《Goblin Hunter》 Chapter 1 May, 2016 ¡°Tank! Bentley! Come here!¡± Kimmie patted her hip, the collection of silver bracelets on her wrist clinking against each other like tiny, frantic wind chimes. A sudden burst of rampaging paws thumped from the second floor of her cozy, two-story villa. She listened, tracking their path as they tumbled from the bench seat in the upstairs study that overlooked the backyard, through the hallway, down the stairs, and past the laundry room. An instant later, two giant dogs tore into the kitchen, their paws clicking on the hardwood floor, their tails swinging without any care as to what they might knock over. ¡°You boys ready for a walk?¡± They circled her eagerly, tongues lolling out and tails whipping back and forth. Bentley, brown and sleek, found a spot on the floor and sat back on his haunches while the brindle-coated Tank bounded back and forth between Kimmie and the back door. They were bullmastiffs, from the same litter, massive brutes with coats the color of burnt caramel and slate. Kimmie got them as puppies from a neighbor a few days after moving in, desperate for some regular company in this big, lonely house. ¡°Tank, sit!¡± Tank planted himself next to Bentley for approximately two seconds before running back to the door, watching her expectantly. She pointed a finger at the dog, mock scolding him. ¡°You need to work on your listening skills, mister. But we¡¯ll do that later. Let¡¯s go run off some energy so you¡¯ll stop bothering me all night.¡± She grabbed the box of treats from the counter and immediately had both dogs¡¯ complete attention. She poured a handful into a plastic baggy and placed it into her walking bag, along with a bottle of water, her phone, and a whistle. She unlooped the dogs¡¯ leashes from the rack beside the door and latched them to their thick, studded collars. She made sure to get a firm hold before opening the back door. They bolted, their feet clattering across the wooden deck as they yanked her across the patio and past the small cow pen that nearly monopolized her backyard. About half an acre of grassy field lay between the back of her house and the sprawling forest that covered the rest of her land, twenty-five acres of scenic, northern California real estate left to her by her aunt and uncle two years ago. The dogs dragged her along the well-worn dirt path that circled the edge of the pen and then up a short incline that led into the heart of the woods. Kimmie knew not to fight them this early into their walk and instead jogged behind as they loped into the brush. Fingers of sunlight filtered through the dense canopy of tall pine trees, casting jagged shadows on the forest floor. Sunset would come in little less than an hour, plenty of time for a long run. ¡°You two are in for a treat today,¡± she said, eyeing the sloping path ahead. It split just over the crest of the short hill. The dogs veered toward the right fork without slowing but Kimmie held them up. ¡°C¡¯mon!¡± She tugged on the leashes and clicked her tongue a few times to get their attention. ¡°We¡¯re going this way. We¡¯re gonna mix things up!¡± Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. She took them left, down a narrow, little-used path that led to a small field, and then up a rugged hillside to the southeast. Normally she took them farther west, out along the beach where they could run in the shallow water and bark at the slick-furred sea lions that popped their curious heads up a few dozen yards from shore. She¡¯d watch the sun set while they played, then circle around in the dark to the two-lane road that led back to town, passing by her house on the way. But she wanted something a little more adventurous today. This other path had been calling to her since the end of winter, beckoning her to explore its twisted nooks and crannies. An explorer at heart, Kimmie had resisted that call long enough. Besides, running up and down some hills would wear out the dogs that much quicker. It didn¡¯t take long to remember why she had avoided this path. The brush was thick and wild, full of brambles that stuck to her pants, and with thin vines and roots that grabbed at her shoes. Not to mention she spent half her time hunched over to keep overhanging tree branches from scratching her eyes out. But she soldiered on, because once Kimmie Blanco made a decision, she did not back away from it lightly. The sky darkened, and Kimmie glanced at her watch. They¡¯d already been out here for thirty-five minutes, more than enough time to wear out the dogs, along with her calves. She pulled on the leashes. ¡°C¡¯mon boys, let¡¯s¨C¡± A white fox scurried across the path ahead. For a split second it stopped, its beady black eyes peering out at Kimmie over tufts of impossibly white fur. Before Kimmie could register how strange it was to see a white fox in this part of the country, it darted into the brush. Tank and Bentley sprinted after, yanking Kimmie forward until she fell face-down in the dirt. The leashes came free of her grip and the dogs disappeared into the encroaching darkness. ¡°No!¡± She clambered to her knees. ¡°Tank! Bentley! Come here!¡± Sounds of the chase drifted farther and farther away. She got to her feet and brushed the dirt and grass from her clothes. ¡°Stupid dogs.¡± She jogged along the narrow path, tripping twice on the uneven ground. The sun had just begun to slip below the ridgeline of the western hills, blanketing the path in shadow. Fortunately, her dogs were not subtle, and she used their constant barking as a beacon. A few minutes later she found them circling the base of a rocky ledge, digging unsuccessfully at a hole underneath a boulder the size of a smart car, and growling at their cornered prey. They glanced at her for an instant before pawing at the ground and barking incessantly. ¡°Hey, dorks,¡± she held up the bag of treats and shook it, ¡°look over here.¡± Bentley immediately gave up on the fox and sat at attention in front of her, glancing anxiously at the boulder every few seconds. Tank was harder to tame. She walked around to stand over the hole, where Tank couldn¡¯t miss her. She held up the treats. ¡°Tank! Leave the fox alone. Look. Look what I have.¡± She shook the bag, clinking her bracelets together as she did to help get their attention. Both dogs watched her, but kept glancing back at the hole, waiting to see which one rewarded them first. She opened the bag and poured the treats out onto the top of the boulder, which was nearly shoulder-height. She grabbed a handful and held it up for both to see. ¡°Now who¡¯s going to be good and get the first¨C¡± Her words caught in her throat as something scaly snapped around her wrist. She jumped, startled, instinctively trying to pull away. But whatever had her only squeezed tighter. The dogs barked ferociously, both of them half crouched as if to pounce. She twisted to see a hunched figure standing on top of the boulder, its form muddied by the shadows of dusk. A wiry arm stretched out, ending in a large hand clamped around her wrist, pressing her bracelets into her skin. The figure¡¯s features were obscured but she could see well enough to make out its coarse green skin, and unnaturally large yellow eyes. The figure straightened, lifting her up by her wrist with inhuman strength. Kimmie gasped as her feet left the ground, kicking the air. The creature leaned forward, its yellow eyes narrowed, mere inches from her face. Only then did she remember to scream. Chapter 2 October, 2016 With a roar of the engine and a spattering of dark smoke spewing from its exhaust, a forest green 1974 Jeep Chief pulled off the Redwood Highway shortly after four in the morning and into the parking lot of the Travelodge Motel in Eureka, California. The boxy, dirt-covered beast lurched into a parking spot near the front, the engine idling loudly as the driver climbed out. He stretched, his joints popping in protest after the long drive. With a put-upon scowl that seemed permanently etched onto his face, he surveyed the scene, his gaze lingering on the dingy motel and the flickering neon sign. The driver was young, late-twenties, with blue-tinted sunglasses resting on a head of overgrown and unruly dark brown hair. A prominent forehead shadowed haunting green eyes that rarely looked up and a two-week-old beard covered his jaw. He wore an olive-green Army surplus jacket that hung loosely on his medium frame, the faded fabric hinting at countless adventures. Underneath, a black T-shirt clung to his lean torso. Faded jeans and rugged brown hiking boots completed the ensemble, the boots bearing the scars of countless miles trekked across North America. Those boots crunched on the cracked asphalt as he crossed the parking lot and pushed through the motel''s glass doors. The lobby was small and stuffy, the air thick with the scent of stale cigarettes and cleaning solution. Behind the front desk, a glum-looking older woman with a bouffant hairdo and a bored expression manned the front desk, her eyes glued to a tattered paperback novel. She took his name, Oliver Hauk, and he made sure to tell her that he went by Ollie, not Oliver. She responded with a shrug, so he gave her his credit card, a Visa bank card with an available balance of roughly five hundred and fifty-seven dollars. Nine minutes later, he walked into his darkened room and sniffed the stale air with a grimace. He dropped his luggage on the floor and collapsed onto the bed, his body sinking into the mattress with a groan. He didn¡¯t even care if the sheets smelled faintly of old perfume. After seventeen hours on the road all he cared about was getting a few moments of sleep. ¡°Meow?¡± A shrill voice called out from the stack of luggage on the floor. Ollie groaned in response. ¡°Ummmm, meow!¡± the voice said, more insistent this time. Ollie crawled across the bed, throwing himself into the hard pillows that had looked much more inviting from a distance. ¡°It¡¯s all clear,¡± he mumbled into the pillow. A piece of his luggage shifted back and forth underneath a mesh covering. ¡°It¡¯s twisted! I can¡¯t reach it!¡± The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°Then take a nap.¡± ¡°A nap?¡± The voice was high-pitched, whiny, with a hint of an English accent. ¡°I¡¯ve been sleeping for ten hours, ya boffer! Let me out!¡± Ollie sighed heavily, but he didn¡¯t move right away. ¡°I¡¯ll scream all night if I have to!¡± The threat was clear, delivered with the shrillness of a banshee. Another sigh, and Ollie sat up. He leaned over to his luggage and unzipped the plastic cover around a large cat carrier. As soon as he removed the cover a small, wiry, yellow hand reached through the gate and opened it. The door sprung open and a thirteen-inch-tall pygmy goblin leapt out as if being chased. A football-shaped head rested on a sinewy body that seemed almost too small to support it. Two pointed ears and a hook nose sprouted out, forming a devilish triangle bracketed by tufts of white hair. ¡°Hate that thing.¡± He shook his head and shoulders like a cat. ¡°Hate it. Hate it. Hate it!¡± Ollie laid back down. ¡°Tough. It¡¯s either that or I throw you in a backpack.¡± ¡°Says you,¡± the yellow-skinned pygmy snarled. He straightened his slightly feminine red coat, taken from an American Girl doll. ¡°Not right leaving me trapped in that thing like an animal. Or driving all night without even a snack break. I have to eat, ya know! My tummy gets all knotted up and rumbly every time we drive past a burger joint that you¡¯re too cheap to stop at. Unless you get hungry, then we¡¯re driving hog wild over hills and mountains to get you fed! I think we all know who really matters here.¡± Ollie covered his face with one of the pillows. ¡°Shut up and let me sleep.¡± The goblin frowned. ¡°Shut up, Grika,¡± he mimicked. ¡°Go hide in the woods, Grika. Go spy on those beasties, Grika. Go do all the hard, dangerous stuff, while I sit back and drink a beer because I¡¯m human and you¡¯re only a foot tall. Fine.¡± He stomped off toward the bathroom on tiny little pattering feet. ¡°I¡¯ll go make my usual bed out of towels. Because that¡¯s all I¡¯m worth, apparently. Dirty motel towels and your leftover snacks. It¡¯s like heaven on earth for old Grika! Heaven on earth...¡± He closed the bathroom door behind him, still chattering on the other side. ¡°Thank God,¡± Ollie mumbled into the pillow. The pygmy¡¯s incessant rattling faded away as sleep took him, bringing with it dreams of solitude, and money. And food. His nap only lasted a couple hours before a familiar voice intruded on his reverie. Get your lazy butt out of bed. He woke up to see streaks of sunlight sneaking in through the curtains. He laid there for a while and stared at the ceiling, lamenting the fact that putting an entire continent between them wasn¡¯t enough to keep his dad¡¯s voice out of his dreams. He debated going back to sleep. He needed it, especially sleep that came without any of the horrifying nightmares that often plagued him, but if he closed his eyes again, he¡¯d be out until the afternoon. And then he¡¯d be up all night with Grika. That proved to be ample motivation. He turned on the TV, careful to keep it muted, and walked through the settings for the motel offerings. This place had no free Wi-Fi, but it had a TV with parent settings. He turned it off, then walked over to the bathroom and opened the door. As promised, Grika lay stretched out like an Ottoman emperor on a pallet of bunched-up towels. The pygmy¡¯s eyes opened as slits, and he frowned at the intrusion. ¡°I¡¯m heading out. Stay here.¡± Grika made a face. ¡°I have a choice?¡± Ollie stared back at him. ¡°Fine.¡± Grika leaned back and crossed his arms. ¡°I¡¯ll stay here and watch expensive pay-per-view movies. Have fun paying that bill!¡± He laughed hysterically. Ollie stopped before closing the door. ¡°I put the child lock on the TV. Have fun figuring out the password.¡± He closed the door behind him and smiled contentedly as a stream of obscenities emanated from the bathroom. Chapter 3 Ollie drove along the 101, catching glimpses of the Pacific Ocean between the colorful, yet downtrodden markets and strip malls lining the highway. The sun glistened off the water, luring him with rippling waves and the smell of salt in the air. Hundreds of birds perched on rooftops or piers along the shore, patiently watching the water for signs of fish, while fisherman similarly perched next to their reels, waiting for a catch. He was an East Coast guy. He¡¯d spent most of his life never being more than a few hours away from the Atlantic. At least until three years ago, when he¡¯d started his journey toward Anywhere-But-Home. Seeing the ocean again awakened some long-dormant parts of his brain, memories of racing bikes as a kid, or whiling away what little time he could get with his high school girlfriend, a wild, brown-haired vixen named Olivia. He smiled as he remembered the night they went skinny dipping on Sandbridge Beach, near her uncle¡¯s house, only to narrowly miss a jellyfish bloom. And then awkwardly covering themselves with handfuls of clothes while running across the sand away from the sudden appearance of drunken beachgoers. That might have been one of the last times he¡¯d really and truly laughed. He¡¯d tried to forget about home in New Orleans. The memories of his family¡¯s implosion had been too fresh, the emotions too raw, so he¡¯d buried everything he loved about his youth in some deep chasm of his mind, focusing only on the work, and what was directly in front of him. But here, the nostalgia was warm and inviting, a siren beckoning him to lower the defenses he¡¯d kept in place for years. If he was lucky, he might even enjoy himself for the next few days. At least until he got around to his real reason for being in California. The Humboldt County Library stood like a beacon of knowledge at the north end of Eureka, its modern architecture a stark contrast to the weathered buildings surrounding it. The front of the library was constructed of cream-colored concrete and dark brown wood that reeked of newness and style in a town that didn¡¯t have much of either. Ollie pulled his Chief into the parking lot and found a spot near the back, where the vehicle wouldn¡¯t attract a ridiculous number of stares. He kept it in good condition ¨C well, the best condition he could afford ¨C but the scarcity of the vehicle itself made it noticeable, especially with its big, boxy frame and drab green paint. It looked like an overgrown reject from an Army base. And he loved it. He¡¯d had this monster since turning sixteen, and he¡¯d babied it ever since. The Chief wasn¡¯t practical, or subtle, or even pretty. But it was his home, now more than ever. He walked through the front doors to find a well-organized, spacious, tidy interior, a far cry from some of the ramshackle libraries he¡¯d seen over the last few years. A plump, brown haired, college-aged girl sat behind the information counter to his left, squinting through her glasses at a frayed math textbook. An elderly couple had taken over two cushioned chairs in the middle of the floor, reading magazines. A middle-aged man and two younger women, none of them together, sat at various tables to his right, hunched over books or notepads or magazines. A Hispanic woman with two boys in tow had perched herself in front of a computer terminal, searching the internet while her boys read comic books next to her. He found a table comfortably away from everyone else and pulled out his old, well-worn laptop. He powered it on and rubbed his bloodshot eyes as it booted up, glancing over at the woman and her kids as he did. They kicked their feet out rhythmically while reading on the chairs next to her, lost in the fantasy of their stories, while the mom stared at the screen in front of her with a scowl. Kids made him anxious. He knew all too well the dangers that lurked in the darkness, and how powerless most people were to protect themselves, much less their kids. Children were a liability in his world. The laptop beeped as it finished its stone-age-era loading process and he quickly connected to the free Wi-Fi, a foreign concept at most of the motels he stayed in. He opened a browser window and checked his email, finding only one legitimate new message buried in a pile of spam. From: [email protected] To: [email protected] CC: Subject: She¡¯s awake! Ollie, Had a few minutes and wanted to let you know what¡¯s up. Gemma woke up from her ¡®nap¡¯ and spilled everything. And by ¡®everything¡¯ I mean everything that the cops would believe. The NOPD still want to chat with you, especially Bantam, but you¡¯re at least off the hook for that thing that happened in that place. ;) You may want to wait a few more weeks for things to cool down, but it should be okay after that for you to head on back as soon as you¡¯re up to it. I know you wanted to get away and get your head straight, but we could use you out here, especially with the uptick in bumps in the night. Gemma needs time to get back to one hundo, and I can¡¯t do this all on my own. So don¡¯t get too comfortable on your vacation. Also, Dottie says she needs to talk to you. She¡¯s still afraid of email because of all the ¡®electrical spirits¡¯ so you need to find a phone and give that woman a call before she cuts us both off. She¡¯s getting persistent, and you know how I need the money. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Roy He let out a small sigh of relief. Both for Gemma, and for the fact that he wasn¡¯t a wanted man anymore. He¡¯d operated in Louisiana under a fake name, but the cops still had a decent enough picture of him, and likely some DNA evidence. They could track him down if they wanted to. Especially Bantam. That guy didn¡¯t let up. His mouse pointer hovered over the reply button, but he hesitated before clicking it. He decided to pretend he hadn¡¯t seen it yet, at least for a few more days. At least until he was done out here. He scrolled down through his email, searching for the one that had brought him to California in the first place. He found it on page three, his last reply going out a full two weeks ago. From: [email protected] To: [email protected] CC: Subject: Fwd: Job alert ¨C Ferndale, CA Hey kiddo. Hope this is still a good way to reach you. I sent this out to your pop a couple months ago and haven¡¯t heard anything back. So I thought I¡¯d run it by you and either let you get word to him, or take the job yourself. The details are in the forwarded message below, but the gist is this ¨C someone in the Ferndale, CA area is reaching out for help taking care of an ¡®issue¡¯ that popped up recently. After doing a little digging, it looks legit. There¡¯s a couple of dead people two years ago from an animal attack, and on top of that, there¡¯s an occult store robbery in a nearby town that looks suspicious. I¡¯ve vetted this out as much as I can, and I think it¡¯s worthwhile. Payment is different on this one. No buyer. Client is offering 3,500 directly, minus my 10%. One caveat¡­ this stuff is all over CoN. So expect some noise in the area. Canary He skipped over his response, clicking on a link Canary provided in the original message for the Creatures of the Nite website. CoN was run by an anonymous blogger who called himself The Goblin King. The King spent an inordinate amount of time researching and posting about goblins, fairies, and other mythical beasts, all in an attempt to, as he called it, ¡®shine a light on the dark corners of our world.¡¯ Canary did his job discreetly, spreading his tendrils far and wide to glean little bits of information that he passed on to reputable hunters and the brokers who financed them. This Goblin King was something different, though. He¡¯d come across information that even Google shouldn¡¯t know. And the site he¡¯d created had become a loud, showy, crowd-sourced version of Canary. The site sprang up three or four years ago but only became popular in the last year after a deluge of articles showed up documenting suspected animal attacks all over the world, each one unresolved and difficult to explain. That led to a glut of amateur hunters speculating on which supernatural creatures were running rampant in their area. Website regulars had taken to referring to themselves as CoNers. The especially fanatical were Servants of the King. Ollie was neither, but as much as the site annoyed him, he did make a point to check it on occasion, mostly to see if anyone he knew had been plastered on its front page. CoN had a habit of outing real hunters, all in the guise of profiling them as mentors to the younger, less-disciplined crowd. A few took to the fame and dispensed their version of wisdom. The rest did their best to disappear for a while. Ollie, fortunately, had never been tagged. CoN had nothing new on the main page so he searched through the archives and found one of the articles that Canary had linked. Titled Occult Store Robbery Confounds Police¡­ But Not CoNers!, the post told of an occult store robbery in Arcata, a town north of Eureka. Only two items had been stolen, and the CoN contributor suspected wiccans, since the items could be used in spells. Ollie guessed she was on the right track but had the wrong suspects. He checked the comments, looking for anything new or revealing about the crime, but other than some spirited back-and-forth about the physics of ghosts robbing banks, he found nothing worthwhile. He pulled up the second article, this one more serious in nature. Ferndale residents Annabelle, 53, and Rob Haron, 57, died just outside of town from a vicious animal attack over two years ago. Their bodies were found in the woods about two miles south of the scenic little town, mangled and disfigured. The severity of the attacks prompted a large-scale, and ultimately futile, search for a pack of savage bears or mountain lions. Unlike the other articles, though, the comments section on this one was locked. Weird. He¡¯d have thought CoNers would be all over something like this. He followed some links to local news websites, hunting for more information. Official comments said that the bears or lions had already left or been driven off ¨C there was some confusion in that regard ¨C and that the forests were now clear of savage, man-eating animals. But Canary¡¯s client had good instincts. This attack had all the earmarks of something far more sinister. Ferndale was maybe a fifteen-minute drive from here. It would be easy to get a firsthand account of what had happened. And besides, when compared to brutal animal attacks, the occult store robbery became less interesting. Canary had already given him the Harons¡¯ address, along with the name of their niece, Kimberly, the actual client. But he wasn¡¯t quite ready to meet her. He closed the browser and logged off the computer. Internet searches only showed part of the story. He needed to do some finger walking for the rest. He approached the college girl at the counter, who only barely glanced up from her book. ¡°You got any articles on animal attacks in the area? I¡¯m doing some research.¡± ¡°You and everyone else,¡± she mumbled, writing some equations on a notepad. Ollie leaned closer. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Those articles have been popular. Must be a night class project going on.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± He stiffened. Of course other hunters were in town. Canary had said as much. ¡°How many people have been asking about it?¡± He tried to sound conversational. The librarian squinted at her book, oblivious to his sudden unease. ¡°At least three, that I know of.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Ollie forced a smile, ¡°must be the rest of my class.¡± She reached down and pulled out a stack of newspapers and journals from a shelf behind the desk. She dumped them on the counter with a whump. ¡°These are the same papers a couple guys looked through yesterday. Lucky for you, no one¡¯s put them back, yet.¡± Ollie gathered the papers under his arm. ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, retreating to his table. ¡°Lucky me.¡± Chapter 4 The Chief rumbled across the narrow, concrete bridge that spanned the Eel River and then down the two-lane road leading into Ferndale. Ollie glanced out the grimy driver¡¯s side window to see green fields dotted with pockets of lush trees, while majestic hills in the distance obscured the ocean beyond. The more he drove around this place, the more it reminded him of home. Both the scenery, and the abundance of hunters. He¡¯d done enough reading. Now was the time to get his feet wet, metaphorically. He¡¯d read a number of articles about animal attacks in the area, and at least a few from the last decade warranted some sort of follow-up. That meant he needed to talk to people. Despite Canary¡¯s vetting, some crackpots still slipped through, most of them simple wackos who craved the macabre and wore too much black eyeliner. Talking to the locals would give him a sense of their thoughts on the attacks, and also on his potential client, Kimberly Haron. It would be helpful to know if she was a wacko looking for a thrill, or a legitimate victim. Grika groaned from the passenger-side floorboard. In the early days of their travels, every bump or pothole would toss the pygmy around like a rag doll. Since then, he¡¯d learned to wrap a series of small bungie cords back and forth across the open space and then hoist himself up into the center, like a spider lounging on a bungie web. Now when they hit bumps, Grika bobbed gently in the air while nibbling away on a chicken nugget. Taking the little monster into town was always a gamble, but Grika knew when to behave. Mostly. And he provided certain talents that came in handy when hunting creatures of his ilk. The Chief came around a bend in the road flanked by trees, and a Ferndale City Limit sign greeted him on the other side. Shortly after, he spotted some homes and buildings clumped together ahead. ¡°Cover,¡± he said. Grika sighed and pulled an old tarp over his web, keeping him out of sight of any stray eyeballs. He could also hide in the space beneath the passenger seat, but it was dark, cramped, and uncomfortable in there so Grika only used it as a last resort. Ollie slowed as he reached the outer edge of town, which looked like it had been yanked out of a brochure. He passed by row upon row of historic Victorian-era homes, two-story mostly, with steepled roofs and colorful exteriors. Several of them were bed and breakfasts now, with prices far beyond Ollie¡¯s means. Others were restaurants, museums, or boutique shops. He wondered if people still lived in any of the houses. The two-lane road widened into Main Street, the center mass of tourist activity. Dozens of shoppers and sightseers wandered up and down the sidewalks in attire appropriate for a brisk early October day. He pulled over and parked right next to a cluster of small retail shops advertising food, specialty products, or hard-to-find antiques. ¡°Stay here,¡± he said to the crumpled tarp on the floorboard. The tarp responded with an annoyed grunt. He climbed out of the Chief and walked around to the sidewalk, smiling at two middle-aged women who walked past with shopping bags in hand. He looked up at the nearest store sign to see Rosie¡¯s Fickle Nickel. He figured this was as good a place as any to start chatting up the locals. A wall of cool air hit him as he walked inside. The interior was surprisingly modern for an antique shop. Glass shelves covered freshly painted white walls. Track lighting lined the ceiling, giving the place an art studio vibe. Antiques big and small filled the shelves, although not with the usual clutter of most stores, where everything was packed tightly together. This was a place where the merchandise was chosen with care. The sales clerks seemed busy with the half-dozen or so other customers already in the store, so he wandered around a bit, eventually stopping in front of a display of white ceramic animal figurines, a bear raised on its hind legs front and center. The craftsmanship seemed solid, as far as he knew, but he couldn¡¯t imagine why anyone would want a white roaring bear sitting on their dresser. He picked it up and turned it over, blanching at the sight of a $79 price tag on the bottom. He carefully placed it back on the glass shelf, wondering how a store with the words Fickle and Nickel in it could charge so much. ¡°Can I help you with anything?¡± Ollie started and turned to see an older woman calling out to him from the middle of the store. Her red hair was quickly fading to white, and she wore a brightly colored blouse, white pants, and a sheer orange scarf over her shoulders. He swallowed while trying to edge away from the overpriced statues. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Just checking out your, um¡­ animals over here.¡± The woman made a beeline through the displays to stand next to him. ¡°Find anything you like?¡± She smiled, her eyes looking him up and down. He wondered for a moment if this woman, who was at least twice his age, was hitting on him. This was normally the moment where he¡¯d claim to be ¡®only looking¡¯ and extricate himself from the situation. But he¡¯d come in here specifically to talk to locals, which meant doing the opposite of what his normally introverted instincts told him. He pointed to the shelf. ¡°The bear¡¯s kinda cool.¡± Her broad smile stretched from ear to ear. ¡°Well, we both agree on that! Those are made by a man in Fort Bragg named Clark Hansen. He does wonderful work. We got this one in only a few weeks ago. So, it¡¯s basically brand new.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Ollie gave a quick nod. ¡°Sell many of them?¡± ¡°A few. They aren¡¯t our best sellers, but they¡¯re certainly worth the money!¡± She laughed, using the moment to take a half step closer. ¡°Are you visiting our fine city?¡± ¡°I am. Heard a lot about it and wanted to see it all for myself.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s wonderful! It¡¯s beautiful out here. I¡¯ve lived here thirty-three wonderful years and enjoyed every minute of it. That¡¯s eighteen years longer than my first marriage, if you¡¯re counting!¡± She laughed again, and Ollie couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°So, are you Rosie?¡± ¡°Yep! That¡¯s my name on the sign out front.¡± She held out a freckled hand. ¡°And you are?¡± ¡°Ollie.¡± They shook, and Rosie¡¯s seductive smile returned. ¡°I¡¯m from the east coast. Virginia. But my aunt lives in Fortuna,¡± he said, giving the name of the small town across the highway from Ferndale. ¡°Oh!¡± Her face lit up. ¡°That¡¯s where I go for my Starbuck¡¯s addiction.¡± ¡°Not as scenic as this place, though.¡± ¡°Oh, no. Not even close to this delightful little town.¡± She glanced over at the shelf. ¡°So, you like the bear?¡± Ollie tried not to bite his lip. Usually, a smile on his face and a few friendly words would get townsfolk to open up. People were gossip-hounds by nature, and he only had to ask the right questions and the floodgates would open. But there were also times when information had to be bought, and depending on what Rosie could tell him, $79 might end up a bargain. Time to find out what she knew. ¡°Yeah. Bit of a nature conservationist. I¡¯m out here studying them, in between my stops with family. My aunt actually said there have been a few bear attacks out here lately. Is that right?¡± ¡°I¡¯d say so.¡± She pursed her lips in thought. ¡°Three or four in the last, oh, twenty years, which isn¡¯t a lot, unless they¡¯re all in the same area. The last one was only two years ago.¡± ¡°The Harons?¡± ¡°You heard of that?¡± Rosie¡¯s warm demeanor faded into gloom. ¡°Terrible thing. Just terrible. They were lovely people. I¡¯d known Belle for over twenty years before she died. We ate lunch together at least three or four times a year. That was a really sad time for a lot of us around here.¡± She sighed and shook her head. ¡°And such a horrible way to go, too. If it was even a bear.¡± She gave him a conspiratorial look. Ollie blinked. ¡°What do you mean?¡± She waved a hand at him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve been talking your ears off this whole time, gossiping like a school girl, while you probably just want to browse in peace.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I don¡¯t mind.¡± Her sultry smile returned. ¡°It¡¯s a long story.¡± Ollie mentally gulped as he grabbed the bear from the shelf, calculating how much of a dent his finances were about to take. It was either this, or ask this woman out for coffee, which would be emotionally expensive. ¡°Maybe you can tell it to me while ringing this up?¡± Rosie beamed and led him toward the register. She took the bear from his hand, then gave him a look and motioned him closer. ¡°The papers and the news said the Harons were killed by a bear, or bears, driven out this way by the drought, but they never actually found any sign of them. Had fifty-plus officers and state wildlife experts combing those woods for a week and not a single piece of evidence. No droppings. No habitat. Nothing!¡± She scanned the figurine and then pulled out tissue paper to wrap it in. ¡°But that¡¯s not what they told everyone. I had to find out from my brother-in-law, who works for the Humboldt County Sheriff¡¯s Office up in Eureka. He said if that attack was from a bear, he was a flying monkey. Bears don¡¯t do that kind of damage to people.¡± Ollie feigned surprise. ¡°It was covered up?¡± ¡°We are a tourist destination, honey.¡± ¡°What else could it have been?¡± She shrugged. ¡°My current theory is mountain lions, but a few of my friends are sold on the idea that a pack of really hungry wolves came through, and then got scared off by all the commotion afterward. I mean, they all sound scary. Bears, wolves, mountain lions. I don¡¯t know why anyone needs to pretend it¡¯s one over the other.¡± She put the wrapped bear in a small bag and packed down the tissue paper. ¡°All I know is it¡¯s been quiet ever since, so I guess it was a one-time thing. Well, at least until the next attack.¡± She chuckled and held up the bag. ¡°That¡¯ll be $85.91.¡± Ollie reached for his wallet, a barely audible groan escaping his lips. Chapter 5 He left the Fickle Nickel a few minutes later, eighty-plus dollars lighter in his bank account, and a scowl plastered across his face. But at least he had a useless ceramic bear to show for it. He hopped in the Chief, set the bag down on the passenger side seat, and left Main Street. Rosie hadn¡¯t given him much to work with, and he¡¯d blown through his ¡®chatting up the locals¡¯ budget in one stop. He decided to skip out on the shopping and investigate something less financially taxing. He made the cemetery his next stop, a local attraction that Rosie had mentioned while dutifully following him out the door. It was built on the side of a gently sloping hill at the southern edge of Ferndale, only a few blocks south of Main Street. A narrow road looped back and forth in between the various graves and tombs, eventually reaching the top and disappearing over the crest of the hill. He drove the Chief slowly up the incline, his window down so he could play the part of sightseeing tourist and stare at the names etched into the various gravestones. He stopped the truck at the highest point, right before the hill gave way to a long expanse of forest stretching south, and stepped out, thrusting his hands in his jacket pockets. The view to the north was fantastic. He could see the entire town of Ferndale, along with the fields and hills surrounding it for miles. It was the view to the south that really interested him, though. It wasn¡¯t unheard of for goblins to hide out near cemeteries. They didn¡¯t like being close to people, but when they did need to be near civilization, they camped out near the parts where humans didn¡¯t spend much time. Like cemeteries. Or garbage dumps. Or abandoned warehouses. Stereotypical stuff. The forest south of the cemetery could give them perfect cover to get back to their lair, if one existed around here. A short, hunched over old man walked slowly across one of the looping car paths about halfway down the hill, carrying long pruning shears. Probably the groundskeeper. He glanced up at Ollie, squinting at him through a face so grizzled and wrinkled as to be a caricature of itself, then continued moping along to the far side of the cemetery. Ollie gave him a wave. The gesture was ignored. Once the groundskeeper wandered out of sight, Ollie walked to the other side of the Chief and opened the passenger door. ¡°Work time.¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± Grika laboriously pushed himself up from his spot on the floorboard, making every movement seem monumentally tougher than it should be. He climbed out the door and dropped to the ground. ¡°I liked you better when you were retired.¡± ¡°I like you better when you¡¯re quiet.¡± He pointed at the tree line at the top of the hill. ¡°Go check the woods over there.¡± Grika scurried up the hill and into the woods, disappearing into the brush. Ollie waited by the Chief, trying to act casual while hoping no one else decided to sightsee through the cemetery at this exact moment. A few minutes later, Grika emerged from the tall grass and waddled back over to the truck. ¡°Anything?¡± ¡°Yep. Definitely something out there. Can¡¯t say where cuz it¡¯s faint, but it¡¯s also recent.¡± Ollie pursed his lips. He¡¯d been second-guessing himself since leaving the motel, thinking that since the Harons were killed years ago whatever got them, goblin or otherwise, had moved on by now. But his instincts had been unsurprisingly right. ¡°Which way?¡± ¡°Both ways, the forest and the cemetery.¡± He clambered back up into the truck. ¡°Good luck figuring THAT out.¡± Ollie gave the cemetery another once over. The entire hillside was a tourist destination, which even the dumbest goblins would avoid. They¡¯d be pushing their luck coming out here, but maybe they had reasons to do so. He made a mental note to spend some time searching those woods, even if it did take him a few extra days out here. A car drove by the base of the hill, reminding Ollie that he was chatting up a pygmy goblin. Ollie shut the door and walked around to the driver side. He hopped in and started up the Chief, heading back down the looping road and into town. He took a back road this time, avoiding Main Street and the pedestrian traffic. A siren whooped nearby. Ollie checked his rearview mirror and groaned at the sight of a cop car flashing its lights. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it ¡°Are you kidding me¡­?¡± He angled down a side road and slowed to a stop in the parking lot of Henrik Motors and Body Shop. He flicked his hand at Grika. ¡°Stay down.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± Grika pulled the tarp over him. ¡°Don¡¯t think I can afford any more tickets for being too handsome.¡± Ollie glared until the tarp completely covered up the smirking pygmy. He watched his side mirror to see the door to the police car open and a tall, well-built man step out. His beach blond hair contrasted perfectly with his dark navy-blue uniform, and he wore aviator sunglasses that hung over a square, clean-shaven jaw. His physique was fit, yet still natural. He looked like a star quarterback dressed up as a cop for Halloween. Ollie rolled down the window as the officer approached. ¡°Nice car,¡± the cop said, chewing on a piece of gum. His green eyes peered over the top of his sunglasses. ¡°License and registration.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Ollie opened the glove box, frowning at the slight movement on the floorboard below. He handed the papers and his license to the cop, whose nametag read ALLSOME. ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± ¡°You got a taillight out,¡± he said, scanning the documentation. ¡°Right. Been meaning to get that fixed. Been a busy day but I¡¯ll make sure to do that tomorrow.¡± ¡°Mmmhmmm,¡± the cop eyed him skeptically before staring at Ollie¡¯s driver¡¯s license. ¡°Well, Mr. Hauk, I¡¯ve been meaning to let people slide for not keeping their vehicle in working shape, but I¡¯ve also had a busy day. I¡¯ll probably start doing that tomorrow.¡± He flashed a sarcastic smile and walked back to his car. Ollie fumed. Cops were trouble. No matter where he went. ¡°Wow, what a jerk,¡± Grika whispered from the floorboard. ¡°I like him.¡± ¡°Quiet!¡± Ollie whispered furiously. A tiny giggle escaped the crumbled tarp. A couple mechanics from the auto shop stood at the entrance to one of the bays, watching the scene with amusement. A few moments later, Officer Allsome returned from his car, ticket in hand. ¡°Sign here, please.¡± Ollie looked over the ticket, and his eyes nearly bugged out. ¡°Two hundred and thirty-two dollars? For a busted taillight?¡± Allsome shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t make the laws, guy. I just enforce them. Sign there at the bottom.¡± Ollie slumped over in defeat, then signed the ticket. ¡°Have a good day.¡± The cop patted the top of the Chief as he walked back to his cruiser. ¡°Hey Ricky!¡± he shouted to one of the mechanics. ¡°Tell Hands that if this guy gets his taillight fixed here, I get the referral fee.¡± Ollie rolled up his window as fast as the crank would allow, ignoring the laughter outside. He shoved his ticket into the glove box and started his truck. Grika poked his head back out. ¡°He sounds fun.¡± Ollie ignored the obnoxious pygmy, who retreated into his space with a grin. * Ollie continued his trek to the southwest corner of town, hopping onto a road that took him a few miles west of Ferndale. A quarter mile from the coast a gravel road forked off to his left, marked by a cluster of four wooden mailboxes decorated to look like birdhouses. He turned down the side road, the Chief kicking up a cloud of grey dust behind him. The road ended about five hundred yards later at a yellow, two-story house covered with flower and bird decorations. A few cars were parked in the driveway, essentially a gravel field in the front of the house. Some cows lingered at the edge of a pen in back, peering at his monstrosity of a vehicle while chewing lazily on their cuds. It looked like the kind of house featured in a travel magazine. Probably part of the allure, since it was another bed and breakfast. He pulled to a stop behind a red VW Passat with Ohio plates. ¡°Let me guess,¡± Grika said, ¡°stay here.¡± ¡°Look at you, learning where you belong.¡± Ollie turned off the truck and stepped out. He checked his reflection in the driver¡¯s side window and adjusted his clothes to make himself at least somewhat presentable. A little more dirt on his face and stains on his clothes and he¡¯d look homeless. Oh well. He¡¯d make up for it with a winning personality. He walked up to the door and knocked using a small, metal knocker at eye level shaped like an owl. This was the Harons¡¯ old house. He assumed their niece owned it now, since this was the client address he¡¯d been sent by Canary ¨C so he¡¯d have to break out a cover story just in case. Good hunters had a trove of good disguises and identities. Ollie had maybe two. Dogs barked loudly from inside, followed by a woman¡¯s voice hushing them. The door opened and a striking young woman in jeans and a flannel shirt stood before him. Her long black hair was pulled into a ponytail, showing off an oval face with wide, brown eyes that belied a hint of Asian ancestry. She rested one hand on her hip and looked at him expectantly. ¡°Yes?¡± Ollie blinked, suddenly realizing how ridiculous he looked to this surprisingly beautiful woman. ¡°Ma¡¯am.¡± He gave her a nod, trying desperately to remember his cover story. ¡°I¡¯m, uh, Arlen Smith with the Redding Record Searchlight newspaper. I¡¯m looking for the owner of the house.¡± She glanced over at his truck and then stared at him for a long moment, recognition slowly coming to her eyes. A huge smile broke out on her face. ¡°Oh my God, it¡¯s you!¡± Chapter 6 Ollie stammered. ¡°Me?¡± An older woman sat in a chair in the far corner of the living room, reading a book, a thin shawl draped over her shoulders. Retirement age, most likely. She peered up at him over rectangular reading glasses and gave him a friendly wave from the back of the room. He instinctively raised his hand in return before the younger woman cut him off. ¡°It is you, right? The landscaper?¡± She gave him a sidelong look that said he should play along. Ollie didn¡¯t know what to say, so he said nothing. ¡°You probably want to take a look at the grounds.¡± She grabbed his arm and turned him around. She called back to the old woman. ¡°We¡¯ll be back in a few! Keep the dogs inside, please!¡± She hurried out onto the front porch, closing the door behind her. ¡°Let¡¯s go around back to the work shed,¡± she whispered. ¡°We can talk in private there.¡± She dragged him along the gravel driveway for several steps until he pulled away. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what¡¯s going on here, but I¡¯m not a¨C¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s okay,¡± she said, barely containing her excitement. ¡°I know who you are.¡± She glanced over at the dusty Chief sitting in her driveway. ¡°Actually, I recognize you more from that thing. Not really staying under the radar, are you?¡± Ollie looked at her, then at the car, then back at her. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s kinda garish.¡± His jaw hung open, but she didn¡¯t see it. ¡°Come on!¡± She jogged around to an outdoor shed on the back side of the house, near the corner of the fenced-in pen that stretched from the rear of the house all the way to the forest line a few hundred yards away. Three cows meandered in the pen, along with some chickens and pigs, all of them ignoring the sudden commotion. She pulled him into the small, wooden, workmanlike shed, painted red with a tile roof, then close d the door behind them. Ollie, bewildered, glanced around at the assortment of large, sharp tools hanging on the walls around him. She pulled over a stool and sat on it. Her foot tapped the floor incessantly as she watched him, seemingly studying his clothes and beard, and possibly the bewilderment on his face. ¡°Do you go by Oliver, or Ollie? I saw both, but you never know with some people. My name is Kimberly, but I go by Kimmie¨C¡± ¡°Wait. You know who I am?¡± ¡°I tried to find your father, first,¡± she continued in a way that made it hard for Ollie to know if she was answering his question or just rambling on. ¡°Jed Hauk, professor of folklore and mythology at the University of Virginia, right? Only he retired a few years ago, and now he¡¯s completely off the grid. I don¡¯t even know what country he¡¯s in. So, I did some more research and I found out about you. The next best thing, I hope.¡± She flashed a smile so disarming that Ollie almost forgot how confused he was. ¡°You¡¯re hard to find, too, by the way. You¡¯re in a few blog posts, and only like one picture where you can actually tell it¡¯s you, but that car of yours is unmistakable. And you¡¯re only mentioned by name once, well, your real name. I ran across a couple of your aliases, but Arlen Smith is a new one. I think. Do people really buy that whole ¡®I¡¯m a reporter¡¯ cover story?¡± The blood drained from his face. This woman had stalker-level information on him. He thought he¡¯d been more careful. ¡°Hold on.¡± Ollie held up a hand. ¡°Let¡¯s slow down a sec. Just to be clear, you are ¡­?¡± ¡°Kimmie.¡± She stuck out her hand. ¡°Kimmie Blanco.¡± He stared at her for a moment before tentatively shaking her hand, remembering belatedly the reason he¡¯d come out here in the first place. ¡°The niece,¡± he said, more to himself. He felt like he was three steps behind in the conversation.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. She held out her arms and did a mini-curtsy. ¡°I¡¯m the niece.¡± Ollie leaned back against a support beam and ran his hands through his hair. ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s, uh, take a moment here to reset. You¡¯re obviously who I¡¯m here to see.¡± She nodded. ¡°Yep.¡± ¡°And you probably reached out because you wanted me, or my dad, out here for a reason.¡± ¡°Right again.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± He caught sight of a large, impeccably sharp axe hanging on the wall next to his head. He moved a half-step away. ¡°Is this a prank?¡± She shook her head. ¡°No. Not a prank. This is for real.¡± Ollie crossed his arms. He finally felt in control of the conversation, and he wasn¡¯t about to let her throw him off again. ¡°Is it about your aunt and uncle?¡± She hesitated, which seemed a weird thing from her. ¡°No. Not exactly.¡± She bit her lip and looked out the small window to the backyard. ¡°I mean, you probably know how they died, otherwise you wouldn¡¯t be asking. And in your line of work, animal attacks are suspicious. When I heard how they died, I didn¡¯t even think to question it, not until¡­ well, that¡¯s actually why you¡¯re here. Yes, I¡¯d love to know if there¡¯s more to my aunt and uncle¡¯s death, but this is about something more specific. And¡­ recent.¡± ¡°And that is?¡± She looked right at him, her eyes wide with excitement. ¡°I found a goblin!¡± Ollie scratched his beard. ¡°You sure about that?¡± ¡°Of course I am! How can anyone not be sure about something like that?¡± Ollie shrugged. ¡°Some people want to see strange things.¡± ¡°No.¡± She shook her head emphatically. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to see this. And now that I have, it¡¯s impossible to unsee. I see that thing in my dreams now.¡± Ollie studied her demeanor for any sign of a lie, but he couldn¡¯t find one. He¡¯d run into more kooks and crazies in this business than he could count, and more than a few had been willing to pay him for the idea of hunting a goblin, even if the goblin was nothing more than a bobcat in the bushes, or a shadow in a grove. He gave a sympathetic nod. She at least sounded like she believed what she was saying. ¡°Well, if there is a goblin out here, I can find it, and I can take care of it. Quickly, and discreetly. You discussed the price and all that with my handler?¡± ¡°Yup. Well, technically my handler spoke to your handler, and they worked all that out.¡± Ollie gave her a half smile. ¡°You have a handler?¡± She squinted. ¡°That might be overstating it. More like an online friend who worked out the details for me. You know that blog, Creatures of the Nite?¡± Ollie¡¯s face tightened. ¡°Me and the Goblin King are kind of tight. I help him search for new articles and leads, and I post some of my observations about goblin clans and turf wars and the weird bone statues over by Bull Creek. Things like that. I¡¯ve been trying to learn everything I can about this kind of stuff. It¡¯s amazing!¡± Ollie fought to keep the half-smile on his face. Of course he¡¯d find a client connected to that stupid website. That would be just his luck. And to top it off, instead of being terrified by the prospect of goblins running amok on her land, she was thrilled about it. This entire trip had been one red flag after another. Some of them expensive red flags. If he was smart, he¡¯d run away. All the way back to New Orleans, where goblins actually were just myths. Unfortunately, after today he might be too broke to get there. She continued, oblivious to his unease. ¡°Anyway, he¡¯s the one who said we should try to get your dad for this, or you, and he made all the arrangements.¡± She leaned forward. ¡°Now that you¡¯re here, does that mean this is all official?¡± ¡°When I find the goblin, then it¡¯s official.¡± ¡°Can I show you where I found it? Maybe you can look for tracks, or evidence, or something? I¡¯ve been waiting forever for this, and now that you¡¯re finally here, I¡¯d hate for you to have come out for nothing.¡± Ollie took one last moment to collect his thoughts. He needed the money, he reminded himself. Get paid, finish up his personal business, then get out of here and forget about goblin hunting for a long time. Again. He motioned to the door. ¡°Show me your goblin.