I closed my eyes and shook my head. "Not a ghost, but something in that class."
"Huh?"
I opened my eyes and turned to her with quivering lips. "Susie, I think we need to find out what's going on at this place, and soon. Before we both turn out like Platt."
Her eyes widened. "Say what? What makes you think that."
"I. . .I just know, and I think whatever happened to her is going to happen to us if we don't find out what's going on around here," I insisted.
"Why us? Why not anybody else?" she persisted.
"Because Nelson and Young don't like anybody else as much as they like us," I revealed.
Her mouth dropped open. "So you're saying-"
"I'm not saying anything except that either we leave here or we find out tomorrow what's going on," I told her.
Susie took a step back and folded her arms across her chest. She glared at me with pursed lips. "I wish you were saying more so I could understand you," she quipped. "All you're doing is asking me weird questions and saying we're going to turn into senile old ladies any minute now."
"I'm not saying that!" I argued.
"Then say what you need to say!" Susie shouted.
I froze. Susie froze. I pointed a shaking finger at her. "Did you just. . .did you just shout at me?" I asked her.
She blinked back. "I. . .I think I did."
"Susie, you shout at me as often as I forget my towel in the bathroom."
"I know, Abby, I know."
"Now do you see my point?"
"That something's changing inside of us and we need to find a cure to it?"
"Yeah."
"Yep, I'm definitely seeing that."
I held out my hand in front of my face for her to grasp. "So we're in this together? You and me try to find out what's going on here tomorrow?"
She grinned and slapped her hand into mine. "Definitely."
Garden of the Wolf #3
Chapter 1
I had a strange, sensual dream of my seductive lover. We were on the dark beach again, and he knelt over me as I lay in the sand on my back. My naked breasts heaved up and down. One of his hands scorched a path up my thigh. His eyes wandered over my naked body, taking me all in in his lustful gaze.
"You're mine," he whispered.
"Why me?" I gasped.
"Because I want you. That's all that matters. Now I want you to become like me, like a monster," he cooed.
He leaned back and I glimpsed the dark night sky. Behind him was the moon in its full brilliance. Its beams shone down on me and covered my body in its cool blanket of light. I felt something shift inside me. I raised my hand and my eyes widened as I watched as my fingers tore open and revealed long, sharp claws. My skin along my thighs stretched and broke open. Fur pushed through the wide slits, thick, coarse fur.
I didn't want this. I didn't want to be a monster. "No! No!" I screamed.
I thrashed beneath Scott, but he held me down. He smiled, and his sharp fangs shone in the darkness. "Mine. All mine."
"No!"
Hands roughly grabbed my shoulders and shook me. "Abby! Abby, wake up!" someone shouted.
My eyes shot open and I beheld Susie's worried face. She sat beside me on my covers. I lay in the bed in our small cabin. There was no moon, no Scott, and no me turning into a monster. The sun was just rising on the horizon.
"I-I'm fine," I told her.
She scooted back and let me sit up. The concern didn't leave her eyes. "Abby, what was that? You looked like you were trying to fight off a monster or something."
I ran a hand through my sweat-soaked hair and nodded. "Yeah, something like that."
"Not something like that." She pulled the top of the covers up and showed they'd been torn to ribbons. "I know the fountain of youth stuff here really works, but I never heard of somebody getting a clawed manicure from it."
I took the covers from her and looked over the tattered remains. I raised a hand and looked over my fingers. The nails were long and sharpened to points, very different from my usual short, flat ones. I balled my hand into a fist and pursed my lips. "We have to find out what's going on here."
"Yeah, about that." She took the covers from me and held them up. "I'd say this is a sign we shouldn't stay here, so why aren't we leaving?"
I shook my head. "We can't."
"But why?"
"Because we can't."
Susie raised an eyebrow. "Abby, you're the most common-sense person I've ever met. You see something wrong with what you just told me? You're not making any sense. We should be halfway down the mountain by now."
I closed my eyes and nodded. "I know it, and you know it, but you and I both know we can't leave."
