| Mystery and Crime Fiction posted February 11, 2025 | Chapters: |
...31 32 -33- 34... 
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Travis's Journey
A chapter in the book Veil of Secrets
Veil of Secrets - Chap 33
by Begin Again
Travis had no idea where he was or how far he had to go. He could be lost or walking into a killer's den, and he wouldn't know it. All he knew was that his legs were tired, his clothes were wet from the tall grasses, and a dog was leading him somewhere.
The wolf-dog had stopped near a fallen tree. He stared at Travis as if he expected him to sit down. Whether that was the message or not, Travis willingly collapsed on the log, stretching his legs and sighing with relief.
"Man, you must have read my mind. I was about to collapse."
The wolf-dog laid his head against Travis's leg. The boy smiled and scratched between his ears. "It's just you, me, and the man in the moon. We're lucky for that full moon. Well, probably more me than you because I sense you can see anything, but forgetting to bring a lantern or a flashlight wasn't too bright. I hope we don't have much farther to go."
A low growl rumbled from the wolf-dog's throat. It stiffened its body and pinned back its ears.
Travis froze. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. He'd heard it too — a rustling in the underbrush. He pulled his jacket tighter, his breath coming in quick, sharp exhales.
He strained to see into the pitch-dark night, and his eyes focused on several boulders. A pair of yellow eyes glinted in the blackness as they stared at him. Then, he saw another and another.
Coyotes.
He'd read stories about them — lean, hungry things that hunted in packs. Alone, they were wary. But together — they were fearless. And now, they were watching him.
A snarl ripped through the night. The first coyote lunged from the shadows. Its lean body moved with terrifying speed, eyes locked on Travis, teeth flashing in the moonlight. Travis opened his mouth to scream, but the sound caught in his throat, escaping only as a ragged gasp. Fear gripped him, paralyzing his legs and tightening his chest.
His instincts screamed at him to run, but another coyote darted from the brush before he could force his body to move. Then another. They were surrounding him.
His heart slammed against his ribs as he staggered backward, his foot catching on something solid. He nearly fell, his arms flying up instinctively as if they could shield him from the attack. His breath came too fast, too shallow. They weren't just watching anymore. They were moving in.
The first coyote tensed, muscles coiling beneath its wiry fur. Then, it lunged. Travis couldn't react before the first one was upon him, jaws snapping, teeth flashing. He barely had time to move before another one charged from the side.
It happened too fast. A streak of fur. A flash of yellow eyes. Then — the pain.
Sharp teeth raked across his forearm, tearing through fabric and into flesh. A burst of white-hot agony shot up his arm, and he cried out, stumbling backward. His other hand clamped over the wound, warm blood seeping through his fingers.
The coyote backed away, hackles raised, lips curling. It was testing him, waiting for another opening.
A blur of fur and muscle slammed into the lead coyote, sending it sprawling into the dirt. A yelp. A growl. A vicious snarl. The pack hesitated, but only for a second. Then they swarmed.
Travis had no weapon. No way to fight. All he could do was watch as the wolf-dog tore into them, teeth flashing, eyes burning with a wild, untamed fury.
One coyote latched onto the wolf-dog's hind leg. The wolf-dog let out a pained yelp but didn't falter. It turned, sinking its teeth into the attacker's throat.
Another coyote lunged, snapping at its side. The wolf-dog staggered.
Travis's heart clenched. Too many. There were too many.
"Run," Travis screamed. "Run, you idiot!" But the wolf-dog didn't. It stood its ground even as the pack circled and the blood matted its fur.
Then, the wolf-dog was there again, snapping at the attacker, forcing it away from Travis. The coyote yelped as the wolf-dog's teeth tore into its hind leg, sending it skittering back into the brush.
Travis sucked in his breath, his arm throbbing. The cut wasn't deep, but it burned.
Suddenly, the coyotes froze. Their snarls faded into uneasy whimpers. Travis's breath caught. Something had changed. The air was cold. Colder than it should have been.
