DEADTOWN

Chapter 10

"Wonder where everybody is at?" Adam asks as they walk down into the lobby.

"Probably over at the saloon. Can you walk or do I need to carry you?" Tim chuckles as he notices the way Adam was walking. "I wasn't that rough, you know."

"I know. It's just been a while." Adam smiles. "And it was absolutely fantastic. And to answer your other question? Yes, I can walk. I may look like John Wayne, but I can walk."

They make their way across the dusty streets toward the saloon.

As they walk in, they are greeted by cheers, whoops and hollers.

"AHHH!" Adam screams as he jumps back into Tim's arms.

"What the ..." Tim says. The sudden outburst even surprised him. "Is it your birthday?"

"No. Is it yours?" Adam asks.

"No." Tim answers before turning his attention to his friends. "Uh, what's going on?"

"We're just happy that you two FINALLY made out." Chris laughs.

"Wait. How did you know .... Austin?" Tim asks as he slowly turns toward the smaller man.

"What?" Austin asks, trying to sound as innocent as possible.

"Did you really have to announce it to everyone?" Tim asks.

"Mhmm." Austin answers with a smirk on his face.

"So." Jenika smiles in a seductive manner as she walks slowly up to Tim and begins to unbutton his shirt. "Does that mean that you are off limits?"

"You bet your sweet ass he's off limits." Adam huffs as he slaps Jenika's hands away from Tim's shirt.

"Just checking." Jenika laughs as she sits down in Chance's lap.

"Look like you got yourself a firecracker, Timmy." Rob laughs.

"Well, when something's mine I don't like sharing." Adam smiles shyly.

"Tim? Are you going to allow him to talk about you like you're a piece of property or something?" Olena asks.

"Hey, after the lovemaking that we just had? He can talk about me in any d*mn way that he wants." Tim chuckles.

"Tim? Oh, my God." Adam laughs as he covers his face in embarrassment.

"Lovemaking? That's a new word for you." Avi laughs.

"What are you talking about." Tim chuckles lightly.

"Well, let's see. I've heard you use screwing, f*cking, getting laid, bumping and grinding, getting banged, making out, getting some. Should I continue?" Avi laughs.

"No." Tim answers as his face blushes a little.

"But this is the first time I've heard you use the phrase lovemaking. I'm impressed." Avi says.

"Well, I think it's sweet." Kelsey smiles. "The term lovemaking is usually used when feelings are involved and not just for sexual enjoyment."

"Uh, can we change the subject, please?" Tim asks as he squirms uncomfortably in his seat. He felt as if he and Adam were being analyzed under a microscope.

"Did anyone hear a scream last night?" Kevin asks.

"It was probably Adam." Austin chuckles.

"No, it wasn't Adam. I thought I heard a female scream through all the growling." Kevin responds.

"Well, it wasn't me." Jenika says, shaking her head.

"Me neither." Olena adds.

"Probably a poor soul that showed up last night and didn't make it." Tim says. "Maybe we should go out and kinda look around."

The group walk outside and pair off heading in different directions. Looking for any signs that someone might have entered their town last night.

"What are we supposed to be looking for?" Adam asks as he and Tim walks hand in hand down one of the deserted streets.

"Any articles of clothing, even possibly hair." Tim answers with a shrug.

"Body parts?" Adam asks hoping the answer was 'No'.

"Unlikely but possible." Tim says as he eyes the ground ahead of him.

"Yuck. God, I hope not." Adam says. His eyes catches sight of something laying ahead of them near the wooden walkway. "Hold up. What's that?"

"What?" Tim asks looking around.

Adam turns loose of Tim's hand and hurries over to what he had spotted in the dirt. His heart drops as he sees a lady's sandal.

"Guess Kevin wasn't imagining the scream." Adam says as he picks up the shoe and holds it up for Tim to see.

"D*mn." Tim cusses as he takes the sandal from Adam.

"Maybe it belongs to one of the girls." Adam says as he sees the sadness in Tim's face as he stares at the shoe.

"Very doubtful." Tim replies.

"Tim, Hun. You can't save every soul that shows up." Adam says as he rubs Tim comfortingly on the arm.

"TIM!!! HEY! EVERYBODY COME HERE!!" Chance's voice echoes through the empty streets.

"WHERE'S HERE??!" Avi's voice answers from somewhere in town.

"THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE!!" Jenika yells.

"Let's go." Tim says as he grabs Adam by the hand and they begin to run down the street meeting Austin and Olena on the way.

"School house? In a ghost town?" Adam asks as they ran.

"We haven't figured that one out either." Olena answers.

They run up on the steps of the one room building to find the others already gathered inside.

"What's going on?" Tim asks as he pushes his way through pulling Adam along with him.

"This." Chance answers as he points.

Sitting on the floor in the corner of the room was a man. He had short blond hair and a light beard. His arms were wrapped around himself as he stared straight ahead in a deep state of shock. His entire body shook in fear.

Chris was kneeling down in front of the stranger, trying to talk to him.

"Hey, Buddy. You're okay now. You're safe." Chris says as he rubs the trembling man on the arm.

"Bless his heart." Jenika whispers. "No telling what he saw last night."

"Possibly his girlfriend being taken by the demons." Tim says softly as he holds up the sandal.

"Oh, no." Jenika says as she takes the shoe.

"Kinda hoping it was one of y'all's." Adam says.

"No. Sorry." Jenika answers and the other two ladies answer with a shake of their heads.

"Chris." Tim says, touching the cowboy on the shoulder. "Why don't you see if you can get him to a room in the hotel?"

Chris nods and scoops the stranger up in his arms bridal style.

As they walk into one of the spare rooms, Kelsey quickly turns down the covers. Chris gently lays the stranger into bed.

"Now what?" Adam asks as they all stand around the bed, looking down at the newcomer.

"We wait." Tim says as he drapes his arm around Adam's shoulder.

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