When they got to the house Mr. and Mrs. Price were in the living room, Milo was nowhere in sight.

"What the hell happened to her?" asked Mr. Price as he stared at Makenna's bloody limb.

"I think a baby gator got her," stated Rayna as she rushed to the kitchen.

"Hurry to our bathroom and grab the first aid kit Robert," Margot instructed. He rushed up the stairs immediately.

About a minute later he emerged with the kit and Margot got to work. She began cleaning the wound with sterile water and antiseptic wipes. As she wiped the wound a stinging pain ripped through Makenna's leg which caused her to winch in agony.

"It'll be alright babe," comforted Andrew as he took her hand in his.

"It burns," She flinched as Mrs. Price continued to wipe.

"That means the germs are dying," Andrew said. Makenna looked up at him and snickered.

"You are something else," she said with a smile.

"I'm gonna bandage the wound so that it doesn't get infected," Mrs. Price said as she began wrapping the leg with the elastic bandage.

"It's starting to feel a lot better," Makenna smiled at Mrs. Price.

"Good, you'll have to stay off it for at least two days."

"There goes half of my mini-vacation," she whined.

"Don't worry, your leg will feel much better come tomorrow," Mrs. Price said as she began placing the contents back into the first aid kit.

"I hope so," Makenna smiled. "I think I want to go lay down for a bit."

"Okay let's get you to our room," Andrew said.
He and Eric then acted as a crutch and carried her up the stairs to her room.

Rayna and her parents were left in the living room. Rayna had a worried look on her face that caught her mother's attention.

"What's the matter, child? "

"I think you know the answer to that, " she said vaguely.

"No I don't, do you wish to explain? "

"You know that a baby gator didn't do this because gators have never been seen in the Lagoon. I had to lie to my friends."

"You'll be doing far worse than lying soon, so keep your mouth shut, and let's do what we have to. We are months behind and it's all your fault," Mrs. Price said bitterly.

"How is it my fault?" Rayna said a little too loudly.

"Are you raising your voice at me?" she asked Rayna. She then began to walk slowly towards her.

"No ma'am, I'm not," Rayna said with her head slightly bowed.
Mr. Price just stood on the sidelines watching.

"Good, because remember I brought you into this world and I'm not afraid to take you out," she spat.

"Yes mother," Rayna bowed.

Just then Eric emerged from the stairs.

"Rayna, I think Makenna is developing a slight fever. Do you have any meds for that?"

Rayna eyed her mom before answering.

"Yeah, I'll check the medicine cabinet."

She then took Eric's hand and went up the steps.

"Robert dear, can you please come and help me with dinner," Mrs. Price said in a cheery voice.

"Yes dear," he said in a monotoned voice as he followed her into the kitchen.

Back upstairs Rayna and Eric found a bottle of paracetamol tablets. They brought it to Andrew and Makenna's room. Makenna was now wearing dry clothes and laying on the bed with her injured leg slightly elevated with a pillow. Andrew was sitting beside her singing a rendition of Peggy Lee's Fever.

🎶You give me fever, when you kiss me, fever when you hold me tight, Fever! In the morning, fever all through the night.🎶

"Are you serious," Eric said in disbelief.

"No Eric, it's cool. I think it's funny," laughed Makenna.
Rayna then walked over to her and place her hand on her forehead as she checked her temperature.

"Here take these," she said handing her two pills and a glass of water.

"Thank you," Makenna then swallowed the tablets and gulped down the water.

"You should get some rest now."

"I'll try."

"The pills will help with the fever and sleeping, don't worry," Rayna smiled.
She then rose from Makenna's side.

"Come on Eric, let's give them a little privacy."
They then exited the room and went to their room.

"I feel so bad about this," Rayna said as she dove onto her bed. She then rolled onto her back and let out a sigh.

"Bad about what?" Eric asked.

"I should've stayed away from the Lagoon."

