“How do you know it’s a rabbit?”
“First I heard it, but then I saw it. Briefly. It’s black with big ears.”
“Right. I keep forgetting you’re a Noc. Stay here.” I walk through the woods until I reach the bush Colt had been pointing at earlier. Sure enough there is a small trail moving in and out of the forests undergrowth. I set the snare nearby, placing old apple peels and an extra ripe banana at its center, then hurry back to Colt a good distance away.
“I’m glad you can forget what I am,” Colt whispers. “I wish I could.”
I keep my eye focused on the bush, my breathing even, and wait for a glimpse of the rabbit. “I’d give anything to have your abilities,” I say, my voice as low as his.
“You can’t mean that.”
“Maybe not, but I feel like such a burden to the rest of you. I know you all could travel a lot faster without me and Max.”
“But this isn’t about us. It’s about you.”
I don’t say anything else. The whole thing makes me uncomfortable. Colt is silent too, seemingly deep in thought.
At least ten minutes pass, and I’m considering walking back to camp. I can check the trap in a couple of hours or even in the morning. Usually my snares work quickly, but I’m in a new, unfamiliar area.
Just then a rabbit jumps out of the bush and sniffs the air. He waits a few minutes before hopping toward the snare. I hold my breath. Almost there.
“Got it!” Colt says.
I walk through the trees to the rabbit that is struggling to free itself from the wire around its neck. I pick it up gently and grimace. “I hate this part.”
Before thinking about it any further, I snap the rabbit’s neck. “Thank you,” I whisper.
Colt grips my arm suddenly, startling me.
“What is it?”
“Something’s coming.”
A breath catches in my lungs. “The Institute?”
He shakes his head. “I don’t think so. I don’t recognize the sound, but whatever it is, it’s big.”
“From where?”
He points to the left of us and slowly backs up. “It doesn’t sound human.”
“An animal probably. Could just be a deer.”
“Its steps are too heavy.”
“Mountain lion?” I hope that’s what it is because I don’t want to think of the alternative.
“I don’t think so. It’s heavier.”
“Come on. Let’s go,” I say, but a deep, throaty growl stops me. I know the sound.
“What is that?” Colt asks.
I scan the forest around us, but it’s too dark to see anything. It could be anywhere. Running is no longer an option, and the forest is too thick here for Colt to fly. A tree with lower limbs is about forty feet away. We should be able to climb it to get high enough away from the beast.
Maybe there’s a better option. To our side, closer than the tree, is a rocky face set into the side of a hill. There’s a thin crack we may fit into.
I whisper, “Slowly back up to the rocks, and whatever you do, don’t run.”
Colt does as I say, just as another growl rumbles through the forest. A shiver races up my spine and across my skin.
“Is that what I think it is?” Colt says.
Before I can answer, a grizzly bear stomps its way forward from a thick grove of trees and bushes. Over a century ago, the east coast only had to contend with black bears, but with the population decline and the ever-growing forests, grizzlies had expanded their territories all across the land.
Colt turns to run, but I take hold of his shirt. “Move slowly. There’s a crack in the rocks behind us.”
The grizzly bounds toward us until it’s twenty feet away. It rises up on its hind legs and lets out a monstrous roar that shakes every bone in my body.
We’re almost to the split in the rocks. Colt glances over his shoulder. “You go first,” he says.
I take one giant step back and attempt to squeeze through the narrow crevice. The jagged rocks scrape against my skin, but I keep moving as far as I can, which is only about five feet into the small opening.
Colt moves to follow me when the grizzly bear charges. Colt has just enough time to slide in next to me before the bear reaches the rocks. Its massive paw swipes into the crack, barely missing Colt’s leg. The bear smells terrible, almost as bad as the odor in the tunnels.
“I can’t believe this is really happening,” Colt says, his voice higher than normal. He lifts his leg to avoid another blow from the bear’s razor-sharp claws.
