Lunar Rampage (Lunar Rampage Series Book 1)

by Samantha Cross

  “What the heck?” I said as I knelt down and took the pieces of the rope into my hands. Why was the rope torn apart like this, and why were Joe’s shoes left behind? My eyes darted around the forest thinking maybe Joe had wandered off for a pee and would be back, but deep down I knew that wasn’t the case. I tried to rationalize why all this was left here in this manner, but this gnawing sensation took over my gut, and needless to say I was not feeling comfortable with what I was seeing.

  Joe must have gone home, I told myself in my head. Yeah, home.

  Instead of jumping to conclusions, I decided I’d ask around for where Joe may have gone. The first place I thought of was the store Priscilla worked at. She claimed to know all the latest gossip, so who better to talk to? Of course getting actual important information from her was like pulling teeth. She was too caught up applying her fifth layer of red lipstick (that was so dark I swear it had to be virgin’s blood), to give me a straight forward answer.

  “So, you haven’t seen him,” I said, waiting for a clarification.

  Her eyes were glued to the mirror of her compact in her hand. “Why would I have seen him? Aren’t you two breakfast buddies?”

  “I thought we were, but now he’s just gone.”

  “Sounds like a lot of ex-boyfriends I had.”

  “Oh, no way, I have been stood up,” I said with a comical realization.

  She snapped her compact shut. “Maybe he finally grew a brain and realized sitting out in the woods all day does nothing except build a reputation as a weirdo.”

  “I don’t think Joe cared too much.”

  “Most weirdoes don’t.”

  “It’s kind of strange is all. I thought he was really passionate about it.”

  “Maybe he got eaten.”

  I pointed at her, not out of dominance, but fear. “Don’t even joke.”

  “The forest really scare you that bad?”

  “Between the noises I’m hearing at night and Joe vanishing like that, I am starting to get creeped out.”

  Priscilla looked at me seriously and cocked her head to the side. “You hear the howling, too?”

  We were interrupted by the ding noise of the store’s door opening. I glanced over my shoulder and at first all I saw was the tan, bare skin of a man’s upper body. I didn’t mean to do a double take, but his chest was just so bronze and shiny, with little specks of sweat trailing down the natural indents of his body. I’m not one for objectifying, but it was quite the sight. I think it took twenty seconds of gawking before I realized who it was. And then I groaned. It was the rude man from the woods; Max.

  “Hello there,” I heard Priscilla say under her breath behind me.

  I turned around and said, “Subtle, much?”

  Priscilla leaned forward and dropped open her mouth, making this super awkward looking grin. “Quick, do I have any lipstick on my teeth?”

  I inspected. “No more than usual.”

  “Perfect.” She put both hands on the edge of the counter and leaned forward, popping out her butt and pinning her ear to one shoulder. At first, I couldn’t tell if she was trying to look sexy or was attempting to hold a pee in. Either way, it was amusing to watch. Priscilla straight up looked like an animal in heat.

  “Don’t tell me you have a thing for him, too?”

  “Too?” she repeated. “I told you, I never had a thing for Owen.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Besides, Max is a real man.”

  “He’s not a man, he’s a hunter.”

  “Please,” she said with an exaggerated scoff. “People always make such a big fuss over hunting, but you eat it.”

  “Actually, I’m a vegetarian.”

  “What are you, some kind of alien?”

  “Thanks,” I replied sarcastically.

  We watched him browse through the aisles nonchalantly, in nothing but a torn up pair of jeans with his t-shirt hanging out from the back pocket. He grabbed a few snacks and a jug of water, and by the time he was done, I felt like Priscilla and I were bona fide stalkers. I really didn’t need to know his shopping patterns, but Priscilla was incapable of talking about anything else while he was in the room.

  “He’s a borderline perfect specimen,” she commented.

  I rolled my eyes. “Perfect? That’s a bold statement.”

  “Don’t you just want to claw your nails down the grooves of his back?”