"Don't beat yourself up. We all wanted to experience the lagoon. What happened was an accident. It's not your fault."

"Well, I still feel a bit of guilt."

"Let me kiss it away," Eric said as he pulled her close to him.

"I thought you said no hanky panky," she giggled.

"Just _kiss_ ing," he said between kisses.

"Hhmmm," Rayna moaned as the kiss deepens. They played tonsil hockey until they were both breathing heavily. Rayna pulled away as she tried to catch her breath.

"Let's stop," she said

"Yeah, but you are so irresistible."

"I know," she smirked, "I'm gonna go shower before dinner."
She then rose from the bed a walked into the bathroom.

Eric sighed into his hands then went back downstairs.
When he entered the living room he didn't see anyone. He smelled the aromas coming from the kitchen and decided to check it out.

When he entered he saw Mr. and Mrs. Price busy cooking away. They turned in his direction when he asked, "What's cooking?"

"It's a surprise," smiled Mrs. Price.

"It smells really good, I can't wait to try it ."

"Thank you," beamed Mrs. Price. "How is Makenna?"

"She seems okay. Probably sleeping by now."

"Good. Maybe she'll sleep off her fever."

"I hope so too."

"Well I think it's time you leave us to finish up here," Mr. Price said as he popped what looked like a casserole into the oven.

"You're right, I'll go see if I can find Milo. I haven't seen him all day."

"I'm sure he's around here somewhere," added Mrs. Price.

"He's probably in his room or outside making some sort of contraption," Mr. Price added

"I'll check outside."

Eric then went around the back and started looking for Milo. He wasn't there. He heard a loud bang as he walked along the side of the house. The sound came from the front of the house so he made his way there. When he got there he found Milo playing with a toy gun. He had a target board pinned to one of the palm trees that were at the entrance of the house.

"Whatcha doing there buddy?" he asked Milo.

Milo then run to his side and hugged his leg unexpectedly.

"You like hugging huh?"

Milo nodded with a smile beaming across his face.

"So do I," Eric said as he returned the hug.

"Wanna play?" Milo asked

"Yes sure."

Milo then handed him the gun and pointed at the target.

"Shoot," Milo blurted and it startled Eric a bit.
He did as he was told and pulled the trigger. The bullet came mere inches from hitting the bull's-eye.

"You are good," Milo commended

"Thanks, you're not bad yourself," Eric said as he looked at the spots where Milo had hit.
Milo's hands then dove into his pocket and pulled out a small bag that contained some gummy worms.

"Want some?" he offered to Eric.

"Um, sure," he said hesitantly. He took out a blue and yellow gummy worm and popped it into his mouth.

"I would've gotten the real worms but mama says I can't eat those anymore, so these are sub_ sub_ sub_li_toot," Milo stammered.

"You mean_substitute?"

"Yes, that word," He giggled.

"What do you mean by you can't eat the real worms anymore? Have you ever eaten them before?"

"Of course, all the time. But I can't go get them anymore. They are at the Lagoon," he said sadly.

"The Lagoon?" Eric asked as a feeling of fear washed over his body. His heart started to beat a little faster in his chest and his breathing a little labored.

"Yeah, where your friend got hurt. Is she okay?"

Eric swallowed before answering.

"Yeah, she's good,"

"Good. She's a meanie you know," Milo stated and Eric looked at him puzzled.

"Who, my friend?" he asked Milo.

"No silly. The lady who tried to pull her under."

"The lady?" Eric asked as he stood in disbelief.

"Yeah her, " Milo said pointing up at the house.
Eric almost crapped his pants when he followed Milo's finger to Rayna's bedroom window.
There stood in the window staring down at them creepily was the lady dressed entirely in black, with her wet hair hanging over her face.

"What the fu_," Eric breathed as he collapsed to the ground.

A/N: Hey y'all. I hope you are liking this story so far. Please be kind by leaving a vote and a comment. 🤗