Monte woke a few hours later to the faint, unnatural laughter drifting through the night.
It was distant, but it never really went away, just hovered beyond the walls like a reminder that the world outside wasn't theirs anymore.
He sighed and pushed the hair out of his eyes, sitting up slowly. His ribs ached. The whiskey from earlier lingered at the back of his throat.
The room was dim, lit only by a small lamp on the sidetable.
The Matthews family was huddled together on a pile of blankets near the corner. Jim and Tabitha asleep, Ethan curled up between them clutching his toy.
Julie was the only one awake. She sat on a cot by the far wall, legs folded under her, staring at nothing. Her cheeks were streaked with dried tears, her eyes hollow with exhaustion.
Monte rubbed his hair, stood, steadying himself on a chair for balance and then limped over. He eased down beside her, the cot creaking beneath his weight.
"You alright?" he asked quietly.
Julie shook her head, wiping at her face but saying nothing.
Monte looked around at the small, safe, miserable room. "This place ain't so bad," he said after a moment.
Julie turned toward him, incredulous. "How can you say that?" Her voice cracked. "Monsters literally come out at night. They tap on the windows and laugh at us."
Monte thought for a moment, before answering, "The people here are nice. They look out for each other."
Julie cried, holding her face, "You shot one, like, a dozen times and it didn't even flinch."
Monte let out a slow sigh. "There's gotta be something that kills them. We just haven't found it yet."
Julie's shoulders slumped. She looked like she wanted to believe him but couldn't.
Monte leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "I got something that'll help."
Her brows furrowed. "What is it?"
Monte smirked faintly. "You'll see."
He pushed himself up and limped to the duffel bag by the wall. He rummaged through it, pulled out a wrapped bag, and then came back with a few papers and a handful of green buds. He rolled quickly, the movements practiced.
"Follow me?"
Julie hesitated only a second before standing. She followed him down the short hall into the bathroom.
Monte sat on the edge of the bathtub; Julie sat beside him, watching with wide eyes as the smoke curled through the dim light.
When he was done, he lit the joint and took a long drag, before offering it to her.
She hesitated, but shook her head.
He offered it again. "Here."
Julie took it but hesitated. "Aren't you a cop?"
Monte grinned. "Wanna know a secret?"
Julie smirked. "You're not a cop."
Monte chuckled. "You're pretty smart for being so beautiful."
Her cheeks flushed. "Then, what are you?"
He took another slow drag, exhaled through his nose, and smiled. "Let's just say… I'm on the other side."
Julie raised an eyebrow. "Mom was right. You're some kind of gangster."
Monte shrugged. "I prefer the term mobster."
Julie's eyes lit up despite herself. "Like Italian crime family?" She put on a fake accent. "Hey Monte, break his legs."
He laughed quietly. "Something like that."
She laughed too, took another puff, then passed it back. "Where'd you get the badge?"
Monte leaned his head against the tile. "State trooper followed me in. I… liberated it."
Julie went quiet. "Oh. So that means you..."
Monte cut in, voice gentle. "I didn't kill him, if that's what you're asking. Car crash did that."
Julie nodded slowly, guilt washing over her for even thinking it. "And all that about traveling around?"
Monte smiled faintly. "That part's true. New York, LA, Vegas, Tampa, Dallas… too many places. Never stayed long enough to call one home."
Julie exhaled, resting her chin on her knees. "I always wanted to visit New York. The lights, the city. But college, work, and life just got in the way."
Her voice cracked again. "I'll probably never see it now."
Monte looked at her, his expression softening. "Don't say that. We'll find a way out. It's just a matter of time."
Julie met his gaze. She didn't really believe him, but for the first time since the laughter started, the panic in her chest eased.
She leaned over and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek.
"Thanks for this," she whispered. "I'm gonna try to sleep."
Monte smiled, eyes following her as she left. "Sweet dreams."
She turned, smiling back at him before she disappeared down the hall. Monte watched her hips sway as she walked away, shaking his head with a crooked grin. "A nice handful."
