Deep Woods

by Newbury, Helena

  As the sun disappeared and the moon rose, I led her forward. The bastard who’d trodden on her hand had been in a group of three and the other two were still ahead of us.

  We crept closer, Bethany moving as silently as I did. The other two had realized they’d lost their buddy and were calling for him. I raised my rifle and shot the first in the leg, the second in the arm. Given what they were involved in, I wouldn’t have had much problem with shooting them right through the heart. But wounding them would tie up more men to help them limp back to the helicopter. I grabbed their rifles, threw one far off into the bushes, and gave the other one to Bethany.

  Now there was no one in front of us. But watching through the trees, I saw another group of three behind us. Dammit. Beyond that, there was nothing: everyone else was either way behind or had spread off to the sides. There was an opening to escape, but we had to deal with these three first.

  The moon went behind a cloud and I heard the hunters cursing as they peered into the blackness. Maybe they’ll go a different way. I flattened myself against a tree and pulled Bethany hard against me, and we waited.

  A river lay to the east of us. I heard the hunters wander that way and my hopes rose, but then they turned and headed back towards us. The sound of the river muffled their footsteps and I wasn’t sure it was all of them, at first. Then they heard something move in the bushes and let off a flurry of shots, and I counted a rifle, a shotgun, and then the roar of an assault rifle. Three weapons. Three hunters. They were all moving straight towards us. My guts twisted. I’d have to ambush them, but this wasn’t the same as the first three, when I’d been creeping up from behind. We’d be face to face. I wasn’t sure I could take all three without them getting a shot off and in their panic, they might hit Bethany…

  I thought desperately. What I had to do was get her somewhere I knew she’d be safe. The sound of the river made me look that way and an idea started to form. I knew this part of the forest and what I needed was just a few minutes away.

  I led her to the river, keeping the hunters behind us. The river was only about ten feet across, but it ran along the bottom of a canyon, far too deep to climb down. And just a few hundred yards downstream, exactly where I remembered it, was a moss-covered log that formed a bridge across. It was the only way across the canyon for a few miles either way. And I knew all three hunters were behind us, on this side.

  “What’s the plan?” Bethany whispered.

  I hesitated. The last thing I wanted to do was lie to her. But I knew she’d never agree to it and I had to protect her.

  “We’re going across there,” I said, nodding at the log. “You go first.”

  She nodded and carefully sat down on the log, then inched her way across. When she was halfway, she looked back at me uncertainly.

  “Go on,” I told her. “I’m right behind you.”

  She nervously inched the rest of the way, then climbed off onto the opposite bank. She looked back at me in confusion. Then, when she saw me bend and pick up my end of the log, she went pale. “No!” she hissed. “What are you—”

  I heaved the log around and let it fall into the river. There was an almighty splash and I heard shouts of surprise from the hunters. Bethany stared at me, horrified and scared.

  “It’s okay,” I told her. “They’re all on my side and they can’t get across, now. You’re safe.”

  “Cal!” she begged.

  “I’ll come back for you, when I’ve dealt with them,” I told her. And then I ran, drawing them away from her. The last thing I saw was her agonized face, mouth open and pleading in a silent no.

  I prayed I was doing the right thing.

  52

  Cal

  I DREW THEM UPSTREAM, then found a fallen tree and lay flat on my belly, my rifle resting on the trunk. I went utterly still and waited for the first one to appear.

  I knew Bethany would be upset and probably angry. Well, that was fine. There’d be all the time in the world to deal with that, once we were in Canada. Hell, I’d buy her roses and chocolates. Or shoes, that’s what city girls went nuts for, right? She could be as pissed at me as she wanted, as long as she was safe.

  The first one showed himself a few seconds later, an easy target. But I waited until the second one was in view, too, so he wouldn’t have time to run. Then I fired two quick shots, hitting one in the shoulder and one in the hip. They fell to the ground screaming in pain and I waited for number three.

  And waited.

  And waited.

  I lay there, adrenaline pumping through my veins, finger on the trigger. Where the hell is the third one?

