Chapter 4 No More

In the time following the close shave with the Mothman at the munitions factory, Martin and Steve spent much of their time pouring over all information they could about the creature. But during this time, Madeline was inconsolable.

Madeline refused to see anyone, and instead locked herself in the twins' bedroom. While Steve had great concern for his granddaughter, Martin easily understood her trepidation. It was, after all, the first time she was exposed to the supernatural. It was her first encounter with a being from the world of which she was skeptical. It was not just the thought of an otherworldly creature that frightened her, but the shattering of her entire world, her entire worldview.

Two days after the terrifying encounter, just as the sunset was dying behind the Appalachians to the west, Martin climbed the rickety stairs of his grandfather's house, the closed door of their bedroom seemed to taunt him. Hanging by a piece of scotch tape to the oak doorframe was a sign written in black permanent marker, simply reading "KEEP OUT."

As much as he wanted to abide by her wishes, she needed to eat. In the boy's hand was a porcelain plate holding grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, and asparagus and green peas. A simple dish compared to what they had back home in Washington, but nonetheless filling. Upon reaching the landing, he gently knocked on the door.

"Maddie? It's dinnertime."

He received no answer, nor did he expect one. Anyone else would be traumatized after that. But her isolation made him worry. Why wouldn't she just come down and eat with them? Surely, she was invested now in seeing the winged fiend subdued or at least explained away. Surely, she wanted to see Martin share this discovery with the world.

"You can't hide up here forever, sis. You need to eat."

As before, silence. Martin sighed and set the plate down near the door.

"Maddie, I know what happened must be a big shock to you. I mean, that...thing we saw basically proves everything I've been saying."

Martin shook his head and corrected himself. Now was not the time to gloat.

"That came out wrong, I'm sorry. What I mean is...I know you're doubting everything you know right now. But you proved resourceful in the face of that thing. I mean, not too many people I know would stare down a giant bug and shoot at it." He chuckled to himself at the thought. "You were so fucking awesome."

Recognizing he wouldn't get an answer, he stepped away from the door and made his way to the stairs. He stopped after taking one step down and offered some parting words of encouragement.

"You know, Maddie, my channel doesn't have to be a one-man operation. You can help me solve this mystery. Gramps is already helping me with research. If we encounter it again, I could sure use your gun fu skills. You don't have to give me your answer now, but...just think about it."

He made his way down the stairs. Back to his grandfather, and the hours of research awaiting him. Behind him, the door creaked open slightly. A shaky hand reached for the plate from behind the door and took it in. She didn't have an answer, nor did she have the inclination to give one. All she could think about was eating dinner and finding a way out of Wakeford.

She was not about to stay here if she could help it.

The next day, Martin awoke after a long night of scrounging the internet for any further references to the Mothman. Thanks to some extra digging by Steve, he found an interesting connection. As he dug into a plate of buttermilk pancakes drizzled with maple syrup, his grandfather filled him in.

"Turns out this son of a bitch ain't only been seen in Wakeford," Steve revealed, pouring sugar into his coffee. "Got a call from an ol' friend out in Point Pleasant, an' he told me 'bout a similar story in his town."

"Similar how?"

"Well, he says that some locals saw this moth thing some years 'fore we first did. Back in 1966, a couple drivin' home late one night saw this big, owl-looking creature jump in front a' their car."

Martin's fork almost fell to the floor at the story. Just on its face, it bore a strong similarity to the Jacobsens' encounter a year ago. Steven sipped his coffee in thought before continuing.

"Anyways, locals started sending in reports 'bout it, many of 'em soundin' awfully like the ones 'round 'ere. And you ain't gonna believe this, but..." The old man leaned over, as if in fear of others hearing. "...less than a year after the sightings, the local suspension bridge collapsed in a freak accident."

"No way...it's exactly like what happened to the Jacobsens!"

"That's what I thought, too. So, I's thinkin' there's gotta be a connection 'tween the two of 'em." Martin nodded in agreement.

