Chapter 19
Nineteen
Head thumping and ears ringing, Zoe Carpenter froze, too afraid to move or open her eyes.
She’d lost consciousness and he’d moved her, and she rested on something hard.
Her throbbing cheek pressed against cold metal, but she’d survived.
She sucked in air between swollen lips and gasped at the sharp pain in her ribs.
The residue from the gaffer tape stuck on her cheeks, collecting strands of her hair.
She tried to lick her dry lips but her mouth held no moisture.
All around her the air tasted stale, tainted with the smell of death.
She opened her eyes a crack and peered between her eyelashes but all she could see was a wall in front of her face.
Panic gripped her. The thought of being buried alive terrified her.
Agony shot through muscles as she lifted one hand.
The ropes he’d used to tie her were gone.
Her heart pounded in her ears and her breathing came out in ragged gasps.
Above her head, a thin line of light peeked through a gap.
She stared at it for a long time listening for footsteps or someone coming.
Nothing.
With trembling fingers, she pushed herself onto one elbow.
Every movement hurt and dizziness made her stomach threaten to spew.
Gingerly, she pushed the lid open and stared at the cabin some yards away.
She listened to the sounds of the forest as she scanned the area.
No truck sat out front. She crawled out, dragging one knee and then the other over the edge of the metallic box.
A cool breeze bit deep into her bare skin, raising goosebumps.
She shivered and dragged herself painfully to her feet.
Swaying, she kept one eye on the front door of the cabin.
She couldn’t tell if he was inside and she wouldn’t risk finding out.
Taking small deliberate steps, she made it to the tree line and leaned heavily against the rough bark.
The world tilted, threatening to make her fall, but she gripped tightly to the tree.
Cool air washed around her and her breath came out in a cloud of fog.
Using the dense pines for cover and support, she moved from one to the next, each step getting her farther away from the cabin.
Underfoot, small stones and pine needles cut deep into her flesh, and branches whipped against her already beaten body.
Constantly looking behind her, she pushed on.
She must keep going. He could be back in any moment.
She stumbled downhill and cried out in joy as a glistening river came into view.
She’d been told so many times never to drink creek water but she didn’t care.
Her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth and her body screamed for fluid.
She moved as fast as possible, gripping each tree as she went for support.
Finally, she made it to the sandy riverbank and fell to her knees at the edge of the clear mountain river.
Sun bathed her as she used her hands to scoop the water into her mouth.
Shivering and teeth chattering, Zoe splashed water over her face.
Lucidity came back in a rush, as if the water had renewed her.
The cool water had stung but soon eased her pain.
The need to wash away the stink of him overwhelmed her, she smelled as if she’d been lying next to a corpse.
Without thinking of the consequences, she crawled into the river and ducked under the flow.
The shock took her breath away and, gasping, she kneeled and quickly washed.
Clarity of mind came along with the freezing water.
As she made her way out of the river, her teeth chattered.
Zoe grabbed long bunches of dead grass to dry herself.
She stared at the bruises and bites on her arms and shook her head.
He must not find her—next time it would be instant death—but who could she trust?
She hadn’t seen his face. What if she ran into him?
Terror ran in shivers down her back and then a noise sent birds flocking into the sky.
“Arrrrrh.” A man’s cry followed by the slamming of something metal.
Horrified, Zoe stared into the dense forest. It was him, she just knew it.
He’d discovered her escape and now he’d be looking for her.
Sound traveled in the mountains but distorted with echoes.
Riddled with caves, the entire mountain range amplified and twisted sounds, but the crashing through the forest was unmistakable.
He’s coming. Heart pounding, she rushed out of the shadows.
She must keep going and trust no one. As warm sunlight bathed her body, she took note of the position of the sun.
It must be early morning and he’d easily find her in the hours before nightfall.
Panic gripped her, she needed to get away from him. Which way do I go?
She figured the man would have taken her to a remote place.
Somewhere no one would have heard her screaming, but many people lived in the forest and they all needed water.
Her only chance would be to follow the riverbank.
She needed to keep moving, keep warm, and find help.