  I slowly rose and advanced, rifle up. I went over to the first hunter, who was rolling and cursing in pain, and kicked his rifle away. Then I approached the second.

  Shit. He was carrying a rifle and a shotgun. He must have been taking potshots with both of them. What I thought were three hunters behind us had only been two. But I’d seen three in the group. Where was the third?

  A rifle shot echoed through the trees and I spun to face where it came from. A fist clenched tight around my heart. I wanted to be wrong, but I knew I wasn’t.

  The shot had come from the far side of the river. One of the hunters must have crossed over before I sent Bethany over there. She was all alone with him. And, now that I’d pushed the log into the river, I couldn’t get to her. Oh Jesus, please no….

  I raced to the river and stood there panting, looking up and down its length, praying I’d see something, but it was just as I remembered it: there was no other bridge in sight.

  For three beats of my heart, I stood there frozen, staring into the darkness, going sick with fear. She needed me and I couldn’t get to her.

  Then I turned and started to run. But the nearest crossing was at least a few miles away.

  I wasn’t going to get to her in time.

  53

  Bethany

  I WATCHED CAL turn and sprint away into the trees and it was like having part of me torn away, leaving me raw and exposed. As his footsteps faded, it went eerily quiet. The woods seemed to expand around me and the feeling I’d had when I first arrived, of being tiny and lost in their vastness, came rushing back.

  Then I felt guilty for being scared. I was safe, thanks to him. He was the one who’d have to fight the hunters...alone. Icy fear sluiced through me and I stared at the last place I’d seen him, wishing him back. It was three against one. I knew how good Cal was, but what if one of the hunters got off a lucky shot? What if he got shot and I wasn’t there to help him? I wanted to scream at him, pummel him in the chest. Why? Why did you do this?

  But I knew why. He’d done it to protect me, just like he’d been doing right from the start. I’d be okay: I just had to do my part by not panicking and we’d be back together soon.

  I moved just far enough from the river that a hunter on the far bank wouldn’t see me. Then I found a fallen tree and sat down. After a moment, I thought to look in the backpack Cal had given me: everything had happened so fast at the cabin, I wasn’t sure what he’d put in there.

  I found a bottle of water, a flint and steel for starting fires, some energy bars, and a first aid kit. I pressed my lips together tight, my chest dissolving into warmth and then imploding into an aching, tight center. He’d made sure I could survive on my own. Not just the supplies, but what he’d taught me. He’d known there might come a time when we had to separate, when he sacrificed himself and I went on alone—

  Don’t think like that. He’d be back. Everything would be fine.

  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 l
eft, 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….

  Ahead of me, the branches became twigs and brushed the twigs of the branches of the trees on the other side, like two lovers leaning out from balconies and touching fingertips. The twigs wouldn’t support me. I’d climbed as far as I could. There was only one thing left to do.

  I grabbed a branch above me for balance and rose up to a crouch. The branch was slender enough that I had to put one foot in front of the other and even then, only the middle of my boots were in contact with the wood. The branch didn’t like the shift in weight. It creaked and the creak didn’t stop, building and rising. I hesitated for a second. I had to choose: fall to my stomach and shimmy back to safety or—

  I glanced down. The canyon was like an open mouth, ready to swallow me.

  But she needed me.

  I grunted, pushed off hard, and leaped. I flew through the air like the world’s heaviest, least agile monkey. The branch I was aiming for rushed up to meet me—

  And then passed me, rushing upwards as I fell. I’d missed it by six inches. I plummeted, crashing through leaves and twigs, frantically reaching for—

  My hands found a branch but it was too thin. It bent and then snapped and I tumbled again, swinging off to the side. My hands clawed at the air—

  My hip hit something solid and I bounced and then slithered past it, the bark lifting my shirt and drawing blood from my skin. Just as I passed it, I managed to hook an arm around it and—

  With a jolt and a creak, I stopped. I was dangling from one arm on the very lowest branch of the tree on the far side. I hauled myself up, got my legs onto the branch, and panted in relief. Then I crawled along it all the way to the trunk and finally I climbed down onto the far bank. As soon as my feet hit the ground, I was running, heading back along the river to where I’d left her. Hold on, I willed her. Hold on, Bethany, I’m coming.