"It's far too coincidental. Maybe...whatever that creature in Point Pleasant was migrated to Wakeford after the collapse. It would explain how the sightings here started around the same time. The oldest one I found dated back to 1968. When did that bridge collapse?"

"'67, I think..."

Jigsaw pieces fell into place in Martin's head, and a clearer image began to emerge from what was once an enigmatic puzzle. It seemed the most logical explanation to him. Despite that, however, it didn't explain what the creature wanted. It didn't explain why it attacked him and Madeline that night.

Madeline...

"Gramps, I'm really worried about Maddie." Steve bit his lip as he cut into his stack of pancakes. "She hasn't come out of her room ever since that night. Every time I try to talk to her, she just...doesn't answer. It's like she's just somewhere else. Or rather...someone else..." The old man shook his head with an air of despairing worry.

"Same with me. Seein' that thing shook 'er up bad."

"Still, she should want to see the end of this the most out of all of us. I mean, she shot at that fucker and held it off from killing us or...whatever it was gonna do."

His grandfather leaned back in his wooden chair, creaking under his weight. Adjusting his glasses and closing his eyes, a similar reel of memories played in his head. Granted, the circumstances weren't the same, but the emotions certainly were.

"Just 'cause she fought it off don't mean she ain't shook up. I ever tell ya how I got the Bronze Star in Korea, Marty?"

"I...don't remember. Besides, what does that have to do with-"

"Everything, son. When I was in Korea, I saved my officer from bein' captured by the Chinese while out on patrol duty. We took shelter in an abandoned farmhouse and I had to hold 'em off with nothin' but my rifle and a few grenades."

The old man shuddered. Martin had sometimes heard Steve talk about his time in the Korean War, but most of his stories blurred together, and seemed rather...uplifting. Times spent with his comrades in trenches. Being greeted by cheering civilians when liberating Seoul. Relief when the armistice was announced. But this was...different. Visceral. Vivid.

"I saw people die in unspeakable ways, son. Ways I'd rather not recount. And in the end, by the time some boys picked me and the lieutenant up, he was already dead from wounds. Seein' all that...it changes a man."

A pair of tortoise shell glasses came to rest on the dining room table.

"I reckon seein' a monster for the first time ain't much different."

Martin had scarcely any time to contemplate Steve's story when the doorbell rang. That struck both odd, since neither were expecting any visitors to come by. Perhaps Julia had more information to help Martin?

The hurried sound of footsteps thundering down the staircase closely followed the doorbell's second ring. Steve glanced over his shoulder to find Madeline, fully dressed, and carrying her backpack. Was she going somewhere?

At first, Martin and Steve were glad to see Madeline finally out of her room. Martin was rather quick to stand up, forgetting about his still hot pancakes, to reach out to his sister. But she didn't spare a single word before reaching the front door.

Standing on the porch was a man slightly older than Madeline, sporting a goatee and messy auburn hair. He wore skinny jeans, a pair of Doc Martens, and a simple black t-shirt. His hazel eyes were partly magnified by his horn-rimmed glasses. Martin stopped in his tracks, completely caught off-guard.

"Wait, Josh?! The hell are you doing here?" The man, Josh, completely ignored Martin's call, concerned only with his sister.

"Hey, baby," he greeted, his voice a smooth baritone. "You ready to go?"

Madeline said nothing. She only nodded pensively. Josh embraced her gently and ushered her out to the porch, but Martin was quick to interject.

"What the hell is going on?"

"What does it look like, Marty?" she posed quietly.

"It looks like you're leaving your brother and grandfather behind."

The younger twin sighed tiredly, expectant of such a reaction. But she already made here decision. This was no place for her; she didn't even want to come out, so this seemed a fitting end.

"I'm going back to Washington. For good." Martin's eyes widened to the size of pancakes as he recoiled.

"Um, come again? I think there was something crazy and stupid in my ear just now."

"I'm not kidding around, Martin," she spoke, her voice sharper than a steak knife. "I have to sort some things out."

"What makes you think staying in D.C is going to help?" Martin asked, unrelenting.

"At least I won't have to spend my time living in fear of something that's real!"

