by Sara Schoen
“Yeah, you’re right,” I muttered, knowing he wanted a response. I looked out the window to see that darkness was falling quickly and soon it would be impossible to see. We needed to find Mia, and we needed to do it fast. Not just for her sake, but also for my sanity. “We’ll find her.”
We didn’t say anything for the rest of the ride up. Joe knew where to go for the caves. We had to start with sets of caves and look for her. There were four main sets of caves, and I figured she’d go to the first one she found. So, when Joe stopped the car, he took out a map to make sure we could cover them as quickly as possible.
“I hope Mia is being careful, she’s in some dangerous territory here.” Joe circled a section of the mountains with his finger. “Emmy and I were out here the other day. This one had a recent cave in and this one had a hole which dropped out over a ledge.” He pointed to each one as he spoke, and unfortunately they were some of the closest ones to our location. That’s where Mia would end up. Just her luck. I hope she’s not as danger prone as she says.
“Are they shut down? Can she get in them?” Justin questioned, his humor gone and now replaced with worry. He may be a joker, but he always came through when someone needed him, which is why he was so good at his job. “Is there any sign that might have told her not to go in?”
“I mean there’s tape and a sign, but we haven’t sealed it off completely yet. If she wanted to get in then she could. The signs keep people away during the day, and no one hikes at night for safety reasons. Emmy was planning to come up tomorrow to work on fixing the hole. I had to pick up supplies from Henderson’s Hardware store for her.” He started to stammer, trying to explain his reasoning for not having fixed it yet, but I stopped him before he could get too far.
I slapped my hand onto his shoulder and shook him lightly to get him to refocus. “I’m not worried about it, Joe. I know it takes time, I’m just worried about Mia is all. We can’t worry about it now though. We have to go and hope we find her.” I folded the map up as the guys went around the back to the trunk. I tossed the map into Joe’s seat as Harrison came around the back of the Jeep to join me.
I noticed him extend his hand out to me, but didn’t note what was in it until he spoke. “Just in case.” He shoved a Glock into my hand. “I hope we don’t need it, but from what you told us and what David and Caroline saw, I want to make sure we don’t go in without protection.”
Nodding, I took the gun from him and directed the men toward the caves. Each had a weapon on them. Harrison and Joe had their hunting rifles ready, Justin was holding a revolver Harrison had probably forced into his hands since he didn’t own a gun, and I had a Glock at my side. We walked in silence, guns at the ready, heading straight for Wes, and hopefully to Mia’s rescue.
Chapter 14
Wes must have heard me running. I knew he wouldn’t be able to tell exactly which direction I was heading in, but he knew I was trying to get away. I could hear him calling for me as I ran through the trees, even as I raced up the path toward Dead Man’s Trail. He’d be behind me in an instant, I thought, glancing back to look for him. I didn’t see him yet, but I knew he couldn’t be far behind. I wish I had my phone with me. This could have been over by now. Or at least I’d know someone knew what was going on and was coming to help me.
“Mia, are you done running now?” Wes’ voice carried up the path, bouncing between the rocks. He’s heading right for me. I glanced around and noticed the cave openings just ahead. Hide, wait, and then run. That’s the best bet I have now. “Because I’m tired of chasing after you.”
You can stop chasing me at any time. Now would be great, I thought, running toward the caves. My feet pounded the loose dirt beneath me, and the gravel threatened to trip me again. I was filled with the fear that always overcame me when Wes was around. This is all too familiar. A crushing sense of dread washed over me knowing that it would never truly be over. I’d never be able to escape. I’d never be free of him. I’d always be looking over my shoulder; watching and waiting for him to return. He’d always come back.
“And I’d always be running,” I muttered to myself as I entered the cave, looking for a place to hide. Caves were filled with nooks and crannies to hide in. Wes hadn’t worked in a cave, or outside even, a day in his life. He’d be lost in the woods, mountains, and rock tunnels of Escape’s landscape. If I could hide, he’d have no idea where to look for me. Whereas, I know these trails, mountains, and most of the caves. I know there are some caves Emmy told me to stay away from, but I don’t have the time to think of which ones she was referring to now. I just had to take a chance and hope I wasn’t running into a hazardous cave.
