The Excursion by T. O. Paine

Author:T. O. Paine
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dark Swallow Books
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

CHARLY

I learned to choose my battles a long time ago. Fight or flight. When I was in my teens, I ran away from Jacob. The responsibility. I couldn’t care for him, and I didn’t believe his autism was real, but I was wrong. I should have stayed with him. I should have fought to take care of him. Knowing when to run and when to fight can make all the difference in a person’s life, and right now, I’m fighting not to cough.

I don’t know how much longer Tyler can cover for me. Every time I cough, he coughs.

Randall isn’t buying it. He’s pointing his gun at Tyler.

Slowly, I slide farther behind the kayak so Randall can’t see me, but he can still hear me.

Cough.

Fight or flight.

Cough.

I can’t take him on. He’s too large. His hands are monstrous.

I can’t run, either. He’s blocking the door.

The situation has seized me. Frozen me. I had sensed Randall was evil—Jacob had said so from the beginning—but locking Cam and Tyler in a cage? Who thinks they can get away with something like that? It’s so cruel, especially with no heat in the boathouse. I saw plenty of cruelty when I lived on the streets, but this goes deep. It’s premeditated.

Randall is more than evil.

He’s psychotic.

I’ve got to get Tyler and Cam out of that cage, wake up Jacob, and run.

I’ve got to take flight.

The tickle in my throat returns.

I cough.

Tyler covers his mouth and coughs.

Randall glares at him.

“I’m getting sick,” Tyler says.

“I’m getting sick,” Randall says in a whiny voice. “I’m getting sick.” He lowers his gun.

“Let us out,” Cam says.

“Let us out.” Randall mocks. “Let us out.”

Tyler coughs again.

I hold my breath.

Randall stows his gun in his pocket and steps outside the cabin. Gazes up at the sky. “Getting sick is the least of your worries. You should be concerned with getting some sleep. You’re going to need it later.”

“Wait,” Tyler says. “Don’t go. We need a heater. We’re going to freeze to death.”

“You have a blanket. I think you’ll survive.” Randall flips the light switch and closes the door behind him. His shadow moves past the frosted window.

He’s gone.

“You’ve got to go for help.” Tyler sounds weak.

“How?” Cam asks. “We’re locked in a cage.”

“Quiet,” I say. “Let’s make sure he’s gone.”

“Who’s there?” Cam asks.

I turn the flashlight on and come out from behind the kayak.

“Charly. How’d you—”

“Are you okay, Cam?”

“No.” He puts his hand on his ribs. “He kicked the shit out of me.”

I hurry around the cage to the boathouse door.

I pause.

I listen.

I look out the window.

“Get us out of here,” Cam begs.

“She can’t,” Tyler says. “There’s no way to open the cage.”

“Shh.” I twist the doorknob and slowly open the door. Randall’s tracks lead toward the cabin and disappear in the darkness beneath the deck. “Okay. We’re good.”

“Close the door.” Tyler sits there, shivering.

I check, but there’s no way to lock the boathouse from the inside because I broke the latch when I came in earlier.

I go to the cage.

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