Page 11 of The Crimson Wolf
He gives a genuine chuckle, and honestly, it lightens my sour mood a little more. “I don’t doubt you will.”
He leads me down a trail through the woods.
And for some asinine reason, I follow.
8
Dark Stranger
The enormous asshole of a man leads me to a small cottage about a mile away from the clearing. What’s with all the hot men in this town living in the middle of the woods? Hopefully, it’s not to murder unsuspecting women caught in a rainstorm.
He opens the wooden door for me but doesn’t enter. “The phone is on the wall by the kitchen.” He takes a seat on the rocking chair on the porch and lights another cigarette.
“You don’t have a cellphone?” I ask before stepping inside. I’d much rather him just bring it out to me so I don’t have to go into this stranger's house. He could probably strangle me without even using much force. His hands are as massive as the rest of his body.
“It’s dead.” He looks out toward the woods and rocks in his chair.
I don’t move. I know it’s an idiotic idea to step into this stranger's house, but what other choice do I have? Besides, if he wanted to murder me so badly, would he make so much of an effort to save my life from whatever beast he scared away in the woods? I mean, maybe he just wanted to kill me himself, but I need some hope if I ever plan on making it home.
The stranger looks at me from the corner of his eye. “I’ll stay out here, and you can make your call,” he says as if reading my thoughts.
“Thanks.” This calms my nerves a bit, and before I can think about it too much, I step inside and charge toward the old-timey phone hanging on the kitchen wall.
My heart beats wildly as the phone rings, and I gaze around the small living quarters. Although the outside of the cottage looks old and rustic, the inside holds a more modern flair besides the giant, antique-looking windows. He has stainless steel appliances, a flat-screen TV, a leathercouch, a record player with an extensive vinyl collection, and…
My heart drops to my stomach once I notice the handcuffs and chains attached to a wooden pillar at the far end of the room. Shit. This guyisa serial killer.
“Hello?” Granny’s frail voice knocks me out of my terrified trance.
I put my hand to the receiver, trying to muffle my words so the murderer doesn’t hear me from outside. “Granny, it’s me. Can you come pick me up? I’m at some crazy guy's house in the middle of the woods. I lost my car keys.”
“Woah, Red, calm down! Where are you?”
“I’m not sure. I’m at a cabin near where they found all the bodies from the attack.”
“Isn’t that where Jack lives? Let me call him. He can pick you up.”
“Wait, no…” The line clicks off, leaving me with an insistent buzz.
I redial Granny’s number, but it’s busy. She must have got a hold of Jack.Great.
“Everything okay?” The floorboards creak, and the enormous man steps through the door frame, ducking his head as he enters.
I drop the phone. “Shit. Sorry. Yeah, everything’s fine. My big, strong boyfriend should be here any second.”
The stranger no longer enters the house; he just watches me from the frame. He nods. “Okay.” I can’t help but notice his shoulders sagging and his forehead pinching. I bet he’s disappointed he won’t get me long enough to dispose of my body.
I pick up the phone from the floor and attach it back to its wall holder, my heart beating out of my chest.
“Can I get you anything?”
“No!” I yell, immediately regretting the terror in my voice. “I’m fine. I’ll just sit out with you on the porch.”
“Okay.” He doesn’t move. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
I can’t help it; my eyes flash to the chains in the corner.
He follows my gaze and runs his hand through his short, dark hair, revealing the underside of his muscular forearm. “Oh, shit.” He laughs. “I guess that looks a bit terrifying. As a park ranger, I take care of any injured animals I find. Some of them are dangerous, much like the wolf you almost met in the clearing. Those chains are to protect me and the animal before I can get more help.”
