Silence follows everywhere he goes, apparently, I think to myself as he follows me into the tavern.

As soon as I stepped in, a few heads turned in my direction. As soon as Vaughn appeared behind me, however, everyone paid attention, whether out of intimidation or attraction.

I scoff soundlessly to myself, taking note of the people in here. There is not that many, maybe ten seated throughout the room, and two sitting at the bar.

I don't recognize any, minus Thor, who sits in the corner with his one eye glaring in our direction. Or mainly at Vaughn, probably.

Where's Roan?

I begin to make my way over to the bar, where Nina stands, smiling.

"Mikaere!" She greets somewhat loudly, and I freeze instantaneously, dread saturating me.

I didn't see Roan when I stepped in, and she didn't say it that loud, but...better safe than sorry. Right?

She seems to come to a realization all of a sudden, throwing me an apologetic glance as she disappears to the kitchen in the back.

Then, someone, who I glance to the side and understand to be Vaughn, puts a hand on my arm, smoothly trying to guide me to a seat at the bar.

"Why do you look like you want to avoid something?" I accidentally ask him, but then decide that I'm genuinely curious to know.

What could he be so desperate to avoid all of a sudden? I have not one idea as to what it could be.

"Jane!"

Nevermind.

Who it could be...the situation is much clearer now.

Is that the real reason why Nina disappeared into the kitchen? She saw that he was coming?

She could have at least tried to warn me.

I fake a smile, turning around after Vaughn's hand drops from my arm. "Heyyy, Roan," I greet.

He steps forward, lifting his arms, and immediately I feel a slight fight or flight response begin to kick in. No hugs. No way. Not from him.

I try to inconspicuously take a step back, and at the same time, I hear someone lowly clear their throat.

I glance back up at him in time to see him hold out his hand: "Roan."

He speaks once again, at a normal-people level. Why does he talk so...almost softer to me? He never speaks quietly if we're around anyone else, I notice.

"Oh, uh, Vaughn, right? I, uh, didn't see you there," he tries to joke but utterly fails, laughing awkwardly soon after. He quickly stops when he sees Vaughn's very unimpressed expression, opting to wisely shake his hand.

Or maybe not that wise, I think to myself as I watch Roan kind of flinch as he shakes his hand. A sort of dark amusement rises in me at the current scene, and I find myself trying to keep from grinning.

They don't shake hands very long, but as Roan pulls his hand away, I notice that he kind of flexes his hand and stares at it.

There's a bit of awkward silence between the three of us afterward, as Vaughn refuses to speak, and I don't really know what to say.

Roan does, though. "My father wants to have you two over for lunch."

I knew that was coming.

I really don't want to go, I think it's too risky.

But Vaughn thinks I should...because why, exactly?

Because Henry told him a few things about Richard?

So what. That doesn't mean Richard had anything to do with John's disappearance.

Before I can say anything, however, Vaughn surprises me by speaking up. "We'll see if it works out."

I frown, confused. I thought Vaughn wanted me to get invited over to Richard's?

But then again, that was before he admitted to me in that tree that he thinks there's no real reason to be so suspicious of Roan's father.

Before anyone else can say anything, Vaughn turns and walks to the bar, taking a seat in front of Henry, who I now see was watching our exchange closely.

Immediately I get a gut feeling that tells me to be cautious with my words when I'm around him, and I plan to listen to it.

Smiling tightly as I nod goodbye to Roan, I turn and take a seat next to Vaughn.

I've got to prepare myself for whatever questions come my way.

"So, how have you two been?" Henry nods.

Vaughn merely nods back, so I answer for us. "Fine. How about you and Nina?"

"Oh, we're good. Did you two want anything to drink or eat?"

"Um, I'll have some water and a cheeseburger, please?"

Henry nods, looking to Vaughn, who shakes his head.

"You sure you don't want anything?" Henry asks. "Not even a whiskey or something?"

Vaughn gazes coolly at the man behind the bar. "I don't drink."

Wait...really? Vaughn doesn't drink?

I have to say, I'm surprised. You would think that if you lived out here, of all places that you'd want to drink. Not that I would know, though, as I haven't the slightest idea as to what alcohol tastes like. And frankly, I'm not sure if I ever want to find out.

Alcohol is an addictive drug that kills brain cells, after all.

Henry only nods once, swiftly disappearing to the kitchen after pouring me some water.

As soon as he's gone, Vaughn focuses on me. "Mikaere."

I hum, looking up at him. "Yeah?"

"See what you can find out from Luna and go from there. I'll speak with Henry."