The sound of cursing and branches cracking came closer.
Fear had her by the throat, and fighting the pain in her ribs, she staggered along the sandy riverbank.
It would be faster but a risk. In the open, he might be able to see her.
She turned and gasped at her footprints.
The trail would bring him right to her. Trembling with fear, she stamped back to the forest, hoping he’d see the footprints and move away from the river.
Moving as fast as possible through the trees, she circled back, climbed over a flat boulder, and slid down the other side and into the water’s edge.
Cold bit into her, stinging the cuts on her legs and arms, but anything would be better than him catching her.
Branches cracked and he sounded so close.
She sobbed in terror. Gasping for breath, she waded through the water, glad when a line of cottonwoods hid her.
As she followed a bend in the river, a cabin came into view.
Had she walked in a circle? What if this place belonged to the monster?
She shook her head. Think. I followed the river.
This isn’t his cabin. Using the rocks to prevent footprints, she moved closer and hid behind trees, watching.
Smoke curled from a chimney and a clothesline strung between two posts contained shirts and jeans.
Heart thundering in her chest, she moved closer.
Whoever lived there, could be friend or foe.
She must be close to the monster’s cabin and couldn’t risk asking for help.
Somewhere behind her, deep in the forest, she could still hear him, but fainter now.
Had he taken the bait and turned in a different direction?
Naked and shivering, she needed to get warm.
Creeping slowly step by step toward the clothesline, Zoe kept her attention fixed on the cabin door.
Trembling, she pulled down two flannel shirts and a pair of jeans.
They smelled of detergent and sunshine. As she clutched them to her chest, a dog barked inside.
Panic trembled down her legs as she bolted into the trees.
Behind her, the barking became frantic, something moved between the undergrowth, birds flew squawking into the sky.
She glanced behind her, waiting to see the monster burst out from the trees.
Ignoring the pain, Zoe kept running and the next moment a deer and fawn bounded past her, the whites of their eyes flashing in terror.
Behind them nothing stirred. Hurting all over and gasping, Zoe staggered to a halt holding her ribs.
Breathing with difficulty, she leaned heavily against a tree trying desperately to force air into her lungs.
She searched the forest behind her. The dog’s barks echoed through the forest and then a man’s voice shouted a command for the dog to be quiet.
She had no idea if the animal was locked away or free to roam.
It could be tracking her and she needed to keep moving.
Bending over, she swayed a little. The exertion made her giddy, and she took a few calming breaths to slow her heartrate and then listened.
Nothing.
Had the barking dog slowed the monster’s hunt for her?
Zoe had only a few seconds and dragged on the clothes.
The man who owned them must be tall and skinny but broad across the shoulders.
The shirt was too big but the jeans fit around her waist. She rolled up the sleeves of the shirt and the legs of the pants.
The warmth from the sun-heated clothes seeped into her freezing flesh as she stood and scanned the forest. Once the owner discovered his clothes were gone, he might order his dog to track her.
Being in the open posed a problem if the monster was hunting her down, but Zoe considered her options and then went back to the riverbank and headed downstream, walking in the freezing water to avoid the dog following her scent.
She kept going until the cabin was far behind her.
Exhausted, she headed back into the forest. The sound of cursing and branches cracking had stopped.
All she could hear was the birds and the splash of the river.
She needed to rest, even for a few minutes.
Searching around, she discovered a fallen log surrounded by bushes and long grass.
It was a place to hide, just for a few minutes.
She rolled beneath it, thankful to be alive, and pulled the branches over her.
Since leaving foster care, Zoe had spent her time working on ranches.
The work had been strenuous but she’d kept up with the men.
The hard labor had made her fit and healthy.
I can survive this. I’ve survived worse.
The man had beaten her, but he hadn’t killed her.
She’d rest for a time and then search for something to eat.
It was summer and she’d find something. It wasn’t the first time she’d been alone in the woods.
The monster had made a big mistake—the forest was her friend.
So tired, Zoe pulled the spare shirt over her like a blanket, curled into a ball, and closed her eyes.