Darting toward the back of one of the caves, I expected to take a turn and travel further into the darkness, but instead I found a rock wall. A cave in. I took a step back to see if an opening could be made to slip through. I knew it was risky to move a cave in without help, but the alternative was more dangerous than being crushed by rocks.
I should have made time to think about the cave before heading into it.
I sighed, pushing that thought out of my mind. I don’t have time to feel sorry for myself. I have to save myself. Immediately, I began moving rocks. Someone else had already started the job for me. Probably Emmy or Joe. I could faintly remember Emmy saying she and Joe had been up to the caves recently to work on something. This must have been what she was talking about. They had opened a small hole, which with a few more rocks out of the way would be just large enough for me to slip through. Clearing the rocks away as swiftly and as safely as possible, I tried to listen for Wes. He hadn’t called out in a while, which worried me. At least then I knew where he was. Silence is dangerous when it comes to him. Silence would get me caught.
For a moment, I didn’t hear anything, and when I did, I wished it had remained silent. The rocks shifted, rattling the tunnel with another cave in. Rocks added onto the previous wall and rebuilt it, sending large boulders crashing to the ground and sealing my escape. I stared in shock, now trapped in a cave with Wes on my tail. There was no way through and no other exit. The noise from the cave in had been loud and I was sure it wouldn’t be long until he came looking to see if I had caused it. I’m screwed…
“Mia, you wouldn’t be in here, would you?” Wes’ footsteps followed his voice. He’s heading right for me. “Mia, come out now and this doesn’t have to get ugly. You know I don’t like to be kept waiting…”
I swallowed my fear as best as I could, but I couldn’t fight it much longer. Glancing around the cave for anything to help me, I noticed a soft luminous glow around the corner of the cave in. There’s no way to tell what it is, but I have no other choice, I thought as Wes’ footsteps echoed through the cave. If it’s a way out, then it’s my only hope at this point. I can wait for him to get bored of searching this cave and then run for it.
“Mia, what’s the point of this game? I chase you, you run away, and then what? You think I’m just going to give up one day? Is that what you’re hoping for?” He laughed, creating a menacing vibration through the cave. “Well, you can forget that. I’ve chased you for too long to just give up. You should know by now, Mia, I get what I want. I always get what I want. That means, if I can’t have you then that fucking EMT sure as shit isn’t going to have you either.” A crash reverberated off one of the walls before another met my ears from whatever Wes had thrown to the ground.
He’s pissed. If he finds me, then I’m as good as dead. No wonder he brought a gun. He’s finally done. Too bad he wouldn’t just stop following me. He had to take me out with him. Always the dramatic.
“You know, Mia, it took one week to get here after I saw a photo pop up online of you at the wildlife center, not to mention how long I was looking for you before that, and then it took two weeks to get you alone. Your damn EMT friend wouldn’t fucking leave!” Another crash boomed in my ears. “I could have gotten you at any time at home, but he was always there. I’ve been here two weeks. Two damn weeks! Two, Mia!” An
other bang resounded through the cave. “I watched you play house with someone else. Do you know how pissed off that makes me? I almost broke in one night after you went to bed. I was so furious! You cheated on me! You’re a fucking cheater and a whore!” It sounded as if he managed to break a rock apart this time. The small explosion sent small rocks pattering down the tunnel and a few made it to my feet. He’s close now. “I had to go to the wildlife center because that’s the only place he fucking leaves you alone! That’s the mistake all the guys have made with you. They left you alone. If he had stayed with you then I couldn’t grab you, but then I probably would have just shot him. You know I get so impatient.”
I shuddered at the memories. I came at his beck and call to avoid verbal abuse and disappointing him, but I always fell short. He told me I was nothing, would never be anything, and would mean nothing to anyone but him. He’d tell me all the time he could find someone better, but he liked me. All I had to do was work for his affection and that meant doing everything he asked, even when I didn’t want to. I swallowed the bile rising in my throat at the thought of his disturbing sexual demands. Not again, not ever again. I would rather die than go through that again.