I frown, slightly confused as to what he'll talk to him about, but before I can question him, the man we've been discussing comes back out.

"So. Run into any trouble out there?" He questions casually, referring to the forest.

"I mean, on the way back from the village last time we got treed by a wolf pack," I tell him as he pours a drink for a man who slightly resembles Bear Grylls.

He fails to look surprised, "Can't say I'm shocked. How many were there?"

"Nine," I respond.

He frowns, "Well then, now that's surprising."

"How so?"

Vaughn merely continues observing and listening to what's going on around him, coolly gazing at everyone in the room.

"I heard that the DNR might actually finally be stepping it up and taking measures to lower their numbers, but I didn't believe it." He pauses. "But maybe the rumors are actually true."

I think about what he's said for a moment. "Does that mean they're coming into the woods and shooting them or flying overhead in planes, or...?"

"I heard they're doing both," Nina interjects, setting my burger down in front of me.

After thanking her, I ask her where she heard it from. She states that she heard Thor and Matthias talking about it with David. I glance at Vaughn to see his reaction, but he doesn't have one.

After I'm finished, Nina, like the last time, offers to put my bag in the guest room.

"Thank you, but it's okay," I tell her. "I'm planning on going to the store to get a few things, actually."

"Oh, alright," she responds, and Vaughn speaks up, directing his words to Henry.

"I need to speak with you," is all he says, but for some reason, his words bring a chill down my spine.

It's clear that Henry is visibly confused, too, but nonetheless motions to the room with the fireplace and rocking chair: "We can speak in here."

Vaughn nods once. "I'll be right there."

With that, Henry disappears behind the door into the room.

The man to my right turns to me, "Will you be okay speaking to Luna?"

"Um, yeah, I will be," I answer him, currently very confused.

He doesn't answer, because then he's disappeared to go speak with Henry. So I guess I'm off to go talk to Luna.

As I walk down the street, I reach into my bag, pulling out the notebook where I wrote down the questions while treed.

She clearly doesn't like me, but hopefully, I can manage to find a way to get her to talk to me, regardless.

I review what I had written down under Luna's section, then I put the notebook back in my bag before pushing open the door to the store.

She glances up immediately, sighing right away when she sees who it is.

"Hi!" I chirp, waltzing on over to the counter where she sits, looking at a catalog.

"We still have the same SD cards," she says, sounding bored.

"Well, actually, my questions aren't regarding that."

She sets the magazine down, turning around and beginning to stack a few small boxes on the shelves behind her. "So you do have questions. And here I thought you were here to buy something like a normal person."

I pause, deciding to just get right to the point. After all, there's no point in wasting any time, is there?

"Nina blames you for what happened to her niece because you were supposed to be watching her when she disappeared."

Luna halts, box raised above her head. Then, she sets it on the shelf before slowly lowering her hands and turning around. "...She actually told you that?"

She appears surprised yet cautious.

I nod, "Why? Is that not what happened?"

"No, no, that's what happened. I'm just surprised Nina told you so quickly, is all. You haven't been here long."

I'm surprised, too.

"That day in the tavern," I continue on, "You said it wasn't your fault."

She shifts, uncomfortable, turning around once again to keep stacking boxes. "Did Nina send you here to try and get me to tell you the truth? So then you can just run along back to her and tell it to her?"

I shake my head, but then realize how dumb that is considering her back is to me. "No. Nina doesn't know I'm talking to you about this."

"Well," she turns around, glaring. "Why are you? I'm not going to tell you anything, why would you even think that I would?"

"Because I think we both know that if you told the right person, you wouldn't have to be so afraid of saying anything else."

She scoffs, "Is that what you think I am? Afraid?"

"Yes," I answer without hesitation. "And it's understandable, Luna. It's-"

"No," she cuts me off. "Stop. I'm not going to tell you of all people, anything."

"I'm just trying to find out what happened to my uncle, Luna. I'm not trying to rat you out or tell Nina the truth about anything," I explain.

When she refuses to respond, I ask: "Does this have anything to do with Richard?"

She looks confused, "Wilson? Why would he have anything to do with this?"

I pause, "Someone told me that he and my uncle didn't like each other, and they argued a lot."

She shakes her head, "Wilson has always been a pretty peaceable guy, especially after his mother died and he inherited all that money. The only person I've ever seen him argue with is..." She trails off.

No! Please don't stop talking now!

"Who?"

She seems very hesitant to tell me, but nonetheless, she says: "Henry."

And that brings to mind another question.

"That day in the tavern, Luna. Henry kept sending those weird little glances to you. Why?"