The wind had stilled, and the night felt too quiet in its absence.
Travis's heart hammered against his ribs. Not the wind. Not the trees. Something was moving. Was it more coyotes or something worse?
A low chuckle drifted through the trees. Cold. Hollow. Eerie.
Travis turned sharply, his chest tight. A figure stood at the tree line. Tall. Motionless. A long coat draped over his frame, dark as the night itself.
Cornelius Webb.
His pale eyes gleamed beneath the moonlight, unreadable — unblinking, just watching.
The coyotes let out low, uneasy growls but did not attack. They lingered, their backs arched, and their bodies stiff, as if they were unsure whether to run or bow.
Cornelius tilted his head. He smiled. Travis felt his stomach turn to ice.
Cornelius tilted his head. "Lost, boy?" His voice was like wind through dead leaves — cold, hollow, edged with something that didn't belong in this world.
Travis's skin prickled, his instincts screaming at him to run, but his legs wouldn't move.
Cornelius took a slow step forward, his boots making no sound against the earth. "You shouldn't be out here alone, boy," Cornelius murmured, sending shivers down Travis's spine.
Travis swallowed hard, his pulse hammering. "I'm not alone."
Cornelius's gaze flickered to the wolf-dog, bleeding but still standing. He exhaled slowly, almost like a sigh. "That," he mused, "remains to be seen."
Travis's fists clenched. He didn't know where Cornelius had come from or who he was, but he did know that the wolf-dog was dying.
Cornelius studied the wolf-dog for a long moment, then reached into his coat. Travis tensed, expecting a weapon. Instead, Cornelius pulled out a small pouch. A pinch of black powder rested between his fingers.
Travis frowned. "What is that?"
Cornelius knelt beside the wolf-dog, his expression unreadable. "A second chance," he murmured. He sprinkled the powder over the wolf-dog's wounds with a slow, deliberate movement. For a moment — nothing happened. Then a faint wisp of smoke curled from the injuries. The wolf-dog twitched. Its breathing was now steady.
Travis stared.
Cornelius rose to his feet. "There," he said, brushing off his hands. "Good as new."
Travis didn't believe it. He dropped to his knees, running a hand over the wolf-dog's fur. The wounds were still there, but they were closing — faster than they should have been. Travis's skin crawled. "What the hell did you do?"
Cornelius's eyes gleamed. "Would you rather I hadn't?"
Travis didn't answer. The wolf-dog released a low huff, shifting its weight but no longer trembling.
Cornelius smirked. "Be careful out here, boy. There are things in these woods you don't understand." He turned and walked back into the trees.
The coyotes followed, not as hunters, but as if they belonged to him.
Travis sat frozen in place. He looked down at the wolf-dog — alive, healing, breathing. He struggled to stand, but he soon was on his feet. There was only one thought left in his mind now — get to the Vineyard.
*****
The path beneath Travis's boots was uneven, shifting between patches of damp earth and jagged roots that clawed at his feet. His limbs felt like they were lead, every step heavier than the last. His head pounded, and the throbbing burn in his arm had settled into something worse—a deep, bone-aching heat — infection.
He knew the signs. The wound from the coyote's bite was hot and swollen, radiating a sickly warmth up to his shoulder. Sweat clung to his skin, but the cool night air chilled him to the bone. His body couldn't decide if it was burning or freezing. He stumbled, catching himself on the rough bark of a tree, his breath coming in gulps.
His stomach ached with hunger, but the thirst gnawed at him now. His mouth was dry, his tongue heavy.
The wolf-dog padded beside him, his golden eyes watching Travis closely. He never strayed, never ran ahead. He knew.
Travis let out a weak chuckle, his voice hoarse and cracked. "You know I'm not gonna make it, don't you, buddy?"
The wolf-dog whined, ears twitching. He lifted his nose to the air, nostrils flaring as he sniffed the wind.
Travis barely noticed — his vision swam, the trees blurring together. The forest was too quiet. Not even the usual sounds of the night — the chirp of crickets, the rustle of leaves — nothing. A slow unease crawled up his spine, but he was too tired to care.