"You mean because of that there's-something-here-keeping-us-here feeling?" she guessed.
"Yeah, that."
"Any idea where it's coming from?"
"No, but we need to find out as soon as possible before staying here does more than just damage a few bed covers," I commented.
She cringed. "You mean before we turn into what Platt did and run amok in the kitchen?"
"Yeah, that." I flung aside my sheets and hopped out of bed. I spun around and tore off the torn cover. "Help me hide this," I ordered Susie.
"Why? They'll just throw it out," she pointed out.
I turned to her with a frown. "You really want them to find these torn things and cart me off to wherever they carted Platt?"
Her face fell. "Good point. How about our luggage bags?" she suggested.
The sheets were stuffed into my bag because Susie's was a brilliant example of lack of organization and there was no room. When the deed was done we plopped on the end of my bed and put our heads together regarding our common problem. This day was Operation Infiltration. The hardest part of the plan would be the 'infiltration' part.
"So you said last night that we needed to get to the other side of the lake. That still the plan?" Susie asked me.
"Right now, but I don't know how to do it," I admitted.
"We could try swimming."
"Did you see the parts of the lake beyond the swimming area?"
She sheepishly grinned. "Not really. I was-um, admiring the view."
I rolled my eyes. "You mean that Nelson guy."
"His name is Dan."
"And right now he's the enemy until we figure out what's on the other side of that lake that might be giving us this suicidal urge to stay, and driving other people to feral madness," I pointed out. "As I was saying, the lake is filled with a weed that would probably drown us if we tried to swim through it."
Susie frowned and rubbed her chin. "You think they put it there on purpose?"
"Maybe, but our problem is how to get around I," I told her.
"Why not over? There are some canoes on the beach," she suggested.
I shook my head. "They're locked together and we don't have a key."
"We could pick the lock."
"Do you know how?"
"No, but it always looks easy in the movies."
"This isn't a movie."
She folded her arms across her chest and huffed. "Fine, you think of something."
I furrowed my brow. "What are we doing today? On our schedule?"
She shrugged. "Hiking."
"We could 'accidentally' separate from the group and find our way through the woods," I suggested.
"You mean no trail?" she wondered.
"No trail."
"I think this fountain of youth has gotten to your head and made you almost as reckless as me. There could be lions or tigers or even bears in these woods," she argued.
"You have a better idea?"
"Yeah, the canoes. Or maybe stealing a golf cart and driving up the road to see if we can find a road that leads to the other side of the lake," she added.
"I think they'd notice if a golf cart took off down the road," I pointed out.
"Yeah, but wouldn't it be so cool? We'd be driving ahead of a posse of attendants, all of us on g
olf carts. The dust from the road floating behind us and only the open road ahead of us," she dreamed. I knocked her on the back of the head with my knuckles. She lurched forward, then spun around and glared at me. "What'd you do that for?"
"Because you're still thinking this is a movie or some cheap adventure novel. We're the ones stuck here, and we have to do this quietly. If we get caught we need to have an alibi for why we're going where we're going. That means no stealing, no picking locks, just getting lost in the woods," I insisted.
Susie's shoulders slumped and she pushed her lower lip out. "That's no fun."
"No, it's not, but we have to be careful. That means not letting Linda on to what we know, or are trying to know. She might tell Nelson or her brother," I warned her.
"Fine. . ." she mumbled.
I sighed and patted her on the back. "Maybe before it's done you'll ride a golf cart."
Susie perked up. "Really?"
I grinned. "No, but I thought I'd try to make you feel better."
She frowned and pushed against my side. "You're mean!"
I laughed. "You forgot evil and vicious."
Each of her words was punctuated by another push. "And evil and vicious!"
I leaned back and grabbed a pillow from the head of my bed. Susie blocked the blow from the deadly weapon of puff, and we wrestled for control. We were in the thralls of a tug-of-war when the pillow split in two. Stuffing burst across the room and covered us in the white fluffiness.
