“It’s okay, Sage,” Kenzie said to her loyal companion as the half wolf, half husky cocked her head to one side. “I think this cold is on its last hurrah. I hope.”
Kenzie was curled up on the couch with a blanket covering her body, attempting to relax and watch television in her house’s makeshift rec room. Indeed her cold was almost out of her system, but she still felt the congestion in her nose and it was detectable in her voice as well. She hoped to get better before the approaching weekend, where she would be going to Midnight Hollow for a photo shoot for her best friend, Jillian Swansen. Her witch friend, Paige Turner, would also be there, providing some special effects for a fraction of the cost of a professional graphic arts manipulator. Her boyfriend, Hayden, would also be going to take some photos. He wasn’t a professional photographer, but for a fashionista just starting out, he would be perfect.
She was starting to doze off with Sage next to her when her phone rang. Stifling a moan, she sat up and glanced at the caller ID. Her mood instantly brightened when she saw that it was Hayden calling her.
“Hello?” she asked as the blanket slid off her and she sat up to clear her sinuses.
“Still stuffed up, huh?” Hayden’s deep voice asked on the other end.
“Mostly just when I lay down. When I sit up, my sinuses drain. That sounds so alluring, I know.”
“Hey, trust me, I’d rather have a stuffy nose than one that picks up every single odor in the air. Some of it’s downright unpleasant.”
“I’d imagine so.”
“Don’t get me started. Anyway, are you feeling better?”
“I am now.”
“Are you still feeling up for Saturday’s trip?”
“Yeah, I’m sure I’ll be fine by then. Are you ready to take pictures?”
“Definitely. I’ve never been there, so it’ll be something new to see. Plus, I want to see you in action.”
Kenzie chortled. She found it both amusing and flattering that she had a boyfriend who believed she was beautiful no matter what wardrobe size she was. Even more so if Jillian was planning to have her model skimpy outfits with her full figure.
“So,” Hayden was saying into the phone, “I’ll pick you up Friday morning, then we can spend some time together there before the big day.”
“The day won’t be that big. Well…”
“Don’t you dare say anything about that sexy figure of yours. When I see you on Friday, I may have to give into my predatory instincts and pounce you. It’s been so long since I’ve seen you…”
“I know. I miss you, too.”
She knew that Hayden wasn’t just talking about woohoo. He’d asked her to move in with him a few months back, and the decision had been a big one that she hadn’t felt ready to make yet. She still didn’t. Hayden was patient and understanding, but she wasn’t one that did change well. It was called a comfort zone for a reason.
“All right,” Hayden said, cutting into Kenzie’s thoughts, “I just wanted to check up on you. Get some rest so you’ll be all better by this weekend. I’ll pick you up Friday morning. I love you.”
“Love you, too.”
Kenzie hung up the phone and smiled. Now she had something else to look forward to for this weekend. She never pictured herself as being a model of any kind. But at least modeling Jillian’s plus-size clothing was a paycheck. More than she could say for the state of her primary career.
She sneezed again and snuggled back onto the couch, looking down at Sage wagging her tail.
“Sorry, girl,” she told her, “but you’ll have to stay with Mom and Dad this time. No dogs allowed at the hotel unless they’re service dogs.”
Sage whimpered and gave Kenzie a literal puppy-dog face.
“Now, don’t look at me like that,” Kenzie giggled. “You know you don’t want to be cooped up in a hotel room all day while Hayden and I are out exploring.”
Sage shook her head in agreement. Kenzie smiled and stroked Sage’s soft fur. Now she’d take that nap so she’d be fully rested for Friday and Hayden’s arrival, and the photo shoot on Saturday.
********************************************************************************
Friday arrived quickly. Hayden drove right through Riverview to get to Midnight Hollow from his home in Moonlight Falls, and he showed up right on time. The two made casual chatter as they made their way to the town that was a few hours away from Riverview.
“So,” Hayden asked as they drove, “what’s new and exciting in the PI business?”
“Not much. It’s pretty much the same story. No one really has a need for a private investigator anymore.”
“I didn’t know you when you were a detective, but all I read about you, well, it seems like you were happier when you weren’t your own boss.”
“I love being my own boss. The problem is, people are more likely to call a police department than a private investigator.”
“Well, maybe you need some sort of informant. Or some secretary at the police station or something.”
“Yeah, I doubt my old boss would give me the best reference. Not after the shitty terms we parted on.”
“Yeah, you told me. The whole conflict of interest thing.”
“I was so stupid.”
“No, you were just human.”
Kenzie stuck her tongue out playfully at her boyfriend. His handsome face contorted into feigned shock at this reaction. This just made her burst into laughter.
At last, they arrived in Midnight Hollow. It was true, the sun never shined. The town was like its own private world, shrouded in mist as ominous clouds dotted the sky. All the homes and buildings had a haunted, melancholy look to them, and the townspeople looked like something out of a horror movie.
“This place is creepy-looking,” Kenzie observed as the haunted buildings slowly crept by her window.
“No kidding,” Hayden affirmed. “This seems like the perfect place for vampires to hang out. No wonder Isaiah was so giddy about coming here with Jillian.”
“Yeah, it’s as close to a romantic weekend as they can get, I suppose. At least, one where Isaiah doesn’t have to run inside to put on more vampiric sunscreen.”
“Where are we supposed to meet them?”
“At the hotel. We’ll have to check in to stay anyway, and I’ll go with Jill tomorrow to wherever she’s taking me for the photo shoot.”
Hayden plugged the hotel’s coordinates into his GPS. He navigated through the dreary town amongst the enigmatic locals until at last he came upon the gothic-style hotel. He and Kenzie exited the car and made their way to Jillian’s and Isaiah’s room number.
But Hayden paused before knocking. His nose cocked up and his brow furrowed.
“What’s wrong?” Kenzie inquired.
“Something smells weird,” Hayden replied gruffly. “Like…candles and blood.” He didn’t bother knocking. He turned the knob and shoved himself in.
Kenzie’s first thought was that they’d be walking in on Jillian and Isaiah in some compromising position. But what she saw instead was merely befuddling.
Isaiah was hovering above Paige, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground with Jillian’s hairbrush and a map in front of her surrounded by candles. She seemed to be in a deep trance of concentration, but Kenzie couldn’t help blurting, “What the hell is going on?”
Isaiah’s head snapped up, as though his supersonic hearing ability hadn’t detected the presence of anyone else in the room. Paige hadn’t broken concentration upon the noisy entrance, either.
“Dude, what’s with that smell?” Hayden added as he scrunched his nose up.
“That smell,” Isaiah said with no amusement in his voice – in fact, Kenzie was sure she detected agony – “is the candle Paige is using to help locate Jillian.”
“Locate Jillian?” Kenzie repeated. “What do you mean?”
“She’s missing.”
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