At this moment, Steve came to the door, wiping his handlebar mustache of the coffee stains. Seeing the young auburn-haired boy and Madeline packed up and apparently ready to leave only left him confused.

"Who the heck're you, son?" Josh allowed Madeline to step behind him as he filled in the blanks.

"I'm Josh Callahan. I'm Maddie's boyfriend. She gave me a call yesterday saying she wanted me to take her back to D.C." Steve was not amused by this revelation and furrowed his wiry eyebrows.

"When were you gonna tell me this, Maddie?"

Madeline said nothing, but Martin was not interested in any kind of excuse. Instead, his protests grew louder and more pointed.

"Look, Maddie, I get that what you saw was freaky, but running away from it isn't going to help! Don't you want to know why that thing attacked us? What it wants?"

"Okay, slow down, junior," Josh interjected. "What happened? What're you talking about?"

"Ask Maddie! She saw it with me!"

"I don't want to think about what I saw!" Madeline spluttered at last. "And it's better if you left it alone for your own safety."

"That's rich, coming from the girl who fucking shot at it!"

Madeline's brown eyes went wide at the counter, and she bit her lip, hesitant. Even if that were true, it was not an indicator of her willingness to continue this. If anything, Martin should take the hint from her desperate attempts at self-preservation.

"Well, it was out of self-defense! I-it was a spur of the moment."

"Which proved to be resourceful and not to mention ballsy. You always bragged about your shooting skills and always proved someone wrong."

"That was then, this is now, Martin. And I would rather not know what happens next."

"The future may be scary, sis, but we need to tackle this together and solve this mystery." Josh chuckled ruefully.

"Sheesh, junior, you haven't changed a bit, have you? Still messing around with this ghost hunting business. Save that for the middle schoolers." Martin shot a harsh, indignant glare at his sister's boyfriend.

"You watched Paranormal Activity and Annabelle with us, hypocrite!"

"I thought the movies were cool. They had nice special effects and camera work. Who doesn't like that?"

Martin pinched the bridge between his nose and groaned. He had had spats with Josh before, but they never concerned anything like this. At least before, Madeline never participated in his investigations. But now, she had been party to what he saw. Now she knew the world he wanted to share with the world was real. So why did she want to run away?

"Madeline, please. You're making a mistake-"

"You know," Josh interjected again, "the only one making the mistake is you, Martin. Since I've known you, Maddie has had to put up with your wild imaginations. She needs to be around people who are in touch with reality."

"Fuck off, Shaggy," Martin warned. "Shut it before I break those stupid hipster glasses."

"Ooh, I'm petrified~!" Josh taunted, feigning fear before laughing.

"Josh, enough," Maddie commanded. She turned her eyes towards her brother once more. "Martin, I'm sorry, but this is the only way. I need some semblance of normalcy in my life! Now that I know you're not crazy, I don't know what to believe in anymore."

"This is a stupid decision, Madeline. We both know that." He took a step towards her, not minding her boyfriend. "I told you: my channel doesn't have to be a one-man operation. You saved my ass from that thing. Who's to say I won't need you again?" Josh snorted in disdain.

"Whatever you saw, it must've been a shadow or something. I swear, you're always looking for monsters where there aren't any."

He took Madeline by the hand and led her off the porch to his car. A small white hatchback with Virginia license plates. Steve stepped onto the porch, thoroughly incensed.

"Hey, now, Missy! Don't I get a say in this?!"

"I'm sorry, Gramps," she muttered as she opened the car door. "I just can't do this. I promise I'll call you when I'm back home."

"Don't worry, Mr. Chalmers," Josh chimed in. "I'll make sure she has a safe trip."

"Madeline, stop!" Martin called, rushing out to the car. "This isn't going to help! You need to-"

His calls were drowned out as Josh started up the hatchback and Madeline slammed the door to the front passenger seat. Martin banged on the window, but Madeline refused to even look at him. He might as well have been a crazed homeless man begging for money. The girl sunk in her seat as Josh pulled off the driveway and onto the main road. And with a rev of the engine, they were gone.