Then — the wolf-dog moved. Not away. Not toward danger. Forward as if leading Travis somewhere.
The boy forced his legs to move, trailing behind, his steps uneven. The trees thinned out slightly, and then he saw it. A spring. Small, half-hidden among the twisted roots of an old tree, water bubbled up from beneath smooth stones, forming a shallow, clear pool.
Relief crashed over him. His legs gave out, but he didn't care. He crawled forward, dragging himself to the water's edge. His hands trembled as he cupped the cool liquid, bringing it to his lips. It was clean and cold. It saved him.
For a moment, his body rejoiced, and then his arms gave out. The ground tilted beneath him, his vision swimming with spots of black and gold. He barely felt the impact as his body hit the dirt.
His last thought was the wolf-dog pressing against his side, standing guard. Then —darkness.
*****
Eleanor paused mid-step, the book in her hands suddenly feeling heavy. She wasn't sure why — only that something was calling.
Eleanor paused mid-step, the book in her hands suddenly feeling heavy. She wasn't sure why — only that something was calling.
Across the room, Antonio looked up from the map he had been studying. His brow furrowed. "You feel it, too?" he asked quietly.
Eleanor nodded slowly. "Something's coming."
Then, they heard a distant howl. Both of them froze. The sound wasn't threatening. It was a call —a plea.
Eleanor exchanged a glance with Antonio before stepping outside.
The night air was cool and the stars bright, but something pressed against her chest —a feeling she couldn't name. There was sudden movement near the trees. The wolf-dog emerged from the darkness. Alone.
Before either of them could move, Garth stepped out onto the porch. His sharp gaze locked onto the wolf-dog. His hand went to his gun. Garth raised his weapon. "It's just a damn wild animal," he muttered.
The wolf-dog didn't flinch. He stood his ground, his golden eyes locked on them.
Antonio grabbed Garth's arm. "Don't shoot."
Garth snorted. "Then what the hell is it doing here?"
Eleanor stepped forward. "Look at him," she murmured. "He's not attacking. He's waiting."
As if on cue, the wolf-dog turned and trotted back toward the trees. He stopped and looked back, waiting.
Eleanor's breath hitched. "He's leading us." Without another word, she followed. Antonio and Garth hurried behind her.
Travis lay still in the grass, his body burning with fever.
Antonio checked his pulse while Eleanor wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Travis stirred. His fingers twitched in the grass. His breath hitched, his cracked lips parting. He mumbled something.
At first, no one understood the jumble of words from a fevered and confused boy — "river — cages — trapped."
Eleanor leaned closer. "Travis? Can you hear me? Are there more women?"
"Amelia." His voice was weak. It was barely audible when he whispered, "Rebecca."
Antonio's head snapped up.
Garth went rigid. "What did he say?" Garth demanded. He dropped to the ground, his eyes wide. "He said Rebecca."
Antonio frowned, shaking Travis lightly. "Travis, who is Amelia? Do you know Rebecca? Where are they?"
But Travis had already drifted out of consciousness again. Silence stretched between them.
Garth's voice was sharp as a blade. "He knows where she is." His jaw clenched.
Travis lay limp in Antonio's arms, his fevered body barely responding. His breath came in shallow gasps, his skin damp with sweat. He was already barking orders. "We don't have time for this!" he snapped. "We need to find Rebecca now! Get him to talk. She might be out there."
But Eleanor wasn't having it. She planted herself in front of him, her eyes sharp, her voice firm. "You will not risk this boy's life for your impatience."
Garth glared. "Damn it, Eleanor."
"No!" she snapped, stepping closer. "He is barely alive. Look at him, Garth. He's burning up. You take him through those trees half-dead, and you'll kill him before he can tell you a damn thing."
Garth gritted his teeth. But she was right.
Antonio adjusted Travis's weight in his arms. "He's not going anywhere until we get him warm, get some fluids in him, and see if we can bring his fever down."
