Chapter 16
“Some of my best information comes from local people. No one knows an area better, knows the history of a place better, than the people living there.”
Journals of Warden Michael Keane
Alexys tried to sleep, but her mind refused to break from the restless thoughts chasing each other in endless loops.
Worry over Elliot, confusion over how all the new information she’d found was supposed to fit together, fear that Kristin would realize she was actually a total fraud and a failure.
A soft snore from the bed next to hers made her frown.
How could she possibly forget about the biggest headache of them all?
The knowledge that Nic was sleeping just a few feet away from her?
That alone was enough to keep Alexys awake all night.
Not that she was thinking about him in bed.
Because she wasn’t. It was his snoring she was thinking about.
That, and the fear that she’d have one of her nightmares and Nic would bear witness to it.
She could just imagine all the questions, the interrogation.
How long have you experienced night terrors? Do you ever wake up in a strange place? Is there a history of supernatural attachment in your family?
Alexys sat up. She couldn’t take it.
Climbing out of bed, mindful not to wake Nic (not that he deserved such courtesy), she threw on a sweatshirt and headed down to the lobby.
It was eerily quiet, not a soul in sight, apart from the man on the desk.
Again, some probable relative of bubblegum girl and clueless teenage boy, but this guy was much older—a father or possible uncle.
He was surprised to see her out of bed, she hadn’t had the wherewithal to check her appearance in the mirror, but he stood up a little straighter once she’d approached the desk.
“Evening.” Alexys smiled politely. “I’m sorry to bother you so late, but I was wondering if you could print a map for me? I’m worried I’ll lose cell reception up in the mountains.”
The man shrugged, turning to his computer screen. “Yes, ma’am, can do. Where you heading?”
“Mercyhill,” she said. The man quirked an eyebrow at her.
“Mercyhill?” He shook his head. “Second request this week. What could anyone possibly be wantin’ with a tiny old place like that?”
“Second request?” Alexys asked.
“You’re not some snotty journalist, are you?” He spat the word “journalist” like he had been personally victimized by one and would rather die than see one in person again.
“No, sir.” She panicked and fished through her thoughts for another lie. “I’m a historian.” Easily the worst option she could have gone with.
His suspicion lessened, but only just. “Who with?”
“Entity?” She didn’t mean for it to sound like a question, but she really didn’t want to get sidetracked by local rumors or caught in a lie.
“I’m working on a research project that focuses on that area.
” She wasn’t about to tell a complete stranger that she was looking for a lost employee.
Or that he just happened to be a monster hunter looking for a creature that may or may not exist and could most definitely kill him if it did. Just your average work trip, thanks.
“What could a historian want with a tiny town like that?” Alexys bit back a sigh. All she wanted was a printed map and to go back to bed. She was beginning to regret listening to Silas.
“Just its rich history of Appalachian culture and folklore.” The words came out in her voice, but they sounded too much like Nic for her liking. “I’m an assistant, the lead researcher is upstairs. I was just asked to get the map.”
The lies were stacking up like stones, and they all sat heavily in her gut. At the rate she was going, indigestion would be yet another thing to keep her up the rest of the night.
The man grunted, and Alexys wasn’t sure if it was a positive or negative sound. It must have been positive because he turned to the computer and pulled up the map.
He grumbled, mostly to himself, “Last thing that place needs is more strangers ruinin’ the peace and quiet.”
When the map was finally printed from the wheezing, ancient printer beside him, the man frowned at the paper. He then directed the frown at Alexys, and she shrank back a little.
He asked, “Why’d your company send so many people then?”
It was her turn to frown at him. “They did?”
“Seems like it.” He pulled up something on his computer and nodded. “Yep, thought so. That other guy who asked me to print this same map, he said he was with Entirety, too.”
Alexys’s heart tried to sink and soar at the same time which resulted in it doing a painful somersault in her chest. She didn’t even bother correcting him on the company name, she was too focused on Elliot.
“Actually, I’m supposed to be meeting him there.
Elliot Harman, he has a room here too, and …
Well … he might have left a little early. ”
There was a flash of an epiphany in his eyes.
“Right, I get you,” he said, folding the map in half and sliding it across the desk.
“Y’all need to be careful.” Somehow, the man’s expression grew even more serious than before.
His thick brows drew down until his eyes nearly vanished beneath them.
“If you’re both chasin’ after that Hollow Walker, you need to keep your head about you.
The woods out there can be pure dangerous.
Like my Mamaw always said, every story is rooted in truth. Ya get me?”
A thrill of excitement raced through her. They were on the right track! She knew where Elliot was. And if she left first thing, she was sure she could find Elliot.
“Thanks for the map,” Alexys said, tucking it under her arm.
“Happy monster hunting.” He grinned, and Alexys knew the jig was up.
Once she managed to sneak back into their room without waking Nic, Alexys finally felt tired enough to sleep. Her phone went on its charger, and the newly printed map went into her backpack. She was unconscious as soon as her head hit the pillow.
And then, she was walking.
The hall carpet was rough beneath her feet.
She was heading to Elliot’s room. A voice, an instinct, in the back of her mind told her she needed to get there before something horrible happened.
The hallway stretched on and on—no matter how far she walked, Elliot’s door remained the same distance away.
Alexys walked faster, her bare feet soundless on the carpet.
The hallway was dark and empty. Her heartbeat faster, and she started running.
Her footsteps were muffled and painful as the carpet became rougher, as if she was walking across sharp stones.
She was gasping for her breath, lungs aching as she tried to run faster, and faster.
Elliot’s door was too far, and she was too slow.
If she didn’t get there in time, if she was too late …
Alexys jerked to a stop, pulled straight off her feet by a firm grip on the back of her shirt.
That’s enough now, a soft, feminine voice said from somewhere in the darkness behind her. Time to wake up, Alexys.
She surged upright.
Sweat trickled down her neck as she tried to slow her breathing.
She swung her feet over the edge of the bed, buried her face in her hands, and tried to calm her racing heart.
The longer she sat and listened to the hum of the A/C, the further away the dream drifted from her memory.
When she was finally composed, she chanced a look at Nic only to find him still peacefully asleep on the other bed.
How he managed to look so comfortable on the too-small hotel mattress was a mystery, but really, more than anything, she was relieved she’d not disturbed him.
That he’d not witnessed her nightmare-induced sweating.
She collapsed back onto the pillow, exhaling. She checked the clock: 3:41 a.m.
She begged any deity listening to let her sleep for at least a few hours, but her prayers went unanswered. Sleep evaded her for the rest of the night.