Page 4 of Pretty Prey

“Well, I hate to spoil your assessment, but I actually come from a small town called Maple Brook Falls, about two hours outside of New York City.”

She once again eyes me up and down as if she doesn’t believe me one damn bit. She finishes ringing me out like she’s trying to guess what I do for a living or if I’m lying by the items I have on the belt. I guess small towns are that way because this is the kind of thing I would expect to happen back home. When our transaction is complete, I smile and bid her a good day, pushing my cart out to my truck. The whole time my mind wanders back to that nagging question. Is thatheron the other side of the tree line back at camp?

The campgrounds are just startingto wake up when I pull back into my site. I’m greeted by the faint smell of coffee and campfire the second I open my truck door. I find myself instinctively gazing through the tree line hoping to catch a glimpse of the group. Sadly, the site is barren of movement, just smoke piddling out of the fire ring.Where the hell could all of them have gone already, or did whoever was up earlier go back to sleep?

Then I remember if it is her, she’ll be at the pool or the lake because that girl loves a good early morning swim. The only reason I know that is because I heard about it from Miss Apple Bottom one day at the community center when she wasthere with her troop. Miss Apple Bottom told her she can’t do it alone anymore and tried to get me to be her chaperone. Sadly, I declined. Now I wish I didn’t, because then I would know for sure if she’s here.

I take ten minutes or so to put my groceries away, change into swim shorts, a pair of black sweatpants, and a sweatshirt. I don’t want to stand out. If it’s my little prey like I hope it is, I don’t want her to see me…not yet at least.

The pool is still closed when I walk up to its fence. I’m surprised that they have it closed this early on the Fourth of July. People start partying early around here, so what’s the point? It doesn’t really matter. What matters is that my little prey isn’t here, and I have no idea if I’ll be able to find her at the lake before the beach is covered with people.

I need to know if she’s here. I’ll stalk the shadows of the girls’ campsite all day if that’s what it takes. My cell phone chimes in my pocket, notifying me I have a text.Great, I don’t even get time off on a goddamn holiday.

Lonie- We’re being asked to help The Maple Brooks Falls town council put in the park and pavilion. They want it done before this year’s Halloween festivities.

Me- Send details to my email. I’ll check them during my downtime. When do they need to know by?

Lonie- End of the week.

If I had half a brain cell, I’d say no. I’d tell my crew that we have some other big project to do, but reality is we don’t. Not unless a massive natural disaster happens, and we get sent out of state for work, but that hasn’t happened in a couple ofmonths. We need this, even though I wish we didn’t. Ever since the bookstore renovations, helping Assistant Mayor Hunter with his cabin build on the homestead, and helping plan out his summer camp, we’ve been slowing down some. We can’t afford to turn down any work.

Me- Fine we will do it, but I need to speak with Hunter and Rudy before we agree. Now leave me the hell alone for the rest of my vacation.

What’s the point of taking a vacation if my work follows me everywhere? Also, what’s the point of driving twelve hours away from home to find out the girl who’s been sexually frustrating me for a few months now, can potentially be on the campsite next to mine for a whole fucking week?

His Prey

CHAPTER 5

Ishiver as the frigid cold, murky lake water engulfs my body from the shoulders down. Ever since I was a little brownie in Girl Scouts, swimming first thing in the morning has been something that always calms me. It wakes me up and gets me going for the day. I make it a point to do it every day the weather allows when camping. The water and early morning air helps me feel more connected with nature and reset my biological clock. I always feel ten pounds lighter after a week in nature, and I hope this week isn’t any different.

The distinctive feeling of eyes on me draws me to search the shoreline for anyone watching me, but I can’t make anyone out this far out into the lake. I shouldn’t be out here alone. I know that. But Annie wanted to stay back at camp to read her book next to the fire, and the others are still sleeping. Something splashes in the water not even ten feet away from me, sending a ripple in my direction.

“Oh, hell no,” I yell out.

I refuse to be bait for whatever creature that can be. I paddle my way back to the dock, using the ladder to pull myself up.The whole time I still can’t help but gaze around to see if there really is anyone watching me. This place is full of people, transit people of all kinds, any one of them can have a fascination for young blonde girls in a bikini top and shorts.

One thing my daddy taught me was to never underestimate anyone regardless of size or age. He always made it clear to me that monsters don’t lie under your bed. They shake your hand and smile in your face, preying on the weak and gullible. I refuse to be either.

I toss back on my zip-up hoodie, leaving the hood up, before heading back in the direction of our campsite. The smell of campfire lingers in the thick morning air, and I love it. An elderly man walking his little brown fluff ball of a dog waves to me, and I wave back, loving how much nicer the people are here. Back home in Maple Brook Falls most people are kind and community-driven, but the city people who visit on weekends in the fall or winter, not so much.

“You’re back early,” Annie says as I plop down into the empty folding chair next to hers.

I don’t bother to change out of my wetsuit or sweatshirt, knowing most of the day will be spent in or near the water anyway.

“Something in the water moved. I had to get out.”

I leave out that I felt like I was being watched, and that I might know who it could be.

She chuckles at me as she flips the page in her dark romance novel.

“Babe, what could it really be? A fish? Maybe a turtle…a snake?”

I stop hearing her words the instant the wordbaberolls off her tongue.

“Call me that again.” Her cheeks flush pink as embarrassment courses through her veins. “Come on, Annie, we both know you want this.”

I gesture between us, trying like hell to not sound so fucking desperate. A twig snaps behind us, causing us to glance in the direction of the sound.