Exit 202 by J. B. Arnold

Author:J. B. Arnold [Arnold, J. B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-10-14T16:00:00+00:00

27

A small game trail ran northwest along the slope, barely noticeable to the untrained eye. Decades of small mammals scurrying up and down the grade disturbed the fallen leaves and needles. David saw it first, glimpsing a flash of gray fur disappearing around a pine’s trunk. He thought it might help ease the agonizing pain in his ankle by following the thin path of hard-packed earth instead of the blanket of dead organic material.

He and his mother worked their way up it, supporting one another with laborious and painful strides. Lynn threw her arm around David’s waist, easing him upwards while grimacing and holding her side. He rested an arm along her shoulders, taking weight off the ankle as they moved forward.

A rock outcropping jutted through the forest floor near the top of the incline, reaching a dozen or more feet above. Once they reached it, Lynn stopped and leaned against the granite, taking long breaths. A natural shelf in the rock formation allowed David to sit next to her, resting his injury. There was no time to relax, though. Lynn’s eyes frantically scanned, searching for whatever was out there.

David sat and rubbed his ankle, exhaling slowly with each stroke. A grimace struck his face with each touch, regardless of how gentle he tried to be. Internally, he knew something was severely wrong, dislocation or fracture, and the pain did not outweigh the fear swirling within his mind.

Once her breathing slowed, Lynn glanced up at the morning sun, wondering how long and how far they had traveled. Direction seemed foreign as she dropped her eyes, looking around, wondering where they were and if they were getting closer to Micah and Will. Nothing but thick vegetation in all directions: oaks, pines, saplings, and the unfortunate rotting trees from centuries past. Damnit, Micah! Damnit! Where are you? How did you lose us?

Frustration and worry grew within her gut, not knowing their next move. How could they continue with an injured ankle and possibly broken ribs? Where were they going? How long would it take for someone to find them, confront them, harm them? Could she protect her son if Clyde came at her?

She halted her brooding thoughts and questions and looked at David, feeling empathy and anger simultaneously. This was wrong. This vacation was supposed to be their chance for renewal, absolution for past sins. Forgiveness, even. How did it come to this?

The anger intensified as she watched her son, but she couldn’t subdue the feeling. She had to be strong. She couldn’t allow the stress and anxiety to control her behavior and actions. A facade was needed to conceal how badly she was hurt, scared, and panicked by each sound transmitted around her. Survival and sanity depended on it.

“David, can you keep going? I mean, can you make it a little farther, baby?”

David released his swollen ankle, eyes welled up from the pain, and addressed her. “Yeah … I think so, Mommy. It just hurts!” The last word elongated with a whimper.

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