To try to take my mind off it, I ate an energy bar and drank some of the water. I wished Rufus was there. I was glad he was safe, back at the cabin, but being out here without him felt wrong. Right now, ruffling his fur and feeling him push himself up against me would be very, very welcome—
A noise, off in the distance. I froze, listening. A rustle, as if someone had pushed through some undergrowth. What scared me, was, it had sounded like it came from off to the left, as if there was someone else on this side of the river. That’s impossible.
I sat there stock-still, listening. But there were no more sounds. I slowly relaxed. It must have been the wind, or a rabbit or a squirrel or—
The snap of a twig, definitely from the left, this time. I scrambled to my feet, stuffing everything back in the backpack and swinging it onto my back. Then I ducked behind a tree, putting it between me and the source of the sounds, and pressed myself to the trunk so hard I could feel my heart slamming. I stared into the darkness, willing the forest to remain still. Nothing happened for five seconds, ten. Maybe I was wrong….
A figure, moving slowly between the trees. A man, a rifle gripped in his hands. He was staying low, head swiveling to check in every direction...and he was creeping directly towards me.
I ducked back behind the tree. How? How is that possible?! Cal had said all three of them were on his side! I tried not to panic. I just had to stay ahead of him, cross back over the river and find Cal—
My stomach dropped as I remembered. The log over the river was gone. I was trapped over here...with him.
I peeked around the tree again. At first, I couldn’t see him. Then he appeared and my throat closed up in panic: he was so much closer! And this time, as the moonlight lit up his face, I recognized him. It was the attorney general.
I had to move. I had to move now. If I ran, he’d hear me. I had to move like Cal taught me, quick and silent.
I started moving, but it was much more difficult, in the dark. I couldn’t see where I was putting my feet. If I didn’t want to make a noise, I had to test the ground each time I put a foot down. And that slowed me.
I went as fast as I dared. But I could hear him gaining.
54
Cal
I WAS RUNNING flat-out, crashing through the undergrowth and ramming branches out of the way with my forearms. I didn’t care about making noise. In fact, I wanted to make noise, I wanted to draw the attention of the bastard on the other side of the river, make him focus on me instead of on Bethany. I was running close to the bank, hoping that he’d see me and start taking shots at me across the river. But there was no sign of him and that meant he must be deep in the trees. Hunting her.
I pushed myself even faster, my arms pumping and my thighs screaming. But the nearest crossing point was still a mile away and once I crossed, I’d have to run all the way back. I was going to be too late.
I made a decision and skidded to a stop. Then I stared at the river in breathless panic and tried to think.
It was way too wide to jump across. The canyon walls were too steep to climb. But some of the trees had branches that extended out over the water. Maybe…
I hunted around until I found what I was looking for: a cluster of trees where the branches from my side almost touched the branches from the other. The problem was, the trees around here were bigtooth maples and river birches. The trunks were sturdy enough but the branches were spindly. Fine for a kid, but I weigh close to two hundred pounds. I’m built for strength, not acrobatics.
But I didn’t have a choice. I swarmed up the trunk and started out along the thickest branch I could find. At first, it was fine. By the time I was over the edge of the canyon, though, it was starting to creak. I went full-length and hauled myself forward, trying to spread my weight. What I needed to do now was go slow, plan each move. But I couldn’t afford to go slow. Not when she was trapped over there with a hunter.
I climbed higher, and further out. I was making progress but the branches went from the thickness of my upper arm to the thickness of my wrist. They were bending under my weight and the creaks were constant, now. When I looked down, the canyon was a pitch-black void, right below me. If I fell now….