¡± * Somewhere in the distance a door creaked open. That was followed by the sound of animal feet pounding along a wooden deck and then onto the gravel driveway. Grika sat up in alarm. His ears twitched, waiting for the inevitable sound of sniffing. Sniffing wasn¡¯t good. Loud, obnoxious sniffing was worse. That usually meant dogs. Grika hated dogs. The sniffing came only a moment later. He pulled back a section of the tarp that protected him from prying eyes and looked up through the windows. Maybe someone was walking their dogs past the car. That meant the dogs would sniff the car, but then leave once their owner dragged them away. They¡¯d be gone any moment now. The sniffing didn¡¯t stop. He took a couple sniffs of his own, testing the air. The scent was mixed ¨C lots of animals close by, along with something sweet yet artificial. Probably a heavy dose of dog shampoo. His specialty was sniffing out goblins, but he could also catch a suffocating whiff of dog if they were close, or especially stinky. He clambered up onto the seat, his trembling hands clutching the tarp to his shoulders like a cape. He slowly lifted his head and peered through the passenger side window to see the house at the far end of the driveway, the animal pen in the back, with cows, the shed off to the side, but no humans. No surprise. He didn¡¯t smell humans. He took a chance and stretched up on his tiptoes to see the ground below. A dog stared back at him. A big, hairy, smelly dog. They locked eyes for only an instant, but it felt like eternity before the dog opened its trap and started barking. Another joined in from the back of the car. Grika dove down into the floorboard and threw the tarp over his head. He hated dogs. Hated them. Chapter 7 ¡°You know, I didn¡¯t realize it would take three months to get you out here.¡± Kimmie bounded up the hillside path, glancing back every so often with an excited smile plastered across her face. ¡°I saw the goblin, like, five months ago, in May, but I didn¡¯t start searching for a hunter until the end of June. I¡¯d almost forgotten about it in the meantime.¡± Ollie trudged behind, a little put off by Kimmie¡¯s infectious energy. He was dour by nature, and today had been especially trying. ¡°We try not to advertise.¡± ¡°No kidding. But it worked. Here you are!¡± ¡°Here I am.¡± He pushed a stray branch out of his way. The forest Kimmie¡¯s property backed into reminded him of a few spots back in Virginia, not far from his hometown of Charlottesville. Dense, thick brush. Unbroken canopy. Steep, rocky terrain. A perfect goblin haunt. In fact, everything from northern California to Canada would be heaven for goblins and their ilk. Strangely, goblin reports only rarely popped up on the West Coast. Reputable hunters like Ollie and his dad spent most of their time east of the Mississippi because most goblins had roamed and hunted and lived within sight of the Appalachians for centuries. Ollie had always assumed that to be a fact of life. Either goblins were finally learning to branch out, or they¡¯d already done it years ago and people were only just now hearing about it. Maybe too many people were hearing about it. ¡°Not to get too into your business,¡± he said, ¡°but since you¡¯re paying me, I figured I¡¯d offer some advice along with my services as a hunter. That website, Creatures of the Nite, I¡¯d be careful associating with it.¡± She looked back at him, her brow furrowed. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°It tends to attract a lot of unsavory types.¡± ¡°Unsavory? Like who? Other hunters?¡± She made air quotes, which felt slightly condescending to Ollie. ¡°For starters.¡± ¡°You make it sound ominous.¡± ¡°We¡¯re not all good guys. You got lucky to find me. Not everyone is as,¡± he paused, debating whether to do air quotes himself, before thinking better of it, ¡°professional.¡± She looked away in thought. ¡°I did have a few random people show up at my door in the last two months, pretending to be one thing or another, but I always sent them away. I could see right through their lame disguises.¡± She shrugged. ¡°I guess I was holding out for you.¡± Ollie looked up in surprise. ¡°Me? Or my dad?¡± She continued walking, saying nothing for a long moment. Then, ¡°I mean, your dad is pretty much the foremost expert on this stuff. That¡¯s what they say on the website.¡± She stepped over a thick exposed root lying across the path. ¡°If I can¡¯t get him, then why not the next best thing?¡± Her grin melted away once she realized what she¡¯d said. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to keep saying that, like you¡¯re second-best. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re really good at what you do. There¡¯s no shame in second¨C¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Ollie cut her off. ¡°There¡¯s a saying in my circles, ¡®You want a goblin dead, no one¡¯s better than Jed.¡¯¡± ¡°Ugh,¡± she scowled. ¡°That¡¯s gruesome.¡± The hill leveled out and the path thankfully took the two of them down a slight decline before angling around to the south. Or was it east? Ollie¡¯s sense of direction was usually pretty good, but he¡¯d been distracted by Kimmie¡¯s incessant chatting. She¡¯d talked non-stop since leaving her house, mostly about her dogs, the people she met while running a bed and breakfast, and the lack of any real social life in Ferndale for someone her age. He¡¯d discovered, to his surprise, that he didn¡¯t mind hearing her voice, and he listened intently for any mention of a boyfriend. Not that he had any real chance with her, and he¡¯d only be in the state for a few more days anyway, but he was still curious. Based on the conversation so far, she seemed to be single. Or she had a boyfriend she¡¯d completely neglected to mention during her verbal torrent. Both were good signs.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°That¡¯s it.¡± Ollie looked up to see Kimmie pointing off to the side of the trail, at a thick boulder resting next to a taller, jagged ledge that blocked their way. He stepped closer and stood on his toes to see over the ledge and immediately recognized why a goblin would like the area. Vines and thick brush covered almost every inch of the rugged, uneven ground beyond. Perfect for hiding. ¡°Where¡¯d you see it?¡± She pointed, her expression betraying a guarded uncertainty. ¡°Up there, on the boulder.¡± He examined the boulder, a giant, roughly square piece of rock almost shoulder high. He ran a hand across the top, feeling the texture. ¡°It was just standing there?¡± ¡°Not at first. It must have been hiding farther back. It was getting dark so it was hard to see.¡± ¡°Dusk?¡± She nodded. He waved her closer. ¡°Show me what happened.¡± She approached the boulder hesitantly. ¡°I had treats in my hand. I reached up, trying to keep them from the dogs, and it came out of nowhere and grabbed my wrist.¡± She mimed the action, and Ollie caught sight of the numerous bracelets on her wrist. ¡°I screamed, and the treats fell onto the edge right there. When they did, it grabbed them and ran off. I think all it wanted was food.¡± ¡°It grabbed your wrist?¡± he asked. ¡°That one?¡± She nodded, wrapping a hand around her forearm protectively. ¡°Yeah. Why?¡± Ollie checked the boulder and the ledge next to it. ¡°Were you wearing those bracelets?¡± She nodded. Then her eyes widened. ¡°Oh my God, you¡¯re right.¡± She turned her wrist over, studying the silver and copper bracelets. ¡°I read that somewhere. They like shiny, jingly things.¡± ¡°It was probably already in the area. My guess is you stumbled across it, but it stuck around and grabbed you because of those bracelets. It¡¯s like catnip for them.¡± Ollie pressed both hands on top of the boulder and then pushed himself up, climbing onto the top with some difficulty. Once there, he crouched like a goblin would, getting a feel for his surroundings. The top of the boulder was big, but there was nowhere to go or to hide if things went bad. The trees around here were thick and gnarled, with lots of twisted and overlapping branches. But most goblins avoided climbing when possible. Too noisy, and they weren¡¯t usually comfortable with heights. Goblins like their feet on solid earth. He glanced back over the ledge, searching for obvious routes back to a potential hide out. ¡°How big was it?¡± She held her hand up to her chest. ¡°Maybe this tall. It was a little hunched over, but if it stood up straight it might reach my shoulders.¡± Ollie stood up and leaned over the ledge. He placed both hands on the ground, feeling the hard tundra and letting the moist grass slide between his fingers. ¡°Green skin? Yellow eyes? Big hands?¡± ¡°Yes! Exactly!¡± Ollie nodded. ¡°A greenie. Pretty standard drone type. Rarely does anything on its own, though. They usually travel in packs and follow a leader.¡± She nodded along, then stopped. ¡°I only saw the one.¡± ¡°And it just let you go?¡± ¡°Uhmmm, well, I think I scared it when I screamed in its face. It let me go and jumped back to the ledge, then I took off running and didn¡¯t look back. I didn¡¯t even wait for the dogs, poor things. I sprinted home and barricaded myself in my room for the night.¡± ¡°Hmph,¡± he said, glancing around. Goblins didn¡¯t usually scare so easy. And not all of them would have let her go. ¡°Just happened the one time?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She bit her lip. ¡°Well, no. Not exactly. I¡¯ve seen¡­ shadows out in the forest behind my house, usually around dusk. Three or four times, maybe. Some stuff is missing from my pen, which I think he took. And every once in a while, the cows get all freaked out and the dogs go crazy. I think I¡¯ve heard him once or twice rustling around in the woods, but he always ran away before I could get close. It is a he, right?¡± He shrugged. ¡°Most likely.¡± Ollie found a slight indention in the packed dirt. It was wide and long, possibly a goblin footprint, but he could be reaching at that assumption. ¡°I¡¯ve done some research,¡± Kimmie said. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if what I found online is all true, but I read the same about what you said. Greenies travel in packs. Usually under a stronger goblin, or a trow, or a hobgoblin, which I guess is just a bigger goblin? No one could really say what a hobgoblin looks like.¡± Ollie leaned back and moved to the edge of the boulder. ¡°That¡¯s because if you see one, you don¡¯t usually live to talk about it.¡± He hopped down from the boulder with a grunt. ¡°Have you seen one?¡± He looked at her but didn¡¯t answer. This girl was far too interested in what he did, and that kind of enthusiasm never ended well. No need to feed the beast. ¡°I need some tools.¡± He wiped his hands on his pants. ¡°I¡¯ll be back in a couple hours to take a better look. Can you throw some more of your dog treats into a bag for me?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Good. You wanted a goblin hunter, you got one.¡± He held out his hand. She shook it, an enthusiastic smile on her face. Ollie followed Kimmie back to the trail, his mind already churning on how he¡¯d find this particular goblin. He hated to admit it, but this is what he was born to do. It had been two years since he¡¯d hunted a goblin, and it felt good to finally get back to work. Even if that feeling never lasted very long. Chapter 8 Upon returning to the house, Kimmie had to literally drag her dogs away from the Chief before Ollie could climb back inside. Fortunately, she didn¡¯t ask why they were so interested in his truck. He pulled out of the driveway and drove back down the gravel road. Once he was on the paved main road leading back to town Grika flipped the tarp back and sat up. ¡°Find anything?¡± Ollie shook his head. ¡°Nothing substantial. Going hunting tonight, though.¡± Grika grunted and crossed his arms. ¡°I assume you¡¯ll need me for that?¡± ¡°If you want to start earning your keep again.¡± They drove in silence for a while. Eventually, Grika laid back on his bungie web with a grunt. ¡°She has dogs.¡± Ollie glanced over at the pygmy. ¡°Yep.¡± ¡°Big dogs.¡± Ollie nodded. ¡°Very big.¡± ¡°I hate dogs.¡± Ollie grinned. ¡°I know.¡± * The sliding glass doors opened and Ollie exited Shafer¡¯s Hardware store in Eureka, a small bag of tools in hand. He¡¯d left New Orleans in a hurry and most of his good stuff was still there. He needed to do a little restocking if he wanted to make any serious attempt at catching goblins. He slowed at the sight of a tall, burly man in hunter¡¯s fatigues leaning on the front of the Chief. He had fading, slicked-back brown hair and a thick, curly beard underneath a pair of orange-tinted sunglasses. The man turned away from ogling two women walking across the neighboring grocery store parking lot and gave Ollie a knowing grin. ¡°Like open season out here, eh?¡± ¡°Bobo.¡± Ollie forced a smile. ¡°Haven¡¯t seen you in a while.¡± Ollie walked around to the driver¡¯s side. Bobo followed him, shoving his hands in his pockets. ¡°Tuscaloosa, man. Two years ago. Sunday night at the Mary Mamasita biker bar. Never gonna forget that, brother.¡± Bobo shook his head wistfully. ¡°Eight beers, four shots of tequila, and a dozen pissed-off gang members chasing you down the street almost to the Gulf of Mexico. What did they call themselves? The Red Reapers?¡± He chuckled. ¡°Man, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve laughed that hard since.¡± Ollie winced at the memory. ¡°Yeah. Rookie mistake wearing those new boots.¡± He opened the rear door and tossed the bag into the back seat, to keep Bobo from seeing the elaborate floorboard nest in the front. Plenty of hunters had heard rumors of the Hauk family goblin, but he didn¡¯t need anyone confirming them.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Good times. You still doing the solo thing?¡± He nodded. ¡°Yep.¡± Bobo leaned on the hood of the Chief. ¡°Heard from Jed?¡± Ollie shook his head. ¡°Not for a while.¡± Bobo sniffed. ¡°That¡¯s a shame. Jed¡¯s a good man. Gotta be rough, everything that¡¯s happened to him. And to you, man.¡± Ollie nodded but kept his mouth shut, hoping Bobo took the hint. Bobo¡¯s incessant stream of beer-buddy small talk, or his over-the-top hunting stories could wear a man down fast. Although, truth be told, he felt better knowing at least one other professional hunter was in the area. And Bobo was one of the few people in his line of work Ollie didn¡¯t hate. ¡°You know, you¡¯re the sixth hunter I¡¯ve seen out here lately,¡± Bobo said, as if reading Ollie¡¯s mind. ¡°Caught sight of Ellie Wicks walking out of this same store about a month ago. And had a beer with Timmy and Jimmy Rodriguez the very next night. Although they¡¯ve been MIA a few weeks now. I¡¯m getting a little worried about those two, if I¡¯m being honest.¡± He pulled at his beard. ¡°Also, there¡¯s a pretty slick trapper out here somewhere. I¡¯ve seen some crazy rigging out there in the woods, but I don¡¯t know whose it is. Not yours, is it?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Ollie rested his hand on the handle of the driver¡¯s side door. Another hint Bobo probably wouldn¡¯t take. ¡°I got in this morning.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it? Boy, you¡¯re about two months behind. This place is crawling with CM.¡± CM stood for colander mischief, the phrase hunters used in public to avoid saying the words goblin hunting. ¡°You already cleaned the place out?¡± Bobo shook his head. ¡°Not yet. It¡¯ll happen, though. And I¡¯m gonna bag something big while I¡¯m at it. You seen any of the pictures of those people out in the woods? Body parts scattered a dozen yards apart? You know what that is.¡± Ollie turned to watch the traffic passing by on the 101. ¡°I know what it might be.¡± ¡°Well, whatever it is, I¡¯m about to have a new trophy head hanging over my fireplace.¡± Ollie looked back at Bobo in disbelief. ¡°You hang them over your fireplace?¡± ¡°No! No, no, no. I¡¯m not as dumb as I look.¡± A wicked smile crept across Bobo¡¯s face. ¡°I do the next best thing. I make a plaster cast of the head before I get rid of it. Got a whole basement full of goblin busts. A museum dedicated to my hunting legacy. But if anyone asks, I just enjoy really ugly art.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Ollie tried to think of an appropriate response, ¡°cool.¡± ¡°Welcome to the club, right?¡± Bobo beamed. ¡°That reminds me, there¡¯s some hunter north of here named Stanley¡­ something, I forget his last name. Over in Eugene. I was chatting with him and he asked me about your dad. He¡¯s like half hunter, half broker, selling gobbie parts and powders, so he¡¯s a little shady, but I got the impression he¡¯s got some stuff for your old man.¡± ¡°He¡¯s got friends everywhere.¡± Ollie looked around, eager to escape this conversation. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m on my way somewhere but let¡¯s grab a beer sometime, okay?¡± ¡°Anytime, bro.¡± Bobo threw his hand out and they shook. ¡°And if you need something while you¡¯re out here, or you want someone watching your back on a hunt, come find me. Econo Lodge over on 4th Street. Room 213. I keep a case of Miller handy at all times.¡± ¡°Sounds like fun. Stay safe, Bobo.¡± ¡°Naaahhh. That¡¯s for people with real jobs.¡± Bobo smiled and walked off. Ollie climbed into the Chief and shut the door, watching Bobo leave in his side view mirror. Grika pulled the tarp back enough to poke an eye out. ¡°He¡¯s gone?¡± Ollie nodded. ¡°Did he see you?¡± ¡°I stayed under the tarp the whole time.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Ollie started the engine and put on his seat belt. ¡°No need for anyone to know I brought you with me.¡± ¡°There¡¯s something we can agree on.¡± Grika pulled the tarp back over. ¡°I can barely stand putting up with you. If I got stuck with him, I might have to throw myself right into a trow¡¯s belly.¡± Ollie chuckled. ¡°Hey, the night¡¯s still young.¡± He pulled the tarp back and peered out. ¡°You could introduce me to the girl, though. She sounds fun.¡± ¡°Seriously?¡± Grika shrugged. ¡°I get tired just talking to you. Even you should know that.¡± Ollie thought about that for a second. ¡°How about I introduce you to her dogs?¡± Grika glared at Ollie, who drove out of the parking lot with an impish smile. Chapter 9 The Chief kicked up a cloud of dust as it rumbled along the short gravel road to Kimmie¡¯s house. The sun hung low in the sky, obscured by the rolling hills blocking Ollie¡¯s view of the coast. Sunset was about fifteen minutes away, and already the temperature had dipped into the low fifties. Ollie¡¯s jacket lay on the seat next to him. He wanted to enjoy the cool weather for a change. Living in New Orleans these last few years, he¡¯d had his fill of hot, humid nights. Ollie approached the house and veered to the side of the road, just short of the busy driveway. Three cars were parked next to the house, two of which he assumed must be her current boarders. He turned the truck off and grabbed his jacket. ¡°Wait here until I come and get you.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± Ollie climbed out and locked the door before shutting it. He walked around and opened the truck¡¯s rear hatch, pulling a key ring out of his pocket. He kept his important stuff in the metal lockbox welded to the floor in the back. Weapons, tools, toys. As he flipped through the keys, Kimmie bounded out of her house, dressed in a sweatshirt, jogging pants and some running shoes. Even casual, she looked incredible. He realized he was staring at her as she approached. ¡°It¡¯s time?¡± she asked. He nodded. ¡°It¡¯s time.¡± Ollie found the key to the lockbox. He leaned over and slid the key into the rusty old lock and wriggled it, searching for the right amount of pressure to get it to turn. ¡°You¡¯re early.¡± She wandered up alongside the Chief, running a finger against the side panels while making a face at the thick layer of dirt. Ollie glanced up at the front seat, making sure Grika was out of sight. ¡°I¡¯m getting dinner ready for my boarders,¡± she said. ¡°You should eat with us before we go.¡± The lock clicked over, and Ollie yanked the key out. ¡°Go where?¡± ¡°To hunt.¡± She bounced on the balls of her feet. ¡°I¡¯m ready to catch me a greenie.¡± Ollie glanced over at her. ¡°You¡¯re not coming with me.¡± Kimmie blinked at him. ¡°Sure I am.¡± Ollie shook his head. ¡°This isn¡¯t something you need to be around for.¡± He opened the lockbox. Sitting on top of a smattering of automotive tools was a green duffel bag, a little smaller than the one at the hotel. He lifted the bag out and dropped it on the bed of the Chief. ¡°This kind of work is dark, dirty, and dangerous. That¡¯s why I do it alone.¡± He unzipped the bag part of the way and sifted through the items inside. Kimmie watched him for a moment, then straightened her back. ¡°Well, now you can do this with company.¡± A quick laugh escaped his lips. ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the kinda the whole reason you¡¯re here.¡± Ollie straightened and stared at her for a long moment, expecting her to laugh, or some other indication that this was a joke. None came. ¡°I¡¯m here to hunt a goblin. Not to babysit amateurs.¡± Her eyebrows shot up, and he realized he might have gone too far. ¡°No offense, but I don¡¯t take people hunting with me, especially people with no experience at it. Going out in the daylight is one thing, but it¡¯s a different story at night.¡± Kimmie crossed her arms. ¡°Well, lucky for you, I don¡¯t need a babysitter. I¡¯m perfectly capable of handling dirty and dangerous work without a nanny.¡± Ollie sighed. Why did his instincts about this woman have to be so on the money? He turned to face her. ¡°Have you ever hunted a goblin before?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Have you ever fought a goblin before?¡± ¡°Clearly not.¡± ¡°Have you ever killed a goblin before?¡± Now she just stood there, staring at him. ¡°Then sorry, but it¡¯s not happening.¡± He resumed rifling through the items in his bag, moving a few tools over from the lockbox. ¡°I know you mean well, and you¡¯ve probably spent a whole afternoon reading up about what I do on that cool website of yours, but people get killed doing this. I have a very simple set of rules regarding my hunts, and rule number one is ¡®Don¡¯t take inexperienced amateurs or well-meaning clients into a goblin lair¡¯. That¡¯s how goblin mischief turns into dead bodies in a ravine. Taking you out there would be like taking a civilian into a warzone. Not smart for either of us.¡± She put her hands on her hips. ¡°Then show me how it¡¯s done. Train me.¡± Ollie shook his head. ¡°Two hours from now, if everything goes well, you¡¯ll never see me or a goblin ever again. So, there¡¯s not a lot of incentive for either of us to train you in a skill you should never need after tonight.¡± She gave him a quizzical look. ¡°Are you being for real, right now? Is this some brooding,¡± she lowered her voice, ¡°¡¯I work alone¡¯ thing you¡¯re pulling on me?¡± Ollie shut the lockbox and zipped up the bag. ¡°This isn¡¯t a game. Those things are real, and they¡¯re dangerous. It¡¯s no place for you.¡± Kimmie pretended to wave a fan at her face. ¡°Oh! How chivalrous of you, Mr. Lone Wolf with your cool jacket and big boots and obnoxious truck! Here to martyr yourself for all the little people. Well, guess what? I¡¯m not some damsel-in-distress who needs you to run off and slay the dragon while I cower in the castle skimming through goblin websites on my laptop. I¡¯m a grown woman who supports herself, pays her taxes, and survived a freaking goblin encounter last summer. I¡¯m fully capable of making my own decisions regarding my safety and what I do with my time, and I have decided that I will be a part of this hunt. Or,¡± she hesitated, ¡°there won¡¯t be a hunt at all.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Ollie raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you saying I should leave?¡± ¡°I¡¯m saying you should take me with you. If not,¡± she shoved her hands in her pockets, ¡°I can find another hunter.¡± She didn¡¯t sound entirely convincing, but Ollie wasn¡¯t prepared to call her bluff. Despite her stubbornness, he really wanted his fee. ¡°Let me get this straight. If I don¡¯t take you with me, your plan is to get rid of me and my pesky ethics regarding client safety, and find some other hunter who has no problem letting you tag along into a dark forest in the middle of the night where deadly monsters might be roaming around, waiting to rip your arm from its socket?¡±Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Kimmie¡¯s mouth formed a thin line, frustration raging behind her serene expression. Ollie could sympathize. ¡°I hate to break this to you,¡± she said, ¡°but since I¡¯m pretty sure you don¡¯t have any kind of official goblin hunting license in your pocket, and you¡¯re certainly not part of a goblin hunters Local 101, then basically the only difference between you and me in terms of hunting is that you¡¯ve done it more.¡± Ollie slung the strap of his duffel bag over his shoulder and closed the rear hatch. ¡°Okay. Answer a quick question for me. If the power goes out in your house, or a pipe breaks, is it suddenly really important for you to fix that yourself? Or do you call a plumber or an electrician? You know, someone who has some experience in that line of work. Because that¡¯s what this is. I¡¯m a glorified plumber, here to fix some pipes, and you¡¯ve done all you need to do here just by hiring me.¡± Kimmie rubbed her temples. ¡°Oh my God, do I have to spell this out for you? I didn¡¯t bring you here to hunt FOR me. I brought you here to hunt WITH me! That¡¯s the job! That¡¯s why I¡¯m paying instead of your broker or whatever other arrangement you have going on. I¡¯ve spent months watching this thing skulk around in those trees, just out of sight, or hiding in the shadows, and I haven¡¯t been able to do anything about it. Until now! I have an actual hunter standing in front of me, who can show me what to do, how to do it, and you think this is the equivalent of a service call from my home warranty company? Are you really that dense?¡± Ollie¡¯s eyes widened at the hostility in Kimmie¡¯s voice. He¡¯d been yelled at by clients before, even people whose lives he¡¯d saved, and he¡¯d taken it in stride. But today, for some reason, he¡¯d had enough of being belittled after everything he¡¯d sacrificed. ¡°You know, you¡¯re right. Maybe you do need a new hunter. Because I don¡¯t need this kind of aggravation from someone clearly looking for a thrill.¡± He walked around to the driver¡¯s side door and fished for his key. She stomped after him. ¡°What did you say?¡± He turned, catching her off guard. ¡°I know your type. You want to jump in feet first without any thought to how reckless it might be. You and all the other amateurs running around out here, trying to hunt bears with slingshots because none of you realize how dangerous what I do is. Did any of your research prepare you for the fact that while half of these things will steal your food, the other half will crush your skull? Is that a regular topic of conversation on your website? If it isn¡¯t, it should be, because you don¡¯t do the things I do just so you can get your kicks. Maybe you should write a blog post about that because God knows your website flunkies could use a little harsh reality.¡± Ollie regretted the words as he was saying them, but someone had to be the bad guy. Kimmie¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°You think you know me? Fine. Two can play that game.¡± She held up a finger. ¡°Item number one, let¡¯s not forget, that is my backyard,¡± she pointed at the forest in the back of the house, ¡°and I think the law states pretty clearly that you need my permission to hunt on it. And you¡¯re not getting that permission if I don¡¯t get to go with you.¡± He smirked. ¡°I doubt the state of California had goblins in mind when they made that law.¡± She held up a second finger, ignoring him. ¡°Item number two! You keep saying you work alone, but I¡¯ve heard the rumors.¡± She leaned over and peered through the Chief¡¯s darkened windows. ¡°Are they true? Do you have a little pet in there that no one¡¯s supposed to know about? Is he in the truck or did you leave him somewhere?¡± The blood drained from Ollie¡¯s face. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°Your little goblin. Yeah, I¡¯ve definitely done my research, and not just on hunting. I¡¯ve heard the same stories everyone else has about your family. You captured a goblin and you use it to help you hunt. Is that your secret? Is that why you¡¯re supposedly the best?¡± Ollie tried not to forcibly move her away from the vehicle. The doors were locked, he reminded himself. She couldn¡¯t get in without him. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what the dogs were barking at earlier, isn¡¯t it? You¡¯ll take one of them with you, but not an actual human being?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Ollie struggled to contain his anger. Not so much at her, as at the idiot blabbing on CoN about his family business. ¡°I think we¡¯re done here.¡± He stepped around her, back to the rear hatch. He wasn¡¯t about to open the front door and give her the chance to peek inside. ¡°If you¡¯re going to be completely intractable about this, then yeah, I think we are.¡± ¡°Intractable?¡± He stopped. ¡°You¡¯re putting this on me? You realize even if you fire me, I can come up here in the middle of the night, find the goblin on my own, destroy it, and you¡¯d probably never even know.¡± She shrugged. ¡°Then I¡¯ll call the police and have them keep an eye out for trespassers.¡± He waved her off. ¡°Don¡¯t bother. I didn¡¯t want to come to this stupid town anyway.¡± He opened the rear hatch and tossed the bag back inside. ¡°It¡¯s just a distraction from way more important business. Like taking a nap.¡± He found his keys and struggled to re-open the lockbox. Just his luck he couldn¡¯t fling the stupid thing open and storm off dramatically like he wanted. He¡¯d told her the truth about this being a distraction. Maybe now he could get to his real reason for coming to California, and then go back to New Orleans, where he was appreciated. And paid. ¡°Wait.¡± Kimmie leaned against the back edge of the truck, her eyes downcast. ¡°Just wait, please.¡± He stopped. The tone of her voice was far less confrontational than before. Kimmie sighed heavily. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. That escalated quickly. I didn¡¯t mean to get all worked up. I¡¯m just¡­ I¡¯ve been really looking forward to this, and when you said no my stubborn streak kicked into overdrive. I¡¯m not even sure why.¡± Ollie suddenly remembered her aunt and uncle. This was personal for her. But it was personal for almost everyone he came across in this business. And he didn¡¯t take them hunting, either. Well, not all of them. He did agree with her on one thing, though. This whole conversation had gotten way out of hand. Her determination and his bad mood had sparked a rager out of nowhere. That wasn¡¯t usually like him. Ollie shrugged. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s for the best. I know another hunter in town who isn¡¯t a total idiot. I can have him come by and he can help you out. He¡¯s more of a trapper than a hunter, so it might even be safer.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want another hunter. I picked you for a reason.¡± ¡°No. You picked my dad.¡± She thought about that for a second. ¡°True. But then I picked you.¡± Ollie stared at her for a long time, long enough that it got awkward and they both looked away. He started to reach for the lockbox again. ¡°I¡¯ll double your fee.¡± Ollie cocked his head. ¡°Sorry?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll double it. But you have to take me with you.¡± Ollie¡¯s mouth snapped shut. She must have taken his silence as a negotiating tactic. Suddenly all of his die-hard rules became fluid as he considered the incredibly timely offer. With double the fee, he could take his time out here, look into the Arcata robbery, swing by Redding for a few uncomfortable hours, then take the long way back to New Orleans. Maybe even stay at some decent hotels. He blinked. Was he actually considering going through with this? He hadn¡¯t done anything that dumb in a while, but something about her sucked away all of his common sense. Could he get her to triple the fee by keeping his mouth shut? Before he could respond, the sound of a car rolling up the gravel road caught his attention. They both turned to see a Ferndale Police car approaching the house. He looked at Kimmie, bewildered. ¡°You already called them?¡± She shook her head. ¡°He¡¯s a friend. He¡¯s here for dinner.¡± She put her hand on his arm. ¡°Act like we weren¡¯t just yelling at each other like crazy people.¡± The car rolled up behind Ollie¡¯s Jeep and came to a stop. The engine and headlights turned off and a cop emerged from the driver¡¯s side, somewhat young with an athletic build and blond hair. He had a crumpled brown grocery sack nestled in the crook of his arm. ¡°Kimmie?¡± he said. ¡°Andy! Hey! How are you?¡± She dropped her backpack at Ollie¡¯s feet and walked over to give the cop a quick hug. Ollie bristled as he recognized the confused visage of Officer Allsome, who seemed to do the same for Ollie. ¡°I¡¯m good. I brought some vegetables, courtesy of Aunt Ellie¡¯s garden.¡± He gave Ollie a suspicious glare. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Oh,¡± she turned to Ollie, biting her lip. ¡°This is Oliver. He¡¯s my new landscaper. We were discussing some changes to the ole¡¯ back forty.¡± Andy raised an eyebrow. ¡°Landscaper?¡± Ollie reached up and closed the rear hatch, suddenly very nervous about the items inside his truck. ¡°Yeah,¡± Kimmie said. ¡°Hey! Dinner¡¯s almost ready. Why don¡¯t you come on in?¡± Andy let his gaze linger on Ollie for a moment before flashing his winning smile at Kimmie. ¡°I was hoping you would ask.¡± She ushered Andy toward the door, then veered off to grab Ollie by the arm. ¡°You too, Oliver. There¡¯s plenty of room at my dinner table.¡± Ollie mentally debated making a run for it before deciding to check that impulse. He could wait out a stupid dinner. He let her drag him to the house, reminding himself that he didn¡¯t usually make stupid decisions. Unless it was for money. Or a pretty girl. Just his luck he had both of them staring him in the face. Chapter 10 The two men sat in silence for several unbearably long minutes in Kimmie¡¯s living room, each of them trying hard not to look at, or converse with, each other. Andy took a spot at the edge of the plush couch and perused the various books on the coffee table. Ollie sat in the corner chair, which was turned at an angle allowing him to see out the wide dining room window, which overlooked a rear deck and part of the backyard. A baseball bat caught his eye, leaning against the wall next to the window, with a signature prominently displayed. He squinted, realizing that the name was Barry Bonds. Ollie tried not to look impressed. He hated Bonds, but he had to respect the fact that it was hard to get the guy¡¯s autograph. And he hadn¡¯t taken her for a hardcore baseball fan. She must have really sweet-talked him. On further inspection, most of the room had similarly strange d¨¦cor for an attractive, young woman. A fish clock hung on the wall over the couch, next to a sign that said, ¡°I got a new fishing rod for my wife. Best trade I ever made!¡± Brightly colored, hand-made quilts lay over the tops of the furniture, the yellows, pinks, and greens radioactive in their gaudiness. A set of stylish lamps sat on end tables on either side of the couch, designed to look like old-fashioned oil lamps. Clearly, most of this stuff had belonged to her aunt and uncle. He hoped. ¡°Landscaping, huh?¡± Ollie pulled his eyes from the furnishings and looked at the cop, trying to decide if he was giving him a hard time, or just making small talk. He gave a quick nod. ¡°How¡¯d Kimmie find you?¡± Ollie looked around the room, thinking of an answer. ¡°Internet.¡± Andy nodded thoughtfully. ¡°Gotta be careful with that. You can find a lot of crazies on the internet.¡± He took a satisfied sip of his beer. Ollie raised an eyebrow. ¡°In my experience, crazies come from all over. Sometimes they claim to be landscapers, other times they¡¯re wearing a respectable uniform.¡± He glanced at Andy¡¯s police attire as he took a swig of his own beer. ¡°Crazy doesn¡¯t always advertise.¡± Andy regarded him carefully, probably preparing his own retort. He never had time, however, as footsteps creaked down the stairs, and an older couple appeared at the far end of the living room. Ollie recognized the woman from earlier this afternoon. She was short and portly, with curly white hair and a grandmotherly vibe. She wore a bright flowery blouse and yellow pants. Her husband sported shorts, sandals, and a Hawaiian shirt that barely covered an impressive beer belly. They both had the look of long-retired tourists. ¡°Oh!¡± the woman said. ¡°Dinner guests?¡± Andy stood up and shook the man¡¯s hand. ¡°You must be Kimmie¡¯s boarders. I¡¯m Andy, a friend of hers.¡± He motioned to his uniform. ¡°And a local officer of the peace.¡± ¡°A Ferndale Police Officer?¡± the woman asked. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am. I came here to make sure no suspicious characters interfere with your lovely dinner.¡± He flashed a grin that probably made women swoon. Ollie stifled a groan. Kimmie leaned through the swinging door leading to the kitchen, wiping her hands on the kitschy red, white, and blue apron tied around her waist. ¡°Making friends in here?¡± She smiled warmly. ¡°Guys, this is Wendy and Albert Cook, from Santa Fe. They¡¯re staying here for the week, on a sightseeing trip, the first leg of their first trip to California.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good to meet you,¡± Wendy said. She and her husband took the spots next to Andy. As they sat, another couple made their way down the stairs and emerged from the corner of the living room. ¡°Good timing,¡± Kimmie said. ¡°Boys, this is David and Mariah Best. They¡¯re teachers from Columbus, Ohio. Also on vacation.¡± David was a large, if bookish-looking man in his forties, with short brown hair and pale skin. He dressed like a teacher, wearing a solid blue polo and pleated khaki pants, and he had the face of a man who rarely smiled. Mariah seemed David¡¯s polar opposite ¨C short and petite, with blue eyes and a sultry smile that struck a chord with Ollie, though he couldn¡¯t say why. She wore a revealing yellow and green sundress that caught the attention of every man in the room, no matter how much they tried not to stare. ¡°Boarders,¡± Kimmie said, smiling at the two couples, ¡°this is Officer Andy Allsome, a member of Ferndale¡¯s small, but proud, police force.¡± Andy nodded his head in greeting.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°There may only be seven of us,¡± he said, ¡°but we do our best with this one-horse town.¡± ¡°And this is Oliver Hauk, my new landscaper.¡± Ollie gave a polite nod. He was determined to get through this torture chamber of a dinner without saying a word. He heard the dogs barking outside. Probably putting Grika through the same ordeal, while simultaneously affirming Kimmie¡¯s suspicions about the little beast. He felt a sudden urge to strangle whoever spilled the beans about that on CoN. After hunting this goblin, he¡¯d need to hunt down some hunters who were talking too much. ¡°Good old Kimmie,¡± Andy said, eyeing Ollie over his beer bottle. ¡°Never met a stranger.¡± Ollie tried to ignore the smug jerk. ¡°Dinner is almost ready,¡± Kimmie stepped halfway back into the kitchen. ¡°That means everyone can spend a few minutes getting to know each other while I finish up with the food.¡± ¡°Need help, dear?¡± Wendy asked. ¡°No.¡± Kimmie pointed sternly at the couch. ¡°I need you to relax in here and make some new friends.¡± She disappeared back through the kitchen door. Wendy and Albert took charge of the conversation from that point on, regaling everyone with how much they loved the town and what they¡¯d been up to the last two days. Andy chimed in with some suggestions for other sights in the area, including a few places in Eureka and farther north, in Arcata and McKinleyville. He even offered up an old wives¡¯ tale about hauntings at the top of the cemetery hill here in Ferndale. Ollie took careful note of that story, without looking like he was taking notes. Mariah and David stayed quiet, listening intently to Andy¡¯s stories, although Ollie caught Mariah giving him a few longer-than-appropriate looks. Fortunately, Kimmie arrived and shuffled everyone over to the dining room table. The table sat next to the large bay window that overlooked the pen in the back of the house, along with the forest that formed a U-shaped ring around it. With perfect timing, the sun set as they took their places, slipping below the hillside to the west. Mariah glanced over her shoulder at the sunset and nearly swooned. ¡°I never get tired of that view.¡± She squeezed David¡¯s shoulder, and he gave her a quick smile before focusing on the dinner rolls on his plate. Ollie looked up and caught a glimpse of himself in a wall mirror hanging between the window and the kitchen door. He blanched at how much he stood out amongst this little dinner party. The poor, grime-covered waif invited to a fancy gala. Now he felt even more uncomfortable. Kimmie brought out a big salad bowl, followed by various beef sliders and a pasta salad. Andy and Kimmie¡¯s boarders wasted no time in serving themselves as each dish was placed on the table. Ollie paced himself, not wanting to bring any more attention to himself than normal. A few minutes into dinner, Albert cleared his throat. ¡°So, Andy, is your job as Mayberry as we think it is?¡± Albert chuckled, and most of the room joined him. Andy smiled and straightened the napkin on his lap. ¡°It¡¯s not a bad gig. I get to cruise around with my windows open, chat with all the locals, and ignore the one stoplight in town.¡± ¡°Just like high school?¡± Kimmie smirked as she dug into her pasta salad. Andy feigned indignation. ¡°Ouch. I did go to a few classes, despite my reputation. And I passed, thank you.¡± ¡°You are definitely smarter than you look, that¡¯s for sure.¡± Kimmie grinned as the others laughed at her joke. Mariah looked up from her plate. ¡°You went to high school together?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Kimmie said. ¡°Middle school and high school. We were somewhat decent friends back in the day. Still are, I like to think.¡± ¡°Yep. Kimmie was the nerdy little girl with glasses, and I was the bone-headed jock who probably got hit in the head a few too many times in football practice.¡± Kimmie raised her wine glass. ¡°Andy Awesome!¡± ¡°But we never let that get in the way of a good argument about our chemistry homework.¡± ¡°Mr. Hancock¡¯s class!¡± Kimmie said with a laugh. They clicked their wine glasses together and drank. ¡°So, you both stuck around here, huh?¡± Albert asked. ¡°Sort of. I went to DePaul University in Chicago,¡± Kimmie said, ¡°so I could be out near my dad¡¯s family for a while. I was going to stay there and get my Master¡¯s, but then my aunt and uncle passed away a couple years back. This was their place. They left everything to me, and I didn¡¯t have the heart to sell it, so I turned it into a bed and breakfast.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a beautiful place,¡± Wendy said. ¡°I can¡¯t get over how scenic this area is.¡± ¡°What can I say?¡± Kimmie said. ¡°It¡¯s magical.¡± ¡°Ooh,¡± Mariah raised her own glass. ¡°Good word!¡± Andy cleared his throat. ¡°I came back a little sooner. Went to college in Washington on a football scholarship, but I blew out my knee freshman year. Never really got it back to a hundred percent, but I graduated, then I came home and went to the Academy. My grandfather was the Chief of Police in Eureka back in the seventies, so I thought I¡¯d make this a family business.¡± The dogs began barking even more loudly. ¡°Those dogs are really after something out there,¡± Wendy said. ¡°Want me to go check on them?¡± Kimmie waved her off. ¡°Probably a squirrel. They¡¯ll get bored in a few minutes.¡± She smirked at Ollie, who looked away. ¡°What about you, Mr. Hauk?¡± Mariah rested her chin on her fist. ¡°How did you get into landscaping?¡± Ollie felt the entire table watching him. ¡°Wrong place at the wrong time, I guess.¡± He took a bite. When no one really responded to his answer he added, ¡°Learned it from my dad. Like Andy here says, it¡¯s a family business.¡± ¡°There¡¯s something very noble in that,¡± Mariah said. She turned to David, who was focused on his food. ¡°Don¡¯t you think?¡± David looked up, startled. ¡°Huh? Oh yes. Very noble.¡± He smiled then went back to shoveling food into his mouth. ¡°Oh!¡± Kimmie said. She grabbed her phone and tapped the screen a couple times. ¡°I need a picture. I always make sure to get pics of big dinners, so I can remember everyone I was lucky enough to meet.¡± ¡°What a good idea,¡± Wendy said, patting her hair. Kimmie stood up and trained her camera on the center of the table. ¡°Now everyone lean in! Mariah, stop hiding behind David. Albert, lean back about two inches so I can get Wendy in all her glory. Oliver, smile. Pretend like this is fun!¡± Ollie inwardly groaned, but he forced a smile as Kimmie took the picture. After a few moments of passing the phone around for everyone to see the picture, the conversation turned into a comprehensive list of the cities Wendy and Albert had visited in the last twenty years, and no one bothered Ollie with any more questions. He spent the rest of dinner eating, avoiding eye contact, and looking for an opening to bolt out the front door. Chapter 11 The dinner ended, and once Mariah and David excused themselves back to their room, the rest of the gathering broke up soon after. Ollie went outside, claiming that he needed to get some tools from his truck. Once in the driveway, he found the dogs sitting on either side of the Chief, waiting for their vigilance to be rewarded with the appearance of whatever they smelled inside. They hopped up once they saw Ollie and started barking again, hoping he might let them get in the vehicle and snatch their prize. ¡°Settle down, boys,¡± he said, holding his hands up. ¡°At least, I assume you¡¯re both boys. Whatever¡¯s in that truck isn¡¯t for you, despite how entertaining it would be for me.¡± He stopped a few yards away, not sure if he wanted to get too close while they were so excited. The front door opened and Ollie turned to see Kimmie and Andy coming out. ¡°Tank! Bentley! Come here! What are you two idiots doing?¡± She jogged over and grabbed one of the dogs by the collar, dragging him away. ¡°I bet something crawled into your truck,¡± Andy said. ¡°Maybe,¡± Ollie mumbled. Kimmie dragged the first dog into the house, then hurried back and did the same to the second. Neither seemed happy about the decision. She shut the door and walked back over to Andy. ¡°Sure you don¡¯t need help cleaning up?¡± he asked. ¡°No, I¡¯ve got it handled,¡± Kimmie said. ¡°Thank you for the offer, though.¡± ¡°Anytime.¡± He gave Ollie a long look. ¡°Is he boarding here, too?¡± ¡°No. I asked him to stick around for a bit to map out all the changes I want to make. It¡¯s a big project.¡± ¡°What changes are you making?¡± ¡°I¡¯m putting in a new garden, a gazebo, and a walking path up to the top of the hill.¡± ¡°Wow,¡± Andy said, looking impressed. ¡°That will definitely spruce this place up.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s why I hired Oliver here. He comes highly recommended.¡± ¡°Ollie,¡± he corrected her. ¡°Ollie. Sorry.¡± ¡°Well, don¡¯t let me get in your way.¡± Andy flashed his quarterback smile and returned to the squad car. ¡°I¡¯ll see you around, Kimmie. Thanks for dinner.¡± She waved at him. ¡°Thanks for coming by, Andy. It was good to see you.¡± He climbed into the car and rolled the window down, fixing his smile, which became far less inviting, on Ollie. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to get that taillight fixed.¡± Andy started the engine and backed out of the driveway and onto the road. Once his own taillights faded into the distance, Ollie turned, only to find Kimmie waiting right behind him. ¡°I¡¯m ready when you are.¡± Ollie stared at her, but she didn¡¯t back down. If anything, she seemed to relish the confrontation. Fortunately, he was already prepared for this. And he had a somewhat workable solution. ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s talk.¡± He sidestepped her and walked across the driveway back to his Jeep. He heard Kimmie following, the gravel crunching under her feet. ¡°Thank you for dinner, by the way.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± she said, a little surprised by his change in demeanor. She hurried to keep up with his longer gait. ¡°Did you like it?¡± ¡°Food was good,¡± he said. ¡°Everything else sucked.¡± He could feel her rolling her eyes behind him. ¡°So, what are we talking about? Is this about how you¡¯re gonna treat me like an adult and let me help you?¡± Ollie opened the hatch and grabbed his bag. ¡°I figure I have two choices.¡± He shut the door and slung the bag over his shoulder. ¡°I say no again, and like any good amateur you run off and do something stupid. Or, I take you with me, make some extra cash, and I teach you how not to get yourself killed.¡± Kimmie beamed. She hit him playfully on the shoulder. ¡°See? Now you¡¯re thinking straight.¡± Ollie didn¡¯t share her enthusiasm. ¡°This is a trial deal. You do exactly what I say from here on out. I¡¯m already second-guessing this plan, so if that¡¯s going to be a problem, then this,¡± he waved a finger back and forth between them, ¡°isn¡¯t happening. Understood?¡±The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. She gave him a crisp salute. ¡°You¡¯re the boss. As long as I¡¯m out there with you, I¡¯ll do what you say.¡± He frowned at the wording of her promise. He was taking a big chance. Kimmie was no different than the hundreds of CoNers trying to get themselves killed, and here he was, enabling that behavior. He¡¯d come all the way out here to get away from stupid decisions like the one he was making right now. But at least this way he could keep himself between her and any snarling, rage-drunk goblins. And he¡¯d replenish his bank account enough to get some new clothes on the way back to Louisiana. He moved around to the passenger side door and rested his hand on the door handle. He turned and gave her his most intimidating stern stare. ¡°You say that now, but I want to give you one last chance to back out, for your own good. You can go in your house right now and forget all about this, and me. I¡¯ll take care of the goblin, and then I¡¯ll leave. It¡¯ll be like it was never there, and you can live your life in peace, without worrying if that creak you heard at night was him, or the sound of your house settling. Think hard before you¨C¡± ¡°Pass.¡± Ollie grumbled at the interruption. ¡°The alternative is entering a world you can¡¯t come back from. You¡¯re gonna see things you can¡¯t unsee and know things you can¡¯t forget. And I don¡¯t mean that like some fantasy video game adventure. I mean you¡¯re gonna learn just how much evil is in this world, hiding in the shadows and the dark corners that we never really look at. It will mess with your head. It will change you. And on top of that, hunting isn¡¯t all fun and games. Things will get rough, and gross, and you¡¯ll piss off some stupidly dangerous creatures who will want to do things to you that even hardened criminals don¡¯t dream of. ¡°And when you¡¯re not hiding in mud, or running for your life, you¡¯re rewarded by sitting out in the woods all night long, bored out of your mind. Hours and hours of sitting still, in the dark, with bugs and lizards crawling up your pant legs, waiting for something to happen. Now, I¡¯ll ask one last time. Are you absolutely sure you want to get involved in this?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she said without hesitation. ¡°Absolutely.¡± Ollie sighed. So much for playing on her reservations. Or her fear of bugs. ¡°Okay. Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you.¡± He took one last look around, making sure they were alone, then rested his hand on the passenger door handle. He didn¡¯t normally do what he was about to do. But something in his gut told him it would be okay. He opened the door. ¡°Grika, say hello to our new friend, Kimmie.¡± Kimmie¡¯s expression faltered as she circled around to peer past Ollie and into the darkness inside the Chief. Seeing nothing at first, she leaned forward, her eyes drifting down to the tarp moving on the floorboard of the truck. The tarp slowly pulled back revealing Grika¡¯s football-shaped head. Kimmie¡¯s mouth fell open and her eyes nearly bugged out of her skull. To her credit, though, instead of running away she leaned in closer. ¡°Is that¡­ is that him?¡± She reached out, as if to touch Grika, who gave her a sharp look. She pulled her hand back. ¡°What do you call it?¡± ¡°It?¡± Grika said, his tiny face showing offense. ¡°I¡¯m not a toy!¡± ¡°Oh!¡± she said, taken aback. She looked at him a little more closely. ¡°So, you¡¯re a¡­ boy?¡± Grika crossed his arms. ¡°A male, thank you very much. You may use whatever gender-specific pronouns you deem appropriate for someone of my exceedingly obvious masculinity.¡± Ollie rolled his eyes. Grika was still wearing a jacket from an American Girl doll. She laughed, then looked at Ollie. ¡°He¡¯s fiesty.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve called him far worse.¡± Grika stood up straight. ¡°Hey, mind yourself in front of the pretty girlie!¡± Ollie gave him a look. ¡°She isn¡¯t fooled by your sudden discovery of manners.¡± ¡°He called me pretty,¡± Kimmie said, amused by the exchange. The pygmy waved a bony finger at Ollie¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Or your discovery of deodorant.¡± Kimmie laughed again, which caused Grika to cackle along with her. ¡°This one tells me I stink, you should smell him after a truck stop burrito.¡± They both laughed even harder. ¡°Okay.¡± Ollie slid the cat carrier to the edge of the seat, but the pygmy was too busy laughing to notice. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Get in.¡± ¡°Ohhh,¡± Kimmie said, ¡°are we cramping your style?¡± She hooked her thumb toward Ollie. ¡°I¡¯ll bet he¡¯s a handful, too, huh?¡± ¡°This one?¡± Grika said. ¡°He¡¯s stubborn as a trow.¡± ¡°Right?¡± she nodded. ¡°The most obstinate little guy I¡¯ve ever met.¡± ¡°Little?¡± Ollie said. ¡°Tell me about it. He¡¯s a stubborn bonehead!¡± Grika laughed. ¡°A jerk!¡± ¡°A moron!¡± He giggled incessantly, falling down on his bungie web as he did. ¡°Shhh!