Pearl by Freya Barker

Author:Freya Barker
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Freya Barker

Pearl

I wince when a branch snaps under Lee’s size thirteens behind me.

Luckily, the sound of rushing water should drown out any noise we make.

I’m sticking close to the shore, using the river for navigation. Even though there’s only about two hundred and fifty yards between campsites, it wouldn’t take much to get lost in the dark, dense forest. But aside from a few pesky mosquitos buzzing around my head, it’s been pretty easy going.

“Can’t be too far now,” Lee mumbles behind me.

He’s right, which is why I’ve had my eyes peeled for any light or glow coming from the trailer I know shouldn’t be too far away.

It’s still another minute or two before I see a brief flash of light reflecting off something shiny between the trees, maybe fifty feet or so up ahead.

“See that?” I whisper over my shoulder.

“Yeah. Probably the truck,” he returns in a low voice. “Doesn’t look like there are any other lights on.”

I inch my way forward until I can see the outline of the trailer on the other side of the parked truck. There don’t seem to be any lights on inside, and the only thing I hear is the rush of the river and my own rapid heartbeat.

From here it looks like the windows are covered but maybe there’s one on the other side, tucked up against the trees, I can see into.

I turn to signal Lee to stay put while I check things out, but he clearly had a similar thought. He’s already moving away from me, sticking close to the tree cover as he starts circling the clearing.

For a moment, I’m unsure whether to stay put and keep an eye on any movement from inside, or follow him. The first option would probably be the smart thing to do, but still, I find myself following his broad back through the woods.

As we round the trailer, I notice the blinds covering the window on this side don’t quite seem to reach all the way to the bottom. Once again, Lee beats me to it. He’s already approaching the trailer, his camera in his hand. He ducks his head, peering inside with the naked eye first, before he lifts up his camera.

The sound of the shutter closing—although faint—seems loud to my ears, but I remind myself it’s unlikely to be heard from inside the trailer. Still, I’m on pins and needles, waiting for him to finally back away, dropping the camera back around his neck.

“She’s in there,” he mouths when he reaches me, a grim look on his face.

Then he takes my arm, pivots me around, and with a nudge in the small of my back, prompts me to move. I don’t stop until we’re back on the other side of the clearing and at a safer distance.

“What did you see?” I whisper, but instead of answering, he hands me the camera.

“Not much until the infrared sensor kicked in,” he shares, indicating the small digital screen on the back of the unit.

It takes me a moment to orient myself and identify the lumpy covers on the bed as a human shape.

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