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Leoma

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Leoma

Leoma loved living In Chapel. She owned a small second hand store that made just enough to pay her bills. The store didn’t have a very good day, probably because it being Wednesday. Wednesdays were always slow, so she decided to close up shop.

She turned to look at herself in an old mirror that hung on the wall. Her thick brown hair hung just past her shoulders, her big blue eyes with black thick lashes stared back at her, standing around five feet six inches she always thought of herself as a curvy woman. Slightly overweight, she obviously wasn’t model material.

Most people considered her chubby, she was happy with her looks. She preferred fluffy rather than over weight. Leoma didn’t really care what anyone else thought.

Opening the door she stepped outside. Turning to lock it she sensed something staring at her, looking behind her with her hand still holding the key she didn’t see anyone. Shaking her head she started to walk down the old side walk toward her small houseboat that she called home.

The houseboat had been in her family for a long time. Leoma bought it from her Cousin Levi. When she took possession of it the place was considered a fixer-upper. She was surprised it still floated. It took her a few years, the houseboat actually fixed up pretty cute. Needing to live in it year round to save her from paying rent, she parked it along the Kentucky River with some other local houseboats.

Fifteen minutes later she finally reached her floating home. Remembering the promise she made to her cousin Levi that she would come over to visit. Levi mentioned she hadn’t visited him in a while.

After freshening up she grabbed a sandwich on her way out. Stepping into her beat up car, and drove up the mountain to Levi’s.

She noticed Rachel’s car was parked in the driveway, something didn’t seem right. Walking up to the front door, she saw the door was opened while the screen was locked. Knocking on the door, no one came to answer it. A scared feeling tingled in her lower stomach, something just wasn’t right. Leoma took her finger pushed it through a hole in the screen, then down till it became big enough for her small hand to slip through. She reached in and unlocked the door, slowly the door opened, she noticed Rachel sleeping on the couch.

She walked through the home and out the back door. She walked over to where Levi was standing in the middle of his back yard, holding his gun in front of him watching for something she couldn’t see.

He turned his head to look at her still holding his gun in his hand. She could tell by his expression that something wasn’t right. “What’s wrong Levi, why is Rachel asleep on the couch?”

Well hell, how was he going to explain this without her thinking he was crazy? “We were on the back porch sitting when I heard something, so I thought I’d go check it out. After I walked out in the woods I heard Rachel scream, so I ran back. I saw this huge black creature leaning over her. She wasn’t moving, so I shot at it and then it took off running in the woods.” He looked at her with his jaw clenched tight, his lips pressed thin.

“Oh my God Levi, is she OK?”

“I guess she’s fine, whatever it did it took everything out of her. She’s sleeping, her breathing is real shallow. I don’t know what the hell is going on.” Exhaling, Levi looked tired. He turned around, carefully walked up to Leoma while he still scanned the yard.

“Let’s get back in with Rachel, I haven’t seen anything, the damn thing is probably across the county by now.” Levi put his hand behind Leoma’s back to push her toward the backdoor where they both walked back in.

“I think the mountains are haunted,…I heard stories from mommy and daddy. Grandpa use to tell Daddy these stories.” Trying to remembering the stories her father told her when she was little.

“Those are just stories Leoma, it’s not haunted." Rolling his eyes.

Leoma was concerned about Rachel from what Levi just told her. “I can take her to the hospital.”

“They’ll ask questions. What am I suppose to tell them all? A monster was on my back porch and did something to her? Hell no, she’ll be fine after she sleeps it off.” He just hoped she would be, knowing that if Rachel’s condition doesn’t change soon he’d take her to the hospital himself.

"I called Jed to come over, were going hunting for that thing." As Levi was talking he heard Jed's truck drive up

Jed walked in with his rifle. Standing over Rachel was Levi, looking down at her.

Seeing Leoma standing there, Jed said "Hey Leona.. looking good." Winking at her.

Turning his head back to Rachel "What the fuck happened to her"? Jed asked.

"I can't really explain it, except there is some tall animal that I have never seen before hurt her. We need to track it. I don't know what it is and I don't know what it did to her." Still watching Rachel.

"Doesn't look like she's going anywhere, let's go get that fucking thing before it hurts someone else." Jed raised his gun pointing it to the back door.

"Ok, I'm ready Jed" they both walked out of the back door and into the Forest.

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