  “I think you’ve been reading too many romance novels.”

  “Seriously. Just picture it.” So, of course, within seconds, I was. I hated to admit it, but he did have a rather attractive looking physique. His upper back was larger and broader than his waist, and his skin was practically perfect in all its tan glory. I could see how wrapping your arms around him would seem desirable.

  I scoffed when I realized I was doing just what she wanted. “Thanks,” I groaned.

  Priscilla had a good laugh and slapped at my shoulder.

  When Max came up to the register I stepped aside. I could practically feel the extra air in the room because Priscilla had failed to breathe. “Hey,” I began, trying to get his attention. Of course, his response time was delayed, like he didn’t give two craps that I was addressing him. “I thought no shoes, no shirt, no service.”

  He glared up at me like I had challenged him, and then tapped the sole of his shoe with the jug of water. “I have shoes on.”

  “Yeah, Cora,” Priscilla snapped from over the counter. “He has shoes on.”

  “Oh, really? I hadn’t noticed,” I responded mockingly to her. I imagined since he walked in here, Priscilla had become quite acquainted with every inch of him.

  “Here’s your change,” she said with a big, virgin blood colored smile, and then handed him his money.

  Max took it and very casually said, “Thanks,” as though she weren’t even there. He then left without looking either of us in the eye.

  “Friendly guy,” I said.

  “Who needs to be friendly when you’re that sexy?” Boy she was laying it on thick.

  “How come you’re not the princess of darkness when he’s around? Are the rest of us just super lucky?”

  Her eyes were practically white from rolling them so hard. “I’m fucking pleasant, thank you very much!”

  “Whoa!” I said and jumped back like her bark had literally pushed me.

  “It’s this town that’s sucking the life out of me.”

  “If you hate it so much, why don’t you just move?”

  “It’s the only place I could afford. You know, because of all the stories.”

  That caught my attention. “What stories?”

  “People dropping like flies around here.” I wasn’t sure exactly what she meant, since Priscilla’s choice of words was always so dramatic, so I asked her to elaborate. “People dying,” she said.

  “People have been dying here?”

  “Yep. A guy, maybe six months ago, supposedly fell off the roof of his house and snapped his neck.”

  “That’s horrible, but why would anyone consider that a neighborhood crisis?”

  “Because, apparently, a part of him had been eaten, and it wasn’t some stray animals finding his body after he was dead. These marks came before he actually died. A lot of people think the animal snapped his neck with its jaw.”

  It was absolutely disgusting to hear and I was appalled. “Where did you hear this?”

  “Around.”

  My speculation kicked in. “So, it’s just a rumor?”

  “Call it a rumor all you want, but he had a closed casket funeral.”

  “Wait. If this is all true, why aren’t you terrified to live here? I know you said it’s cheap, but if there’s animals lurking around big enough to devour guys sitting on their roofs, I’d have looked elsewhere to live.”

  “You think I go out for walks at night? I’m not stupid. I lock up my place and keep my rifle by my bed.”

  I laughed hard. “You own a rifle? Now, that is something to be worried about
.”

  She looked passed me, deep in thought, and I could tell she was once again no selling my comments. “I used to envy the guy,” Priscilla said, referring to who I could only think was the dead man. “At least he got out of this town.”

  My face squinted at her like I smelled something rank. “That’s really morbid.”

  “It is. That’s why I signed up for this dating auction. At least it’s shaking things up a bit around here.”

  “Whoa, you’re doing the dating auction?” It kind of blew me away. Priscilla was so gloom and doom, that imagining her dolled up and doing a beauty queen wave to the neighborhood was hilarious.

  “You heard about it?”

  “Owen’s sister kind of got me into it. I did it as a favor to him.”

  “Great,” she pouted. “You have outsider appeal. You better not take my bidders.”

  “I’ll be happy just to get any bidders. How embarrassing would it be to stand up there and no one want to donate a single penny? You’d just look like a total ass. It’d be like high school again.”