“I told you this would happen, and each time I’ve been right. Every guy keeps you at a distance. They don’t want to be near you. They hate you. You’re just a pretty trophy for them to keep by their side, but when you deny what they want most—” He chuckled, a low, dark laugh. “Then they just take it.”
I inched toward the opening, keeping my back to it so I could keep an eye out for Wes. His shadow slowly came into view. I pressed my back to the wall, moving to the side for the exit.
“I always get what I want, Mia, and I want you one way or another.” He rounded the corner as I made it to the exit. “And if I can’t have you, then no one can…I’ve said it before and I meant it. You think this is all a game. You’ve been trying to make me regret dumping you. That’s why we still play this fucking game! You want me to suffer. Well, I’m done playing. You either come willingly or I end this now.”
I took a step back to escape his view, but my foot found the edge of the cave floor and slipped. I let out a high-pitched scream as my body fell down the side of a cliff. Jagged rocks cut into me on the fall and gravel scraped my skin, burning my knees and hands while I scrambled to get a hold on something. A few rocks jabbed into my chest and stomach as I reached out to grab onto them. I didn’t have time to let out another scream before I hit a ledge about ten feet below the hole I had slipped out of. I landed roughly, feet first, with a sickening crack before my left ankle erupted in pain. A sharp cry escaped my lips before I collapsed to the ground to take the weight off my ankles. I grit my teeth, fighting back tears and the desperate need to call for help. My ankle already felt swollen. It hurt to the touch and despite the darkness that surrounded me, I could tell it was already beginning to bruise.
I definitely broke it. I’m a sitting duck now. Wes will either kill me or take me without a problem. I can’t run away, but I can sure as hell put up a fight if he tries anything.
“Mia!”
Gage’s voice broke me out of my thoughts and brought a new hope, banishing my thoughts of what I would do to Wes if the opportunity arose. “Gage!” My voice cracked under the emotions. “I’m down here!” For a moment, I forgot all about Wes. I’m so focused on Gage when he’s around that the rest of the world seems to disappear, but Wes waits. He may be impatient, but he waits when it matters; like now.
Gage continued calling for me, slowly getting closer from what I could tell, but then his calls became grunts. Wes cursing, screaming, skin to skin contact from punches being thrown, and grunting while they fought. I sat, clamoring for a way to get up the cliff to help. There were no handholds, and I didn’t make it further than a few inches on my ankle. Sheer panic took over before the tears started. Please let him be okay, please let him be okay. I repeated the phrase over and over in my head while hyperventilating from worrying about him. I barely knew Gage, yet somehow I was already attached to him. I can’t lose him.
I found a new determination to get back to the cave to help him. I managed to find a few handholds, but I’d have to rely on my upper body strength. My ankle couldn’t handle the climb. I can do it, I thought, forcing myself up the rock wall. Then a gunshot went off. The sound reverberated off the mountains and echoed in my ears as the rocks began to shake loose in the cave. I was sure the sound would haunt me for the rest of my life. I’d never be able to escape it. It would be the last memory I had of Gage.
“Gage!” The scream ripped through my throat. Panic, fear, and anger took over my body all at once, plotting what I’d do to Wes if he killed Gage. I’ll kill him. Even if I have to die to take him with me…Wes wouldn’t see tomorrow. “Gage!” He didn’t answer again. Tears prickled in my eyes and I frantically tried to scale the cliff side, but to no avail. If I was a better rock climber I could have made it no problem, but with my luck, I’d make it half way then fall to my death. I strained to hear what was going on in the cave, but there was only silence.
“Mia?” Instant relief washed over me as Gage’s voice met my ears. I looked up to see a beam from a flashlight before his figure leaned over the edge of the cave opening. The beam of light swept over me and stopped once I was encircled. “There you are!” I could hear the excitement in his tone at finding me. “Are you okay?”
