Lunch is a blur. I stare off into space, considering every possibility of why Dr. Ward's estate is in a picture of an old, abandoned town. I knew the house was old, but I didn't think it was that old. I wonder who the previous owner was.

"Hey, loser," Hannah says as she and JJ sit across from me. She tosses a french fry in her mouth and smirks. "JJ and I are headed to the library after school. Wanna come?"

I pause a moment, coming out of my deep thought. "Did you know Greenfield was built on an old, abandoned town?" I ask.

"Cedar Hollow?" JJ replies.

Hannah and I stare at him, awaiting any further explanation.

"Uh," JJ stammers, uncomfortable with the sudden attention his comment has granted. "Yeah, some of the old houses here are super old. There isn't much record of who exactly lived there or why they left, but the ruins are here. So, obviously, someone did."

"That's cool," Hannah says. "But what does that have to do with anything? You think the old town has something to do with the monster?"

"Are we calling it a monster now?" JJ groans.

"It's a giant creepy thing that eats people, and we have no idea what it is," Hannah exclaims, waving another french fry around. "I think monster is an appropriate title."

"I'm not quite sure what I'm thinking yet," I reply. "But it might be related."

"Hey, Autumn." Ethan, my new partner from physics, stands beside our table. Immediately, Hannah murders him with her eyes. She clearly finds his popularity repulsive.

"Oh, hey," I answer.

"We should get started on our physics project. Do you want to meet up this weekend? You can come over." He offers a confident smile, though his subtle fear of Hannah is visible. His green eyes and low, soothing voice make it hard to find my breath for a moment. I still don't understand why he chose me as his partner. Jaqueline's annoying, but she's pretty at least.

"Uh, yeah." My voice breaks a little. "But my mom would never allow it." I dread the thought of even asking her if I can go over to some boy's house. "Why don't you come over to my place instead?" Mom will probably eat him alive, but better him than me.

"Sounds great. See you tomorrow?"

"Sure, I'll call you," I offer. Then he walks away.

"You're gross." Hannah glares at me with disgust.

"What?" I furrow my brows.

"Whatever. You coming to the library or not?" She says with her mouth full.

"No," I reply, looking down at my untouched lunch. "I want to talk to Dr. Ward."

"Well, be careful," Hannah says. "Cops might consider you an accomplice."

"I'll be fine. JJ, see what else you can find on Cedar Hollow," I request.

"You got it." JJ nods.

----------------------------------------

Dr. Ward's large house sits on a small hill gated off from the rest of the town. A large elegant W is framed in the center of the iron gate. Has his family owned this place all these years? If so, he must know about Cedar Hollow.

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Just as I'm about to cross the threshold of the iron gate, a reflection catches my attention. A fancy black car sits near the entrance, obscured under overhanging trees. The windows are tinted so dark I can barely make out the driver's silhouette. Are cops really this bad at hiding now? They might as well park a police cruiser out front with a big sign that says murderer lives here!

I change my course and head toward the black car. Dr. Ward did nothing wrong, and I'm handling this myself. I reach the car and stand beside the passenger door. Before I can knock on the tinted window, it rolls down. Inside is a lone man dressed in a fine black suit. Dark sunglasses cover his eyes. His dirty blonde hair is combed back on top, and the sides of his head are buzzed short.

"Hey!" I say, doing my best to hide my trepidation.

"Hey yourself," he replies calmly.

"You know everyone can see you, right?" I narrow my eyes.

"Is that so?" He smirks.

"Yeah. Dr. Ward is innocent, and I'll prove it."

"Well, you seem confident." He lifts an eyebrow like I'm some dumb kid. Fuck him.

"So, kindly fuck off." I sneer condescendingly.

"And what if I don't?" He pulls his sunglasses down to reveal pale blue eyes.

"I'll—" What will I do? "Just do your job and check the woods."

"Yes, ma'am." He resets his glasses and turns the key. The car rumbles with a soft purr and slowly coasts away.

That went well, right? Was that stupid? Fuck it.

I head back to the estate and enter the home through its large wooden door.

"Hi, Autumn," one of the nurses greets me. "Your grandmother is in the kitchen."

"Thanks," I reply.

I find Granny in a kitchen of disarray. She's opening and slamming cabinet doors and digging through old kitchenware.

"What are you doing, Granny?" I ask with a smirk.

"Oh." Startled, she turns to find me. "Autumn! My dear, I am trying to make myself a decent meal. The staff here use that microwave so much; the stove may as well be a museum exhibit."

"What ya making?" I ask.

"I found some potatoes and chicken." She begins chopping the potatoes on the cutting board she pulled from one of the cabinets. "Grab that asparagus out of the freezer, dear."

The freezer is packed wall to wall with frozen microwavable meals. But in the back is a bulk bag of asparagus.

"You taking your meds, Granny?" I ask.

"No. You staying out of trouble?" She snaps back.

"No." I smile.

"That's my girl." She drops some potatoes into a pot and turns on the stove. "How's your mother?"

I'm quiet for a moment. "Busy," I finally say.

She looks up at me. "You two get into a fight?"

"No," I sigh. "She just doesn't understand me."

"She understands you more than you think, Autumn."

"I doubt that," I say, gathering the asparagus on a cookie sheet.

"She's rough on the outside, sure, but put yourself in her shoes," Granny says in a serious tone. "Her husband just died." Her breath huffs, and she struggles to get that last word out. I place my hand over hers. "She's just afraid of losing you too."

Granny sets the knife down and turns to face me. "You know," she continues. "My son and your mother were best friends. They never fought."

"Yes, they so did!" I retort.

"Oh no," she waves her finger. "She spoke Spanish, and he shut up."

I giggle a little. It's been a while since Granny's talked about Dad.

"They adored each other." She looks past me as if Mom and Dad are standing at the other end of the kitchen. "He may have been a hunter, but you know, he was such a softy." Her eyes shift toward mine. "Your mother has always been the strong one."

"Yeah," I say. "I know."

"She puts on a tough face and endures hateful people, ridicule, racism, and did you ever meet her mother?" She raises her eyebrows. "I swear that woman could shoot fire from her eyes." She pauses a moment. "Point is, I'd love to tell you I see your father in you, and I do. Your bright, loving smile. That's his. But your strength. That armor you lug around everywhere. That belongs to your mother."

I press my lips together and hug her. "Thanks, Granny."

"Now, Dr. Ward is in his library," she says. "I know he's more interesting than me."

"I love you, Granny."

"Love you too, Spooks."