¡± Ollie said, glancing over at the house. ¡°You¡¯re gonna wake up your boarders.¡± Kimmie slapped his arm. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be so sensitive. We¡¯re bonding,¡± she smiled at Grika, ¡°aren¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Like BFFs,¡± Grika said with a toothy grin. Ollie reached over and plucked Grika from the floorboard and put him in the carrier. ¡°Stop cavorting and get to work.¡± Grika snarled at him while straightening his jacket. ¡°Look at you,¡± Kimmie said, giving Ollie an admiring gaze. ¡°A goblin hunter with his own goblin. So, is it true? Is he a pet?¡± ¡°A pet?¡± Grika raised his eyebrows, no longer laughing. ¡°I got him at a flea market for a quarter,¡± Ollie said. ¡°If they didn¡¯t have a no-return policy I¡¯d have brought him back years ago.¡± Grika pointed menacingly at Ollie. ¡°You¡¯d be some hobbie¡¯s dinner without me, ya boffer. You remember that.¡± ¡°No, really.¡± She pointed at each of them. ¡°How does something like this happen?¡± Ollie hesitated. He shared a look with Grika, who¡¯d become similarly tight-lipped. ¡°That¡¯s a long story,¡± he finally said. Grika nodded in somber agreement. ¡°A really long story.¡± She frowned, undeterred in her pursuit of everything goblin. ¡°Meaning you don¡¯t want to tell me?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s call it magic and leave it at that.¡± Ollie closed the carrier, with Grika inside, and hefted it under his arm, keeping his smaller bag slung over his other shoulder. He closed the passenger door and made his way to the back of the house. ¡°Magic?¡± She hurried up alongside him. ¡°Do you know magic?¡± ¡°He¡¯s not smart enough,¡± Grika said from inside the carrier. ¡°Even if he was, not everyone can learn it. Only ones who can¨C¡± Grika started but a harsh gesture from Ollie quieted him. ¡°What?¡± Kimmie asked. Ollie said nothing. Grika remained quiet, too. ¡°More secrets, huh? That¡¯s how we¡¯re going to start this little partnership?¡± ¡°This little what?¡± Grika said, peering through the grate at Ollie, who turned to Kimmie. Ollie stopped and faced her, trying his best to keep the annoyance off his face. ¡°Do you want to get to hunting, or should we just stand around asking stupid questions all night?¡± Kimmie was quiet for a moment. She held up her hands in defeat. ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s hunt.¡± Ollie stalked into the darkness without a word, letting Kimmie catch up. This was already not going well, and they hadn¡¯t even started. Chapter 12 ¡°Grika.¡± Ollie set the pygmy goblin on top of the boulder. ¡°What do you smell?¡± The pygmy sniffed the air with its bulbous nose, taking a scent in each cardinal direction. Ollie had set up a small LED lamp that gave off only enough light to see the immediate area, casting a faint blue glow on each of their faces. Beyond was a wall of darkness. After a moment of consideration, Grika pointed to the southeast, over the ledge. ¡°That way. Really faint.¡± ¡°Go check it out, will you? I¡¯m gonna go over the basics with our new partner.¡± Grika scurried over the ledge and disappeared into the night. ¡°What¡¯s he looking for?¡± Ollie unzipped his bag. ¡°He¡¯s tracking the goblin¡¯s scent.¡± Kimmie raised her eyebrows. ¡°Like a bloodhound?¡± Ollie nodded. ¡°He can smell magic. Goblins are borne from it, so pygmies make good trackers. Of course, you have to bribe him with about four times his weight in food to get any worthwhile work out of him.¡± She gave him a quiet, thoughtful stare, and he could almost hear the onslaught of unasked questions about Grika, and magic, and who knows what else. He decided not to give her the chance. ¡°Let¡¯s get to it, then.¡± He rummaged through his bag and pulled out some toys and kitchen utensils, watching Kimmie¡¯s confused visage with satisfaction. ¡°You wanna hunt? Here¡¯s your crash course.¡± He motioned her to sit and she settled on the ground nearby. ¡°Rule number one, goblins are dangerous. I can¡¯t stress that enough. They may look gangly and disproportionate, but they¡¯re faster and stronger than you¡¯d expect, kinda like those chimps that go crazy and rip people¡¯s arms off.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Kimmie held up a hand. ¡°I thought rule number one was you don¡¯t take amateurs hunting with you?¡± Ollie gave her a harsh glare. ¡°Sorry,¡± she said, suppressing a grin. ¡°Continue.¡± Ollie took a second to let his annoyance with her sink in before continuing. ¡°Like I was saying, goblins can maul you if you give them half a chance, which leads to part two of rule number one ¨C they¡¯re also unpredictable. Just because that goblin let you go, doesn¡¯t mean it isn¡¯t dangerous when properly motivated. Anything can set it off. It¡¯s like people. You don¡¯t know what annoys me, and I don¡¯t know what annoys you. The difference is if we annoy each other, we don¡¯t immediately launch into a temper tantrum where we bash each other¡¯s face in with rocks.¡± Kimmie gave a slow, somewhat sickened nod. Ollie crouched down next to his bag and the scattered utensils. ¡°Now, rule number two ¨C goblins are easily distracted. A toy store is probably your best weapon against them. But you can find plenty of stuff around the house that works just fine, too. Like this.¡± He picked up a colander. ¡°Throw a colander or a strainer at them, and they can¡¯t resist picking it up and counting all the holes.¡± He shrugged. ¡°No idea why. Best part is they usually can¡¯t count past eight so it takes them a while. Same with a Rubik¡¯s cube.¡± He rummaged through his bag, pulling out a handful of mini versions of the toy. ¡°They have to try and solve it, but they¡¯re too dumb to do it. They¡¯ll spend hours twisting this thing around. I know hunters who tell a story about this one goblin who died of hunger trying to figure it out. It¡¯s probably not true,¡± he tossed the toys back in the bag, ¡°but it makes for a good urban legend.¡± ¡°Weird.¡± ¡°Distractions don¡¯t always work, though, especially once they get worked up into a rage. When that happens, you need something with a little more kick than puzzles. Guns and knives are a partial solution for that.¡± He pulled out a large hunting knife and a machete, followed by a pistol and a shotgun. Kimmie¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°The problem with goblins is that they¡¯re magic at their core. A bullet only stops them temporarily because they heal fast. You can take an arm, or a leg, you can make them bleed, you can gut them, but in the end the only thing that will kill a goblin, for good, is fire. You have to burn them to ashes.¡± He pulled out a plastic squeeze bottle with a light brown liquid in it. A sticker wrapped around one side had the word FLAMMABLE written in bright red marker. ¡°Why bring guns, then? Why not a flamethrower?¡± ¡°Flamethrowers are a little hard to carry around. And besides,¡± he hefted the shotgun in both hands, ¡°this baby may not kill them right away, but it¡¯ll sure as hell knock them senseless enough for me to light ¡®em up.¡± Kimmie gave him a condescending smile. ¡°Let me guess. You name your guns.¡± ¡°No,¡± he said, trying to cover up that he did, in fact, name his guns. ¡°Just the shotgun.¡± ¡°Well?¡± She raised her eyebrows expectantly. ¡°What is it?¡± Ollie lips formed a thin line. ¡°Remi.¡± ¡°Remi?¡± He held it up, showing it off a little bit. ¡°It¡¯s a Remington 870, with some customizations. Since I spent some time in New Orleans, some friends thought Remi would be appropriate.¡± ¡°Awww, no name for the little one?¡± ¡°When it earns one, it gets one.¡± Her smile threatened to turn into a laugh. Ollie shot her a look and she got herself under control. After a chuckle or two. ¡°I have a gun, too. At the house. For protection, mostly. I¡¯ve never used it, though. And I haven¡¯t named it. Although, I am partial to Tommy.¡± Ollie threw everything except for Remi back into the bag. ¡°What I have here should be more than enough for one goblin.¡± ¡°So,¡± Kimmie counted off the lessons, ¡°toys to distract them, guns to stun them, fire to kill them.¡± Ollie nodded. ¡°It ain¡¯t rocket science.¡± He sat down next to the boulder, the show-and-tell session done. ¡°There¡¯s some variety in what we do. Each hunter has his, or her, own style. Some use traps. Others use poisons or drugs.¡± Kimmie leaned forward. ¡°Drugs work on goblins?¡± ¡°Some do. Horse tranquilizers knock them right out. Vicodin makes them loopy. Any variation of hydrocodone, really. Or morphine, I think. Only catch is that it needs to be about two or three times more potent than what you¡¯d give a human, otherwise it only makes them dizzy. There¡¯s a few other variations on human drugs that will make goblins do some crazy stuff, but I don¡¯t mess with that unless I have to. I know a few hunters who like to experiment, but that¡¯s not my style.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a brute force kind of guy?¡± ¡°When I need to be.¡± He leaned back against the boulder and crossed his legs. ¡°Lots of hunters end up trying all these new tricks, so they can stand out from the crowd. Something that gets them a reputation, or a name. Some of them think they¡¯re superheroes. Others just get bored of the tried-and-true. In the end, though, they¡¯re outsmarting themselves. We¡¯re glorified pest control. That¡¯s it. Some of us don¡¯t want to accept that.¡± She leaned back and crossed her arms, mimicking his casual demeanor. A mischievous smile crossed her face. ¡°If it¡¯s so easy, then why do I need you?¡±Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. ¡°Because,¡± Ollie patted the shotgun lying on the ground next to him, ¡°we¡¯re not out here killing roaches, are we?¡± Kimmie looked around, taking in the darkened forest around them, and Ollie did the same. The moonlight was weak, making it hard to see anything other than the dark blue sky between a maze of black branches and leaves silhouetted against it. ¡°So where do goblins live? Caves?¡± He nodded slowly. ¡°Caves, mines, hollowed-out tree trunks, old tunnels, abandoned cars. They aren¡¯t too picky about their accommodations. They want someplace dark, and far away from people.¡± Kimmie¡¯s pocket buzzed. ¡°Is that your phone?¡± Ollie asked. Kimmie reached into her pack and pulled out a smartphone. ¡°Yep.¡± She checked her notifications, not seeing Ollie¡¯s scowl. ¡°Turn it off,¡± he said. The light from the screen lit up the clearing, making the LED lamp look silly in comparison. She looked up and saw his disapproval. She held down the power button until the phone signaled that it was powering off. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Just a precaution.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± she said as she slipped the phone back into her pack. ¡°Weird, but okay.¡± He ignored her. He leaned his head back and let his eyes wander across the treetops, looking for nothing in particular. Several minutes passed, and the quiet quickly gave way to the buzz of crickets. He glanced over at Kimmie, who stared off in the distance, lost in thought, and he wondered why he¡¯d so easily given in and let her hunt with him. Not only that, why he¡¯d let her see Grika. To be fair, she already knew about him, but he didn¡¯t have to confirm it. He didn¡¯t even wait five minutes before introducing the two of them. In fact, he¡¯d been acting out of character ever since meeting her. She was attractive, and she had an energy that he felt drawn to. He was certainly drawn to her, and in a different world he would be tempted to see if the feeling was mutual. He was only human. But something about her personality kept him continually off balance. ¡°I¡¯m guessing this is the boring part?¡± Kimmie asked, breaking the silence. He blinked, and realized she was looking back at him. He looked away. ¡°Get used to it. Lotta waiting around in this biz.¡± She made a noise that showed what she thought of that. They had time before Grika came back, so Ollie closed his eyes and let his mind wander, thinking back to his first few days with Roy and Gemma in New Orleans. They¡¯d had some friction at first, but that was to be expected. Three different backgrounds, three different skillsets, pushed together by a paranoid, doddering old woman who, despite her eccentricities, meant well. He and Gemma eventually found some common ground, and that had turned out pretty good for a while. Maybe that was why he allowed Kimmie to come with him tonight. Something more than simple attraction, or even the money. He was lonely. He liked working alone, and he liked being alone, but every once in a while he missed interacting with people, especially those who delved into the dark as much as he did. He knew spending too much time by himself, or with Grika, would eventually drive him insane. He¡¯d seen it happen to people he thought were far stronger than him. Maybe Kimmie could be a partner for him. Maybe he could do the mentor thing right this time. Don¡¯t be an idiot. This kind of work kills idiots. Ollie sighed at his dad¡¯s version of a pep talk. Unfortunately, he was right. This job wasn¡¯t meant for people with loved ones. His own life had made that painfully clear. ¡°So, where¡¯s your dad?¡± Ollie looked at her then closed his eyes again. ¡°You tell me. You went looking for him.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know where he is?¡± He settled in a little more against the tree. ¡°I know he¡¯s probably out hunting something.¡± Kimmie didn¡¯t say anything for a long moment. He waited for the inevitable follow-up questions. ¡°Do you and your dad not get along?¡± she asked, right on cue. ¡°Sorry, is that kind of personal?¡± He opened his eyes and gave her a warning look. She nodded in recognition. ¡°Gotcha. No talking about parents.¡± She nodded vigorously. ¡°I can definitely do that.¡± Ollie closed his eyes again, trying not to picture his dad barking at him while skulking about in the middle of the night in a forest just like this. He failed, so he opened his eyes. ¡°If we¡¯re not talking about our parents, then what about last names?¡± Kimmie furrowed her brow. ¡°What about them?¡± ¡°What kind of name is Blanco? Spanish?¡± ¡°Yep. My grandfather on my dad¡¯s side was from Spain, by way of Chicago, which is where you¡¯ll find most of the Blancos these days. My grandfather owned a haberdashery out there and one of my four uncles got the space next door and turned it into a bar. The South Side Cigar Bar. He¡¯s probably there right now, getting ready to close up for the night. My mom is half Japanese, though, in case you¡¯re wondering where I get my Harajuku Girl looks from. So was my aunt, who owned all of this before me. They were twins.¡± He nodded. ¡°So, where¡¯s mom?¡± She waved her finger back and forth. ¡°Nope. That¡¯s breaking the ¡®no talking about parents¡¯ pact.¡± He bowed his head deferentially. ¡°I apologize.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. You don¡¯t like to talk about your dad. I don¡¯t like to talk about my mom. Should be easy enough for both of us to remember what not to bring up.¡± She looked away, though not without stealing a glance at him. ¡°And Hauk?¡± she asked a moment later. ¡°Northern European mutt, as far as I know.¡± She nodded absently. ¡°Do you ever dream of places in Europe? Places you haven¡¯t been to?¡± He gave her a quizzical look. ¡°No.¡± ¡°I have these really vivid dreams of places in Japan that I¡¯ve never been to, or even seen pictures of, but when I dream about them, it¡¯s like I¡¯m in a real place. In fact, it¡¯s kind of creepy how real they feel.¡± He leaned his head back again. ¡°Some people remember their dreams better than others.¡± ¡°I guess. I¡¯ve never even been to Japan. I¡¯d like to go one of these days. My mom and my aunt were born there ¨C my grandfather was stationed there in the sixties ¨C but they moved here when they were little and never went back. I get this feeling sometimes like I need to visit the homeland and pay my respects or something. Go visit some temples and pray to the old gods.¡± She paused. ¡°It¡¯s a little creepy, now that I¡¯m saying it out loud.¡± ¡°Do you have dreams like that about Spain?¡± Kimmie thought about that for a moment. ¡°No. Not really. Weird, huh?¡± He gave a quick shake of his head. ¡°It makes sense. You fantasize about going to Japan, so you dream about exotic Japanese locales.¡± Ollie adjusted his position, getting comfortable. ¡°You don¡¯t do the same for Spain, so you don¡¯t dream about Barcelona or Madrid.¡± ¡°Hmmm.¡± Kimmie tapped her chin in thought. ¡°I¡¯ve spent a lot of time with my dad¡¯s family, but not as much with my mom or her family, outside of my aunt, of course. Maybe I have these dreams about Japan because I¡¯m missing some kind of connection with my extended family?¡± ¡°Sure. Go with that.¡± Kimmie stared up at the stars for a long moment. Just when Ollie thought the conversation was over she looked at him and winked. ¡°And you said this was boring. It¡¯s like a campout, only with scary stories that can kill you.¡± As if on cue, hurried footsteps trampled through the brush on the far side of the ledge. Ollie and Kimmie both jumped to their feet, and Ollie snatched Remi from the ground. A moment later, Grika¡¯s head peered over the edge. The pygmy jumped back, startled at the sight of Ollie holding his shotgun. ¡°Whoa. Careful with that!¡± Ollie lowered the weapon. ¡°Well?¡± Grika shimmied over the ledge and onto the boulder. ¡°Found a few whiffs here and there, but none of it was strong. Or recent. It was here at one time but I¡¯d guess it¡¯s moved on.¡± Ollie scrunched his forehead. ¡°It¡¯s not even in the area anymore?¡± Grika stood at the edge of the boulder, looking down at the two humans. ¡°Maybe. Like I said, he was here, but he hasn¡¯t been here in a while.¡± ¡°He has to be,¡± Kimmie said. ¡°I¡¯ve seen him near the house. I¡¯m sure it¡¯s him.¡± Grika shrugged his tiny shoulders. ¡°By the house and here are two different places, lassie. My nose isn¡¯t that big.¡± Ollie winked at Kimmie while stowing his shotgun back in the bag. ¡°Sounds like there¡¯s more than one stalker out here.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°It means it was living out here until it discovered you. Now it¡¯s relocated closer to home.¡± ¡°My home?¡± Ollie nodded. ¡°You said you¡¯ve seen signs of him around your house. Goblins are most active in the hours right after sunset. By the time we get back there and get everything set up, we¡¯ll have missed a good chunk of prime hunting time.¡± He hefted the bag over his shoulder. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re doing this again tomorrow, only this time in the daylight. It¡¯s time to show you some more tricks of the trade.¡± * Shortly after Ollie¡¯s Jeep disappeared down the road from the house, Kimmie went to her room and grabbed a box from her closet. She opened it and pulled out a digital high-speed camera, setting it on the table next to her. She opened the instructions and skimmed through, ignoring the long blocks of text and focusing on the pictures. She loaded an SD card into the camera and slung the strap around her neck as she made her way to the kitchen, camera box still in hand. She rounded up a handful of cookies and treats, and put them into the box, poking holes in the top and sides to let the smell escape. She didn¡¯t want every little raccoon and squirrel in her backyard to get a hold of the food inside. She left the house and walked around the back pen, finding a tree stump a few paces behind. She slowly waved her flashlight across the tree line that wrapped almost completely around her, wondering if those big eyes were somewhere in there, staring back. Watching her every move. She should be scared by that thought, but she wasn¡¯t. Normal people would be scared, right? She left the box on the tree stump and jogged back to the house. Once inside, she set the camera up on the sill of her bedroom window, which overlooked the back pen, and the tree stump behind it. She plugged the camera into the motion detector system she¡¯d bought several months back, hooking it into the rear zone detector, which she¡¯d set behind the pen so it wouldn¡¯t be triggered by the cows and pigs. Once she was done, she settled into a cozy reading chair next to the window and turned off the lights so she could see outside. An hour later, despite her best efforts to stay awake, she fell asleep in the chair, snoring softly as something moved behind the back pen. It shuffled from tree to tree, triggering the motion detector as it reached the treats on the stump. The camera flashed several times in succession, but she didn¡¯t notice. She was busy dreaming of a rural snowstorm somewhere in Japan. Chapter 13 Ollie cruised up the winding cemetery road. The driver side window was down, his elbow hanging out as he searched the grounds for anything that might show goblin activity in a cemetery ¨C chipped headstones, leftover junk or food, trampled flowers. To be fair, those could also be signs of poorly behaved teenagers, but Ollie couldn¡¯t do much about the fact that teens and goblins were nearly indistinguishable. The only thing he saw, however, was a long, annoyed stare from the old groundskeeper, who was busy tending to a row of plants on the far side. Ollie gave him a friendly wave and a quick smile, then tapped the gas pedal, quickening his pace to the top of the hill. He got a definite weird vibe from this place but couldn¡¯t put his finger on what exactly weirded him out. It was possible that Kimmie¡¯s goblin was the same one wandering out this way, making occasional forays into town, via the cemetery, to get food or steal trinkets. Although it would be a little underwhelming if that¡¯s all this Ferndale trip turned out to be. Once at the top of the hill, the cemetery ended and the road continued south, swerving around the edge of the forest. Ollie followed it for a minute and discovered that it passed a gravel lot that cut into the woods about a quarter mile south of the hilltop. After that, the road stretched on for several miles, eventually reaching a wide valley, and then more hills beyond. He turned around and kept his eye on the forest to the west. Prime goblin land, based on what maps of the area showed. Secretly, Ollie hoped he was on to much more than a simple roving goblin sneaking peeks through back windows. He¡¯d always craved a good hunt, and the bigger the target, the more satisfied he felt afterward. Like he¡¯d made the world a better place. But the only evidence so far that his simple theory was wrong was the fact that the cemetery and Kimmie¡¯s house weren¡¯t exactly close to each other. A few miles apart, at least. That¡¯s quite a hike for a goblin to be making on a regular basis. But not unheard of. He¡¯d eventually bring Grika out here and spend the day hiking until he found something concrete. A trail, a totem, a lair. He had his suspicions about what killed Kimmie¡¯s aunt and uncle, and this goblin wasn¡¯t high on that list. Catching it, however, might give him some hard answers and get him closer to the real culprit. That¡¯s where his focus needed to be. On Kimmie¡¯s goblin. And on Kimmie herself, he thought idly. He¡¯d given up quite a bit of himself last night already, and if he was going to take her into his confidence even more, he needed to know more about her. And to do that, he needed to talk to people. He sighed as he drove back to Ferndale. He really wished he had more than one source in this town. * The Chief rolled down Ferndale¡¯s Main Street as Ollie searched for a place to park. He found a spot on the side of the road about a block past where he wanted to go, in between a green hatchback and a large white sedan. He backed into it with the finesse of a figure skater. Driving this beast of a vehicle forced him to hone certain skills far beyond that of regular people, and that came in handy on crowded, small-town streets. He hopped out of the truck and backtracked down the sidewalk until he stood in front of the Fickle Nickel. Rosie seemed to be the type of woman who liked to talk, and he needed a little more information about what he was getting into. And who he was getting into it with. This was the cost of doing business. Luckily for him, Kimmie had already offered to pay for it. He took a deep breath then walked inside, determined to find the cheapest part of the store. Rosie was at the counter, helping a few other customers, so Ollie used the opportunity to move as far away from the figurines as possible. Unfortunately, he found himself standing next to an assortment of old clocks with price tags starting at $140. He stepped away, looking around frantically for price tags in the single digits.Stolen story; please report. ¡°You¡¯re back!¡± Rosie appeared from behind the corner, and Ollie flashed a self-effacing smile. ¡°Couldn¡¯t stay away.¡± She waved a finger at the figurines on the far side of the store. ¡°Looking for more of those for your collection?¡± Ollie¡¯s smile faltered. ¡°I might be,¡± he said unconvincingly. She took his arm and led him over to the shelf, as Ollie tried to hide his disdain for the ridiculous ceramic animals. ¡°No more bears, I¡¯m afraid.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s a good thing we have plenty of other animals for your little menagerie.¡± She grabbed an elephant from the shelf, easily the largest, and likely the most expensive, figurine she had. ¡°Maybe this one?¡± Ollie felt a twinge of anxiety. ¡°Not sure that fits what I¡¯m going for.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She placed it back on the shelf. Before she could grab another, he cut in. ¡°Can I ask you a couple quick touristy questions?¡± ¡°Certainly, hon.¡± She squeezed his arm. ¡°And I am so flattered you decided to come back to me get those questions answered.¡± He forced all of his charm into his smile. ¡°Well, you definitely seem like someone who¡¯s in the know. My cousin is coming into town with her husband, and they were looking for a bed and breakfast. Any good ones you can recommend?¡¯ ¡°Oh, well, that¡¯s like asking which child is your favorite, when you have three dozen of them.¡± She laughed. ¡°I was looking into them and I found one over by the coast, down Hillside Lane. Run by a woman with the name Blanco?¡± ¡°Oh yes! Kimmie Blanco.¡± Rosie gasped and covered her mouth. ¡°She¡¯s the niece of the Harons, who you asked about last time.¡± Ollie feigned surprise. ¡°Really? That¡¯s an odd coincidence.¡± ¡°That¡¯s an understatement.¡± She shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve known Kimmie since she was little. Wonderful young woman. I haven¡¯t been to her house since her aunt passed, but I hear wonderful things about what she¡¯s done to that place.¡± ¡°So, she¡¯s an upright citizen and all that?¡± ¡°Oh, of course. She¡¯s done really well for herself, considering everything she¡¯s been through. Poor girl.¡± ¡°You mean her aunt and uncle?¡± ¡°That¡¯s only part of it.¡± Rosie waved her hand and made a tsking sound. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t gossip, but I think it¡¯s fairly well-known here in town. Her mother had a difficult time with drugs. That¡¯s why she lived with her aunt for so long. Mom disappeared to parts unknown when Kimmie was in elementary school. Just abandoned her own daughter. Can you imagine that? I think I heard she finally tracked her down while she was in college, somewhere in Denver, maybe? I couldn¡¯t tell you what came of that.¡± She lowered her voice. ¡°You didn¡¯t hear any of that from me, though.¡± Ollie smiled. ¡°Who would I tell?¡± A parent caught up in drugs seemed like an obvious reason to not want to talk about them. No big mystery there. And if Kimmie had any serious issues, the kind of issues he needed to know about before teaching her how to hunt goblins, he suspected Rosie would have started with those. With that out of the way, he could poke into the lore of the town a bit more. ¡°So, when they get here, my cousin and her husband, I¡¯d like to be able to tell them a little bit more about the town than what¡¯s on the brochures. They¡¯re definitely interested in seeing the graveyard. Are there any good stories you can tell me about it? Something that would impress them?¡± ¡°The Ferndale Historic Cemetery, you mean?¡± She smiled, jesting with him. ¡°Like I was telling you last time, it¡¯s a really good place to go if you like history. All the old city founders are buried up there, and dozens of prominent families. And it¡¯s beautifully tended. Oh, and of course the view is amazing. You can see for miles up there. Other than that, though, not much happens. It is a graveyard, you know.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have any good stories about ghosts or goblins? Seeing as how it¡¯s getting close to Halloween?¡± ¡°Oh. You mean something scary?¡± She thought about it for a moment. ¡°I can¡¯t recall anything too outrageous. Every once in a while, we get teenagers goofing around up there, but they¡¯ve never done anything to write home about. I remember a couple ghost stories from when I was a kid, but that was only my grandfather trying to get us kids all worked up.¡± ¡°No recent craziness, though?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Nothing. Unless I just missed out on the gossip, which is not likely.¡± She gave him a wide grin. ¡°I¡¯d tell you right away if there was something worth knowing about, but I don¡¯t have your number, now that I think about it.¡± She winked at him, and Ollie laughed to cover up his discomfort. ¡°You are quite the flirt, Rosie.¡± In desperation to change the subject, Ollie grabbed another figurine. A giant baboon with a $99 price tag. Just his luck that he couldn¡¯t accidentally grab a cheaper one. ¡°And let¡¯s go ahead and ring this one up. I feel like doing a Jungle Book theme this time.¡± Chapter 14 Ollie stopped the truck halfway down the gravel road leading to Kimmie¡¯s house and killed the ignition. He grabbed his duffle bag from the backseat and started the long walk up to the house, where Kimmie said she¡¯d be waiting on the front porch. They¡¯d decided that it might look bad to her boarders if he kept pulling up to the house and then disappearing with her into the woods for hours at a time. So, they¡¯d do their hunting with a little discretion. He reached the house to find Kimmie sitting on the porch swing, dressed in rugged outdoor clothes. She hopped up and bounded across the driveway toward him. ¡°Where¡¯s Grika?¡± He adjusted the bag on his shoulder. ¡°I left him in the hotel with a bucket of chicken. We¡¯re only setting up traps today, so we don¡¯t need him out here getting your dogs all riled up.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Her cheery expression melted away, only to return when she remembered what she held in her hand. ¡°I got a picture!¡± She held up the photo. Ollie scrunched his forehead and leaned in close to see it. ¡°It¡¯s distorted, though,¡± she said. She turned it to get more of the moonlight. ¡°It¡¯s a blurry shape between those two taller shapes. Those are trees, by the way.¡± ¡°How did you get that?¡± ¡°I attached a camera to the motion detector I have in the back of the house. When something moves on the far side of the pen, the camera goes psht!¡± She flashed her fingers out to emphasize the effect. ¡°Why did you expect one to be rummaging around right in that spot?¡± ¡°I baited it. With dog treats. And candy. And a little bit of leftover pie that¡¯s been in my refrigerator since last Tuesday.¡± She smiled like a kid who¡¯d just aced a test. Ollie came to a halt, his lips slowly forming into a scowl that gave quite the opposite impression. ¡°So, it¡¯s not enough that you have one of these things hanging nearby, you have to lure it right up to your house? Where you have innocent people staying?¡± Kimmie¡¯s excited demeanor melted away. ¡°Oh¡­¡± She glanced back at the house, covering her mouth as she did. ¡°Oh my God. I didn¡¯t think about that.¡± Ollie turned to face her, exasperated. ¡°This is what I¡¯ve been trying to warn you about. You think you¡¯re bulletproof, but you aren¡¯t, and neither are your boarders. You already have people dying out in the middle of the woods, now you want bodies on your kitchen floor?¡± ¡°No,¡± she whispered. She seemed genuinely appalled by what she¡¯d done, but Ollie didn¡¯t let that stop him. She needed a reminder of what she was getting into. ¡°What if, after those snacks, it decided to bash down your back door and take what it wanted from your kitchen? And what if Wendy had been in its way? This is not a game. You can¡¯t be this reckless anymore. You have to be¨C.¡± ¡°Reckless?¡± Kimmie blinked at the accusation. Suddenly, her lips tightened, and she straightened her shoulders. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, why is it not reckless for you to chase monsters through the forest at night? You can traipse through the woods, bashing goblins on the head with your inferiority complex of a shotgun, but I¡¯m the one being reckless?¡± Ollie held up a finger. ¡°Hold on. First, I don¡¯t traipse anywhere. I walk, or I run. Second, my shotgun is not indicative of anything other than a need to shoot goblins in the face. Same with my truck, because I know you were going there next. Third, you want to chase goblins? Fine. Do it to your heart¡¯s content.¡± He pointed at the forest on the other side of the house. ¡°Out there. Way out there.¡± He started walking again. She followed while also taking a deep, unnecessarily loud breath. ¡°Do you enjoy being a little bit mean to people?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t complain to me when Wendy and Albert are dead.¡± He held out his arms. ¡°That¡¯s all I¡¯m saying.¡± He left the driveway and wandered around to the back of the house. He followed the path up the hill and into the trees, Kimmie walking silently behind. He regretted being so harsh, but it was necessary. His dad had hammered the same lessons into him every day, without sparing Ollie¡¯s feelings. And as much as he actively tried not to be like his old man, he had to admit Jed had done some things right in his life. And stressing the danger of hunting to his children was one of them. This wasn¡¯t a game. He stopped a few minutes later at a clearing in the woods and dropped his bag on the dirt path. He turned around in a circle, scanning the trees for suitable spots for a goblin trap. ¡°So now what?¡± Kimmie asked. She still had a look of annoyance plastered on her face. ¡°We need to find spots to build some traps. Thanks to your picture, we know he¡¯s coming out this way at night, so we¡¯ll stick close to the path for now, if that¡¯s what he¡¯s using to travel by.¡± ¡°Whatever you say.¡±The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Ollie bit his tongue. One blowup a day was more than enough. He leaned over and unzipped his bag, then pulled out a coil of nylon twine. He found a skinny tree branch nearby and tied one end of the twine a little past the midpoint of the branch, pulling it down a bit to test how much give it had. He crouched down and searched for an exposed root he could use as a trigger. ¡°Is that a tripwire?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a snare.¡± She didn¡¯t say anything in response. For some reason Ollie felt the need to fill the silence. ¡°This twine will end up as a loop, somewhere low to the ground. I¡¯ll put a toy or some bait in the middle, and when the goblin reaches for it, if he nudges the edge of the loop, it¡¯ll release the tension on this branch and then zip up around his arm. It won¡¯t take him long to get out of it, but it should be enough time for us to get to him and knock him out.¡± Another awkward silence. He found a suitable root and pulled his hunting knife out of a sheath on his belt. He carved a small notch on the side, then searched the ground for a small stick to use as the trigger for his snare. A few moments later, Kimmie finally spoke. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure my aunt and uncle were killed by a goblin.¡± He glanced back to see her staring at the ground, a blank expression on her face. ¡°I know that¡¯s why you asked about them in the first place. It¡¯s not like bear attacks are that common.¡± He turned back to the trap. ¡°I have my suspicions.¡± There was no response at first. Then, ¡°So you believe me? You think that¡¯s what killed them? This goblin?¡± Ollie sighed. ¡°It probably wasn¡¯t a bear.¡± Kimmie laughed, her expression brightening briefly before the serious look returned. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. You were right. I should have thought about Wendy and Albert, and Mariah and David. It¡¯s not fair to get them involved in this. It¡¯s just¡­¡± Her voice trailed off. Ollie kept his eyes on the trap. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± He got on his hands and knees, scouring through the dead leaves and grass for a suitable stick that would fit in the notch. ¡°You used a digital camera, didn¡¯t you?¡± He glanced back at her and she nodded. ¡°Goblin magic screws those things up. You need an old-school camera, with film. Get the disposable ones. It¡¯ll still be fuzzy, but not as bad.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She stared at the picture for a while. ¡°Wait. How does goblin magic screw up a digital camera?¡± ¡°Magic and electricity don¡¯t mix. They¡¯re like,¡± he smacked his fists together repeatedly, ¡°two magnets with the same pull. They push each other apart. Only worse. Electricity is like a constant whine in a goblin¡¯s head. That¡¯s why they hide out here, in remote areas. They avoid people, and towns. Which means there¡¯s a reason you have one so close to your house.¡± ¡°Is that why you told me to turn off my cell phone?¡± He nodded. ¡°They can hear it. Phones are pretty loud compared to other devices, so goblins know right away when humans are encroaching on their turf. Most of the time they hear it and go into hiding to keep from getting discovered. Every once in a while, though,¡± he raised an eyebrow in warning, ¡°they use it as a beacon so they can do some hunting of their own.¡± She nodded in thought. ¡°Do you have a phone?¡± ¡°Yeah, but I keep it back in my room, and it¡¯s usually turned off.¡± ¡°Does it hurt Grika?¡± He shook his head, resuming his search. ¡°Pygmies can hear it but they aren¡¯t usually bothered by it. They¡¯re more about scent, and less about sense.¡± He stressed the consonants in each of those words. He found a stick and broke it in half. He tested jamming it into the notch on the root, bracing the other end on the ground. ¡°I need to tell you something,¡± Kimmie said. ¡°Full disclosure, you know?¡± He turned his attention to her. ¡°There¡¯s a reason I was so adamant about hunting with you.¡± Kimmie chewed her lip and stared at the ground. ¡°I want us to catch the goblin together because,¡± she paused, searching for the words, ¡°I need it to be me. If this thing killed my aunt and uncle, then I need to see its face, and look it in the eye when I tell it how much they meant to me. How much I miss my uncle¡¯s fishing trips to Stone Lagoon, or my aunt¡¯s...¡± Her voice broke. Ollie froze, unsure what to do, or how to comfort her. ¡°Her name was Annabelle. To me, she was Auntie Belle. She was more than that, though. She was my mom, when my mom couldn¡¯t be there for me. She always was. Uncle Rob, too. They both went out of their way to give me a home and make me feel wanted. And now they¡¯re both gone.¡± She shrugged. ¡°People don¡¯t even ask me about them anymore. It¡¯s like the world just forgot about them.¡± He didn¡¯t say anything. He couldn¡¯t. He¡¯d think of his own family, and he might break down right here with her. Kimmie wiped a tear from her cheek. She looked up at him, red eyed and rosy cheeked, but with concrete resolve on her face. ¡°I¡¯m not an adrenaline junkie. That¡¯s not why I¡¯m doing this. This is about¡­¡± She looked away for a moment. ¡°It¡¯s about closure.¡± Ollie gave her a sympathetic nod. He wondered if she knew how much he could relate to what she¡¯d gone through. How much he¡¯d lost to this stupid profession, and even more stupid mistakes. But he also knew how a blind thirst for vengeance could destroy her life. ¡°I was a little harsh.¡± He stood up and brushed the dirt from his hands. ¡°I¡¯ve seen what happens when people let anger control them. I don¡¯t see that in you. But you need to know that no matter what you do to this thing, it won¡¯t bring your aunt and uncle back.¡± ¡°I know. They¡¯re gone.¡± A sad smile formed on her lips. ¡°I¡¯m not looking for some magic pill that makes everything better. All I want to do is ask, ¡®Why?¡¯¡± She looked up at the sky for a minute, then sniffed. ¡°And you don¡¯t have to worry about me hacking it apart with an axe like a backwoods serial killer. I can¡¯t even hurt a fly.¡± He thought she was joking at first, but she didn¡¯t laugh. ¡°Seriously. I¡¯m incapable of hurting any living creature. I don¡¯t even kill bugs in my house. I trap them and release them outside. So how am I going to kill something that can look me in the eye? A living, breathing thing? If it even breathes, which I¡¯m not completely sure it does since you told me it¡¯s magic. But either way, I don¡¯t have it in me to kill, no matter how angry I still am.¡± She looked away. ¡°That¡¯s why I need you here. To pull the trigger.¡± He resisted the urge to walk over and give her a hug, even though she looked like she needed one. ¡°We¡¯ll find it,¡± he said, ¡°and you¡¯ll have your closure, if you want it. Just¡­¡± He crouched back down and pretended to work on the trap, unwilling to look at her directly. ¡°Be careful about getting your hopes up.¡± She wiped the tears from her cheeks. ¡°Why?¡± He took a deep breath. Hopefully he could be gentle with her about this part. ¡°When a goblin kills someone, it¡¯s usually blunt force trauma. They beat people to death, then scratch them up after the fact to make it look like an animal attack. I read the articles on your aunt and uncle, and that isn¡¯t how they died. They were,¡± he paused, ¡°torn apart from the beginning.¡± She stared at him for a long time. ¡°Are you saying they weren¡¯t killed by a goblin?¡± ¡°I¡¯m saying maybe they weren¡¯t killed by a goblin.¡± Her expression went cold. ¡°But¡­ if it wasn¡¯t a goblin, then¡­?¡± ¡°This is what I¡¯ve been trying to tell you. Goblins are just the tip of the iceberg. There¡¯s a long list of monsters out there, most of them way worse than goblins, all of them waiting to end you and everyone you know.¡± He turned around, finishing the trap for real this time. ¡°A very long list.¡± Chapter 15 Hours passed by in that clearing, and all of them proved enlightening for Kimmie. Ollie set up nearly a dozen traps on or near the main path, and Kimmie studied each one like a child watching a magic trick. She learned how to create snare traps that used tension to hook a creature¡¯s foot or arm. Or a spring snare that would catch its prey and string it up, like something out of a Bugs Bunny cartoon. They set up trip wires with small bells, to alert them of the goblin¡¯s location, and hopefully send it tumbling into one of the snares. He showed her a small deadfall trap, which would collapse a heavy object from above once a trigger was activated. They didn¡¯t have time to set up a big enough deadfall for a goblin, but she at least understood the mechanics of making one. Another trap that was demonstrated in concept but not actually implemented was the spring spear, a particularly deadly device, and dangerous to use if other people might be around. The spring spear was designed to impale its target with a spearpoint attached to a long piece of wood under tension. Almost like a cocked, stationary crossbow. Ollie showed her how to make a small-scale version, suitable for critters the size of a squirrel or rabbit, but he also warned her that it was best saved for life-or-death situations. For each of the traps, Ollie produced a tiny, keychain Rubik¡¯s Cube, irresistible bait for a lowly greenie. Ollie had asked her if any kids ever wandered through these woods on their way back from the beach. If they saw some of these toys and leaned over to pick them up, they¡¯d be in for a shocking surprise. She told him that people rarely wandered through her land, save for her boarders every so often. The four she had right now had shown no interest in hiking through the hills, though, so they figured the area was safe for at least a night or two. After the traps were set, the two of them settled into a small clearing roughly equidistant from each of the traps. Ollie had laid them out this way on purpose. No matter what direction the goblin approached from, he¡¯d trip something. Especially if he was drawn to the pungent smell of rhubarb pie that Kimmie had brought from her kitchen. Kimmie glanced at her watch, having left her phone at the house. It was already 9:45 PM. Over an hour since sunset and they¡¯d heard nothing yet. ¡°Does my watch mess with magic?¡± she asked. ¡°It¡¯s electric. It runs on a battery.¡± Ollie shook his head. ¡°They¡¯d only hear it if it was right up next to them. Phones are different since they broadcast cell and Wi-Fi signals. Those are harder to miss.¡± Kimmie leaned back on the beach towel she¡¯d laid out on the ground, folding her hands behind her head. ¡°You¡¯d think we¡¯d have heard something by now. Even a badger should have hit one of the traps by accident.¡± ¡°The tension on the wires is too tight. It would have to be a really fat badger to trip it.¡± A woman laughed far to the north, back in the direction of Kimmie¡¯s house. They both perked up and Ollie looked at Kimmie. ¡°Sounds like Mariah,¡± Kimmie said. ¡°She might be out on the patio with David, or taking a walk. I forget how close we are to the house.¡± Ollie exhaled and leaned back on the towel she¡¯d brought for him. ¡°As long as they don¡¯t come out here.¡± She grinned. ¡°Sounds like they¡¯re enjoying the patio.¡± ¡°At least someone is enjoying the night.¡± Kimmie was taken aback. ¡°You aren¡¯t having fun?¡± He flashed her a sly smile. ¡°It could be worse, I guess.¡± She gave him a curious look and he turned away, fidgeting with his hands. Was he flirting with her? She debated giving him a hard time about it, then decided to let him off easy. For now. ¡°How much longer do we stay out here?¡± ¡°Another hour at the most. If we don¡¯t hear anything by then, he¡¯s not out here.¡± He settled in against the tree at his back and stared up at the sky. Kimmie allowed herself a quick glance at his rugged features before looking away. Take away the scraggly beard and the gruff personality and he was very handsome. Not that anything would happen, but she could admit to a small schoolgirl crush on the mysterious bad boy. One she¡¯d had since first seeing his picture a couple months ago. The Goblin King on CoN had been insistent on bringing in one of the Hauk boys, and she had to admit it hadn¡¯t been a terrible idea. Almost half an hour passed with only occasional small talk. They mostly sat quietly and listened to the sounds of the forest as it came alive around them. An owl hooted in the distance, something scurried through the leaves a few yards away, and bugs made their bug sounds. Her thoughts eventually returned to what Ollie had said earlier, about there being worse things than goblins. He seemed reluctant to follow up on that, so she hadn¡¯t asked, not wanting to ruin their newfound d¨¦tente. But the more she thought about it, the more she wondered what he might be keeping from her. Worse things than goblins ended up being a long list. Hobgoblins, trow, kallikantzaros, kol¡¯sku, redcaps, just to name a few. Not to mention creatures summoned by magic. One goblin didn¡¯t scare her, even though it should. The idea that worse than goblins could be wandering through her land, though, made her skin crawl. She looked at Ollie again, and she wondered if he really knew what killed her aunt and uncle. If he did, would he tell her? She thought about that for a while, and in the end, she decided she wasn¡¯t so sure he would. ¡°You avoided my question earlier,¡± Kimmie said. Ollie glanced at her, confused. ¡°You never said if you¡¯ve seen a hobgoblin.¡± She watched him replay that earlier conversation in his mind. He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. ¡°You¡¯ve been holding on to that for a while, huh?¡±Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. She shrugged playfully. ¡°I can¡¯t let you keep all of your secrets.¡± He leaned his head back against the tree behind him. ¡°Okay. They¡¯re rare, but I¡¯ve seen a few hobgoblins. One was even a king.¡± ¡°A king?¡± Kimmie¡¯s mouth hung open. ¡°A real goblin king?¡± He nodded. ¡°And it was a hobgoblin?¡± ¡°This one was.¡± He crossed his arms. ¡°Hobgoblins are bullies, so they tend to be pack leaders. And kings are usually just the strongest pack leader in the area.¡± ¡°How many goblins in a pack?¡± Ollie shrugged. ¡°It depends on how many are in the area, or how strong the clans are.¡± ¡°Ooooh, clans!¡± She leaned forward and crossed her legs, an eager student. ¡°I read about those. They¡¯re called the¡­¡± she paused, thinking back to her research, ¡°the Golak, the Partha, and the Raveen. Right?¡± He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°The Golak are the warriors, the Raveen are the spies, and the Partha are the smart ones.¡± ¡°Not bad.¡± He gave her an impressed nod. ¡°There¡¯s actually dozens of clans these days, but those are the original three, and they¡¯re still the largest, at least back East. Probably the same out here. Those guys are the old guard, and that holds a lot of clout in goblin circles. That¡¯s why all the smaller clans tend to emulate aspects of those original three. They¡¯re not really innovative.¡± ¡°Ooooh. Tell me more, Mr. Goblin History professor.¡± He shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not the guy for that. My dad has more giant notebooks full of notes and drawings and stuff than I can count, and all of it contradicts itself. Some say goblins are corrupted versions of dwarves, or elves, or fairies. Or they were created from the ground and the trees by a Norse god named Drauga. That¡¯s what a lot of the goblins themselves tend to believe, but even they don¡¯t know for sure. Ask ten of them where they come from and you might get ten different answers. And that¡¯s only if they aren¡¯t spouting off whatever the current king or their pack leader is making them believe. Although¡­¡± he paused for a moment, staring at the ground. ¡°What?¡± ¡°You brought up the original three clans,¡± he began, before tailing off again. ¡°Right¡­?¡± ¡°There¡¯s actually four.¡± She cocked her head in surprise. ¡°There are?¡± ¡°Not everyone knows that.¡± He looked away, letting his thoughts wander. ¡°When I was younger, maybe around ten or eleven, my dad and I went hunting out in the Appalachias, outside this town called Maybrook. We went down into this old mine shaft, where the locals are hearing distant screams and weird sounds. It was a goblin, of course, and we caught it at the base of an abandoned shaft, way, way deep below ground. Like, so far below ground that the air gets thick, and you can feel the weight of the earth above you.¡± He shook his head. ¡°Anyway, we trap it, and as we walk up to it, we can tell by how it¡¯s swaying and chanting and growling that it¡¯s some stupidly savage thing. Even weirder, though, is that it painted itself white from head to toe. And it has crazy yellow eyes with red streaks in them. ¡°This was back in the days when my dad was a little more studious. He liked to catalogue what he found, trying to find physiological connections, or make cultural observations. He was part pest control, part sociologist in those days. He asks the goblin some questions, and at first it won¡¯t talk. But my dad notices a few things that most people wouldn¡¯t. First, when it painted itself, it used a brush. Not its hands, which most goblins would do. That means it was very deliberate and careful about the whole thing. Very un-goblin-like. Second, this thing has brands on its skin. Now, goblins will do war paint, or tattoos, or even scars. But not brands. Fire ends them, so a goblin messing around with brands is a whole other level of crazy. ¡°Third, this goblin has stained teeth and its eyes have streaks of red mixed in with the yellow. We never really figured out what was going on with the eyes, but the teeth were stained a reddish color. And my dad figured out that the red was coming from blood. At first I thought it was eating people, but no. My dad knew right away that it was Goblin blood. This thing was eating other goblins.¡± Kimmie gasped. ¡°Seriously?¡± ¡°So, my dad goes into his spiel, laying out what he knows about it, and the goblin just relaxes and starts blabbing to us. It¡¯s like it wanted to tell us its secrets, and once my dad figured a few of them out, it decided to let us in on everything. And I¡¯ll tell you what, these guys make other goblins look like church choirs doing a bake sale. ¡°They call themselves the Arunak. They believe in some goblin god we¡¯ve never heard of named Arun, who they believe is the true King of All Goblins. They think they¡¯re supposed to inherit the mantle of ¡®favored son¡¯ for this guy, and they go about it by taking out the other clans, who they consider weak. And they do it by becoming a mix of cannibal, vampire, and terrorist. Other goblins hate them. They¡¯re scared to death of them.¡± Kimmie scanned her brain for any mention of the name Arunak, but she couldn¡¯t remember ever seeing or hearing the name. ¡°How come no one knows about them?¡± ¡°Most of them died out centuries ago. I¡¯ve only ever seen the one, which is good, because they¡¯re scary. Fanatical. But my dad looked into them some more and found some stories and rumors that say they¡¯ve been around for nearly a thousand years.¡± Kimmie shuddered. ¡°What happened to the one you caught? The Arunak?¡± ¡°We destroyed it. It didn¡¯t even fight us, not really. I think it had already resigned itself to dying. Like its purpose was gone. Or¡­ gone somewhere else.¡± Ollie stared off into the distance again, reliving some distant memory. Kimmie found herself wondering how much craziness he¡¯d seen in his life, growing up as the son of a famous goblin hunter. Who took their ten-year-old son down into abandoned mine shafts to hunt goblins? She thought her life was strange. ¡°Why did they die out?