He finished the joint in silence, the faint hum of laughter outside blending with the sound of his lighter flicking shut. Then, right on cue, his stomach growled.
...
Monte stumbled into the kitchen, trying to be quiet but failing miserably.
The floorboards creaked like thunder. He opened the fridge, the light blinding in the dark. Inside he saw half a jar of pickles, some leftover chicken, and mystery sauce that probably used to be gravy.
He set them on the counter and started opening drawers in search of a fork.
Behind him, a voice whispered, amused, "If you're trying to be quiet, you suck."
Monte turned and grinned. "What can I say? I'm hungover, high, and half-broken. Not exactly stealth material."
Julie stepped past him, moving with a gentle grace. She opened a few drawers softly and found a fork, holding it up.
Monte gave a mock salute. "My hero."
Julie rolled her eyes but smiled. She stabbed a pickle, took a bite, then held it up to him. Monte snatched it, taking a giant bite of his own. "Not bad."
Julie grabbed another. "These are really good, they must be homemade."
Monte nodded, chewing. "I think Donna makes them up at Colony House."
Julie tilted her head. "What's that?"
He swallowed, leaning back against the counter. "This place is split in two. The town and Colony House. Town's got rules, curfews, chores. Colony House? No rules. Just chaos."
Julie smiled faintly. "That doesn't sound bad."
Monte chuckled. "Not as fun as it sounds. Last time I went up there, someone tried to steal my gun, gave me a good look at her hairy pussy too. Hard pass."
Julie laughed quietly. "Wow... just wow."
They ate together in companionable silence for a while, passing the fork, stealing bites, talking about normal things that didn't belong in this place.
She told him about college, about her friends and the parties they always dragged her to. How she never thought she'd miss studying for finals.
Monte told her stories about smoky backrooms, deals gone wrong, and nights in cities that never slept.
Julie suddenly noticed the ring on his finger. She went quiet for a while as she stared at the delicately engraved silver ring.
A black heart shaped stone was embedded within. She noticed that the heart was split by a thin, jagged crack. The break caught the light like a scar. She tilted her head, curiosity stirring.
Monte noticed her gaze and raised his hand, "You like it? It's a gift from my father."
Julie released a breath she didn't realize she was holding. A smile forming on her face, "Yeah, it's very nice."
Monte chuckled softly, "He loved this ring..."
When the clock crept toward four in the morning, the laughter outside finally began to fade.
Monte limped over to an empty cot and sat, pulling a blanket over himself. His body was heavy, but his mind buzzed.
Julie stood there for a moment, watching him. Then, without a word, she crossed the room and slipped onto the cot beside him.
Monte raised an eyebrow but said nothing, just shifted to give her space.
She hesitated only a second before pulling his arm over her shoulders. Her hair brushed against his chin, smelling faintly of flowers.
Monte smiled softly, closing his eyes. "You get comfortable fast."
Julie murmured, half-asleep, "You're warm."
Monte chuckled under his breath. "I've been called worse."
He held her closer as the faint light of dawn began to creep through the cracks in the blinds. For the first time since he arrived, Monte's eyes closed peacefully.
Outside, the woods fell silent.
For now.
...
Julie was dreaming. At least, she thought she was.
The world around her was too bright, too clean. The smell of pine and warm asphalt filled the air.
She could hear Ethan laughing somewhere behind her, the sound of his sneakers scuffing the ground as he chased after his toy spaceship.
"Slow down, kiddo!" Jim called from the driver's seat, laughing. "You're gonna launch that thing into orbit!"
Julie smiled faintly from her seat in the RV. She was scrolling through her phone, earbuds in, pretending not to listen to her parents bicker about directions.
Her mom, sat in the passenger seat with the map open, tracing roads with her finger.
They were supposed to be on a road trip. Family time. A chance to fix what the fights had broken.
Julie had almost believed it might work.
Then, the music on her playlist warped... the song distorting like a tape melting in the sun. Her phone screen flickered.
When she looked up, the road had changed. The light had dimmed and the sky looked bruised.
"Dad?" she said quietly.
Jim didn't answer. He was squinting through the windshield. "What the hell..."