"And then," Eleanor added, turning back to Garth, "you will get your answers. But not before."
Garth let out a frustrated growl, but he didn't argue further.
Eleanor turned to Tango, who had joined them. "Get Willow. We'll take the cart back."
Tango nodded, already moving.
The wolf-dog stayed close, its golden eyes flicking between Travis and Garth as if it sensed the tension.
Eleanor turned back to Garth, her voice softer now. "I want to find Rebecca too." The cowboy held her gaze as she said, "But we do it the right way."
 Recognized |
Main Characters -
Spirits from the past -
Eleanor Bennett - ghost detective
Danni - jr. ghost detective working with Matthew Donatelli
Cornelius Webb - Miriam's nemesis and murderer
Miriam Cascio - Trevor's murdered bride, Rebecca's grandmother and protector of the Vineyard
Antonio Maggio - Rebecca's grandfather and Miriam's first love
Bayside's Community --
Jenna Bennett - Event planner, Eleanor's daughter, Maggie's mother, Donatelli's love
Matthew Donatelli - Bayside's lead detective and Maggie's father
Rebecca Cascio Stillwell - recently inherited the Vineyard after discovering her adoption
Garth Woodman - FBI Agent and widower (Allie) and potentially interested in Rebecca
Joseph DeLuca - Bayside detective
John Doyle - Ex-judge, nemesis to all, and escaped prisoner from Joliet State Prison.
Vince Rossi - mobster and Doyle's cellmate and escaped prisoner
Grayson Webb - grand nephew and recently inherited the Webb Estate
Althea Webb Cascio - mother to Travis and half-sister to Rebecca
Travis - missing boy
Amelia - girl in the caves
Phil Henderson - Bayside family lawyer
Maria - a woman escaping the tunnels
Lenore - an old woman with a wolf dog and magic
Criminals -
Zhang Wei - once involved in human trafficking with Doyle, seeks revenge for his career losses after Doyle's downfall from the Judge's bench.
Frank DiVito - retired gangster and childhood friend of Garth
Sam - Frankie's right-hand man and friend
Jack Lexington - Chicago kingpin
Tony "The Hawk" - Salvatore "Sal" and Vito Greco -- the New York mob
Smugglers from New York
Pays
one point
and 2 member cents. Spirits from the past -
Eleanor Bennett - ghost detective
Danni - jr. ghost detective working with Matthew Donatelli
Cornelius Webb - Miriam's nemesis and murderer
Miriam Cascio - Trevor's murdered bride, Rebecca's grandmother and protector of the Vineyard
Antonio Maggio - Rebecca's grandfather and Miriam's first love
Bayside's Community --
Jenna Bennett - Event planner, Eleanor's daughter, Maggie's mother, Donatelli's love
Matthew Donatelli - Bayside's lead detective and Maggie's father
Rebecca Cascio Stillwell - recently inherited the Vineyard after discovering her adoption
Garth Woodman - FBI Agent and widower (Allie) and potentially interested in Rebecca
Joseph DeLuca - Bayside detective
John Doyle - Ex-judge, nemesis to all, and escaped prisoner from Joliet State Prison.
Vince Rossi - mobster and Doyle's cellmate and escaped prisoner
Grayson Webb - grand nephew and recently inherited the Webb Estate
Althea Webb Cascio - mother to Travis and half-sister to Rebecca
Travis - missing boy
Amelia - girl in the caves
Phil Henderson - Bayside family lawyer
Maria - a woman escaping the tunnels
Lenore - an old woman with a wolf dog and magic
Criminals -
Zhang Wei - once involved in human trafficking with Doyle, seeks revenge for his career losses after Doyle's downfall from the Judge's bench.
Frank DiVito - retired gangster and childhood friend of Garth
Sam - Frankie's right-hand man and friend
Jack Lexington - Chicago kingpin
Tony "The Hawk" - Salvatore "Sal" and Vito Greco -- the New York mob
Smugglers from New York
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