The last four (subnovel but still canon)

"We know what happened," Andy replied quietly.

"No," Travon said. "We know what we saw. That's different."

Before Andy could answer, a new voice came from the back seat.

"He's right."

All three boys turned.

A girl sat behind Andy, wearing a dark jacket with the hood pushed back. Her black hair was damp from the rain, and a small silver recorder rested in her hand.

Andy stared at her.

"Who are you?"

"Leslie."

"That doesn't answer the question."

"It answers one of them."

Travon slowed the car. "How long have you been in here?"

"Since the gas station."

"We didn't stop at a gas station," Billy said.

Leslie looked at him.

"Yes, you did."

Billy shook his head. "We haven't stopped once."

"Then explain the receipt in your cup holder."

Travon glanced down.

A white receipt sat beside the gearshift. It was soaked through, although the inside of the car was dry.

Andy snatched it up.

The printed date was tomorrow's date.

Underneath it were five items.

Four bottles of water.

One black coffee.

At the bottom, someone had written a name by hand.

GRIM MERCER.

Andy crushed the receipt in his fist.

"Who told you about Grim?"

Leslie's expression changed.

Not into fear.

Into recognition.

"I knew him."

The car went silent.

Billy slowly raised his head. "You knew Grim?"

"Before he died."

Andy leaned toward her. "Then why have we never seen you before?"

"Because you weren't supposed to remember me."

The headlights flickered.

Once.

Twice.

Then the road ahead illuminated a wooden sign.

WELCOME TO BLACKRIDGE.

Beneath the town's name, someone had painted a second message in fresh red letters.

POPULATION: 4.

Travon hit the brakes.

The car stopped inches from the sign.

Andy stared at the number.

"Four," he whispered.

Billy counted them with a trembling finger.

"Me. You. Travon. Leslie."

Leslie didn't look at the sign.

She was staring through the windshield at something standing between the trees.

Something impossibly tall.

Its arms hung almost to its knees. Its head leaned sideways, as though it were trying to understand the shape of the car.

Then it raised one hand.

In its palm was a small object.

A silver recorder.

The same kind Leslie held.

Leslie's face drained of color.

"No," she whispered.

The creature stepped into the road.

For one brief second, the headlights caught its face.

It looked like Grim.

Not exactly. The features were stretched, the smile too wide, the eyes dark and empty. But the resemblance was unmistakable.

Andy stopped breathing.

Travon threw the car into reverse.

The creature didn't chase them.

It simply stood there, watching.

Then every phone in the car vibrated at once.

Four screens lit up.

The same message appeared on each.

FOUR ENTERED. THREE WILL LEAVE. ONE WAS NEVER ALIVE.

A second message appeared on Andy's screen.

It came from a contact he had deleted months ago.

GRIM MERCER.

The message contained only six words.

Andy, don't trust the girl.

Andy slowly turned toward Leslie.

She was already looking at his phone.

"I was wondering when he'd contact you," she said.

Outside, the creature smiled.

And somewhere deep inside Blackridge, a bell began to ring.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Then a fourth ring sounded.

A fifth followed.

Leslie grabbed Andy's arm.

"Whatever you do," she whispered, "don't let it ring six times."

The bell rang again.

Six.

Every light in Blackridge went out.

And from somewhere in the darkness, Grim's voice called their names.

One by one.

Starting with Leslie.

End of chapter one.