She instantly turns back around, shrugging. "How am I supposed to know?"

"Luna, you claimed that it wasn't your fault. What happened, you said it wasn't your fault. I can help prove that you're innocent," I try.

She spins around, "No, you can't. Because I'm not."

"What?"

"I lied, okay? Clearly, I was supposed to be watching her niece and failed. End of story."

I open my mouth to say something, but she cuts me off before I can. "Now, get out if you're not going to buy something."

I close my mouth immediately, sighing as disappointment fills me. Whoever Luna is staying quiet for...they must have scared her quite a lot. Or maybe she just wants to move on from whatever happened.

Either way, I reluctantly nod, moving to get a few things that I actually needed.

We're both silent as she rings up the items, and I pay, and before long, I'm heading to the door.

Opening it up and about to step outside, I halt when she says my name.

I turn my head to the side to look at her. "Yeah?"

"Be careful around Henry."

And with that final warning and a last glance, she walks to a back room, disappearing from my sight.

All I feel is dread as I let the store door fall shut behind me, as the cold air hits my skin wherever it's exposed.

So, Luna said Richard and John didn't argue, while Henry claims they did. Luna says to not trust Henry, but he and Nina would most definitely tell me to not trust her.

And now, I do not know who to believe.

I don't trust any of them, honestly.

So what now? I continuously ask myself that question as I trudge back to the tavern, toying with the strap of my duffle bag on my right shoulder.

I could eventually try talking to Luna again, but not right away. She'd get way too annoyed with me, then.

I plaster on a happy expression as I step back into the tavern, preparing to pretend like I didn't just find out there's reason to suspect Henry.

However, I do not see him when I enter. Instead, Nina is behind the bar.

As soon as she sees me, she waves me over.

"Mikaere, Vaughn's waiting for you upstairs," she quietly informs me.

"He is? Why?"

She shrugs, "He certainly didn't tell me anything. Maybe you can find out why Henry left the tavern right after their chat, though."

I frown but nonetheless nod slightly, pulling away to head to the guest room.

I climb the stairs quickly, easily reaching the door in record time. Then, slowly, I push it open.

When I enter, he glances up at me for a split second from where he's lying on top of the well-made bed, flipping through a book.

Confused, I set my bag down on the floor before shutting the door behind me. Then, I start taking off my bulky winter clothes.

"What's that?" I ask, nodding to the book he holds in his hands.

"It was on the bookshelf downstairs. Nina said I could borrow it."

I walk over, and he hands it to me so I can read the back cover.

It's a murder mystery. "I didn't think you liked these types of books."

"I don't," he responds, so I glance at him. "It looked like something you'd want to read."

I smile softly, nodding as I set it down on the dresser. "I'll read it, thanks. But, at the current moment, Nina wanted me to ask you..."

"What I said to Henry." He says, sitting up.

I walk over to the bed, sitting at the end, diagonally to him. "Yup."

"I told him that I didn't trust him."

"You did?" I ask, accidentally sounding quite pleased.

He pauses, raising an eyebrow.

I immediately control my expression. "I mean, you...said...what, exactly?"

He stays silent but maintains eye contact.

"Did you even offer any explanation as to why you don't trust him? You do realize that I'm staying at his place, right? Eating his food? Using his things?"

"It's okay, Mikaere. Henry won't take his irritation towards me out on you."

"Are you sure he won't, though? That's-" I sigh. "Is that all you said?"

"Yes."

I close my eyes for a split second, trying to assess how to feel about this. In the end, when I open them again, I just end up shrugging. "Okay."

"Mikaere?"

"Yeah?"

"You seemed happy with it at first. Why?"

I immediately go on to tell him about my conversation with Luna, including what she said about Richard and not trusting Henry.

He, as usual, shows no surprise or anything like that.

However, when I'm done with my monologue, he stands up and says: "Be careful, Mikaere. Make sure to keep the door locked at night."

And then he stands up without another word and starts walking to the door.

"Are you going back to the cabin today?" I ask him, and he turns around, pausing.

"No. I don't want to travel in the dark."

"But Henry won't let you use that cabin anymore, will he?"

"He won't. I'm going to Kameron's motel."

Oh, that's right, there's a motel here. I forgot.

"Hey, doesn't Luna's brother work there or something?"

"Yes."

"Oh, well, good luck with that."

"When are you planning on leaving?"

"Um, either Saturday or Sunday."

He nods once to acknowledge my answer and then, looking as confident and as calm as ever, he opens up the door and walks out, shutting it quietly after him.

A/N: Hey everyone I hope you're okay and having a good day. ❤️