.” Tom could see they didn’t agree, but they were willing to play along.

Rich’s radio beeped, and the deputy answered it. “Rich here.”

“Where the hell have you been?” It was the sheriff, and he sounded pissed.

“We were tracking the weapons call. What is it?” Rich asked.

Tom was standing right beside Rich, invading his personal space, anxious to hear news from the sheriff. The deputy noticed and stepped a foot away, turning slightly away from him.

“We got a call. Another kid’s been taken. A bike was left in the middle of the street.” He gave an address, and Darrel Watson perked up.

“That’s right beside my house!” he shouted, and Tom didn’t think it was a coincidence.

He wasn’t sure what they were dealing with, but the five strangers in the barn with him were connected like the roots of a tree in the ground.

They started for the door, and Paul’s cell phone went off as soon as they left the safety of the barn.

“Honey, what is it? Sorry, I didn’t notice there was no service.”

Tom listened nervously.

“Is Stevie okay?” he asked, his voice a yell against the wind and thunder. “Thank God. Stay put. We’re with the local enforcement now. Yes, we told them everything.”

They had a lot of ground to make up, and Tom tapped his foot impatiently as they stood there in the rain. Brent had his arm around Taylor, and Darrel was holding his rifle in his hands, like a shadow might jump them from behind a tree.

Tom Bartlett hadn’t expected his day to go like this.

Nineteen

Emma dragged the girl now, and when she opened the doorway to the cavern, she was hit with a terrible scent. It smelled like mold mixed with decaying bodies, and her gorge threatened to rise, spewing out the meager food she’d eaten earlier in the day. Her head was already pounding, the creature’s ceaseless demands constantly pressing against her internal awareness.

It was dark within the space, but she knew it well enough to avoid tripping on anything. She stood with the limp girl in her grasp and waited while her eyesight acclimated to the darkness. It was inside with her. She could feel it, even if she couldn’t see it. Emma took a deep breath, against her better judgment, and picked up the fleshy scent of the real Provider.

Something rang against her mind: a warning without words, just an image of her lying on the ground of the cavern, dead eyes staring into nothing. The message was clear enough.

Once she could see the edges of the cavern in the darkness, she moved with the girl, who finally started to come to. Mist poured off Emma’s own arms at first, then from her eyes and mouth. She felt the blackness lift from her, more than shoot out, and eventually, she knew it was gone from inside her, originating to its own form in the corner of the cavern. She sighed, feeling the relief that came with running her own body once again.

The girl’s eyes opened wide as she regained consciousness. She tried to let out a scream, but her mouth was covered with gray duct tape. Emma placed a finger in front of her own lips, the irrefutable sign of telling someone to stay quiet. The girl’s eyes were wide, the whites bloodshot, visible even in the dark room. She nodded, silently telling Emma she’d be quiet.

Emma grabbed the corner of the tape, and in one fluid motion, pulled it from the girl’s mouth. She let out a cry of anguish before she rambled in hushed tones.

“Help me. I was attacked by a monster,” she said, her face slick with tears.

Emma’s expression didn’t