Twilight: Bay City Paranormal Investigations, Book 3

“You’re right, as always. Thanks, Dean. You’re a good friend.”
Releasing Sam’s arm, Dean patted his back. “Y’all are like my family, you know? I want to take care of you.”
They fell silent as they approached the boulder. Bo raised his eyebrows at them. “Well? What did you see?”
“I lost it in the woods after a little bit.” Dean held up the camera. “But I got some video.”
“That’s great. Quick thinking, following it like that.” Bo looked at Sam. “Did you pick up anything?”
Sam chewed his lip, trying to think how to explain it. “I didn’t feel anything like before. Just the same static sort of energy I felt when we were up here earlier today.”
Flipping the notebook open, Bo wrote a few lines. “It didn’t change at all?”
“Not a bit.”
“What about the EMF?”
“Stayed the same the whole time.”
“Interesting.” Bo stared off into the distance, sucking idly on the end of his pen in a way Sam found quite distracting. “In our previous cases, we always heard things when these beings were around. That deep, raspy sort of sound, and in Oleander House we heard its claws on the floor. I didn’t hear anything this time, what about y’all?”
“Not a sound.” Dean frowned. “It should’ve made plenty of noise. We sure do when we’re walking around out here.”
Bo stared off into the darkness, chewing his lower lip. “What happened to it?”
Sam and Dean exchanged a glance. “It ran off into the woods,” Dean answered. “Like I said, I lost it. We thought it probably wasn’t a good idea to follow it right now.”
“You’re right. Running off into the dark after whatever it was we saw is way too dangerous.” Bo rested his hand on Sam’s arm. “Sam, you’ve been in the minds of those things before. Do you think anyone here is in danger?”
“No, I don’t.” Sam twirled his flashlight in his hand, sending the beam swinging crazily around them. “Not right now, anyway. If there’s a portal here, I’m not picking up on it, and I’m not sensing anything from the creature we saw. But we’ll have to keep our guard up. You know things could change pretty fast.”
Sounds of laughter and conversation drifted from behind them. Sam turned. The other guests were filtering in twos and threes down the trail, flashlights bobbing in front of them. Two figures stopped beside the path, their lights sweeping toward the big rock.
“Lex and Carl are looking for us,” Sam said, gesturing toward the two silhouettes. “Let’s go meet them. We can talk all this out later.” He held one hand protectively at Bo’s side. “Do you need help?”
“No, I’m fine.” Bo took Sam’s hand in his, shielded from sight by his body. “I promise I’ll let you and Dean know if my leg gets worse. Please don’t worry.”
Twining his fingers with Bo’s, Sam squeezed briefly then let go. “Okay, I’ll try not to.”
Smiling, Bo shoved the notebook and pen into his bag and turned to follow Dean, who was already making his way toward Lex and Carl. “Good. I don’t want you to worry about me, when I’m just fine.”
Depositing the EMF detector in the bag, Sam shoved his hands into his pockets. “I try not to, but it’s hard. Watching someone you love almost die makes you kind of jumpy.”
“I can imagine.” Bo shot him a solemn look. “I hope I never have to find out for myself.”
Sam brushed his shoulder against Bo’s. “Me too.”
    Back at the Lodge, Sam filled the bucket from the water pump—after Dean showed him how to use it— and took it back to the cabin so he and Bo could wash their hands. The water was painfully cold. Sam squealed when Bo lifted his shirt and stuck both icy palms on his lower back. Bo laughed.
    After washing up, they left for the dining hall. The big dinner bell hanging outside the building clanged as they approached the office. Dean met them on the path, and the three of them headed down the steps to the dining room.
    The place was simple but inviting—a large rectangular room of rough-hewn logs, with two rows of long wooden tables lined up on the plank floor. Kerosene lanterns sat on each table, bathing the room in warm lamplight. On the far side of the room, a large picture window looked out over the narrow deck. Lights from the town at the bottom of the mountain twinkled far below. The smell of plain southern cooking drifted from the kitchen, making Sam’s mouth water.
    A young woman with a red scarf tied over long brown braids directed