Chapter 3

Sighing through my nose, I fiddle with the chain of my necklace, I definitely did not have time for this. Irritation brews underneath the placid exterior I make sure to always present, a cold unaffected stare gracing my face. If there’s one thing I prided myself on, it was that at no point could any one get a read on me. Staring into the distance, I resist the urge to tap my vibrant red nails on the high counter spanning the length of the store that’s cluttered with junk. Waiting in the small old antiquated Auto Shop for Earl to find the brake pads he called me claiming had come in, was not part of my plans for today. However, my clunker of a car, an old Pacifica, had some corrosion on the brake pads due to rust and the last thing I needed was for that to get worse. Especially since I-

“Found ‘em!” Earl calls out from the back, triumphantly emerging from the wide open worn down door he had disappeared through twenty minutes ago, the strains of a baseball game floating through every now and again

“Thanks” I place my hand out expectantly 

“You know how to replace these?” he cocks a feathery grey brow, wrinkled face scrunched even more as he studies me, brake pads clutched in the hand by his side

Sighing again, I simply pull up the tutorial I was going to follow, showing it briefly to Earl, then quickly pulling it back

Grunting, Earl pushes up his weathered dull red hat to scratch his head, “Uh-huh. And how about those rotors? They in good shape?” 

Counting to five, I slowly exhale, running my fingers along the seam of my jeans, “All good” 

Shaking his head at me, Earl doesn’t ask anymore questions, decidedly writing me off. After ringing me out, he doesn’t bother with a goodbye either, merely grunts again and mosey’s back to the game. Finally. Now all I have to do is follow some tutorial and I’ll be on my way to the mansion perching high on the edge of a cliff about 15 miles from here. 

It was six miles from the campground I had been checking out one day, with about 4 miles of trails winding through the mossy floored forest and along the unyielding coastline that rose abruptly from the water. There was a rock beach bordering some private property that had no trespassing signs posted practically every five feet. There were no other houses beyond that one. I had managed to get a glimpse of it when I crept as close as I dared to in broad daylight. It was a massive Gothic Victorian standing at 3 stories high. It was dark grey with impressive peaked roofs, arches and emphasized curves. Though it was obvious people lived in it, there was a coldness to it, a lack of warmth that made the, at times, malevolent waves the perfect backdrop for it.

To be honest, I hadn’t thought you could have a house there since it was attached to 700 acres otherwise dedicated to pristine untouched nature. Which was something that made my soul stir. I’d be loathe to admit it out loud, but it was my favorite spot. Alpine trees, 100 foot cliffs, radical tide changes, I loved it all. The chaotic swirling water echoed back to me the way my inner rage and turmoil churned constantly. Atop a flat portion at the edge of one of the cliffs, there was even a small platform with a bench on it, engraved with the words “forever remember her sacrifice” I hadn't learned the history behind that yet, but I was working on it. It was just a little harder when I was choosing not to purposefully engage any of the locals.

This town did not favor outsiders, that was much was clear, so the place was not running amok with outsiders, just enough to help with their livelihoods. There were, however, always a handful of new people at the beginning of every month that I saw once, then never again. It had been happening since I got here. If it wasn’t for the guy I had clandestinely met about 5 months ago, telling me that my parents had spoken of this place by name with a certain air of unspoken confessions, I never would have known about it. There was something strange going on here and I intended to uncover whatever I could. Mom and dad had to have been here at some point if they had mentioned it to Randall.

Forty-five frustrating minutes later finds me still in the parking lot of the Auto Shop, watching as Earl eyes me back warily before making his way to his cliched red beat-up pickup truck. Determination grips me hard as I start the video for the tenth time, swearing under my breath, and ends, right as I remove the caliper with the adapter from the hook and proceed to drop it. Effectively breaking the brake line. Screaming internally, I quickly check the time, it’s just after 4. Fingers going as fast as I can make them, I look up the number to the nearest mechanic shop, begging the car gods to spare me just this once and let them be open. Impatience tightens my skin as I wait on the ringing to end and connect me to someone, anyone.  

“Brady’s Mechanic Shop” drawls out from the other end right before my finger goes through with disconnecting the call 

“Yes, hello. What time do you close? And do you guys tow?” I hastily spit out my questions, not wanting to dilly dally with pleasantries 

“Well, hello, Raelyn. Experiencing some car troubles?” the jovial voice inquires

Exasperation flows through my entire body. I was so close to getting somewhere of importance today. I couldn’t explain why, but the moment I had seen that secluded mansion, I could feel it down in my bones that the foreboding structure was holding some kind of dark secret. One that called to me. And today, I was finally going to explore it. The owners were in New Hampshire on some kind of business, but only for the night. They were scheduled to be back tomorrow morning. That meant I only had one shot at this and I sure as shit wasn’t giving it up because my car crapped out on me. Or, ya know, because I ruined the brake line. Tomato tom@to. 

“Lawson” I rolls my eyes, of course it was him

“I’m touched, you remembered my name this time” he snorts, adding to the sickly saccharine voice he’d adopted to tease me

“Yes, I’m sure you’re swooning. Do you have a tow truck?”

“Why’s that, Lynnie? Stuck on the side of the road somewhere?” Buried under the sarcasm was the lightest trace of concern lining his words

Hoping to squash that unwanted concern, I let my words come out curt

“First, don’t call me that. Second, nope. Third, do you or don’t you?”

“Good lord, woman, I can feel the frostiness over here” he fakes a shudder, over the top teeth chattering noises and all. Give me a break.

Blowing out a deep breath, I don’t even bother to reply this time

“Well, Ray, we do in fact” he continues on as if I had, he really only needs himself to carry on a full conversation 

Deciding for the moment to let the name thing go, I send my thanks to those car gods from earlier for hearing my pleas

“Would you be able to-“

“Raelyn, what do you need?” his voice drops the playfulness as he cuts me off

Taking a moment, I silently let the hopelessness of the situation drown me, accepting that even if my car was towed within the next half hour, there was no way anything could get fixed in time for me to use it today. Okay. Moment over. I square my shoulders and straighten my spine even though I’m aware no one could see me. I’m just going to have to walk there.

“Thanks for your help” I stab the end button, grab my bag from the car before locking it and the throw the keys in it.  Gritting my teeth, I start walking towards the road. Fifteen miles wasn’t really that much, right?