X-Factor

Mill Pond Station 23:12 Hours

"Hey, girl," said one skateboarder. He flipped the board into his hand. He couldn't have been any older than twenty-three. His hat was on sideways, his baggy shorts fell to his calf, and he was skinny as a rail.

And those pierced eyebrows, tattoos on his neck, and untied van sneakers are exactly who she wants to bring home to Dad.

Max smiled at him, but just to be polite. She needed to play this up.

"You here for the X-Factor? You look like you'd really like it." Now, Max became intrigued and played along. She tossed her hair back, arched her back, and dug her toe into the blacktop.

"You're cute, honey," she said. "But I'm here for a client. A paying client." She tilted her neck and bit her bottom lip, being flirty. He might be the way in.

"But it does sound fun. What do I need to do to get in? I mean, to your little group event." This was harder than she'd thought. She felt nauseous at what she was insinuating. And the last thing she wanted was for this kid to press against her.

He looked her up and down, shaking his head and baring his teeth.

"Um, damn. You are fine."

"Well, you're sweet, like I said, but I need to find my—"

"No, no," he said. He reached out and took hold of her wrist. He wasn't aggressive or harsh or demanding, but his touch, though gentle, repulsed her. Maybe because she was out here looking for a serial killer or perhaps because she was in a role meant to lure and attract, but she felt her flesh crawl.

"I'm your way in, girl. I promise you'll have a real good time."

"You promise, huh?" Max rolled her eyes but continued to flirt.

"What's your name, skater boy?"

"Parker Reynolds."

2

Parker waved her on as he led her toward the platform and his gaggle of idiots. And all five couldn't stop ogling Maxine. She squeezed the phone into her pocketbook as a reminder that Kelly was just a text or phone call away. And as the minutes passed and more players hovered around the platform, she became more nervous.

One boy from the parking lot, with Saint Gabriele's varsity jacket, greeted Parker with a hug.

Saints 2016 Baseball. Second Base Outfield, number seventeen.

This was an odd greeting. Most times, athletes and skaters didn't get along. In fact, when she went to Saint Gabriel's, they hated each other. The second baseman seemed very popular and would know Hillary Durkin and Jasmine Barrere.

Maxine's mind was swirling, remembering that Casey DeLorre was last seen at the Fighting 88th baseball complex. And it twisted her fear into exhilaration.

"And now that the Saint Gabriel's varsity second baseman has arrived, is this little X-Factor thing going to happen?"

"Holy shit," said the second baseman. "Where did you come from?"

"I'm, well, a little more than you can handle, but I'm up for an adventure."

The boy's eyes flashed, and cheeks turned red. He couldn't take his eyes off of her. And much like the gaggle of idiots, he looked her up and down. But this one was a boob boy. That's where his eyes settled, and that's where they stayed.

"Up here," she said. "They're too big for you." Parker and the boys roared with laughter, animated as they jumped around, waved their boards, and spun. "I'm sorry," said Max. "What's your name, honey?"

"Ethan Martin," he said. He held out his hand, and Maxine noticed it was trembling. So she was gentle when their palms met and wrapped her fingers around his.

Ethan wasn't shy, but he wasn't mature. He probably hit home runs with the high school girls, but Maxine overcame him.

The unnerving moments of not knowing if Bongiovanni and Bellagamba were still listening were wearing on her nerves. This couldn't be a coincidence, so she had to get a message to Kelly, just in case.

She was about to excuse herself to text Kelly when Parker let out a "Yo, yo."

He and two of his skater boys walked toward a car that crept and pulled toward them.

She wanted a better look, but terror washed over her when she stepped toward the car.

It's Shadow Possee. Oh my God, they're dealing in LREC territory. This can get really bad.

She was quick to turn around and distance herself from the crowd. She went into her purse and took out her phone.

"Yo, you got the Georgia Home Boy?" shouted one skater before getting slapped by Parker and Ethan.

Calm down, Maxine. You can't let them see you nervous.

She opened right to Kelly's text thread.

11:47

Varsity second baseman from Saint Gabriel's, is here. Ethan Davis. Shadow Possee just rolled up

ME doing a deal with a skater kid named Parker Reynolds. I'm going to something called the X-Factor. Teens and early twenty-somethings so far. Not sure if info is being relayed.

11:47

ME SP plate – NJ, CHS160F

Parker and his boys skipped back over, holding two bags of what looked to be Molle and heroin. When Ethan jogged over, and the bro hugging began, Parker passed him a small bottle that Ethan snuck into his letterman jacket pocket.

Georgia Home Boy, GHB. Holy shit, kid. I hope you're not a rapist.

Max's phone lit up. It was Kelly.

11:48

K Got it. Be careful. We got a report that LREC is

near Statue Park. This might be a setup.

Maxine put the phone away and pretended she was putting on lip gloss when Parker called her over.

"Hey," he said. "What's your name, anyway?" She needed to maintain her nerves and remember her backstory.

"Krystal, honey. And that's all you need to know."

After another quick stare, the teens and twenty-somethings started toward the tracks. Maxine kept taking a headcount, but the group expanded with each count.

Max reached for her phone to text Kelly but realized she had no cell signal. She was even more on edge, her heart pounding in her chest. But for now, this experience felt like just another high school thing, and she hoped it would stay that way.

They crossed the tracks and started toward the dirt-access road, their footsteps crunching beneath the gravel.

The path from the street to the generators spanned two hundred yards, with Claire Woods on either side.

She looked back as the view of the bus depot faded. As they ventured deeper, the train platform faded from view.

And when they made a sudden right-hand turn into a small, almost hidden train, she lost all sight of the Heights and saw nothing but darkness, Parker, and Ethan ahead.

