Dusk finally arrived and with it, the smell of BBQ in the air. Johnny is putting on some steaks on the grill while Naomi is putting some chilies in the pot to cook. Wolfram was getting both of their tents up, he was putting the poles through and letting them stand up. The Tents were up, like sunflowers in spring. Wolfram looked happy and even gave a nod at his accomplishment. Naomi stirs the pot while humming to herself, something comes behind her and the shadow covers her like a blanket. She notices the shadow and as she turns around, Wolfram looks over to see a stranger coming up to Naomi. She lets out a scream while the stranger lets out a laugh. Johnny turns and Wolfram tries to run up to Naomi, suddenly sees her giving the stranger a hug.

“OH My God! I can’t believe it! You’re here too! ”, Naomi shouted with glee.

Wolfram was confused but once he got close enough, he could see who was hugging Naomi. A large heavy black man, he was wearing some white camouflage pants and a green puffy jacket. He had a short Brooklyn Fade cut, Wolfram was stunned for a while, Johnny arrived to see the commotion and he looked more shocked than surprised.

“Hey! If it ain’t my brother-in-law! What are you doing here? You actually decided to come here?”, Johnny asked.

The stranger spoke with a soft yet deep voice.

"WELL~! We would have arrived sooner but we had to wait ‘till Cass arrived with the new Car. "

“No way, is Auntie Cassandra?” Naomi asked.

Johnny raises his hand up and then points at Wolfram.

“Wolfram, this is my brother-in-law. He’s Flint Hale”, Johnny said to Wolfram.

“That’s Flint Hale. Jr! Well technically now Flint Hale Senior…or 2nd! Just call me, Flint”, He said with a gentle manner.

Wolfram was a little surprised but was feeling happy to know he is a friendly man. Wolfram walks up and opens his hand to him.

“I was a little confused because of Naomi’s scream. ”

“Oh, My bad! It was just, I haven’t seen Uncle Flint for months now!”, Naomi replied to Wolfram. Wolfram was relaxed, then Flint walked over to Johnny.

“Hey Johnny, your sister wanted to come to say 'Hi', but she is taking over the shift for tonight.”

"Wait, so she's gonna be the Ranger for tonight? I thought she would wanted to relax for today."

“Well the station was offering double payment today and she couldn’t resist it. Plus I decided to come with her to keep cheering her up. I don't have much work to do, all I do is just check the paperwork of freshmen."

Hale looks over to Wolfram while he chuckles a little.

"So let me guess…hehehe You! Plus Naomi?

Wolfram opens his mouth but nothing comes out, Naomi comes by his side and gently nudges him, and Hale rubs his chin with a finger and thumb while seeing the two act out.

“Action does speak louder than words, my question has been answered.” Hale said with confidence.

“What do you think, Uncle Hale? Impressive?” Naomi remarked with a smirk.

“Well I know he looks fine, your Aunt is better at judging characters then me."

Naomi was thinking for a moment then with a twitch of a nose and little jump, she remembered.

"Oh yeah, where is your little Dick? I don't see him!" Naomi shouted.

Wolfram choke on his spit and Johnny eyes widen like a 2nd smile.

Hale laughs while Wolfram starts asking questions or at least is trying to, instead they're just mumbling non-understandable words. Hale answers her question.

"You mean my Lil'Dick? Dick Hale the 3rd! He's mighty fine! Just turned 4 years old now, he can already say Papa and Mama."

Wolfram looked confused then relieved, he understood what she meant. Johnny did gag for a while before stopping right when Naomi turned over, then Hale looked over to him.

"Remember Richard, Johnny?

"Richard…. Oh yeah! Wait, he just turned 4 years old? Haven't seen my nephew since he turned One! It feels like forever…."

"You should've come to the party last month. But you were so busy, and we’d invited some of Richard's friends. You should’ve come over. It would’ve been fun and Richard missed you too".

Johnny looked down at his shoes, Wolfram looks at him and noticed he was quiet, like a mouse in a cheese shop. Johnny turned to Hale and said to him softly.

"Well I will have to think about it"

"Oh come on Johnny, I know your boss. He can give you multiple weeks of freedom by now. When are you going to hang out with us? Ever since Naomi went to college you have been extra quiet then usual. I don't want you to be alone and you know that. "

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

"I appreciate it but I am fine. I don't need to go out".

"You most certainly need to get out. I don't want to see you-!

"I Get It!" Johnny let loose a shout, then silence filled the air.

"I've just been in a rough spot, let me…just need some time…to fix myself. I don't want to bring my mess with your son and his party. Just….need….to breath."

Johnny sits down right by the fire and staring at it, Naomi looks concerned while Wolfram is a little surprised. He saw Johnny's cool demeanor and now he has seen his Angry persona. Hale Jr looks sad but turns his attention to Naomi.

"Oh you know what, now I think about it. Naomi dear, can you do me a solid and help me with your Aunt? If it won't bother you for a moment?", Hale said with an eyebrow twitch.

Naomi can see Hale needs him and nods with reply. She walks over to Wolfram quickly.

"Wolfram…can you do a favor and watch my daddy."

"What, me? Alone?"

"I need to prepare something and you're the only one I can trust, pretty please?"

Wolfram rolls his eyes and gives her a quick hug.

