The news of the violent murder of the "Valentine's Day Killers" spread like wildfire, dominating conversations in every cafe, office, and hair salon in the city during the following days.
Fear transformed into a morbid relief.
The police spokesperson gave a televised press conference.
With a furrowed brow and a tone of righteousness, he declared before the microphones that the case was a clear example that "evil always ends up consuming itself", reminding citizens with an almost biblical solemnity that "justice may take time, but the arm of the law always arrives".
…
Lief, watching the clip on the news, merely let out a laugh loaded with disdain.
"What!? Are you going to Eden Lake this weekend?"
Lillith, sitting across from him, had let her fork drop with a deliberate clatter. Upon hearing Lief's plans, her lips pursed into an immediate pout, and a spark of whimsy shone in her eyes.
"Take me"
Lief sighed, placing his glass of water on the table with patience, "No way. It's a date, Lillith. A couple's date."
He gave her a soft tap on the forehead, "What are you supposed to do there? Play third wheel while staring at us? No, thanks."
"But..!" Lillith rubbed her forehead, changing tactics instantly. She puffed out her chest, adopting a posture of heroic indignation, "What if another bad guy appears? The woods are dangerous! I could protect you and Jennifer!"
Lief looked at her with an arched eyebrow.
"Yeah, right. You protecting us..." He leaned toward her, "What you want is to run around the woods and scare people, right? Forget it. You're staying here. You have a very important mission: watch the fort. Emma and Esther are staying with you."
Upon seeing herself exposed, Lillith deflated, sinking into her chair with a grunt of frustration.
Beside her, Emma was immersed in reading a thick, leather-bound tome: "Advanced Behavioral Psychology and Patterns of Human Empathy". She turned the pages with curiosity, ignoring the argument.
Esther, for her part, was eating her peas one by one, playing her role of good girl to perfection. However, Lief noticed how her eyes darted toward him from time to time and there was no fear in that look, but curiosity.
…
Saturday morning dawned with an electric blue sky, free of clouds.
After leaving "the zoo" in order, Lief brought out Fenrir.
Jennifer was already waiting for him. She was wearing tight jeans, combat boots, and a leather jacket that matched his. She climbed onto the back of the bike with agility.
"Hold on tight" Lief warned.
"Always" she replied, wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing her body against his back.
The engine roared so deeply that it vibrated in both their bones, and they shot out toward the highway.
The trip to Eden Lake was a liberation.
Venturing onto the winding roads that cut through the pine forests. The wind whistled against their helmets, and the landscape became a blur of greens and browns.
Jennifer rested her cheek against Lief's broad back, closing her eyes.
She could feel his every muscle working to control the motorcycle in the curves, the brute force contained beneath the jacket.
The sun warmed the leather, the air smelled of resin and freedom, and far from the oppressive bustle of the city, her spirits soared.
She leaned forward, shouting to make herself heard over the roar of the wind and the engine.
"Lief! Are we really going to camp by the lake tonight?"
Lief's voice resonated through the helmet communication system, "Of course. I've found a secluded spot, far from the tourist area. I have the tent, thermal sleeping bags, and real food, no cans. Everything is ready."
Hearing the confirmation, a wave of heat swept through Jennifer's body, much more intense than the midday sun.
The image of an isolated night by the dark lake, the sky bursting with stars above them, the sound of the water... and the two of them, completely alone. No interruptions....
She instinctively tightened her thighs against the motorcycle seat and against Lief's hips.
Her nature, mixed with her genuine love, reacted immediately.
She couldn't help it. Lately, the mere idea of being alone with Lief, the thought of his skin against hers, acted as an immediate physical trigger.
She tightened her embrace around Lief's waist, her hands slipping dangerously close to his crotch for a second before she controlled herself.
It's going to be a long night, she thought, biting her lip. And she planned to enjoy every second of it.
…
Meanwhile, a few kilometers back on the same road, a blue Ford sedan was heading toward the same destination.