The road ahead was blocked by a massive tree. It wasn't just fallen... it sat like it belonged there, like it had grown out of the pavement. Its trunk was thick and dark, the bark glossy and wet like oil.
Ethan pressed his face to the window. "Whoa. Cool!"
Julie's stomach turned. Something about it felt wrong.
"Jim," Tabitha said sharply, "stop the car."
The RV slowed, tires crunching over gravel.
Jim leaned forward, frowning. "Must've been a storm. I'll see if we can go around."
Julie pulled out her earbuds, staring. The air outside shimmered faintly. Like heat waves over hot asphalt, but colder.
The hairs on her arms rose as her chest started to heave.
"Dad," she whispered, "don't..."
Jim opened the door.
The second his foot hit the ground, the world shifted.
The sun dimmed further, clouds rolling in from nowhere. The forest grew still. No birds. No wind. Just silence.
"Jim," Tabitha called, "get back in!"
He ignored her, walking closer to the tree, hand brushing its slick bark. He pulled it back instantly. "It's wet," he said. "Like sap, but..."
The smell hit them then, a mix of iron and rot.
Julie gagged. "Gross."
Her mom covered her nose, eyes darting around. "We should turn around. Find another road."
Jim looked back at them, about to agree... when the RV's engine sputtered.
Julie turned toward the sound. "Dad?"
The dash lights flickered. The radio popped.
Then the entire forest screamed.
It was faint at first, like wind through branches. Then louder... human voices stretched thin, echoing from every direction.
Ethan clutched Tabitha's arm. "Mom… what is that?"
"Jim!" Tabitha yelled.
Jim ran back inside, slamming the door. The moment it closed, the noise stopped. Just… gone.
He turned the key again. The engine sputtered, caught, then roared to life.
Everyone exhaled at once.
Then Julie saw it.
In the reflection of the side mirror, just behind them.
A woman was standing in the road, wearing a crisp white nurse's uniform. Smiling so wide it looked as if her face had split.
"Dad…"
Jim followed her gaze and froze.
The woman tilted her head slowly, the smile didn't even look human anymore. Impossibly wide.
She started walking toward them.
"Jim!" Tabitha screamed. "GO!"
He floored it. The tires screeched, the RV lurching forward. Julie clung to her seat, heart pounding. She looked back through the rear window...
The woman wasn't running. She was just there, step after step, never losing distance.
Then the road curved and the tree was gone.
Completely gone.
They drove for what felt like hours, but the scenery never changed. Same road. Same trees. Same darkening sky.
And then...
Julie blinked, and they were back at the tree.
The exact same place.
The same wet bark, the same smell of rot, the same silence.
Jim slammed on the brakes. "What the hell..."
The laughter started this time before he could finish.
Low at first, then layered with voices of men and women. They were all laughing together, perfectly synchronized.
Julie clapped her hands over her ears. "Make it stop! Please, make it stop!"
Ethan was sobbing. Tabitha was praying under her breath.
And outside, dozens of smiling faces emerged from the woods, pale in the dying light.
Julie screamed...
...
Monte was dead asleep when the world suddenly flipped upside down.
Literally.
He hit the floor hard, his back screaming in protest. "The fuck?" he groaned, blinking blearily.
Standing over him was Jim Matthews, red-faced and furious. "The fuck is right! What are you doing with my daughter?"
Monte squinted up at him, still half-drunk, head pounding like a jackhammer. "What?"
Julie shot upright on the cot, startled. "Dad! We didn't do anything!"
Jim snapped, "Like I believe that!"
Tabitha grabbed Julie's arm, pulling her back protectively. "Julie get over here."
Julie yanked free. "I'm not a kid anymore! You can't tell me what to do!"
Ethan peeked from behind his mother, wide-eyed and trembling. "Dad, stop yelling…"
Monte groaned and sat up, rubbing his head. Every inch of him hurt, his ribs, his shoulder, his back. Jim's shouting sounded like static through the hangover haze.
Monte squinted, muttering, "Can you not? Jesus Christ, can't even hear myself think."