"Alright just hurry up then.", Wolfram said to Naomi.

Naomi grabs her bags and runs over to her father, the hug lasted for maybe a minute.

"I'll be back Daddy and Sugar. I'll be back faster than a bloodhound chasing a vampire!"

Hale and Naomi go off together, leaving behind Johnny and Wolfram…..alone….together. Once they leave and are gone out of sight, all that the two focus on were the smell of grilled steak and veggies. Wolfram walks over to Johnny as he puts more wood in the pile to keep it alive. Johnny lets out a deep sigh before mustering the strength to smile at Wolfram.

“So Wolfram….how did you get the name?“ Johnny asked

“What's the meaning behind your name? I was curious because it sounds so grand”.

Wolfram sits down across from Johnny, gathering his thoughts. He is surprised to see him talk to him first, perhaps this is necessary.

"Oh my name? Heh! It's an interesting story that my mother told me. So many times."

"Lay it on me"

"Well it's because… Wolfram is another word for Tungsten."

"Like Tungsten steel?"

"Oh Yes!

Wolfram starts feeling more open… more talking to Johnny. As Wolfram starts discussing the story of his name, Naomi is with Flint as they travel through the thick grasses.

“Uncle Hale, so how is Auntie Cassandra? What's the problem?”, Naomi questioned.

“Oh see we wanted you to just act as a scout at the radio for like ten minutes. While we check out something.”

“Oh? Is it something that is important that the two of you need to leave the station?”

“Yup! I don’t want to leave and suddenly we get a radio call. Normally I would ask Johnny but I think this time I decided I wanted you. Since I can trust you plus Johnny might’ve ignored it.”

Naomi looks a little worried while talking with Flint as he rubs his nose, after some time has passed they come across a giant orange tower with a green roof. The tower is covered with some rust at the base and along the stairs.

“Here it is, Olde Briggy.”, Flint said to Naomi. Flint opens the small door to the stairs and lets Naomi first. As they climb up, the stairs take a while, Naomi waking up at a fast pace while Flint is walking with a slow pace. Naomi is excited and as she gets to the top, she lets loose a shout.

“Auntie~! Auntie Cassandra”

As Naomi reaches the top of the tower, inside are filled with radios and equipment of machinery including a Coffee-maker being plugged by a humongous generator. At the radio station, sitting on a green heavy metal chair, a large woman wearing cameo green with green beret on top of her dirty blond hair. She turns around looking at Naomi while drinking a cup of noodles with a plastic spork. Then out of nowhere like a ghost, a young boy comes out from under her chair and wearing a purple shirt with jeans & sandals. The young boy has stickers of different animals on his face.

“Cuz Naomi!”, said the young boy.

“Is that you Dick? You gotten so much bigger!” Naomi said while picking him.

“Is that you, Naomi? Look at you! You got just as much bigger as Dick himself!!”, Cassandra said.

Cassandra finishes her soup and gets up while Dick is happily hugging Naomi. Flint finally reaches the top and sees everyone.

“ Look who came, Cass. Naomi came to see us.”

“Oh you! Trying to weasel in someone in this!”

“Honey, we need someone to help us.”

Naomi comes between the two of them talking.

“It’s alright, I offered to help. I heard you need help Auntie, I don’t want anything bad to happen to you. Is it that serious?”.

Cassandra turns to look at Naomi with a sigh while pinching her nose bridge, before she gives her a warm smile.

“Thank you for helping. It’s not like something crazy. But since you are here, you can help us then. Flint, all she is doing is staying at the tower, right?, Cassandra asked Flint.

“That's all she is here for. Just listen and watch, don't worry Naomi can handle it better then we can. Right Naomi?”

“Right! But I want to know is, what do you two have to do that is important for me to come?”

Cassandra pulls a map and places it on the table while Flint pulls out a little notebook while everyone comes together by the table while Dick is holding on to Naomi. Dick is almost asleep in her arms now. Cassandra shows some of the areas with circles on them.

“For the past 2 months, we’ve been getting word that some people are disappearing around here. We don’t know for sure what it is. But we do know this, the reports state they are disappearing without a trace, except for some paw prints left behind”, Cassandra says calmly.

Naomi looks at the map, seeing each circle has a different date on it, while Flint tells her more.

“Weird thing, it's not just that! Nah, there are more layers to this turducken! These spots are usually the places they disappeared! Every time we find the site, it always feels like there are more people missing than we imagine! Right now, we got a call today that two people disappeared with a torn up tent and no blood. It looks like coyotes did it. So we are going out to check out this spot. Normally we would call the Police to get involved, but we need to confirm something. If it is what “we” think it is, then we are going to call them afterwards. So while we are gone, we just want you to watch the radio then you go back.”

Naomi looks a little spooky and asks both Cassandra & Flint a question.

“Wait…So what if it's…what you think it is….like a killer? Would I be safe up here? Wait, is the whole campsite even safe?”

The two look at each other with worry before turning back to Naomi, Cassandra answers first.

“Yeah, you all are going to be fine. Besides, this place is strong. It will be locked and you got protection too! Especially with your father nearby, besides it always seems to happen with pairs of people. Oh at the mean, if you want you can take some of our supplies for your trip.

“Okay Auntie. I will listen to the radio. I just hope Wolfram is fine and so is Dad”.