Emma and Mark were quiet as she drove his truck back to town, both preoccupied with their own thoughts. Emma kept glancing down at the bracelet on her wrist, trying again and again to come up with a logical explanation for how it had gotten on her wrist and why she couldn’t get it off. Underneath the bracelet her skin was still tender from her attempts to get the bracelet off yesterday.
Then there was Jason. She wasn’t sure what to think about him. On one hand she was attracted to him but on the other there was a dangerous side to him that scared her. She thought of how he had looked when he had realized what Vince had done and she shivered.
Emma shook herself free of these thoughts and refocused on driving. They had just left Chris Miller’s house thirty minutes ago and were driving down a piece of road that was nicknamed The Stretch. It was a narrow forest road that wound and curved it’s way down the mountain with no houses or buildings of any sort. The only light Emma had to see by came from the moon and the truck’s headlights, which only illuminated the road twenty feet in front of the truck and a few feet of the forest.
There was nothing to see out there but a continuing road and a bunch of trees but Emma knew they were approaching the most infamous portion of The Stretch, Death Valley. Snake river, the largest river coming down out of the mountains, had a nasty reputation for having a vicious current that was almost impossible to survive. It had carved its way through the mountains in a deep ravine that was usually far away from every well-traveled road. Except at one point, Coffin Corner.
That wasn’t the official name for the sharp corner on the Stretch that was just twenty feet from the Snake River ravine but that’s what everyone at her school called it. Every few years someone took the corner too quickly and sent their car tumbling off the cliff and into the ravine. No one ever survived. Emma didn’t like this area and almost never drove through it if there was any way she could avoid it. To be honest, the place creeped her out, she got goose bumps every time she drove by it.
Emma refocused her gaze inside the truck. The cab of the truck was dark. The only light was from the stereo and it cast a blue glow on Emma and Mark, creating strange shadows on their faces. She couldn’t see Mark’s expression, his face was turned towards the window as he stared out at the night. He had one arm wrapped around his ribs, pressing the icepack against his side and she wondered if one of his ribs had been cracked. Vince had used his whole body when he kicked Mark. It would be a miracle if he didn’t.
“How are you feeling Mark?” Emma asked softly, hesitant to break the silence.
For a moment Mark said nothing, then he turned to look at her. From the stiff way he shifted it was clear he was in pain. “I’m fine.” He said simply. Then he gave her a small, tight smile. “I almost had him though, a few more seconds and I would have got him.”
Emma chuckled, “I know, I could see that.” She frowned slightly, chewing on her lower lip for a moment before she spoke again. “I’m sorry for getting you into this.” She whispered.
Mark looked over at her in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“I never should have asked you to go to that party with me. I didn’t belong there and now you’re hurt.” Emma said.
Mark shook his head. “Emma you can’t blame yourself for other people’s actions. It was my choice to come and it was my choice to stand up to Vince. You aren’t responsible for that.”
They were silent for a moment. The headlights reflected off of a series of orange signs indicating a sharp left turn ahead. They had reached Coffin Corner. Emma began slowing down, easing back from 50 mph to less than 30.
“Do you think any of your ribs are cracked?” She asked, turning the steering wheel to take the corner.
Mark laughed and waved off her concern. “It’s going to take a lot more than a little kick to the ribs to hurt me.” He said confidently. “Besides I…”
Mark’s next words were cut off as halfway through the corner there was a loud pop and the car jerked to the right. Emma slammed on the brakes and cranked the wheel to the left, trying to control the car but it was no use.
For a heart stopping moment she watched the truck head straight towards the steel railing along the side of the road and knew there was nothing she could do to stop it. Mark was yelling something but she couldn’t hear what he was saying, her brain was frozen in shock. Just before they hit the steel railing Mark jumped across her, shielding her with his body.
Emma didn’t see the impact. She only remembered a sharp jolt, then a moment of weightlessness before being tossed around. Her memory blacked out at that point. When Emma regained consciousness she was hanging upside down in the truck, her seat belt the only thing holding her in place. Blood pooled in Emma’s head, putting pressure on her brain and making her thoughts fuzzy.
She saw a giant hole in the windshield, red glistened on the edges of the jagged glass. A giant tree trunk crumpled in the hood. The truck must have hit the tree when it slid down the embankment. Emma blinked, trying to clear her thoughts. She looked over to see if Mark was okay but the seat next to her was empty. Emma’s thoughts began to spin and blackness rushed across her eyes, dragging her back into unconsciousness.