Jim lunged forward, veins pulsing at his neck. "Don't you talk to me like that! You..."
Before he could finish, a door upstairs slammed against the wall, drawing everyones attention. Heavy boots pounded down the steps.
Boyd appeared, looking murderous. Kenny was right behind him, hair a mess, still tucking his shirt.
"What the hell's going on down here?" Boyd barked.
Monte stared at Jim. "Fuck if I know."
Jim jabbed a finger at him. "He was sleeping with my daughter!"
Boyd looked from Jim to Monte, and his expression said it all, 'Yeah, I can see that happening.'
He exhaled through his nose. "Monte… what are you doing, man?"
Monte lifted his hands. "It's not like I dragged her into bed, Boyd. I'm not a savage."
Boyd turned toward Julie. "That true?"
Julie nodded quickly. "We just fell asleep talking."
Boyd looked back at Jim. "Then there's no problem. They're both adults."
Jim's jaw tightened. He stepped forward and shoved Monte hard. "Stay away from my daughter! Understand?"
Monte barely budged. He blinked once, shrugged. "Whatever you say, boss."
The nonchalance only made Jim angrier, but before he could explode again, Boyd stepped between them.
"Enough!" he said sharply. "Everyone calm down. There are more important things to deal with. Jim, Tabitha, Julie... sit down. You all need to hear some things about this place."
Jim glared but didn't argue. He stalked off toward Tabitha, muttering under his breath. Julie crossed her arms and sat, her face flushed with frustration.
Monte sighed and looked at Boyd. "You got this?"
Boyd nodded. "Yeah. Go get cleaned up before I throw you in a cell just to keep the peace."
Monte smirked. "Wouldn't be my first time behind bars."
He patted Kenny's shoulder. "Hey, Ken. I think that wound on my back reopened. You mind taking a look?"
Kenny grimaced. "Yeah, sure."
They slipped away into the small bathroom down the hall.
...
The room was cramped, lit by the harsh buzz of a single dome light above.
Monte peeled off his shirt with a wince. The bandage was soaked through.
Kenny pulled on a pair of gloves. "Yep, it reopened. Hold still."
Kenny pulled the bandage off slowly, exposing the deep scratch marks across his back.
Monte grunted as Kenny dabbed disinfectant across the torn skin. "Son of a bitch, that burns."
Kenny smirked slightly. "Yeah, well, that's what happens when you play tag with monsters and fall off furniture."
Monte snorted. "Add it to the list."
Kenny finished cleaning, then grabbed a fresh bandage. "You know, for someone who got dragged into a nightmare world, you're taking this pretty well."
Monte shrugged, wincing. "Not my first nightmare."
Kenny said quietly, "You really a cop?"
Monte smirked without answering. "Are you?"
Kenny sighed. "Touché."
Monte chuckled softly. "Thanks."
Kenny taped the new bandage into place. "No problem. Try not to rip it open again."
Monte nodded and turned toward the mirror. His cheek still bore the thin slice from the nurse-creature's claw.
He rubbed at it gently, then grabbed a tube of antibiotic cream from the counter and spread it along the wound. It stung, but it was nothing he couldn't handle.
He studied his reflection for a long moment. The cut wasn't deep. 'Won't scar too bad.'
He looked older than twenty-five in that dull light. His green eyes looked darker, his jaw tighter.
"Could've been worse," he muttered.
He left it unbandaged, letting the air touch it. The sting helped him stay awake, helped him feel alive.
Behind him, Kenny packed up the supplies. "You should probably apologize to Jim. He's just scared."
Monte rolled his shoulder, testing the bandage. "Yeah, well… fear makes people stupid. Not my problem."
He grabbed his shirt off the hook and pulled it back on slowly. "You think breakfast is still on the table?"
Kenny chuckled. "You're something else, man."
Monte smirked. "I try."
He pushed open the door and stepped back into the main room. Boyd was still talking to the Matthews family, voice calm and steady.
Julie looked exhausted but was sneaking glances at Monte when her dad wasn't looking.
Monte caught her eye and gave a small wink before heading for the coffee pot.