"What on earth is this?"
Zoe examined the humanoid crocodile before her with curiosity, just as she was about to reach out and touch it.
A sudden voice from behind startled her.
"Mind your step, and don't touch it if you don't fancy being eaten by the crocodile folk."
Zoe whipped her head round to see a gaunt old man grinning at her with a chilling smile.
Assuming he was merely trying to frighten her, Zoe remained good-natured, merely frowning slightly as she asked, "Crocodile men? What are they? Like the legendary Bigfoot?"
"Bigfoot? Merely a bunch of savages playing at mysticism," the old man replied coldly. "The crocodile-man is the true master of these marshes. Every crocodile, even the dead ones, serves as its eyes and ears. Touch this crocodile skin, and it will sense you. Mark my words, it has a particular fondness for the flesh and blood of the young."
"I've heard such tales countless times from my grandfather. Only the crocodile head was replaced with a pig's head, a rabbit's head, a sheep's head, and the like."
Quini, who had somehow appeared beside him, spoke unconcernedly, even running his hand over the genuine crocodile skin covering the humanoid crocodile statue.
"I've touched it. Where is this crocodile man? I'd like to see him for myself."
The old man's face turned ashen, on the verge of cursing, when the bald man restrained him, offering an apologetic smile to the others. "Old John always likes to exaggerate things."
"I knew it," Quini said with a look of confirmation.
"But there is truth to it," the bald proprietor interjected. "Legend holds that a crocodile man did exist, devouring every soul in these parts. None of the inhabitants here today are the original natives."
"Including you, boss?" Ruboo approached, asking with a grin.
The bald proprietor replied earnestly, "Including me, including Old John, including everyone in Collinsburg."
"Never thought of moving? Living with the constant threat of a terrifying crocodile man?"
"Trust me, some things are more terrifying than death. Besides, the crocodile man hasn't been seen in years. We treat it as nothing more than a tale now. We've even leveraged the story to develop tourism, attracting young folk like yourselves to visit."
"A pity, as you can see, it's rather poorly done."
The bald proprietor chuckled wryly, then retrieved a leaflet from a nearby shelf and handed it to Ruboo.
"Grimm's Haunted House—legend has it this is where the crocodile man originated. It even details how he transformed from human to crocodile. Used to charge admission, but now you can wander in whenever you like."
Seeing Ruboo and his companions eyeing the leaflet, he grinned and added, "Since you've taken a wrong turn, why not give this place a look? After all, sightseeing is sightseeing wherever you go. This spot has its own swamps and crocodiles too."
"A haunted house? The home of the crocodile man? Let's go then," said Queenie eagerly.
Ever since Madison had been constantly boasting to him lately about how she'd fought off evil spirits and how formidable she was, Quini, unwilling to be outdone, had also developed an interest in such matters.
Zoe was also itching to give it a go.
Observing the girls' expressions, Ruboo couldn't help but feel their current predicament mirrored those Hollywood films where young people go on wilderness holidays and repeatedly court disaster. Nevertheless, he nodded in agreement.
After all, they'd managed to get away for a bit of fun. If they took a wrong turn, they couldn't spend most of their time rushing back.
As for the danger, Ruboo glanced at the equipment beside him and chuckled.
"Boss, how do we get to Grimm's Haunted House?" he nodded and inquired.
The bald proprietor promptly sketched out a route diagram with enthusiastic precision.
...
Outside the petrol station.
Madison, decked out in a trendy outfit of a halter-neck top, hot pants, cap, and sunglasses, raised her phone and waved it around.
"What bloody place is this? The signal's rubbish."
Madison, who'd intended to post a few flattering selfies on Facebook to appease her dwindling fanbase, dropped her phone in frustration and muttered under her breath.
"Hey, lovely, on your own?" A man with a horse-like face, sweating profusely and carrying a toolbox, whistled as he passed by, flashing his yellow teeth in a flirtatious manner.
Madison glanced at the man, gave him a dismissive look, and didn't even bother to reply, instead returning to her phone.
Such low-calibre human males were utterly not her type.
"Bloody hell!"
Unfazed, the man with the horse face grew even more animated, about to lean in closer, when the shop door swung open. The bald-headed proprietor and Ruboo's group emerged.
The man with the horse-like face halted abruptly, gave a regretful twitch of his mouth, and swiftly departed.
Meanwhile, after bidding farewell to the bald-headed proprietor, Ruboo and his companions reunited with Madison and returned to the vehicle.
"Today's destination has changed at short notice," Ruboo said, handing Madison the flyer—the only one unaware of the plan. "We'll explore this place first and camp nearby."
"Grimmly's Haunted House?"
Madison blinked in disbelief, her mind flashing back to that afternoon exploring New Orleans' haunted haunts with Ruboo.
She scanned further down, where the leaflet recounted a hackneyed tale of romantic horror.
The only real twist, perhaps, was that the leads were biological siblings.
"The Bawting siblings lived carefree in the depths of the swamp, raising their family. Until one day, a legendary giant alligator—far larger than any ordinary crocodile—attacked them, devouring the sister and the child she carried."
Grimmley flew into a rage, charging deep into the marshes to battle a colossal crocodile. He devoured its flesh raw, swallowing even the undigested remains of his sister. Bloody hell, how revolting!
"So that's the story? The protagonist who devoured the crocodile mutates into a crocodile-man, becoming a bloodthirsty legend craving brides?"
Madison tossed the flyer aside with disdain. "Such a hackneyed tale would be a complete financial disaster if made into a Hollywood film."
"I find it rather compelling," Zoe said, sounding a little unsure of herself.
Madison turned back, her expression solemn. "Trust me, Zoe. If you were a producer, you'd lose your shirt."
Zoe: "..."
"Right then," Ruboo interjected. "Let's just treat it as a visit to a historic building—it won't take long. The owner mentioned there are intact wooden boats nearby. We could paddle out into the marshes for a bit of fun. That was our original plan anyway."
"Fair enough."
With that, Madison relented.
The four of them set off in the car, following the route the owner had given them towards Grimm's Haunted House.
...
Back at the petrol station, the bald owner watched Ruboo's group drive off before returning to his ledger.
The man with the horse-like face who had earlier approached Madison now entered, asking with a mix of respect and anticipation, "Boss, are those chaps the new sacrificial offerings?"
The bald proprietor maintained his affable expression. "They've been most fortunate."
The man with the horse-like face immediately brightened. "Indeed! It is their supreme honour. Shall I go and gather the others?"
"Go on then. Blood is blood."
"Blood is blood!"