I was so choked up with emotion that it was hard to reply right away. Hastily, I wiped away my tears and nodded although I knew he could hardly see me. “I think I broke my ankle. I have a few scratches and something similar to road burn from the rocks, but other than that I’m alive. Are you okay? What happened?”
“I’m glad to hear you’re fine.” The concern in his voice was thick. I heard it, and I was touched by its presence. “I’ll get Joe and Harrison to go back to the Jeep to get some supplies to help pull you up. We will get you out soon. I promise. And don’t worry, I’m fine, and it’s all over now. You’re safe. Wes won’t be a problem anymore.”
“What do you mean?” I called up. He didn’t answer right away. His light vanished, leaving me in the pitch-black night, as I heard him giving orders to someone. Someone, I think it was Joe, replied with a feigned military tone and enthusiasm, “Yes, sir!” Then Gage’s light turned back to me. When I was sure his attention was back on me, I repeated my question.
“He’s gone, Mia…He’s dead.”
I nodded before sitting on the ledge again and letting the emotions take over all at once. Tears for thinking Gage had died to rescue me, pain from being chased out here, fear for the near-death experience, but most importantly relief; pure relief. Gage is alive, Wes is finally gone, and I’m free. Free to live my life, explore, and find love again without constantly looking over my shoulder for Wes to come and ruin it all. No more remorse, no more guilt, no more running. Tears trailed down my cheeks again, this time from relief and bliss. I’m free. I’m finally free. I didn’t know it was possible, but I’m free.
Free to live in Escape for the rest of my life with Gage and my family by my side. Just how it should be.
Chapter 15
Two weeks later…
“I told you to give me a heads up before you moved into together so I could win the pool. What the fuck where you thinking, man? You knew I said you had at least another month to go. Now Joe wins the money!”
I kept my mouth sealed as tightly as I could to prevent a laugh from escaping my lips. Justin had been on Gage from the moment he started packing his stuff to move in with me. I still couldn’t believe the town had taken bets on when we’d move in together. Though I doubted any of them thought Wes would have come and influenced the decision. After that, Gage barely let me out of his sight. When he wasn’t around, he made sure someone else was with me. Usually I was at Lakefront so I didn’t mind, though I wished David would stop trying to apologize. He had taken and tagged me in the photo Wes found online. It popped up in search engines and allowed Wes to
find me. I couldn’t be mad at David though, he hadn’t known any better. I didn’t blame him, in fact I thanked him. I was free now and that’s the best gift anyone has ever given me. I just wished he’d stop blaming himself.
“You were there when Wes said he only got to Mia because I wasn’t around. I’m not letting it happen again. Me staying here those two weeks might have saved her life. Why wouldn’t I move in?” Gage grunted as he and Justin lifted the sofa to move it out of the way for some of his stuff. It’s odd having someone else’s stuff and someone else in the house, but I like it. I’ve been alone for far too long.
“Harrison shot the guy when he pointed the gun at you. He’s dead. Case closed. There’s no danger anymore. Why couldn’t you have waited two more weeks? You know I’m leaving to go to South Carolina for a while! I need the money!”
I heard Gage pat Justin’s shoulder from the kitchen. “You know the great thing about being an EMT?” He paused, waiting for Justin to answer. I didn’t hear anything so I guessed he had just shrugged in response. “You can get a job no matter what state you’re in. You’ll be fine.”
“Yeah, I’m fine now, but two hundred dollars would have gone a long way…” Justin continued to mumble to himself as they left to go back to Gage’s cabin to get more boxes. Soon the house would be filled with people. Joe and Harrison were coming over to check on me while helping Gage, though Gage said they were coming only for me. Helping him move wouldn’t be a priority with me around. Gage’s family would be joining us for dinner tonight since he had decided to settle whatever dispute had been going on between them. He hadn’t given me much detail on it other than small outbursts, but after some convincing, he agreed to try to move past it. I think meeting my family had really persuaded him to try. He loved the support and understanding when I told my family I was staying in Escape and how willingly they jumped on a plane to come see us. It gave him the confidence to talk to his family about his thoughts and start making amends.