¡± He shrugged. ¡°Maybe the other clans knew way back then how messed up these guys were and tried to rectify the problem early on.¡± He continued his silent reverie for another few moments, until Kimmie interrupted him. ¡°What do you think this goblin is?¡± she asked. ¡°What clan?¡± ¡°Do you remember any markings on him? Anything identifiable?¡± She shook her head. ¡°I guess we¡¯ll find out when we catch him. And once we do that, maybe he can lead us to the bigger fish.¡± Kimmie¡¯s face brightened as she realized Ollie¡¯s plan. ¡°You think there might be more than one goblin around here.¡± ¡°I¡¯m getting that sense,¡± he nodded thoughtfully. ¡°I would have been on it sooner, too, if you hadn¡¯t hijacked me into going after this little guy.¡± ¡°Hijacked?¡± ¡°You know you did. You can admit it.¡± He gave her a look that nearly melted her knees. Kimmie looked away, making a show of it as she did. ¡°I admit nothing.¡± She caught him smiling at her. She winked, and he got flustered, shifting around on the ground and adjusting his jacket. She was pretty sure she could see his cheeks reddening, even in the dark. ¡°Anyway,¡± he said, his serious face taking back over, ¡°I figured going after this one would help me find any others in the area. That¡¯s still the plan, except,¡± he hesitated, ¡°if he¡¯s out on his own, he might not be much use, anymore. Which means we might be too late to find out what happened to your aunt and uncle.¡± Kimmie felt a stab of unease, and whatever feel-good moment she¡¯d had melted away. The idea of capturing a goblin and still not learning how Rob and Belle had died hadn¡¯t even occurred to her. No, she told herself. She¡¯d come too far down this path to let that mystery fade into the ether. Fortunately for her, Ollie was teaching her skills she could use to continue the chase, long after he left. And she was determined to put all of them to good use. Chapter 16 Another half-hour passed in the clearing before Ollie decided they¡¯d waited long enough and called it a night. Once back at the house, Ollie continued down the gravel road to his truck, while Kimmie closed the front door and watched through her window as his headlights lit up the trees on either side of road. Once the light faded out of sight, she grabbed more treats from the kitchen, being careful not to alert Tank and Bentley, or her boarders, then hurried back to her room. She rummaged through the closet, pulling out a plastic bag with three disposable cameras she¡¯d bought several years prior. She grabbed one, hoping it still worked, along with her towel and a new camouflage blanket, and then slipped out the door leading from her bedroom onto the back patio. She double-checked the bedroom windows to make sure no one was still awake, and then worked her way back to the clearing. She walked down the path, stopping well short of the closest traps. Ollie had set them up a good distance from the house, hoping to deal with the goblin without alerting her boarders. Given how often it lurked in the shadows at the edge of her backyard, she was pretty sure he¡¯d gone too far. So, she found a somewhat clean place off to the side of the path, only a few dozen yards from the tree line, right next to a big oak tree. She folded her towel in half and then sat on it, settling in against the trunk, wrapping her blanket tightly around her shoulders. Her camera rested on her lap, primed and ready to take a picture, with flash, which meant she¡¯d only get one or two pictures off before the goblin ran away. She wasn¡¯t sure why she needed a picture, other than the fact that it felt important to her. She supposed seeing it would allow her a glimpse into its soul, if it had one. Right now, this goblin, or greenie, whatever it was, was nothing more than a mysterious, intangible thing roaming around in the vast expanse of her land. She had a vague sense that if she could put a face to the monster, she could get some peace, and all the noise in her head would finally settle down. And Ollie couldn¡¯t say anything about her coming out here. She wasn¡¯t luring it to the house this time. She was going to it. Exactly what he told her to do. Weariness set in, and she leaned her head against the tree, fighting to keep her eyes open. Coffee would have been a great idea, but she¡¯d neglected to think of that while still in the house. And if she went back, she¡¯d either fall asleep there, or miss out on something here. She decided to stay outside and fight through the fatigue. Despite her best efforts, though, sleep took her. She dreamed of a forest, a much different one, somewhere in Japan. She didn¡¯t know how she knew that, but it never occurred to her it could be anywhere else. She saw the forest from above, a sprawling sea of green, speckled with white, and sitting in the shadow of a majestic mountain. Thick grey clouds roiled the sky and snow whirled through the air, slowly blotting out the green from the forest canopy. She floated downward, falling gently toward the thickest part of the woods, toward a small stone structure nestled between the trees. Somewhere within that building, a voice called to her. A desperate voice. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked around frantically, realizing with some dismay that she was back in California, sitting on the ground, waiting for a dangerous goblin to wander by. At some point during her slumber the camera had fallen to the ground next to her, but that wasn¡¯t what woke her up. It was the sound of a twig snapping.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. She froze. The sound had come from directly in front of her. She scanned the darkness, searching for anything out of the ordinary. Some movement above the brush, or a humanoid shape. There. On the far side of the clearing, a silhouette, dark, and bent over. She thought about her camera, but she was too afraid to reach for it. The figure moved, taking one slow step at a time. Kimmie held her breath, praying that a stray streak of moonlight caught it, revealing what she already knew it to be. The gods were with her, because as soon as she wished for it, it happened. The figure walked through the clearing where a silver shaft of light slashed across it for the briefest of moments, flushing it out from the impenetrable darkness that kept it safe. A goblin. Not just a goblin. The goblin. It was short, like she remembered, hunched over like a French monastic bell ringer. In the moonlight, the green skin was now chalky grey, and the yellow eyes were muted. Its hands were overly large for its thin, lanky arms. In fact, much of the goblin¡¯s body had the lean, wiry look of one of those chimpanzees Ollie had talked about. She had no doubt this thing could knock her senseless with one good punch. Another step returned it to the darkness, but Kimmie could still see it, just not with her eyes. Her memory of it implanted itself over the shadowy form that skulked through the clearing. It approached the stump carefully, searching the darkness for a surprise. For one terrifying moment, its eyes passed right over her hiding spot, and Kimmie readied herself to run like she¡¯d never run before. But it gave no sign it saw her. The camouflage blanket must be doing its job. Sensing no danger, the goblin reached down and opened the box, immediately devouring the treats within. Kimmie carefully leaned forward, forgetting her earlier fear. The blanket fell silently from her shoulders and she readjusted into a crouch. She wanted to get closer. She had to. She forgot to grab the camera. No, that wasn¡¯t true. She didn¡¯t forget. She didn¡¯t need it. She was taking in every last detail of this beast, focused on it as if nothing else existed. The pain of losing her aunt and uncle, the only parents she ever really had, faded away as she took one methodical step after another. At this moment, she didn¡¯t hate the thing standing only a few dozen paces away. She was mesmerized by it. It turned away from the stump, having finished the treats, and she froze again. It left the box behind, as it had the night before, and then disappeared back into the woods. But before it did, Kimmie noticed something new. It walked with a limp. Its right leg was twisted around to the side, so that the foot faced outward. Is that why it was on its own? Because it was lame? She crept into the woods after the goblin, taking soft, careful steps to avoid being heard. She noticed as they moved along the path that the goblin avoided the traps they set up. Clever little guy. Something snagged her foot. She looked down to see that a bramble vine had hooked over the top of her shoe. She tugged gently, trying to pull it free without making any noise. When that didn¡¯t work, she reached down and yanked it with her hand, fighting back the urge to cry out when the sticky brambles poked her skin. By the time she got loose, the goblin had disappeared. She hurried down the path as fast as she dared, hoping to catch up to it, but she couldn¡¯t see anything in the pitch black between the trees. She stopped and listened, hoping to hear a twig snap or leaves rustle. Anything to keep from losing the trail. Movement ahead caught her attention, distant and muffled, and she nearly broke into a sprint to catch up to it. A garbled shriek echoed through the forest, sending chills up Kimmie¡¯s spine. Someone cried out in response. Not the goblin. A human voice. No. Kimmie broke into a run. Someone else was out here with her. A man, if she had to guess. She reached another small clearing off the path, lit by moonlight. Frayed ropes lay scattered across the ground, along with a burlap sack. A glitter of light caught her attention, and she turned to see a long knife stuck in the ground. ¡°What the¨C?¡± A figure appeared to her right, but before she could react, the world shimmered and became black. Chapter 17 Kimmie woke with a start to see Wendy standing over her, nudging her in the shoulder. ¡°Oh!¡± the older woman said. She backed away and Kimmie recognized the wood paneled ceiling of her living room in the background. She turned her head, realizing right away that she¡¯d somehow ended up on her couch. ¡°Sorry,¡± Wendy said, clutching her handbag. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to wake you, but I thought you should know that Albert and I made breakfast ourselves this morning and now we¡¯re heading into town for some more sightseeing. I didn¡¯t want you to worry.¡± Kimmie sat up, holding her throbbing head. She glanced over to see the front door open, and Albert already outside, headed for their car. She noticed Wendy was dressed and made up to go out. She also realized it was daytime. ¡°No,¡± she waved her hand, engaging her social interaction autopilot. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to sleep through breakfast. I¡¯m a terrible host.¡± Wendy patted her on her shoulder. ¡°Well, you were tired dear. Get your rest before you wear yourself out chasing after two old scamps like me and Albert.¡± She winked, and Kimmie smiled. Her aunt used to do that, and she could never resist a good wink from a motherly figure. ¡°You two are fine. Best boarders I¡¯ve ever had, just don¡¯t tell the others.¡± They laughed, and Wendy wandered off. ¡°We¡¯ll be back late. We¡¯re eating out tonight. Some place in Fortuna, I think.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ll definitely have a big breakfast ready for you tomorrow. Extra big, to make up for this morning.¡± ¡°Albert will be thrilled!¡± The front door closed and Kimmie¡¯s smile melted away. She got up from the couch, and the room spun around her. She clutched the armrest until her balance returned. She took a few unsteady steps toward her bedroom and closed the door. She went into her bathroom and splashed water on her face, then stared at the disheveled woman in the mirror. Wendy had been kind not bringing up the fact that Kimmie looked exactly like a woman who¡¯d been out in the woods all night. Her hair was busy defying gravity, so she pulled it back into a ponytail, all the while trying to remember what had happened. She¡¯d been running after the goblin, and she found a sack and rope on the ground. And a knife. She remembered the knife. Then everything went black. Someone snuck up on her, and then¡­ what? Knocked her out? She checked her head for knots or bumps, but found nothing. Other than some disorientation and dizziness, nothing hurt, anywhere on her body. Had she passed out? Or did she somehow not remember running back here? Kimmie¡¯s stomach fluttered, and she froze as a memory surfaced from the deep recesses of her mind. She remembered a time when she was younger, and she¡¯d done something terrible, something she¡¯d vowed never to do again. No. It couldn¡¯t have been that. She would know. Wouldn¡¯t she? She pushed the thought away, forcing it back where it came from, then walked over to her phone and dialed a number. She wouldn¡¯t panic. Not yet. * ¡°It wasn¡¯t me,¡± Ollie said, a hint of alarm in his voice. They sat in a small, busy Italian restaurant in Eureka, il Calabrese. The smell of pasta and tomatoes filled the air, along with the obnoxious clink of silverware on plates. Ollie sat straight up in his seat, uncomfortable and trying to avoid leaning forward on his elbows lest his mom somehow scold him from the grave for having bad manners. Kimmie sat across the table from him, concern etched on her face. ¡°Sorry. I had to see your eyes when you said it.¡± She frowned and looked around the restaurant. ¡°Despite your mysterious, tough-guy demeanor, you¡¯re actually pretty obvious when you¡¯re hiding something.¡± Ollie looked up from his plate of breadsticks. ¡°I am?¡± She nodded as she studied an older couple eating at the table next to them. ¡°It¡¯s a thing I do. I can tell when people are lying to me or being dishonest in general. I¡¯m like the world¡¯s foremost expert at reading body language. You should see me on blind dates. I can sniff out the creepy married guys like that.¡± She snapped her fingers. ¡°But, let¡¯s not short sell the fact that you¡¯re like the worst liar I¡¯ve met since leaving Chicago.¡± He frowned and returned to bread. ¡°Sounds like a nice party trick.¡± ¡°It¡¯s one of those things.¡± She sighed heavily and rubbed the weariness from her eyes. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m not thinking straight. It¡¯s a little creepy waking up somewhere and not remembering how you got there.¡± ¡°I can imagine.¡± He fought to keep from telling her, ¡®I told you so.¡¯ Because he had told her so. She was getting into a whole different world now, one that didn¡¯t wait around for newbies to get their sea legs under them. Of course, what happened last night was a definite escalation in the danger involved. He might have to rethink his arrangement with her.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡°So, what do you think? Was it,¡± she mouthed the word, ¡°magic?¡± Ollie held his breath. Magic would be a dangerous topic with this woman. He might as well dangle a steak in front of her dogs. ¡°Maybe.¡± He bought himself a moment by setting aside some of the breadsticks to take back to Grika. ¡°Crones, the female goblins, some of them can cast spells. But I haven¡¯t seen a lot of evidence of them around here.¡± Mostly the truth. He suspected crones were around somewhere, just not in Ferndale. ¡°Not to mention a crone isn¡¯t putting you to sleep only to drag you back to your house. It was probably a hunter.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Kimmie leaned back in her chair, deep in thought, a worried frown forming on her lips. Ollie realized she hadn¡¯t considered the notion that something other than a goblin could have come after her. ¡°Hunters use magic?¡± ¡°A few.¡± ¡°But not you?¡± He shook his head. ¡°Not me.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± He looked back at his food and played with his napkin. ¡°It¡¯s not my style.¡± Ollie said nothing more, hoping Kimmie would get the hint. Instead, she watched him with that infuriating stare that meant she knew he was holding something back. He didn¡¯t care. He wasn¡¯t about to crack, not on this topic. He¡¯d stare at his plate all day long if that¡¯s what it took to get her to drop the subject. ¡°What are we dealing with, then? A sorcerer?¡± She wiggled her fingers. ¡°A witch? A renegade Hogwarts dropout?¡± ¡°More likely some idiot who knows just enough to be dangerous.¡± He tapped his fingers on the table. ¡°It¡¯s your own fault, too, seeding those articles in that website. You lured a lot of troublemakers out here. And now one of them is wandering your land at night looking for the same goblin we are.¡± He leaned forward onto his elbows, then thought better of it. ¡°If we¡¯ve got direct competition now, and they know magic, that¡¯s gonna make what we¡¯re doing a lot more difficult.¡± She took a deep breath and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ll be honest. I¡¯m a little freaked out. Not enough to stop what we¡¯re doing, but enough to keep the dogs in my room at night from here on out.¡± A look of alarm flashed across her face. ¡°Wait. You¡¯re not about to back out on our deal because of this, are you?¡± He chuckled. ¡°No. I thought about it during the salad course, but apparently you¡¯re safer with me than on your own. I think it¡¯s clear that from here on out, you need to stop making these little nighttime excursions when I leave.¡± She nodded and sighed in relief. ¡°Agreed. And go back to what you said about these other hunters. Why hunt goblins if it isn¡¯t to protect people?¡± ¡°Goblins are magic. People who practice magic need¡­ magical materials. You can take parts of a goblin¡¯s body and use it for spells. Ground up toenails or hair. Eyeballs. A piece of skin.¡± Ollie stopped as he caught a pre-school aged kid at a nearby table looking at him with a weird expression. He leaned in and lowered his voice. ¡°You¡¯d be surprised at how powerful a goblin head can be. You can do some really messed up things with one of those.¡± She winced. ¡°Ew.¡± ¡°Look,¡± he set aside his food and fixed a harsh stare on Kimmie, ¡°before you get all excited about this, let me be very clear. There are only two things you need to know about magic. One, it¡¯s unreliable. It could kill you just as easily as save you. Two, it corrupts. Everyone who learns magic goes down a dark path. Everyone.¡± Her expression wilted, and her laser-like focus shifted from him to the food on her plate. ¡°Sounds like you¡¯ve seen that firsthand.¡± Her tone was mollifying, which caught Ollie off guard. He took a drink of water, mostly to avoid eye contact. He looked around the restaurant, watching as a waiter brought food to a table of well-dressed businessmen nearby. Why did he always feel out of place with her? Like he didn¡¯t belong in polite society. ¡°I gave in on letting you hunt with me,¡± he said, ¡°but if I get any sense that you¡¯re messing with this stuff, I will be gone from here in an instant. I am dead serious about that.¡± Kimmie said nothing at first. Then she nodded. ¡°If it means that much to you, I¡¯ll stop asking about it.¡± ¡°Good.¡± He took another drink, content in his victory, even if it did come easier than expected. ¡°One other thing about magic. Remember what I told you the other night? How magic and electricity don¡¯t mix?¡± She nodded. ¡°That means it doesn¡¯t work as well inside your home. It still works, it just loses potency. Consider that another reason to stay inside at night instead of wandering out in the woods in the dark like a crazy person.¡± Kimmie¡¯s eyes narrowed, her unease fading. ¡°You¡¯re starting to be a little bit of an a-hole.¡± He shrugged. ¡°It suits me. But, in the spirit of cooperation, I¡¯ll make a suggestion. Get a signal jammer. It¡¯s not the greatest defense against magic, but it¡¯s probably the best a layperson can get their hands on. But keep in mind that it drives goblins insane. They hear it half a mile away and they go crazy from the noise. It¡¯s kinda like a dog whistle that never stops blowing. Turns some of them into mindless killing machines, so, you know, tradeoffs¡­¡± ¡°Sounds like another neat party trick.¡± He grinned. ¡°I¡¯ve seen some interesting things in my life.¡± ¡°I bet you have, Mr. Hauk.¡± She flashed that playful smile of hers and his cheeks became warm. He suddenly felt uncomfortable, so he decided to change the subject. ¡°Go back to the beginning. Describe the goblin you saw.¡± She leaned forward. ¡°It looked like I thought it would. Kind of a muted green skin, big hands and feet. A big head, too, with a little bit of black hair on top. It hunched over when it walked. Oh, and it had a limp! Its right leg was twisted around to the side.¡± Ollie nodded in thought. ¡°Probably got in a fight with something higher up the chain. But yeah, sounds like you saw a regular old greenie. Same one that grabbed you?¡± ¡°I think so.¡± Ollie took a deep breath. ¡°Well, the good thing is that¡¯s the only one that seems to be around right now. And it isn¡¯t causing too much trouble. Probably holed up in a cave somewhere, scavenging for food near your house. If it was here to make trouble, we¡¯d see crazier things going on.¡± ¡°Then what about all the attacks?¡± Ollie pursed his lips. ¡°Whatever did that probably isn¡¯t around anymore. Maybe this one is left over from a roaming pack. They don¡¯t always kick out the lame ones, but it happens.¡± ¡°You mean¡­ like a runt?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call it that,¡± he said, suddenly serious. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°The word runt evokes sympathy this thing doesn¡¯t deserve.¡± Ollie ignored the fact that he was repeating one of his father¡¯s lectures verbatim. ¡°Small or not, crippled or not, it¡¯s still a goblin. A dangerous, savage, evil creature. No goblin was put on this earth to be sympathized with.¡± ¡°Not even Grika?¡± Ollie scowled. ¡°Don¡¯t play that game, Kimmie. Don¡¯t feel sorry for it. Trust me.¡± She held up her hands, conceding the issue. She looked out the main window to the street, tapping her finger on the table. ¡°Do you think whoever got me last night caught the goblin, too?¡± ¡°Doubt it. You said the ropes were frayed? Like they were ripped apart?¡± She nodded. ¡°It probably cut through the ropes before they could tie it up completely and then got away. If so, it¡¯s going to be cautious now. We¡¯ll need a different plan to capture it.¡± This time it was his turn to stare out the window in thought. Kimmie sighed. ¡°Another plan?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± He flashed a playful smile of his own. ¡°I think this one will be right up your alley.¡± Chapter 18 Ollie walked the half-block back to his Chief, hopped in and pulled out onto the street, headed toward the north end of Eureka. At a stop sign, he checked his face in the rearview mirror, running his fingers through his beard as he did. ¡°No leftovers?¡± Grika emerged from his tarp-covered lair. ¡°We ate everything.¡± ¡°Everything?¡± Grika¡¯s voice rose an octave or two. ¡°Even the bread?¡± Ollie nodded. ¡°What about salad? Sometimes there¡¯s a few pieces of lettuce left over.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t get salad.¡± Grika crossed his arms. ¡°You never get salad,¡± he grumbled, ¡°even though you need one.¡± Ollie scowled. He reached into his jacket and produced the small takeout container he¡¯d been hiding. ¡°Just remember, you don¡¯t deserve this.¡± He tossed it down to the pygmy, who caught it with willing hands. ¡°You dirty little liar,¡± Grika said, happily opening it up. ¡°Maybe I won¡¯t kill you in your sleep tonight.¡± Ollie put his hand over his heart. ¡°Grika, you shouldn¡¯t say such things. I might think you care.¡± He looked up to see his turn approaching. He swerved into it on purpose, jostling them both a bit. Grika clutched the takeout container and then squinted at Ollie, who grinned. ¡°Where we going?¡± Grika asked with a chunk of crust in his mouth. ¡°Need to see Bobo. I need to get creative to catch this goblin, and he dabbles in a few things I can use.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say Bobo was ¡®a few circuits short of a circuit?¡¯¡± Ollie shrugged. ¡°He¡¯s not a bad guy. Not really. And it¡¯s not like I have many friends.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Grika pointed at his food, ¡°I was busy chewing. Did you say ¡®many¡¯ or ¡®any¡¯? Sounded like you said ¡®any.¡¯¡± Ollie frowned and turned on the radio to drown out the little pygmy. Grika continued, undeterred. ¡°I may have misheard you, though. I do have these tiny ears.¡± Ollie turned the radio up a couple more notches. * Kimmie waited in her car, her fingers rhythmically tapping the center console as she stared at her front door. A glance at the dashboard clock told her she¡¯d been sitting here for a good ten minutes. Ten minutes of quietly debating whether she wanted to go back into her own house. A tainted house. Ollie¡¯s warnings had hammered away at her on the drive home. He wanted her to stop being so reckless, so gung-ho. But she hadn¡¯t listened. She¡¯d drawn goblins to her backyard, and goblins ¨C along with her articles ¨C had drawn hunters. Potentially bad ones. She¡¯d put on a brave face for Ollie, mostly because he¡¯d already lectured her enough about running toward danger instead of away from it. What she needed now was less ¡®I told you so¡¯ and more ¡®Everything will be okay.¡¯ Mariah and David¡¯s VW was gone, along with Wendy and Albert¡¯s little SUV. Everyone was out for the day. That meant she didn¡¯t have to worry about putting on more brave faces. She didn¡¯t want to pretend to be happy right now. She wanted to know who had been in her home.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Bentley¡¯s head appeared in the window by the door. The dogs heard her pull up, and were probably tearing up the rug with their pacing. She decided she¡¯d kept them waiting long enough. She turned off her car, a white Prius, and climbed out of the seat, determined to stifle her fear and think about this whole thing rationally. When that goblin found her, she hadn¡¯t run from the problem. She¡¯d attacked it. Eventually. Tank and Bentley swarmed her as soon as she walked through the front door. She kneeled and embraced them, burying herself in their fur. These two mutts usually made her feel safe, but then she¡¯d wondered on the drive home how some hunter got her back into her house without alerting the dogs. Had they been put to sleep, too? Or were they not paying attention? That was a horrifying thought. She ushered them out, and they scampered across the driveway to the tall grass on the far side, looking for a place to relieve themselves. She closed the door. They could use some outside time. She needed some inside time, anyway, to investigate. She started with the back door. Since this was where she usually let the dogs in and out at night, she rarely kept it locked. And she lived far enough away from town that she didn¡¯t feel the need to. But how would some random hunter in the woods know that? Had someone been spying on her? Had they tested the doors beforehand? She locked the door, feeling better for doing so. But then a strange compulsion took over and she unlocked it. She wasn¡¯t going to change because of what someone else did. Kimmie walked back to the living room, intending to check the side door that led to the garage, only to stop in her tracks. Something was different. She sniffed the air. The smell was faint, but familiar, an earthy scent, kind of like fresh flowers. It reminded her of her childhood, before she¡¯d come to live here. That was a weird thing to think of. A strange smell in her house that made her think of being a kid. She gasped as a thought occurred to her. She hurried to her room, closing the door behind her out of habit. She opened the bottom drawer of her dresser, pushed away the socks and hosiery and lifted out the false bottom, revealing a scattering of old journal pages, notebooks, and various old pictures of ancient Japanese myths and creatures. In the middle of them all was a thick, leather-bound book full of faded yellow parchment. It had the look of a ledger recovered from an old Spanish galleon, only the cover had undecipherable Japanese symbols embossed in the leather. It felt even older than it looked. And it hummed with magic. She put her hand on it, reassuring herself that it was still there. She wasn¡¯t sure why she thought it would be gone, but her anxiety lessened seeing it still in place. She didn¡¯t need Ollie to confirm what she already knew. Just like only female goblins could use magic, only female humans could reliably use it, too. Something she¡¯d learned long ago, if unintentionally. Magic also left a residue that other magically-inclined people could feel. Some spells left behind a smell, usually, associated with some element of the spell¡¯s creation. That¡¯s what she¡¯d been told, by someone she trusted in this regard. Ollie¡¯s warning about magic stuck with her more than he realized. She¡¯d seen firsthand the effects of using magic without understanding it. That¡¯s why she¡¯d only used the book once. One time had been all the lesson she¡¯d needed. She returned the drawer to its original state and closed it. She left her room and spent the afternoon busying herself with chores, house cleaning, and doing some prep work for tomorrow¡¯s breakfast and dinner, anything to occupy her mind. Both couples were eating out tonight, but she wanted to keep herself busy, and getting an early start on tomorrow¡¯s meals sounded like the perfect distraction. Eventually, the dogs barked outside and Kimmie glanced out the side window in time to see Ollie¡¯s truck driving up the road. The wall clock read 8:05 PM. Almost sundown. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail and steeled herself for tonight¡¯s mission. She walked out to meet him, then froze once he stepped out of the truck. ¡°You shaved,¡± she said, almost entirely at a loss for words. He rubbed his smooth chin self-consciously. ¡°I do that every few months or so.¡± The transformation was remarkable. Gone was the scruffy vagrant who looked like he¡¯d stowed away on a train to get here. In his place was a handsome young man with a strong jaw and inviting eyes. She remembered a moment too late to pick her jaw up from the ground. ¡°You clean up nice for a man who spends his nights lurking around in the woods.¡± He shrugged in that nonchalant way of his. ¡°Maybe tomorrow we¡¯ll go hunting in formal wear. I¡¯m sure I can rent a tux somewhere in this town.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll break out my old prom dress.¡± He smiled, looking at the ground to cover up the fact that he was blushing a tiny bit, then held up a small bag. ¡°I got some new toys for tonight. Gonna change things up and be a bit more proactive.¡± Kimmie nodded in reply. Being proactive sounded exactly like what she needed. Chapter 19 Kimmie jogged along the cluttered forest path, sucking in air to soothe the burning in her lungs. Leaves and twigs crunched under her feet, and sweat dripped down her forehead, despite the brisk autumn air. Her arm ached from shaking her bracelets over and over again to get the goblin¡¯s attention. Not a terrible idea on Ollie¡¯s part, but she was sure she could have thought of at least eight plans easier on her calves. ¡°Smell anything?¡± Kimmie felt the straps of her backpack pull on her shoulder as Grika adjusted himself. He was situated inside the backpack, Yoda-style, shining a giant flashlight past her ear to help her see in the dark. Jogging at night along a narrow, twisty, circuitous forest path wasn¡¯t the safest thing to do. And she¡¯d done it three times now. ¡°Still faint.¡± Kimmie slowed to a walk. Hauling around a pygmy goblin wasn¡¯t as easy as it looked. She took several deep breaths. ¡°I can¡¯t believe he¡¯s making me do this.¡± ¡°Me either,¡± Grika quipped. ¡°Usually, I¡¯m the one running around in circles.¡± ¡°He spends the last three days lecturing me about how dangerous goblins are,¡± she wiped the sweat from her forehead, ¡°and then he says ¡®You like running into danger, now you¡¯ll do it for real. I¡¯m gonna use you as bait!¡¯¡± ¡°He¡¯s a big jerk,¡± Grika agreed. ¡°And he¡¯s cheap, too. Don¡¯t let him off the hook for that.¡± The flashlight bobbed up and down as Grika made his point. ¡°He probably shaved just to get me to agree to this. Just because I¡¯m a sucker for smooth skin doesn¡¯t mean he can take advantage of me. ¡®Oooh, I¡¯m handsome and I have a vague, sorta-maybe kind of plan,¡¯¡± she said mockingly. ¡°And then he sends me out to lure this thing with these.¡± She whipped the bracelets on her wrist, eliciting a loud jingle. ¡°I hope he¡¯s on Yelp, because if this thing goes bad, I¡¯ll be leaving him a pretty scathing review of his hunting services.¡± ¡°Wait, that¡¯s a thing?¡± Grika asked, suddenly interested. ¡°Can I do that, too?¡± ¡°Oh yeah. If it¡¯s just me, I look like a whiner. Two bad reviews and it¡¯s a pattern.¡± She took a few more deep breaths, then leaned over a little bit to stretch her sore back. She wasn¡¯t used to carrying around so much weight. At least not since hauling around a backpack full of giant textbooks in college. ¡°You know, for a partner, you two are kind of¡­ hostile.¡± ¡°Well, you spend three years cooped up in a car with that guy and see how friendly you¡¯d be.¡± Kimmie pursed her lips. Grika sounded mad, but not really mad. Almost like it was an act. ¡°Can I ask, you know, how this happened?¡± ¡°How we happened, you mean?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Grika sighed, probably debating whether to say anything. Those two had been tight-lipped when it came to any kind of interesting information.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. ¡°I was bound to his mother.¡± She glanced back at him. ¡°Bound?¡± ¡°Aye. She caught me. And instead of killing me, she used a spell to make me do whatever she asked. Happens a lot to my kind.¡± She felt him shrug. ¡°Wasn¡¯t so bad. All I had to do was spy on other goblins. In return, I got food, a place to stay, and protection from the goons. We pygmies spend a lot of our time hiding from the bigger goblin folk. And she was always nice to me. That ragger of a husband, not so much. But she was nice. Kinda like you.¡± ¡°So, she knew magic?¡± ¡°Aye,¡± he said, a hint of awe in his voice. ¡°Was good at it, too. One of the best, they say.¡± Kimmie thought back to Ollie¡¯s warning about the perils of magic. Had that happened to his mom? ¡°How did you end up with Ollie, then?¡± ¡°Mom died. When that happens the spell passes down the bloodline. When jerkface left home, I went with him.¡± He clicked his tongue. ¡°He¡¯s a cheap little bugger, but I still get fed every once in a while. And it woulda been way worse with his even more jerkface dad. That guy¡¯s a real piece of trow dung.¡± Kimmie leaned against a nearby tree. ¡°How did his mom die?¡± ¡°Ehhhhh,¡± Grika squeaked, then went quiet. ¡°Sorry,¡± Kimmie said. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have asked.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, girlie.¡± He patted her shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s not a secret, just not something either of us likes to talk about. Hard for me to talk about, too. I liked the lass.¡± He took a deep breath. ¡°She died hunting. It happens.¡± ¡°Goblins killed her?¡± ¡°A goblin killed her. A crone. Same one his dad has been hunting all this time.¡± Kimmie¡¯s angst faded away. ¡°I know what that¡¯s like,¡± she whispered. Suddenly, Ollie and his family had a lot more in common with her than she realized. Something glittered at the edge of her vision. She stepped across the path and leaned over to see something small and shiny lying on the ground. Grika shone the flashlight on it, revealing a piece of jewelry, a broach, with what had to be a giant fake diamond at the center. ¡°What the¡­?¡± She reached for it. ¡°Don¡¯t touch that!¡± Grika hissed in her ear. She snapped her hand back. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a trap.¡± Grika¡¯s head swiveled left and right. ¡°From some other hunter.¡± Kimmie searched the darkness for the telltale signs of a snare. Grika swung the flashlight across the ground, then over to the nearby tree trunk. That¡¯s when she saw the wire meant to catch unsuspecting prey. And not regular wire. Razor wire. Sharp. Dangerous. Lethal. ¡°Oh my God.¡± Kimmie backed away slowly, suddenly worried that other traps might be nearby. Traps she couldn¡¯t see yet. ¡°That can slice off a hand!¡± ¡°Probably from the other hunter poaching on your land.¡± ¡°This is awful.¡± She looked around the edges. ¡°How do I, you know, disable it?¡± ¡°Disable it?¡± he nearly shrieked. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t go near it!¡± Kimmie looked up and down the path. ¡°I can¡¯t leave it here! Someone can get killed.¡± Grika sighed. ¡°Get a big rock, stand far away, and then throw it at the trap.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Kimmie backed away and checked the ground for a big rock. She found one, about the size of her palm, and heaved it, shot put style, toward the trap. It hit the ground and bounced past the bait. An instant later the trap snapped up, the razor wire whipping through the air. Kimmie ducked, her heart racing despite being far enough away that it couldn¡¯t reach her. She inhaled sharply. ¡°Forget my hand. That could have taken my head off!¡± ¡°Welcome to my life,¡± Grika said dryly. ¡°Hunters are sadistic. You have any idea what they¡¯d do if they caught me? My eyes would be in a potion, my skin ground into a powder, my heart would be a snack. They¡¯d shave my locks and use it as¨C¡± Grika paused, then sniffed the air. He lowered his voice. ¡°He¡¯s here.¡± Kimmie froze, then looked around frantically. ¡°Where?¡± Grika pointed over her shoulder, slightly to her left. ¡°That way,¡± he whispered. ¡°Not close, but not far.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°Means exactly what I said!¡± He sniffed again. ¡°It¡¯s getting stronger.¡± Kimmie¡¯s breathing picked up. ¡°What do I do?¡± Grika made an exasperated sound. ¡°Run, girlie! Run!¡± Chapter 20 Ollie gave the Doritos bag a good shake. He scowled at the minimal sound of any substance coming from inside. A quick peek confirmed his worry. Almost all crumbs. With a sigh, he rolled it up and stuffed it into his pack, grumbling under his breath about eating an entire bag without realizing it. He needed to stay away from those things, he thought, as he licked his fingers clean. Doritos and ice cream sandwiches. His two great weaknesses. He leaned back on one elbow and rubbed his eyes for the eighty-seventh time in the last hour, making sure to use his non-eating hand. Eighty-seven was a guess, but it felt right. He looked up at the moon. By his rough estimate, it had been almost an hour. Maybe longer. He wondered, as he usually did in this situation, if he should get a watch, an analog one, with a light-up background. As soon as the idea came to him, he shot it down, as he always did. He didn¡¯t really want to know what time it was. Knowing the time meant knowing how much of his life he¡¯d spent sitting around in the dark, waiting for something to happen. A lot more than any normal person, that¡¯s for damn sure. God created roofs and beds for a reason, and some nights, Ollie yearned to experience that reason. He rubbed his chin, still getting used to the smooth skin. He¡¯d been nervous when he showed up at Kimmie¡¯s doorstep, and Grika had made more than a few snarky comments on the drive over, but that look she gave him had been worth it. There were risks involved in opening up to people, but they all seemed distant tonight. Footsteps crunched on the ground, off to his right. Fast, but deliberate, like a runner, not a goblin. And a good distance away, still. He sat up, wrapping a hand around the shotgun in his lap. Probably Kimmie headed back. He flipped off the safety with his thumb, just in case. A moment later he recognized her silhouette as she hurried down the path. ¡°Hey!¡± he called out, right before she ran past him. Kimmie stopped, a bit startled, and then cut into the bush, jostling the shrubbery as she did. She settled in next to him. ¡°It¡¯s coming,¡± she said, her chest heaving as she caught her breath. Her eyes were locked on the path behind her. ¡°Still a ways back, but Grika says it¡¯s following us.¡± Grika nodded vigorously in agreement. ¡°Good.¡± He patted her shoulder. ¡°Slow down. Nice long breaths. You¡¯re not exactly stealthy right now.¡± She glared at him. ¡°I wonder why?¡± ¡°Hey, it worked.¡± She watched the darkness in front of them, taking deep, measured breaths. ¡°What now?¡± ¡°It won¡¯t come down the path. It¡¯s too wide open, and it¡¯s already shown an inclination for hiding. It¡¯ll work its way through the trees on either side, and I have traps set up all around. If it¡¯s following you, it¡¯ll hit one of those traps, and we¡¯ll have ourselves a goblin.¡± ¡°We found another trap out there,¡± she said. ¡°Along the path. It was kind of like yours, but made with razor wire.¡± Ollie was taken aback. He glanced at Grika, who raised a bushy eyebrow. ¡°It could¡¯ve killed someone,¡± she said. ¡°So, I tripped it, just to be safe.¡± ¡°I probably would have left it there, at least for the night.¡± Her eyes nearly bugged out. ¡°Are you serious?¡± ¡°Why not? It¡¯s another trap we could have used to catch this thing.¡± ¡°And slice its arm right off!¡± Ollie shrugged, indifferent to that particular result. Kimmie huffed at him for a moment, then leaned forward to watch the path. Ollie closed his eyes, focusing on the sounds of the forest while tuning out Kimmie¡¯s harried breaths. He listened for footsteps, grunting, branches swaying, twigs snapping, anything that signaled something coming their way. Goblins lived in this kind of terrain, and they usually knew the area around their lairs like the back of their hands. But that didn¡¯t mean they were always subtle in their movements.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Grika?¡± he whispered. ¡°Getting close,¡± the pygmy answered. Ollie opened his eyes. Kimmie finally had her breathing under control, which made it far easier to focus on the particular hums of their environment. A light wind rustled leaves, and a thick drone of chirping crickets suddenly filled his ears. He tried to listen through the racket, for something that stood out. ¡°C¡¯mon¡­¡± A twig snapped in the distance. Everyone went still. No sound followed. Even the crickets went still. Ollie nudged Kimmie with his elbow. ¡°Jangle your bracelets again,¡± he whispered. ¡°Softly.¡± She wiggled her arm enough for the bracelets to clink together. They both leaned forward instinctively, waiting for the follow-up of goblin footsteps coming their way. But nothing happened. Something whipped through the air off in the distance, followed by a swoosh of leaves. ¡°Bingo.¡± Ollie smirked. It hit one of the traps. He waited, listening for the sounds of struggle that came next, as the goblin fought to free itself. But again, none came. His smirk turned to a frown, and he slowly stood up. He motioned for Kimmie to stay where she was, then waved his hand at Grika, signaling the pygmy to follow. Grika wriggled out of the backpack and hopped to the ground at Ollie¡¯s feet. Ollie crouched low, and took slow, careful steps in the direction of the trap, still listening for any sign that the goblin had been caught. The trap could have been sprung without catching the goblin, but that should have spooked it, and sent it racing off, raising a ruckus throughout the forest. But he didn¡¯t hear any running. He didn¡¯t hear anything. After a few dozen steps, he glanced over at Grika, who nodded and pointed forward. They were still on the right trail. He slowed his gait even more as they got closer to the trap, checking with Grika every so often to make sure it was still there. Grika nodded each time. Once he was close enough to see the cluster of trees where he¡¯d set the snare, he stopped and hunkered down, peering through the foliage. He expected to see a figure moving around in the darkness, or crouched next to the trees, but the area looked clear. No movement at all. He didn¡¯t dare use his flashlight and give away his position, so he gave Grika another look. The pygmy silently motioned ahead, and Ollie frowned. Hunting goblins was never easy. He charged forward, shotgun aimed at the tree where he¡¯d set the trap. He stopped in front of the trunk, staring at a rope that hung limply from an overhead branch. There was no sign of the goblin. Or of the toy Ollie had used to bait the snare. ¡°You little¡­¡± Ollie spun around, searching the darkness. The goblin had set off the trap to get to the toy. This one was smarter than he¡¯d given it credit for. He felt a surge of adrenaline, and a slow grin twisted his lips. This hunt had just become a lot more interesting. ¡°Which way?¡± he whispered. Grika sniffed the air in every possible direction. ¡°Really close,¡± he whispered back. ¡°But I can¡¯t tell which way he went.¡± Ollie grunted, then he slowly and carefully checked behind the nearest trees, expecting to see a goblin crouched in the darkness. But each time he was stymied. ¡°He had to go somewhere,¡± he muttered. ¡°Are you sure your nose is working?¡± Grika scowled, then sniffed some more. ¡°It¡¯s like he¡¯s right here with¡­¡± Grika¡¯s voice faded as he glanced up at the trees. Ollie followed his gaze and immediately caught the implication. The goblin was above them, hiding in the branches. He aimed his shotgun at the sky, spinning around to get a clear view of the tree canopy overhead. He searched for a dark silhouette, or movement, anything that would give him a target. All he saw was a sea of black, punctuated with small islands of starlit sky. ¡°Screw it.¡± Ollie fired at a random spot in the branches, hoping to hit it by accident. The gunshot shattered the nighttime silence, but before the echo even faded into the distance, something big fell on him from behind. He crashed into the ground as solid muscle smacked across the side of his face and then raked down across his arm, knocking Remi from his hand. Grika shrieked somewhere nearby. Ollie¡¯s breath flew from his lungs as he was crushed under the weight of the creature, which quickly hopped up and ran off into the night. Ollie wheezed, trying to get a breath as he scrambled for his gun, which lay just out of reach. He lunged forward, ignoring the burn on his face, and grabbed the barrel. He spun over onto his back, adjusting the shotgun in his hands, and fired in the direction of the retreating goblin. Another boom echoed through the forest, and he waited for it fade, listening for any sign that he¡¯d hit it. Again, nothing. ¡°Damn it!¡± he croaked, still getting his breath and his bearings. He got to his feet, cocked the shotgun, and aimed at the darkness ahead. Before taking a step, he realized the goblin had run in the same direction Ollie had come from. Toward Kimmie. ¡°Oh no.¡± He took off at a full sprint. Chapter 21 Ollie ran as fast as he could in the dark forest, pushing away low-hanging branches with his free hand. The sound of Grika¡¯s labored grunts faded as he quickly outpaced the pygmy. ¡°Kimmie!¡± he shouted. No response. ¡°Kimmie!¡± ¡°What?¡± she finally called out, a bit to his right. He angled toward the sound. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± He burst through the thick brush they¡¯d been using as a hiding spot to find Kimmie right where he¡¯d left her. She looked up at him from her spot on the ground, eyes wild with fright. ¡°C¡¯mon!¡± He reached down and took her hand. ¡°Move!¡± He led her through the brush, eyes darting across the blackness that surrounded them. The goblin could be hiding in any of it, and he had no doubt it was close by, watching the whole thing. He only hoped that its curiosity worked in his favor tonight. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Kimmie asked, frantic. ¡°It ambushed us,¡± he said, focused only on the path ahead. ¡°It knocked me down and then started coming for you.¡± Her pace picked up next to him. His arm throbbed where the goblin had hit him. Probably bruised, which was about as good as he could expect after getting in a tussle with a greenie. They ran for a while, far longer than Ollie remembered going when he first set up this new trap. At first, he wondered if he¡¯d run past it, but then he saw the clearing and darted through, looking for the ledge on the far side. He skirted the edge, which dropped a good ten or fifteen feet down to the rocky beach and was buffeted by large rocks on the other. He motioned her forward, over the rocks, then turned to guard the path behind them. He held Remi straight out with one hand, ready to fire at the first thing that moved. Nothing followed them. He glanced back to see Kimmie on the other side of the outcropping. He backed up and then darted over after her. He crouched down on the far side and pulled Kimmie down with him. They waited there, Ollie doing his best to mute the heavy breaths he¡¯d given Kimmie a hard time about only minutes ago. ¡°What are we doing?¡± she asked. He peered over the top of the rocks. ¡°I have another trap set up over there,¡± he pointed at the two trees that formed a canopy over the path. ¡°If it followed us, and I¡¯m pretty sure it did, then it¡¯ll walk right into it.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Kimmie said. ¡°Good idea. Wait. What happened with the last trap?¡± ¡°Shhhhh,¡± Ollie said, not wanting to explain to her how he¡¯d been outsmarted. Ollie settled his breathing. Once he could hear over his own breath, he realized he was hearing nothing. All the frenzied activity of the last few minutes had cast the forest into complete silence. Nothing moved or made a sound. He squeezed Remi¡¯s handle, knowing that this was his only chance to catch this creature tonight. If it got spooked and ran away, he¡¯d have to spend hours scouring the forest with Grika and hope to get lucky enough to stumble across the thing¡¯s lair. And if that didn¡¯t work, he¡¯d have to start all over again the next night with a brand-new plan. All because this stupid greenie was too smart for its own good. A crash of rocks echoed across the clearing, followed by a thump. Ollie looked up to see the net he¡¯d placed farther up the ledge hanging from a thick branch, tightened at the top. He scrambled from his hiding spot and shined his flashlight to see nothing in the net, though, save for a few big rocks. His mouth hung open. He¡¯d been outwitted again? He put the flashlight in his mouth and hefted Remi with both hands. The goblin was close, and he wasn¡¯t about to get surprised like last time. Of course, it was at that very moment that a scaly hand smacked solidly into his face, knocking the flashlight away, just as something big barreled into him from the side. Ollie stumbled sideways before crashing onto the ground, lights bursting across his vision from the hit to his face. A weight lifted from his chest and he heard heavy footsteps running away. He blinked away the fog and pointed his gun at the retreating figure. He aimed low, firing a round at what he hoped was the goblin¡¯s legs.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. The shot tore through the brush. Kimmie yelled from somewhere behind, telling him not to shoot. He ignored her and fired again, eliciting a squeal in the distance. Once the echo of the gunshots faded away he listened carefully. The forest was silent. But then he heard it. Scuffling. And grunting. He grabbed the flashlight, got to his feet, and immediately stumbled as a wave of dizziness washed over him. He caught himself before hitting the ground again, shook off the haze, then hurried forward, keeping his gun and the flashlight pointed straight ahead. He found it a moment later, leaning against a tree, clutching the gunshot wound in its leg. He shined the light on its face, and Ollie saw narrowed yellow eyes staring back, a fierce snarl on its lips. Ollie grinned triumphantly. ¡°Gotcha.¡± A low growl emanated from the goblin¡¯s throat, like a dog giving its last warning before lunging. Ollie knew better, though. He could see some intelligence in this one¡¯s eyes. It was bluffing because it knew it didn¡¯t have a chance. Ollie motioned to the welts on his face. ¡°You thought you could do that to me twice?¡± Kimmie came running up an instant later. She stopped with a gasp when she saw the creature. ¡°Look what I found.¡± Ollie¡¯s smile widened, only for him to wince at the pain in his face. ¡°Ow.¡± Kimmie ignored him and took a cautious step closer, staring at the goblin as if in a trance. It wasn¡¯t much different from a typical greenie, maybe a tiny bit taller than most, but also leaner. A smattering of black hair covered its head, and two droopy ears hung from each side. One had a tear where an earring had probably been ripped out. Large scars dominated its bare torso and arms, and the only piece of clothing it wore was a pair of tattered pants that ended at about its knees. It blinked a few times and Ollie realized that its eyes were larger than a normal greenie, making it look less like a devious little monster than most of the others he¡¯d destroyed. Regardless, Ollie had seen some sad-sack goblins before, but this one easily took first prize for Most Pitiful. Once Kimmie arrived, the goblin, now outnumbered, lost its defiance. It kept its gaze low and slumped it shoulders, as if trying to shrink into the darkness. Ollie reached out and grabbed Kimmie¡¯s arm, dragging her a half-step behind him. He gave her the flashlight, then reached into his pocket with his free hand and pulled out a mini-Rubik¡¯s cube wrapped in a plastic baggy. He handed it to her. ¡°Toss that over to it. Don¡¯t take it out of the bag.¡± Kimmie furrowed her brow as she examined the toy. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You said you wanted to catch it, right?