Martin stood there, silent, watching the white hatchback take off down the road heading east. His grandfather gently squeezed his shoulder, but he was unresponsive. Almost cold. A silent storm raged in the young paranormal investigator's head as the white smudge disappeared on the edge of the horizon.

Madeline had always been skeptical of Martin's endeavors and of the supernatural world. Finally, she had seen what he had, and realized that his obsession was very real. He thought for sure that she would want to help him, to understand it with him. But instead she ran away. She ran away, leaving him to face it alone.

"FUCK!"

The boy kicked an errant tin can in frustration into the road before storming back inside. It was one thing for his sibling to be skeptical, but quite another to believe, to see with her own eyes, and then leave him behind. Steve tried to console his grandson, but Martin was not in any mood for advice or comfort. He didn't even care about the Mothman anymore. All he felt was anger over being betrayed.

Steve could only watch as Martin shut the door behind him before heaving a great sigh. Maybe some time alone and a meal at Julia's diner would put him at ease, clear his head. He was about to go back inside and offer to drive Martin into town when a young voice, near breathless, called out from behind him.

"MR. CHALMERS!"

Steve looked over his shoulder and saw young boy, easily no more than 14 years old, sprint up the main road. He had been running a good distance, perhaps even from the munitions factory itself. His clothes (or what was left of them) were ragged, dirty, practically threads clinging to his body. His face was blackened with soil and grime, smeared with streaks of sweat.

"...Billy? That ain't you, is it?"

"Mr. Chalmers...where's Martin? I need to talk to him."

"He's inside, but I reckon he ain't in a talkin' mood. What's happened, son? You look like you seen a ghost."

"I saw something much worse..."

Steve took the boy by the shoulder and ushered him up the porch. A small wicker swing awaited them as Billy caught his breath.

"Start from the beginnin', son."

"Well...I got a message from Martin earlier today..."

30 minutes earlier

Billy read the note some many times and he still couldn't believe it. The investigator from the other day seen the creature that robbed him of his sister and his identity. Not only that, the guy was inviting him to join his efforts in subduing the Mothman. Was this the golden opportunity that laid before him? Was this a chance to finally obtain revenge and closure for that bridge collapse last year? He would have to figure it out for himself. Maybe...it was time to open his eyes and tell that Martin fellow everything.

So, Billy decided to leave his room and talk with his parents. Well, one of them at least. His mother passed out drunk in the living room couch. His father was smoking in the kitchen, looking out the window. He slowly approached the middle-aged man with tepid steps and a shaky, nervous breath.

"Dad? I'm leaving. I've decided. I think it will be good for me."

"Why is that, Audrey?"

"Because...I just need space, that's all. Time to think and breathe."

"Audrey, your space is here, with us. You don't have school. You have no reason to be outside."

"I need to talk to someone," Billy insisted. "It's something...important."

The father slowly turned his head towards the 13-year-old and rose up from his seat like a spirit from a grave. Billy flinched, shoulders hunched back, and his eyes lowered, refusing to meet his father's dark, disapproving gaze. He noticed something stuffed in the pocket of Billy's blue parka hoodie and quickly took it out, much to his son's surprise.

"You're meeting with that Chalmers boy, aren't you?"

"...yes..." Billy admitted, fearfully.

"Your mother told me about him. He's just a nuisance to us."

"Dad, he said he saw the Mothman the other night. He says he can help us find closure and justice for Audrey."

"No, you're staying here, Audrey."

"Stop calling me that! I'm Billy! I am-"

Suddenly, Billy felt a strong fist slamming towards his left cheek. He stumbled and collapsed on the carpet floor as his father marched menacingly towards him.

"Don't you talk back to me!" his father snapped. "I'm your father, and that means you do what I say. You are staying right here, and that's final."

Billy hid his fist, shaking behind his back. Such behavior and abuse had become common since that fateful accident. But now, with a chance to finally bring closure to their tragedy, and a chance to finally be free of the creature, Billy found something he hadn't before. A spark lit in his body and burned with the power of the sun. He glanced up and saw his father, cigarette dangling from his mouth, face half-shaven, and eyes alight with anger.