I want to offer some words of comfort, to tell him that the bear will go away soon enough, but there’s a growing pressure on my chest. The space is too tight, and I can’t breathe. My fingers claw at the rocks as if to break through them. I gasp for air, but my lungs feel like they’re closing off. My eyes close tight. My breathing is too quick, and my lips begin to tingle. I need to get out of here before I pass out.
“Hey,” Colt says. “Look at me.”
I barely hear him over the sound of my heartbeat drumming in my ears.
“Sage. Look at me,” his voice commands.
I open my eyes.
“Take deep, slow breaths. In and out.”
The bear roars again, vibrating the rocks, and I’m afraid the whole mountain will collapse on top of us.
I’m not sure how Colt does it in the tight space, but he finds my hand. He squeezes it tight. “You need to breathe. Relax. We’re going to get out of here.” He rubs my palm with his thumb. The touch is tender and for a moment I forget that I need air.
The bear snorts and swipes at the ground in front of the crevice, but after a few seconds, it turns and slowly saunters away. It glances back at us a few times until the trees and shrubs swallow the bear whole.
As soon as Colt’s sure the bear is gone, he steps out of the crevice, pulling me with him. I collapse to my knees and suck in as much oxygen as my lungs can handle.
Colt stands near me, eyeing the forest like he’s afraid the bear might return. “Are you all right?” he whispers down to me.
I wait until the tingling leaves my body before I answer in a quiet voice. “Sorry I panicked. I’m not one for small spaces.”
“I’ve noticed.”
I laugh uncomfortably, wishing he didn’t know that part of me. “You probably think I’m a coward.”
“Um, we just faced a bear. I would’ve run if it weren’t for you. As far as I’m concerned, you are the bravest person I know.”
“I wouldn’t say that.” Despite my shaky legs, I walk toward where the rabbit’s body lies in the grass and pick it up. Colt comes next to me; his hand, the one that had been holding mine, is balled tight, and I wonder how hard that must’ve been for him, touching me like that.
“My fear of tight spaces began when I was seven,” I say and head toward camp. “I fell into a crack in a cave near our home when I was out exploring. I was there for almost two days before my father found me.” I shove a branch out of my way. It’s almost completely dark now and the air has turned cold.
“I can’t imagine what that must’ve been like.” Colt walks beside me, oblivious to the cool air.
I shrug. “We all have fears to overcome.”
He doesn’t say anything, simply stares straight ahead. I rely on his good eyesight to guide us back to camp. When we arrive a fire burns brightly. Max runs up to me and takes my hand.
“I beat you,” Anthony says.
“Only because we were attacked by a bear.” Colt drops next to him on the ground.
Anthony’s eyes widen; fire reflects in their glassy surface. “A what?”
Jenna laughs. “That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all day!”
Colt ignores her and tells Anthony all about it. His version sounds much more exciting than what really happened. Thankfully, he doesn’t mention anything about me freaking out.
I smile and listen while I gut and skin the rabbit. Max watches intently, every step of the process. It’s
something he’s familiar with. Thirty minutes later everyone, including Jenna, is licking their fingers.
“That was delicious,” Colt says.
Anthony tosses a small bone into the fire. “Just like I remember.”
“Not bad,” Jenna says. “A little tough maybe.”
Colt leans over and looks at her. “Not bad? It was perfect.”
She shrugs. “I might’ve given a better review if there was more of it.”
Anthony laughs. A second later the rest of us join him. Even Max is smiling.
I lean back on my hands, warm and content. In just a few more days, we will reach New York City. My father will be there, I just know it; then we can put all of this behind us.
Jenna sits up, looking at her wristpad, and says, “Good news.”
“What is it?” Anthony asks.
“The Institute. They’ve called off the search.”
Colt stiffens and looks around as if he expects us to be surrounded. The forest is quiet except for the occasional popping of a dying fire.
Anthony holds his hand out. “Let me see.”
