I spun around.

Wolf stood in front of me. “Are you okay?”

I nodded. “Where were you?”

“Checking things out up here. Sorry it took me so long, I found the light on but no sign of your mom.” He reached his hand out to steady me. “Are you okay?”

I grabbed for his arm. “Listen it’s real…all of it. The curse, it’s real!” I clutched my throat trying to hold back a major coughing fit. “I just saw something so freaky in the kitchen, it sounds totally crazy but all these bird bones were like spinning around, spelling out that word Benny says…maudit…cursed or whatever.”

Wolf searched my eyes as if struggling whether or not to believe me. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s go sit by the fire.” Wolf gently took my arm and helped me down the steps.

When we reached the landing, panic reeled inside me. “I have to find the skull now!”

Wolf frowned. “You're in no shape to go anywhere—especially not at night in the swamp.”

“I have to!” I said. “I don't have a choice.”

“It's not safe. I won't allow you to get hurt.”

I folded my arms and shivered. “Well, it's not like it’s any safer in here.” Tears of frustration welled in my eyes. “Please, just get me your flashlight, before I chicken out.”

“This is insane, Dharma! It’s pitch black and raining. If it has to be done…then I’ll do it.”

“No,” I wheezed, my throat on fire. “It has to be me. Remember what Sassy said?”

Wolf nodded. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t help you.”

“Okay!” I yelled, my voice cracking. “I don't understand why you'd want to. I mean, most people would’ve bailed on me by now.”

Wolf turned away. “I have my reasons.”

“Like what?” I insisted.

Wolf walked to the living room window and peered outside. “It helps me forget stuff that happened in my life. And I guess I need to feel needed—for once. After my dad died, everything changed. I felt powerless, useless, and then Mom started treating me like I was a child. Instead of giving me comfort, it made me feel out of control. I started drinking hard and hanging with stoners. That’s one reason I took this job. So I could help her out and be a man. Grow up before I killed myself, or someone else. It’s what my dad would have wanted.”

“I'm sorry,” I said. “I mean about your dad. I've never even met mine but it’s still such a huge hole in my life.”

Wolf turned around, his eyes finding mine. “Whatever you have to do, I'll help you do it. But there's a limit. I won't let you kill yourself trying to find that stupid skull.”

“Fair enough,” I said, hobbling into the kitchen. I downed a bottle of water. The pain from my blistered throat spread into my ears. My legs felt like bags of wet sand, every single movement caused my muscles to scream—if I didn’t find that skull now, I’d never be able to.

Wolf clicked on the flashlight and led the way down the steps and into the backyard. We followed the weedy path leading to the pond. In the moonlight, the gnarled arms of Hangman’s Tree stretched out as if trying to strangle me. A rumbling bellow came from somewhere near, loud and alarming. My neck stiffened. The awful sound repeated, quieter this time, then repeated again and again, each time more distant, echoing into the dark refuge of the swamp.

“That’s a gator,” Wolf said. “Be careful.” He waved the flashlight over the weeds as we forged ahead. Rain stung our heads and dripped down our necks.

A rustle came from a stand of cattails near the pond. I froze. Wolf grabbed my arm protectively. To my right, something crashed in the shadows. He held the flashlight high, catching a flicker of gray. A raccoon sprang at me from the bushes, growling and hissing before disappearing into the night.

My heart ping-ponged against my ribcage. I closed my eyes, struggling to regain control, my nerves unraveling. Every movement—every sound—signaled tidal-waves of panic. The farther we walked, the more deceptive the ground became. Tangled clumps of grass hid traps of watery pits. We took cautious steps, letting our feet sink in the mud, searching for solid footing.

When we reached the pond, I peeled off my sweatshirt and stood shivering in the drizzling mist. “Give me the flashlight,” I said.

“Look, this is crazy. You don’t know what’s in that water.”

“If I don’t try—I’ll die anyhow.” I pulled the light from his hands, the beam skipped across the murky surface. In the shallows, something splashed, slithering through the bog. I swallowed hard, wincing at my raw throat. The constant drone of insects hummed in my ears. I slipped off my shoes and slogged into the water, sludge oozed between my toes, worming around my ankles. Standing still for several seconds, I filled my lungs with air, steadied myself and plunged into the slimy depths.

I aimed the light into the inky water. Every movement disturbed more debris, clouding my vision. I let my body sink, feeling the temperature of the water drop until I hit the bottom. Piles of sludgy bones lay in tangled heaps of green beneath my feet. Wedged under a thigh bone, I made out the top of a skull. My heart leapt. I yanked it free, wiping away the mud. No gold tooth. I cast it aside, lungs burning, and kicked to the surface. Gasping, I filled my lungs with air, preparing for another dive. My throat tightened. Maybe I’d never find it.

“Any luck?” Wolf yelled from shore.

“Not yet!” I croaked.

“It has to be near Hangman’s Tree,” Wolf yelled. “Unless the current took it someplace else.”

My pulse quickened. Wolf was right. The dark outline of the tree stood a few feet from me, dripping with Spanish moss. I plunged back into the bog, swimming past the pile of bones to the massive base of the old cypress. I stuck my fingers into the sand. Nothing. I rose to the surface for quick breath, dove again and continued to search. Next to the tree trunk, tangled roots cradled something in the sand. A skull! I pulled it from its muddy grave, brushing away long strings of algae and muck. Empty eye sockets glared. A golden front tooth protruded eerily. An angry chant hissed in my head, filling my ears with a foreign tongue. Clutching the skull under my arm, I kicked to the surface, lungs ready to burst, emerging under a sheet of hammering rain.