In the forest everything stood still. There was no movement in the woods, no sounds from the animals, the only sound was the hiss of the truck’s engine as steam billowed from under the crumpled hood. Mark lay face down on the ground, unmoving. Blood was smeared across his head, matting his hair into clumps. Another moment passed.
Suddenly Mark groaned. Slowly sliding his hands up next to his shoulders he carefully rolled over, grunting in pain when the movement sent a stab of pain through his chest. Looking down Mark saw a giant shard of glass sticking out of the right side of his chest. Gripping the shard in his hands, Mark took a deep breath and yanked it out, almost passing out again from the pain.
“Ouch, that looked like it hurt.”
The mocking voice came from a few feet to his left. Mark jerked around, shuffling backwards until his back was against the nearest tree, holding the shard in front of him like a weapon. Loraine leaned against a pine tree a little ways away, her arms folded across her chest and an evil smile on her face.
“You’re like the poster child for why you should wear a seat belt.” Loraine continued with a smirk.
“You…did you do this?” Mark ground out, clenching his teeth against the pain.
“Yes, I did.” Loraine said matter-of-factly. There was no remorse in her voice or expression. She watched, unimpressed, as Mark tried to stand up.
“Emma.” Mark said, looking around in a panic. “Where’s Emma?”
“The human girl?” Loraine asked disinterestedly, examining her nails. “Well, I haven’t heard any sound from her, so she’s probably dead.”
“I’m going to kill you!” Mark yelled, stumbling to his feet. He leaned against the tree, dragging raspy breaths into his lungs, but he held the glass shard in front of him threateningly. Loraine rolled her eyes.
“No, you’re not.” She said, her voice bored. She waved her hand and the shard flew out of Mark’s hand, landing several feet away from him. Mark tried to charge at her but she laughed and flicked her hand, throwing Mark back against the tree he had been leaning against. Stunned by the impact he crumpled to the ground, panting.
“Why?” He bit out.
“Why what?” Loraine asked, examining her nails of her other hand now.
“Why did you do this?” Mark snarled.
“A few reasons really.” Loraine mused, shifting her attention away from her nails to look back at him. She began sauntering towards him, in no apparent rush. “For starters I have a few questions that you have been avoiding answering. My boss is getting impatient and so am I.” She stopped when she stood over him. “I figured this would be the best way to get your attention.”
“And what were your other reasons?” Mark asked, glaring up at her.
“Oh, boredom and I wanted to see if you really are as pathetic
as you made yourself seem back there. Letting a drunk teenage boy beat up on you? You might as well be human for how worthless you were.” Loraine sneered at him. “You deserved to be punished for belittling our kind like that.”
“It is no insult to me to say I am like a human. Our abilities do not make us better than them. Usually they make us worse.” Mark replied.
Loraine backhanded him across the face. “You are weak and pathetic.” She hissed. “Only fools believe that.”
“Then I am a fool.” Mark replied steadily.
“Where is Tyler?” Loraine snapped at him. Mark blinked and looked up at her in confusion.
“Tyler?” He asked. “Why do you think I would know where he is? Tyler disappeared years ago.”
“After he found the journal he was making his way back to The Blade when somehow he found out that we were after him. He disappeared, taking the journals with him. We know he came here, Mark. Where is he?” Loraine stood over him, her stance uncompromising.
“I don’t know.” Mark told her tiredly. “He didn’t come to me.”
“Then where would he have gone? You are the only one with abilities in this town who has been here since before Tyler left.” Loraine said.
“I don’t know!” Mark snapped. “I’m not a part of your war. I’m not involved in any of this.”
“You are one of us, that makes you involved.”
Just then a noise came from the truck. Mark froze, his heightened hearing stretched to its limit.
“Mark?” Emma’s voice called out weakly. “Mark? Where are you?”
“Emma!” Mark yelled back, trying to jump to his feet.
“I don’t think so.” Loraine hissed, holding up her hand and pinning him against the tree with an invisible force.
“Let me go!” Mark yelled at her. “Emma! I’m right here! Are you hurt?” He struggled against the invisible bonds, his face turning red.
“I-I think I’m fine.” Emma stuttered. “Where are you? I can’t see you. Are you okay?” Panic made Emma’s voice shrill, she was trying to be calm but it wasn’t working. Mark struggled again to get free.