¡± He motioned to the goblin. She tossed it over and it landed right at the goblin¡¯s feet. The goblin looked at the baggy, then at Ollie and Kimmie, then back at the baggy. It was clearly torn about what to do next, so Ollie lowered his gun, trying to make the decision easier. The goblin watched Ollie warily, then relaxed enough to stare at the bag. But it still didn¡¯t reach for it. ¡°Weird,¡± Ollie said. He pulled out another baggy, with a different toy inside. This one was similar to the Rubik¡¯s Cube, only shaped like a diamond. One of dozens of rip-offs of the original. He handed it to Kimmie, who tossed it over. It landed next to the first one. The goblin¡¯s eyes went wide at the sight of the new toy, and it quickly snatched up the baggy. It looked at it, studying the puzzle within. It fumbled with the baggy, its slightly oversized hands having trouble gripping the edges. It finally ripped the bag open, and immediately set to work solving the puzzle, forgetting its own injury in its zeal. Kimmie looked at Ollie. ¡°Oh. My. God,¡± she mouthed. Ollie nodded in response. They watched as the goblin twisted and turned the toy furiously. ¡°What do we do now?¡± He held up a hand. ¡°Wait.¡± The goblin slowed its movements, then slowly blinked twice. It stopped and sniffed its fingers, then blinked a few more times. It looked up at Ollie, right before its large yellow eyes rolled back into its head. The goblin wavered, then collapsed onto the ground in a heap. Kimmie gasped. ¡°What just happened?¡± Ollie walked over to stand next to the gently snoring goblin. ¡°Knockout juice. That toy is covered in it.¡± He poked the goblin with his shotgun, just to make sure it was asleep. It didn¡¯t stir so Ollie crouched down and examined its skin, finding the scars of battle, and of initiation, all over. A Golak mark had been carved into its shoulder, like a bulging, inverted V, and then strangely scratched out. Like Kimmie had said, its right leg was twisted a little to the right, making it lame, but not useless. The gunshot wound in its other leg still spit up some blood, but that would heal on its own soon enough. Kimmie moved next to him, still staring in awe at the creature. ¡°What now?¡± Ollie rested his shotgun on his shoulder. ¡°We need to make sure this thing is alone. It¡¯s time to go to phase two.¡± Chapter 22 Ollie tugged the ropes securing the goblin to the tree. A little bit of give, enough for the grunt to think it could escape. But not enough for it to break free with Ollie standing two feet away. He nodded in satisfaction, put everything back in his bag, and then smacked the sleeping goblin across the face. It stirred, barely, so Ollie did it again. It opened its overly large eyes, blinked a few times, then immediately focused on Ollie. ¡°Howdy.¡± The goblin stared for a moment, taking in its new environment. Once clarity set in, it struggled against the ropes, pushing and pulling. It tried to lunge forward, straining against the bindings. Ollie took a step back, his shotgun in hand. ¡°Let¡¯s not get riled up. You aren¡¯t getting out of those ropes, and even if you did, you wouldn¡¯t get far thanks to good old Remi here.¡± He patted the barrel. ¡°Now let¡¯s take a moment, catch our breaths, and maybe get to know each other. We can talk about where we¡¯re from, how many kids we have, the new endcap displays at the grocery store, and problems with our neighbors. Speaking of neighbors,¡± he aimed Remi at the goblin¡¯s head, ¡°where are your friends?¡± The goblin fumed for a moment, having given up the struggle. It growled at Ollie, who cocked his head. ¡°Now that¡¯s not nice. Especially when I¡¯ve gone pretty easy on you up to now. I don¡¯t know how much you know about my kind of people, but we can get nasty when we need to. Some of us wouldn¡¯t even bother tying you up and asking questions. We¡¯d just cut off your head and use it to divine our way back to your cave. How would you like that? Cutting your head off?¡± Ollie patted the machete hanging at his side. ¡°Cuz we can skip all the negotiating and go straight to the messy part.¡± Guttural sounds emanated from the goblin¡¯s mouth as it eyed the machete. ¡°Nothing to say?¡± he asked. ¡°Fine.¡± He set the shotgun down and pulled his machete free. He made a show of running his fingers along the edge of the blade, checking the sharpness. The goblin watched every movement carefully, probably debating whether Ollie would carry through with his threat. Once Ollie took a menacing step forward, all traces of disobedience disappeared. ¡°No!¡± it said. Ollie stopped. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± The goblin lowered its eyes. ¡°No. Friends.¡± The words were low and gravelly, permeated by a sense of defeat. Ollie leaned in closer. ¡°Say that again.¡± The goblin flicked its eyes up at Ollie. ¡°No friends.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe you.¡± ¡°No friends!¡± it shouted at him, one last burst of insolence before its shoulders slumped and it sagged against the ropes. Ollie grunted, then lowered his blade, unnerved by this one¡¯s lack of insubordination. Most goblins bucked like wild mustangs when he reached this point. They seethed, and spat, and cursed him and his entire family. They fought to the bitter end. This one seemed broken. Like one of those beaten, mistreated dogs locked up in a cage in some hick¡¯s backyard. He almost pitied the stupid creature. Almost. ¡°Someone¡¯s going around killing people, leaving pieces of their bodies scattered all around the riverbed. Are you sure that isn¡¯t your boss?¡±This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. The goblin stared at the ground, subdued. ¡°No boss.¡± Ollie furrowed his brow. ¡°You¡¯re alone?¡± The goblin nodded. ¡°You expect me to believe that?¡± Ollie leaned in and lowered his voice. ¡°See, I know the secret about goblins. There aren¡¯t enough of you left to cast off a willing grunt like you. Clans go around sucking in as many new members as they can, any way they can. They don¡¯t send you out to pasture unless you did something really bad.¡± The goblin turned away, and Ollie nearly laughed. He hadn¡¯t met one like this in a while. Oh well, it was time to get this charade moving. He slipped the machete back into his belt. ¡°I¡¯m gonna give you some time to think about your answers. When I come back, I expect you to be a lot more talkative. If not, well,¡± he patted the machete again, ¡°it¡¯s gonna get messy out here.¡± Ollie picked up his gun and left, casting a quick glance upward. He caught sight of a tiny figure hiding in the branches. He left the clearing, a content smirk on his face. * Grika watched the goblin from his hiding spot in the trees a short distance away. He sat on a thick branch, his legs swaying over the side, his back resting against the trunk. He¡¯d watched the whole conversation between Ollie and the goblin with some little bit of satisfaction. Part of him regretted that he wouldn¡¯t get to see any actual maiming. At least not yet. It was in his nature to hate just about all other types of goblins. He wasn¡¯t sure why. Maybe because they were all so much bigger. That didn¡¯t seem fair. Pygmies and gnomes were small and weak compared to the vast majority of goblin stock. What was their purpose? Were they gremlins, designed to sneak into small places and wreak havoc? That¡¯s what some of them did. And it was a tolerably noble purpose. Far more noble than being small and picked on by any dumb gobbie with a pulse. Gnomes at least banded together and used their magic to stay out of sight. Pygmies weren¡¯t so smart. They were solitary creatures, making them easily picked off by the goons. Except for Grika. He¡¯d found his own way out. He watched as the goblin shuffled around in the ropes, testing its limits. Ollie had deliberately left one of the knots loose, so it could wriggle free eventually, but this goblin decided to skip that part. It shimmied one of the loops of rope higher up around its shoulders, then bent over and bit into it with its strong jaw. It chewed on the rope for a minute before it finally snapped through. The ropes went slack and fell to the ground. A moment later the goblin was on its way, running through the forest. Grika waited for it to gain a little distance before emerging from his hiding spot. He hurried up the length of the branch until it bowed under his meager weight, then jumped to the next one, and then the next one. When the branches thinned, he climbed down to the ground and followed the goblin on foot, staying far enough away that his nose could do all the work. Eventually, the chase led to a cave. He listened at the entrance, hearing the soft footsteps of a barefoot goblin wandering around its home. He only smelled the one goblin, but that kind of assumption could get him killed. Others could be lurking deeper in the cave, in parts where the air didn¡¯t carry as well. Not that magic actually carried around on air, but it was a worthy metaphor. What it really meant was that he didn¡¯t have to go in to check. Grika pulled out a handful of small beads wrapped in reflective tape. They wouldn¡¯t stand out on their own, but they¡¯d shine up like a beacon when a flashlight hit them. He hurried back to the path, leaving the beads as a trail. A short time later, he emerged from the darkness of the forest to find Ollie and Kimmie waiting in the clearing not far from her house. A greasy, brown paper bag sat on the ground next to them. They both looked up as he wandered over toward the bag. ¡°Well?¡± Ollie asked. ¡°Found him.¡± ¡°His lair?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± Ollie stood and gathered his things, including his pack, and a large, metal gas can he¡¯d taken from Kimmie¡¯s work shed. ¡°Just him?¡± Grika winced. ¡°I didn¡¯t go in! That¡¯s your job.¡± He pointed a stubby finger at Ollie. ¡°Where is it?¡± Grika hooked his thumb back the direction he¡¯d come from. ¡°About half an hour¡¯s walk that way, my speed, not yours. There¡¯s a tree with a split trunk, shaped like a big V, on the side of the path. Take a left, go another few minutes, and you¡¯ll be close. Look for the beads once you turn off the trail.¡± ¡°Adequate work.¡± Ollie tossed the brown bag at Grika¡¯s feet. ¡°Don¡¯t eat it all at once.¡± He turned to Kimmie, who¡¯d moved up next to him. ¡°Ready?¡± They left, and Grika opened the bag and pulled out a giant hamburger. He settled into the seat cushion Kimmie had brought to sit on to eat his prize. How many other pygmies were sitting in comfort, eating like a king? None of them, Grika decided. Not a single one. Chapter 23 Ollie found the V-shaped tree, and the reflective beads in the grass beyond. He waved to Kimmie, urging her to follow. This was normally the highlight of the hunt for him, when adrenaline surged through his body as he closed in for the kill. But not tonight. He¡¯d seen something different in this goblin, less rage and bile, more submission and sorrow. Like that Arunak he¡¯d found with his dad, this goblin seemed to know its end was near. But he wouldn¡¯t pity the beast. Don¡¯t feel sorry for it. No matter what. It won¡¯t do the same for you. He found the cave entrance, a narrow, darkened slit between two massive tree roots. The opening was sloped, maybe five feet tall, and only two and half or three feet at its widest point. He¡¯d have to scrunch down to get in there. He set down most of his equipment, keeping his shotgun handy, then stepped softly on the grass outside the entrance. He listened intently for any movement in the cave. He heard no sounds of alarm, so he took a tentative step forward, lowering one foot into the hovel. Still no response from inside. He held his hand up, signaling Kimmie to wait, then crouched down low until the blackness completely enveloped him. He moved slowly through the narrow cave, dragging his free hand along the wall to guide him, and to feel for anything carved into the rock. Crones would protect important lairs with magic runes or symbols. Sometimes the spells made the cave less visible to human eyes. Other times, they exploded. So far, all he could feel was moist rock. Roy and Gemma had called him a mole man back in New Orleans, always sending him to the deep, dark places they were afraid to venture into. Until he started hunting with them, he hadn¡¯t realized that most people would run in the opposite direction from a situation like this. But he¡¯d done it so many times by now that it didn¡¯t bother him. In fact, he wondered if he¡¯d become almost too casual about it. The ground leveled out, and he focused on the soft hiss of air coming from a few yards away. It was followed by another, and then another. The goblin, breathing, maybe even asleep. He slowly reached for the small LED lantern in his pocket, clicked it on, and then tossed it to the ground. The light, dim by most standards, was enough to blanket the dark cave, and Ollie immediately found the goblin curled up on the ground near the side, against the wall, a tattered blanket pulled over its torso. He raised his shotgun, just as the goblin stirred. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± Ollie trained his weapon on the goblin, who looked bewildered at finding someone else in its cave. It ignored the warning at first, scrambling to its feet. Ollie lunged forward, making sure the goblin could see the shotgun trained on its head. It nudged itself against the wall and froze. ¡°Kimmie! Bring my bag!¡± The sound of her sneakers scuffing the ground echoed in from the entrance. She appeared, bag in hand, holding her nose. He directed her to drop the bag on the ground. ¡°There¡¯s a bigger lantern in there,¡± he said, his eyes never leaving the goblin. ¡°Get it and turn it on.¡± She fumbled through the bag, his attention suddenly drawn to their surroundings. The cave, as far as could be seen, was small, barely large enough for a few goblins to live in, maybe more if they packed in tight. Large tree roots snaked along the right side, as far back as Ollie could see. The left was mostly rock, mixed with some packed dirt and clay. Two small alcoves in the rock, both about waist high, were filled with cans, toys, trash, and other trinkets the goblin had collected over time. Kimmie placed the lantern on the ground and turned it on. Light flooded the cave, causing all three occupants to squint. The extra light revealed that the cave continued farther back, although it narrowed and shrunk to a point that Ollie would have to squirm on his belly to get through. ¡°Grab the shackles in there, too,¡± he said. Kimmie reached into the bag and pulled out a short chain with thick shackles at either end, like the kind used for dangerous prisoners being escorted to or from a courtroom, only more medieval. She handed them to Ollie, who wrapped the chain around his off hand. He walked over to a thick, exposed root close to the goblin, who nudged himself backward a couple steps. The root came down from the ceiling, stretched across the floor and then disappeared into the ground below. Perfect. He leaned down, keeping the shotgun pointed right at the goblin, and latched one end of the shackles around the root. He tossed the other end at the goblin¡¯s feet, the metal clanking loudly in the small space. ¡°Put it on. Around your ankle.¡± The goblin looked at him for a long moment before glancing over at Kimmie. Ollie debated whether or not he¡¯d have to beat some sense into this one, but fortunately the goblin shuffled closer. Ollie backed away as the goblin fumbled with the shackle, working it around his ankle a few times before it finally snapped together. Ollie sighed and lowered the gun. He moved next to Kimmie, who was still crouched near the bag. ¡°I like this guy. He does what he¡¯s told. Not always the case with Golaks.¡± ¡°We can talk to it, now?¡± ¡°Almost.¡± Ollie pulled the flashlight from his bag and walked to the back of the cave, giving the goblin as wide a berth as possible in the small space. He crouched down and shined the light into the crevice, seeing more cave, only this part was jagged and twisting. His excitement at what lay beyond faded, and he walked back to the bag, dropping the light inside. He climbed out of the cave and grabbed the gas can he¡¯d left on the ground. He lugged it in and set it on the floor. The goblin¡¯s eyes went wide.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°You know what¡¯s in there?¡± Ollie asked. The goblin¡¯s eyes flicked up at him, betraying the creature¡¯s fear. ¡°Yeah, you know.¡± He nudged the can with his foot, and the goblin tensed. ¡°You know it creates fire. Enough to burn you to ashes in seconds and end your entire miserable existence.¡± Ollie took a few steps closer to the goblin. ¡°This is where you start telling us everything we want to know. Starting with where your pack is.¡± The goblin shot a look at Kimmie as it backed away. It tried to hide behind one of the large roots snaking across the wall. Ollie advanced, pressing his advantage. ¡°They have to be somewhere. Are they out by the cemetery? Farther south? Maybe in that crevice back there?¡± The goblin gave a quick shake of its head. ¡°What does that mean?¡± The goblin stared at the ground, refusing to meet Ollie¡¯s gaze. ¡°They¡¯re not in any of those places? Or you don¡¯t know where they are?¡± He walked back over to the gas can. ¡°I can start with something small. Like that messed up foot you have. I can burn it right off. Maybe that will get your attention.¡± The goblin shivered and squeezed even more into the wall. ¡°Please,¡± Kimmie said. ¡°Tell us anything.¡± The goblin¡¯s eyes flicked up at Kimmie, and its shoulders sagged again. ¡°No pack,¡± it whispered. Ollie frowned. ¡°You sure about that? I see that Golak mark on your arm.¡± The goblin covered the mark with its hand. ¡°Pack is gone.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe you.¡± ¡°They¡¯re gone!¡± it shouted. It immediately regretted being so bold and retreated back against the wall. ¡°They left you behind?¡± The goblin gave a quick nod. ¡°Why?¡± It looked around the cave, struggling for the words. ¡°We fight,¡± it finally said. ¡°They hurt me.¡± It motioned toward the scars on its chest. ¡°They call me exile and kick me out. Then they left.¡± ¡°Where¡¯d they go?¡± The goblin made a weak gesture toward the side of the cave. ¡°That way. Long time ago.¡± Ollie pursed his lips. It probably meant east if his sense of direction wasn¡¯t failing him. ¡°What about the old man and woman who used to live out here? Who killed them?¡± The goblin winced, then stared at the floor as if its life depended on it. ¡°Do you know who did it?¡± Ollie pushed forward, getting dangerously close. ¡°Did your pack do it?¡± The goblin made a sound like whimpering. Ollie slid the gas can a little bit closer. ¡°Tell me, or I¡¯ll burn you alive.¡± The goblin squeezed its eyes shut and trembled. Ollie again thought of the Arunak, about how it welcomed death as a release from some failure. ¡°Tell me now, or I¡¯ll¨C¡± ¡°¡­sorry.¡± Ollie almost didn¡¯t hear the words. He leaned in. ¡°What?¡± ¡°My fault,¡± the goblin whispered. It slowly crumbled to the ground, cradling its head in its hands. ¡°All my fault.¡± Ollie blinked. Had this thing just admitted to killing Kimmie¡¯s aunt and uncle? ¡°You killed them?¡± The goblin shook its head, though not in answer to his question. ¡°I did it. All my fault. All my fault.¡± Ollie watched, speechless, as the goblin mumbled its confession. He turned to Kimmie, who looked nearly as surprised as he did. He¡¯d have bet money a hobgoblin or a trow had done the deed. Not this wretched beast. Although as mistreated as it seemed to be, he could imagine it losing its cool and going into a rage. Goblins could do a lot of damage when properly motivated. His gun hung limply at his side now, the interrogation, for all intents and purposes, done. He motioned Kimmie forward. ¡°You wanted to talk to it before the end, now¡¯s your chance.¡± He walked back to the bag, dropping the shotgun on top of it. Kimmie waited nearby, unmoving. Her expression was guarded, but there was no mistaking the desire in her eyes, a thirst to know, after all this time, why her aunt and uncle had died. ¡°Why did you do it?¡± The goblin looked up at her, the anguish on its face unmistakable. Goblins don¡¯t have normal tear ducts, so they can¡¯t cry. But this one clearly wanted to. Ollie wasn¡¯t sure he¡¯d ever seen a goblin with a conscience. It said nothing. Kimmie moved closer. ¡°Please tell me.¡± The goblin turned around, facing the back of the cave. It hugged its knees silently, resigned to its fate. ¡°I think it¡¯s done talking,¡± Ollie said. Kimmie stared at the goblin, still waiting for an answer. ¡°You probably don¡¯t want to be here for this next part.¡± ¡°What part?¡± she asked, distracted. He gave her a look, then tapped the gas can with his foot. ¡°Now?¡± Her eyes went wide. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing left to do. We hunted a goblin. We found it. He¡¯s obviously alone, so now we put it out of its misery.¡± She turned back to the goblin, her eyes pleading for some kind of delay. ¡°No. Not yet. I¡¯m not done with it.¡± Ollie gave her a surprised look. ¡°What else is there to do? Hack it up with an axe?¡± ¡°No! No, I want to talk to it. We can ask it more questions.¡± ¡°About what? His pack is probably long gone. It¡¯s told us everything we wanted to know, and, frankly, I believe him. This case is closed.¡± ¡°We can talk about other things.¡± Kimmie huffed, clearly flustered. ¡°I mean, it¡¯s a goblin! There¡¯s a million things I can ask it. Its history around here, other lairs, what other goblins it¡¯s been with, where its pack came from, where they might have gone.¡± Ollie sighed. ¡°You¡¯re stalling.¡± Kimmie clenched her fists. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m stalling!¡± She paced back and forth in the small cave, then turned to Ollie. ¡°I know what you¡¯re going to say. Something about goblins are evil, and terrible, and they offer nothing constructive to society. And I know I agreed to do what you say out here. But I want one day. Just one.¡± He started to protest but she cut him off. ¡°What¡¯s the harm? It¡¯s not going anywhere. It can¡¯t hurt me if I stay out of reach. Just¡­¡± she waved him out of the cave, ¡°give me a day and you can come back tomorrow and burn everything down.¡± Ollie detected a hint of bitterness in her voice. ¡°There¡¯s nothing left to do here, Kimmie.¡± Her chin jutted out. ¡°You don¡¯t get to deny me this, Ollie. I know about your mom. I know your dad is out there hunting the goblin that killed her. If he finds it, don¡¯t you think he deserves the chance to get some kind of closure before he sends it off to oblivion?¡± Ollie stiffened, and his cheeks flushed. ¡°My dad is not chasing¨C¡± He stopped himself, not wanting to go down this road. Not now. ¡°Fine. You want one day? You got it. One day to get your closure, and to finally come to terms with whatever it is you need to come to terms with. And then I¡¯m coming back here and I¡¯m ending that thing. I don¡¯t care how pitiful it looks. It dies tomorrow. Understood?¡± Kimmie¡¯s mouth tightened. She obviously didn¡¯t like his tone, but she nodded. ¡°Fine.¡± He leaned over and grabbed his bag and shotgun. ¡°I¡¯ll be back tomorrow. At dusk. I¡¯ll leave this,¡± he tapped the gas can with his foot again, ¡°here. Right where I need it.¡± He walked out of the cave in a huff, feeling the urge to shoot something else tonight. Chapter 24 Kimmie paced around the cave again, annoyed by the fact that she could only take four or five steps in any direction. That wasn¡¯t pacing. It was ping pong, with her as the ball. She hadn¡¯t meant to bring up his mom. That was a low blow, and a violation of the ¡®no talking about parents¡¯ pact. But she¡¯d been desperate, and she wasn¡¯t about to apologize for standing up for herself. Even if it put her in a tough spot. She turned to the dejected goblin, who looked over its shoulder with some obvious measure of confusion. She only now started to grasp what she¡¯d gotten herself into. She was standing in a cave, alone, with a goblin, the same goblin that accosted her five months ago, and killed her aunt and uncle over two years ago. This thing had caused her all manner of grief, but for some reason she was more frustrated about Ollie¡¯s attitude than anything else. ¡°Sorry about all this.¡± She scowled, suddenly upset with herself for apologizing to the cowering beast in front of her. The goblin didn¡¯t respond. Not that she expected it to. She exhaled, then shook her arms, the movement helping her relax. She paced again, only this time she kept her eyes on the goblin. It faced sideways, its eyes searching out everything in the cave other than her. She noticed it tense up when it looked at the gas can. ¡°The gas scares you?¡± she asked. The goblin looked away, then gave a slight nod of his head. Kimmie walked over and picked up the container. She moved the can to the entrance, leaving it on the far side of a bend in the rock, then stepped back into the cave. ¡°Now you don¡¯t have to stare at it.¡± She looked at the shackles, and she felt terrible for leaving it chained up when it only had one day left to live. It was a cruel thing to do, and¨C She grunted and shook her head. Why wasn¡¯t she furious at this thing? Here she was, more worried about this goblin¡¯s welfare and well-being than about finally finding justice for her family. What kind of monster was she? Something wasn¡¯t right. She couldn¡¯t put it into words, but this entire situation had turned wonky. Maybe the magic that knocked her out last night was still clouding her mind. She needed to shake off the effects. Lay down. Get some sleep. Then she could tackle this goblin problem. She moved back toward the entrance. ¡°I¡¯ll come back,¡± she said as she slowly made her way out of the cave. The goblin returned to its time-out, staring at the back of the cave. An overwhelming sadness filled her soul, and she wanted to do something for it. Anything. But she fought that instinct. She would keep it alive, but she wouldn¡¯t feel sorry for it. Ollie was right. Goblins were evil. And this one was the worst of them all.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Now all she had to do was convince herself of that. * Ollie found Grika lounging on the ground where they¡¯d left him, his belly slightly rounder than normal and the bag of burgers sitting protectively in the crook of his arm. One of the pygmy¡¯s eyes opened into a slit. ¡°All done?¡± he asked. Ollie made a face and shook his head. He walked through the clearing, not even waiting. Grika belched, then hopped up and followed, his brown bag skipping across the ground next to him. ¡°What happened? Did you lose it again?¡± ¡°Kimmie happened,¡± Ollie nearly shouted. ¡°We cornered it, shackled it to a tree root, got it to admit that it killed her aunt and uncle, and then she decides she wants one more day to talk to it. I¡¯m guessing so she can clear her conscience, or something stupid like that.¡± ¡°Women.¡± Grika shook his head. ¡°They be trippin¡¯.¡± Ollie stopped and wheeled on the surprised pygmy. ¡°Did you talk to her about my mom?¡± Grika froze. ¡°Uhhhhh.¡± His panicked eyes searched the forest for an escape route. Ollie snatched the bag from Grika¡¯s little hands. ¡°Hey!¡± Ollie stalked off down the path. Grika chased after him. ¡°That¡¯s mine!¡± ¡°Not anymore. You¡¯re grounded.¡± ¡°I earned those burgers! You know I did!¡± ¡°And then you lost them by opening your big mouth.¡± ¡°My big mouth?¡± Grika huffed. ¡°This from the guy who springs her on me the first day he meets her? What happened to ¡®Hide under the tarp, Grika¡¯ or ¡®Get in the cat carrier, Grika¡¯? You don¡¯t let other hunters see me, but with her you swing that door wide open and say, ¡®Here he is! The Hauk family goblin.¡¯¡± ¡°Clearly a mistake on my part.¡± ¡°What does it matter what I told her?¡± Grika said, even more agitated. ¡°She died while hunting the Goblin King. Every hunter in the world knows that. You can tell her about me, but she can¡¯t know that?¡± Ollie said nothing. ¡°You¡¯re not the only one sad that she¡¯s gone. I liked her, too. Maybe I am a slave or a pet, but that doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t get to feel bad that she¡¯s dead. Everyone in this family thinks it¡¯s somehow their fault. Even little Evie couldn¡¯t handle it, and she was all of seven years old at the time. But none of you was bound to her! It may have happened by magic, but you can¡¯t understand the connection that¡¯s there once it exists. What we have, kiddo, it¡¯s nothing compared to my bond with her. That kind of thing doesn¡¯t go away easily. So, don¡¯t pretend that I need your permission to talk about her!¡± Ollie slowed, then stopped. He heard Grika waiting behind him, panting with fury. He was right, of course. Ollie wasn¡¯t mad at him for talking. He was mad at Kimmie for saying it. He tossed the bag into Grika¡¯s waiting arms. ¡°Take your stupid burgers.¡± He continued his walk down the path. Grika followed, the bag crinkling loudly in the still night. ¡°She used it against me. That¡¯s why I was mad.¡± ¡°Well, she is a smart lass.¡± ¡°She¡¯s dangerous is what she is. And¡­ unlucky.¡± He shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t explain it. Something about her screams bad luck. This whole thing is going to go bad, and it¡¯ll be her fault. Mark my words. She¡¯ll screw this up.¡± He could feel Grika¡¯s frown on his back. ¡°That¡¯s harsh words, kiddo.¡± Ollie grumbled in reply. It probably was harsh, but that didn¡¯t make it less true. Something would go wrong, and it would be because Kimmie didn¡¯t have it in her to be a real hunter. To make the tough call. To be cold. He winced. Now he was thinking like his dad. And that was rarely a good sign. Chapter 25 Dawn came to Ferndale, evidenced by the slow intrusion of sunlight through Kimmie¡¯s bedroom window. She lay on her bed, staring up at the fan on the ceiling, as she¡¯d done for the last two and a half hours. Sleep had mostly evaded her, and it wasn¡¯t hard to figure out why. She had a captive goblin sitting in a cave about twenty minutes away. A creature of legend, completely under her control. She could do whatever she wanted with it, ask it anything, torture it, determine whether it lived or died. Not that she could hurt or kill it. She was too squeamish for that. But what to do with a freaking goblin? The question had consumed her thoughts from the moment she left the cave. She didn¡¯t have to talk to it. She could do other things, like take pictures and post them on Creatures of the Nite. She could bring doctors and scientists over to study its physiology. She could get her own samples and become some kind of goblin expert. Somehow, though, as the night turned into a cloudy, hazy morning, thoughts of science and fame faded away. She was procrastinating, and it wasn¡¯t because she couldn¡¯t bring herself to go back out there. No. The real problem was that she couldn¡¯t get herself to hate it. It killed her aunt and uncle. It spent half a year spying on her. After tonight, it would be gone. Justice would be served. Why wasn¡¯t she thrilled? Something in its demeanor had touched her. She¡¯d started to think of it like one of those dogs bred for fighting. They could be sweet and lovable most of the time, but every so often something sets it off and it bites a kid and has to be put down. Had it killed Belle and Rob by accident? Could that kind of mutilation even be an accident? Part of her wondered if her aunt and uncle had provoked it or tried to hurt it to get it off their land. She clenched her fists and pounded the mattress to keep from screaming. Every thought in her head led to a conclusion other than the obvious one, the one the goblin had already admitted to. ¡°My fault,¡± it said. ¡°All my fault.¡± It killed them, and it would face justice for that. Between now and then, she only wanted one thing from this goblin ¨C the whole story. What happened that led to Belle and Rob¡¯s deaths, and why did the goblin stick around after doing it? Footsteps creaked on the floorboards outside her door. Wendy and Albert were up. Mariah and David would be up soon, too. It was time to face the day. She climbed out of bed and into the bathroom, taking the fastest shower possible. She dressed, pulled her hair back into a ponytail, and walked to the kitchen, where she fed Tank and Bentley, and then laid out some fruit, bagels, muffins, and oatmeal for her boarders. After making sure everyone had been properly fed, she excused herself to her room, claiming that she wasn¡¯t feeling well. She waited until both couples set out for the day, then she grabbed her backpack and a journal from her desk and went into the kitchen. She found a plastic container, scooped some leftovers into it ¨C she debated whether she should add a slice of pie to the bounty ¨C and then threw it into her pack. She stowed a couple bottles of water in as well, and then set off out the backdoor. It was time to face the goblin. * The cave entrance looked different in the daylight. The vibrant background colors of the forest stood out more in the bright sunlight, a sea of green, brown, and yellow that very nearly eclipsed the craggy hole carved out stone and dirt. Even a cluster of red and yellow flowers on either side caught her attention before the actual cave did. Kimmie approached the entrance slowly, wondering if goblins factored in aesthetics when choosing their lair. If so, this one had done a bang-up job. The only things missing were unicorns grazing in the distance and fairies buzzing about in the air. She idly wondered if unicorns and fairies were also real. She made a mental note to ask Ollie when he got back. She stepped awkwardly through the entrance, doing little to hide her approach. She wrinkled her nose at the stench, although it didn¡¯t seem as pungent as last night. She found the goblin crouched behind the tree root, watching her carefully as she stepped in. The lantern was still on, though it lay on its side near the tattered mat the goblin used as a bed. It probably couldn¡¯t resist playing with it. Good thing it worked, too, because meeting with this creature in the dark would have been especially awkward.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared,¡± she said, saying it more to herself than to the goblin. ¡°I brought you food. Hopefully stuff you like.¡± She slid off her backpack and took out the container. The goblin wrapped an arm around the root, as if hugging it for protection. She set the food on the ground and slid it across to the goblin¡¯s feet. The goblin stared at her, cautious about touching anything else that might be poisoned. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s just food. I promise.¡± A last meal, she thought. The least she could do. It crawled over the root and grabbed the container, sniffing it. It opened the lid and peeked inside. An instant later it was devouring everything she¡¯d brought. She pulled out a water bottle. ¡°I also brought water. I don¡¯t know if you drink that sort of thing, but I figured I¡¯d try.¡± She rolled it to the goblin, who backed away. ¡°It¡¯s water. Is that what you drink?¡± The goblin slowly reached for the bottle. It picked it up and examined it, turning it over in its hand. ¡°You twist the top off,¡± she said, demonstrating with her own bottle. ¡°Then drink like this.¡± The goblin fumbled with the top for a moment before finally getting it off. At first it tried to suck the water out, but when that became too much effort, it simply leaned its head back and poured the water into its mouth. Kimmie smiled, despite herself. She sat down at the other end of the cave and took another drink. As she did, she noticed that the goblin¡¯s leg was red and scraped up from the shackle. The shotgun wound was still there, but it had already clotted up. ¡°Does your leg still hurt?¡± The goblin reached down and squeezed the muscle around the wound, then shook its head at her. She nodded, impressed that it had healed so quickly. ¡°Do you have a name?¡± The goblin opened its mouth to speak, then looked at the ground with a soft sigh. ¡°Mine is Kimmie.¡± She said it again, enunciating the syllables. ¡°What about you?¡± The goblin pretended to be fascinated with the plastic bottle in its hands. Kimmie took the hint. ¡°That¡¯s fine, you don¡¯t have to tell me right now. I just wanted to make sure you had food and water. I know last night was a little scary. Ollie is a¡­¡± she rolled her eyes, ¡°he¡¯s a little rough around the edges. But he¡¯s not a bad guy. Trust me. I¡¯m a good judge of people.¡± The goblin glanced up at her, then back at the bottle. ¡°He¡¯s a hunter, so I¡¯m sure he has to be a certain way with, you know, you. If he was like me, he wouldn¡¯t be a good hunter. He¡¯d own a goblin rescue shelter or something stupid like that.¡± A quick laugh escaped her lips, and she realized that was the first time she¡¯d laughed in a while. The goblin continued to sneak glances at her and then look away. She took a moment to study the cave. She hadn¡¯t paid much attention last night, what with her being face-to-face with a goblin for only the second time in her life. ¡°Are you the only one here?¡± The goblin didn¡¯t answer. She stood up and took a closer look at the alcoves in the side wall, feeling the goblin tense from behind. One of them looked like it had been dug out by hand, or maybe chipped away with rocks. A small collection of toys and trinkets had been carefully arranged inside. A doll¡¯s arm. A nearly square rock. A kid¡¯s beach shovel and pail. A phone case. A discarded soda can. Various pieces of plastic. In the middle of it all was a metal camping dish, turned upside down. Sitting on the center of the dish was a Rubik¡¯s cube. A solved Rubik¡¯s cube. ¡°You did that?¡± she asked. The goblin looked away sheepishly. ¡°I can¡¯t even do that, and I¡¯ve been to college.¡± She walked over to the other alcove, finding a small pile of glittering rocks, along with some seashells. Some quarters, dimes, and nickels were mixed in, as well, probably ten or fifteen dollars¡¯ worth. ¡°I see you¡¯ve been making some trips to the beach.¡± She picked up a few of the seashells, admiring them. ¡°You know, my house is kind of like this. I have boarders who stay with me every so often, as I¡¯m sure you probably know. But in between, it¡¯s just me and the dogs. The house belonged to my aunt and uncle for a long time, thirty-eight years, but after they died it passed down to me.¡± She ran a finger over some of the coins. ¡°They didn¡¯t have any kids, and they kinda raised me anyway. I try to keep it like I remember, with all the same pictures, and decorations, and furniture. I thought about packing everything up and redecorating from scratch, new curtains, new floors, new furniture. Same pictures. But then I decided that would be too weird. I grew up there, and I can¡¯t imagine it looking any other way. Plus, it helps with the whole bed-and-breakfast d¨¦cor thing I have going on. I get great reviews on Airbnb.¡± She smiled. ¡°But I do have a little corner set aside in my room with my stuff. Awards and pictures and little things that mean something to me. Like you have here with your toys. They¡¯re important to you?¡± The goblin looked at her for a long time. It nodded. ¡°Do any of them have any special meaning?¡± The goblin¡¯s eyes drifted over to the ledge. It gave a half-hearted shrug. ¡°It¡¯s okay. You don¡¯t have to tell me. I just wanted to talk for a while. I can be a chatterbox sometimes, especially when I¡¯m nervous. So, if it¡¯s easier, I can keep talking for the both of us. Although,¡± she gave him a sidelong glance, ¡°it would be easier if I knew your name. I mean, assuming you have one.¡± The goblin¡¯s mouth tightened into a line. It turned to the cave entrance and stared for a long moment, and Kimmie could see some important thought behind those expressive yellow eyes. Finally, it looked at her and pointed to its chest. ¡°Buka.¡± Kimmie¡¯s skin tingled. ¡°Buka? That¡¯s your name?¡± The goblin nodded. She smiled back, feeling at ease for the first time today. ¡°That¡¯s a nice name.¡± Chapter 26 The faded wooden door of the Pub & Grub opened with a creak. Ollie stepped into the old building and waited inside, letting his eyes adjust to the darkened, smoky interior. ¡°Welcome to the Pub & Grub!¡± A plump, middle-aged woman with curly hair and a cheery smile approached. The smile faded slightly once she got a good look at his black eye. ¡°Just one?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Right this way.¡± With a deliberate sway of her hips, she led him past a row of empty booths. She laid a menu on the farthest one from the door, situated next to a wide window overlooking the Eureka Channel. ¡°Still early,¡± she said, ¡°so you get the table with the best view.¡± Ollie forced a smile. ¡°Much appreciated.¡± ¡°Something to drink?¡± ¡°Coke, please.¡± She left Ollie to look over the lunch menu. He saw the words, and the pictures of various sandwiches and burgers, but his mind was too preoccupied for any of it to register with him. The waitress came back and set his drink on the table. She pulled a pencil from behind her ear. ¡°You know what you want?¡± ¡°What kind of sandwiches you got?¡± She rattled the choices off in quick succession. ¡°Club, turkey, ham, Reuben, grilled cheese, meatball, and BBQ.¡± ¡°Ummm, a club, on wheat, please. Light mayo. BBQ chips.¡± She scribbled something on a small notepad. ¡°You got it, hon.¡± ¡°Oh, and do you have any kid¡¯s meals? Like chicken strips or something?¡± ¡°We do. Chicken, hamburger, grilled cheese, mac and cheese, and PB&J.¡± ¡°Chicken. Make that one to go.¡± ¡°Sure thing!¡± The waitress wandered back to the counter and relayed the order to the chef in the kitchen. Ollie leaned back in his seat, arm stretched across the back, and stared out the window. The restaurant was situated about fifty feet back from a long pier that jutted out and then cut left, running parallel to the coastline. A fishing trawler bobbed gently at the end, and two older men stood on the deck, chatting about whatever old fishermen chatted about. On the far side of the channel was Indian Island, a small islet made up of trees, mud, a few houses on the coast, and not much else. He took a sip of his drink and set it down on the table, staring at the tiny bubbles inside the glass. An old memory surfaced, as he knew it would, and he rubbed his eyes, flushing away the mental images that popped up uninvited. He stared at the collage of local flyers and business cards on the wall next to the cash register, eager to find a distraction for his sour mood. He¡¯d woken up this way, and it hadn¡¯t improved with time. ¡°You just can¡¯t get enough of me, can you?¡± Ollie turned around to see Bobo approaching from the front, waitress in tow. The large man took the seat opposite Ollie, and the waitress set a menu down in front of him. ¡°You want your usual, hon?¡± Bobo grinned like a Cheshire cat. ¡°You know it, doll face.¡± She left with a wink. Bobo stared at the bruises on Ollie¡¯s face. ¡°Nice love taps. Fighter?¡± Ollie ran his hand along his cheekbone. He winced.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°You win at least?¡± Ollie shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m still alive.¡± ¡°Nice work.¡± Bobo held out a fist, and Ollie bumped it. ¡°Proud of you. So, this your first time in here?¡± he asked. Ollie nodded. ¡°Brother, I come here two or three times a week, at least. Best waffles in town. You doing breakfast or lunch?¡± ¡°Lunch.¡± Bobo leaned back in his seat. ¡°Breakfast for me. Got up with the noon bells on account of my late night.¡± He smirked. ¡°What are you up to today?¡± ¡°Not much. Gotta be somewhere tonight, then I¡¯m out of here. Done with my little project.¡± ¡°Already? Damn. You Hauks get it done, don¡¯t you? I hope my love potions helped out some.¡± ¡°Definitely worth their weight in ketamine.¡± Ollie¡¯s lips twitched, hinting at a smile. Bobo leaned back and took a deep breath. He looked over Ollie¡¯s shoulder and gave a wink, to the waitress Ollie assumed, then turned to look out the window. ¡°I¡¯m headed south after this, checking some traps I set in the woods out by Ferndale. You been there, yet?¡± ¡°I drove through it,¡± Ollie said cautiously. ¡°Overpriced tourist trap. Especially the antique stores.¡± ¡°Right? Place is crowded with people looking to burn money. I want to stop a few of them and ask what their line of work is. Not that I¡¯m qualified to do anything else in this world ¡®cept for bashing monsters on the head.¡± He chuckled, then his expression turned serious. ¡°Anyway, I saw Ellie again yesterday. Remember what I said about the Rodriguez brothers? Jimmy and Timmy? She told me she saw their truck parked in front of some old barn south of Ferndale. She said it¡¯s been parked there about two weeks.¡± His eyes widened, clearly implying that something bad had happened. ¡°There¡¯s about five miles of forest south of that town, and then some hills. All of it untamed. Prime goblin country if you ask me. Everyone else is busy scouring the Redwoods, like that place hasn¡¯t been combed over ninety-eight million times by now. But it¡¯s looking like they went out into those woods and never made it back. I¡¯m headed out there today to see if I caught anything. Or if I see any signs of those two boys.¡± Ollie felt a twinge of guilt at Bobo¡¯s mention of the brothers. He¡¯d known plenty of hunters who¡¯d gone missing or been killed, or worse, but that was the danger they all lived with in this business. His dad had always told him, ¡®Hunters die, you mourn them, you move on. It¡¯s the life we live.¡¯ It had felt cold as a child, and even more so in retrospect, but he also knew he couldn¡¯t do his job if he got too attached to these people. Even to Bobo. ¡°You need to be careful,¡± he said, in spite of himself. ¡°Don¡¯t go running in there half-cocked.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t do anything half-cocked.¡± Bobo grinned and winked. ¡°So, you going back to, what was it, New Orleans? What¡¯s out there in Cajuntown, anyway? Kol¡¯sku?¡± Ollie winced at the mention of those creatures. He shook his head. ¡°No. New Orleans is more¡­ other stuff.¡± ¡°Ahhh.¡± A wide smile covered Bobo¡¯s face. ¡°Branching out, huh? I feel you. Good to have a wide range of skills, am I right?¡± Ollie shrugged. ¡°Speaking of kol¡¯sku,¡± Bobo motioned out the window with his head, ¡°I heard there¡¯s a guy in Oregon with a boat who takes it up and down the coast hunting those slippery devils.¡± Ollie felt his blood boil. He fought to keep himself calm. ¡°Good for him.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised you and your dad aren¡¯t doing the same. After what happened to your sister, I¡¯d be dredging up every last body of water between here and Virginia looking to slaughter those bastards.¡± Ollie bit his lip to keep from shouting. Fortunately, the waitress sauntered over and set down some napkins and silverware, interrupting their conversation. She stood next to Bobo, resting her hand on his shoulder. ¡°Who¡¯s your friend, Robbie?¡± ¡°This here¡¯s Ollie. Buddy of mine from back east. Amateur MMA fighter, in case you couldn¡¯t tell. Ollie, this here is Mel. Prettiest girl in Eureka.¡± ¡°Hush,¡± she said, gently smacking his shoulder. ¡°Good to meet you, Ollie. I didn¡¯t know Robbie had any friends out here.¡± ¡°Me either,¡± Ollie deadpanned. Bobo and Mel both laughed. ¡°He¡¯s a funny one,¡± she said. ¡°And your food is coming right up.¡± The waitress left, and Bobo eyed her all the way back to the kitchen. ¡°We¡¯ve had a beer or two since I¡¯ve been out here,¡± he said. ¡°Nice girl. She¡¯s studying to be ¨C get this ¨C a geologist. She got divorced a couple years back, and now she¡¯s starting her life over. Going to school and everything, over at Humboldt State, I think.¡± He glanced back at her again. ¡°You got a steady girl?¡± Ollie shook his head. ¡°There was one back in New Orleans, but it wasn¡¯t meant to be.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s hard for guys like us. Always traveling. Working nights. No such thing as regular hours or steady income. I¡¯ve always said, it¡¯s not a normal life, but that¡¯s why guys like us love it. Cuz we ain¡¯t normal, either.¡± Ollie forced a smile, then looked out the window. He hated hearing the truth about himself. ¡°I guess that makes your parents even more unique,¡± Bobo continued. ¡°Finding each other, same interests, hunting together, having kids.¡± He shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s hard to do, man. Really hard to do.¡± Ollie shrugged. ¡°I guess you could also say that¡¯s why it fell apart.¡± Bobo looked at him, sensing the undercurrent of disappointment. He nodded slowly. ¡°See?¡± Bobo leaned across the table and slapped Ollie¡¯s shoulder. ¡°We aren¡¯t meant for normal things, brother. It¡¯s not our calling.¡± Ollie took a drink and stared out at the water again, watching the waves lap gently by. If he¡¯d been born to different parents, or in a different time, he might know what it was to have a normal life. But that hadn¡¯t been his fate. No, he was a Hauk, and he wasn¡¯t meant for normal things. That much was clear by now. Chapter 27 ¡°So how does being a goblin work? Are you born? Do you have brothers and sisters? Parents? I read somewhere on the, um,¡± Kimmie made a vague hand motion, realizing right away how difficult this concept would be to explain, ¡°internet, that um, goblins are made from rocks?¡± Buka looked at her with a blank expression on his face. ¡°Is that not¡­ true?¡± Buka looked at the wall, thinking. ¡°We come from deep caves,¡± he said finally, his voice scratchy but not as high-pitched as it was last night. It made him seem less monstrous. ¡°Lots of rocks down there. But, I don¡¯t remember.¡± ¡°Yeah, it would be hard to remember that. I don¡¯t remember being born.¡± She laughed uncomfortably. Buka continued to stare at her, so she reached into her backpack and pulled out the journal, along with a pencil. ¡°I actually have a journal of stuff I¡¯ve compiled about you guys. Notes and research, things like that. But I also have a bunch of questions that I¡¯ve had a hard time finding the answers for.¡± She sat on the floor, flipped the journal open, and set it on her lap, pencil in hand. ¡°Is it okay if I ask them?¡± Buka looked at the journal curiously. When he realized she was waiting on him, he nodded quickly. ¡°Good. Awesome. This will be fun. First question, do you bleed?¡± She glanced at his leg and then scribbled something down. ¡°I guess we already know the answer to that one. Follow-up question was, ¡®What color is it?¡¯ so I¡¯ll just put down ¡®red.¡¯¡± She grinned sheepishly. ¡°Two down already and you haven¡¯t had to say a word!¡± Buka¡¯s lips twitched into what could almost be called a smile. ¡°Next. Do you¡­ go to the bathroom?¡± His eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°Bath room?¡± he said, sounding out the word. ¡°Do you know what a bathroom is? Or why people use it?¡± Buka stared at her, then he got up and looked at the objects in one of the alcoves, as if searching for something. ¡°Is the bath room here?¡± She waved her hand. ¡°You know what? It¡¯s okay. We¡¯ll skip that one.¡± Buka nodded and settled back onto the floor. ¡°Any family? Brothers? Sisters?¡± Buka swallowed, then shook his head. ¡°No brothers, not anymore.¡± Kimmie sensed a story there, but she held off on following up. She was determined to get to other questions on her list, first. ¡°How old are you?¡± Buka stared off into space. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Not even a guess?¡± He shrugged. ¡°What¡¯s the earliest thing you remember?¡± Buka opened his mouth as if about to say something, only to think better of it. He looked away. ¡°What?¡± Kimmie asked. ¡°What were you about to say?¡± Buka shook his head. Kimmie sighed. Another question she¡¯d revisit later. ¡°You got in a fight with your clan?¡± He nodded. ¡°Does that happen a lot?¡± A shrug. ¡°Golak fight. A lot.¡± ¡°And your pack is, was, Golak?¡± Another nod. ¡°Have you ever seen any other clans? Raveen, or Partha?¡± Buka thought about the question for a moment, then nodded. ¡°Long time ago. We see Partha, at a gobmoot.¡± Kimmie cocked her head. ¡°A gobmoot?¡± He moved his arms as if hugging a group of people. ¡°Lots of goblins. Together.¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°A meeting?¡± He nodded. ¡°Hunh. A gobmoot. Need to remember that one.¡± More scribbling in her journal. She took a drink of water, preparing herself for the next few questions. ¡°So, you fight other goblins. Do you do worse things than fighting?¡± He looked at her, confused. ¡°Do you hurt other goblins?¡± Buka¡¯s gaze fell to the floor. ¡°Sometimes.¡± ¡°Do you kill other goblins?¡± Another nod. ¡°Why?¡± She saw the agitation in his movements, the way he cradled his arms, and tapped his foot. She wondered if she was making him sad. Or angry. ¡°We have to protect the clan. No other choice.¡± Kimmie steeled herself for the next question, the one she¡¯d been building up the courage to ask from the moment she walked into the cave. ¡°Is that why you killed them?¡± she asked, all humor gone. ¡°To protect your clan?¡± Buka blinked. ¡°Other goblins?¡± ¡°No.¡± She felt a lump in her throat, but she fought through it. ¡°The people who lived here.¡± His eyes widened, and then he bowed his head like a scolded puppy. He turned away, and she swore he looked like he might start crying. ¡°Buka. I need to know why they died. Why did you kill them?¡± ¡°To protect the clan,¡± he whispered. The words carried softly through the cave. ¡°Protect them? From who?¡± Buka¡¯s breathing sped up and he visibly got himself under control. ¡°That¡¯s what he said. He told me I was betraying them all. But I don¡¯t want to protect the clan anymore.¡± Kimmie shook her head. ¡°What does that mean? Who is ¡®he¡¯?¡± ¡°The woman,¡± he stared at the floor, lost in thought, ¡°her name was Belle. She had,¡± he made a motion describing a necklace, ¡°pretty chain around her neck. I always liked to look at it.¡± Her stomach lurched. She remembered that necklace. A silver chain with an engraved heart. It flipped open to show a picture of Belle¡¯s mother as a young girl, Kimmie¡¯s grandmother. She loved that necklace. ¡°Belle was my aunt.¡± Her voice cracked. A tear fell down her cheek. ¡°My mother¡¯s sister.¡± He stared at the floor for a long moment. ¡°She was nice. She gave me food, like you. Both did. They were friends. My friends.¡± He tapped his chest. ¡°Only friends¡­¡± his voice trailed off. She shook her head. ¡°Then why¡­?¡± He reached down and played with the chain on his leg. ¡°Kranka found out.¡± Kimmie blinked away her tears. ¡°Who¡¯s Kranka?¡± Buka smiled weakly. ¡°The boss.¡± ¡°You told Ollie you didn¡¯t have a boss. You said you were alone.¡± Buka focused on the chain, avoiding looking directly at her. ¡°Kranka not my boss anymore.¡± Kimmie leaned in. ¡°Did he make you do it?¡± He nodded. ¡°Kranka bad. Very bad.