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“So someone, or something,” Demmy said with a nod to Clarabell, “has been staying here.”
“I wonder why the rangers haven’t found these clothes, or seen whoever is coming and going,” Cody said.
“I checked online before we came out here,” Ollie said. “Margie was right. The park service is short-staffed this summer, so this site has been closed to tours this year.”
“Might as well put out a welcome mat for anyone needing a place to squat,” Cody said. He looked toward the open back door. “I wonder if we just scared someone off.”
“You saw someone out there?” Ollie said.
“Yeah. But I didn’t get a good look at him.”
“Let’s look around some more and then get out of here,” Demmy said. “This place is giving me the creeps.”
They found nothing else unusual in the cabin, not even trash of any kind. Ollie used his phone to take pictures of each individual piece of clothing, then pushed the pile back under the bunk bed. They all filed out of the cabin, and Cody closed and locked the door behind them. He returned the key to its spot on top of the doorframe, and followed Demmy as they rounded the cabin and started down the trail.
“Now what?” Clarabell said from the front of their line.
“Well, I need some lunch,” Demmy said, looking over his shoulder at Cody. “Unless you have another idea?”
Cody lowered his voice and said with a smirk, “I always have another idea.”
“Gross,” Ollie said from in front of Demmy.
“Yeah, sound travels in the woods,” Clarabell said. “Just like it does in your house.”
“I’m sure Satan has a nice Airbnb set aside for you,” Cody said.
“Yep, looks like we both need to eat,” Demmy said. “You guys hungry?”
“I had a big breakfast,” Ollie said. “I may stop by the library and see if Tracey is working today, if you think that would be all right.”
“Just don’t be too insistent,” Demmy said. “She’s really sensitive about the archives and being used as a way into them.”
“That’s an understatement,” Cody said.
“Okay if I tag along for that?” Clarabell said to Ollie. “I’m interested to see where the Critter Catchers got their monster hunting start.”
“That’s how they’ll explain it on the tour once we end up getting eaten by a thing we somehow get roped into hunting,” Cody said.
“You’re in a dark mood today,” Demmy said with a chuckle.
Cody looked into the woods. “You think?”
“Come on, let’s go eat and let Oliver and Clarabell try to get past Tracey.”
“Don’t forget her bearded guard dog,” Cody said.
“Oh, I met him when I was with Demetrius,” Ollie said. “I could charm him if I needed to.”
By that time they’d reached the place where they’d parked, and Demmy said, “Could you, though?”
Cody’s heart soared at the sassy retort, and he grabbed Demmy’s hand and pulled him around and into a hug.
“I love you,” Cody said.
“I know,” Demmy said.
They kissed, and Cody heard Clarabell and Ollie grumbling off by Ollie’s car, so he added a little bit of tongue to it just for their benefit. When the kiss finally ended, Demmy’s eyes were wide, pupils eclipsing the irises, and Cody’s heart beat like a jackhammer.
