Like his missing wife?
No, absolutely not. I don’t believe that. I’m just investigating to see what it is and ease my mind. I’ll take a peek inside and Lee will never even know.
Adrenaline hurries my steps, and barely ten minutes later the cabin comes into view. There’s nothing ominous about it when it’s dappled in sunlight. It doesn’t even look particularly rundown. I slow my steps as I approach and try to be quiet. Not that I think there’s anyone around, but rushing in seems foolish.
I creep up to one of the boarded windows. There’s noroom between the boards to give me a peek inside like I hoped, so I press my ear to it. A minute passes without a sound. I make my way around to another window and do the same with the same results. There’s an empty gravel driveway at the back of the house. It must connect to Lee’s road somewhere. It’s probably that spot between the trees that he’s roped off with another private property sign.
It's just another cabin, not fit to rent. That’s what I tell myself as I make my way back around to the door. The handle turns easily and I hesitate for a second, psyching myself up before I push the door open.
What the hell?
The cabin only has one large room, and what must be a bathroom to my right. There’s no one in sight, but a cot sits against one wall near a folding table that holds a laptop. A few folding chairs are scattered around. I take a cautious step inside, listening for the sound of anyone pulling into the driveway. The trash can beside me holds some discarded fast food wrappers and a donut box from Lucky’s.
What’s going on? Why would Lee come out here? Bring food out here? He could have privacy in his room at home if there’s something he’s using the laptop for that he doesn’t want seen. It doesn’t make sense or answer any of my questions. The place is dead silent, and I hold my breath as I take a quick peek into the bathroom to make sure no one’s there, then head for the computer.
It’s likely password protected, but I’ve come this far. I’m not going to leave without at least trying to figure out what the hell Lee comes out here for. A glance at the time on myphone tells me I need to get moving if I want to beat Lee back home.
I bend over the laptop, and I’m surprised to see it wake up with a touch of the trackpad, as if someone has been using it recently. There’s no time to make sense of anything on the screen before an arm wraps around me from behind and jerks me away from it.
A scream bursts from my lips and my reaction is completely involuntary, but effective. Tearing at the arm with my nails, I stomp as hard as I can on the intruder’s foot. He curses in a deep unfamiliar voice. My nails can’t get purchase on his arm. They slide over a strange slick material.
“Stop! I’m not going to hurt you.”
Yeah, right. His arm loosens around me, allowing me to turn just enough to elbow him in the face. At least I would’ve hit his face, if it wasn’t covered by an odd plastic mask. Instead, I catch him just under the chin.
“Damn it.” He lets go and I spin around to face him. The sight freezes me in place for a moment. He’s wearing some weird jumpsuit. It’s kind of like the biohazard suit that doctors or scientists wear during a deadly outbreak of disease. But more form fitting with a tight hood and plastic faceplate.
I don’t know who this freak is and I’m not staying to find out. He leaps in front of me, slams the door closed and stands in front of it, blocking the only exit.
My heart races as reality sets in. He’s much bigger and stronger than me. I don’t even have a weapon, and a quickglance around doesn’t reveal anything I can use. This was stupid. This was so stupid.
“Get the fuck out of my way. Lee will be here any minute,” I lie.
He yanks off his mask and hood. I’ve never seen him before, and he’s someone I’d remember. His dark hair is unremarkable. but his skin has a strange rough quality in places, and his eyes are a unique shade of blue-green. Blood trickles from one side of his lip. “You know Lee?” He takes a deep breath. “Are you Silver?”
I’m not telling this man anything. “Let me go.” My demand comes through gritted teeth that are trying not to chatter. This is so confusing. Why is he dressed like that? What have I walked into?
He slowly holds up a gloved hand, his palm toward me. “I’m a friend of Lee’s.”
When he realizes I’m not going to make another break for it, he pulls out his phone and taps it, never taking his eyes off me. “Hey, we got a problem. Silver’s here. Yeah, in the cabin. Okay.”
He hangs up and nods at me. “Lee’s on his way.”
My panic begins to lessen at the thought, which is crazy considering the circumstances. “Who are you?”
“My name’s Landon. Like I said, I’m a friend of Lee’s. He’s been letting me stay here.”
My mind races. Lee’s on his way. I have plenty of questions for him, but he’ll have one for me. Why am I here? I need to think of an explanation that doesn’t include mefollowing him to this cabin. I’m not sure what to think about any of this.
“Why are you wearing that? Is there something dangerous in here?”
He smiles and starts removing his gloves. “No, it’s a long story. You aren’t in danger.”
That remains to be seen.
Lee shows up unbelievably fast. I hear the motor of his truck in the driveway a moment before he steps inside. His face is impassive when he asks me, “Are you hurt?”
“No.”
