Free The Night Marchers and Other Strange Tales by Daniel Braum Page A

in front of me, opens its mouth, baring its thick sharp teeth, releasing a low guttural growl. I hold still, thinking of what to do, but it crawls away in the direction the blue demon headed.  
    I stand still until my body is convinced all threat is gone. The adrenaline stops flowing. My heart slows. Beads of sweat roll down my face. 
    I backtrack to the bar. Juan is standing outside watching the five who have gravitated to the beach. When we met in Guatemala I hired him to be a lookout and some muscle, but more importantly to be our ninth member. I wouldn’t trust him with my girl, but I trust him not to run if things get out of control. David asked him about his scarred up arm. Shark bite, he said and they all believed him. 
    “Everything good?” he asks. 
    “Yeah, everything’s still in place. But I’m getting tired. Double duty tonight. We’ll sleep well tomorrow.” 
    “Check,” he says. 
    Inside Johnnie’s, the band is packing up. Alexa, David, (who keeps hitting on her), and the Indian guy are the only ones left on the dance floor, moving to the sound from the video screens. 
    I want to get between them, but don’t. Keeping our secret serves me better. He’d get pissed and maybe leave. We are nine and I want it to stay that way. 
    The Indian guy abruptly stops his spin and turns to me. He brings his hand into a claw and rakes the air. “Meow. Grrrowl. Meow,” he says through a mouthful of laughter. 
    How did he know? 
    “Don’t bother the paying customers,” Johnnie says, pushing him to the exit. “Time to get out of here.” 
    “What’s with him?” David asks. 
    “He’s nuts,” Johnnie says. 
    David yawns. “It’s dead in here, anyway. Let’s hit the beach.” 
    “I’ll bring you drinks,” Johnnie says. 
    Alexa’s eyes protest. I can read her well. They say you’re not going to dance with me after all. 
    I stare back. I’ll see her in her cabin, later. Like always.  
    We join the rest of the group, standing in a circle at the edge of the water smoking cigarettes under the stars. Balls of heat lightning flash on the horizon, slowly rolling closer. 
    “Come on,” Alexa says to me. “Take your boots off. Let’s go in the water.” 
    I take off my shoes, roll up my pants, and wade out into the shallow water with her. It’s only knee deep for a half mile out to the barrier reef. Hordes of tiny phosphorescent plankton float on the surface. We leave glowing trails in our wake. I light a cigarette and try to relax. We’re warded in all directions. Except from the water. Can I even place a ward on water? 
    After a minute David follows. I glance at Alexa’s perfect calves, half submerged in the water. I don’t blame him for his persistence. Alejandro and the others leisurely wade out to join us. 
    A big orange and purple cluster flashes in the sky. 
    “What was that?” David asks. 
    “Ball lightning,” I say. 
    “But there’s no rain.” 
    “Doesn’t have to be. Friction of front on front.” 
    “I don’t care what it is. Just look at it,” Alexa says. 
    “Beautiful,” David says.  
    As always, he adds one word too many. 
    “I mean, it’s the power of nature,” he continues. “Makes you think all the nature worshippers and animal lovers have it right sometimes.” 
    “Not really,” Alexa says with disdain.  
    I think of the things searching for us in the jungle and the malice needed to sic them on us. 
    “If you could be any animal in the world what would you be, Nate?” Alexa asks, mockingly. 
    Something that hides, I think. Something that scavenges, crawls around on its belly. A crab. I don’t say it aloud.  
    As much as I can’t stand him, I need David to stay with us and keep our number nine so I encourage him with an inquisitive nod.  
    “I guess a fox,” he says. “Maybe a wolf or something.” 
    Half of Alexa’s face is lit by the stars. I can see the green plankton glow reflected in her brown eyes. I follow the taut