Page 20 of Beauty and the Grendel

My heart sank at his words. If Mason hadn’t seen Harlow get on the bus, then where was she? A sinking feeling settled in the pit of my stomach as a terrible thought occurred to me.

“She’s still in Grimsby,” I whispered, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart. “The Camazotz... it must have caught up to her.”

Mason’s eyes widened in horror as the realization dawned on him. “We have to find her,” he said, his voice filled with determination. “We can’t let that thing hurt her.”

I nodded, my jaw clenched tight. “Let’s go,” I said, already heading for the door. “We’ll start at the bus station, see if anyone there saw her.”

We raced out of the castle and into Mason’s truck, our hearts pounding as we sped towards town. The streets were empty at this hour. The only sound was the roar of the engine as we pushed the car to its limits.

As we approached the bus station, I scanned the area for any sign of Harlow or the Camazotz. The flickering of the streetlights overhead was the only movement in the station..

We parked the car and jumped out, our eyes searching the shadows for any clues. I inhaled deeply, trying to catch a scent, but the air was thick with the stench of diesel fuel and exhaust fumes.

“She’s not here,” Mason said, his voice filled with despair. “Where could she be?”

I shook my head, my mind racing as I tried to think of where Harlow might have gone. “Let’s check the diner,” I suggested, remembering how much she had enjoyed the food there. “Maybe she stopped there before heading to the bus station.”

Mason nodded, and we jumped back in the car, our hearts pounding as we raced towards the diner. I could only pray that we would find Harlow there, safe and sound. The alternative was too terrible to contemplate.

I burst into the diner, my heart pounding in my chest as I searched for any sign of Harlow. The owner’s wife, a middle-aged woman with a stern expression, narrowed her eyes at me as I approached the counter.

“If you’re looking for that girl, I bet you had something to do with her disappearance,” she accused, her voice dripping with suspicion.

I bristled at her words, my hands clenched into fists at my sides. “If I had harmed her, do you really think I’d be here looking for her?” I growled, my frustration and fear getting the better of me.

Before she could respond, a teenager stepped forward, his eyes wide with recognition. “I saw her earlier,” he said, his voice trembling slightly. “She was heading towards the Blue Moon Motel at the end of the street.”

My heart skipped a beat at his words, and I turned to Mason, my eyes wide with hope. “Let’s go,” I said, already heading for the door.

We raced down the street towards the motel, our feet pounding against the pavement as we pushed ourselves to move faster. As we approached the building, I caught a scent that made my blood run cold. The Camazotz had been here.

The door to the room caught my eye, with its splintered and cracked wood, as if someone had clawed it open. My heart pounded in my chest as I realized what that meant. The Camazotz had found Harlow.

I burst into the room and scanned the interior for any sign of her. Her things lay scattered across the floor, with her backpack and jacket in a heap near the bed. But there was no sign of Harlow herself.

I inhaled deeply, trying to catch her scent, but the room was thick with the stench of the Camazotz. It had been here, and it had taken her.

Despair washed over me as I realized the terrible truth. I had failed her. I had promised to protect her, and now she was gone, taken by the very creature I had sworn to destroy.

Mason placed a hand on my shoulder, his eyes filled with sympathy. “We’ll find her,” he said, his voice filled with determination. “We won’t rest until we bring her home safely.”

I nodded, my jaw clenched tight as I tried to hold back the emotions that threatened to overwhelm me. For Harlow’s sake, I had to be strong, for Harlow’s sake. I couldn’t let my fear and despair consume me, not when she needed me most.

I turned to face Mason, my eyes blazing with renewed determination. “Let’s go,” I said, my voice low and fierce. “We have a monster to hunt.”

We left the motel room, our hearts heavy with the knowledge of what we had to do. The Camazotz had taken Harlow, and it was up to us to get her back. I didn’t know what challenges lay ahead, but I knew one thing for certain. I would stop at nothing to save the woman I loved, even if it meant facing the Camazotz alone.

I paced back and forth in front of the Grimsby Sheriff’s Department, my mind racing, knowing that every second wasted brought Harlow closer to danger. I had to act fast, but I knew I couldn’t do this alone, and I needed help. The local law enforcement was my best bet.

I burst through the front doors, startling the young deputy behind the desk. He jumped to his feet, his hand instinctively reaching for his weapon. I raised my hands in a gesture of peace, my voice low and urgent as I spoke.

“I need to speak with the sheriff immediately,” I said, my tone leaving no room for argument. “It’s a matter of life and death.”

The deputy hesitated for a moment, his eyes wide with confusion and fear. But something in my expression must have convinced him, because he nodded and disappeared into the back room.

Moments later, Sheriff Jameson emerged, his brow furrowed with concern. “What’s this all about?” he asked, his voice gruff but not unkind.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I was about to say. “There’s a creature on the loose,” I said, my voice low and intense. “It’s called the Camazotz, and it’s taken a woman named Harlow. We need to find her before it’s too late.”

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