chapter 1 A STORMY DISASTER Rain slammed into the window beside Gabe The van wallowed through another deep puddle sending Tyler tumbling from the seat beside him Gabe grabbed his best friend’s arm and hauled him back upright Michigan sure is rainy Gabe said We’re going to die Tyler wailed Just hang on Ben yelled back as he wrestled the van’s steering wheel If we can get to the top of this ridge I think we’ll be above the floodwater Gabe hugged his backpack tighter It held the camera they used to film the Discover Cryptids web episodes and a few survival supplies Sean leaned over the seat from behind The 4
rising floodwater may force the Waheela to head for higher ground as well That will mean we have less area to search So when we do get ahead of the flood Tyler said we’ll probably be eaten by a bear-wolf monster The legends say the Waheela doesn’t eat people Sean said Tyler huffed in relief That’s good It just bites their heads off What Pulling his backpack closer Gabe leaned forward to stare through the front windshield The van worked its way around a curve revealing water rushing across the road Ben slammed on the brakes but the van barely slowed as it slipped on the muddy road Instead it lumbered into the water like a hippo in a nature documentary and stopped For a moment the tires spun Then the motor quit 5
Ben Gabe shouted The water’s too deep Nothing I can do He unfastened his seat belt and turned around rapidly We’re going to have to have a go at it on foot Tyler grab some rope and put it in your backpack Can anyone get a phone signal here After some fumbling everyone reported the same thing No cell service 66
That’s what I was afraid of Ben said Sean stuff as many bottles of water as you can carry into your backpack Water Sean yelped Do you have any idea how much water weighs Ben didn’t reply He just gave Sean a scowl that sent the boy scrambling under the seats where the flats of water bottles were stored When everyone was ready Ben put down his window Rain pounded in We have to climb out the window Ben said The water is too far up the doors to open them I’m going to climb out so I can help you Each of you has