¡± He clenched his fists. ¡°Very mean. He found out about Belle and Rob and he got angry. He tried to take them, but they fought him. He got more angry, so he,¡± Buka pounded his hand into his fist, ¡°he hurt them. That made me mad, and I yelled at Kranka, so he hit me, then he hurt them more. He¡­ killed them, because of me. All my fault.¡± Kimmie¡¯s breath caught in her throat. She couldn¡¯t speak. ¡°After, he hurt me.¡± Buka glanced down at his mangled leg, oblivious to Kimmie¡¯s shock. ¡°Then he sent me away. Said if I was good maybe I can come back.¡± He shook his head. ¡°But I don¡¯t want to. I don¡¯t like Kranka. I don¡¯t like the pack. No more pack, no more clan, no more Kranka!¡± He said the name almost like a curse. ¡°So,¡± her voice cracked, ¡°Kranka did it? Not you?¡± He looked at her with sad, yellow eyes. ¡°Was my fault.¡± A huge weight lifted from Kimmie¡¯s chest, and she fought the urge to hug the despondent goblin sitting across from her. ¡°I knew it!¡± Kimmie shouted and Buka recoiled from the sound. ¡°You didn¡¯t kill them! Oh my God, you didn¡¯t do it.¡± She jumped to her feet and took a deep breath. Buka looked at her like she¡¯d gone crazy. ¡°Don¡¯t you see? Kranka did it! He¡¯s the bad guy. You don¡¯t have to take the blame for what he did. I knew it.¡± She whispered that last part to herself. ¡°But¡­ my fault.¡± ¡°No.¡± She wiped her cheek. ¡°It¡¯s Kranka¡¯s fault. He did it. He made the choice to hurt them, like you made the choice to be their friend. You didn¡¯t kill them. You tried to stop him, remember? You told me you got mad.¡± Buka nodded. ¡°The only thing you should be sorry for is following that stupid Kranka in the first place.¡± Buka looked surprised for a moment, then he smiled, briefly. ¡°Stupid Kranka,¡± he repeated the words as if saying something naughty. She leaned forward, meeting his gaze. ¡°Buka, I forgive you.¡± Buka stared at her, and at first Kimmie wondered if he understood the word. But then he scrunched his forehead. ¡°Why?¡± She shrugged. ¡°I¡­ I just do.¡± He smiled faintly, then looked at the ground. They waited in silence for a while, Buka playing with the empty water bottle, glancing over every so often, while Kimmie processed what she¡¯d learned. They¡¯d reached a d¨¦tente, an uneasy one. Kimmie decided to make it stronger. ¡°Here.¡± She slid one of her bracelets off her wrist. She stepped to the middle of the cave, holding it out. Buka¡¯s eyes lit up, but he looked at her first, waiting for permission. She nodded and he slowly crept forward. The heavy chain dragged along the ground as he approached, and Kimmie held her breath. If Buka was lying, or if he wanted to hurt her, he could do it right now. She was close enough that he could reach her. Pummel her. Smash in her skull. Instead, he gently took the bracelet from her hand and held it in his own, staring at it as if it were the most precious thing he¡¯d ever seen. ¡°You like it?¡± Buka nodded. ¡°Here.¡± She reached into her pocket, pulling out a small key. ¡°Another present. It¡¯s the key to those shackles. I stole it from Ollie last night. I can take them off if you want?¡± Buka looked down at his foot, then nodded again. Kimmie leaned down and slipped the key into the lock. It clicked open, and the shackle fell from Buka¡¯s ankle. Buka didn¡¯t move. He briefly made eye contact, then looked away. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said. ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± He looked up again, and he tentatively held out his hand. ¡°Friend?¡± Kimmie beamed and shook his hand. ¡°Friend.¡± Chapter 28 ¡°What the¡­?¡± Bobo leaned over and checked the trap he¡¯d left yesterday. A simple snare trap, made with steel wire, using poisoned gummy snacks in a box for bait. The wire for the snare had been yanked down from the tree, and the bait was missing. Well, not missing. He¡¯d found the box about thirty yards south, along with a pack of unconscious squirrels and badgers. He sighed. This was the third disarmed trap he¡¯d found today, and the fifth since coming out here a few weeks back. The goblins in this part of the world were smarter than what he was used to. Or, someone smarter was calling the shots. He¡¯d need to take a page from Ollie¡¯s playbook and start mixing things up. He left the broken trap behind and trudged through the thick grass to the next one. He hadn¡¯t been kidding when he called this prime goblin territory. Almond-brown trees sprouted from the ground like Manhattan skyscrapers, providing dense foliage and limited visibility. Red, yellow, and brown leaves blanketed the ground, covering any holes goblins might use as burrows. The branches may have thinned, but they still cut out enough moonlight at night to make navigating without a flashlight a nightmare. Fortunately, the sun hadn¡¯t set yet. But it would within the hour. He wanted to get this done before then. Heavy footsteps crunched through the brush nearby. Bobo froze and reached for the gun in his hip holster, a .357 Desert Eagle. He squinted through the gaps between the thick trees, searching the long shadows cast by the early evening sun. He caught a glimpse of a dark shape peeking out from behind a tree in the distance, but it ducked away as soon as he saw it. More footsteps, this time from the other direction. He spun around, searching the edges of the forest for any sign of his new guests. It was still a little early for a pack of goblins to be roaming around. Maybe he was dealing with kids? Or hikers? Or tourists? Something cackled in the distance. Bobo cocked his gun. Definitely goblins. More than one. And they were flanking him. He threw his satchel over his shoulder and ran back in the direction he¡¯d come from. Goblins weren¡¯t good sprinters, at least not these types of goblins. Unfortunately, neither was he. But he could at least outrun them back to his truck. Another pair of footsteps paced him on his right. He looked over to see a hunched figure darting from tree to tree about fifty yards away. He aimed his gun at the beast. He doubted he¡¯d hit it, but the noise might scare them all off.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Something barreled into him from the left. He stumbled and crashed face first into a pile of leaves. He pushed himself up as a goblin latched on his right arm. He threw his body into the creature, knocking it away, then aimed his gun at it. He fired, and the impact of the bullet knocked the goblin off its feet. Another crashed into him from behind, wrapping its arms around his head and pummeling him in the face. A third did the same to his stomach. He curled his arm around his belly and fired into the one on his back. The goblin fell off, but another one grabbed his wrist and ripped the gun from his hand. Then another ¨C he¡¯d lost count ¨C appeared out of nowhere and smacked him in the side of the head. He fell back to the ground and curled up into a ball, trying to deflect the blows. One slammed a rock into his arm over and over, finally breaking it with a sickening crunch. He screamed, only to feel grimy goblin fingers jab into his mouth. He tried to buck them off, but every time he put his weight on an arm or a leg, they knocked it out from under him. Eventually, he lay still on the ground, waiting for the beating to stop. They punched, slapped, and hit him for what seemed like forever. Mercifully, the carnage ended, and he lay there panting, clutching his broken arm. ¡°Big hunter thinks he can trick us,¡± a breathless voice above him said. Another laughed. ¡°Big hunter got tricked.¡± They all screeched in delight. Bobo opened his eyes. Only one worked. The other was swollen shut. He looked over to see his gun lying on the ground a few yards away. He reached for it, knowing it was futile, but he had to try anyway. One of the goblins waddled over and picked it up. It turned the gun over and over in its hands, eventually finding the mechanism that pulled out the clip. It laughed as it took the gun apart. The goblins all turned at the same time and stiffened. Bobo tilted his head to see a large figure emerge from the nearby shadows. It stepped lightly through the leaves, agile despite its size, and it came to a stop next to Bobo¡¯s head. Bobo stared back with his one good eye. ¡°Hunter,¡± it said in a deep, rumbling voice, ¡°is now hunted.¡± Bobo rolled onto his stomach and grabbed for a tuft of grass, to pull himself away. He had to get far away from this thing. This monster. He barely made it a half a foot before it reached down and grabbed him around the neck. It lifted him up off the ground, barely straining with the effort. It spun him around and pulled his face close to its own. ¡°Make peace with your gods, hunter.¡± Hot, fetid breath washed over Bobo¡¯s face. Scaly, green lips curled into a sneer, wrinkling the skin around the creature¡¯s fierce yellow eyes. ¡°You will see them tonight.¡± Chapter 29 Ollie pulled the Chief to the side of the gravel road and flipped off the lights. He stared at the slice of Kimmie¡¯s chimney barely visible over the incline of the road ahead. After a minute or two of waiting, he felt Grika watching him curiously. ¡°You going?¡± the pygmy asked. Ollie grunted, his eyes fixed on the road. He was stalling, and for no good reason. All he had to do was walk up to the cave and kill a goblin. A chained goblin. Easy. But something told him to be wary. He glanced at himself in the rearview mirror and rubbed his chin, where his beard used to be. A weak attempt at opening up to someone and making a good impression. It probably wouldn¡¯t matter. The job would be done tonight, and he¡¯d be on to the next thing. He turned the engine off, grabbed his bag from the passenger seat and hopped out, shutting the door behind him. A quick jaunt up the road brought the house into view. Kimmie¡¯s white Prius was alone in the driveway, and he wondered if her boarders were out for the night, or if they¡¯d moved on to the next leg of their vacations. Kimmie stood on the patio, throwing a ball to her dogs, who chased it, fought over who got to grab it, then brought it back. When she saw him, she gave him a polite smile. ¡°That¡¯s a nasty bruise you got there.¡± Ollie resisted touching his face. ¡°So I keep hearing.¡± ¡°You need something for that? Some ice?¡± ¡°Nah. Let¡¯s just get this over with.¡± Kimmie wrangled the dogs and put them inside. They walked around the side of the house and then up the trail into the woods. The sun had drifted below the hills that separated her land from the coast a mile or so away, but hadn¡¯t set entirely, leaving a cascade of purple and orange hues across the sky. ¡°No Grika?¡± Kimmie asked, glancing back at the truck. ¡°Not tonight.¡± They walked in silence for a while. A long while. Long enough that Ollie began to suspect something was wrong. ¡°You seem cool about this.¡± She shrugged, but didn¡¯t respond. Not a great sign. A hundred different possibilities went through his head, but he tried not to take any of them too seriously. Kimmie was a strong-willed woman. This was her being difficult. Once the goblin was gone, everything would get back to normal. For both of them. They trekked along the darkening path, then crossed over at the V-shaped tree toward the lair. As soon as the cave was in sight, Kimmie jogged ahead and ducked into the entrance. Ollie paused. Was she trying to race him? He hurried after, shotgun at the ready. He came inside to see Kimmie standing in the middle of the cave, the lantern sitting on the ground at her feet. The goblin was nowhere to be seen. He dropped his bag and raised his gun. ¡°Where is it?¡± he growled. One of the possibilities that flitted through his head earlier today had been of her letting the goblin go, but he never considered for a second she¡¯d be that dumb. The thing killed her aunt and uncle after all. Kimmie took a few steps back, toward the crevice at the rear of the cave. ¡°We need to talk about something. I¡¯ve been thinking about your deadline, and I¡¯ve decided¨C¡± Something green twitched in the shadows at the back. ¡°Move!¡± He raised his shotgun and reached out for her, but she pulled away and held her hands up. ¡°Don¡¯t shoot!¡± He could see the goblin almost right behind her, close enough to grab her and smash her head into a rock. He sidestepped, trying to flank her and get a clear shot, but Kimmie moved with him. ¡°Kimmie, get out of the way!¡± He charged in, but she pushed back on his chest. ¡°Put your stupid gun away! I¡¯m trying to tell you something!¡± Ollie¡¯s eyes nearly bulged out. ¡°It¡¯s right behind you!¡± ¡°Will you settle down and listen to me?¡± she shouted, glowering. ¡°Jeez!¡± Ollie froze, not entirely sure what to do. The goblin cowered behind Kimmie¡¯s legs, and part of him realized that if the goblin wanted to hurt her, it could have easily done so by now. But another part of him remembered his warning to himself that Kimmie would mess this up somehow.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. He lowered his gun. ¡°We¡¯re not killing it,¡± she said. He stared at her, then at the goblin, who peered around her hip at him. He didn¡¯t entirely comprehend what was happening. He stepped back, waiting to see what possible explanation Kimmie could have for not finishing this thing off. ¡°His name is Buka, and he didn¡¯t kill my aunt and uncle.¡± ¡°Buka?¡± Ollie tried not to roll his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re on a first name basis now?¡± ¡°He¡¯s innocent.¡± ¡°Of what? It admitted to killing them last night!¡± ¡°No. He said it was his fault. Not that he did it.¡± Ollie shook his head, not understanding. ¡°Buka was friends with my aunt and uncle. They let him live here after he wandered away from his pack. And they got along fine.¡± ¡°Until he killed them.¡± ¡°His boss killed them. Some other goblin named Kranka. He got mad about Buka hanging out with humans and decided to teach Buka a lesson.¡± Ollie exhaled, then slowly rubbed his temple. ¡°Can you come over here so we can talk about this?¡± ¡°So you can shoot him as soon as I move? I don¡¯t think so.¡± ¡°Kimmie¡­¡± he said through clenched teeth, ¡°this is, by far, the dumbest thing you could¡¯ve done.¡± She cocked her head. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°It told you a sob story because it doesn¡¯t want to die. And you bought it. That¡¯s fine. Plenty of people get conned every day¨C¡± ¡°Conned?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. It happens. But I¡¯m here now, to remind you that you¡¯re dealing with a creature that makes hedge fund managers seem saintly.¡± ¡°You told me last night that you believed him, and that was enough for you to put an end to all this and finish him off right there. So why is it that when he tells me something different, and I believe him, it¡¯s not good enough?¡± ¡°Fine. Kranka killed them, whoever that is. But you¡¯re going off the word of a goblin. A goblin that is bred to be evil. Think about that. Think very hard.¡± Ollie had a hard time saying those words. Until last night, he¡¯d worked under the impression that some other goblin had killed her aunt and uncle. But he couldn¡¯t admit that right now. Not when Kimmie was defending this beast. Kimmie¡¯s expression became cold. ¡°I have thought about it. And I don¡¯t want you to kill it. It doesn¡¯t deserve that. It¡¯s not angry, or evil. It¡¯s scared out of its mind. And it didn¡¯t even do the thing we¡¯ve been chasing it for this whole time. Kranka did it. That¡¯s who we need to be hunting!¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll find Kranka next. But that doesn¡¯t mean this guy gets a pass.¡± He could see the defiance in her eyes. ¡°This is what you asked me to do.¡± She looked away. ¡°I changed my mind.¡± Ollie straightened. He¡¯d been afraid of this. People got soft once they were face-to-face with hard decisions. That¡¯s what his father had tried to teach him all those years ago, and as much as they disagreed about a good number of things, the old man was right about this. Someone had to make the hard call. And as usual, it would have to be him. ¡°Too bad.¡± He stepped forward and raised his gun. The goblin cowered even more. ¡°It has to be done.¡± Kimmie reached out and grabbed his arm. ¡°No!¡± He tried to move her but she squirmed, keeping herself between him and the goblin. Ollie grabbed her shoulder, pushing her away. She stumbled against the wall, then fell. Ollie tried to catch her with his free hand, but before he could, the goblin leapt forward, knocking the gun sideways and then shoving him backward. Ollie lost his balance and fell onto his back. Instincts kicked in, and he immediately lifted his head, aiming at the enraged goblin¡­ only to find it lifting Kimmie back to her feet. His mouth fell open, wanting to both tell her he was sorry, and to warn her that this goblin was a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing. It had to be. Once back on her feet, she positioned herself in front of the goblin again. She stared at Ollie, her eyes hard and unforgiving. ¡°I¡¯m not letting you kill it.¡± Ollie slowly got back to his feet. He lowered his gun and bit his lip, holding back the stream of obscenities he wanted to shout. ¡°See?¡± He shook his head. ¡°This is exactly what I¡¯ve been warning you about. You¡¯re lapping this whole adventure up because it¡¯s exciting and fun and you¡¯re getting to play around in a fantasy. You think you¡¯re a princess taming a dragon. But that¡¯s not what that is!¡± He pointed at the goblin. ¡°That thing is not a fairy tale. It¡¯s a monster. You can¡¯t be friends with it. You can¡¯t keep it as a pet. It was created to do evil. And sooner or later, that¡¯s what it will do.¡± She stared back at him defiantly. ¡°I will take that chance.¡± Ollie was taken aback. ¡°Oh, you will? Should we warn everyone in town first that you¡¯re ¡®taking a chance¡¯ with a goblin? Because they might need time to run away before more people end up like your aunt and uncle.¡± As soon as the words left his mouth he knew he shouldn¡¯t have said them. It didn¡¯t matter now, though. He¡¯d said it, and Kimmie¡¯s expression darkened accordingly. ¡°Ever since you got here, you¡¯ve been treating me like some delinquent little kid who wants to play with a loaded gun. Well, I¡¯m done. I¡¯ve had enough of you and your holier-than-thou attitude, and I don¡¯t want to hear another word out of your mouth that doesn¡¯t start and end with, ¡®I¡¯m sorry for being such a jerk.¡¯¡± ¡°Fine. I¡¯m sorry for being such a jerk, but someone has to be the jerk here, and it¡¯s clearly not going to be you.¡± Her eyes narrowed. ¡°Not even close to what I asked for.¡± ¡°Kimmie¡­¡± ¡°In fact, I don¡¯t want an apology anymore. I want you to leave.¡± She pointed dramatically at the entrance. Ollie stared at her, slack jawed. ¡°You want me to leave?¡± ¡°This cave is on my property. Which means you¡¯re on my property. And I want you off it. If you can¡¯t treat me like a person with actual thoughts and opinions, then I don¡¯t need you around.¡± Ollie stewed for a long moment, then he held up his hands. ¡°Fine. I caught your goblin. What you do with it now is on you because I¡¯m done.¡± He picked up his bag and stuffed everything in it. ¡°I¡¯m done with this town, I¡¯m done with you, and I¡¯m done with this whole, stupid little fairy tale.¡± ¡°Then leave!¡± ¡°Fine!¡± He slung his bag over his shoulder and stalked out of the cave. ¡°Have fun with your new best friend.¡± Chapter 30 ¡°Uuurrrggghhh!¡± Kimmie kicked the ground, sending loose rocks and dirt flying. She clenched her fists and took several deep breaths. That man was unbelievably irritating, and condescending. And¡­ dumb. She forced herself to calm down. She wasn¡¯t about to let him get under her skin so easily. She turned to Buka, who was hiding behind the roots. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Buka.¡± She walked over patted him on the head. ¡°We don¡¯t need him anyway.¡± Kimmie stared at the entrance, a scowl on her face. He thought this was all about him and his prejudices. He was so arrogant he couldn¡¯t even consider her feelings, or what she might be going through. Even now, he¡¯d probably ignore everything she said and try to sneak back in later. She wouldn¡¯t put it past him. He¡¯d even think he was doing her a favor. That jerk. But that was okay. She had a plan to deal with him. ¡°How far back in the cave can you fit?¡± Buka glanced over his shoulder at the back of the cave. ¡°Some of the way.¡± ¡°You can hide back there?¡± Buka stared at the crevice. He hesitated before answering. ¡°There¡¯s a big hole in the ground that makes noises. I can¡¯t get past. It goes deep. Very deep.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to go near the hole. You just need to get out of reach.¡± She turned back to the entrance. ¡°I have a plan to keep you safe.¡± * Ollie stomped across Kimmie¡¯s driveway, climbed into the Chief, slammed the door shut, and started the engine. Grika, lying comfortably on his bungee bed, raised an eyebrow at the intrusion. ¡°Rough day at the office?¡±Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Not now.¡± Grika made a face, but he kept quiet as Ollie backed up, turned around, and then tore down the gravel road away from Kimmie¡¯s house. He swerved onto the main road, barely even looking to see if any traffic was coming. He floored it, eager to get as far away from this place as he could. Grika made a sound, and he glanced down to see the pygmy watching him with a scowl, probably wondering what Ollie had messed up this time. He wisely didn¡¯t say anything, though. Smartest thing Grika had done in a long time. Unfortunately, speeding through Ferndale in the middle of the night wasn¡¯t the smartest thing Ollie had done in a while. Red and blue lights flashed in his rearview mirror, and Ollie muttered a curse. These Ferndale cops were the worst. ¡°Tarp!¡± he nearly shouted at Grika. The pygmy grabbed the edge of the tarp and pulled it over his bed until the entire floorboard disappeared. Ollie slowed and pulled over along the side of the road. He rolled down his window and glanced in the side mirror. He groaned once he realized who¡¯d been lucky enough to pull him over. ¡°You¡¯re out late.¡± Ollie didn¡¯t bother hiding his displeasure at the sight of Andy standing outside his window. ¡°Could say the same about you. You get buried on the night shift?¡± Andy smirked, then leaned in closer. ¡°Well that¡¯s interesting.¡± He examined Ollie¡¯s face. ¡°Where¡¯d you get the shiner?¡± ¡°I tripped and fell on a guy¡¯s fist.¡± Andy sniffed. ¡°Lucky him. Do I need to start asking around about any reports of disturbing the peace?¡± ¡°Last I checked, I have the right to get beat up any time I want.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not entirely true.¡± His demeanor suddenly became stiff. He put one hand on the windowsill and the other wavered close to his hip, where he kept his gun holstered. ¡°I hope this didn¡¯t happen at our mutual friend¡¯s place.¡± Ollie met Andy¡¯s glare, immediately sensing the implication. ¡°This has nothing to do with Kimmie.¡± Andy seemed unconvinced. ¡°Fair enough. I might stop by and check up on her, just to be sure.¡± ¡°Last I saw her, she was fine. But if you need more excuses to show up uninvited at her house, be my guest.¡± Andy¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Now is not the best time to be a smart-ass.¡± Ollie fixed his eyes on the road ahead, his escape from this place. Like Grika, he wisely kept his mouth shut. Andy pulled out his ticket pad and started writing. ¡°You were speeding. Forty-eight in a thirty. Gotta write you up for that. And you know your taillight is still out?¡± Ollie gnashed his teeth together. ¡°I guess it takes a while to get a point across with you.¡± Andy handed him the ticket, managing a smile with no real warmth behind it. ¡°Get your taillight fixed. Eureka has some auto shops. You might check them out.¡± ¡°Of course. Officer.¡± As soon as Andy walked away, Ollie pulled out onto the street. He sped down the road, away from Ferndale. When he reached the bridge over the Eel River, he crumpled up his ticket and tossed it out the window. What did he care about tickets or repercussions? He wasn¡¯t coming back here again. Chapter 31 Ollie woke up late the next morning, feeling anything but refreshed. He stared at the 1970s popcorn-textured ceiling, flushing away the residue of his nightmares. He hadn¡¯t had any really bad ones since coming to California. Not until last night, when he got hit by a double whammy. He dreamt of the goblin king, Karshak, and the war he¡¯d raged against the Hauks. He saw his mom, lying on the ground, her lifeless eyes staring up at nothing. His sister, thrashing in the water, screaming as she was pulled under. And then his father, and the real-life nightmare he¡¯d turned into. He sat up and rubbed his eyes. His life sucked. He didn¡¯t need these nightmares to keep reminding him of that. He dragged himself out of bed, ejected Grika from the bathroom, and took a long shower. Good showers were a rarity when traveling a lot, and he wanted a good one before leaving this place. After the shower he toweled dry, then brushed his teeth at the sink. An unfamiliar face stared back at him in the mirror. He hadn¡¯t cleaned up just to show off to Kimmie. He¡¯d done it to show himself to the world. The beard and the shaggy hair were hiding him, a shield to keep people away, and to keep him from getting invested. He sighed at the man in the mirror. Grika was right. He¡¯d opened up to Kimmie way too easily. He¡¯d seen something in her, some unquantifiable trait that connected them to this dark underbelly of the world that Ollie travelled. He thought he could focus her impulses, and turn her into a partner. And maybe even¡­ It wasn¡¯t to be. He needed to leave California, for multiple reasons, get back to New Orleans, and accept what he was. A hunter. A good one. And nothing else. He threw his clothes back in his duffel bag, forced Grika into his carrier, and left the room only slightly less tidy than he¡¯d found it. He checked out of the hotel and pulled out of the parking lot, intending to make only one more stop before leaving Eureka, and northern California, forever. He wanted to drop by the library and email Roy that he was on his way back to New Orleans. He didn¡¯t care about the Arcata theft anymore, or his business in Redding. Thanks to Kimmie, plenty of other hunters were in the area. They could take care of whatever was in that cemetery or whoever stole those ingredients from the occult store. It wasn¡¯t his job to solve every mystery and kill every goblin. He wasn¡¯t as relentless as his father. Right now, he wasn¡¯t even as relentless as Bobo.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Bobo. That was an interesting idea. He drove past the library, headed instead for the Econo Lodge hotel. He¡¯d tell Bobo about the goblin, Buka, or whatever its name was. Bobo would find it and kill it, and then Ollie¡¯s hands would be clean. Just in case Kimmie guessed wrong. As charming as it may be right now, its goblin instincts would kick back in and Kimmie would get hurt. It seemed wrong to make someone else do the dirty work. Maybe he wanted an out, a way to explain to Kimmie at some point down the road that while it still needed to be done, he hadn¡¯t been the one to do it. It felt cheap, though. What Grika called him all the time, with a different, worse meaning. Ollie pulled into the parking lot of the Econo Lodge Inn, only to come to a screeching halt at the sight of four cop cars bundled together at the far end. Ollie slowly backed up and found a spot near the manager¡¯s office, around the corner from the main lot. ¡°Cover,¡± he told Grika, who pulled the tarp over with a groan. Ollie climbed out of the Chief and wandered over toward the small crowd of onlookers watching as uniformed police and plain-clothes investigators walked in and out of a room on the far side of the hotel. A room that looked suspiciously like Bobo¡¯s room. He spotted an older man in a shirt and tie standing nearby, wearing a hotel name tag that said Marcus. ¡°You work here?¡± The older man gave a curt nod. ¡°I¡¯m the day manager. Are you a tenant?¡± ¡°No. Visiting.¡± He pointed at the second floor. ¡°What room number is that?¡± ¡°213.¡± A sense of dread filled Ollie¡¯s bones. He felt the blood drain from his face. ¡°What happened to him?¡± The man gave him a look. ¡°You know him?¡± ¡°Sort of. Hunting buddy. From back east.¡± The manager gave him a skeptical look. ¡°You know his name?¡± ¡°Robert Roberson. Called himself Bobo.¡± The man nodded solemnly. ¡°Cops say they found his body out in the spillway southeast of Ferndale. Torn apart. Looked like an animal attack at first, but now ¡­¡± He shook his head. ¡°They¡¯re trying to find out if anyone here had reason to hate the guy.¡± ¡°When was this?¡± ¡°They found him early this morning. But I heard one of them say it probably happened last night.¡± Ollie¡¯s mind raced. Kimmie¡¯s goblin had been in shackles for a day and a half. It couldn¡¯t have been him. Had he been lying about his pack? Was it still around? ¡°¡­talk to you.¡± Ollie turned back to the manager. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I was saying, if you knew him, the cops might want to talk to you.¡± Ollie winced. ¡°I didn¡¯t know him that well.¡± ¡°Still¡­¡± Ollie looked over the small army of police officers and decided against getting involved. ¡°I¡¯ll give them my statement later.¡± He walked back around the corner to the Chief and hopped in. Cops had a way of bogging things down, and he didn¡¯t want them sniffing around, especially with Grika and some hard-to-explain tools in his vehicle. ¡°That was fast,¡± Grika said. Ollie didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he drove away from the hotel, his mind suddenly occupied by more pressing concerns. Bobo was dead, and Ollie suspected the same thing that killed Kimmie¡¯s aunt and uncle was back. Assuming it had ever left. He hopped on the 101, headed south for Ferndale. His return trip to Louisiana would have to wait. Chapter 32 Ollie leaned his head against the driver¡¯s side window. At that angle, he could see Kimmie¡¯s car in the Chief¡¯s side view mirror, parked by the Ferndale general store. He¡¯d spotted it on his way to Kimmie¡¯s house of all things. It wasn¡¯t a conversation he¡¯d been looking forward to, but he had to warn her about the other goblins in the area. Plus, he didn¡¯t really know where else to go. He¡¯d checked out of his hotel room, he didn¡¯t know where any of the other hunters in the area were staying, and he didn¡¯t have anyone¡¯s phone number handy. Ollie twisted around as the door to the general store opened and Kimmie walked out carrying a big paper grocery bag. Part of him wanted to hop out of his truck and shout at her to stop being so na?ve. The rest of him knew exactly how far that would get him. She¡¯d probably run even faster toward the danger, just to spite him. He watched as she climbed into her car and left the parking lot, headed back to her house. He squeezed his steering wheel, cursing her stubbornness under his breath. Then, an idea came to him. He started his truck and drove down the road, then made a quick turn, heading south. Straight for the cemetery. He¡¯d never had a chance to come back out here and investigate Grika¡¯s warnings. If the pack was still around, then they were probably sending a scavenger through the cemetery every so often to scout or to steal supplies from the town at night. If that was the case, he could find the other goblins on his own and take care of the issue before Kimmie got hurt. And he could avoid any and all awkward conversations with her. He drove slowly along the looping road, searching the gravestones and the tombs through his open window for any sign of¡­ anything. He had no idea what he was looking for, but of course this whole side trip was a shot in the dark. He reached the top and continued down the road as it skirted around the edge of the forest, turning into another winding country road. About a quarter mile down he reached the wide gravel lot that cut into the woods. A flash of red caught his eye at the far end. He turned into the lot and stopped at the edge. A red Passat was parked on the grass next to the trees, angled to make it hard for anyone driving by to see it. He¡¯d seen a red Passat parked in front of Kimmie¡¯s house. He leaned over and grabbed Remi from his bag on the front seat. ¡°Stay here,¡± he said to Grika. Before opening the door, he imagined himself finding some of Kimmie¡¯s boarders while brandishing a shotgun and decided that would be too much to explain. He put Remi back in the bag, pulled out his pistol, stuck it in the back of his pants, and hopped out of the car. He hurried into the woods. * Ollie ran a finger across the tree trunk, feeling the edges of the exposed bullet hole. Large caliber, so it would have made some noise, but he was deep enough into the woods by now that he doubted anyone in town heard it. The VW belonged to Mariah and David, he knew that much from the Ohio license plate. Maybe they¡¯d come out here to do some actual hunting, like game hunting? That would explain random gunfire in the woods. But wouldn¡¯t they have mentioned something like that to Kimmie? And wouldn¡¯t she have mentioned that to him? He ventured deeper into the woods, hearing all the normal sounds of a forest. He agreed with Bobo¡¯s assessment on this tract of land. Plenty of remote places to hide in. But that meant even more territory to cover. He could do it with Grika easily, but he¡¯d have to wait until night for that. If he wasn¡¯t willing to explain a shotgun, explaining a pygmy goblin wouldn¡¯t make his life any easier. Footsteps crunched on the ground somewhere ahead. He froze, and put his ear to the wind. The steps were slow and measured, and they made little effort at being quiet. He pulled the pistol from the waist of his pants and crept to the nearest tree trunk, using it as cover. He peered around the side to see two figures in the distance, coming toward him. Both were short, and they walked side by side. As far as he could tell, neither of them had the hunched over, loping gait of a goblin. He ducked back behind the tree trunk and waited until they were closer, slipping his gun into his jacket pocket. He waited until they were only twenty or thirty feet away, then leaned out to see them both emerge from the jumble of trees and brush. Only one of them was who he expected to see. He stepped out into the open, and Mariah stopped, startled at the sight of him. ¡°Oh!¡± She wiped the flat, sweaty hair from her face, and gave him a faint smile. She wore a dark hoodie over dirt-stained hiking pants and boots covered in mud. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see you out here.¡± ¡°I could say the same.¡± A bloody scratch lined her cheek, and she seemed to favor her left arm a bit. She looked like she¡¯d been in a fight with a tree. ¡°Think you could help me out here?¡± She held up one end of a thick rope, the other end tied around the wrists of the cemetery¡¯s caretaker, the old man he¡¯d seen out there his first day in town. The old man had a fleshy, wrinkled face, like a Shar Pei, and he walked with a slight hunch. Upon closer inspection, all of his clothes seemed far too big for him. His pants came up to his navel, his shirt was baggy, and his jacket hung almost to his knees. He looked at Ollie with a snarl, and Ollie sucked in air as he realized what stood before him. A hogboon. Mariah approached Ollie, dragging the old man along with her. Surprisingly, he didn¡¯t fight back much, despite being close to the same size as his captor. Mariah handed Ollie the rope, expecting him to take over. He took it, pulling the gun back out of his pocket with his other hand. ¡°Thank you so much, my dear. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m not made for dragging prisoners through the woods by myself. Especially not with an injury.¡± She cradled her other arm against her chest as she walked, and Ollie was forced to drag the old man along with him to keep up. ¡°In case it isn¡¯t entirely clear, yes, David and I are out here doing some hunting ourselves. Well, were hunting. He didn¡¯t make it. This one¡¯s boss,¡± she motioned to their captive, ¡°was in a bit of a mood, and David took the brunt, if you know what I mean.¡±Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Ollie winced at Mariah¡¯s casual description of David¡¯s death. He studied the small, old man in the oversized coat. The first time he¡¯d seen him, he thought he looked cartoonish. Now he realized why. Hogboons were a type of goblin who looked a lot like elderly men and women, with thin gray hair and grizzled, wrinkled skin. They were used as lookouts for goblin packs, infiltrating the edges of human society and passing information back to the leaders. Mariah gestured at the hogboon. ¡°From what I understand, this one¡¯s been out here a few years now, acting as the caretaker while working for the pack living out in these woods. We realized what he was a few days ago, before you got here, and we waited for him to lead us to the lair. It took a while, but we followed him last night on his way back to the others, only to walk into an ambush. Fortunately, I got out of there with their spy, so it wasn¡¯t all for naught.¡± The hogboon grumbled in response. Ollie gave him a tug. ¡°You don¡¯t seem too broken up about your husband.¡± Mariah shrugged. ¡°He wasn¡¯t my husband. He was my assistant. An average one. I was going to get a new one anyway, so¡­¡± ¡°Sucks to be him, huh?¡± Mariah raised her eyebrow and gave him a devilish grin, one Ollie failed to return. ¡°How exactly were the two of you going to take them out?¡± he asked. Mariah smiled. ¡°A little of this.¡± She waved her good hand and wiggled her fingers. Ollie sucked in a breath. ¡°You¡¯re a witch?¡± A tingle of worry shot up Ollie¡¯s spine. He gripped his pistol tightly. ¡°You put Kimmie to sleep the other night?¡± ¡°She¡¯s a good girl. No need to get her all caught up in this, now is there?¡± Ollie tried to hide his contempt. Witches, like magic, were trouble. He¡¯d normally stay far away from them, but he figured in this instance he could play nice until they got back to their cars. He wasn¡¯t exactly sure what he¡¯d do at that point, though. ¡°That¡¯s what I keep telling her.¡± ¡°We tried to trap the one by her house and use it as bait. But it surprised us coming from the other direction. Plus, David screwed up the knots on the rope, and when Kimmie came running through the woods, everything went crazy and I had to clean up the mess.¡± She gave him a look. ¡°Is that what your ¡®landscaping¡¯ is all about? The lame little greenie out by her house?¡± ¡°Apparently, I¡¯m as much a landscaper as you are a schoolteacher.¡± He tugged on the rope again and the hogboon stumbled forward. ¡°You¡¯ve been out here since last night?¡± She sighed. ¡°I got lost. And I had to chase this one down for a while. He decided to run about half a mile in the opposite direction from my car.¡± ¡°How big is the pack?¡± Mariah gave a disinterested wave of her hand. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Twenty or so?¡± Ollie tightened the rope to get the hogboon¡¯s attention. The creature scowled back at him. ¡°You gonna show me where that lair is, buddy? Cuz I¡¯m real interested in finding your boss, too.¡± The hogboon grunted. They usually did. A sure way to see through their disguises was to get them to talk. They could seem human for a few words, or even a sentence or two. But eventually, the goblin in them came through in their shrieking or garbled voices. ¡°What¡¯s his name? Kranka?¡± The hogboon¡¯s tiny eyes peered out at him from under mounds of scrunched up flesh. Mariah had a similar look of surprise. ¡°How did you find that out?¡± Ollie kept his expression guarded. ¡°Maybe I have my own goblin spies.¡± ¡°You plan on going after them alone?¡± ¡°There¡¯s other hunters in the area. A coordinated attack would wipe them out.¡± ¡°Silly boy.¡± She tsked. ¡°Just like your father, you want to burn them all down without a thought as to how useful they could be. You do know there are other ways to remove the threat of goblins from this world without actually removing the goblins?¡± Ollie froze. ¡°What did you say?¡± Mariah stopped then turned to face him, allowing herself a girlish laugh. ¡°Oops. Did I give it away? I wasn¡¯t sure if you recognized me, seeing as it¡¯s been about ten years, and I only met you once or twice, when your father deemed me important enough to bring by the house. I looked quite a bit different then, though. I¡¯ve had some work done in my travels, and I changed my hair.¡± She ran her fingers through her hair, and Ollie¡¯s breath caught in his chest. ¡°Lynne.¡± ¡°At the time, yes. Not my real name.¡± She continued her trek, and Ollie barely remembered to follow. ¡°I learned quite a bit from good old Jed, but I left town when I realized how set in his ways he was. I guess he never quite healed from your mother¡¯s death. All that anger and guilt. I see it in you, too.¡± She raised an eyebrow. ¡°In fact, did I hear that the same thing happened to your sister?¡± Ollie¡¯s mouth snapped shut. His fist clenched tightly around the hogboon¡¯s leash. He remembered Lynne very well. She¡¯d taken advantage of his father at his lowest point. All for personal gain. She wasn¡¯t a witch; she was a succubus. And here she was, a decade later, still up to her old tricks. After a few moments of stewing, he decided he couldn¡¯t stay quiet any longer. ¡°When we get out of these woods, I¡¯ll get you to a hospital, but you¡¯ll be lucky to find any trace of goblin once you get back out. Because I¡¯m burning every last one of them. Tonight.¡± He snarled at the hogboon. ¡°Even you, old timer.¡± The hogboon pulled away as far as the rope would let him. ¡°Hmph.¡± Mariah made a face that showed how little she cared about his threats. ¡°Like father, like son.¡± Somehow, that made Ollie even angrier. He suppressed the childish retort that came to mind and dragged the reluctant hogboon along behind him. They reached the tree line and crossed the grassy field between the forest and the gravel lot with their cars. As they walked across the grass, Ollie spotted Andy¡¯s patrol car pulling off the road and onto the field. Just like Andy to show up at an inopportune time. At the very least, he could get the cop to take Mariah to the hospital instead of him. That would save him some valuable time in clearing out the goblin camp before she got her evil talons in them. But he realized a second later the major flaw in his thinking. He was walking out of a forest with a gun in his hand, and holding a rope leading to what appeared to be a tied-up old man. Not a great visual. The car stopped, and Andy hopped out, his gun drawn. ¡°Hands up!¡± Ollie threw his hands up, not letting go of the rope. ¡°Wait! It¡¯s not what it looks like!¡± ¡°Officer! Help!¡± Ollie turned to see Mariah limping across the grassy field toward Andy. She pointed back at Ollie. ¡°That man tried to kidnap us! He was taking us back to his car! I don¡¯t know what he was planning to do!¡± Ollie¡¯s eyes bulged out of his head. Andy aimed the gun directly at him. ¡°Drop your weapon!¡± Ollie tossed the gun into the weeds. ¡°Get on the ground, face down! Hands behind your head! And drop that rope!¡± Ollie let the rope fall from his hand. The hogboon scurried away as Ollie slowly got to his knees and then laid down on the ground. As he did, he shot a glare at Mariah, who smiled back at him from behind Andy. Andy herded Mariah and the hogboon over next to his car, then leaned in through the window and called for backup. Ollie buried his face in the ground. He could have been halfway out of California by now. So much for being a good guy. * Grika watched the two police cars drive away, one with Ollie hunched over in the back seat, the other with the woman and the hogboon. He leaned against the window, wondering what he should do next. He couldn¡¯t drive the car. If he tried to run all the way to Kimmie¡¯s house, those stupid dogs would probably snatch him up like a snack. He didn¡¯t want to hide in the woods, not with a pack of goblins roaming around. They¡¯d be about as nice to him as those dogs. The hotel was a long walk back. Probably a couple days¡¯ worth. And they¡¯d already checked out anyway. He shrugged. Might as well wait it out here. Ollie could talk himself out of this. He always did. He reached over and turned on the radio. An old country song hummed softly through the speakers. He hopped down into his bungie web and closed his eyes. He needed a nap, anyway. Chapter 33 Kimmie left the cave sometime after noon. She couldn¡¯t take the gnawing in her stomach or the pressure in her bladder any longer. She needed to deal with some biological needs ¨C in private ¨C before continuing her goblin whispering. Buka had followed her around the forest all morning, watching intently as she set up one tripwire after another, tying tiny bells to each one. About two dozen of the tripwires littered the ground in a twenty-yard radius around the cave entrance, more than enough to catch an unaware hunter, like Ollie, sneaking back to hurt her new friend. And with all the wire and bells she¡¯d bought at the store this morning, she still had enough to make about two dozen more. That would be a good afternoon project. She left, promising Buka that she¡¯d return in a few hours with more food. Her trip back to the house was peppy, excited even. In fact, she wasn¡¯t sure if she¡¯d ever felt so happy before in her life. Buka hadn¡¯t hurt her aunt and uncle. He¡¯d been their friend. And now he was her friend. Part of her was insanely happy about that. She could rest easy about this strange thing skulking about in the woods behind her home. But with that release came an undercurrent of anger. She now knew exactly what had happened to Auntie Belle and Uncle Rob. Her anger had a target, a real one, for the first time in years, and she knew its name. Kranka. She returned to the house to find it empty of everyone save the dogs, who greeted her with their customary enthusiasm, along with a lot of intrusive sniffing. She let them out into the backyard while she packed up more food and water. She debated bringing a few other things to the cave, something to spruce the place up. Something real friends might give to each other. Weariness crept in before she could decide, and she crawled into bed for a quick nap. She woke up three hours later, at 4:35 PM. She staggered out of bed and did a quick hair check in her mirror. It would take about five or ten minutes to jog up to the cave. Another hour there, and then a jog back and it would be close to 6:30, at which point she could start getting dinner ready. Maybe a tad later than usual for her boarders, but it was still free, so who were they to complain? After dinner, she could head back out to the cave, although she might need a good excuse for being gone most of the night. She¡¯d think of one later. She hurried over to the kitchen, let the dogs in, and packed up some food. A few minutes later, she was back on the trail. She had debated bringing her gun with her. She had no real defense if a hunter showed up, other than her own verbal gymnastics. Or sending Buka to the back of the cave. Neither was ideal, but in the end, she¡¯d left the gun at home. It was pointless using one against a hunter, who would be better trained, and knowing her, she¡¯d drop it and shoot her own toe off. And it¡¯s not like she had the guts to use a gun, anyway. Her stomach turned at the thought. She¡¯d have to rely on her brain instead, which fortunately, usually worked out for her. As she approached the V-shaped tree, a sense of unease flittered across her skin, like a chill in the wind. Goose bumps raced across her arms. She picked up her pace, uncomfortable at being away from the cave. Like her ability to tell when people were lying, she had an occasional sixth sense that seemed acutely aware of bad things about to come her way. Once when she was younger, she became uncontrollably anxious about her dog, Pedro, who¡¯d escaped from the backyard. They found his body an hour later, laying on the side of the road across town, having been hit by a car. She¡¯d been inconsolable for weeks. It happened again in college, when she suddenly felt the need to be anywhere but inside her apartment. She left, did some grocery shopping, realized how stupid she was being, and walked back to her apartment to find a burglar hoisting her TV on his shoulder. She wasn¡¯t sure why, but this felt the same, as if something terrible was about to happen. But not her. To Buka. Her jogging turned into a sprint. She reached the cave, dancing around the tripwires, to find Buka right where she left him, sitting on the ground, examining the lantern. He was perfectly fine. She smiled, out of breath from the run, and leaned on her knees. ¡°Hey,¡± she wheezed. ¡°Guess I¡¯m a bit out of shape.¡± She handed him the food she¡¯d packed up. As he devoured the snacks, her worries faded away. She sat down to rest for a few minutes, breaking out a water bottle as she did. ¡°Maybe I should get a golf cart,¡± she said between sips. ¡°I could drive that instead of running here and back four times a day. You¡¯d probably get a kick out of it, too.¡± A bell rang in the distance. They both turned to the entrance and froze. Kimmie waited, but no sound followed. ¡°Stay in here,¡± she whispered. She got up and tiptoed to the entrance, peeking outside at the still forest. She watched for a long time, straining to hear anything out of the ordinary, but nothing moved in the brush. She walked outside. ¡°Ollie?¡± she called out. No answer. ¡°Is someone out there?¡± Again, no answer. The sun hung low in the sky, lengthening the shadows, but she could still see everything. An animal must have hit it. She was overreacting. She¡¯d do a quick check of the wires and see if she could tell which one had been tripped. She walked a spiral outward from the entrance, the same pattern she¡¯d used to create the trip wires. She got halfway through when she heard noises coming from the cave entrance. ¡°Buka?¡± she called out, hearing no response. ¡°Stay there!¡± She jumped at the sound of footsteps crashing through the brush. Before she could make out where they came from, a strong, green-skinned arm wrapped around her stomach and another over her face, cutting off a scream.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Ooooh! What is this?¡± The breathy voice in her ear was strong, cackling. ¡°Curious lady, I think!¡± She squirmed, but the goblin was far stronger, locking her in a vice grip. It lifted her off the ground, her feet kicking wildly in the air, and carried her easily toward the cave entrance. It brought her inside, deftly maneuvering through the rock while both carrying her and covering her mouth. She sucked her lips in, nauseated by the taste of dirt and grime on the goblin¡¯s fingers. ¡°I found her!¡± the goblin announced proudly. Buka was still in the cave, sitting down against the wall, his head hanging in defeat. Two other goblins flanked him, lording over their prisoner. Both wore tattered pants held up with rope, but unlike Buka they sported a collection of brightly colored bracelets and bands on their arms, along with necklaces and chains around their neck. The goblin version of bling. Also unlike Buka, they carried long, curved knives sheathed through their rope belts. One of the goblins had a pronounced forehead, with beady eyes and a somewhat flattened nose. He hovered over Buka, his hands bunched into fists, and she got the impression he¡¯d been beating Buka only moments before. He watched her with the dissecting gaze of a sociopath. ¡°Where¡¯s the other one?¡± he spat. ¡°The hunter?¡± She felt her captor shrug. ¡°I only found her.¡± ¡°Alone?¡± The leader cocked his head at her. ¡°All by yourself out here in this big, empty wood?¡± The goblin set her down and removed its hand from her mouth. She spit a few times then wiped her face on her shoulder, getting the goblin taste out of her mouth. She faced the leader. ¡°It¡¯s my wood,¡± she said boldly. ¡°Err, forest.¡± One of the goblin¡¯s beady eyes widened. ¡°Cheeky. The boss will like you.¡± It flexed its hands, opening them and then bunching them back into fists. ¡°Oh, he¡¯ll like you very much.¡± ¡°He¡¯ll like cutting her up,¡± the goblin behind her said, its dank breath warm on her neck. ¡°She has shinies!¡± the third one said, waving his arm excitedly at her. This one had a bald, sloped-back head, with wide, expressive eyes, like Buka¡¯s. However, where Buka¡¯s hid some level of intelligence, this goblin seemed childlike, staring at everything as if seeing it for the first time. ¡°I see them!¡± the leader spat, annoyed by the interruption. ¡°You get one later. After the boss gets his pick.¡± The third one rubbed its hands together in glee. ¡°Do we wait for the hunter?¡± her captor growled. The leader narrowed its eyes, then grunted. ¡°No. Take her and come back for the hunter. You,¡± he slapped the dimwitted one, ¡°get her, and you,¡± he pointed to the goblin holding her, ¡°help me with the exile. We go to the lair. Now!¡± The other two goblins switched places, with the dumber one grabbing Kimmie¡¯s arm and immediately eyeing the bracelets. She finally got a better look at the second goblin, though, who looked similar to the leader, with beady eyes, a smushed nose, and droopy ears. Brothers? They grabbed Buka by the arms. He squealed as they lifted him to his feet and dragged him out of the cave, both of them administering a few cheap punches and loud slaps when he resisted too much. The third one dragged her along behind, gently in comparison to the others. Once outside the cave, the goblins went east, deftly avoiding the trip wires. She frowned at how easily they¡¯d thwarted her defenses. She needed to hide them better next time. If there was a next time. ¡°Where are you taking us?¡± she asked. The leader glared back at her. ¡°To see the Boss. He owns the wood, so he¡¯ll want to talk to you.¡± ¡°Maybe he¡¯ll fight you for it,¡± the other said with a grin. ¡°Is Kranka the boss?¡± The two lead goblins became visibly anxious. The leader smacked Buka across the back of his head. ¡°You told her?¡± He grunted in annoyance. A moment later, though, he laughed. ¡°What does it matter? Kranka mad at you. And when he sees her,¡± he shot a look at Kimmie, ¡°he¡¯ll be even more mad!