Page 3 of Locke

I didn’t care if the target was dangerous, unhinged or that I may very well lose my life for his capture. Ineededthat money.

I pulled the energy drink from the cup holder, took the reusable straw and sucked in a large gulp of the now-flattened carbonated drink. I slapped my lips together, my brows furrowing.

Ugh, hours old.

Coffee was my go-to. A good Columbian roast reminded me of my abuela and my younger years, but the gas station I visited had mud water coming out of the dispenser. And, I wasn’t about to drink…mud.

Hours ago, I stepped into that gas station with aching muscles and cracking bones. The air was heavy with the scent of gasoline and behind the counter stood a man who looked like he was from India. His wary eyes scanning me as I inspected his coffee machine. I crinkled my nose in disdain at the sight of coffee grounds lingering at the bottom of a cup; a blasphemy to the coffee gods.

“Anything else I can help you with?” he said with a thick accent.

I had gazed around the counter, looking for some old-school maps for the back roads I was taking. The cell service was patchy around here and I was sick of getting turned around.

“Yeah, I’m looking for Forest Falls, it's a small town—”

The man pushed back from the counter and shook his head. “You don’t want to go there.”

I curled my nose up, snatched my energy drink and dropped a five on the counter. Typical reaction for any of these tiny little gas stations and an unknown customer waltzing up in here.

Well, tough cookies, mate. All my research to find this guy was leading to this small podunk town in the upper north-west and I wasn’t going to give up the price on his head. I never did—I was good at what I did.

“Well, I’m going.” I opened the can and took a sip. “With or without your help, but it would be a hell of a lot easier if you just told me.”

The man’s eyes narrowed as he watched me defiantly take a sip of the energy drink. “Fine, it is your funeral.”

He gave me directions, and at first, I didn’t know if he was leading me on a wild goose chase or not. I didn’t have a choice though, and if he was wrong, I could come back here and kick his ass. At least his gas station was on this map.

Why the hell would they not put this freaking town on a map, anyway?

The man’s eyes darkened, a shadow passing over his face. “Before you go,” he began in a low voice, “let me tell you something about Forest Falls: it’s not a place for outsiders. They say beasts roam the woods and convicts run the town. Bad things happen there, and it's best a woman like you steer clear. Once people go to that town, they either never leave, or run outscreaming.” His words were full of warning, but it didn’t deter me.

I fluttered my lashes and put my hand over my hip, brushing the Glock on my side. The cashier looked down and cleared his throat.

“I’m sorry, a woman like me?” I mocked.

If only he knew what kind of life I’d been through, he’d know a town full of urban legends was the least of my worries.

“Thanks for the warning, but I can handle myself,” I replied, turning to leave. As I reached the door, his voice stopped me in my tracks.

“There’s a darkness in those woods; a darkness that devours all who dare to enter. You may find more than you bargained for in Forest Falls.”

Ignoring his ominous and cliched words, I stepped out into the blinding sunlight and walked back to my car.

Whenever my phone caught a signal, I tried to search for Forest Falls again.

Nothing.

The only thing that came up was people claiming, on a popular forum, that they had been to this town accidentally, passing through for gas or a place to eat. They were unable to get a strong signal with their carriers, and encountered rowdy bikers who chased them out when they overstayed their welcome. Thetownspeople who lived there didn't show any concern when the bikers chased them out.

‘It was strange. I almost felt the heaviness of something dark there,’ one person had written.

I scoffed and tossed the phone onto the passenger seat. It was just a town, probably full of doomsday preppers that wanted to have an off-grid community. It was a perfect place for someone to hide: criminals, runaways and any other people who wanted to stay hidden.

Well, it wouldn't stay hidden for long.This hunt had consumed me. This would give me a break, a chance to relax, but right now, it was driving me to the edge of exhaustion, and I pushed forward with a determination that bordered on obsession. I had to find this guy, and if my suspicions were correct, he would be there.

Who knows, maybe I’ll hit a jackpot and find more bounties on the dark web, and bring them all in. Then, I’d be really set.

As the small town came into view on the horizon, I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of my stomach. It wasn’t small, it was of average size. How the hell is this town not on a map? Not on Wikipedia or Google, or some shit?

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