**Chapter 2**
Dark, quiet, tense.
The remainder of the drive to Mike’s house was stressful to say the least. There were no street lights on the narrow gravel roads we drove down as we neared our destination and any levity that music could have provided was silenced as we needed to attentively listen to Google Map’s directions. I can’t remember such a tense feeling before and I knew Brie was feeling the same. But the question raced in my mind whether it was because she was nervous about meeting Mike, or excited. I didn’t want to ask either. Neither answer would put my mind at ease. I just needed to stay focused on the road.
“So we are almost there it looks like. We just need to turn left in .2 miles and then enter the gate code 4281.”
I followed Brie’s instructions and pulled right next to the gate and entered the code. A long, metallic creek screeched from slightly rusted hinges making a cold rush flow through my spine. We drove through opening and were saw Mike’s house now in plain view and a shadowy figure standing at the door.