Curse of the Wolf: A Readers' Choice Adventure! Part 1

[mad_docs_of_lit]

We've got a special treat for you this round: our first Readers' Choice Adventure! We'll post a part weekly, on Wednesdays--and you get to vote on where the story goes next. We'll close the voting on Saturdays and write the next part.

Part 1: A Peaceful Escape
The blatt of the taxi's horn startles you awake. You open your eyes to find the lumpy-faced cab driver leaning over you, your luggage already beside him. He's holding the car door open in a not-so-subtle suggestion.

"Sorry," he says, without much sincerity, "but we're here." When you glower at him as you climb out, he grumbles, "Tried waking you earlier. But you were like the dead. My mother sleeps like that. Could burn the whole house down around her and she wouldn't notice."

You shake the last bit of sleep from yourself and pay the cabbie. As you watch him drive off you realize you don't even remember falling asleep on your way from the airport. But then you shake your head, stretch, and suck in a lungful of clean, fresh air. It doesn't matter now. What does matter is that you're here at last--West Hezelton. You're on holiday. Your first one in ages, well-deserved, you like to think, and you plan to spend every minute of it indulging yourself.

You check into an adorable bed-and-breakfast, chit-chatting with the sweet couple that run the place. Their son takes your bags up to your room while you ask them what you should see first in West Hezelton.

"Well," the husband says, crossing his arms over his chest. "Some folks like a nice walk down Tovey Avenue. Scenic, right? If you like trees and ponds and stuff."

"If you like being bored, you mean. You ought to see the lake first," the wife disagrees. "It's what everyone comes to West Hezelton for. Nice little bit of beach just down the way."

"Beach is always clogged up at this hour."

"Good people watching!"

"Noisy. Full of screaming children. High school brats on summer break."

"Don't listen to him. He just doesn't like that there's so many attractive men that way. I like to take my morning break down on the waterfront, take in the view." The woman winks at you.

The man huffs. "You could go down the street. Take Cheney Road or Jacob Street, either way, you'll get to old downtown. Nice architecture. Quaint, folks say. Got the library on Cheney, a nice cafe, a little park."

"Beach, dearie," the wife says.

Their son comes down the stairs. "Your bags are all put away."

"Well, we won't keep you any longer," the wife says. "Supper's served at 6:30; don't be late or that Mr. Boris in the other room will eat everything."

You consider the choices.


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