I brought the horse to a stop, unfolded the soaked map, and then nearly dropped my flashlight.
The ink had run.
I could barely make it out.
“No…” I pointed the flashlight at the details, trying to make some sense of it. When I turned it over to look at his notes, I could barely read anything. “Fuck me…” I held the flashlight close and tried to make sense of it. There were only a few words here and there. “He said there’s a forest to the east, hiding it from view…something like that. Something about rocks…” My heart started to race because I was fighting a different clock now.
I would freeze to death if I didn’t get to shelter soon.
It was pitch dark, so I couldn’t see. All I had was the compass he packed for me.
At least I knew what direction I was going.
“Let’s keep going this way and hope for some trees.” I folded the map and pointed the flashlight ahead so she would be able to see where she was going. The only sounds around us were the creepiness of the wind, the rustle of the grass and branches below her hooves, and the random neighs she would make.
My mind drifted back to Magnus.
They had obviously found him, and he was probably warm in his cabin. He probably already received medical attention. He was probably asleep…and alive. He would meet me in a few days. All I had to do was make it.
Then I could apologize for the horrendous thing I’d done.
And we could move on.
The horse slowed down when we made it into a line of trees.
“Okay, this has to be it…” She moved at a slow walk, her neck bobbing up and down with her progress. I shone the light into the trees and scanned the area, looking for the chateau where tolled the bell every morning.
We walked for a long time, but there wasn’t the same urgency anymore. Every time I looked behind me, there were no torches in my view. There were no more barks from the dogs hunting my scent. They must have reached the river and turned a different direction to continue their search.
That meant I got away.
I fucking did it.
I just had to get inside quickly.
I couldn’t feel my arms and legs, and I was shaking so violently that I could barely stay upright in the saddle.
And I was getting sleepy…so sleepy.
When fifteen minutes passed, I knew I wasn’t going to make it.
I could barely keep the lights on in my head. The flashlight drooped in my hand. My body started to slide.
Then she stopped.
It made my body jolt forward slightly, jerking me awake.
And there it was.
I lifted my flashlight and looked at the tall structure, the ancient architecture. “Oh my god…we fucking did it.” That rejuvenated me enough to guide the horse around the side, looking for the front door. Magnus had given me the keys, so I just had to find the way inside.
We moved to the front, and that was when I spotted the double doors of the entrance.
There were no lights on at all, not even landscape lights, so it was hidden in the darkness. “This is it…” I got off the horse, pulled out the keys, and then my hands shook as I inserted them into the lock. The flashlight stayed in my mouth so I could see what I was doing.
Then the lock came free.
I stilled for an instant, celebrating my victory while stunned by the accomplishment.
I opened the second door so the horse could come inside. “Come in…” I grabbed the reins and guided her into the chateau. It was freezing outside, and I didn’t want to leave her out there. If I tied her up, wolves would get her. And if I didn’t tie her up, she would get lost in the cold.
I immediately shed all my clothes because they were still soaking wet and cold, so they didn’t do anything for me anyway. My flashlight moved along the wall until I found the switch. I flipped it on, the foyer coming into sight.
It wasn’t what I expected.
It was made of stone, there were no pictures on the walls, no decorations. It felt abandoned.
I closed the doors behind us and locked them. Then I went into the kitchen and found a big pot on the stove. I filled it with water then carried it back to the horse. When I set it on the floor, she immediately started to drink like she was thirsty.
There was a large sitting area downstairs with old furniture, like something from the Victorian era. The window on the wall was colored stained glass, like something out of a church. A huge stone fireplace was below the windows, so I grabbed the matches from the saddle and lit the logs in it on fire.