  55

  Bethany

  HE WAS ALMOST ON ME. The problem was that I had to go slow to avoid making noise, but he could just push forward as fast as he liked. He might come from the city but he’d obviously done some hunting before because he was methodical, sweeping his rifle around to check a wide fan in front of him. I was pretty sure that he didn’t know I was there: he was just following a plan, or a hunch, checking this side of the river. But any second, I’d slip up and make a sound, and then he’d have me. Either he’d shoot into the trees and wound or kill me, or he’d hold me at gunpoint and call for the others. And then….

  The panic drained my strength and made my muscles weak and shaky. I was prey again, a mouse running for cover, feeling the chill of the hawk’s shadow. It can’t end like this. I was trying to breathe quietly but when I thought about him catching me, about them holding me down while they— My breathing went ragged and I blundered on with tears filling my eyes. This can’t be it. I was meant to have the same rights as them, they shouldn’t be able to do this—

  And then the rifle slung on my back bumped against me, reminding me it was there.

  I stopped and stood there, frozen. Then I slowly turned around and looked towards the rustling foliage behind me.

  No. No, Jesus, I couldn’t.

  But if I didn’t, he was going to— And this is why Cal had trained me. He’d known this might happen.

  It’s murder. I hadn’t even been able to shoot a deer.

  I unslung the rifle and held it in numb fingers. What he was going to do to me, he’d already done to other women. He’d do it again and again. Him and men like him, the club...they’d been doing this for hundreds of years. They’d keep doing it...unless someone stopped them.

  I crept over to a tree and got behind it, leaning out just enough to see. I went through the steps Cal had taught me, checking the rifle was loaded, taking the safety off. As if I was shooting at a paper target. It didn’t feel real.

  I pushed the stock against my shoulder and squinted down the sights. Found the place where the branches were rustling, glimpsed a shadow beyond them. Another breath and the shadow became a figure. Another breath and the figure was a man, creeping towards me, and suddenly it was real, I was aiming at a living, breathing person and oh God, I couldn’t. The sights wavered as my hands shook, tracing a path between his collarbone and his navel. Drops of sweat were running down my forehead and
into my eyes, making them sting. No. No, I can’t do this. I imagined the bullet punching into him, ripping into flesh and bone. My finger flinched away from the trigger. I can’t.

  Then I thought of the other women at the mansion. The nine others going to Russia with Ralavich plus however many were there for the other men to “enjoy.” All the other women in call centers and warehouses who’d get into a black Mercedes on the promise of a better job and awaken to marble floors and chandeliers and a pack of hungry men who were too powerful to stop. If I got to Canada, I might be able to help them. But only if I escaped.

  The sights steadied. He was so close, now, I could see the thread pattern on his camouflage coveralls. My finger found the trigger. I took a deep breath—

  The attorney flew sideways through the air as if he’d been hit by a truck. Except it wasn’t a truck that had hit him. Cal had charged in from the side and slammed into him, taking him right off his feet. They crashed to the ground together, the attorney general’s rifle clattering to the ground. My whole body wilted in relief.

  That’s when the attorney general pulled out the knife.

  He was much smaller than Cal and nowhere near as strong, but they’d rolled so that the attorney general was on top and Cal had to use both hands to force the blade away. And Cal’s rifle was still on his back, trapped awkwardly beneath him. I brought my rifle up again. But they were rolling and twisting around. What if I shot the wrong one? I cursed, lowered the rifle, and ran towards them.

  Any other time, the attorney general wouldn’t have stood a chance. But Cal was panting and heaving for breath: he must have run here, giving it everything he had. And the wound in his shoulder had weakened that arm. Meanwhile, the attorney general had the extra strength of a man fighting for his life. He was trying to force the knife down to Cal’s face and the blade was twitching and shaking as Cal’s strength failed—