Gods and Monsters: Episode Two

By Scott Shoemaker

Cedar Falls has been free of invading gods and monsters since the Minotaur was defeated. Now, children are disappearing, and Graham and Evey Sellers discover the monstrous Scylla is responsible. The father and daughter must stop the creature and save the missing children before the uneasy townspeople realize what is really happening around them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Scott Shoemaker
• Release date: May 19, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301039487

Scott Shoemaker

Scott Shoemaker lives in Minnesota.

Book preview

Gods and Monsters

Episode Two

by Scott Shoemaker

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2013 Scott Shoemaker

Table of Contents

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1

Danny Dalton faded back and lofted the football high in the air to his brother. I’m Aaron Rodgers!

The pigskin wobbled in the cool autumn breeze before Bobby guided it into his hands, cradling it like a baby.

I wanted to be Aaron Rodgers, Bobby said.

You can’t. There can be only one quarterback. You can be wide receiver.

But there are lots of quarterbacks.

I throw the ball, Danny explained to his twin, which makes me the quarterback which makes me Aaron Rodgers.

Bobby tossed the ball back. Now I threw it. That makes me a quarterback.

Danny shook his head, catching the ball just before it hit the ground. His brother was never going to get it. But I run the plays.

Silently threw the ball back and forth, the two ten year olds were the only ones in Hammer Park, the chilly autumn wind keeping most of Cedar Falls inside.

A gust of wind sent Danny’s passing falling away from his brother.

It’s supposed to be a spiral, Bobby complained, picking the ball up out of a bush where it had landed.

It was. You just didn’t catch it.

Like this. Bobby threw the ball in a spinning arc right into Danny’s hands.

That’s what I did. See? Danny’s return pass wibbled and wobbled back to his brother.

Here, doggy doggy!

But Bobby missed the ball when he turned to the voice.

That was perfect! Danny groaned.

Bobby shushed his brother and listened over the wind.

Here, doggy doggy!

Something about the thin, reedy voice made the boys shiver. It sounded like the cackle of a witch.

Let’s go by the swing set, Bobby said.

Yeah, okay, Danny agreed.

Bobby grabbed the ball, and the twins quickly walked to the playground at the park’s entrance. They felt safer there, off the main road.

The pair eased back into the rhythm of throwing the ball back and forth.

Maybe you can be Brett Favre, Danny suggested.

I’d rather be Aaron Rodgers.

Danny shrugged. Run by the swing set.

Bobby rushed as fast as his ten year old legs could go to the swing set, then cut across the green grass. Danny chucked the ball at him. It hung in the air for a second before dropping right into Bobby’s hands.

Touchdown!

Bobby spiked the ball and did a touchdown dance while Danny raised his hands in the air.

The Packers win the Super Bowl! The Packers win the Super Bowl!

Excuse me?

The boys froze as a woman walked between the squeaking swings. Twig thin with stringy brown hair, she had bright green eyes that sparkled like fresh cut emeralds.

Have you seen my dog?

Where had she come from? Neither twin could form a word until Danny eeked out, Nuh-uh.

Could you help me look for him? He’s the cutest little puppy.

We’re not supposed to talk to strangers, Bobby said.

The woman laughed. But a stranger’s just a friend you haven’t met. It’ll only take a minute.

The boys looked at each other. They were always taught to help out others. And if they didn’t go too far…

Okay, Danny said.

Bobby glared at him, but he nodded reassuringly.

We’ll look around here, Danny said.

Oh, thank you, thank you.

What’s your dog’s name?

The woman smiled. Her name is Carrie, short for Charybdis.

She moved off to the picnic pavilion. Bobby ran to his brother.

We’re not supposed to-

It’ll be all right, Danny cut him off. We’ll look around a little bit and say we can’t find it.

Bobby considered it for a moment then said, Okay.

The pair stayed close to the playground, calling out Carrie! Here, Carrie! There was no sign of the dog near the jungle gym or the picnic table or the giant sandbox.

Hey!

Danny pointed at something skittering around a nearby a tree. The brothers closed in…

And a rabbit sprung out, hopping away.

All right, we did our best, Danny said. Let’s-

I found him! I found him!

Without thinking, the boys ran