"Get up right now before I make you!" his father warned.

"Drop dead, asshole."

The middle-aged man stopped, almost stunned by his "daughter's" defiance. He reached for an empty whiskey bottle sitting on the kitchen table.

"The hell did you just say to me...?"

"I'm done with this," Billy hissed. "My name is Billy. Audrey's been dead for more than a year! I can't replace her. No one can replace her! If you'd rather just keep me chained up than own up to what happened, then DROP DEAD!"

Billy thrust his arms out to punch back or meet the whiskey bottle, but what happened next stunned him.

A powerful force slammed into his father's chest with a loud "thump!" and sent him flying back into the kitchen. He slammed against the cupboard before falling over the stove and onto the white tile floor. He groaned in pain, looking back at his son in a mixture of shock and terror. Billy looked down at his hands, astonished by what had just happened.

"You...you pushed me...your own father?!"

"You brought this on yourself," Billy answered, his voice firm and strong. "I am leaving and you're not stopping me this time."

"The hell you are..."

His father stood back up uneasily, still soaked in the shock of what had just happened. He never thought his "daughter" had that kind of strength.

"I dunno what the hell just happened, but you're not going anywhere..."

"YES, I AM!"

Billy thrust out one hand again, and another invisible force shoved his father against the oven, sending him into a daze. The boy, still not certain of just what he had unleashed, was not willing to wait around to find out. Instead, he jumped up from the floor and ran. Through the hallway. Out to the veranda. Down the porch steps to the driveway.

He ran and ran and ran as fast as his scrawny legs could take him. He didn't care where he ended up. If he was away from that madhouse and his deranged parents, all else was none of his concern. Eventually, his energy gave out and he panted heavily like a hard-working athlete.

He had done it. He really done it! After a whole year of isolation, he managed to flee his house. He escaped. But what came next? What would Billy do now? His eyes scanned his surroundings, noticing how eerily quiet it was. His jaw dropped at the scenery.

No, it couldn't be...

Off to his right was an abandoned building at least two stories high. To his left, a woodlot that seemed to stretch on into the distance. Surrounding the area was a wired fence. On the side of the building, he found a rusted sign that betrayed his location.

WAKEFORD MUNITIONS FACTORY

ESTABLISHED JANUARY 1942

"Oh shit..."

Chitter-chitter-chitter.

Every hair on the back of his neck snapped up to attention at that ominous sound. Billy's forehead broke into a cold sweat. That sound...! That godforsaken sound. The same one he heard from before the bridge collapse. He didn't need to think long about what it was.

His eyes glanced into the woods, and he saw a tall black silhouette moving towards him with two wings sprouting from its back. Two giant red orbs stared back at him with a sense of menace. No, of all the things he had to run into...!

"Jesus, not you!"

The Mothman chattered as it emerged from the woods, reaching out to Billy. Its hand resembled a claw, and insect-like feelers ran up and down its arm. There was no mistaking it. This was the same thing his whole family saw on that fateful drive home from the gas station.

Billy backed away towards the factory, searching for a solution. There had to be a way to best this creature, but he didn't think he would have to do it now. Not without the help of Martin.

"Stay back...keep away from me..."

The warning fell on deaf ears, or lack thereof as the miscreant's pace increased. Its wings rose up, asserting dominance. It leaped into the air and was ready to pounce on Billy. With a desperate will to survive, Billy thrust his arms forward to defend himself.

"I SAID STAY BACK!"

Once again, an invisible force slammed into the creature, forcing it back several feet and into a nearby tree. Billy glanced at his hands and back at the Mothman. It was regaining its footing, ready to reach out to him again. With clenched teeth and flared eyes, Billy stood his ground. He thrust his hands forward. Again, and again, hitting the monster with great, supernatural force.

He was sick of it. The tragedy that isolated his family from society. His parents' abuse. Audrey's unwarranted death. He was done being mistreated and afraid. It was about damn time he fought back, for once in his 13 years of life. However, he became a little too confident as he failed to notice the tremors in the area he was standing on.

