The Hollow by Kiersten Modglin

Author:Kiersten Modglin [Modglin, Kiersten]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

The sheriff concludes his search of the woods an hour later when the sky grows too dark to see. Jill comes by to tell us the news, along with the updates that he didn’t find the girl or any signs she’d been out there, and Daniel has spoken to everyone staying at the campground. Though a few people saw her around The Hollow in general, no one claims to have seen anything strange, and no one has spotted her since she left the swimming area last night, which means they’ll be searching for new leads.

The updates come just before our pizza arrives, and with the relief that there’s—at least—no bad news, I feel slightly better about trying to relax.

It’s past time for the office to be closed, so Jill tells us Sam’s going home, but she and Mom are going to stay with the girl’s mother while they try to work out what may have happened with her.

The disappearance is weighing hard on all of us, but maybe it’s the hardest on Jill, who just wants this place to be the magical escape it’s always been despite the fact that something seems to be fighting against this.

It’s Sam’s family’s land, but the burden falls on Jill to keep up the reputation, even if it’s never spoken aloud. I feel a sort of kinship with her as she tells us the news and asks us all to be safe and stay out of the woods tonight. The weight she feels is something the three men here will never understand.

Even as Dean, Tye, and Jack try to tell her it’s going to be okay, the girl will be found, and everything will work itself out, the fear she’s feeling is palpable. I know that whatever happens, she’ll be blamed in some way. And, unlike before, the community might not be so forgiving a second time.

When she leaves, we sit down at the kitchen table to eat the pizza Dean ordered.

“So, what’s going on with you two?” Dean asks, staring at Jack and me between bites.

“Nothing,” I say.

Tye, who’s already had a few drinks too many, is happy to fill him in. “Jack lied to her about meeting Alissa at the bar last night.”

Jack’s gaze is so sharp I don’t know how Tye doesn’t fall onto the floor gasping for breath. “I didn’t lie.”

“It doesn’t matter,” I say. “We’re moving on, and we’re fine.” I take another bite of my pizza. “Let’s talk about something else.”

“Like what I’m up to lately? How kind of you to ask.” Tye winks. “You’re looking at the principal, the head honcho, of our old school. Did you know that?”

“Unfortunately,” I answer without looking at him.

He visibly deflates. “Oh. You did?”

“I told her the other day,” Dean says.

“Couldn’t stop thinking about me, hmm?” Tye recovers quickly. “Hey, whatever happened to you two anyway?” He points between Jack and me. “Weren’t you, like, high school sweethearts?”

The three of us go deadly silent, but I’m the one who has to answer.

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