Chapter 2
chapter
two
Vivian
Oh my God, what the hell is that thing?
This is about the tenth time I’ve thought that since arriving in Screaming Woods.
Screaming Woods is—according to the latest internet buzz—a town haunted by monsters. Since I write horror novels and have been in a bit of slump lately, booking a cabin in the woods near Screaming Woods seemed like a great idea.
True, I suspect my slump wasn’t brought on by lack of inspiration. My last several books have just felt … flat to me. My bestie, Harriet, keeps telling me that I need to change genres.
After all, I love to read romance. It is my jam. So maybe I should write romance?
But how can I do that when I’ve never been in love? Moreover, I’ve never even had sex. I’ve never even met a man I’ve wanted to have sex with. So how am I supposed to write about love and sex when it’s all still so … hypothetical to me.
And, before you panic, yes, the creepy, post-apocalyptic zombie books I currently write are hypothetical too. It’s like I spend my days fighting off brain devouring hoards.
But I feel like less of a fraud writing about it, because, after all, zombies aren’t real.
Orgasms, on the other hand, are real.
At least, from what I’ve read.
But my lack of first-hand experience with orgasms is a different kind of horror story than the one I’m currently experiencing.
Since making it to the outskirts of Screaming Woods, I’ve seen about a dozen oddities. Glimpses of things that just didn’t feel right. That made me think, “What is that thing?”
But this thing? This is a creature that’s been circling overhead while I unpacked my car in front of the cabin I’d rented.
From overhead, it’s making some sort of horrifying noise, then aimed straight at me, clearly intending to dive-bomb me from the sky.
Was it a bird? It was definitely not a plane.
It lands not too far from me. Segmented body and bug-like features stand before me on a creature that has to be at least seven feet tall.
“You are not Superman, that’s for fucking sure.”
He squawks at me.
I do not like my odds. I haven’t had time to access the key to the cabin from the lockbox near the door. Which leaves my car.
If I can get there, I’ll be safe, right?
I pat down my pockets, only to realize that I dropped my keys, along with my cell phone, in my computer bag. Which I left up on the porch while I went back for another load.
I take a step backwards towards my car. And another. The giant bug follows, its multi-faceted eyes seeming to track my every move.
I feel the car behind me and fumble for the door handle, only to find it locked.
I press my lips tight in a grimace of irony.
“Auto-locking doors are a safety feature, my ass,” I mumble.
I eye the bug, and the distance back to the porch. Do I go for the keys, or do I make a run for it and see if I can confuse this giant bug.
Why did I insist on coming to this monster town on my own?
Obviously because I’m an idiot!
I make a run for it, zigging and zagging as the bug stands there, head tilted, watching me as I bolt further into the woods. Maybe he’s stupid and I’ll lose him.
Wings flap behind me.
Or not.
He swoops overhead and lands, and I realize I’m now trapped. I scream. He walks awkwardly towards me, his antenna bob with each movement, his wings drag behind him like a grey cape.
“What do you want?” I ask. I walk backwards and then bump directly into a tree. The bark scrapes against my palms.
Bug man screeches at me again.
Heavy footsteps thunder into the area and I can’t wait to see what fresh hell is racing towards us. But then sunlight filters through the trees and hits the person running towards me.
I gasp, because I’ve never seen a more beautiful man.
His complexion is even paler than mine, so white he’s almost …
lavender. The way that pale skin highlights the sharp angles of his bone structure is fascinating: high cheekbones, perfectly square jawline.
And all those sharp, jagged edges are the perfect foil for his full lips and bright, electric green eyes. He’s gorgeous.
It’s obvious he’s not human. Despite that, there’s nothing about him that scares me, not even the way he’s growling and yelling at the bug man. In fact, that’s pretty damn sexy.