Episode 1: Smokey Mountain Road
March, 01, 2023, It's been ten years since I started running with Wizard, Espinoza, and Doc. We picked up a couple of new members. PJ, she's the youngest one of us, just turned twenty years old in February. She's also the newest member of the team. Vasco came a few years back when we were in Chicago. He's a typical Jarhead turned civie. But damn, he is good in bed. There's still been no trails on the wolf I am looking for. Lost his trail back in Smoky Mountains. Right now, we are at a lodge in Tennessee. Wizard went into town. He must have left early cause I was up at dawn for a run. When I came back, he was gone.
I wake up in the mourning before everyone, blame it on my father, the military, the nightmares. At the crack of dawn I am awake, looking over to the hunk of Marine laying next to me, a slim smile crosses my lips before I crawl out of the bunk and get some leggings on. Even though it’s getting close to spring the Tennessee mornings are still cold. I stepped out into the main body of the RV. The project from last year, We call it the H.M.H.Q. The hunter’s Mobile Headquarters. We call it the Hammock. At surface level it seems like a regular recreational vehicle. But when you look deeper, we put in a few new features. Glancing at the display monitors for the cameras. A total of six monitors display a complete surround of the camper. Four are a regular feed you might see at a gas station, the other two are thermal. The two thermal monitors are mostly blue from the campsite cooling off overnight.
I zip the fleece jacket up to my neck then leave the RV closing the door quietly. This is my routine since I was fifteen. My father got me up at the crack of dawn and we ran eight miles through the forest surrounding my childhood home.
Upon returning too the RV parked outside the Lodge we were staying at sweat beaded on my skin and my legs burned. Heading straight for the shower when I enter the RV, Espinoza and PJ are sitting at the table. The scent of instant coffee fills the air PJ looks strung out and distraught with her auburn hair fraying out in strands much like her fractured mind. “Another nightmare?” I ask.
Espinoza, the tall black haired Spanish woman that should have been a supermodel instead of hunting monsters nods her head. PJ doesn’t even notice I am standing next to her. My heart bleeds for the girl. She was quite young when we pulled her out of a Vampire Den. When we found PJ in her home her whole family had been massacred. They didn’t even let the youngest ones go. One of them had even pulled her eye out, they were using her as a blood doll for a while until she was so weak they got bored and decided they were going to put her out of her misery. But Wiz managed to save the day yet again. I just didn’t think he would have said to take her into our fold when I asked what to do with her. Good kid, hates vampires as much as I hate werewolves. Trust me kid I can relate.
I nod back to Espinoza and head for the shower. Turning on the hot water, taking off my clothes, my hand smears the fog that clouds my reflection in the mirror. I stare deep into my green eyes, my dark brown hair wavy from the sweat and the moisture from the steam, cascades down my shoulder and over the right side of my chest. My chest heaves with a heavy sigh as I turn and step into the shower stall. The running water reminds me of you, when you proposed at Niagara. I miss you, Logan…
I step out of the bathroom that is more akin to an outhouse than a bathroom. “Claire, get Vasco’s ass up you are going to want to hear this.” He says.
Vasco is lazy until it counts, He is from Chicago. That was a fucking mess… I walk up to the cot we shared last night. He looks so peaceful I couldn’t help myself. Hands under the mattress I flip it and Vasco off the bed. “Claire what hell?” He covers himself with a blanket.
“Don’t get shy now.” I say smirking at him. “Wiz has something for us.” I tell him then walk out to join the others in the kitchenette. Vasco walks out in a pair of shredded jeans and a tank top. Running his fingers through his sandy blond undercut. PJ finally came back to reality as she looks at Vasco then me.
“I’m starting to think you are a vampire, Vasco.” PJ quips.
“No, he’s more like a leech.” Espinoza says.
“What is this? Gang up on Vasco day?” Vasco tries to defend himself.
“That’s enough, Vasco’s a mosquito.” Wiz smirks. “While you were all screwing around.” He looks at me, I glance at him with a knowing smirk. “Doc and I went into town, Lady named Wanda is the Liaison. She runs a coffee house just outside of town.” Wiz looked around at everyone then pointed at the paper. “Seems that we have a wolf problem. And Claire it’s the same MO as your rogue pack.” He says.
“You mean it could be my wolf?” I ask, my eyes wide as I read the job posting. Because it would be too crazy to just make a help wanted poster for a werewolf hunter. That’s a good way to get locked in a padded room. There are similarities to the werewolves that fucked up my life. But the main difference is that these murderous hounds are hitting cabin hotels. The latest one here in Tennessee. It makes me wonder what that wolf has been up to.
“Its possible it could be one of the wolves that escaped all those years ago.” Wiz speculates. I need to know…
“So we have a job?” PJ asks.
“Looks that way.” Doc puts his hand on her shoulder.
“She also told me that two strays came in. Looking like they were living on the fringes. She sent them to the bar run by the local pack and hasn’t heard from them since.” Wiz picks up the paper. “Don’t go crazy on me Watcher, I need you for recon.” Wiz looks at me sternly. “And I don’t need another Chicago.” Fuck… That’s right that mess was my fault. “Get ready we’re going to canvas the area.” Wiz straightens his posture, I head to the barracks and grab my bag and some trail cameras. Then I grab my pistol, a stainless steel Sig Sauer P227. The textured walnut grips feel so comfortable in my hand. I stuff it into a concealed holster put the cameras in my bag then toss the bag over my shoulder. Wiz and Doc are the first to leave the RV, they climbed into the truck. I follow Vasco and Espinoza out with PJ. The four of us climb into the back seat of the truck. Espinoza wasn’t with us back in Chicago, busy with another job at the time. The ride begins silent, I lean into the car door looking at the trees passing by staring out the window. Espinoza and Vasco are whispering to each other. She wants to know about Chicago. He didn’t spill a word.