She texted anyway so that eventually when the service returned, she could send the messages.

12:16

MM Across the tracks access road. About 70 meters in. Woods heading south.

3

Max tried to maintain her bearings but soon realized that it was impossible. The treetops blocked the moonlight, and they kept making turns. They stopped, then went on again.

The air was heavy with the earthy scent of damp sod and the sharp aroma of pine sap as she took a deep breath. She wrinkled her nose as the pungent smell of marijuana floated toward her in white clouds from ahead of the group.

As they spilled into a small tree opening, the sight of two abandoned shopping carts, multiple stacked pallets, and discarded tractor-trailer tires created an eerie atmosphere. A rusted fifty-gallon drum sat in the center, faint embers flickering along its edges.

"Well, this is a cozy little spot," said Max. "I never would have guessed that you could have your own party pit off the access road."

Maxine's heart started racing as panic set in, refusing to let it show. She maintained herself and continued with the charade, but inside, she felt a suffocating darkness closing in.

"Well, you know," said Parker. "If you give me your number, I can add you to the list. This is the place where everyone walks away happy."

12:42

ME Parker and Ethan control the meets and prepping the spot.

He still didn't make a move on her and, at least at this point, wasn't going to. But she watched as couples would disappear into the woods. Others didn't care and, though clothed, had sex in front of the group.

Maxine heard the moans of passion and watched spoons and flames prepare the injections. And she watched Ethan give a tongue bath to one girl, then move on to the next. And each time he did, he offered them a drink from his beer stein.

Girls who were high and out of their minds stood on the pallets and masturbated in front of Parker and his gaggle of idiots. They'd judge each girl according to form and presentation, and the winner got the honor of choosing which penis she wanted to suck.

The X-Factor. But with cunnilingus and drugs.

Maxine was cold, terrified, and completely abandoned. She waited for a tactical team or the detectives to come out of the trees.

She had a chance as the next round of lesbian lickers began.

12:48

ME Ethan using GHB.

But before she could, Ethan came up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder. He was still shy even after she watched him get a blow job and molest two different girls.

He bit his lower lip to ask her a question, but Max took control.

"This is all cute, but honey, I've learned never to take your clothes off for nothing. And I have another client that texted me, so I need to get out of here."

"I'll lead you out. It's a straight path to the dirt road."

"Okay, let me text my client friend, and I'll be right behind you."

Still no service. Are you kidding me?

Max kept a watchful eye on him, maintaining a dispersion of at least five yards. He never looked back. With his face buried in his phone, he navigated the trails as if he had memorized them.

As she walked, the trail widened, and to her right, she caught a faint glow of the towering lampposts of Mill Pond Station.

"Shit," he snapped. He stopped mid-stride. It was abrupt and angry. "Hold on," he said over his shoulder. He put the phone to his ear and began shouting.

"Well, what the hell do you want me to do about it? Everyone needs to get out of there, like now...I don't care... Just—Ahh!"

His fists clenched as he raised them to his shoulders. Maxine watched his body stiffen as he squeezed his phone.

"Krystal, just go straight, and you'll be on the dirt road. You can find your way from there. I've got to go."

Ethan pushed by her and sprinted up the path. Max took out her phone

"Finally." And finished the message she tried to send before.

1:11

I'm in Claire Woods, south of the power

generator access road. It's a rave.

MM Heroin, ghb, rape, and God knows what else. The Ethan kid is walking me out. Something isn't right with him. I can see the glare of the station.

She walked confidently, still in character, until he was out of sight and earshot. Then she hurried down the trail, which continued to wind. She kept looking above the tree line, hoping to see the lights themselves, but she was still too deep in the woods.

She'd glance behind her, ensuring they did not follow her, but she found nothing but blackness and the sounds of a sleeping forest.

Her pace quickened as she saw the dirt road, her black laced boots hurting her feet and slowing her down.

Her heart was pounding from fright and from the effort made to escape the woods.

Oh, my God. How much further? Why is it taking so long?

Maxine's heightened senses allowed her to feel every fallen needle beneath her feet and every movement of branches with each gust of wind. She saw the trail's end and the dirt road she'd been praying for.

But up ahead, something moved. It looked like the earth had come to life. It was like a demon. She couldn't stop staring as she continued to run toward the dirt road and the light of the railroad platform.

Max questioned herself, wondering if the party had caused her to hallucinate. She reassured herself that no demons lurked beneath the earth's surface and determined to disregard her fears.

As she neared the spot, and the forest floor came alive, something crawled from underneath the ground. It was as though the earth had opened up and shot it like an arrow from its depths.

It's him.

His speed left her unable to react. In the dim light, she struggled to distinguish any features of the mysterious figure except for the ominous outline of a man cloaked in darkness. He was on her, and his arms wrapped around her neck and head.

Her first reaction was to struggle to break his chokehold with her hands. She realized he had extreme strength and had her overwhelmed. Her body shifted sideways as she tucked her chin. Maxine reached up to gouge out his eyes, only to find a cold steel mask, flat with no nose or mouth or anything she could grab.

She couldn't cry out as it felt as though his forearm was slowly ripping through her flesh and would soon sever her head from her spine.

Why are you doing this?

He was so strong, so steady. She couldn't move him even when she grabbed his testicles. She found a protective covering.

He took measures of protection that eliminated all weaknesses.

You won't kill me. I'll fight you with my last breath.

He bent her head over his arm, lifting her to her tippy toes. She couldn't breathe and was fading. The terror turned to peace when she heard the raven's caw, and she closed her eyes, knowing she had fought well but couldn't win.