One last force of power caused the monster to fall on glass, with the shards grazing Billy's shoulder and leg. The young teen winced with pain, feeling the fresh, deep cuts of his wounds. Something warm dripped down from his nose to his upper lip. He tried to lick it away and tasted his own blood. To add to it, a sudden spike of pain sliced through his forehead, forcing him onto one knee as he held it in a tight grip. Were his powers limited?

The winged creature noticed the boy's hesitation and flew into the air again. With an incensed roar, it lunged at Billy with its large claws. The young man had to think of a way to escape this fiend. But how?!

Just then, something of a miracle happened. The monster froze in place, as if it on pause.

It looked around frantically, as if it forgot an important task. Billy raised his eyebrows in confusion. What was it waiting for? He was a sitting duck! Now was the perfect time to strike.

"FINISH ME OFF, FOR FUCK SAKE!"

Ignoring the boy's angry plea, the creature sprouted its wings and flew elsewhere. And just like that, their skirmish was over. He had won...or had he?

"Where the hell is it going...?"

Billy could only look on as the beast flew into the distance, heading east. Far too many questions flooded his mind to answer, but he was not about to stick around to see if the creature would change its mind. Instead, he left the munitions factory and started on down the road. Towards the Chalmers house. Now, Martin and his grandfather were Billy's best bet to defeating this creature and starting over.

Present time

"And after that," Billy concluded, "I came straight here."

Steve sat in stunned silence as Martin breathed shakily, still lost and confused from his terrifying encounter. It had a chance to finish him, to strike him dead, but he didn't. That had to mean there was something else the fiend wanted. If it was just a malevolent being looking to cause chaos and mayhem, it would have done so many times over. But it didn't. It spared Billy. It spared Martin and Madeline. It spared Steve.

"That's why I got to talk to Martin," Billy said at last. "I think what happened to me may be our best chance to solve this mystery."

"Well, son," Steve remarked bitterly, "we just lost someone ourselves, so if you want to talk, you're gonna have to wait." Billy's eyes widened.

"What do you mean? Don't tell me that feathered bastard came here!"

"No, no. Martin's sister just left. She's goin' back to D.C., and poor Martin's pretty tore up 'bout it." Billy, who had been through what might as well have been hell, was undaunted.

"Mr. Chalmers, as sad as that is, I need to talk to him now. This is really important."

"Billy, I get what you went through, but..."

"No, Mr. Chalmers, I don't think you do." He stood up, wiping away excess sweat from his brow. "I just came face to face with the monster that drove my family insane and may have cost me my sister. And if Martin prefers to just mope around after his sister abandoning him, there's no telling what this creature will do. I need his help now."

Steve glanced at the door. Indeed, compared to Billy, Martin's dilemma was small compared to the trauma Billy had just experienced. That was to say nothing of what would happen if the mystery was not at last solved. The Mothman, a larger-than-life legend of West Virginia, seemed to ward off all who dared attempt to explain it. The time had come. No more secrets. No more mysteries. No more.

"Alright, then. C'mon in. But don't say I didn't warn ya."

Steve opened up the door to Billy, welcoming him in to finally finish the mystery for good.

15 Minutes Later

Wakeford was behind them both now. As Josh's car radio blared a song from the Rolling Stones, Madeline only sat quietly, fidgeting with the cuffs of her sweater. She had not spoken a word since getting in the car and driving through town. Whatever she saw with her brother must have shaken her to her core.

"Hey, you okay, babe?"

Madeline turned her head listlessly at her boyfriend. His eyes were fixed on the road, but he managed to sneak a few quick glances at her. Concern shone through, evidenced by the tapping of his ring finger on the steering wheel.

"I-I'll be fine, Josh. Don't worry."

"Look, whatever it is that happened, you can talk to me about it. It's not the first time your kid brother gave you a headache."

"This is bigger than him, though..."

"What do you mean? Did he do something to you?"

"No, not to me. I just...need to be away for a while."

