Ends of the Earth

Not a grizzly. A voice.

“…God damn.” Over the white water’s drone, a man swore faintly. “Motherfuck.”

Ben had to wrap his arms around Jason from behind, holding him back from barreling onward. Jason’s chest heaved, and Ben whispered in his ear.

“Be smart. Breathe.” Ben’s heart pounded, and he imagined he could hear the drum of Jason’s as well in a terrible, terrified unison. They were pressed close, and Ben calmed his own breathing until Jason followed suit, quivering in his arms.

Jason mumbled, “Okay. Slowly.”

“Slowly,” Ben agreed. “Follow my lead.” Not that he knew what the fuck he was doing, but Jason was all raw emotion and the deep, instinctual desperation imprinted into a parent’s DNA when their child was in danger.

They veered to the right to approach at a distance. Ben slipped off his pack and crept through the trees. Tension radiated off Jason in waves, but there was nothing Ben could say to calm him at this point. Ben just prayed that Maggie was there. That she wasn’t hurt.

He couldn’t believe they’d actually found Brown. Blood thundered in his ears as loud as the white water, and his heart was going to shatter his ribcage. He forced an inhalation and exhalation.

A dilapidated lean-to lay ahead, and Brown suddenly walked into view on one side of it. Jason stared with wide eyes, vibrating but not charging forward, looking to Ben instead.

What am I supposed to do?

Jason and Maggie needed him. They needed him to be strong. To take charge. He could do this. He could do this for them.

He and Jason crept forward, and Ben’s breath lodged in his throat, cold sweat on his neck as he readied the rifle, Brown out of sight again. No sign of Maggie, but one thing at a time.

Another curse rang out, louder this time. Go, go, go! Ben lunged into the clearing, the rifle jammed into his shoulder, barrel up, twigs snapping under his feet. Brown rounded the lean-to with his handgun raised.

“We just want the girl,” Ben gritted out. Jason was in his peripheral vision, ready to explode.

A smile broke over Brown’s scruffy face. “Aw, Daddy to the rescue. Too bad you’re too late.”

The bottom of Ben’s stomach plummeted, and he tasted bile. Please, no. Please!

“Where is she?” Jason croaked.

“Went for a swim, I’m afraid. After I cut her little throat open a few miles back so I wouldn’t have to listen to her fucking questions no more.”

Grief shot through Ben like a snakebite, poison in his veins, and Jason staggered beside him.

“No!” Jason cried out. “No. You’re lying!”

“Why kill her now? You took her so you’d have a hostage when the police closed in.” Ben glanced around as if there’d be glaring evidence that Brown was lying. He had to be lying. Had to be. His throat burned with emotion, and he could only imagine Jason’s horror.

Harlan shrugged, spitting carelessly on the ground. “More trouble than she was worth after a while. Slowing me down. And shit, the mouth on her.” He sucked his teeth, eyeing Jason with a sneer. “Should have taught that little bitch some manners.”

Rage burned through Ben, and he pulled the trigger before he could think twice, clipping Harlan in the shoulder as the man dove behind the lean-to. Ben hauled Jason behind him and crouched.

Now the only thing that separated them from Brown was splintered wood and bark. Ben dared a look around the side by the river. There was no sign of Brown, but he did see a deflating raft.

“Looks like your boat sprung a leak, Harlan.”

Aside from the river rushing by, Ben couldn’t hear a thing. He waited, then dared another look, this time around the other side of the dilapidated structure. Fifty yards away, Brown disappeared into the forest. Ben sucked in a breath, but kept the rifle at his shoulder, eyes scanning the trees. As much as he wanted the bastard dead, Brown was far too dangerous to take on, and Ben was happy to leave him to the authorities.

The minutes ticked by with no movement. Birds chirped faintly over the rush of the river. A chipmunk scurried through the underbrush, Ben training his rifle in that direction until he saw the flash of white-striped tail. The forest went quiet again in the gray murk.

Beside him, Jason stared blankly, his eyes unfocused. Ben scanned the area again before slowly lowering his rifle. Brown would surely have gotten as far away as possible. It was just Ben and Jason now.

“Jason…” Ben’s voice sounded hoarse and distant to his own ears. “I’m so sorry.”

“She can’t be gone. It can’t be true. I…” Jason blinked, opening and closing his mouth. A wail escaped him. “I can’t.”

Then he collapsed in on himself, hunching forward as sobs racked his slim body. Ben watched helplessly, fighting his own tears. There were no words to make it better. Ben had failed, and all he could do was wrap Jason in his arms and pray for a miracle.