Page 41 of Obscurity
But approaching him would have to wait. Too many eyes were on the crowd right now.
The song—if it could be called that—finally wheezed to a conclusion, and scattered applause rippled through the audience. Most people looked like they were clapping out of politeness rather than appreciation.
“Thank y’all, thank y’all!” the banjo player called, his grin revealing several missing teeth. “Y’all are a wonderful audience! We got a few more songs for ya before we take a little break.”
A collective groan rose from several festivalgoers.
Olive settled in for what was clearly going to be a long, painful evening. But her mind was racing. Whatever Chloe had discovered in this creepy ghost town, it had been enough to make her send that final, cryptic text.
There’s more to Grayfall than you think. The trees are watching.
Now Olive was beginning to understand what Chloe meant.
It wasn’t just the trees that were watching—it was everyone.
And time was running out to figure out why before she and Jason became the next people to disappear in these mountains.
CHAPTER 25
The Mountain Boys were on intermission when more chaos erupted at the back of the crowd.
“Someone was in my tent!” Maya’s voice cut through the murmurs of the crowd as she ran toward the stage area, her face pale with shock and anger. “Someone went through my stuff in my tent!”
Heads turned toward the commotion. Maya, who clearly wasn’t shy, climbed onto the stage and stood in the glow of the stage lights. Her perfectly styled hair was now disheveled, and her hands shook as she held up her phone.
“I went back to get my portable charger.” Her voice carried clearly in the sudden silence. “My tent was torn apart. My backpack was open. My clothes were everywhere. Someone went through everything.”
Murmurs of concern and fear rippled through the crowd.
“I think it was the Mothman,” she finished.
The Mothman? Really?
“Why would you think that?” Dr. Z asked.
“When I went inside, I thought I saw glowing red eyes. The Mothman has those, right?”
Brad Kellerman appeared at Maya’s side with the speed of someone who’d been expecting this.
“Now, now, let’s not panic.” His voice lilted in attempted reassurance. “Sometimes animals can get into tents if food is left out?—”
“This wasn’t an animal!” Maya’s composure had completely disappeared. “My stuff was searched, not destroyed. Someone was looking for something specific.”
“What kind of something?” a man yelled.
“I don’t know! But they looked through my memory cards, my laptop bag, my—” She stopped abruptly, her face going even paler. “Oh no. My backup hard drive. I didn’t see it. I think it’s been stolen.”
The crowd’s energy shifted from concern to genuine fear.
If someone was bold enough to search tents while everyone was gathered for the performance, what else were they capable of?
“I’m sure it just got misplaced in the confusion.” Brad’s smile was looking more strained by the minute. “These mountain campsites can be tricky?—”
“I didn’t misplace anything!” Maya’s voice rose to near hysteria. “Someone deliberately went through my belongings and stole my equipment!”
Jason tensed beside Olive. If someone was searching tents, looking for cameras and recording devices, it suggested they were worried about documentation. About evidence.
“Has anyone else noticed anything missing?” Dr. Z asked. “You shouldn’t leave valuables in these tents. They’re not secure!”