“I’m okay Emma, just get out of the truck.” Mark directed her, keeping his voice calm.
“I can’t! My seatbelt is jammed. I can’t get out!” Emma’s voice was edging towards hysteria.
“I guess she’s alive after all.” Loraine commented, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Let me go.” Mark growled. “I need to go make sure she’s okay.”
“Well obviously she’s okay, she was just yelling at you.” Loraine pointed out.
“LET ME GO!” Mark roared, struggling to get free with renewed effort.
“This girl really means a lot to you, doesn’t she?” Loraine’s voice sounded intrigued, and a little disgusted. “Letting yourself develop feelings for a human, that is a huge mistake. Humans are fragile, easily killed. She wouldn’t survive for long in our world.” Loraine paused, tapping a finger thoughtfully against her chin. “But you know that, don’t you? That’s why you’re slumming it here as a barista in some nothing town. You’re trying to live as a human.”
Mark said nothing, he just glared at her as he struggled to get free.
“That is so…pathetic.” Loraine said, shaking her head at him. “I’d be doing you a favor if I killed her right now so you could move on and live like a man with your abilities should.”
“If you hurt her I swear I will spend the rest of my life making yours a living hell!” Mark threatened.
Loraine stared at him, her gaze ice cold. “Tell me what you know and I’ll let the girl live.”
“I don’t know anything. How many times do I have to tell you that?” Mark snapped.
“That doesn’t do me any good, now does it?” Loraine snarled back. Then she paused and a sadistic smile touched her face. “But I’m a bit of a romantic so I’ll let her live.”
Mark stopped struggling for a moment, locking his gaze with hers. “You will?” He said, his voice suspicious.
Loraine nodded, smiling generously. “Of course I will!” She said cheerfully. “As long as you can get to her in time.” With a flick of her wrist the truck was pushed off the tree it was propped against and sent tumbling towards the ravine again.
“NOOOO!!!” Mark yelled as Emma screamed, surging to his feet and racing after the truck. Mark caught up to the truck and grabbed the front end, managing to keep it upright but he was too weak to stop it. The truck continued to slide backwards towards the ravine. Realizing he couldn’t hold it Mark jumped on top of the hood and scrambled towards Emma who was frantically clawing at her seatbelt.
“Mark!” She yelled, feeling a surge of relief when she saw him. “Help! It’s stuck!”
Tree branches snapped as the truck crashed by and the uneven ground jolted Emma and Mark as the truck bounced along, faster and faster down the hill. The ravine was only 20 yards away and the truck was gaining momentum. Emma felt her heart race as panic rushed through her.
Mark was clinging to the hood of the truck, blood seeping through his shirt. She had no idea how he was hanging on but she had never seen him look so determined. Tears pricked at her eyes. This was how she was going to die, falling into Death Valley like so many others. Mark reached into the cab of the truck through the hole in the windshield and grabbed her seatbelt.
“It’s stuck!” Emma tried to tell him but before the words had finished leaving her mouth there was the sound of groaning metal and the seatbelt snapped.
“Crawl out!” Mark yelled.
The truck bounced and Emma had to quickly grab the steering wheel to keep from hitting the roof of the cab. Mark gestured more urgently. The ravine was getting closer. Tucking her legs up underneath her on the seat Emma crawled onto the dashboard and through the hole in the windshield. When she was partly through Mark wrapped an arm around her waist and hoisted her out just as the back of the truck fell off the cliff.
Planting his feet beneath him Mark jumped back towards the edge of the cliff where a thick tree root protruded from the cliff face, Emma firmly wrapped in his arms. The truck disappeared beneath them. For a moment in time they were held suspended in thin air as Mark made a desperate reach for the root, but his grasping fingers were feet away from being able to grab their only lifeline. As they plummeted into a free fall their momentum carried them towards the cliff face. Mark curled his body protectively around Emma’s, tucking her against his chest.
Mark watched the cliff face come closer. They were going to hit it before they ever reach the river. Mark tucked his legs up, buying them some time. There, Mark saw a boulder in the cliff face that was a smooth surface. As they were just about to hit it Mark slammed his legs out, pushing off of the rock and propelling him and Emma out over the river.
Below them he could see the rocks jutting up out of the rushing water. It would be a miracle if they didn’t hit them. They probably wouldn’t survive, but Mark had given Emma the best chance he could. Mark closed his eyes and held Emma close, waiting for the impact.
The Forgeron Legacy Page 11