Page 80 of Welcome to Blackbird Hollow
Fallon nods, breathing deep as her eyes move around the clearing. “Two more hikers taken?”
Marion nods. “We tracked them to this location, and it’s like they just disappeared.”
Fallon points to the new moss growing on two trees, all the way across the clearing. “They disappeared into those trees.”
My heart thumps slow and heavy as I realize what’s happened. “Nymphs. The hikers that’ve gone missing. It’s the nymphs, not the Hunt.”
Marion nods as Caden makes his way over to the trees our sister’s already spotted, Alice right at his heels. They’re so deep in conversation, I doubt either of them hears us. Marion leans against her old blue SUV, using one hand to dig around in her big leather bag. It’s something she tells me was once known as a “Birkin,” and she’s quite proud of having come across it at a flea market.
She pulls out an ID badge that pictures a handsome white man, just about my age, with a hard look in his eyes. The name reads “Brett Turner.” I swallow hard. “He’s dead?”
Marion nods toward the trees that Alice and Cade are giving a thorough going-over. “Or whatever happens to them in thetree.” She turns the ID over, and a notorious HBL logo is emblazoned on the back. HB Lumber used to be a fracking company pre-Reformation. I sneer at the ID.
Marion pushes a piece of paper toward Fallon, who glances over it, her eyes narrowing in rage. “It just never fucking ends with these people, does it?”
I glance down at the tribal document regarding Mr. Turner, who is apparently a lawyer for HBL. He’s got a record of harassment and worse, but HBL’s been buying him out of the trouble he’s made for himself time and time again.
Marion stares at the trees. “Whatever those nymphs have done,” she says in a steely voice, “you don’t stop them from continuing to do it, you hear?”
Fallon nods. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
Marion puts a hand on my sister’s arm, sighing with relief. “I knew you’d understand, Fallon.” My stomach twists suddenly at the look that passes between them. There’s something I don’t know. Some hurt Fallon’s endured that I don’t know about.
My sister’s eyes lift to mine. “It was a long time ago, bub.” I want to hug her tight, but she just holds my gaze. “I don’t talk about it.”
“Alright,” I murmur. “But if you change your mind…”
“I know,” Fallon whispers. “Wyatt, Iknow. And I am alright.”
The funny thing is, I believe her. I glance at Marion, and from the way she’s looking at my sister, I know she’s the reason Fallon’s okay now. Fallon looks at the printout again, taking a sharp breath. “Every one of the ones that went missing were HBL?”
Marion nods. “Every single one over the past decade. And the Chief did a bit of digging of her own. HBL can’t get an accurate survey of the land, because everyone they send out disappears.”
Fallon chuckles. “Bet they wish it was legal to use those fucking satellites now, don’t they?”
Marion snorts. “No drones, no satellites… They’ll figure it out eventually, but the nymphs have given us time to sort out what to do next.”
Across the clearing, Cade’s got his hand pressed to one of the trees that ate the folk from the lumber company. A sound that’s somewhere between a giggle and a windchime tinkles through the clearing, and suddenly we’re surrounded.
The forest is full of nymphs, Their sharp teeth gleaming in the low autumn light of the afternoon. Alice gasps as one approaches her, touching her hair. “I know you.”
The nymph smiles dreamily. “You were in the parking lot at Three Ravens the other day. Such pretty hair.”
Another half-dozen or so surround Caden, Their eyes hungry. “You’re so beautiful,” one of Them says. Another chimes in, “Would you like to dance with us?” while yet another chirps, “We like to watch you bathe.”
“Hey,” I bark out. “That’s not polite.”
The one who made the comment about watching Cade in the bath frowns. “It’s not?”
“No,” Alice says gently. “You should ask before doing things like that.”
“Can I watch you bathe?” the nymph asks, her wide green eyes feverish with lust.
My brother’s cheeks go red as Marion snickers. “Um…no?”
The nymph looks crestfallen, but another speaks up. “What about an orgy? You’d like an orgy, wouldn’t you?”
Caden swallows as Marion, Fallon, and Alice all fall to pieces with laughter, and Fern sniffs the nymphs that have clustered around Caden. “I…” My brother looks at me, panic in his eyes.