  “You weren’t one of the popular girls?”

  “I was popular... ish. You know, if someone wanted their homework done.”

  “Nerd,” she teased at me.

  “Hey, I was one badass nerd, okay? I could play the clarinet.”

  “Oh, how impressive,” she once again teased. “I bet you’re good at math, too.”

  I refrained from bragging. I didn’t need to expose myself as an awkward dweeb. I think I had enough of that as a kid. “Dork or not, at least I’m not painfully obvious when I’m in heat.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “When Max came in here. I thought I was going to have to hose you down.”

  “You’re crazy.”

  “Oh, please,” I said with a giant laugh. “I could practically hear you reciting your wedding vows under your breath. What, you hoping he buys you at the auction?”

  “It wouldn’t be the worst thing. He is single, after all.”

  “How convenient for you to know that off the top of your head.” It was my turn to tease her.

  “I told you, I know everything.”

  “Everything, huh?” That got me thinking. “Okay, since you seem to know everything there is to know, maybe you can fill me in on the story between Owen and Max. I imagine not a lot of people like Max, but I was curious if there was more to the story.”

  “Of course there is,” she replied with a grin.

  “Really?” I just assumed since I was imagining growling coming from the forest that Owen’s disdain for Max was just another example of my slipping psyche.

  “All that time on your roof and Owen never filled you in?”

  “We don’t really talk about things like that. He says he likes to keep things pleasant.”

  Priscilla scoffed. “Oh, please. Owen is far from pleasant when it comes to interactions with Max. Owen and Max are like cats and dogs. You keep them as far away from each other as possible.”

  I figured they didn’t like each other, but I didn’t expect it to be quite like that. “Why do you say that?”

  “I’ll give you the short version of the story.” She leaned in across the counter so she wasn’t shouting. “Basically, Max was shagging Owen’s sister.”

  My eyes got big. “Molly?”

  “The one and only. This was several years ago, before her parents kicked the bucket. They hung out quite a bit and Owen was always pretty speculative of their relationship, but for the most part, he was okay with it.”

  “So, they were dating?”

  “If that’s what you want to call it,” she said with a mocking laugh. “Everything was cool until their parents died in that fire, and then Molly got all clingy and obsessive toward Max. She was practically stalking him. He dumped her ass quick.”

  “Right after her parents died? Ouch.”

  “Can’t really blame him. The girl’s a psycho.”

  “What? Come on.”

  “You’ve met her, right? Is she not weird?”

  “I don’t know. A lot of people find me weird, so what do I know?”

  “It’s not the same thing. She’s Dateline crazy.”

  “Wait, did you just compliment me?”

  Priscilla rolled her eyes and ignored my comment. “Believe me, you do not want to get close to that girl. Owen has to protect her and use kiddie gloves with her at all time because she’s so emotional. One time they came into this store and she was having a full blown freakout. I don’t even know what it was over. It took fifteen minutes for Owen to calm her down. I could tell he was embarrassed I heard the whole thing.”

  “You remember what they were fighting about?”

  “Something about him not getting home on time. What a wreck that girl is.”

  “Makes sense why Owen always wants to get home on time every night.”

  “He has to. Wouldn’t want princess to cry.”

  “It’s still pretty crappy that Max would dump her after her parents died. Even you have to admit that’s terrible timing. I can forgive the girl for being all over the place emotionally.”

  “Wouldn’t it be worse for him to lead her on?”

  I shrugged. “Maybe. How do you know all this, anyway?”

  “I told you, I have my ways.”

  “Is that a subtle way of saying you’re a creeper who listens in on conversations?”

  “It’s not my fault that everyone blabs their business when they shop.”

  “I’ll remember to keep my mouth shut when I get groceries.”

  “Like you have any interesting stories.”

  I was offended. “I do, too.”

  “Name one.”

  I struggled for a minute, then finally said, “Joe.”