That's when there came a knock on our door.
"Abby? Susie? Are you two already awake?" came Linda's voice.
We whipped our heads to face each other. The pillow was torn, the room was a mess, and the cover was still hidden in my luggage.
"Um, we're fine! Just a-um, just feeling a little accident," Susie yelled back.
"Accident? Did you need any help?" Linda asked us.
I furiously shook my head, but Susie waved me off. "Um, actually yes. Yes, we could. Could you come in here?"
"What are you doing?" I hissed.
The door was unlocked and Linda peeked her head inside. Her eyes widened when she beheld the devastation. "What happened?"
Susie sheepishly grinned and rubbed the back of her head. "We, um, we had a pillow and cover fight and it kind of got out of hand. We had to throw out one of the covers and a pillow-well-" she lowered her head and clasped her hands against her chest in mourning, "-a pillow didn't make it."
Linda smiled. "I'll see what housekeeping can do, but did you want an early breakfast? Your hike with Scott starts in less than two hours."
The color drained from my face. "Scott?" I repeated.
Linda nodded. "Yep. He's volunteered to take your group up the trail. He's a fast guide, so you'd better eat a lot to get a lot of energy."
My heart sank. There went our easy way of losing the hiking group. Still, we had a chance. A slim chance, but still a chance. I smiled at Linda. "Sure, breakfast sounds great."
Chapter 2
Linda led us to breakfast. The day was young and there was nary a soul around to overhear our tromping footsteps over the gravel path.
Susie sidled up to me so close we nearly tripped over each other. "Still think my canoe idea isn't worth it?" she whispered.
"Yes, at least until we try mine," I hissed.
"But you heard what she said about Scott," she argued.
"We'll just have to try and see what happens," I countered. I turned my attention to Linda. "How's Miss Platt doing?"
Linda didn't stop walking as she glanced over her shoulder at us. "She's very much better. She'll be able to leave in a day or two."
"Where exactly was she taken?" I inquired.
Linda pursed her lips and looked ahead. "I can't tell you that."
"Can't, or won't?" I challenged her.
"It's against the Garden rules."
"So if there's a rule then this happened before?" Susie chimed in.
Linda's voice sounded strained in her reply. "I'm afraid I'm not allowed to talk about other guests' personal visits." Susie and I glanced at each other. We both guessed that was a definite 'yes.'
"That's fine, we understand," I commented.
Susie frowned. "That's not fine. She nearly took my mpmp." I'd placed a hand over her mouth and my finger to my lips. Susie scowled at me, but when I removed my hand she didn't ask any more questions of our guide.
When we returned to our room after breakfast Linda paused outside our door. "I'm supposed to keep with you until the hike," she informed us.
I checked my watch. That was an hour from now. "No problem. We'll just get ready and-"
"I'm supposed to be inside the cabin," Linda added.
I frowned. This put a dent in any last-minute planning. "Can't you stay out here?" I insisted.
She shook her head. "These are orders from Scott. I have to follow them."
"No exceptions?"
Linda bit her lip. "I'm not sure. He didn't say any, but-"
Susie raised her hand. "Um, could I be an exception? I've got this ugly rash from-um, from my swimsuit and it's kind of funny-looking."
Linda's eyes widened. "Did you need me to take you to the nurse station? She could look at it and-"
"No, it's not that bad, but it's in the shape of-um, a nude model, and I don't want you to get the wrong idea about me," she insisted.
Linda smiled and shook her head. "I won't get the wrong-"
"But I don't want to spoil your innocent mind, so you just stay out here while we change. Pinky swear, we'll be out in a half hour," Susie swore as she grabbed my back and aimed me at the door. She pushed me through the entrance and shut the door after herself.
I turned around raised an eyebrow. "A rash in the shape of a nude?"
Susie strode over to the front window and glanced out. "I didn't have much to work with on such short notice. Besides, I only kind of half lied. My swimsuit did give me a wedgie yesterday."
"I'm sorry I asked."
