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Chapter Thirty-Six

SUNNY

“Y ou saw it?”

“I did. I was in the woods that night. I saw a truck run them off the road. It clipped them, and they managed to get away, but there was another truck waiting for them after the bend. That truck hit them and spun them around, and the other pushed them into the ditch.”

A huff of air left Sunny’s mouth. Emotions swirled in her body.

The relief of validation. She was right.

They had all been right. But that relief was swallowed up by the grief coming right after.

Anger and grief that someone had so fundamentally changed her life that night and taken so much from them.

“I’m sorry, I could have said that better. I’m just so confused.”

“Was it Bradford Wilkes?”

“I don’t know who it was.” He shrugged. A deep crease covered his brow. “I wish I could help you.”

Sunny nodded, taking in the new information. She had known it was something like that. But after having it confirmed, she wasn’t sure what to do with it.

“There was a name on the second truck, though...”

Her eyes flew to his. She knew what was coming.

“VenDeer.”

“The coal company,” she said as she closed her eyes and shook her head. “Of course it was.”

He nodded.

“Will you let me take you back to town?” he asked in a soft, soothing voice.

“Will you tell me what you were doing at that store in Charleston?”

“Okay... I’ll tell you, but I just need to you keep an open mind.”

She nodded.

He walked over closer to her, then took a breath like he was going to tell her something but froze.

“I’m sorry. I know what I’m going to say is going to sound crazy.”

“I just told you I have visions, and you didn’t even blink. Trust me, I’m hard to freak out.”

He closed his eyes and nodded.

“I was at that store in Charleston because the woman there makes an elixir for me.”

Sunny cocked her head to the side. That didn’t seem that weird. “What kind of elixir?”

A pained look crossed his face as his eyes scrunched shut, and he gave his head a little shake as he took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“That night in the woods... I’ve played that night over and over in my head so many times. I’m not sure how I came to be in the woods.”

“You were lost?”

“Yes, and quite frankly, although this does feel like home now, in some sense, I’m still lost.”

She nodded and waited for him to continue.

His hand ran through his neat blonde hair, leaving it rumpled. “Okay, fuck!”

She pulled back a little. He was the most soft-spoken guy she’d met, and that surprised her.

“This is going to sound actually insane. I’ve never said it out loud before, but here goes... I’m not from here.”

“Like the area?”

“No, like, here,” he said, gesturing to the world around him.

“What do you mean? Are you like an alien or something?”

“No... at least not in the gray-man-spaceship kind of way.”

“Okay...”

“I grew up in a place that looked much the same as this one... only different.”

Sunny cocked her head.

“You know there is something special about that mountain...”

“Oh, there is. Believe me—I know. That’s why the Blacks have always protected it.”

“They protect the mountain? Do you know why?”

She shook her head. She wouldn’t tell him, and even if she did, that was their secret to tell, but they’d just had this discussion the other day. The knowledge of what they spend their lives protecting had been lost to the years, but maybe he could help them figure it out.

“Okay, well. One night, I was exploring the woods where my family is from. I saw this glowing light, and I couldn’t seem to resist it. I was drawn to the light. Before I knew what was happening, I was falling and landed in a cave... here... on the mountain.”

Sunny gawked at him, trying to understand.

“I know that must sound so strange... but it’s the truth.”

“I believe you.”

“You do?” he asked, sounding shocked. “I barely believe myself.”

“Like I said... it’s hard to freak me out. But you never did say what it is you were doing at the store in Charleston.”

“Okay...” He set his glasses back on his nose and blew out a breath. “Here goes nothing. I’m not human.”

“Are you a shifter?”

“No... I’m not sure what that is, but where I come from, there are many creatures. From orcs to minotaurs to sprites, all different kinds of creatures coexist mostly peacefully.”

This had Sunny’s mind reeling. She’d never heard of such a place, but it might explain some of the mystery.

“When I got here, I needed to find a way to blend in. The witch from the store found me when I was living in an abandon building and created a glamour for me. That is why I go to see her.”

“Wow... Do you have the elixir now?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked at the pavement.

His distress was evident, and Sunny wanted to help.

“I can’t get a hold of Ol’ Ray.”

“I’m not following you.”

“I am almost out, and I pay her in moonshine. She just upped how much I give her, and I’m out. I haven’t been able to find Ray to get more.”

“What will happen if you don’t get more?”

He bit his lip and shook his head. “I’m pretty sure I’ll go back to my original form.”

Now that had her interest piqued.

“Ummm.” He cleared his throat. “No freaking out, right?”

“Cross my heart,” she said as she held her hand over her heart.

“I’m a mothman.”

“What?”

“You crossed your heart!”

“Not freaking out... Just give me a minute.”

The sun had set, and they were standing on the side of the road illuminated by their headlights. She took a moment to let it sink in and did not see that coming. How could she?

The wind blew around them again, and with the sundown, it had a bit of a chill forcing her to shiver and hug herself.

“If you’re comfortable with it, please let me take you back to town.”

“Yeah, hold on, just let me get my things.”

Next thing she knew, she was getting into his tidy car. There wasn’t a thing out of place except a jacket laid over the back seat. He revved it up, and classical music started playing.

About thirty minutes later, he was pulling up to her house.

“So... ummm, thank you for not freaking out about it.”

“I’m just glad everyone was right about you.”

He cocked his head and looked at her. “I’m not sure what you mean?”

“Oh, well, back when I just thought you had glowing red eyes, I may have asked the Blacks what they thought about you because I was terrified, but they all told me I shouldn’t be scared of you.”

“Well, that’s reassuring, I guess.”

She unbuckled and moved to get out of the car. “Oh, do you know Bridget?”

“Bridget? Is she the Scottish woman with the long red hair I see around town sometimes?”

Sunny nodded. “That’s her. If it’s okay, I’ll have her stop by. If anyone can make you an elixir, it’s her. And she won’t even make you give her awful moonshine.”

“Okay, thanks. That would be helpful.”

“Thanks for the ride. I’ll see you around.”

She got her purse and opened the door... only to shut it again and slowly look at him.

“What is it?”

“Did you watch me and Asher?”

His head snapped over to her as he sputtered.

“I remember that night when I was closing the bar. Asher and I were... Well, you know, since you watched...”

“No! No, no. I mean... Yes, I did see you guys. But you have to believe me. I was just as shocked to see you as you were to see me. I was stopping by to see if Dusty had any more moonshine. I left as soon as I saw you guys. I didn’t watch.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“Sunny. I mean it. I would never knowingly watch that. I swear to you. And I didn’t really see anything. I couldn’t even see you, just Asher.”

She wanted to believe him and had no reason not to, but there was something about it that just filled her with such mortification.

“Well... that’s embarrassing.”

When she finally glanced back at him, his cheeks were red, and he looked just as flustered as she felt.

“On that note, I’m going to leave, and we’ll never talk about that again.”

“Agreed. If you need any help with your car tomorrow, just let me know. I’ll be available after my last lesson.”

“I appreciate that, but I think Asher can help me. He’s good with cars.”

“Okay, well, I’ll see you around.”

“Yeah, and I won’t be scared of you anymore.”

“I’m so glad.”

When he pulled away, only then did she notice a shirt next to the front step.

She walked down and picked it up while she scanned her yard. Then she saw a boot and, a few yards away, another boot, and there, at the tree line, were Asher’s jeans.

Her heart dropped. She wasn’t sure why, but she got the feeling something was wrong. Terribly wrong.