Alpha Asher by Jane

“Don't bother asking me what she was talking about back there, because I have no clue...and yes, I'm just as worried as you are.” Tristan huffed from the passenger seat, his scowl directed out the window and towards the impenetrable wall of darkness that filled the forest and the night sky.

Most of his attitude was from the fact that I wouldn't let him drive, but I needed the distraction since the fear in Cassidy's voice continued to increase with each update she gave.

“Purple eyes. What the hell could that—”

‘Lola, please tell me your close...’ Cassidy’s voice came through the mind-link as a whisper.

I slowed down to take the sharp curve up ahead, narrowing my eyes to peer through the darkness. Acting quickly, I showed Cassidy a quick mental image of the stretch of road we were on, and visibly jumped when her hushed whisper tore through my head faster than the shadows that dashed across the road to flee the cars bright headlights.

‘Turn onto the gravel road and take it to the (very) end. You won't see me there...but you'll see him.’

“What? Cassidy, why won't you be there?” I hadn't realized I'd asked out loud until Tristan turned to stare at me, his face strained and skin even paler than usual. ‘I’m hiding.’ Was all Cassidy said, followed by a shaky, “I swear | didn’t want to do it, Lola. You have to believe that.’ 1

“She did something, she won't say what.” I told Tristan, grinding my teeth as the gritty crunch of gravel sounded beneath the tires. “Goddess, I have a bad feeling about this.”

The dirt road Cassidy told us to drive down was narrow and curved in patterns that seemed to have no purpose other than to send us plunging further into darkness. The deeper we went the more the sickening feeling in my stomach grew. 2

The cars headlights only illuminated five or so feet in front of us and were our only source of light. I stopped just in time to avoid plowing through a chain draped across two poles hammered into the ground.

“Your Goddess isn’t here, Lola...but something is.” Tristan said darkly, narrowing his eyes at the obstacle blocking our way.

‘Cassidy, there’s a chain and a no trespassing sign here. We can’t go any further.’ I warned her, twisting, and turning my head for any signs of life or movement. Rolling down the windows increased the feeling of danger in my gut but gave us the chance to listen for anything within the forest.

‘Get out of the car and follow the trail on foot.’

“You didn’t say anything about a trail.” ] replied both out loud and via mind-link, giving Tristan an uneasy look as I gripped the handle of the car door and slowly pushed it open.

“I don’t like this.” He muttered, getting out of the car, and walking around until he hovered close by. His eyes scanned the darkness, but I knew he saw nothing when his scowl deepened. “It's not often I get creeped out, but this is...concerning.”

I chuckled weakly, wincing as the thud

for once the shadows weren't fleeing. They stayed where they were, curious and patient as Tristan and

asked several moments later, his voice

the air was surprisingly warm as it coated our skin in a thin layer of sweat. We followed the winding trail until the tree’s began to disperse and a small clearing came into view. The canopy of tree’s overhead was thick, blocking most of the moonlight from streaming through. The only light available was that of

stench radiating from the camper, seeping from its slatted walls of sky-blue paint until the air was dank with the stench of

Tristan whispered, his entire body

ever so slightly. “That smell...it’s a dead body.” “One that’s been here for a while.” He murmured, eyes trained on the front door and

motioning for me to stay close. Together we approached the front door, both of us holding our breaths

last second I heard

‘Lola, don’t open that!’

the face and had to swallow back chunks of my dinner when the bloated and misshapen face

his back, his head twisted at an awkward angle so that his eyes were looking in the direction of the front door, the same one Tristan

thin pocketknife, lodged just below his eye still within his orbital

and turned to look me in the face. His eyes were wider than I'd ever

saying...” Cassidy’s whimper filled my head. ‘Lola? Lola...you need to get out

the camper” I repeated, my voice grave and eyes sliding from

the camper. Apart from the rotted body lying on the couch, much more decomposed than he should've been, we were utterly

we need to get out of the camper, Cass? What

killed him, but—but he was already dead.’ I swore

get out of here?’ I repeated myself, this time hardening my tone until

‘..because he moved, Lola.’

made both Tristan and I lock eyes. Despite the fact that the mark on my neck and

could turn that flash of understanding into words, our eyes

his head to stare into my face, the bones in his

understand.’ Her reply was

hungry predator, I wrapped my hand around Tristan’s wrist and took a small step backwards, towards