Page 7 of Wild Tempest

Garrett's eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his skull.

"Stare a little harder, why don't you?" Peyton said, punching his arm, clearly jealous. Maybe there was a little something between them.

Garrett shrugged innocently. "What? It's fascinating. We are witnessing a real witch's Sabbath. They're trying to summon the witch."

"What the fuck are you doing?” a voice in the darkness growled.

Marcus panned the camera to bring the man into view. He was a big guy with the body of an NFL lineman. With a shaved head and a bushy mustache and goatee, dressed in all black, he was an imposing figure. By the expression on his face, this guy didn't look friendly.

The fact that he had a gun in his hand didn’t ease the tension.

Teagan hadn’t really offered any details about the bad vibe that she had gotten. She just said something happened, but she wasn’t willing to speculate whether the documentary crew was alive or dead.

At this point, JD and I were glued to the footage to see what happened next. Was this the moment when the crew met their demise?

“Whoa! Take it easy,” Garrett said. “We’re filming a documentary about the Witch of Whistler Cay."

"Did you get permission to film these women?" The big guy snarled, the barrel of his pistol not aimed at anyone in particular but ready for action.

"We just got here,” Garrett said. “We’d love to talk to you and your group."

The big guy’s suspicious eyes narrowed. He was a little intrigued. That was easy to see. The idea of being on camera had a certain allure. "What's the point of your documentary?”

Garrett shared a look with his comrades. "We want to determine if the legend is true. Hopefully, with any luck, we’ll catch a glimpse of the witch. We plan to set up cameras on the island and record in infrared. It will pick up any spirits that appear.”

The big guy looked at Marcus. "You need to stop filming now."

The gun in the big guy’s hand was pretty persuasive. Marcus aimed the camera at the dirt, but didn't stop recording.

"You think you could talk to the others and see if we could get permission to film the ritual?” Garrett asked. “I’d love for people to speak on camera about why you're here and what you're hoping to accomplish."

5

“You know, we’re just out here to have fun and summon the spirit,” Summer said with a cheery smile. The warm, amber glow from the fire cast a soft light on her face, sparkling her eyes. Backlit by the cool moonlight, she looked ethereal.

Summer was a beautiful girl with a fresh face, full lips, azure eyes, and wavy golden hair. Her bubbly personality was infectious. Her petite little figure could raise the dead. The camera framed her in a close-up, just showing her head and shoulders. Fully naked, she was a free spirit and didn't seem to mind.

"Why do you want to summon the spirit?" Garrett asked, trying to keep focused on anything but her mesmerizing assets.

She looked at him like he was crazy. “Because her spirit is trapped, cursed to walk this island forever. She needs to know that she hasn't been forgotten. We want to help her.”

"Help her?"

"Free her eternal spirit. This is the best time of the year to make contact. The time when the veil between our world and the spirit world is the thinnest. It's rumored that those who help free her spirit will be granted knowledge and power.”

"What kind of knowledge and power?" Garrett asked.

"The knowledge of the elements, of the earth, and of Ironhook’s treasure.”

"So this is about money?”

Summer scowled at him. "No. It's not about money. Why would you say such a thing?”

"You just made reference to the treasure,” Garrett asked, genuinely confused.

"That's a bonus," she said, annoyed. "Don't you know what was done to that woman?”

"I've heard the stories."