Clare and Brittany drove
behind Max’s van, winding up the long driveway back towards Fantasy Land. The sun had just started to rise, and a
thick, blue gray fog hung heavy across the woods. When Clare opened the car window, her hand
felt wet as the dewy morning air clung to her skin.
“I slept with Rico last
night.” Brittany’s tone was matter of
fact. “Human sex is very
interesting. I can understand why so
many people sell their souls for it.
It’s very pleasurable.”
“If they’re doing it
right, it is.” Clare kept her eyes
focused on the van ahead of them.
“Listen, you need to focus here, okay?
You had your fun, but it’s time for us to get to work.”
“Well, what’s got your
panties in a twist?” Brittany frowned,
unhappy with having her girl talk cut off.
“This place does. You told me that one of those elf figures had
attacked you in the lake. Which
one?” Clare closed the window, cutting
off the damp, cool breeze.
“I don’t know.” Brittany glanced down at the already healed
wound on her leg. “It was a female
one. I think it was the one leading the
children.” She glanced at Clare. “Why?”
“I was just
curious.” Clare shook her head. “Who knows how far the supernatural control
reaches in this park. Is it just on the
river ride? The entire park?”
“Well, that’s what we
should be able to find out today.”
Brittany patted Clare on the arm.
“Look, it’s still early. We can
investigate the park before they start shooting. You know, make sure everything is safe for
the crew. We’ve got time to handle
this.”
The van’s break lights
came on, and Clare followed suit. They
came to a complete stop, and Clare threw the car in park.
“Listen, be careful,
okay?” Clare glanced at Brittany.
“With the biting elf
dolls? I’ll be fine.” She laughed.
“No, with Rico.” Clare motioned towards the van. The doors were opened and Rico was visible,
pulling out his gear. “For you, that may
have been an experiment, but for him it could have been something more.”
“I know.” Brittany smiled. “Oh, that reminds me. I said I would help Rico set up the monitors
in the main office. So you and Max can
go explore the river ride without any distractions.”
Clare didn’t like what
Brittany was implying with that comment.
She had work to do, and the last thing she needed was to get distracted
by Max West and his sleazy, yet somehow effective charms.
Brittany didn’t say
another word. She just hopped out of the
car, and started towards Rico.
Clare took her brief
moment alone to check her messages.
Cellphone coverage was spotty out by the park, and it was rare that a
call ever got through.
She had one message. It was fuzzy, and near impossible to
hear. When she checked her call log she
saw that Ashtyn had called her.
Probably just checking
in, she thought to herself. She made a
mental note to call her back when they went back to the hotel that night. They were supposed to do the lock in that
night, but as they were leaving the hotel, Rita had informed her that the lock
in had been pushed back. She had cited “technical
difficulties”. Clare was glad,
actually. It gave her more time to
prepare, do a little research. She was
going in just a little too blind for her own tastes, and one more day of prep
couldn’t hurt.
Clare slipped her cell
into her pocket, and got out of the car.
She saw Max waiting for her by the side of his van.
All she could do was
shake her head. She was a trained demon
hunter, from a long line of demon hunters, and here she was, working with the
likes of Max West. Her grandfather, God
rest his soul, would be rolling in his grave if he knew about this unholy
union.
Still, there was work to
be done, and she was pretty sure that Max couldn’t handle it without her.
“You ready to go
exploring?” Max was smiling that TV host
smile.
“Are you?” She winked at him, brushing past him, and
starting up the cobble stone path that led to the main fairway.
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