She turned her body back to the window, not even paying attention to the countryside of the Shenandoah Valley zooming by. All she could think of was the allure of Washington. Her parents' townhouse. Her comfy bed. It would all be over soon, and she could forget this ever happened.

Josh sighed heavily. She sounded very distressed when she initially called him, so it was understandable that she was not open to talking with anyone about it. What happened to her to upset her so much?

"You know, Maddie, you can stay with me if you want."

"...what?"

"I mean, your folks probably won't take kindly to you bolting on your bro and your grandpa like that. So, you can stay with me for as long as you need."

"Josh, you don't have to-"

"No, I mean it. Your brother's nuts, and it seems like you were going the same way out there. I think you need to be with someone who can look after you. Doesn't look like your grandpa can if he's letting Marty go on his wild goose chases."

Madeline scoffed quietly to herself. Indeed, she had to wonder why Steven didn't even bother trying to rein in Martin's escapades. Even if he did believe like him, one would think he would have had common sense enough to make him stop when things went too far. It was only thanks to his intervention at the arms factory that that...thing didn't kill them.

A chill sliced through her at the thought of the creature. Every time she blinked; she could see its two ruby eyes. She could hear its insect-like chittering. Never in a million years had she ever seen something so terrifying. Hopefully now she never would again.

"So, let me do this, babe. I'll take you to my place and you can stake out there for as long as you want. Besides, don't take this the wrong way, but I hardly think ghost hunting is something girls should do."

The girl just sighed and slumped in her seat, resting her sneakers against the glove compartment. She nodded, giving consent. Anything seemed better than going back to Wakeford. Anything was better than getting roped into one of Martin's escapades. In fact, spending the summer with Josh was better, the more she thought about it. Martin and their parents complained about her being "obsessed" with him, but that was the least of her concerns. In fact, now she had the perfect excuse to be with Josh as much as she wanted. Her breathing slowed and her mind wandered, daydreaming about the days she would spend with him, and what they could do.

Josh signaled a turn with his blinker, which made a steady tapping noise, lulling her further towards sleep. Glancing back at the road, she saw a green sign that read:

HIGHWAY 66 EAST

Towards Washington, Alexandria, Baltimore

Madeline smiled. Soon they'd be home. Soon she could leave West Virginia behind. Josh smiled as he glanced at her one more time, turning his car towards the main highway.

"We'll be outta here soon, babe."

"Yeah...we'll be home..."

The exit road curved through a patch of woods and narrowed to a single lane. Josh drove cautiously as he slowed into the curve, but something about the woodlot seemed strange to Madeline. The woods almost engulfed the road, blotting out the summer sun. What was once a bright summer morning now was the darkest night. It reminded her far too much of the woods around the munitions factory in Wakeford. It reminded her of...

ROOOAAAAAARRR!

The car skidded on the road, its tires screeching as Josh braked hard. Madeline almost banged her head against the windshield but was stopped thanks to her seatbelt. With her eyes and her mind jolted awake, she was greeted with a horrifying sight. Something was blocking their path. Something she hoped she never would see again.

A dark, almost black figure with large insect-like wings stood right in the middle of the road, staring them down. Two large unblinking orbs of ruby filled Madeline with dread. Its claws stretched out towards the car, almost beckoning it to come closer. In a flash, the car swerved off to the right, sending Madeline straight into her passenger seat window. The collision hit her hard, but she managed to hear Josh's confused and panicked shouts as he tried to regain control of the car.

"MADDIE, GET THE FU-"

CRASH!

The car ran off the road and slammed right into a tall spruce, busting open the hood. Everything went black.

When Madeline regained consciousness, the first thing she heard was Josh's moans. She tried to turn over to him but felt a sharp pain throughout her body. Padding herself down, she felt something warm and wet near her head. She dabbed one finger near her temple and brought it to her eyes.

Red.

Madeline tried to move, but the instant she managed to sit up, a shock of pain zapped through her body, and she cried out in agony. She slumped back down, looking around outside the car.

