Green Mountain Trilogy by J.P. Choquette

Author:J.P. Choquette
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: supernatural, psychological suspense, suspense, rural suspense, thriller, thrillers, paranormal, occult, horror, gothic suspense, gothic mystery, New England, Vermont, mountains, nature, artist, thriller books, modern day suspense, historical suspense, supernatural suspense
Publisher: J.P. Choquette
Published: 2018-10-08T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

Addie’s heart slammed in her chest, her breaths came in gasps. She could feel the golden eyes pinning her, could hear the rasping, grating sound of claws on stones as that thing—whatever it was—caught up to her. She could almost hear the ragged breath of it in her wake. Feel its hot breath on her ankles ...

She purposefully slowed her stride, nowhere close to stopping but making each movement a little bit more focused and a little bit less frantic. That thing—whatever it was—was not coming after her. It was long gone. She used to tell the boys that when they were small. They’d be lying in the tent after dark, whispering about the strange sounds outside the thin nylon walls.

“What’s that, Mama?” Ben would ask her again and again.

“It’s probably just a raccoon or an opossum,” she’d say. “It’s already moved on, Ben. Try to go to sleep now.”

Her lips, parted now for more air, twisted slightly. God, how she wished Ben and Michael were here. Addie’s foot slipped on a damp stone and she went down on one knee. Pain radiated up the front of her thigh and she bit back a yell of pain and frustration. Part of her just wanted to stay on the ground, sit and rest for a few minutes. But she pushed herself upward, rubbing her knee and testing her weight on it gently. It was OK. She hadn’t broken anything.

Scrambling up the last few feet, Addie was once again on the lip of the ravine. She turned now; with her flashlight she scanned the area she’d just climbed. No hulking beast loomed, no creature with gold eyes stared back. Addie’s fingers were trembling as she pushed loose pieces of hair back behind her ears.

Then something clamped onto her right shoulder.

Dell had gotten back into the cave with seconds to spare. A torrential downpour had restarted outside. He stood, watching the rain for a few minutes. The food should stay dry, even with all the water cascading downward. He hadn’t gotten the pack quite as far from camp as he should have, but doubted a bear would seek it out in the storm.

A noise broke the relative quiet, coming from the back of the cave. He listened, willing the rain to be quiet. Nothing. Turning, he looked toward the fire and Maria. She still appeared to be sleeping, her head wedged up on a makeshift pillow—someone’s dry pair of extra pants. The firelight made shadows dance on the walls behind her.

Dell started toward the rear of the cave. She would be okay here for a few minutes. Just while he checked out the noise. He walked slowly, using a large branch that had been leaning on the wall of the cave as a walking stick. It helped. Gave him balance and felt good and heavy in his hand. In a pinch, he’d use it as a weapon.

What had happened to the gun? He always brought it along when he went on trips like this.

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