Steve was in the driver's seat.
He was a guy with an angular and masculine face, a well-defined jaw, and light eyes, wearing a plaid shirt and aviator sunglasses.
He drove with excessive concentration, and his face was a legible map of nervousness mixed with a certain excitement.
Every time the road straightened out, his right hand would leave the steering wheel for a second to touch his pocket, compulsively checking that the small square velvet case was still there.
The engagement ring.
He had been saving for three months and rehearsing the speech in front of the mirror for two weeks.
In the passenger seat, Jenny, his college girlfriend, had her bare feet on the dashboard and was enjoying the scenery with total carefree abandon.
"Steve..." She turned down the music on the radio, watching through the window as the trees became increasingly dense, "Are you sure the GPS isn't playing a joke on us? I haven't seen anything other than pines and squirrels for twenty minutes..."
Steve let out a nervous laugh, "Of course, honey. Trust me," he said, shooting her a quick glance and a mysterious smile, "It was a nightmare finding this place. It's a virgin natural lake, off the usual tourist tracks..."
"It'll be a perfect world just for the two of us. I promise you this weekend is going to be something you'll remember for the rest of your life."
Jenny couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm. She leaned over and planted a loud kiss on his cheek.
"Okay, okay, you've convinced me. I'm already starting to get curious about that "big surprise" of yours."
After almost another hour of driving on dirt roads, both groups arrived at their destination almost simultaneously, although via slightly different access points.
Eden Lake lived up to its biblical name.
It was an impressive body of water, hidden like a secret jewel in the valley. The water was so clear it looked like liquid crystal, reflecting a deep and enchanting emerald green hue under the midday sun.
A dense forest of conifers surrounded the shore like a green wall, isolating the place from the rest of the world.
Except for the occasional bird song or the splash of a jumping fish, the silence was absolute.
It was that kind of overwhelming beauty that looks like paradise... or the perfect trap.
In a clearing near the shore, Fenrir came to a stop.
Lief turned off the engine and the roar of the mechanical beast died, letting the peace of the place envelop them.
He took off his helmet, shaking his head to free his hair, and took a deep breath. The fresh air, charged with the aroma of pine resin, filled his lungs, cleansing the smog of the city.
Jennifer hopped off the bike and took off her leather jacket and stretched out, arching her back like a cat in the sun.
"My God, Lief!" she exclaimed, spinning around to take in the view, "This is beautiful! It looks like a postcard or a painting!"
"As long as you like it, the trip was worth it" Lief replied with a calm smile.
Without wasting time, he got to work and he wasn't going to do it like a normal camper.
He walked toward a flat and clear area near the water and with a thought, a high-end tent, spacious and modern, appeared already set up on the grass, as if it had always been there.
Then, he took out a red and white checkered picnic tablecloth and spread it out with a flick of his wrist.
"Time to eat."
This time, the manifestation was more impressive. Over the empty tablecloth, the air shimmered for a second and a banquet worthy of a king materialized.
There was a steaming golden roasted turkey, thick steaks smothered in a thick pepper sauce, salads of vibrant and fresh vegetables, a silver bucket with ice and a bottle of special vintage champagne, besides a tower of French desserts.
The aroma of the hot food, mixed with the forest air, was intoxicating.
Jennifer opened her eyes wide, looking at the display of luxury in the middle of nowhere. The demonstration, however trivial it might be, triggered her admiration (and her libido) once again.
"Master!" she shouted, throwing herself into his arms with force, almost knocking him over, "You are really incredible! How can you make everything so perfect?"
She wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a kiss full of emotion and hunger on him, savoring not only the promise of the food…
Just when both were about to toast, the sound of tires braking announced the arrival of new visitors.
The blue Ford that had been traveling the same road as them appeared, advancing slowly until stopping at a respectful but visible distance.
From the car got out the young couple that was looking for their perfect weekend.