¡± The goblins cackled excitedly. Buka cradled his arms against his chest, his expression pained. ¡°Why is he mad?¡± Kimmie asked. She felt a need to keep the attention on her, instead of Buka. Not to mention this was her best chance to learn about the monster that killed her aunt and uncle. The goblin holding her chuckled to himself. ¡°Kranka always mad,¡± he said with a grin. ¡°Mad enough to kill people?¡± Kimmie asked. The lead goblin smirked at her. ¡°Kranka mad because Buka luring hunters to our woods,¡± he said. ¡°Hunters we have to kill.¡± Kimmie¡¯s mouth fell open. ¡°You¡¯re killing the hunters?¡± ¡°We hunt hunters,¡± the other goblin said, a trace of satisfaction in his voice. ¡°They kill us. We kill them.¡± ¡°If not for this one,¡± the leader smacked Buka¡¯s head again, ¡°we¡¯d be quieter, growing our strength. Now we have to fight. Because of him!¡± Buka cringed at the accusation, and Kimmie felt a pang of guilt. ¡°Buka didn¡¯t bring the hunters,¡± she said. ¡°I did.¡± The leader made a face, like he didn¡¯t believe her. ¡°It¡¯s true! I posted articles on the¡­ well, never mind. But it was me. Make sure to tell him that. It wasn¡¯t Buka. It was all me. I swear. We could get my friend Ollie out here if you don¡¯t believe me. I can even give him a call, if you want to swing by my house.¡± The leader eyed her carefully. ¡°You mean the hunter? Is that his name? Ollie?¡± The word sounded strange coming from the goblin¡¯s mouth, like a sound instead of a name. She didn¡¯t respond out of fear that she¡¯d reveal too much. The goblin cracked a smiled. ¡°Oh, we will bring him, too. The Boss will want to meet Ollie.¡± ¡°Ollie!¡± the one holding her shouted in glee. The leader turned and swiped at the air in front of him. ¡°Quiet!¡± he barked. Kimmie¡¯s mind raced. She didn¡¯t think she could outrun these three goblins, but she might be able to talk her way out of this. And if that didn¡¯t work, she always had one last trick up her sleeve¡­ if she could remember how to do it. ¡°Speaking of names, do you have any? Mine¡¯s Kimmie.¡± ¡°I am Yasa,¡± the goblin who caught her hissed. ¡°Yasa the Bold!¡± The lead goblin glared at Yasa, who cowered slightly. He turned his gaze on Kimmie. ¡°You talk too much. All of you,¡± he looked at the others, ¡°talk too much. I am Bagar the Brave. I am the only name you need to know until you meet Kranka the Merciful, chief of the Golak, and Destroyer of Hunters.¡± He said the word Merciful as if it were a joke. ¡°You¡¯re Golak? Like, original Golak?¡± Bagar¡¯s eyes narrowed into slits. He stepped closer, and Kimmie again tried to shrink into the background. He held up his long, curved blade, covered with dents and scuffs, along with specks of dried blood. A well-used weapon. ¡°Another word from your fleshy, pink mouth and I¡¯ll start cutting parts of you off. Does your tiny human brain understand?¡± He tapped the blade against her forehead. The color drained from Kimmie¡¯s face. She nodded. ¡°Good.¡± He swiped at the other goblins. ¡°Faster! I want to bring Kranka his prize before nightfall.¡± After Bagar moved back to Buka, the goblin holding her arm chuckled again. ¡°I¡¯m Mansa,¡± he said, a huge grin on his face. ¡°They call me the Wise.¡± Bagar spun around, his eyes bulging. ¡°Shut up!¡± Mansa¡¯s smiled faltered, and he glanced at Kimmie like they¡¯d both gotten in trouble. ¡°You¡¯re the nice one,¡± she whispered to Mansa, out of earshot of the others. He beamed back at her. Chapter 34 ¡°Still nothing to say, huh?¡± Ollie pulled his gaze from the concrete floor to see Andy leaning over the metal table between them, boring a hole into his skull with his angry glare. Fluorescent lights hummed from the ceiling, illuminating the spotless finish on the white walls and the stark interior of the Ferndale Police HQ interrogation room. The all-too-obvious two-way mirror filled the wall to Ollie¡¯s left, though he doubted anyone was watching. Other than Andy and Detective Townsend, sitting in a chair across from him, holding a notepad and pencil, he¡¯d only seen two other officers in the building, and one was a junior guy manning the front lobby desk. Andy hadn¡¯t been kidding when he said Ferndale only had seven police officers, including the Chief. ¡°You think that¡¯ll play well with a jury? Taking the Fifth on charges of kidnapping?¡± Andy shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s a federal crime. That¡¯s the kind of thing the FBI gets involved in. Once I walk out of this room and give them a call, they¡¯ll probably toss you into a van headed for Lompoc. A federal prison. Where parole doesn¡¯t happen for psychos like you.¡± He smirked and spread his arms, as if offering some sort of sage advice. ¡°So, if you want to avoid spending the rest of your life watching your back in the shower, then you need to quit stalling and start giving us some sort of explanation for what you were doing out there today.¡± Ollie leaned back in his metal chair. He would have crossed his arms if not for the handcuffs. ¡°Does that also include the busted taillight?¡± Andy¡¯s smirk twisted in rage. He leaned across the table and might have done something drastic had Townsend not grabbed Andy¡¯s arm and pulled him back to his seat. ¡°Let¡¯s keep our cool,¡± Townsend said, eyeing Andy. He was middle-aged, with a prominent belly under a cleanly pressed, pin-striped dress shirt and a gold-colored tie. He had thick brown hair, an even thicker mustache, and wore square rimmed glasses. He had a distinct Commissioner Gordon vibe to him. ¡°I have a better idea,¡± Andy said, ignoring the advice. ¡°Maybe we go check your car and see what kind of serial killer paraphernalia you¡¯re hiding in there. What do you think we¡¯ll find? Your ¡®landscaping¡¯ tools? Let me guess, an axe and some knives? More guns? Gloves to hide your fingerprints? What about that black eye? Is that from one of your victims fighting back? Like maybe the guy they found this morning torn to pieces?¡± Ollie¡¯s lips formed a thin line. He¡¯d spent the last half hour doing everything he could to keep his mouth shut. He didn¡¯t have a believable defense for what he¡¯d been charged with, and any sort of half-baked explanation might only get him in more trouble. But every so often, Andy did something that made it impossible for him to stay quiet. He looked at Townsend. ¡°You know, for a scenic little tourist destination, the people in this town are incredibly rude.¡± ¡°Cooperating only helps you here, Mr. Hauk,¡± Townsend said, his professional demeanor a stark contrast to Andy¡¯s wild outbursts, ¡°and you can use all the help you can get. I¡¯m not sure you understand how much trouble you¡¯re in.¡± ¡°You think I¡¯m not cooperating?¡± Ollie said. ¡°I haven¡¯t even asked for a lawyer.¡± Andy scoffed. ¡°That¡¯s because you know you¡¯re guilty.¡±Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Ollie shook his head. ¡°Coming to this town was poor judgement. Not a crime.¡± Andy fumed and Townsend immediately put his hand on the younger officer¡¯s shoulder. Andy leaned back and crossed his arms, visibly composing himself. ¡°We caught you red-handed,¡± he continued. ¡°We have two witnesses out there who accuse you of kidnapping them, one of them tied up with a rope in your hands. You had a gun in your possession. Once we get a warrant we¡¯ll be checking your car, and I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll find a treasure trove of evidence in there. Oh, and apparently you¡¯re a person of interest for a few interesting felonies in New Orleans. I wonder what they¡¯ll say when I give them a call?¡± Ollie bit his lip. He hadn¡¯t expected them to find out about that so quickly. Andy cocked his head. ¡°I¡¯m curious what your play is. You have almost zero chance of getting out of this, but you¡¯re sitting there, cool as a cucumber. It¡¯s like you¡¯re waiting for God to come down from the heavens and proclaim your innocence, but I can guarantee you that ain¡¯t happening. Either that or you know you¡¯re guilty and you¡¯ve decided your last act in this world is screwing around with us. So, which is it? What are you waiting for?¡± Ollie tried not to laugh at Andy¡¯s idea of witnesses. Those two were the worst witnesses he could possibly¡­ Ollie blinked as salvation came to him. He knew how to save himself. Which was great, because he¡¯d been stalling for a really long time. He sat up straight. ¡°You know what? You¡¯re right. I¡¯m done waiting. I¡¯ll confess. I¡¯ll confess to all the charges right now.¡± Andy and Townsend both went still, neither of them daring to say anything that might make Ollie change his mind. ¡°I¡¯ll take the blame for anything you want to pin on me,¡± Ollie continued. ¡°But, you have to do two things for me first.¡± Andy and Townsend shared an uneasy look. ¡°And what¡¯s that?¡± Townsend asked. Ollie rested his elbows on the table. ¡°First, I want you to produce some ironclad identification for Mariah and the old man. I want to see Social Security numbers, driver¡¯s licenses, birth certificates, you name it. Show me that those two witnesses out there actually exist according to the United States government, and I¡¯ll confess to anything you can dream of.¡± ¡°Done,¡± Andy said, his eyes boring into Ollie¡¯s skull. ¡°This isn¡¯t some backwater town. You think we can¡¯t find their identification? Mr. Ogbert has worked in that cemetery for five years. I¡¯m gonna have you locked up for the rest of your life by tonight.¡± Ollie shook his head. ¡°No, not you. You¡¯re going to do item number two on my list. You need to go to Kimmie¡¯s house, right now, and keep an eye on her. Don¡¯t let her leave the house.¡± Andy¡¯s cocky smile melted away. He hopped to his feet and slipped the gun from his holster. Townsend leaned forward. ¡°Allsome, holster your weapon.¡± Andy ignored him. He walked around and stood behind Ollie, resting his free hand on Ollie¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°No whys,¡± Ollie said, unperturbed. ¡°Just do it.¡± ¡°Allsome¡­¡± Townsend¡¯s voice lowered an octave. ¡°You think you¡¯re in control of this situation?¡± Andy said to Ollie, ignoring Townsend¡¯s warning. Ollie held up his cuffed hands. ¡°I¡¯m not in control. That¡¯s why I need you to check on Kimmie. The more time you waste playing bad cop, the greater the chance something could happen. If you need an excuse for being there, tell her the truth. You suspect me of being a bad guy. She won¡¯t believe that, of course, but it¡¯ll at least get you in the door.¡± He felt Andy¡¯s hot breath on his neck, and he worried that he might have egged this guy on a little too much. Fortunately, Townsend saved the day. ¡°Go,¡± the detective said. ¡°I¡¯ll keep an eye on him.¡± Andy lingered behind Ollie for a moment longer than necessary, then holstered his pistol and stormed out of the room. Once they were alone, Townsend took a long, deep breath. He stood up from his chair and gathered his folder together. ¡°You¡¯re playing games with us, Mr. Hauk, when you could be telling us the truth.¡± He looked at him over the top of his glasses. ¡°If people get hurt because of that, it¡¯ll be on you.¡± Ollie raised an eyebrow. ¡°You really want to know what¡¯s going on?¡± Townsend nodded. ¡°I do.¡± Ollie leaned back into his chair, preparing for a long night. ¡°Don¡¯t be so sure.¡± Chapter 35 Mariah tapped her fingernails on the wooden bench, the only sound in the lobby other than the occasional typing from the junior officer sitting at the counter across from her. Every so often he glanced over at the two of them, offering a smile or asking if they needed anything. Every time she said no. She¡¯d refused the hospital, telling the cops that her ankle was sprained, but she¡¯d be fine. She didn¡¯t mention her arm, which the hoodie covered. That would be difficult to explain. At this point, all she wanted was to see Ollie locked up for a few days so she could go on her way. But they¡¯d kept him in that interrogation room for a while. And then, when Andy left, hurrying out of the building as he did, the other retreated to the office bullpen, leaving her and the hogboon sitting on opposite ends of a waiting room bench. She stood and walked up to the counter. The officer, a kid named Johnston, looked up at her with wide eyes. ¡°Is this going to take much longer?¡± ¡°Umm,¡± Johnston glanced through the opening that led to the bullpen, uncertainty clear on his face. ¡°They¡¯ll be with you when they¡¯re ready, ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± She smiled. ¡°It¡¯s just late, is all.¡± ¡°I understand, ma¡¯am.¡± He gave her a folksy grin. ¡°We¡¯ll get this taken care of as soon as we can.¡± She spun on her heel and walked back to the bench, rolling her eyes. She was about to lose valuable nighttime hours in this place. Hours that could be used hunting. She glanced at the hogboon, who kept his head down, bouncing his heel on the ground. She wasn¡¯t the only one ready to get out of here. She squeezed her arm, wincing at the pain. She¡¯d have to do something about that soon. Detective Townsend appeared, holding a clipboard and a pencil. ¡°Are you doing okay, Mrs. Best?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, Detective. Other than the trauma of earlier today, of course. At this point I¡¯m ready to get home so I can get some rest.¡± ¡°I can definitely understand that.¡± He reached over and grabbed the chair next to the counter. He dragged it over to the bench and sat down, facing the two of them. ¡°We don¡¯t want to keep you up here for too long. Either of you.¡± He turned to the hogboon, who did his best to keep his head down. ¡°But this kind of thing can take a little time, so I¡¯d appreciate your help in knocking this out ASAP.¡± ¡°Whatever it takes,¡± she said. ¡°First, I¡¯d like to get a quick recap of events, if you don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°Certainly.¡± Townsend flipped through the papers on the clipboard. ¡°You say Mr. Hauk followed you from Miss Blanco¡¯s home and then apprehended you in the woods behind the cemetery?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You were taking a nature walk?¡± She nodded. ¡°By yourself?¡± ¡°My husband decided to spend the day out at the beach. So, I went by myself, yes.¡± ¡°And Mr. Ogbert was taken when he stumbled upon the two of you in the woods?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± He turned to the hogboon. ¡°Mr. Ogbert, what brought you to those woods?¡± The hogboon froze at the sudden attention. ¡°Uhmm, noises,¡± it said, its voice shrill. ¡°Strange noises.¡± ¡°He probably heard us struggling,¡± Mariah offered. No need to expose Mr. Ogbert just yet. She could still find a use for him. ¡°I see.¡± Townsend frowned at the paper in his hands. ¡°From all the way over at the cemetery?¡± Mariah saw panic in the hogboon¡¯s eyes. Stupid little creature. How did it ever get by on its own? ¡°I do have quite a voice on me,¡± she said, trying to be helpful. ¡°I¡¯m surprised they couldn¡¯t hear me all the way in Redding.¡± She laughed, and Townsend smiled. ¡°So, when Mr. Ogbert showed up, that¡¯s when Mr. Hauk used his gun to apprehend him, and tie him up?¡± Mariah nodded. ¡°Exactly. Sounds like you have it all written down correctly, nice and neat.¡± Townsend slid the pencil into the clipboard binding. ¡°Do either of you have your ID on you?¡± Mariah made a show of patting her pockets. ¡°It¡¯s probably in my purse, back in my car.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Mmmhmmm.¡± He nodded and checked the file in his hand. ¡°And can you confirm your address? 3275 Little Elm Road in Columbus, Ohio?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± She spoke confidently, despite knowing that any halfway competent background check would show several inconsistencies in her story. But all she had to do was get out of this building without a stir and she¡¯d be fine. Tell them whatever they want to hear, and then make any excuse to leave. ¡°Well, the problem I have is that I called the Bureau of Motor Vehicles for the Ohio Department of Public Safety, and they¡¯re giving me different information as to who lives at that address.¡± ¡°There has to be a mistake,¡± she said as innocently as possible, though she wanted to scream. Ollie had somehow thrown attention on her. Well, she could do some misdirection, too. ¡°What about him?¡± She motioned to the hogboon, whose eyes narrowed under his wrinkly forehead. ¡°Are you having trouble getting his information, too? Maybe there¡¯s a problem with the whole system?¡± Townsend chuckled. ¡°Actually, Mr. Ogbert, there don¡¯t seem to be any records on file for you. Anywhere. Nothing online, and nothing on paper.¡± ¡°That¡¯s,¡± the hogboon sputtered, keeping his voice low, ¡°impossible.¡± ¡°Mmmhmm,¡± Townsend nodded, looking back and forth at the two of them. ¡°Impossible. That¡¯s a good word for it.¡± Mariah sensed a dangerous downhill slide in her fortunes. She forced a sugary smile onto her face. ¡°Officer Townsend, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re frustrated by the clerical issues you¡¯re running into regarding myself and Mr. Ogbert. Papers go missing, and computers can be fickle, but what about the danger Mr. Hauk presents to this community? Surely you have enough to hold him, at least long enough for the two of us to get to someplace safe?¡± ¡°He¡¯s not going anywhere for a while. I can promise you that. But the problem we have here,¡± he tapped the clipboard, ¡°is that neither one of you appears to be who they claim to be. Until we can verify your identity, we have a real problem making a case against him.¡± ¡°Maybe you can keep him locked up here for a few days? Until I can get my stuff together and get out of town? I¡¯d feel much safer that way.¡± ¡°Mrs. Best, let me be frank with you. A lot of these details don¡¯t add up. In fact, they¡¯re downright strange. Based on where Officer Allsome said he found you, I find it hard to believe that Mr. Ogbert heard your scream, and then ran half a mile through the woods to find you. I¡¯m also a little curious about where the rope came from. Did Mr. Hauk bring it with him? You were discovered exiting the woods. Why did he follow you deep into the woods just to bring you all the way back to his vehicle?¡± Mariah shook her head. ¡°Who can understand the mind of a madman?¡± Townsend frowned. ¡°Not to mention we still haven¡¯t heard back from your husband. With all of that being said, you probably shouldn¡¯t leave right away. And if you really want to put a dangerous man behind bars, then what you¡¯ve told me so far won¡¯t make that happen. Now,¡± he looked at her over the top of his glasses, ¡°do you want to change any part of your story?¡± Mariah struggled to keep her composure. She didn¡¯t want Ollie in prison for twenty years. Only a few days. Why was this so hard? She smiled weakly. ¡°I could really use a glass of water.¡± Townsend continued to stare at her before nodding. ¡°Of course.¡± He stood and walked over to the lobby counter where he whispered something to Johnston, who nodded. Townsend left to get her a drink and Mariah eyed the rookie, who was busy pretending to look at his computer screen. She searched the room for something she could use to get out of this mess. She didn¡¯t care about the kidnapping charge, she only needed to buy time. She caught sight of the fire sprinklers. Her fingers tapped the bench. ¡°You won¡¯t drag me down with you,¡± the hogboon snarled quietly, his voice rising an octave. ¡°The boss will find out about this, and he¡¯ll kill you. All of you.¡± ¡°Please,¡± Mariah scoffed. ¡°Your boss is a pretender. As soon as I get out of here, I¡¯ll have his head in a stew. Yours too, if you aren¡¯t careful.¡± The hogboon scowled at her, but still slid a bit farther away from her on the long bench. Mariah heard footsteps coming down the hallway. Townsend returning. She was running out of time. Townsend walked into the lobby, holding a Styrofoam cup of water. ¡°As promised.¡± He handed it to her. ¡°Thank you, dear. You¡¯re sweet for doing this.¡± She took it and reached into her pocket, pulling out a container with a label that said Vitamin C powder. ¡°Have to take my vitamins.¡± She twisted open the cap, suppressing the pain from her arm, and poured a dash of the powder into her water cup. She could feel the hogboon¡¯s eyes boring into her as she did. He knew what the powder really was. She took a drink and almost immediately felt a surge of magic radiate out to her limbs. Her eyes closed, soaking in the ecstasy, savoring the power that only goblin magic could provide. The throbbing pain in her arm disappeared. She opened her eyes to see Townsend watching her skeptically. She smiled. ¡°Much better.¡± Townsend furrowed his brow. ¡°Now, we were talking about your identification. Or lack thereof.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± She stuck her hands in the front pocket of her hoodie, then made a few subtle hand motions. Magic would be hard to summon in here, but if she could do enough to cause a distraction¡­ ¡°I actually think I have what you need right in here.¡± An alarm kicked off. Townsend looked around in surprise, right as the water sprinklers turned on, drenching the lobby in a spray of water. ¡°What in the¡­?¡± He reached down and helped Mariah to her feet, beckoning the hogboon to follow as he led them through a side door and into the main office area. ¡°Sorry about that.¡± He grabbed some stray napkins from a nearby desk, wiping the water from his face. He handed a few to Mariah, who took them. ¡°I don¡¯t know what happened back in there¨C¡± Another alarm kicked off, followed by a second drenching from the sprinklers in the bullpen area. ¡°Son of a¡­!¡± Townsend ran to the back door. ¡°Outside!¡± He waved the two of them frantically through the door leading out into the side parking lot. Another officer followed them out, shaking his arms and head. ¡°What in the world?¡± he asked. ¡°Is there a fire?¡± Townsend shook his head. ¡°I didn¡¯t see one. Or any smoke. Did you?¡± The other officer shook his head. ¡°Stupid fire alarms must be on the fritz.¡± Mariah saw the hogboon back away from the small crowd and slink off into the shadows of the parking lot. Once he was out of sight, she made a show of looking all around the lot. ¡°The groundskeeper!¡± she shouted. ¡°He¡¯s gone!¡± Townsend looked left and right. He motioned the other officer to the back of the building. ¡°Check that way!¡± He ran to the front. Mariah used the distraction to invoke one more spell. A large flame burst from the roof of the building. All three of them jumped backward. Townsend grabbed Mariah and pulled her behind one of the cars, then moved in front of her, hurriedly dialing a number on his cell phone. She slowly backed away, aiming for the back of the church next door. Once she was sure their attention was completely on the building, she ran into the darkness. She had a lot to do, and she¡¯d have to do it all tonight. Chapter 36 They walked for a long time through the forest, long enough that the sun dipped below the western hills, throwing the world into darkness. Kimmie couldn¡¯t make heads or tails of where they were going, but the goblins marched ahead with confidence. She reckoned they¡¯d traveled two or three miles southeast from her house, which would lead them to some point due south from Ferndale. Which meant they could be anywhere in the vast expanse of wildlife. Fear gripped her bones with each step. She still didn¡¯t have a plan, at least not a great one. If she couldn¡¯t come up with something better than ¡®distract the goblins and run away¡¯ then this was very likely her death march. She¡¯d wanted closure, and now she was about to get it at the end of a claw. A small totem caught her attention, hanging from a nearby tree branch. She assumed it was Native American in origin, but as they passed by, she got a better look, and realized it was too savage to be made by human hands. Someone had taken a section of thin branch, about a foot long, and carved rough, scowling faces in the wood, like the kind a third grader would make. Animal teeth poked out from the limb, surrounded by dried blood or discolored wood. Carved at the top was the Golak sign, the inverted V, which she suspected to be a symbol of a mountain. Another totem rested against a tree trunk a few paces beyond the last one. This one was bigger, thicker, with larger faces and bigger teeth. The totems must be markers, signifying that they were entering goblin lands. Or more explicitly, Kranka¡¯s domain. Another few paces and they passed a pile of rocks that seemed too orderly to be natural. And then another. Signs of some sort of goblin construction project? Eventually, they reached an embankment that dipped down and then back around, and Kimmie realized this was the entrance to another cave. One that had been dug out by goblin hands. Bagar led them into the blackness, and Kimmie stumbled a few times on slick rocks. If Mansa hadn¡¯t been holding her arm, she¡¯d have fallen on her butt more than once. Eventually, voices echoed down the passageway, mixed with high-pitched, cackling shrieks and the tapping of nails on stone. Her stoic fa?ade melted, along with any curiosity she¡¯d had about goblins. Fear morphed into terror, and she pulled against Mansa¡¯s grip, desperate to be anywhere else but here. He yanked her forward, her attempts to escape trivial to him. They came around a bend, and the passageway went from black to orange. Another bend revealed the source of the light ¨C torches jabbed into cracks in the wall. Panic overtook her, and she worried about everything she¡¯d left behind. How long would it be before anyone knew she was dead? Would they find her body in the woods, days later? Who would take care of the dogs? Who would tell her boarders? They entered a lair at least ten times the size of Buka¡¯s, and that was only the part she could see. Three different passageways snaked off from the room, sloping downward into who knew what. The d¨¦cor was the same as Buka¡¯s cave, only on steroids. Hundreds of small trinkets, spare parts, toys and bits of trash lay scattered across the floor or in piles, some of them on top of a few ratty, stained rugs. Streaks of charcoal and paint covered the walls in random patterns, although a few looked like actual pictures of something Kimmie couldn¡¯t quite make out. She¡¯d have spent more time trying to decipher it, however, if two dozen goblins hadn¡¯t suddenly started eyeing her like starving tigers stalking their next meal. They hopped to their feet and circled around, hissing and muttering at the sight of a human in their home. Bagar pushed one goblin out of the way. ¡°Back, cur! This one¡¯s for the boss!¡± ¡°She has shinies!¡± Mansa announced. He held up Kimmie¡¯s arm and a few goblins leaned in closer. A few even reached out for her before getting smacked away by Bagar and Yasa. Kimmie caught sight of three goblins lying on mats at the back of the lair. Two of them were unconscious, their chests covered in blood spatters, but still breathing. She saw what appeared to be large bullet holes in their torsos. The third had somehow gotten its arm sliced clean off. Next to the injured goblins was a small pile of bones. She had no idea if they were human or goblin, but sitting on top of the pile were two very obviously human skulls. She shuddered and wrapped her free arm around her chest. ¡°BAGAR!¡± A voice boomed through the small cavern, and all the shrieks, hisses, and cries of the pack immediately ceased. Kimmie spun around to see another goblin emerging from one of the side tunnels. Only this was a far different sort of creature than the rest of the pack. It was like a goblin, with green skin, and narrowed yellow eyes that hid little of their owner¡¯s desires. But it was almost two feet taller than the others, with broad shoulders, long and muscular arms, thick legs, and a smooth head. It towered over the other goblins, who all bowed their heads in subservience to this primal creature. This hobgoblin. He wore pants like the other goblins, but they were tighter and less frayed at the edges. Studded leather bracers wrapped around his wrists, like a stereotypical biker might wear. A primitive spear point hung from a leather strap around his neck. Like the totem, it felt primitive. Animalistic. He had no other adornments or jewelry, which only made him appear bigger and scarier. ¡°What have you brought me?¡± he asked. His voice was deep and resonant, full of authority, and maybe even a bit of charm. Bagar hunched his back in a bow that seemed more submissive than respectful. ¡°The girl, Kranka, the one with the hunter. We found her and brought her back, along with the exile, so you can,¡± he grinned, ¡°punish them. We will go and find the hunter, if that¡¯s what pleases you.¡±Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Kranka fixed his eyes on Kimmie, exhaling slowly. He stepped closer, a curious expression on his face. Her hands trembled as he came closer, and she squeezed them into fists. ¡°You smell,¡± he sniffed, ¡°familiar.¡± ¡°Must be my deodorant,¡± she said, chattering nervously. ¡°It¡¯s pretty popular stuff. I¡¯m sure all the crones use it, too.¡± The hobgoblin sniffed again, this time in amusement. Mansa held up Kimmie¡¯s arm, bowing his head as he did. ¡°She has shinies, boss. Bagar said we could have them, after you get yours.¡± Kranka grunted. ¡°Take them,¡± he said, his eyes never leaving Kimmie¡¯s face. ¡°Your reward for bringing me¡­ this.¡± Mansa pawed at her bracelets, but he had trouble getting them off her arm. Eventually, she took them off herself and gave them to Mansa, who held them in his hand like precious diamonds. Three other goblins rushed forward to grab them, prying at Mansa¡¯s clenched fists. They easily overpowered him, pulling them from his grip. When he realized he¡¯d lost all the bracelets, Mansa dropped to the ground, pouting. ¡°She says this is her land, boss,¡± Yasa said, ignoring the commotion. Chittering broke out amongst the other goblins at this. ¡°Maybe she wants to fight you for it.¡± Kranka reached out and grabbed one of the goblins who snatched the bracelets by the arm. ¡°Go to the cemetery. Find out why Og isn¡¯t back, yet.¡± The goblin scurried out the entrance, still trying to fasten the bracelet around its arm. Kranka looked at Buka, who shrank under the hobgoblin¡¯s gaze. A deep growl emanated from Kranka¡¯s throat. ¡°Your chances run low with me, exile.¡± Kranka moved closer. His hand shot out and wrapped around Buka¡¯s neck, pulling him close. ¡°Every day you refuse to return is an insult. Do you think yourself better than me? Or this pack?¡± He lifted the goblin off the ground. Buka¡¯s legs flailed in the air. ¡°You will be punished. You will scream for my forgiveness, and only then will I take my due for your failures.¡± Kranka squeezed his fist and Buka¡¯s face bulged. He clawed futilely at Kranka¡¯s iron grip. ¡°This time I¡¯ll remove an arm. Maybe that will help you remember your loyalty.¡± Kimmie¡¯s fear faded as her anger surged forward. ¡°Stop it!¡± she said, a little louder than she planned. Kranka returned his attention to Kimmie, who stared back defiantly. He looked her up and down, the snarl on his lips fading. With a backhand motion he tossed Buka against the wall near the injured goblins. Buka crashed to the ground, then slowly pulled himself into a ball as the goblins cackled at the scene. ¡°If this is your land, human, then you must protect it. If I am here,¡± he took a step toward her, and Kimmie lowered her eyes, ¡°you failed.¡± ¡°Well,¡± she stammered as her emotions calmed and rational thought returned, ¡°technically I didn¡¯t really mean this land right here. Mine is back that way,¡± she motioned with her head, ¡°where they found me. That¡¯s my land. This probably belongs to Mr. Alecson. You¡¯ll want to take that up with him. Or the state. Either one.¡± Kranka watched her. He straightened his back, raising to his full height as another growl filled the room, then faded. ¡°You are not afraid?¡± Kimmie forced herself to look up at him. ¡°I¡¯m afraid of dying. I¡¯m not afraid of you.¡± A chorus of hoots went up amongst the goblins. They sensed blood, and they cheered for it. A growl from Kranka silenced them. ¡°Tell me why,¡± he said. Kimmie grit her teeth. ¡°You killed my family.¡± Kranka cocked his head slightly. Slowly, a grin formed on his face, and Kimmie wanted even more to burn him to the ground. ¡°The humans?¡± He gave a quick nod toward Buka. ¡°The ones he defied me for?¡± Kimmie said nothing. Kranka laughed, a slow, deliberate sound that built steadily as he turned to face his pack. The goblins laughed with him, filling the entire cave with their screeching amusement. Kranka stopped partway through his grandiose turn. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. ¡°You know I gave them a choice?¡± His expression turned serious. ¡°They were not hunters, with bounties on their heads. I offered to let them live, if they would serve me. The man, he would entertain me. A King¡¯s Fool. But the woman, her I craved. Her, I offered the world. I would have made her one of my Queens. She would have been useful in the war to come. Very useful.¡± Kranka turned to face her. ¡°An offer I now make to you.¡± Kimmie¡¯s eyes bulged. ¡°You are demented. There is no way I would ever¨C¡± Kranka reached out for her head. Kimmie recoiled, but the goblins nearby grabbed her and held firm. They pushed her forward to meet their master, who held his hand mere inches from her face. She froze, dreading the touch of his calloused fingers on her skin. But he didn¡¯t move. Instead, the hobgoblin closed his eyes, and Kimmie thought she saw a smile form on the creature¡¯s twisted face. ¡°Yes,¡± he hissed. ¡°It¡¯s there. It calls to me.¡± He stepped closer, moving his hand a hair¡¯s width from her face. ¡°Hers was a flame. Yours, an inferno, turning everything it touches to ash.¡± He opened his eyes, his vengeful glare turning to one of admiration. ¡°It blinds me.¡± Kimmie opened her mouth, wanting to finish her condemnation of this monster. She never got the chance. Kranka wrapped his hand over her mouth. Kimmie let out a muffled scream. Suddenly, the cave was gone. Kimmie fell forward and her hands hit the ground. Only instead of rock and dirt, she was greeted by intricately designed square stone tiles that spread out in all directions. She looked up to discover that she was alone, in a temple. An old temple, neglected and derelict, covered in dark green vines and moss. She heard a voice. She turned to see a middle-aged Asian man kneeling on the floor nearby, his head bowed low and his hands in the air in supplication, or prayer. A line of wet, snowy footprints led from the front door to where he kneeled, and a half-dozen faded parchments were arrayed on the floor in front of him, like a folding fan. Wind howled across the entrance and snow flurries swirled in from narrow windows in the walls. The man¡¯s eyes were closed, and garbled, distorted words flowed from his mouth, the sounds not quite matching the movement of his lips. It was like watching a horribly dubbed foreign movie. The sounds of the storm dulled and a distant rumble filled her ears. A thick fog rolled in from the exits, spreading across the floor of the temple, bringing with it a scent of decay. Dread filled the air, and Kimmie backed away, her hands trembling as the grey mist surrounded the oblivious praying man. A bump formed behind him, rising up from the floor. The fog thickened, coalescing until it took a rough, humanoid shape. A wispy arm reached for the praying man¡¯s head. Kimmie tried to shout a warning, only to find Kranka standing before her once more. Her eyes darted left and right, taking in the cave she¡¯d returned to, and the small army of goblins staring at her. Kranka removed his hand from her face and slowly backed away. He looked her up and down. ¡°My Queen.¡± He turned, his deep laugh booming through the cave. Kimmie went limp in the hands of her captors, her strength gone, the breath sucked from her lungs. She inhaled deeply, recognizing the torment about to tear through her body. She glanced over at Buka, who cowered in the corner of the lair. She¡¯d never seen him look so scared, not even when Ollie threatened to burn him alive. She wondered what that meant for her¡­ Chapter 37 Andy¡¯s squad car skidded to a stop on the gravel driveway, right next to Kimmie¡¯s Prius. He hopped out of the car, leaving the engine running, and ran up to Kimmie¡¯s front door. He pounded on it, rattling the owl-faced knocker and causing the dogs inside to bark like crazy. ¡°Kimmie?¡± he shouted. ¡°Are you in there?¡± He¡¯d called her five times during the short drive from town to her house. She hadn¡¯t answered any of his calls. He thought Ollie was sending him on a wild goose chase at first, but now he was sufficiently worried. The door opened a moment later, and Albert stuck his head out. ¡°Yes? Oh, hey. Andy, right?¡± ¡°Is Kimmie here?¡± Albert looked over his shoulder. ¡°Is Kimmie here?¡± Wendy appeared next to her husband. ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so. Why? Is something wrong?¡± Andy balled his hands into fists to keep from fidgeting. Why would her car be here but not her? ¡°Um, no. I wanted to talk to her about Mariah, the other person staying here. Is her husband here? David?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just us,¡± Wendy said. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Mariah?¡± ¡°Nothing!¡± he said, a little louder than he meant to say it. ¡°She¡¯s fine. We have her down at the ole¡¯ HQ. There was a minor incident, and I need to get some details from Kimmie. Or David. Either one.¡± He leaned over to see past them into the living room. He didn¡¯t think they were lying, he just needed to see for himself, maybe spot a clue. ¡°When is the last time you saw Kimmie?¡± Wendy looked at Albert. ¡°This morning. At breakfast. She was headed out to the store, and she said she¡¯d be out part of the day, but expected to be back for dinner.¡± ¡°And she didn¡¯t come back?¡± Wendy glanced out the door. ¡°I see her car, but I don¡¯t think she¡¯s in the house. Should we be worried?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. Like I said, I wanted to check up on something. You two stay here and enjoy your night. I¡¯ll go look around town for her.¡± He pulled out some cards from his back pocket and handed one to Albert. ¡°But if you see her or David, have them give me a call.¡±This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. They took his cards, apprehensive frowns plastered on their faces. Andy walked back to his car, although it took a Herculean effort not to sprint. He wanted to remain calm for Wendy and Albert¡¯s sakes. No need to spook them any more than he already had. He reached his car and saw Wendy looking at him through the window, saying something to an out-of-sight Albert. Andy gave her a courteous nod and backed out of the driveway. He took off down the road, a little faster than he intended. * Andy didn¡¯t drive straight back to the office. He needed more information to keep Ollie from baiting him with useless leads and tasks, and the only place he could think to get some was around the corner ahead. He turned into the gravel lot behind the cemetery and felt a small tinge of satisfaction as he pulled up behind Ollie¡¯s truck, right where he¡¯d left it. He shifted the car into park, keeping the lights on as he got out. He walked up along the passenger side of the gaudy green beast first, shining his flashlight through the back windows. He saw a few pieces of luggage, what looked like a cat carrier, and a dull gray metal lockbox, the bottom welded to the floor. It ran from one side of the truck to the other, easily big enough to hold large, deadly, tools. He opened the back hatch and leaned inside to tug on the lockbox handle. Locked, of course. Ollie would have the key on him. He¡¯d make sure to get it when he went back. He unzipped the suitcases but all he found inside were clothes and toiletries. He shined the light on the floorboard, looking intently for any sign of foul play. Blood, skin, hair, anything that might show he¡¯d been up to some nefarious stuff. But other than a few crumpled fast-food wrappers, an empty Doritos bag, a sleeping bag, and some discarded plastic water bottles, the back was empty. He grabbed the sleeping bag and squeezed it, feeling for anything that might be hidden inside. It felt like a sleeping bag should feel, so he left it where he found it. He shut the door and walked around to the side, checking the back seats. Nothing untoward there, either, except for more trash. The guy was at least sloppy. That was good. Sloppy people didn¡¯t cover their tracks. He opened the passenger side door and found a big, green duffel bag lying on the seat. He unzipped it and a smile twisted his face as he examined its contents. A shotgun, a machete, some vials filled with chemicals. Knives. Balloons and toys¡­ was he going after kids? He sifted through the treasure trove of weapons and tools, silently reveling in the fact that he finally had Oliver Hauk by the balls. The wind ruffled the folded tarp on the floorboard. He realized it was covering something. He reached down and flipped up the edge, part of him hoping to find a head down there, another part dreading that it might be Kimmie¡¯s. He cringed, then relaxed. Nothing down there except for a weird netting of bungie cords and even more fast-food trash. This guy must live in his truck. Something scurried in the woods behind him. He spun and flicked the flashlight across the brush. Whatever it was stopped moving. A raccoon, probably. He ignored it and zipped up the bag. He left it where he found it and hurried back to his car. Let¡¯s see Ollie talk himself out of this. Chapter 38 Red and white flashing lights greeted Andy on his return to the station. A large fire truck was parked out front, surrounded by a gathering of firemen and spectators, including Captain Harris. Harris, a brawny country boy in his late forties gestured idly at the building, coffee cup in hand, talking to Chief Mackey from the Ferndale Fire Department. Mackey had more of a city vibe, with a lean build and a clean-shaven head. Andy waited for a few townspeople to move away from the parking spots as he backed into the one nearest the side entrance. He got out of the car and hurried to the front. ¡°Hey, Captain.¡± He approached Harris and Mackey. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Harris nodded at the building, his expression weary. ¡°All kinds of craziness. The roof blew up, and something keeps tripping the fire sprinklers. Now you might think that¡¯s because of the roof fire, but that happened after the sprinklers went wonky, even though there was no smoke inside the building. FD is searching for signs of bad wires but they haven¡¯t found anything yet. They think the sprinklers might be because of some faulty pipes, though.¡± Andy looked around anxiously, scanning the crowd. ¡°What about the prisoner we brought in?¡± ¡°Your kidnapper? He¡¯s still in there for now. But we might have to let him go seeing as your two witnesses ran off in the confusion. Townsend¡¯s looking for them right now, along with Harvey.¡± Andy¡¯s mouth opened but no words came out. Ollie had been right about them. But that couldn¡¯t be. He¡¯d found evidence. Oliver Hauk was a bad guy, and he could prove it. ¡°Can I go in?¡± he asked Mackey. The fireman nodded. ¡°It¡¯s perfectly safe now. Be forewarned, though, it looks like a typhoon hit that place. I hope you didn¡¯t have any important papers sitting out. Or your dinner.¡± Andy gave them both a wan smile, then jogged into the building. As Mackey predicted, the floor was soaked, as were papers and clothes sitting on desks or chairs. He wrinkled his nose at the smell of stale water. It would take a long time to clean this place up. Officer Johnston stood at the far side of the bullpen, a squeegee mop in hand as he tried to wipe away some of the puddles out a side door. He gave Andy a quick wave. Andy moved down the main hallway, where he found Ollie sitting in one of the two holding cells at the back of the building. Ollie looked up at him, his hair and clothes damp, but no worse for wear. Andy stood next to the bars, a fierce scowl on his face. ¡°You have a lot to explain.¡± Ollie raised an eyebrow but kept his mouth shut. ¡°I checked your car. Found something interesting in there.¡± A tick of concern crossed Ollie¡¯s face, and Andy smiled in victory. ¡°You know what it was?¡± Ollie looked at the floor and sighed. ¡°A foot-tall pygmy goblin with a bad attitude?¡± Andy blinked. ¡°What? No. I found a bag full of weapons sitting on the front seat. Guns, knives, chemicals. What¡¯s gonna happen when I get all of that stuff tested?¡±If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Ollie relaxed and leaned back against the wall. ¡°Isn¡¯t that illegal search and seizure? You can¡¯t use any of that against me.¡± ¡°I left the bag there. Once we get our court order, then we¡¯ll go back and confiscate it. I wanted a sneak preview of what you were up to. And now I know.¡± ¡°Test all you want. None of it will match anything. Oh, and I¡¯m not sure if you heard, but your witnesses seem to be missing, so it¡¯s gonna be kinda hard to press charges.¡± ¡°You think I care about them?¡± Andy grabbed the bars. ¡°Where¡¯s Kimmie?¡± Ollie leaned forward. ¡°She wasn¡¯t home?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t play dumb with me, Hauk. No one else is watching right now. I can come in there and administer a little blind justice if I need to. I can make it so the bruises don¡¯t show up.¡± Ollie stood up, his expression serious. ¡°Settle down cowboy and answer the question. Was Kimmie home, or not?¡± ¡°She wasn¡¯t home. Wendy and Albert haven¡¯t seen her all day.¡± His eyes narrowed. ¡°If that¡¯s because of you¡­¡± Ollie ran a hand through his damp hair. ¡°Trust me, Allsome, there¡¯s a lot of stuff I wish I could tell you about. Not that you¡¯d believe any of it.¡± ¡°Try me.¡± Ollie paced the interior of the cell before fixing his gaze on Andy. ¡°Would you believe I¡¯m a hunter?¡± ¡°Half the population of this town are hunters.¡± Ollie shook his head. ¡°Not a game hunter. A bounty hunter. I came here to find Mariah. She¡¯s wanted for intrastate drug trafficking and possibly a couple murders. That¡¯s why you can¡¯t find her in your system. Mariah isn¡¯t her real name. And that¡¯s also why I¡¯ve been hanging around with Kimmie. I needed to make sure I was on the right track without alerting my real target.¡± Andy¡¯s lips formed a thin line. ¡°Seriously?¡± ¡°Why do you think she ran away? She¡¯s here under a fake identity. She¡¯s on the run. You had her here, in this building, and she escaped again.¡± Andy shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not buying it.¡± Ollie stepped up next to the bars. ¡°Take me back to my car. Back to where I found her. I¡¯ll prove it. I left something behind. Something you didn¡¯t know about when you found us.¡± ¡°I already searched your car.¡± ¡°Not in the car, in the woods.¡± Andy gave him a dubious look. ¡°Where?¡± Ollie shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t tell you. I can¡¯t give you directions because I dropped it in a hurry. I¡¯d have to be there, to retrace my steps.¡± ¡°You are insane if you think I¡¯m letting you out of this cell.¡± He tapped the bars between them. ¡°Fine.¡± Ollie shrugged. ¡°But I know how this works. Your witnesses are gone, and you can¡¯t keep me here forever. I either walk out of here in the morning, free to do what I want, or you can take me back to my car right now and give me a chance to prove that I¡¯m not the bad guy here.¡± Ollie stepped closer to the bars and lowered his voice. ¡°You¡¯ve already shown yourself willing to bend some laws to make sure criminals get their due. All we have to do is go look. That¡¯s it.¡± Andy fumed for a moment. Something wasn¡¯t right about this, not any of it. His brain told him to walk away, and forget he¡¯d ever spoken to Oliver Hauk, but his gut wanted to know more. Johnston appeared at the end of the hallway, an excited glint in his eyes. ¡°Andy! The utility shed behind Ginnie¡¯s just blew up. The FD is headed there now, but Captain wants one of us to go with them.¡± Andy slowly turned to the younger cop. ¡°Blew up? Like, exploded?¡± The rookie cop nodded vigorously. ¡°Should I stay and watch him, or¡­?¡± Andy turned back to Ollie, who raised an eyebrow. ¡°You go. I¡¯ll keep an eye on this guy.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Johnston beamed. ¡°I can take this one?¡± ¡°Yeah. Go. I got this.¡± Johnston ran off, his splashing footsteps slowly fading away. Ollie took a step back from the bars, leaving room for the cell door to open. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s you and me now.¡± Andy squeezed his hands into fists. He shook his head and walked over to the desk at the far end of the hall. He pulled out the keys and then returned to the jail cell. ¡°If you¡¯re lying to me¡­¡± Ollie held up his hands. ¡°I know, I know. I¡¯ll get another ticket.¡± Andy frowned. He tossed handcuffs on the floor in front of Ollie. ¡°Put those on. Tight.¡± Ollie picked up the handcuffs and slapped them on his wrists. He stood up and the two men faced off. ¡°All right, Hauk,¡± Andy finally said as he opened the cell door. ¡°Let¡¯s go find this proof.¡± Chapter 39 Andy¡¯s squad car cruised slowly up the looping road through the cemetery. So slowly that Ollie began to wonder if Andy was having second thoughts. He shifted around in the uncomfortable back seat. It was made of hard plastic, with an awkward groove behind his lower back, for handcuffed suspects. Fortunately, he had his hands cuffed in the front, not that that made the seat any more pleasant. Andy cleared his throat. ¡°What about the husband, David?¡± ¡°What about him?¡± ¡°Is he part of this? Does he have Kimmie?¡± ¡°No. But he¡¯s part of it. Or was. I¡¯m guessing he¡¯s long gone.¡± Andy sighed heavily. He reached the top of the hill and followed the road around to the side. He approached the turn a quarter mile down. ¡°If this is true,¡± he said, ¡°and I¡¯m not saying it is, but if it¡¯s true, you could have saved everyone a lot of trouble by telling us at the beginning.¡± ¡°Get the cops involved?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°No offense, but I¡¯ve never really met a useful cop.¡± Andy glared at him in the mirror. ¡°Maybe the problem isn¡¯t cops. Maybe it¡¯s you.¡± Ollie smirked back. ¡°No reason both can¡¯t be true.¡± The squad car¡¯s headlights tracked across the wide gravel lot as Andy made the turn, illuminating the two cars still parked ahead. Ollie saw the Chief, right where he left it, along with Mariah¡¯s VW, pulled up onto the grass about thirty yards ahead. ¡°That¡¯s her car up there. You¡¯ll want to search it, look for papers, IDs, something like that while I check the brush along the tree line.¡± ¡°You think I¡¯m letting you go off on your own?¡± ¡°I figured it would be faster if we do it that way.¡± Andy pulled up behind the Chief and put the car in park. He grabbed one of those big cop flashlights from the seat next to him and opened the door. ¡°Stay here,¡± he said, as if Ollie had any other choice. ¡°I¡¯ll check Mariah¡¯s car first, then we¡¯ll both go look for your evidence.¡± Andy shut the door behind him and started a slow walk toward the Passat, his flashlight lighting up the edges of the forest as he did. Ollie cursed under his breath. Plan A had been to make a run for it in the forest and hope he could get separated from Andy in the dark. Not his greatest idea, but it was a million times better than sitting in a waterlogged cell all night. Now he needed a Plan B. He scanned the trees only a few yards away, desperately searching for some sign of help. ¡°C¡¯mon, Grika,¡± he whispered. He had no Plan C. Either Grika saw him in the police car and came out to help right now, or Ollie would be left trying to figure out how to sucker punch a suspicious cop who more than likely would be pointing a gun at him. ¡°I¡¯ll get you all the Burger Babe you want. Whataburger, Burger Street. Anything. You name it, buddy. Just get me out of here.¡±This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Andy reached the Passat. He shined the flashlight through the windows, squinting at the interior. He opened the driver-side door and leaned in to get a better look. Ollie reached over and tried the door handle next to him. It didn¡¯t open from the inside, not that he thought it would. He gritted his teeth. ¡°C¡¯mon¡­¡± Something scratched on the side of the door. He leaned over to see Grika clambering up via the wheel well. Ollie tensed, watching as Andy searched the VW. He prayed for the cop to find something, anything in there to keep him distracted for one more minute. Thirty seconds. Ten would be fantastic. Grika, his feet planted on the tire, reached one hand over to brace himself against the side of the car and then grabbed the handle with the other. He strained, trying to get the leverage to pull the handle, but it was clear he was struggling. Ollie silently urged him on, his frantic facial expressions making all the noise that needed to be made. Grika scowled back at him and then tried again. The handle clicked. The door opened, with Grika hanging from the side. Ollie checked on Andy, who was still rummaging through Mariah¡¯s car. He slid out through the open door, set Grika gently on the ground, then motioned the pygmy back into the woods. He scampered off, and Ollie crouched next to the car. He was tempted to run right then, but he wouldn¡¯t get far. Andy would charge after him, and he¡¯d have a gun, while Ollie would still be stuck in handcuffs. He needed a distraction. He crept up to the passenger door, climbed into the front seat and disengaged the parking brake. Then, he shifted the car into neutral and slid back out, right as the squad car slowly rolled backward down the gentle incline. He waited a moment for it to pick up some steam, then he called out. ¡°Officer!¡± Andy backed out of the Passat. Ollie pointed with both hands. ¡°Your car.¡± At first, it seemed Andy was more upset that Ollie had gotten out. But then he noticed that his car was moving, backward, down the hill, and his anger morphed into incredulity. He took off at a full sprint, slowing only to point at Ollie. ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± Ollie held up his handcuffed hands. ¡°Sure thing.