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a loop to round everyone up, leaving Tightwad until the end since he was at The Old Dog waiting for them. Koda and Massimo had informed the gang that a few people on the list didn’t live in Pinewood, so they needed to walk quickly to ensure that they’d get everyone before the end of the day.

Leandro had told the gang that they’d need to go to another town to find Johnny.

“Have you ever been to the town where Johnny lives? What was it called again?” Ryder asked Leandro.

“It’s called ‘Darkwell.’ I’ve been there quite a few times.”

“Is it like Pinewood?”

Leandro’s lip curled. “If being a hundred percent the opposite of something is alike, then yes.”

“What’s it like then, Fluffy?” Carter grinned, as he did every time he called him Fluffy.

“I’d say it was more like what Ryder has described the bunker is like, but people there can come and go as they please.”

Ryder couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “And they choose to stay?”

“Yes, mainly because they don’t know any different. Massimo and I go every few months to let the local folks know what Pinewood is like and that they are welcome to join us, but let’s just say we don’t get the best welcome.” Leandro frowned.

“They treat us like Mormons coming to preach,” Massimo added and both men nodded.

“Mormons?”

“Oh, yeah—you’ve never had the pleasure of a Mormon knocking on your door. Let me think of something else. I know—like we’re Afana’s men,” Massimo explained.

“It sounds like a great place! I can’t wait to get there,” Carter snarked.

Ryder shrugged. “Well, it doesn’t sound ideal. I guess they aren’t going to welcome us with open arms.” Part of Ryder wondered if going to find Johnny was a good idea, but if it was a town the same size as Pinewood, then there might be a chance of getting others to help if Johnny wouldn’t.

Chapter Sixteen

The green grass changed to swamp as the land dropped to a lower level. Ryder and the others didn’t like it. Their nice day of walking in the countryside changed to a hot day in the swamp with flies swarming around them and bugger-knew-what-else in the space of half an hour. Ryder didn’t want to think about what was in the water since she knew that there would be snakes within striking distance of her ankles. Just the thought gave her a judder.

Everyone watched the water warily, taking care with each step as they moved around the tree trunks.

“Anyone fancy a swim?” Carter laughed as he nudged Leandro, making him tumble into Ryder.

Leandro grabbed Ryder’s arms, stopping her from falling into the swamp water.

“Carter!” Ryder and Leandro both snapped. Neither of them wanted to fall into the dirty water.

Ryder kicked water at Carter, flicking up long pieces of grass and leaves which landed on his face. I never miss. She laughed.

Carter staggered as he tried and failed to get away from the swamp gunk Ryder had kicked at him. He tripped over a tree root and crashed face-first into the swamp.

Ryder didn’t even try to hold in her laughter as Carter flew up from the water with a roar. Long pieces of slimy grass were laced through his hair and beard and stuck to his face. He stormed onto the path and picked everything off, flinging it at Ryder.

Massimo chuckled. “Oh, Carter! You look like Swamp Thing!”

Ryder ducked a wad of slimy swamp weed and completely cracked up.

Leandro couldn’t hold in his laughter anymore.

Carter glared daggers at them all and flounced off, getting ahead of the group.

Ryder and Leandro looked at one another and laughed.

“Looks like he can’t take a joke.”

“He’s going the wrong way,” Koda remarked.

“Carter!” Ryder yelled.

Carter spun and stamped his foot. “What?”

Ryder tried her best not to smile, but it was just too damn hard. “Easy there, Sassy Pants. You're going the wrong way.”

Everyone was staring at him, and Carter felt like a wet idiot. He looked down. Ryder was right. He was acting like a sassy pants. He rolled his eyes and then started to laugh. He knew it was his own fault.

“Nice to see Grumpy Pants has gone,” Ryder told him. She pointed in the other direction. “It’s this way when you’re ready.”

Carter shook his head. He joined the group, since he didn’t want to get lost in the swamp. This place was disgusting, hot, and sticky.

They waved the flies off as best they could as they progressed through the humid swamp. Every now and then there was a ringing slap when a mosquito landed on one or another of them.

Ryder made her way over to Massimo. She leaned in to whisper, not wanting Clint or Koda to hear. “Do Clint and Koda know you’re a vampire?” She made sure that the two men in question didn’t hear.

Massimo smiled at Ryder. “Yes. Everyone in Pinewood knows I’m a vampire, although they don’t know about Fluffy.”

“What about Darkwell? Do they know?”

Massimo rubbed his chin, then tapped his lips with a finger. “Mmm, let me think. Leandro, is there anyone in Darkwell who knows I’m a vampire?”

Leandro raised an eyebrow at his father. “Yeah, you share that news with anyone who’s listening.”

Massimo frowned. “I was thinking we might be able to recruit a couple of other people. Malcolm Rice and Dustin Duncan?”

“Cool.”

“Why do you ask if people know I’m a vampire? I’m not ashamed of it. It’s kept me alive long enough to meet you fine folks.” Massimo shot Leandro a look, and Leandro quickly looked away.

“I was just wondering.” Ryder slapped another damn mosquito off her face. She looked at her hand, and there was a blood trace on it. “If these mosquitoes drink your blood, do they turn into vampires?”

Massimo had a mischievous grin on his face. “My dear Ryder, they are already vampires. They love to suck blood much more than I do.” He winced at the thought. “I think they’re better vampires than me. Just don’t tell anyone.”

Carter stopped and looked intently in the direction of some