Chapter 32 #2
The two men are urgently arguing, though it sounds like it’s coming from another realm as I push and claw through the tangled branches, earning a sharp and painful scratch to my cheek for my efforts.
I tear through the last long and prickly vine on the other side and will my already half-spent energy to propel me toward the forest in a burst. But in a cruel twist of the universe, I glance over my shoulder to see that Henry is making quick work of pushing through the thicket, likely due to his broad strength and a trail I blazed for him.
I face forward again, trying to have tunnel vision toward the trees as I continue to bolt for them.
My breath is raking up and down my throat as the clump of heavy boots gets nearer. My heart sinks low in my chest, threatening to give out with each heavy footfall. The realization that he’s gaining on me rapidly has my mind spinning out and tears stinging my eyes.
This can’t be it. The moments of fear and terror that are sure to follow this man catching up to me can’t be all there is left.
Still, I push, one long vigorous stride at a time until he reaches me, and I stumble.
Grabbing hold of my arm, Henry grips with all his might, surely leaving a bruise and cutting off blood flow.
The pain of his grip sears through me, and I stumble again, nearly falling on my face.
He stops us, and though I continue to struggle, Henry stands still, his rifle in one hand and my arm in the other.
“Let go of me!” I shriek, the words tearing their way through my already raw throat. The way he just stands there, huffing and puffing while he merely catches his breath, enrages me and sends more panic up my spine.
Still trying to pull and yank myself free, I frantically look around, trying to take stock of my surroundings.
We’re not thirty paces from the tree line.
Riley is staggering over from the brush, swiping at his slacks and shirt sleeves.
“Let go of me!” I scream again before really belting from my diaphragm, giving it all I got.
“HELP!” It’s the only shot I have left. I draw in a breath to scream again, but Henry jacks his gun again, and the scream catches in my throat.
Riley is just smoothing out his hair again when he closes in, and Henry gives him a pointed look.
“She can be bought huh?” He tilts his chin at me, and Riley’s responding expression consists of falling features and a shroud of irritation clouding his eyes as he lets out a breath laced with frustration.
“Doesn’t look to me like she can be bought,” Henry continues, giving my arm a shake.
“Looks to me like she’s more interested in dying than taking any hush money or giving up her property. ”
“Henry, it’s over.” Riley’s jaw is tight as he growls out the words, trying to sound threatening despite what he lacks in size and muscle to the other man.
“Sorry, Boss.” Henry shakes his head. “I’m taking the cut you promised me.
And the only way that can happen is if we move forward with no loose ends.
Now let’s go.” He turns toward the woods, yanking me with him.
I hear Riley’s footsteps slow and reluctant behind us as I continue to fight every step of the way.
It doesn’t matter how hard I lean back or dig my heels in, Henry continues to wrangle me toward the trees.
Besides the river, the woods have always been one of my favorite places.
I’ve always lived with a full soul and grateful heart to have a safe home right in the heart of them.
But in this moment, I’m terrified of them, knowing I’m likely to meet my end among the majestic trunks and branches.
I pull in a desperate breath, trying to shift my mind to a place of comfort.
That maybe this is the best way to go, under this beautiful canopy.
Especially when I take one last glance out at the distant sky.
The backdrop beyond the river has turned a charcoal grey, which means if I don’t face certain death in the woods, then I’m certainly facing a storm.
As we pass through the first row of trees, I feel weak. My legs seem unable to hold me up anymore, and they give out. My body collapses to the ground though Henry still awkwardly grips my left arm.
“Get up!” he barks, giving my arm another painful shake, but my body only heaves in response as my head lolls forward.
“Henry.” Riley’s voice has a mild but noticeable tremor now. “This won’t end the way you?—”
“Shut up!” Henry bellows and releases my arm, which flops to my side, throbbing with both pain and relief. “Fuck it! Fuck you both. We’re enough out of view…” He trails off as the click of the rifle being cocked sounds.
In my peripheral vision, he stiffens right before a burst of movement sends him stumbling and shouting.
The sound of a menacing growl now fills the air, bouncing off the nearby trees.
I chance a look up—Henry is on the ground, rifle still braced in both hands as Velvet writhes and wriggles on top of him.
Her jaws are tugging the sleeve of his shirt as she shakes her head, growling deeper and gnashing her teeth.
Unable to just sit slumped on the ground, I push myself onto my hands and knees.
I don’t know what I expect to do, but as Henry grunts, jerking and twisting his body, Velvets teeth must make contact because he lets out a mounting scream of anguish that tears through the air before the gun goes off with a loud crack, splitting my eardrums.
Henry still screams as he rolls to his stomach, blood running down his shoulder, and Velvet scampers off, quickly disappearing into the trees.
A chaotic cyclone of thoughts rushes through my head but only one stands out: this half second is a gift. It’s no bigger than the gift of distraction I had back on the road when I ran from them, but I have to use it.
Pushing off on one foot, I bolt my weight forward, drawing myself back up into a sprint.
I know I don’t have much time before they gain on me, but I know I can’t go down without fighting to my last agonizing breath.
The forest flies past me as I run. I think I hear a rolling grumble in the distance, but I can’t be sure over my rapid footfalls and heaving breaths, and my brain won’t allow me to register the sound of thunder in this moment.
As the ravine widens and comes into view, my stomach turns cold: I’m on the opposite side of it than I want to be.
Clover Hill is on the other side, and it’s too steep here to cross over.
The end of it, where I can veer over into more familiar territory, feels like an eternity away.
The thick wall of trees and brush on my left keep me from being able to weave if that bastard decides to take another shot at me.
I hear clamor and bustling behind me, and my adrenaline tries to give me another kick when I realize this is a make-or-break moment. I have to make it to the end of the ravine, or it will be my end for sure. And I can’t look over my shoulder this time.
A loud crack rings out through the air, signaling that I’m losing my race.
My body jerks with the shock, making me stumble over an old tree root and disrupting my footing.
The next few moments are filled with alarm and hysteria as I try to regain my balance, only to loosen the dirt at the ravine’s edge.
The fateful step that rapidly unravels every inch of ground I’ve gained, sending me sliding with no purchase, no traction down the wall of the ravine.
The inside wall takes blows at my body, and my ankle curls under my weight, making a sharp pain shoot up my leg like a lightning bolt.
My lungs struggle to inflate as I continue to tumble hard against the unforgiving wall of packed dirt.
Pain and pressure diffuse through every limb, and I barely register the side of my head connecting with a hard surface before everything goes black.