¡± Andy ran after his car, which gained steam as it veered backward toward the main road. Ollie waited a few seconds, then he ran up to the Chief, grabbed his bag from the passenger seat, and charged into the woods. He barreled through the brush for a good fifty yards before he found a spot to hide. ¡°Grika!¡± he called out in a harsh whisper. He rummaged through the bag for a small plastic case. He found it and pulled out a lock picking kit that he used on his handcuffs. Once they were off, he nearly threw them away before thinking they might be useful. He stuffed them into the bag, replaced the kit, grabbed Remi, and then hurried south. ¡°HAUK!¡± Andy¡¯s distant voice was furious. Ollie chuckled, then glanced around at his feet. ¡°Grika? You with me?¡± ¡°Back here!¡± came the faint reply. Ollie slowed, letting the pygmy goblin catch up. ¡°We need to get some distance from Captain Awesome back there.¡± ¡°Agreed.¡± Grika nodded vigorously. ¡°Then what?¡± ¡°Then we circle back around and get my truck while he¡¯s chasing us through the woods. The whole police force is running all over town right now, so he can¡¯t call for backup.¡± He reached down to grab the pygmy, only for Grika to stop suddenly and sniff the air. ¡°Wait!¡± Grika sniffed again, and Ollie watched him with disbelieving eyes. Surely there wasn¡¯t a goblin out here. Not now. ¡°There¡¯s a goblin out here,¡± Grika said. ¡°Getting closer.¡± ¡°HAUK!¡± Ollie deflated. Andy¡¯s voice was getting closer. They were about to be sandwiched between a cop who wanted him dead, and a goblin who needed to be dead. If he went after the goblin, Andy would follow the noise and find him. If he avoided them both, they¡¯d find each other, and Andy might end up hurt. Or worse. Ollie pumped his shotgun. ¡°Show me.¡± Chapter 40 Grika set the pace through the forest, and Ollie followed, doing what he could to hide the sound of his boots crunching the grass. He did a quick check on the ammo in his shotgun, just in case Andy messed with it in his search. He had four shells loaded. More than enough. ¡°Hauk!¡± Andy shouted in the distance. ¡°Get back here right now!¡± Grika stopped and sniffed again. He pointed directly ahead, and then silently tiptoed toward a nearby tree for cover. Ollie did the same, crouching next to a tree trunk. He aimed Remi at the darkness, scanning the trees for any sign of movement. ¡°I will shoot you on sight if you don¡¯t get back here right this instant!¡± Ollie exhaled in frustration. Andy was either luring the goblin right to him or scaring it away. He looked at Grika for a sign that either was happening, but the pygmy had burrowed as much of its body as it could into a small pile of leaves. He heard the footsteps a few seconds later. A loping gait, mixed with a rhythmic grunt. Only one, he guessed. Coming in for the kill. ¡°You won¡¯t get away with this!¡± Andy again. Ollie glanced over his shoulder. The police officer was getting closer. ¡°You¡¯ll be a fugitive in all fifty states, and I will personally lead the hunt!¡± He trained his shotgun on the direction of the footsteps and waited. A moment later, it emerged from the darkness, headed down a path right past his hiding spot. Ollie hesitated. He wanted to see if this was the same goblin Kimmie had saved. It wasn¡¯t. This one looked dumber, more untamed than that miserable creature. Somehow that made him feel better. In that moment of hesitation, the goblin turned its head, looking right at him. It shrieked and charged. Ollie pulled the trigger. The goblin flew off its feet, landing with a thump on its back several yards away. Ollie pumped the shotgun and hurried over. The grunt¡¯s breathing was labored, wheezing, and its eyes were closed. He aimed Remi at the spot between its eyes¡­ when a glint of silver grabbed his attention. A silver bracelet wrapped around the goblin¡¯s wrist. Kimmie¡¯s bracelet. His breath caught in his throat. He was already too late. He should have warned her at the store this morning. Whatever it took, just to keep her safe. More footsteps. Measured, and fast. Andy was almost here. Ollie couldn¡¯t risk another shot so he ran away, finding a nearby tree trunk to hide behind. He crouched down and waited, knowing that if he kept running, Andy would keep chasing. His only hope was that the cop found the goblin and decided that this wasn¡¯t worth pursuing anymore.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Andy appeared in the small clearing. He¡¯d slowed to a walk, his gun pointed straight ahead. His eyes locked on the goblin laying on the ground and he approached it tentatively. Even in the dark, Ollie could see the confusion on Andy¡¯s face as he took in the horrific sight before him. Andy spun in a circle, checking the darkness all around. Seeing nothing, the cop crouched down next to the goblin, his movements slow and tentative. He stared for a long moment, unbelieving, until he noticed the same glint on the goblin¡¯s arm that Ollie had seen. He examined the bracelet on the goblin¡¯s arm, hopefully coming to the same conclusion. ¡°Hauk!¡± he shouted at the forest. The rage in his voice was unmistakable. ¡°Where are you?¡± Ollie resisted the urge to answer. Andy stood, training his gun on every dark corner of the forest. ¡°Did you do this?¡± He¡¯d already dragged one innocent person into this. He wasn¡¯t about to do it again. ¡°Where¡¯s Kimmie?¡± Ollie held his breath. Andy cursed and stepped away, his eyes lingering on the goblin. After a few moments, he turned and ran back the way he came. Ollie waited until the sound of Andy¡¯s footsteps drifted away, and then faded entirely. He stepped out of his hiding spot and walked back over to the goblin. Grika joined him. ¡°They have Kimmie.¡± Grika nodded. ¡°That they do.¡± Ollie crouched down and removed the bracelet from the goblin¡¯s arm. He stared at it for a long moment. ¡°She might still be alive.¡± Grika cocked his head. ¡°That¡¯s optimistic.¡± ¡°Look at it.¡± He held the bracelet out to Grika, who took it. ¡°No blood. It¡¯s not bent or broken. It wasn¡¯t ripped off. It was taken off. That¡¯s a good sign. It means maybe she wasn¡¯t torn into pieces.¡± He reached into his bag and pulled out the plastic container. He squeezed some of the liquid onto the body. ¡°Any more in the area?¡± Grika sniffed, then shook his head. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Okay. I found Mariah out here, so I know the lair is close. We¡¯ll go back the way it came, and you can zero in on it for me.¡± Grika blinked. ¡°You want to go after a whole pack of goblins? Right now?¡± Ollie pulled out a pack of matches. He lit one and tossed it on the goblin¡¯s chest. The liquid caught fire immediately and flared up, setting the entire body ablaze. They both backed away, watching the goblin burn. ¡°This is my fault,¡± Ollie said, the fire lighting up his face. ¡°It¡¯s my fault for letting her talk me into this. I never let my guard down, you know that, but I did with her. I need to clean this up.¡± ¡°Fine. You¡¯re an idiot. You want to make it worse by taking on a whole pack?¡± Ollie huffed in frustration. ¡°What else am I gonna do? I just escaped from police custody. I won¡¯t be able to get back to the Chief for a while. Kimmie¡¯s out there somewhere, alive or dead, and Mariah, who¡¯s really Lynne by the way, is running around trying to find a fifty-year supply of magic dust.¡± Grika¡¯s hair stood on end. ¡°Lynne? Your old man¡¯s girlfriend?¡± Ollie bristled. ¡°She wasn¡¯t his girlfriend.¡± ¡°Ehhhh¡­¡± ¡°Shut it! I don¡¯t have a choice here. I need to find a way to save Kimmie.¡± The fire faded, and then disappeared, leaving behind a pile of ashes in the darkness. Goblins burned fast, fortunately. ¡°I hope you have a plan.¡± Ollie kicked the ashes with his foot, spreading them out across the grass. He hoisted his bag over his shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll think of one on the way.¡± Chapter 41 Fourteen-year-old Kimmie Blanco gasped at what she¡¯d done. Her Basset Hound, Pedro, was frozen in mid-jump as he hopped up onto her aunt and uncle¡¯s bed. He literally hung in the air, his short fur unmoving, his long tongue hanging out of his mouth, a drop of slobber perpetually trapped at the edge of the dog¡¯s mouth. She backed up against the dresser, gripping the edges. Pedro wasn¡¯t the only thing that had stopped moving. The annoying cuckoo clock on the wall no longer ticked. The TV in the living room was eerily silent, cut off in the middle of a noisy commercial. The creaks in the wooden frame of the house that came with every gust of wind were no more. The entire world had gone still and mute. Nothing stirred, or breathed, or lived. Except for her. She approached the window and stared out at the cows and the pigs in the backyard pen, each of the animals caught in a surreal pose instead of showing any sign of life. Tree branches bent at weird angles, pushed by a brisk wind and unable to straighten. She noticed a flower petal hanging in mid-air a few yards away. She stepped closer to the window, gawking at the petal as it hung gracefully above the ground. Everywhere she looked she saw a still photo instead of real life. Her breath sped up and her mind raced, frantically wondering what terrible, and amazing, thing she¡¯d done and wanting nothing more than to undo it. She wanted the world to go back to the way it was. Back to normal. But she didn¡¯t know how. ¡°Stop it,¡± she whispered. Nothing moved. ¡°Stop it,¡± she said again. The entire world ignored her request. She panicked, fearing that she¡¯d somehow broken reality. She shouted with all the ferocity she could muster. ¡°STOP IT!¡± The dog landed on the bed and sniffed the comforter. The clock ticked and the TV started back up in the other room, the commercial picking up right where it left off. She looked out the window and saw life returned to normal, as if nothing had happened. The cows lowered their heads, munching on grass and the pigs waddled around near their trough. She blinked. Had she imagined the entire thing? Her stomach lurched, and she ran to the bathroom. She reached the toilet just as she vomited up every last trace of her lunch, and then some. She slid to the cold, tiled floor and lay there for a long while, her head spinning, her limbs tingly and weak. She shouldn¡¯t have done that. She¡¯d get in trouble for this, so much trouble. Grounded for a year, at least. And she couldn¡¯t even say what she¡¯d done. She lost track of time, her mind receding into some blurry void that crept in at the edge of her consciousness. Pedro barked, and Kimmie shot up from the bathroom floor, jolted back to reality. Her aunt and uncle were home. They¡¯d discover what had happened. She flushed the toilet and quickly wiped up the nearby area. She hurried outside and grabbed the magic book from the top of the dresser, the same book she¡¯d been secretly reading and studying for almost three months. She slammed it shut and stuck it back in the secret space under the bottom drawer, replacing the false bottom and throwing Auntie Belle¡¯s hosiery on top. She slid the drawer shut and ran out of the room, closing the door behind her. She leapt onto the couch, picking up the remote and pretending to watch whatever was on the TV, even as sweat still beaded on her forehead. The front door opened and Kimmie glanced up at the woman who walked in, hoping she didn¡¯t look as sick as she felt.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ¡°Hey, Auntie Belle!¡± she smiled. * Kimmie held her breath as a wave of dizziness washed over her. The worst had already passed, but her skin was flush and sweaty, and her stomach still roiled. The telltale signs of magic, which always seemed to want to kill her. She hadn¡¯t vomited, but that was only because she hadn¡¯t eaten all day. The goblins thoroughly enjoyed watching her dry heave, though, giggling each time like schoolchildren. Let them laugh. She¡¯d show them. Somehow. The injured goblins wheezed and groaned next to her. Kranka had ordered that she be left alone, so they¡¯d tied her wrists and dragged her off to sit with the convalescents, along with Buka, whom the other goblins gave a wide berth. None of them wanted to be associated with the exile, not after what Kranka had threatened to do. She took a few deep breaths and leaned against the wall at the edge of the cave, drained. Despite her sickness, the magic still called to her, beckoning like a diabolical siren. After her experience with it as a kid, and then seeing what it had done to her family, she¡¯d sworn never to mess with it again. But now¡­ things were starting to make sense. Her dream wasn¡¯t a dream. It was a vision. This whole time, she¡¯d been watching some guy in Japan get attacked by a spirit or a demon. But why? She didn¡¯t know him. She didn¡¯t know the temple. She¡¯d never been to Japan in her life. She didn¡¯t even know if she was seeing something about to happen, or something that had already happened. Her only clue was the guy¡¯s clothes, which seem old-fashioned to her. It had to be tied to the magic. It was Japanese in origin. She had to say variations on Japanese words to trigger it, so maybe that tied her to old memories or events. A longshot, but she would accept any kind of plausible explanation right now. She studied the lair. Twelve goblins that she could see. Another one had retreated down a back tunnel with Kranka. A few more were outside somewhere. They¡¯d never make it out of here without help. Not unless she was willing to embrace the little magic she knew. The thought of it sent her stomach lurching, but she fought back the urge to heave. She thought of her mom for the first time in a while, and imagined her feeling this way, addicted in more ways than one. ¡°My fault. Again¡­¡± Buka rocked back and forth beside her. ¡°Buka.¡± She slid over a couple inches. ¡°This isn¡¯t your fault. They did this to us.¡± Buka shook his head. ¡°I did this. I didn¡¯t want to stay away.¡± He buried his head in his large hands. ¡°I wanted friends.¡± Kimmie felt a pang of guilt. Her reservations melted away. She had to give it a try, if not for her, then at least for Buka, who didn¡¯t deserve what was coming. ¡°Listen,¡± she whispered. ¡°We¡¯re gonna get out of this. I know a trick we can use to escape, but I need to remember how it works.¡± Buka gave her a questioning look. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I tried it. But I¡¯ll get it. Just be ready to run.¡± Buka¡¯s eyes widened. He watched the back of the cave. ¡°Kranka will hurt us. If you don¡¯t become his queen¨C¡± ¡°That is not happening. It¡¯s revolting, on a lot of levels. I¡¯m telling him no, I just need some time before I do that. I need to practice something.¡± Buka shifted around to get his legs underneath him, literally getting ready to run. Kimmie waved him back down. ¡°Act casual.¡± When Buka stared at her she pointed at the ground. ¡°Sit down. Don¡¯t give them any reason to get suspicious.¡± Buka sat down, a little uneasy. A few goblins sitting near the entrance perked up at the same time, and at first Kimmie thought they were on to her escape plan. Instead, they looked at each other and then scampered out of the cave. A couple more followed, and Kimmie tensed, wondering if something was about to happen. None of the other goblins moved, though, and Kranka hadn¡¯t come out of his hovel, so she ignored the noise around her and tried to focus on the spell she¡¯d once used. The only spell she knew. Kimmie tried to picture the book in her head, the words on that one particular page. It was all in Japanese, which she was only barely fluent in. She could speak about as much as a tourist could, but reading it was an entirely different matter. She¡¯d become very intimate with her Japanese-English dictionary book back in the day, but that was over ten years ago. She¡¯d forgotten a LOT of things in that time. One word came back to her, Shikai. Shikai-something. She grit her teeth. What was the other part of the spell? A goblin bounced into the cave, full of glee. ¡°Boss!¡± He yelled, waving everyone over. ¡°Boss! You won¡¯t believe this!¡± Chapter 42 Ollie sprinted through the forest, not bothering to cover his tracks or mute his steps. Time was no longer on his side. Grika sat on Ollie¡¯s shoulder, gripping tufts of his hair. Normally, the pygmy had no interest in being picked up, and Ollie didn¡¯t want Grika riding him like a horse. But this was a concession they both agreed was necessary. The forest grew denser the deeper they went, forcing Ollie to zig and zag between clumps of brush and thick grass. It also meant less moonlight sneaking through the canopy above. Pitfalls abounded beneath his feet, but a sense of urgency pushed him onward, despite the hazards. Grika slapped at Ollie¡¯s cheeks to get his attention. Ollie slowed and Grika pointed ahead and to the right. ¡°Another one,¡± he whispered. ¡°That way.¡± Ollie set Grika on the ground. ¡°How close?¡± ¡°Close,¡± the pygmy said. They both crept to nearby trees. Ollie set his bag down and crouched over it, keeping an eye on the forest ahead, for what little good it did. Everything was pitch black. Ollie could make out Grika¡¯s silhouette a few yards away, but that was only because the pygmy was shifting around in his attempt to hide. Something moved at the edge of his vision. He turned to see a white-haired fox emerge from the brush right into the only sliver of moonlight able to penetrate the thick canopy. It turned to stare at him, the reflection of the moonlight turning its dark eyes into two tiny spotlights. Ollie stared back, a little surprised at the animal¡¯s boldness. The fox cocked its head at him, as if in response. One of its eyes squeezed shut, almost like a wink. It flicked its tail up and darted behind a tree. Ollie watched it go, wondering if that entire sequence had been some weird figment of his imagination. A tiny snap of fingers shook him from his reverie, a warning from Grika that the goblin was almost here. Ollie listened for the footsteps, but they were faint. This goblin wasn¡¯t running in their direction like the last one. This one had a slow, methodical gait. Probably patrolling around the lair.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Ollie picked up a rock and tossed it against a nearby tree, trying to get the goblin¡¯s attention. It didn¡¯t work, so he tried another one, and this time he heard the footsteps scurry closer, followed by a snort. The goblin appeared suddenly, wandering right past the tree Ollie was using as cover, staring in the opposite direction. It took a few steps toward the sound of the thrown rock, its head hunched forward as it scanned the forest. Ollie raised his shotgun. ¡°Hey,¡± he whispered. The goblin spun around in surprise. It saw Ollie and hissed. ¡°Say hi to Drauga for me.¡± He rammed the shotgun¡¯s stock into the goblin¡¯s face as hard as he could. The goblin stumbled backward, dazed, and Ollie hit him again. Then a third time. Finally, the goblin fell to the ground with a thump, unconscious. Grika waddled up alongside him. ¡°You¡¯re not gonna burn it?¡± ¡°No time.¡± He walked back over and grabbed his bag. ¡°We need to get to the lair.¡± Grika sniffed the air a few times. ¡°That way.¡± He pointed in the same direction the fox had run off to. After a short jog, Ollie noticed a totem hanging from a tree branch, its straight lines obvious against the dark blue sky. ¡°Close?¡± Grika nodded. ¡°Scent¡¯s real strong now. We¡¯re almost there.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s stop here.¡± Ollie dropped his pack and rifled through it. He grabbed a knife and slipped it into his boot. Then he took out two flares and the small plastic squirt bottle, putting all three into his coat pocket. He hefted the shotgun and crouched down in front of Grika. ¡°Straight that way?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°Okay. Stay here with the bag. I¡¯ll go in and check out the lair.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Grika nodded. ¡°Wait. Is that your plan?¡± Ollie hesitated. Grika¡¯s eyes nearly bugged out of his head. ¡°You were supposed to have a plan, ya boffer! I thought that was the whole point? You¡¯d think of one on the way, before you charge into that cesspool of idiocy!¡± Ollie considered this for a moment, before deciding it didn¡¯t matter. ¡°Do you have a plan?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Grika said. ¡°Don¡¯t go in there!¡± ¡°Leave Kimmie to her fate, then?¡± Grika huffed in annoyance. His shoulders slumped and he looked away. ¡°See?¡± Ollie said. ¡°You can¡¯t leave her behind, either.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know that,¡± the pygmy grumbled. Ollie looked around at his surroundings, racking his brain for ideas. Every once in a while, Grika made some sense. He did need a slightly better plan than charging in like a rabid mongoose. His eyes drifted upward as an idea struck him. ¡°You know what?¡± Ollie smiled in the darkness. ¡°I just came up with a plan. A really good one.¡± Chapter 43 This is a terrible plan. Grika¡¯s legs dangled over each side of a thick branch, perched high up in the trees a few dozen yards north of the cave entrance. He took a deep breath. He held it. Then he exhaled and took another deep breath. He was stalling. Of course, he was stalling. This was suicide. And that was only if things didn¡¯t go horribly, horribly wrong. Leave it to Ollie to come up with a plan that had Grika taking all the risks. Playing bait to goblins who would love nothing more than to use Grika¡¯s football-shaped head as an actual football. Oh well, at least he¡¯d get to yell obscenities at a whole pack of goblins before he died. He opened his mouth and screamed. He shouted, he yelled, he cursed, he shook the branch and the leaves. Anything to get the attention of the nearby pack. He continued his tirade until figures emerged from the south, from the cave entrance. They gathered at the base of the tree, looking up, pointing at his diminutive figure as he ranted and raved from the treetops. ¡°Oy, ya runt bogger! What¡¯cha doin¡¯ way up theres?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call me a bogger, ya bogger!¡± Grika shouted back with a shake of his fist. ¡°I¡¯m here to stake my claim. This here is MY land now. MY pack! I¡¯m giving you all five minutes to either get out of here, or to bend your bobby knee and proclaim me the boss!¡± The goblins stared back at him, mouths agape. Probably wondering how long five minutes was. ¡°Ya ravin¡¯ loon,¡± one said. ¡°I could eat ya in one bite and still be starvin¡¯. Come down here and I¡¯ll show you.¡± ¡°You come up here, you rock-brained trow patty! When I pop you senseless right on your beanie-eyed face, I¡¯ll snack on your smelly hide for weeks. I¡¯ll be fat as you are when I¡¯m done.¡± ¡°What¡¯s he on about?¡± one goblin asked another. The second one shrugged. ¡°I challenge your leader!¡± Grika shouted. ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m on about!¡± The goblins went deathly quiet. Then they laughed. ¡°Someone go get that big-nosed bogger,¡± another said. ¡°I could use a snack.¡± One of the goblins scurried up the tree trunk. Grika tensed, even though he was pretty sure none of them could reach him. A benefit of being small. ¡°Is this the quality of soldier I have to look forward to?¡± Grika pointed at the climber. ¡°A goblin so dumb he doesn¡¯t even realize he¡¯s too fat to get up here? I hope at least some of you have a brain bigger than a peanut!¡± The first goblin jabbed a crooked finger at the belligerent pygmy. ¡°You can¡¯t stay up there forever, runt!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t intend to! Once your boss gets his fat, stinky backside out here I¡¯ll come down and show him how a real boss runs his pack.¡± The goblin¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Better be careful, morsel. Kranka doesn¡¯t take a joke as good as we do.¡±This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Another tried to climb up the tree trunk, but he was held up by the first, who couldn¡¯t find a path through the branches that would get to Grika. The two goblins smacked at each other in frustration. ¡°I ain¡¯t making a joke, morsel,¡± Grika pointed at the offender. ¡°Bring me your boss or bring me his head. Either way, I¡¯m in charge now.¡± The first goblin looked at another. ¡°He¡¯s bloody boffo.¡± Not entirely untrue, Grika mused. Still, he didn¡¯t get to insult goblins every day. It was a heady sensation, and despite the growing sense of doom surrounding this little venture, he wasn¡¯t quite ready for it to end. ¡°You know,¡± Grika rocked back and forth on the branch, finding himself amused, ¡°us pygmies are pretty good at smelling goblin folk. Which is a hard enough life given you lot smell worse than boggart poo. On looks alone, you all laugh and make fun, like this is a joke. But you know better, because I can smell it. It¡¯s not apathy I smell down there. It¡¯s fear. ¡°You¡¯re all afraid. Of little old me.¡± The chattering amongst the goblins soured. One goblin kicked the trunk, trying to shake him loose. Grika barely felt the impact. ¡°Get your beany little rump down here, you¡­ runt!¡± ¡°Tree kicking?¡± Grika said, amused. ¡°That all you got? Can¡¯t you brain-dead mopes do anything more complicated than trip over each other?¡± The goblins growled, then backed away as another group approached. At their head was a goblin clearly larger than the rest. Grika held his breath. Insulting goblins was one thing. Making an enemy of a hobgoblin was a different matter entirely. The hobgoblin walked up to the base of the tree. He stared up at Grika, who fought to keep his composure. A deep, rumbling growl filled the night air. ¡°You challenge me?¡± the hobgoblin asked. ¡°Kranka the Merciful? Goblin King of the West?¡± Grika licked his lips. He managed to nod his head. ¡°I do.¡± Kranka laughed. A slow, deliberate sound. ¡°I accept.¡± The goblins joined their boss, laughing and hollering in delight. Grika¡¯s eyes bugged out. He hadn¡¯t prepared for this eventuality. ¡°Who are you,¡± the hobgoblin continued, ¡°to challenge me?¡± ¡°I am your better,¡± Grika said, surprised he even got the words out. The hobgoblin grunted. ¡°What¡¯s your name, little one? What do I call the harbinger of my doom?¡± ¡°Grika.¡± He hooked a thumb at his chest. ¡°Grika the Devious.¡± ¡°Grika,¡± the hobgoblin said, as if tasting the word on his tongue. ¡°Grika. I think you mean, Grika, the hunter¡¯s pet.¡± Grika¡¯s blood ran ice cold. ¡°I know who you are, little one.¡± The hobgoblin stroked his chin. ¡°You were caught by the Yellow Crone. You spied on goblins, and you sold us out to the Spear Hunter.¡± Grika clutched the branch between his legs. This all happened back east. Thousands of miles away. How did Kranka know? The hobgoblin¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°And now here you are, on the other side of the world. What can that possibly mean?¡± Kranka knew about the Hauks. He knew about Ollie. That means he¡¯d know about the bounty on their heads. Kranka looked back toward the cave, then up at Grika. ¡°I wonder who else I might find out here tonight?¡± Kranka turned to leave. Grika stood up on the branch and hopped around, shaking his fists. ¡°Running away? Is that what a real boss does?! Are you scared of me?¡± Of course, that¡¯s exactly when his foot slipped. He tumbled sideways, only barely managing to grip the branch before falling to his doom amidst a circle of agitated goblins. They laughed as he pulled himself back up, with some effort. Kranka stopped to watch. ¡°Get him,¡± he said. ¡°Bring him inside. Maybe he can be my Fool.¡± More goblins scaled up the trunk of the tree. They couldn¡¯t reach him, but at the very least they could trap him up here, and throw knives and rocks, until one hit him and sent him hurtling toward the goblin afterlife. Kranka disappeared, headed back to the cave. Ollie and Kimmie would have to deal with that. His part of the distraction was done, and his courage had finally failed. He ran to the trunk and leapt to the next branch, then scurried to the far end. From there, he leapt to another tree. He¡¯d chosen this spot because of its escapability. He could hop from tree to tree for a while, safely out of reach of the goblins below. Of course, the goblins followed on the ground, bouncing around in excitement at this new game. He wondered with some concern how long they would follow. What if they stayed after him the whole way? Neither him nor Ollie had thought that far ahead¡­ Chapter 44 Ollie lay on his stomach behind a thick bush on the far side of the creek bed, his eyes locked on the cave entrance. More goblins emerged, then wandered north to see the show Grika was putting on. A larger figure exited the cave, and Ollie caught his breath at the sight of Kranka, the infamous hobgoblin he¡¯d heard so much about. The beast was huge, one of the biggest hobbies he¡¯d ever seen, and he immediately regretted not having a better plan. Goblins were dangerous, but they could be tricked and outsmarted. They had foibles and weaknesses. Not hobgoblins. Those monsters were smarter, faster, stronger, and meaner than goblins. An entirely different class of trouble. The goblins moved north, where Grika challenged the hobgoblin to a duel in the sky. As much as he would have liked to see that, Ollie crept across the creek bed and darted into the cave, Remi clutched tightly in his hands. The entrance stretched along for several yards, twisting back and forth before opening up into a much larger space ahead. Symbols had been carved into the walls, and Ollie recognized them as wards to prevent humans from noticing the cave, which only worked when you didn¡¯t already know it was there. He crouched down as he approached the larger space, letting his eyes sweep across the room. He caught sight of five goblins lounging against the walls and three others lying on the ground. Kimmie and the other goblin, Buka, sat next to the sleepers. Kimmie¡¯s hands were tied, but she looked unharmed. He stepped into the main area and raised his shotgun. ¡°Nobody make a sound,¡± he said. The goblins looked at him in various stages of surprise. Then one shouted ¡°Hunter!¡± The others followed suit, hopping up and down and hissing or screaming. ¡°Shut up!¡± Ollie shouted. Three of the five shut their mouths, but the other two had already worked themselves into a frenzy. Ollie pulled the plastic bottle out of his coat, and all of the goblins froze. ¡°Fire.¡± He shook the bottle. ¡°You understand that, right?¡± The goblins backed away, giving him icy stares. ¡°Not a sound,¡± he said. ¡°Kimmie, get up. Quick.¡± Kimmie scrambled to her feet. The goblins nearby watched her hungrily, but they didn¡¯t move. She grabbed Buka¡¯s arm, pulling the goblin up with her. ¡°What are you doing?¡± he asked. ¡°We¡¯re not leaving without Buka.¡± Ollie¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Seriously?¡± ¡°He¡¯s going with us!¡± Ollie eyed the other goblins. They were getting twitchy. ¡°You¡¯ve gotta be kidding me,¡± he mumbled. Kimmie still heard him because she shot him a look that told him to keep his opinions to himself. ¡°Hurry! We don¡¯t have time to¨C¡± ¡°Look out!¡± Kimmie screamed. Ollie could already feel the warmth in the air behind him. He spun, just as a strong hand grabbed his gun arm and yanked it up, pointing the shotgun at the ceiling. Ollie looked up to see a hobgoblin staring down at him.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°Oh shi¨C¡± Kranka wrenched the shotgun out of his grip and tossed it away. He reared back then backhanded Ollie across the chest, crashing him to the ground and knocking the breath from his lungs. The knife in his boot came loose and clanked across the stone, right into the hands of an eager goblin, robbing Ollie of another weapon. Kranka growled as he covered the space between them in two large steps, a dozen greenies lined up behind him, their eyes wild with glee. Ollie kicked his legs, sliding across the floor until he backed up against the wall. He reached into his pocket and pulled out one of the flares, the last trick he had left. ¡°Careful!¡± He held up the plastic bottle in one hand and the flare in the other. ¡°Or I¡¯ll douse you and your pack with this. All I have to do is light this flare and you all turn to ash.¡± Kranka growled even louder. He grabbed Ollie¡¯s hand, the same one holding the bottle and lifted him to his feet, squeezing until the bottle popped. The liquid splattered over both of them, dribbling down their arms. The hobgoblin pulled Ollie close, a low rumble in its throat. ¡°Show me your fire now.¡± ¡°Hunh.¡± Ollie spit the liquid from his lips. ¡°Well played.¡± ¡°Hunter,¡± Kranka said, studying Ollie¡¯s face. ¡°You kill my goblins. My pack. And now you come to kill me?¡± Ollie winced. Kranka was still squeezing his hand. ¡°Eventually, yeah.¡± The goblins in the cave cackled and chittered, eager to see their boss in action. He could feel them crowding around in a big circle, pushing in from all sides. ¡°I know you,¡± Kranka growled, his eyes taking in Ollie¡¯s features. ¡°The whelp of the Spear Hunter and the Yellow Crone.¡± Ollie stared back at the hobgoblin, who relished the surprise he showed. How did this monster know anything about that? He caught sight of a rocky spear point hanging from a thin leather strap around Kranka¡¯s neck. Something in the back of his mind told him that he¡¯d seen it before, that he knew what it represented. ¡°Karshak,¡± he whispered. Kranka¡¯s other hand shot forward, gripping Ollie under the chin. His scaly hands squeezed around Ollie¡¯s jaw, pulling him close, until their noses were inches apart. ¡°You¡¯re¡­¡± Ollie struggled to speak, ¡°Karshak¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Kranka smiled. ¡°But you won¡¯t find me so easy to kill as my brother.¡± Kranka¡¯s growl turned fierce, and Ollie realized he was only seconds away from being torn apart, with pieces of his body scattered across the creek bed, like Bobo. Out of any reliable options for saving his life, Ollie did the only thing he could think of in the moment. He reared back as far as he could and head-butted the hobgoblin right in its fleshy nose. Kranka blinked several times at the blow, and a drip of blood trickled down over his mouth. He roared and spun around, throwing Ollie clear across the cave and into the other wall. Ollie felt a sharp pain explode out from his ribs. He rolled around on the floor, clutching his chest with both arms. ¡°I will make this last all night, whelp!¡± Ollie desperately tried to push himself up onto all fours. Kranka stalked across the cave, coming for him. He wouldn¡¯t survive this. He¡¯d die, just like Bobo. Like his mom. And his sister. He glanced over to see Kimmie watching him, strangely calm. Why wasn¡¯t she freaked out right now? Her lips moved, and she shouted. ¡°Shikai sarujo!¡± Something flashed at the edge of his vision. He looked over to see Kimmie lying on the ground near the entrance, the opposite side of the cave from where she¡¯d been a second ago, holding his shotgun. How in the world had she¡­? Ollie¡¯s jaw dropped as realization hit him. She looked at him, her face white as a sheet and panic in her eyes. ¡°Hey,¡± she shouted at Kranka, who looked at her in shock. ¡°Come and get me.¡± She scurried to her feet and ran through the cave entrance. The hobgoblin roared again, and Ollie looked up to see Kranka growling at everything else in the cave other than him. ¡°Get her!¡± Kranka thundered at his pack. He swung his arm to the entrance. ¡°Find her!¡± The goblins scattered to obey him, and Ollie saw his opening. Fueled by adrenaline, he scrambled to his feet and threw his shoulder into a nearby goblin, clearing a path to the entrance. He sprinted across the room and out of the cave, the roar of Kranka filling his ears. Chapter 45 Ollie charged through the forest, running as fast as his legs would take him. His chest and shoulders ached, still sore from the damage he¡¯d taken in the cave. But he ignored it, the same way he ignored the dangers of the forest, like uneven ground, roots catching his feet, running face first into a low-hanging branch. He pushed everything out of his mind, focusing on one simple thought. Please don¡¯t trip. Please don¡¯t trip. Please don¡¯t trip. Screeches and catcalls filled the air, only barely hiding the sound of goblin feet pounding the ground all around him. The goblins were close, homing in on the racket he was making in his escape. ¡°Kimmie!¡± he shouted. ¡°Kimmie!¡± No response. She couldn¡¯t be that far ahead. Had she run a different direction? He realized the irony of looking for Kimmie. She had a head start on the goblins, she had his gun, and she probably knew how to get back home. He was defenseless, with a horde of angry goblins at his heels, and he was lost. At this point, he needed her to save him. He hit a wall of thick brush and darted sideways to get around it. Something small and white scurried out in front of him. Ollie jumped, startled. He scanned the ground to see the white fox from earlier, scampering through the tall grass. It veered through the space between two bushes, finding a gap big enough for a human to get through. Ollie, in his panic, followed. He couldn¡¯t explain what happened next. He zeroed in on the fox, following it for a long time as it zipped through bushes and between trees. The fox was running away from the goblins, too. And it knew the forest better than Ollie, so why not follow the more experienced guide? Who cared if the fox stayed five or six paces ahead the entire time, close enough that it was always in sight but far enough away that Ollie couldn¡¯t get near enough to get a good look at it? Maybe magic was involved, like the magic that got him out of that cave. The same magic that Kimmie never mentioned she knew. He decided he¡¯d be angry about that later. For now, all he cared about was that the tumult of chasing goblins grew farther and farther away as they became trapped by the obstacles Ollie was miraculously avoiding. As they ran, Ollie¡¯s legs grew heavy, and his breath came in raspy spurts. He wasn¡¯t used to sprinting for such a long distance, even with the adrenaline pumping through his veins. The sounds of pursuing goblins had faded, which meant he¡¯d put some distance between them, but not enough to stop and rest. He slowed, recognizing the clearing where he¡¯d set up his traps a few nights ago. He was only a few minutes away from Kimmie¡¯s house. He looked around for the fox, but it was gone. Goblin screeches carried on the wind, getting closer. Screw the fox, he needed to get somewhere defensible. His tired jog turned into a mad sprint down the path to Kimmie¡¯s house.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. The path led over the top of the next hill and then sloped down into Kimmie¡¯s backyard. He could see through the back windows and into the living room. Someone was walking around in the dim lights. Albert, maybe? The dogs lay on a bench seat next to one of the second-floor windows, lazily looking out the window for something to bark at. One of the dogs¡¯ heads perked up when Ollie came running down the path alongside the cow pen. He stumbled on the steps leading up to the patio, catching himself with his hands, and then launched himself at the backdoor. He threw it open and rushed into the kitchen, shutting and locking the door behind him. He leaned on one of the counters, his chest heaving as he tried in vain to catch his breath. He needed a few minutes to rest, but before that, he needed weapons, and a plan. He had to get Albert and Wendy out of here. And the dogs. And Kimmie said she had a gun somewhere in the house. That would be helpful. The dogs bounded across the second floor, rattling the kitchen ceiling as they sprinted for the stairs. Because of them, he didn¡¯t hear the door to the living room open. Which meant he was surprised when he saw Andy standing in the doorway, his gun trained on Ollie¡¯s chest. ¡°What the¨C?¡± Ollie jumped, backing up into the counter next to the kitchen sink. The normally cool cop was ashen faced. His chin trembled. ¡°What. The hell. Is going on?¡± Ollie held up his hands. ¡°Relax. Just relax.¡± Andy looked anything but relaxed, but Ollie didn¡¯t have time to ease the police officer into this. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for running away. I can explain that. I can explain all of this. But I need you to listen to me first.¡± Andy moved closer, his expression twisted in anger. ¡°I¡¯m done getting yanked around by you! What was that out there?¡± Ollie glanced out the small window over the sink. The backyard was still and quiet. That wouldn¡¯t last long. He swallowed hard. ¡°A goblin.¡± Ollie waited for Andy to say something. When he didn¡¯t, Ollie kept at it. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m really here. I hunt goblins.¡± ¡°Uh huh¡­¡± ¡°Kimmie found one, about five or six months ago. She brought me out here to catch it. Which we did. The only problem is it used to be part of a pack. A pack that¡¯s on its way here, right now.¡± Andy said nothing for a long moment. Then he glanced nervously out the window over the breakfast nook. ¡°Why are they coming here?¡± ¡°They¡¯re chasing after me and Kimmie.¡± Andy¡¯s wrath melted away. ¡°Where is she?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. We got separated in the woods. I thought this was where she was going.¡± The dogs barreled into the room, sniffing and licking Ollie. ¡°Look, I know this is a lot to throw at you right now, but I can¡¯t be worried about what you¡¯re gonna do while all this is going on.¡± Andy¡¯s forehead wrinkled. ¡°What I¡¯m going to do?¡± One of the pigs squealed outside. The dogs ran up to the door and started barking. ¡°They¡¯re here,¡± Ollie said. He looked around the kitchen for anything he could use as a weapon. He saw knives on the counter, some pots and pans, a giant turkey thermometer. He turned to Andy. ¡°I need to know. Are we on the same side?¡± Andy stared at him, his eyes distant as he mulled over a thousand possibilities. The door to the living room opened behind him, and Albert came through, wearing one of his many Hawaiian shirts and pleated khaki shorts. He stopped suddenly at the sight of Andy pointing a gun at Ollie. ¡°Umm.¡± He took a step back, his eyes nervously flicking back and forth between Andy and Ollie. ¡°Should I leave?¡± Something pounded on the patio outside. Andy jumped, and aimed his gun at the door. ¡°What do we do?¡± Andy asked, eyes wide. Another thump. Shrieks and hoots filed the air outside. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Albert asked. Ollie pointed at the pot-bellied tourist. ¡°Get them out of here!¡± Before anyone could move, the windows exploded inward, and goblins poured through. Chapter 46 Grika clung precariously to the branch as a small horde of goblins slowly advanced on him from below. They gathered around the tree trunk, throwing rocks at him. A few were climbing up the jigsaw puzzle of branches, figuring out how to get to him without falling. He had nowhere else to go. No other trees were close enough to jump to. All he could do was wait here, avoid the rocks, and hope Ollie showed up to save him. He wasn¡¯t holding out much hope. ¡°Go higher!¡± one goblin egged on another. ¡°Higher, ya bogger! If that little runt can do it, so can you!¡± ¡°Shut yer hole! I¡¯m tryin¡¯ to climb, here.¡± ¡°Funny little goblin!¡± a third cried out, pointing excitedly at the top of the tree. Grika took another look around. One other tree was nearby, but he¡¯d have to run to the end of this branch, which thinned out considerably, then jump a good three feet to the next one. He didn¡¯t like his odds of making that jump. But if the goblins below got any closer with the rocks, he might not have a choice. ¡°Someone boost me up!¡± One of the goblins trying to make the climb stretched his arm out, grasping for a branch just out of its reach. ¡°I can almost get it!¡± Grika slid back another inch, all the room he had left. He flinched as a rock bounced off the trunk behind him. Way too close for comfort. His eyes flicked up at the other tree again. Maybe he could make it. Maybe luck was on his side¡­ A flash of light lit up the forest, coming from the base of the tree. The goblins fell back, blinded and shrieking. Grika covered his eyes with his hand. He tensed. He¡¯d seen that trick before. Fire erupted from the ground, forming a circle around the goblins. The goblins screeched and shouted. A few clung to the tree trunk, trying to climb away. Another fire blast erupted midway up the trunk, sending two goblins crashing to the ground. A few charged through the wall of fire, refusing to be trapped. They disappeared into the darkness beyond, flames sticking to their arms or legs, squealing like stuck pigs as they fled. The remaining three goblins bunched together, clutching each other, their fearful cries filling the forest. The fire crept inward, shrinking the circle, and forcing them to press together around the tree trunk. Another flash lit up the forest, and Grika looked down to see one of the goblins collapse into the dirt. Desperate, he looked at the other tree. He should try and jump. It might be his only chance. One goblin made a run for it, charging through the wall of flame. It crashed to the ground, rolling around as the fire burned its head and back. Once the flames were extinguished, it ran away, howling in pain.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! The last goblin pressed itself against the tree trunk, whimpering at its impending death. Another flash of light came, and it collapsed to the ground, stunned into submission. The fire subsided, and the forest became silent. Grika waited at the top of the tree, unmoving. An orb of light winked into existence nearby. It slowly floated over to the base of the tree, lighting up the surrounding area. A woman came into view, following the orb. She wore a dark hoodie, with the hood partially up over her head, dark hair spilling out the side. She leaned over, examining the unconscious goblins. Grika held his breath. Maybe she didn¡¯t know he was up here. She looked up. Right at him. ¡°Hello, there.¡± He recognized that voice. He may not always be good with faces, but he didn¡¯t forget a voice. ¡°Remember me?¡± she asked. It was Lynne, or whatever her name was now. Grika didn¡¯t respond. ¡°I remember you.¡± She waved at him to come down from the tree. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about me. I can catch you up there or down here. Makes no difference to me. But I have more than enough on my plate down here, so I think an appetizer like you is fairly safe.¡± Grika resented the notion that he was an appetizer. Or any kind of food. But he slowly climbed down anyway. He reached the lowest branch, hung from it, then dropped to the ground. He pretended to brush the sap off his pants as Lynne examined the goblins lying on the ground. ¡°So,¡± she glanced over at him, ¡°how is your master?¡± ¡°She¡¯s dead.¡± Lynne smiled. ¡°I don¡¯t mean that one.¡± Grika scowled at her then wiped his hands. ¡°If you don¡¯t need me, I¡¯ll be on my way.¡± Lynne turned to face him. ¡°Just one moment.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Grika backed away. ¡°Gotta be somewhere.¡± ¡°Deiwach symud.¡± He turned to run, but his body froze in place. He could still see, hear, and think, but he couldn¡¯t move or escape. Lynne took a step closer. ¡°Ydych yn awr yn perthimi. Byddach yn palygu ewyllys.¡± Grika struggled with all his might. He knew this spell. He remembered it intimately, and he abhorred it. He¡¯d rather be burned alive like the other goblins. Used as magic powder, or something similarly disgusting. Anything but this. ¡°Betha binag yr wyf yn gorchomyn, byddach yn ufarhau.¡± Not with her. ¡°Fod yn rhaes.¡± Grika could move again. He took a step backwards, testing his boundaries. ¡°Stop,¡± Lynne said. He stopped. Not because he wanted to. Because he had to. ¡°Come here.¡± He turned and walked back over to the woman, her magic compelling him to do nothing save for what she commanded. ¡°Just as I thought. If you were really bound to Oliver, then this little spell wouldn¡¯t have worked, now would it?¡± ¡°No,¡± Grika tried to fight the compulsion, but he couldn¡¯t. He had to obey her commands, and that meant answering her questions. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t.¡± ¡°I suppose I¡¯m the only one who knows about this?¡± ¡°Yes. You¡¯re the only one.¡± ¡°Good.¡± She crouched down in front of him. ¡°You work for me now. You will be my eyes and ears. When I find you next, you will tell me everything I want to know. Understood?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And until you see me again, you will remember none of this. Understood?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Good.¡± A sultry smile formed on her lips. ¡°One last thing before you go. Where is Jed?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Her smile faded. ¡°Hmmm. Pity. Oh well, I suppose I¡¯ll have to find him on my own. I¡¯d tell you to say hi to Oliver for me, but you¡¯ll forget all about this in a few moments. But, I am thinking about him.¡± She bent over the comatose goblins, her interest in him gone. ¡°Run along back to your master.¡± Grika turned and ran from the witch, his memories of her already fading. Chapter 47 The world froze. This time, Kimmie was ready. She turned to Buka, who stared in disbelief at the scene in front of him. He wasn¡¯t frozen, like the others. She assumed it was because she was holding his arm when she cast the spell. She didn¡¯t bother trying to explain what had happened. She dragged Buka along and pushed him toward the entrance. ¡°Go!¡± Buka shuffled a few steps, seemingly in a daze. She looked down and saw Ollie¡¯s shotgun at her feet. She grabbed it, and then moved toward Ollie, only for a wave of dizziness to send her stumbling to her knees. No! The magic slipped away like sand through her fingers. She screamed inside her head. She¡¯d thought she¡¯d have more time. She needed more time. At least enough to get Ollie out of the cave. She turned toward the entrance, only to fall on the floor as the magic left her completely. She looked up to see the world returned to normal. Ollie turned to see her by the entrance, a look of surprise on his face. She wanted to tell him what had happened, what he needed to do, but only one thing went through her head. She yelled at Kranka, taunting him, then scrambled to her feet, the sickness welling up within. She ran through the entrance as if her life depended on it. * Kimmie stumbled through the forest, Buka dragging her through the brush. They found a thick tree and she fell to the ground behind it, listening with barely concealed terror as a dozen goblins charged past on the other side. She fought the urge to vomit. That would certainly give them away. A roar filled the air. Kranka, emerging from the cave. She heard him run past their hiding spot, like a bear charging through the woods. The noises faded into the distance. Ollie called her name from somewhere far away, but even then she didn¡¯t move. It took every ounce of her willpower to keep from retching so loudly that people in Sacramento might hear her. Once she was sure they were alone, she laid her head down on the ground, convinced she was about to pass out.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Buka asked. She shook her head, too exhausted to do anything else. A few moments passed and with it went the dizziness and a bit of the nausea, enough that she could sit up straight. They had to move. Ollie was defenseless out there, with an entire pack of goblins chasing after him. They needed to regroup. She motioned for Buka to help her to her feet. He lifted her up, and her vision blurred. She leaned against the tree trunk, still woozy. ¡°Can you cut this?¡± She held up her hands, still bound by thick rope. Buka checked the ground. He found a rock and used one of the jagged edges to slice through the rope. It took a little bit of work, but he managed to get her free. ¡°Okay,¡± she said once the sensation dulled. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Buka held her arm, guiding her away from the lair. He had Ollie¡¯s shotgun in his left hand, holding it by the end of the barrel, the handle end occasionally bouncing off the ground. She¡¯d given it to him during their escape. ¡°Wait.¡± She held him back, then readjusted the gun in his hands. He tried to give it back to her, but a feeling of revulsion washed over her, making her already queasy stomach lurch down into her bowels. ¡°No.¡± She pushed it back. ¡°I can¡¯t take it, even if I wanted to. I¡­ can¡¯t explain it.¡± Killing anything, even a horde of goblins chasing after her, was still anathema. Despite the terrible, terrible timing. They moved through the woods carefully, Buka leading the way. Kimmie tried to gauge which direction they were running but reading constellations wasn¡¯t her strong suit. ¡°Where are we going?¡± she asked breathlessly. ¡°My cave,¡± he said, his face a picture of concentration. ¡°We can make more traps, and be safe there.¡± ¡°Buka,¡± she slowed, and Buka stopped to watch her, ¡°we can¡¯t go back there. They know where you live, and they¡¯ll go looking for you. We have to go help Ollie. He¡¯s the only one who can keep us safe right now. And he went that way.¡± She pointed. Buka followed her finger, and his expression soured. ¡°The pack is that way.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°And Kranka.¡± Kimmie nodded. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°They all want to hurt me. Even the hunter.¡± Kimmie sighed. ¡°Yeah. There¡¯s that. But Ollie won¡¯t hurt you while I¡¯m around. I promise. And we need him to hurt the other goblins before they hurt all of us. We have to follow him.¡± Buka¡¯s expression faltered. He looked in the direction they were headed, obviously trying to think of a reason not to run into danger. ¡°Can you do the magic again?¡± She shook her head. ¡°No. I¡¯m already this close to throwing up, or passing out. Probably both.¡± She glanced at the shotgun in Buka¡¯s hands. ¡°The only thing we have to defend ourselves with is that.¡± Buka looked down at the weapon. He turned it over, studying it. ¡°This will hurt goblins.¡± It was a statement, but she nodded, and he looked at it again. ¡°This will hurt¡­ Kranka?¡± he asked, the words coming out slowly. Kimmie nodded. ¡°It¡¯ll hurt him a lot.¡± Buka stared at the shotgun for a long moment, his expression hardening.