Jenna removes her wristpad and hands it to him. He reads something on its lit-up screen. “It’s true. Yesterday they searched Providence and when they found nothing, they called off the search. However, they did ask the authorities in all nearby cities to watch out for us.” He looks up. “We did it. We’re going to make it.”
Colt stands. “No way. It’s a trick. They know about Jenna’s tap into their security. I told you this would happen!”
Jenna kicks out her legs and leans back into a tree trunk. “You’re being paranoid as usual.”
Colt ignores her and turns to Anthony. “Come on, Anthony. You have to know this is a trick. We have to leave now.”
Anthony’s lips are pressed tight as if he’s thinking hard. “And go where? Whether it’s a trick or not, and I’m not saying it is, the only way we’re going to help these two is if we get them to New York City as quickly as possible.”
“Then let’s go now.”
Anthony looks at each of us then shakes his head. “We’ve already pushed hard today. Let’s get some rest and then we’ll leave early. If we go fast tomorrow and into the night, we’ll be there in two more days.”
I scoot Max next to me. “What about the Canine?”
“He’ll do what the Institute says. They’ll probably send him to different cities to see if he can pick up your scent. Don’t worry. Just get plenty of rest. You’re going to need it.” Anthony says all this, but the lines in his forehead are more prominent. He stirs the fire, lifting bits of ash into the air.
Colt kneels down next to Anthony, a pleading look in his eye. “I can fly. Take them out of here. One by one if I have to.”
“Your wing isn’t healed all the way for a flight like that. It will tear within the first ten miles and you know it.”
Colt straightens and looks away, every muscle in his body flexed tight. The fire’s flame casts moving shadows across his face. I don’t know what to believe. I want to believe Anthony is right and that we are safe, but Colt has a point. Why would the Institute give up so easily?
“No one worry,” Anthony says again but doesn’t make eye contact. There’s tension in the air, and it crowds the space between us.
“Come on, Max,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady to protect my thoughts. No one can know what my mind is suddenly spinning. It scares even me, but I can’t take any chances with Max’s life. “Let’s get you to bed.”
“You two can have the tent to yourself,” Jenna says. “I’m going to sleep out here.”
“Are you sure?”
She nods. “The Institute is finally off our backs. I’m going to relax by the fire and enjoy it.”
“You’re delusional, Jenna,” Colt says and walks off into the forest.
I take Max away from the tension and get him inside the tent. While he pulls on a sweatshirt, I look through Jenna’s belongings until I find what I’m looking for: my inactivated wristpad from when I was in the tunnels. I latch it around my arm and climb into the sleeping bag next to Max, my heart thumping within my chest.
“You’re going to be okay,” I whisper. “I promise. Soon you’ll be with Dad. Just remember that everything I do is to protect you.” I kiss him on the cheek and lie down, my breathing quickening. I don’t want to do this, but deep down I know Colt is right about the Institute, and the only way Max is going to be safe is if I’m far away from him. It’s the only way any of them will be safe.
As soon as Max is asleep, I sit up and check my pack. A sleeping bag, food for a few days, and a knife. There are also a couple of snares at the bottom. While I rearrange it to make room for water, I think of how me leaving will affect Max. Will he let the others help him? He and Colt have bonded, but I don’t know if that’s enough. I can only hope there’s a small part of him that will understand how right now I am his biggest threat.
A couple of hours pass. The air is cool, almost freezing, and it stings my skin. I peek outside the tent; the others are finally asleep. I feel around for my jacket, and tie it around my waist instead of pulling it on. I need the cold to keep me awake and force me to run faster.
I quietly slip my backpack over my shoulders and touch the screen of the wristpad. A soft glow lights its face, and I search for the option to only activate the GPS. In just a few seconds, a map projects onto the side of the tent, showing my location. I scan it briefly, making the decision to head west before I turn south to New York. Hopefully by the time I reach there, my father will have already taken Max far away.
My plan is to contact them later through my wristpad, after I figure out a way to get rid of the Canine. Until then, no one around me is safe.