"Regrets later, talk now. You didn't want her coming in here, so you'd better say what you want to say before Linda decides she doesn't mind her innocence warped by my rash," Susie warned me.
"I wanted to ask you if you could make some sort of distraction during our hike so I can go off into the woods," I requested.
She snorted and plopped herself on the end of her bed. "That isn't going to be easy. Scott and Dan are a little less unsure of themselves as Linda," she pointed out.
"It's the only plan I've got," I told her.
Susie scowled at the wall in front of her. "This babysitting during our activities is getting so a girl can't be alone to sneak away anymore," she complained.
"Probably because we've found and made enough trouble to make them suspicious," I mused as I took a seat beside her.
"So if they're on to us that we're on to them with whatever they're on to then what are we on to?" she wondered.
I blinked and shook my head. "That made my brain hurt."
Susie grinned. "I try."
I snorted and stood. "Why don't you try thinking of a distraction while we get our hiking gear on. I don't want you to break your pinky swear promise to Linda or she might insist on watching us twenty-four-seven, rash or no rash."
Susie and I slipped on our hiking clothes that comprised of thick but airy shirts and pants, and some thick-soled boots. We stepped out and found Linda on our stoop. She smiled at us. "You two look great."
I tugged on the waistband of the pants. All the clothes were new, bought at the insistence of Susie, so they hadn't been worn to comfort. "Are these hikes tough?" I asked her.
She shook her head. "Oh, no. We try to make them very easy while giving our guests enough exercise to stretch their leg muscles. You two shouldn't have much trouble with my brother as leader."
Linda led us to the lodge. The sun was no full in the sky and the other cabins were alive with activity. Gone were most of the weary guests, and those that remained were youthful in step and happy in face. Many
went to breakfast, but there was a small crowd of a dozen who congregated beyond the front doors of the lodge.
My heart unwillingly fluttered as I looked for our guide and my lover. I spotted Scott at the far side of the group. He wore a clean tan shirt, matching pants, and hiking boots. A silly tan hat with a short brim and floppy top adorned his head. Even though I understood he was our adversary in our quest to find the truth, I couldn't help but notice that he couldn't have looked more handsome.
Linda guided us to her brother. "Good morning, Scott," she greeted him.
Her voice caught his attention and he turned to us with as bright a smile as that of his sister. "Good morning. I see you've managed to get your charges up and here with time to spare."
Linda shook her head. "They were up when I called on them."
He raised an eyebrow and his blue eyes flickered to me. "Is that so? I hope you slept well."
I shrugged. "Strange dreams, but I'm sure it's common in this lonely mountain air."
He smiled, and I saw a twinkle of sensual mischief in their depths. "Not as common as you think, but I'll make sure you sleep well tonight. Our hike takes us on a four-mile path that skirts the lake-"
"Even the other side?" Susie spoke up. I glared at her in warning, but the damage was done.
He shook his head. "No, only the west side. The path turns away and goes into the woods." His eyes flickered between us and there was still that devilishly handsome smile on his lips. "But I'm sure you ladies haven't forgotten the opposite side of the lake is off-limits to guests."
Susie let out a strained, obviously fake laugh that was so loud those guests entering and leaving the lodge stopped and turned towards our little group. She slung an arm over my shoulders and grinned at Scott. "Nope. I was just testing your knowledge of your own rules."
"And did I pass the test?" he wondered.
"With flying colors."
"If you'll excuse me from the finals, I need to lead you on a tour of our beautiful woods," he informed us. He stepped to the side and looked past us at the rest of the group. "Ladies, gentlemen, if you're all here than we can get started and finished before the hottest part of the day. We'll follow a course past the beach and follow the edge of the lake for a half mile before we turn into the woods."
I took an early turn when I grabbed Susie's arm and led her a few yards from the group. "Are you trying to make them even more suspicious?" I hissed.
She shrugged. "I didn't think it'd hurt to try."
I rapped her on the head with my knuckle. "Does that hurt?"