  “Joe is about as interesting as my ass tattoo.”

  “You have an ass tattoo?” I peeked over her shoulder. “Can I see it?”

  “God, you’re weird,” she replied and stood up straight to make sure I couldn’t get close to seeing even a glimpse of it. “Oh, God, I never even told you the best part of their feud. It was right after Max dumped Molly. Owen found Max at this bar and he was totally wasted. I mean, drunk off his ass wasted. He was cursing him out and telling him never to go near his sister again and then tried to hit him.”

  “No way. Owen?”

  “Yep. Wonderful Boy Scout Owen.”

  “Dang. He hit somebody.”

  “Uh, no, I said he tried. He was too drunk to really do anything. All bark and no bite. He’s lucky that’s all that happened that night. Max is like twice his size and you can tell he totally works out.” I wasn’t sure what part was for the sake of the story and what was her just drooling over Max.

  “I just can’t see Owen in a fight.”

  “With reason.”

  “Hey, let’s not be mean. I like him, remember?”

  “I forget. You’re team Owen. We’d get along so much better if you were more on my page.”

  “Wait, are you telling me we’re not best friends?”

  She pursed her lips and squinted her eyes at me. “So funny, Cora.”

  “Just you wait, Prissy—can I call you that?”

  “No.”

  “Just you wait Princess P, you’re going to love me so much it hurts.”

  “Don’t hold your breath. No, scratch that, please do.”

  “The more you resist, the more I’ll love you.”

  This horrible look of disgust took over her face and I found it hilarious. “You and Henry should run off together. You really deserve each other.”

  “Maybe we will,” I joked and then jogged out the door and into the store’s parking lot. Priscilla acted like she found me annoying and horrible to be around, but I swear, just for a fraction of a second, I saw her crack a smile as I left.

  I spotted a tan tinted patrol car parked on the side of the road, and through the opened window I recognized Deputy Wilson in the driver’s seat. His head was hung low and his h
ands manically moving back and forth as he doodled on a notepad. I didn’t want to startle him, so I tapped on the side of the vehicle very gently with my knuckles. He didn’t appear to be a jumpy guy, as he simply raised his head up toward me and removed his sunglasses.

  “Deputy Wilson?” I asked, even though I clearly knew it was him sitting in the car. I just didn’t know how else to approach.

  “Yes?”

  I planted my hand down flat on my chest. “It’s Cora. I don’t know if you remember me from the other day.”

  “Yeah, yeah, I remember you. Wendy’s granddaughter.”

  “Good memory.”

  “Is there something I can do for you?”

  “Uh, yeah, actually there is. I was curious if you had heard anything about Joe, the guy tied up in the woods.” I really needed to learn Joe’s last name.

  “Ah, Joe,” he said with a head nod. “I tried talking some sense into the guy, but he wasn’t really hearing me. I haven’t checked in on him in a while. How is he doing?”

  “I was hoping you could tell me. He’s gone.”

  He looked relieved. “Glad to hear it.”

  “So, you haven’t seen him, either?”

  “Either?”

  “I was just asking around a tiny bit,” I said dismissively. I didn’t want to make a big deal of it. I especially didn’t want Joe thinking I was going crazy about him taking off, when he could be chilling at his house. “I sort of told him I’d bring him food every day, but so far, I’ve only had to do it once. It was just such a passionate topic for him that it surprises me that he left.”

  “Thinking about doing something and then actually going through with it are two different things entirely. Living out in the woods with no shelter is no walk in the park. He probably got fed up with it and decided to go home. Maybe he was too embarrassed to tell you.”

  “I did think about that, but... he left his shoes behind. Like they were right where he would have been standing. Who leaves the forest without any shoes on?”

  He seemed as surprised as I was to discover that. “That is peculiar. Maybe he heard a weird noise and when he tried to leave, his shoes got caught in the mud? If he was scared enough, I’m sure his shoes weren’t much of a concern.”