Something skimmed the bottom of my foot, I jerked it away, desperate to get to shore, but whatever it was circled my ankle, pulling me down. I gulped a deep breath before my head went under. Kicking hard, I fought to get away. The grip suddenly released. I exploded to the surface. Mouth wide, gulping a lungful of air, I struggled to make it to shore. The sounds of the bog surrounded me, disorienting me. Which way was it to the bank?

“Wolf!” I sputtered.

“Over here!”

I followed the sound of his voice and collapsed on the shore at his feet.

Wolf leaned over me. “Dharma! Are you all right?”

I could only nod as he gently picked me up and carried me to the house. I relaxed, riding in his strong arms, but I couldn’t wait to get rid of the nasty skull. I hated the way it felt in my hands—putrid and slimy.

Inside, Wolf set me on the kitchen floor and bolted the door. I wondered what he was trying to achieve. To keep something locked in or out? It really didn’t matter because the curse knew no boundaries. It attacked at random. My heart jumped, sending pain shooting across my chest. My mind raced. How can you fight something you can’t see, something cloaked in an invisible hideout? I took a deep breath, released it, searching desperately for that place deep inside where there was stillness. Where there was safety.

Wolf disappeared into the bathroom. Seconds later came the sound of rushing water. He returned and knelt at my side. “Your skin is like ice. I’m running you a bath. We need to get your body temperature back to normal. Do you think you can make it or do you want me to carry you?”

“I can do it,” I said.

Wolf helped me to my feet, snared his arm around my waist and guided me into the bathroom. He supported me as far as the edge of the tub before turning to leave, shutting the bathroom door behind him. I peeled off my stinking clothes and tossed them into the sink. At least this time I had a set of clean ones to change into.

I sank into the warm bath, letting the water soothe my aching body. I scrubbed my skin until I couldn’t move anymore, exhausted and consumed with worry. The bath had washed away the filth, but not the curse. My stomach plunged. I knew how awful I looked and it amazed me that Wolf still hadn’t abandoned me. It seemed strange how he didn’t hesitate to hang around, even after all the strange events. It was almost like he was waiting for something to happen, something to resolve.

I stepped out, dried off and slipped into my favorite sweats and tank top. I bent over to wrap a towel around my head when I felt something weird—a loose tooth near the tip of my tongue. A cold sweat broke out across the back of my neck. My legs trembled. I couldn’t stand to lose any more teeth! My heart jumped at the thought of having to wear dentures.

I hurried from the bathroom and into the kitchen. I found Mom’s weirdo willow bark pain reliever and took a double dose. I shuffled into the living room looking for Wolf. He sat in front of the hearth staring at the skull. He glanced at me when I came in, then leaped to his feet and took my elbow.

“I’m ready for bed,” I said. “Can you help me get up the stairs?”

“Sure,” he said. “But why don’t you just sleep down here where I can keep an eye on you.”

“Because I have to have the skull under my bed, remember? Down here there’s no bed, only a couch, and I’m not taking any chances. My throat is killing me. I’m getting weaker. Wolf, I’m scared. My whole life, I’ve taken care of myself and Benny. What will happen to my brother if I die?”

Wolf grabbed my shoulders. “Don’t talk like that. We’re gonna beat this thing. Whatever it is.” He snatched the skull, tucked it under his arm, and bent down. “Get on my back and I’ll give you a ride.”

I hesitated. “What if I'm too heavy?”

Wolf laughed. “You're far from heavy, Dharma. Look, you need to start trusting me. And you have to start trusting yourself. You are stronger than you think you are, and you’re braver than you know. Now hop on.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck, and collapsed against him. “Thanks,” I said, inhaling his woodsy scent.

Wolf labored up the steps, every muscle in his strong back flexing beneath me. At the landing, I slid off and hobbled down the hallway to the master bedroom.

“Good thing I made the bed last night,” Wolf said.

“You did? Wow, thanks.”

“I had to have something to do while you were sleeping.”

He pulled back the blankets and held them up so I could climb into the soft bed. Wolf got on his knees and slid the skull underneath the creaky springs.

“You sure you’re going to be okay up here?”

“I hope so,” I said. “At this point, nothing matters but sleep, even if I don’t wake up.”

“Are you sure about that?” Wolf said. He gazed into my eyes and leaned in close, his lips almost touching my forehead. My heart skipped. For a moment, I thought he was going to kiss me, but instead he placed a hand against my cheek.

“You still feel like you have a fever. No wonder, with everything you've been through.” He pulled away. “I’m going to camp right outside the door. Call me if you need anything.”

“Thanks,” I said. It felt good knowing he would be so close. I couldn’t blame him for not kissing me. My heart sank, I'm sure I looked totally gross. I closed my eyes, listening to his hollow footsteps as he walked away.

Every sound set my nerves on edge—the howling wind, the rattling shutters, the clatter of pipes, a weird scraping outside my window. Then I heard another noise. A different kind of noise. Low. Raspy. I strained to hear against the wind, and held my breath. The eerie sound stuttered in the darkness.

Heavy, mucus-filled breathing.

Coming from under the bed.