Blood Moon Lake

Chapter 10

Streetlights illuminated cars in the driveways, but all house lights were off.

Is everyone asleep? Will anyone wake if we knock? Only one way to find out.

Climbing the steps to the front porch, I knocked on the door. Nothing stirred from inside the house. No squeaks from floorboards or banging of doors.

Raising my fist again, I hit the door harder. A loud rapping resounds after each knock.

The wind whistled in reply, blowing a leaf across the porch.

Jack sighed. "They're either heavy sleepers or not home. Try the next house."

Walking down the steps, I move to the next house. Rapping sharply and loudly on the door, no one moved inside. Shaking my head, they sighed.

"Seriously?" Ella asked, "Nothing?"

The row of yellow and blue houses stretched on and on. This is going to take forever.

"We need to split up," I announced, "Work our way from the outside towards the middle."

"How are we dividing it up?" Ella asked, "There are five of us."

"Leo's injured, he'll go slow, he could partner with someone," Anna suggested.

"If he comes with me, I'm ditching his ass," Ella replied.

Leo glared at her. "Don't worry, I didn't plan on it."

Glancing around, Anna and Jack did not volunteer to take him.

I sighed. "I'll take Leo. Ella, Anna, take the right. We'll take the left."

Splitting up, Leo and I went to the next porch.

"How come I always get stuck with you?" Leo asked.

"Because you have bad luck," I joked.

"Apparently," he sighed.

"I'm hurt," I said.

"Don't be," he replied, "I was half joking."

Raising my fist, I banged loudly on the door. We stood on the porch for several minutes, but no one answered. I knocked again. Still no reply.

"I don't think anyone will answer," I sighed.

"You're just not knocking loud enough," Leo replied.

I clenched my teeth. "Well, why don't you try?"

Limping past me, he raised his hand and began furiously pounding on the door. Jumping in surprise, I swear the door shook on its hinges as he knocked.

He took a step back, smiling proudly. "That's how you knock."

I nodded. "Yeah, can't argue with that."

We waited for a few more minutes, but no one came.

"Yeah, I don't think anyone is going to answer," Leo said.

Walking down the porch steps, we went to the next house. Our process repeated. Knock on the door, hope for an answer, leave.

My blood began to boil halfway down the street. How is no one answering? There is no way they can't hear us. Leo knocks like he'll kick down the door if you don't answer.

We trailed the path leading to the porch. Stepping aside, I let Leo pummel the door. Once again, no one answered.

Leo gritted his teeth. "Okay, this is bloody ridiculous. There is no way everyone here is away."

I took a deep breath. "There has to be a good reason for them not answering. Let's go to the next house."

"You do that," he said, "I'm looking around back."