The chassis was a mangled mess of metal, unfit to even be towed. Smoke poured out of the engine, with small wisps seeping through the broken windshield. The smell of spent gasoline and burning oil turned her stomach, and she held back a retch.

"Maddie...? You okay?"

"Josh...?"

Finally gaining the strength to glance over, Madeline found Josh in a similar state. His airbag managed to deploy on impact, mitigating further damage to his body, but he was similarly covered in cuts on his face and arms. The work of broken glass, no doubt. One lens of his glasses was completely knocked out while the other was cracked.

"Oh, thank God. You're alive."

"What the hell happened...?"

Josh wiped his face clean of blood, his pants heavier than iron as he tried to explain.

"Some...thing was blocking the road. I narrowly avoided it. Came outta nowhere..."

Madeline gulped. He had seen it too. Did that mean he would be targeted next?

"What thing are you talking about?"

"It was tall...looked like some insect or something...but there's no way it was...no way..."

"Oh, God, no...not again..."

Josh turned one eye at Madeline, lost in a fog of concern and confusion.

"What do you mean, again?"

"Josh, listen. This is going to sound crazy...but...that thing...I saw it in Wakeford." Josh sighed, struggling to breathe.

"C'mon, Maddie, don't tell me you're starting to believe Marty's stories."

"I'm not joking. It's why I called you up. I think that...Marty's stories are..."

A low chatter sounded from behind them, followed by heavy footsteps.

Josh looked behind him in the mirror, and the creature in question only stared back at him, his unblinking eyes filling him with terror. Any color drained from his face as his mouth dropped almost to his chest.

"What the fuck is that thing?!"

"It's what I saw in Wakeford, Josh..."

"You mean this time Junior's not crazy?!"

As if in response to Josh's skepticism, the monster circled the car, but not towards the driver's seat. Instead, it headed to Madeline's side of the car. Josh immediately took that as his cue to run. He unhooked his seatbelt and tried to pry open the car door. Madeline's eyes bounced between the miscreant and her boyfriend, the very picture of fear.

"Josh...what...?"

"Maddie, try to save yourself!"

The girl tried to move, but just lifting an arm was hard enough. She reached for the seatbelt to unhook herself, the Mothman's footsteps shaking the ground beneath them. A shot of pain zapped through her right arm as she moved to pull off the seatbelt. Just bending her elbow felt like breaking a bone. Her vision grew blurry as she looked down at her arm and saw a splotch of red on her jacket, growing larger and spreading like an infection.

"Josh...help me...please!"

Josh managed to kick open the driver's door before turning his attention to Madeline. With the winged monster stepping closer to her side of the car, he worked frantically to unhook her from the seat. The girl's glanced back at the creature, who was now a few paces away from the door. Its large red eyes seemed fixed onto her. What did it want? Why was it intent on tormenting everyone?

"Goddammit...!"

"HURRY, JOSH!"

"It's stuck, I can't!"

A claw broke open Madeline's window and floated dangerously close to Josh's face. Realizing he could do nothing, he only punched it away, giving him enough space to slide out of the driver's car door and onto the grass. Madeline's eyes widened in shock. Was her boyfriend just going to leave her here?

"Josh, what are you doing?!"

"I'm sorry, Maddie, I can't get it off!"

"JOSH!"

The boy limped off into the woods, a trail of blood following behind him, dripping from his pantleg. Madeline screamed and cried out his name, but he only kept limping, trying to get away. He abandoned her, just when he said how he would take care of her. Her heart sinking, the girl only turned her head to face the fate that now seemed inevitable.

One hand reached under her jacket and pulled out her pistol.

"Get back...get away, you damn monster!"

She tried to raise the pistol at the creature's face, but its claw forced it down. It cut through her makeshift bindings, pulling her out of the car. Madeline weakly punched and kicked at its arm, but it was no use. It had her in its ironclad grip and held her close to the monster's head. Madeline trembled, fearing what it would do.

The creature hissed, and suddenly Madeline's vision became an impenetrable fog. She drifted off, whether from the shock of her wounds or from the sheer fright of the creature was uncertain.