Chapter 1
Leah POV
“That’ll be $2.42,” the look in her eyes said she was done with the day even though it was only 2pm. Her cute little braid and the gum swishing between her teeth made me miss my youth. Did I smile more back then? These teens never seem to smile nowadays. When did I start thinking like an old person? I guess approaching my 30’s is starting to get to me.
I tap my phone making the payment and give her a smile with a huge thank you. Lead by example, right? Make her day mean something by showing her you care, right? My devil’s drink in hand, I needed the caffeine. I keep making myself promise I don’t need a coke, but then I get tired and that promise goes right out the window. With how busy work has been, I deserve this little pick me up.
Stepping outside I am always in awe of the electric feeling I get by living in a place so stunning. The fresh mountain air, the small-town vibes, exciting tourists, the colors, the views, it always feels like too good to be true! So many amazing sights and smells is a pleasurable bombardment of my senses.
When we drove through Ouray five years ago, we both felt this connection to the town. With James working remote and traveling and me doing editing for people here and there, it was easy to pick up and relocate. Yes, small town living was a bit of a learning curve, with winter storms and no more 24-hour locations, adjusting was worth it. Everyone tells you living in a small town means everyone is in your business, but something about the people in Ouray was friendly, inviting, and had serious keep to yourself vibes. Everyone had too much going on to be in other people’s business, but if you needed a friend, you could find one easily in a town that thrives on tourism.
In fact, it was through new friends I was able to get a steady job with the local newspaper and after a couple of years I was able to make it big with my own column. After a tourist came into town sporting a terrible arm wound and saying that a monster attacked him, I covered the story. With that, more people were showing interest in the paranormal and monsters. I don’t really believe any of it, but I have always loved going down these rabbit holes, in fact that was my whole pitch, Into the Dark with Leah Boelman. The deep forest that surrounds town and all the outdoor activities lead to dehydration and overworked minds. In the end, it gives me great stories and a thriving line of work.
Leaving the office early today was not on the agenda, but since the majority of my co-workers think a football game warrants a holiday, I decided to get a head start on my weekend of relaxation. A nice walk home, some serious rom-com time with a nap would do me some good before James got home from traveling. Stepping into the street the buzz in the air was palpable. My ears began to ring and my skin felt like it was buzzing with a thrumming in my veins. This better not be the beginning of a migraine, because I am not in the mood to spend my weekend laid up in pain. Nope, I wanted to spend it doing other tasks like laid up with a good book or spending some much-needed time with James.
All I wanted was an uneventful weekend and I couldn’t have picked a better time as it seemed the hybrids were heading into town. It was a big town joke that these, well what appeared to be models, lived in an exclusive little neighborhood not too far. How everyone was so good looking was anyone’s guess; they just did not appear to have the same small town clean wholesome look. They all seemed to have perfected the smoldering look. But their looks were ten times more intense than anything Flynn Ryder had going on in Tangled. As though they knew more than everyone else.
My first time seeing them coming into town I had just started working for the newspaper and my co-worker, now friend Kristen, had me rush to watch them out the window. They seemed so serious, but then I noticed one of them turn towards us and smirk. Almost like they could see us through the tinted window. There was no way they could have noticed us, but they seemed so foreign from everyone else in town, I joked that they were alien and so we started calling them the “hybrids”.
Okay so not everyone from their village has a perfect model look, but our little town was definitely not drinking the same miracle juice. The kids all the way up to adults were friendly but kept to themselves for the most part. Hard to believe, but occasionally they did need to come to our town for some essentials otherwise their gated community seemed well stocked. I heard the word cult a few times as well, but if they were a cult I think they’re doing something right since they all looked healthy, wealthy, and wise.
I thought about writing a piece on them but somehow felt it would be inappropriate to make assumptions about a peaceful little neighborhood. They weren’t hurting anyone and provided nice fantasy dreams for the men and women in town. Pretty sure when the men came in packs to town every woman’s panty instantly moistened from the intense testosterone permeating the air.
Since I see a group of hybrid men coming up the main shopping strip in town, I decide to take a back road to the river path back home. They are so big, they take up space and I would rather avoid their gaze. Sipping my coke, I feel the crackling air, thick, now wafting over me. Whew the river will clear this strange claustrophobic feeling. Maybe this kind of current is not normal and there is something seriously wrong with me. I decided I need a nap as I come down a back street and start down the river path.
I am feeling weird and adding to the humming in my body, my skin begins to prickle with awareness … someone is following me. I turn around and see a man standing further down the path. With the sun towards the west, there is a haze about him shining through the trees. My breath catches and I feel like I can’t breathe, there is a warning in the air, and I want to run to him and away from him, but I am rooted to the spot. He is still a distance from me, and I can see his nostrils flaring as he bellows the word “mate”.