Steve came out first, stretching his legs. Jenny, for her part, got out from the passenger side with a kind and genuine smile. She had that warm and patient air typical of a kindergarten teacher, absorbing the beauty of the place with a sigh of satisfaction.
However, when their eyes landed on Lief's camp, both stood petrified for a second.
They didn't expect to see anyone else there, and much less did they expect to see that. The tent, the black futuristic motorcycle that looked like a spaceship and, above all, the absurd banquet…
Jenny blinked in surprise, but her manners took control.
"Hello!" she greeted, waving her hand kindly, "What a wonderful day for a picnic!"
Lief looked up, his expression was indecipherable behind the sunglasses, but he nodded politely.
"Hello"
Steve and Jenny got the hint about privacy and chose an open space a few hundred meters away, near the shore but far from Lief's "VIP zone".
They began to unload their gear, and the contrast was painful. While Lief had a portable palace, Steve struggled with a cheap tent and a styrofoam cooler full of sandwiches and soda cans.
But the peace of the place, that sacred tranquility that Steve had promised, had its minutes numbered.
First it was a vibration in the ground... Then, the distant hum of engines revved to the max... And finally, a roar of distorted music and open exhausts broke the forest's natural symphony.
Three modified dirt bikes, covered in mud and stickers, burst into the spot at full speed, skidding and kicking up a cloud of dust that dirtied the air.
They were six kids, who couldn't be more than seventeen years old, but they emanated dangerous vibes.... They wore ripped jeans, sleeveless shirts with skulls, and an attitude of "the world owes us something".
They parked the bikes any which way, but didn't turn off the music. The portable speakers tied to the handlebars kept spitting out powerful bass that made even the lake water vibrate.
They took out packs of beer and started drinking, throwing empty cans on the ground and shouting, claiming the space as if it were theirs.
The leader of the group was unmistakable.
A blond boy named Brett, a teenager with straight-cut bangs, a square face, and an intense gaze. He walked with arrogance, enjoying the discomfort his presence caused.
And next to his bike, there was something else.
A Rottweiler without a leash and without a collar, patrolling the place.
The dog began to run uncontrollably along the shore, sniffed the air and, attracted by the smell of food, ran directly toward Steve and Jenny's camp.
Jenny let out a small scream and backed away when the dog stuck its snout into her picnic basket. The dog snorted, despising the sandwiches, and then, with total indifference, walked over to the newly set up tent, lifted its hind leg, and urinated on the tent.
That was too much.
"Hey! Hey!" Steve jumped to his feet with his face red with indignation and embarrassment, "Get your damn dog away from here!"
Brett, who was opening a beer with his teeth, turned slowly.
A mocking smile appeared on his lips while he looked at the man with disdain.
"What's your problem, buddy?" he asked slurring his words, "Relax. My dog is just being sociable. He wants to make new friends, that's all."
"I don't want to be his friend and I don't want him peeing on my stuff" Steve replied, trying to keep his voice steady, "Put a leash on him and control him!"
"Oh?"
Brett let the beer bottle fall to the ground, and began walking toward Steve with slow steps.
His five friends followed him immediately, forming a pack behind the alpha, all with malicious smiles and clenched fists, smelling weakness.
Brett stopped a meter from Steve, looking him directly in the eyes.
"Are you telling me what I have to do, dad?" he whispered with disbelief, "This lake is public. It's not your backyard. My dog can piss wherever he feels like."
Jenny, feeling that the situation was about to explode, tugged gently on the sleeve of Steve's jacket.
"Steve, no..." she whispered, with eyes full of pleading, "Let it go."
Steve clenched his fists helplessly. He looked at Brett, then at the boys behind him who were waiting for an excuse to jump in, and finally at the dog that was baring its teeth at him.
He lowered his gaze and, with a humiliation that burned in his stomach, took a step back.
"Let's go" he muttered, starting to gather his things.
________
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