The last thing I do before exiting the tent is scribble a short letter to Anthony, pleading that he deliver Max safely to my father. I thank him for everything and write that I hope I will see him soon. I consider writing a note to Colt, but for some reason the thought of saying goodbye to him causes an ache in my heart I’ve never felt before.
I fold up the note and place it on my pillow. Max’s hand lies next to it. I squeeze it gently, wishing things were different. Before I dwell on the “what ifs,” I leave the tent.
Hot coals are all that’s left of the fire, glowing a reddish-orange in a sea of black. Anthony and Jenna sleep next to it peacefully. I glance around looking for Colt. I find him on the other side of camp, sitting against a tree. His head is slumped forward. Again I feel the hurt.
Time to go.
I slip into the forest and only when I think I’m a safe distance away do I start running. My pace is quick but after thirty minutes I slow down. Not because I’m tired, but because I can’t see through the tears clouding my vision.
I am alone.
And as long as the Canine is after me, that’s how it has to be. I need to think of a way to stop him or this will be my life forever. I wonder if my father felt the same way all the weeks he was away from us. I feel sorry for him in that moment and wipe at my eyes. At least I’m in a world that is familiar.
When I expect dawn, it doesn’t come. The sun’s light is trapped behind dark clouds, further dampening my spirits. It’s going to rain. Wind tears through the trees, howling as it goes as if to warn the forest of the approaching storm.
I should find shelter but decide to press on. I need as much distance as I can get between Max and me. The others will be awake by now and notice that I’m gone. I worry how Max will react. Hopefully he will understand.
After almost an hour of walking, the rain, which began thirty minutes before, forces me to stop. I find the biggest tree I can and press myself against it while I rummage through my backpack, searching for a poncho. I find it at the bottom and carefully unfold the slick, thin material. It’s just big enough to cover me while I’m balled tight, arms wrapped around knees. I tuck the covering beneath my feet and behind my back, trapping me in a camouflaged, plastic cocoon.
I don’t th
ink about the deep ache in my gut, because if I do I know the feeling will spread to the rest of my body. The last thing I need is to feel hopeless.
Instead, I transport myself to another time. I imagine the sights, the sounds, the smells of my home in the woods. My mother is still alive. We are making an apple pie together while another cooks in the oven. The aroma of cinnamon fills the cabin and pours out the open window. It brings my father through the front door. He’s holding a folder overwhelmed with papers. Max is sleeping in a bassinet in the corner.
My reminiscence of better times seems to last forever. I don’t want it to end, but all of a sudden the poncho is torn off me, shattering my memories. I quickly stand and press myself to the tree trunk, but when I see who is standing in front of me, I slump back down.
“Did you really think I wouldn’t find you?” Colt asks. He’s completely drenched, and although the heavy downpour has slowed to a drizzle, I can tell by the patterns of moisture on his forehead and chest that most of it is sweat. His bare chest heaves up and down.
I shake my head. “What are you doing? Go back. Please. I need you to help Max. Besides, you know what’s going to happen if you stay with me.”
He squats down in front of me and hesitates briefly before taking my hands in his. They are surprisingly warm. He stares down at our hands, his brow furrowed. This is the second time he’s initiated physical contact with me. I wonder if that’s more than he’s done with anyone in his lifetime.
He looks up at me. “I get why you left, I do, but it wasn’t smart going alone.”
“I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Why?” He searches my eyes.
I’m not sure how to answer him. I barely know him, yet I can’t bear the thought of something bad happening to him. “You’ve already risked so much for Max and me, Anthony and Jenna, too. It is enough.”
He straightens and pulls me up with him. “I’ll tell you when it’s enough.”
“How is Max?”
“You mean when he found out his sister deserted him?” He must’ve seen my hurt expression because he quickly says, “I didn’t mean that, sorry. Honestly, he seemed to take it much better than I did. I think he knows he’ll see you again, but I wasn’t so sure.”
Escape to Eden Page 19
