A Shaft of Light

by Amy Gaudette

  Megan saw hesitation on Doug’s face. It was obvious he did not want to go in.

  “I’m fine, really, Brady.”

  “No. I made that mistake once, I can’t do it again. I’ve had to live with that inside me for eight years.”

  Doug sighed loudly. “Okay, let’s go. It’s getting dark.”

  The three of them headed down a well-worn path until Megan saw a large rock protruding from the ground about one hundred yards into the woods.

  The forest was eerily silent. Not a bird nor a frog uttered a sound. An occasional branch cracked too loudly underneath their feet.

  Megan turned around to face them. “I need to go on by myself. I’ll be in the bushes at the rock. And then I’ll head into the clearing on the other side. I’ll be fine.”

  Her insides trembled. She held her arms close to her body.

  “I’m fine. I’m fine,” she whispered under her breath.

  As soon as she arrived at the rock, she stopped and gave a small wave back to Brady and his dad. She noticed the rock didn’t look as big as it once had. The bushes had grown in, and it was impossible to weave herself through them. She pushed her body around the brush, and walked toward the clearing. She was now out of sight of Brady and his dad.

  The encroaching darkness took on a life of its own. Its cold, damp fingers seemed to be searching for her. She realized her own thoughts were no longer rational. This was not good.

  Dear God. If you are here, help me. Crack. A branch nearby broke. That was not me. Her breath was now coming in short, jagged shots. She felt a presence nearly on top of her . . . A hand penetrated the shadows and clamped over her mouth. She screamed in vain. Faintness blurred the woods as her legs gave out.

  “Megan. Megan? Are you okay?” A faint but familiar voice sought her out. “Megan. It’s me, Sam.” His voice only above a whisper.

  Sam? How was that possible? The hand over her mouth loosened its grip.

  “Why did you do this?”

  Confusion and fear grappled with Megan’s mind and emotions.

  “Megan. I think this is a setup. I fell asleep and couldn’t wake up, even though my alarm was buzzing. They could be planning something in here. I saw a couple of men, and possibly Richard entering the woods not far from here. You can’t go into the clearing.”

  Sam’s hand found Megan’s, and he held it tight. She could see in the diminished lighting he looked terrible. Her burdened heart weighed even heavier. He pulled her to him, and they slipped behind a looming oak tree for better coverage.

  “Doug brought you?”

  “Yes, and Brady came as well. I thought he had a change of heart. He seemed so sincere about helping me. Are you sure?”

  “I’m not sure about anything. But I think you should go back to them. I’m going to trail those guys I saw and see if I can positively identify them. If it’s Richard, we’ll know. Go back. Tell them nothing happened. Tell them you are starting to wonder if it was in your mind after all. Do you think you can do that?”

  “Where will you be?”

  “I’ll catch up to you at the hotel. Don’t worry about me.” Sam let go of her hand,

  and his gentle, safe arms embraced her. Megan felt her insides quieting, warmth crept in.

  “It’s really good to see you, Sam. I thought you had left.”

  Sam’s hand brushed her face.

  “Okay, here I go.”

  Megan walked back the way she had come. Momentarily disoriented, she straightened her trail back out. The night was taking over. Megan called out. “Brady? Mr. Stanton?”

  Voices ahead responded. “This way, Megan. We were beginning to get worried. Are you okay?” Brady ran toward her.

  “Y-yes. I’m fine. It wasn’t what I expected. I was scared at first. But nothing happened. There were no apparitions peering at me through the trees, no monsters flying through the air. I’m wondering if maybe I imagined them after all?”

  Megan was exceedingly grateful for the cover of darkness. She knew her face could barely be seen, and she was sure it would give her away.

  Doug was silent, and Megan couldn’t read his expression.

  “Well, that’s a relief. Brady, what do you think?”

  “I think it’s time to go home. That’s what I think.” Doug chuckled lightly though Brady’s tone held no humor.

  Doug was still peering around. Megan couldn’t tell if he was confused or relieved.

  “Yeah. Let’s go home. Megan, do you want to come to our house tonight?” Doug’s invitation caught Megan by surprise.

  “Oh, no, thank you. I think I would like to head back to the hotel. Needless to say, I am quite worn out. Thank you so much, Mr. Stanton, for bringing us out here.”

  She turned to Brady. “Are you okay?”

  He nodded. But Megan knew there was more to it than that. They would talk tomorrow.

  Megan glanced around for Sam’s car, relieved to see he must have hidden it. Brady still wasn’t talking, and it worried her. They drove back in silence, Megan still not understanding why Richard wanted her out of the picture. She was only a kid that day in the woods. Even now, she was no threat to him. Megan was too tired to contemplate further.

  It didn’t take long and they were back in town, dropping Megan off at the same corner where they had picked her up.

  “Goodnight. Thank you again. See you tomorrow, Brady?”

  “Yeah.” Brady didn’t even make eye contact with her.

  Something was definitely wrong. Her heart broke for Brady. Tonight, there was nothing she could do. She only hoped he would meet with her in the morning so she could explain.

  As she moved down the street, a car pulled up beside her. Sam.

  Relief flooded her. She opened the door and jumped in.

  Turning toward Sam, Megan’s mouth dropped open, her heart jerked so hard in her chest it hurt.

  It was him. The monster in the woods gave a low, demented growl.

  “Hello, Megan.”

  Megan froze, bile rising up in her throat. Everything hidden in the secret corners of her mind returned with such force the pain shot through her head. A scream convulsed from her throat, but no one heard it.

  Megan screamed again, this time provoking a response. Something hard and blunt hit her across the face. Megan’s head whipped to the side, and everything went black.

  Chapter 23

  Slipping unseen back into his car, Sam waited until Doug, Megan, and Brady had left. He hadn’t been able to track the men he had seen. He pulled his vehicle out of the park and took a more direct route back to the hotel. He parked the car and waited for Megan. First thing in the morning, they would pack their bags and head out. Gabe would be waiting for them, from there it was up to him.

  He had been trying to reach his boss but was unable. He leaned his head against the back of the carseat. Taking a deep breath, he realized his chest hurt. He also felt feverish.

  Sam checked his watch. She should have been here by now. Fifteen minutes . . . thirty. He would give them one hour.

  Apprehension grew with each passing minute. Finally, Sam went into the lobby to check with the receptionist.

  “Hi, Tanya. Have you seen Megan come back in yet?”

  “No, but there is a message for you.”

  She handed Sam a folded piece of paper.

  Sam opened it.

  Hi Sam, I wanted to let you know I will be staying with the Stantons for a while. I know you need to head back and with things going better, I would like to spend some time with them. I’ll be in touch. Thanks for all you have done, Megan.

  Sam stood still, trying to decipher the note. Should he be suspicious?

  “Did she drop this off herself?” He had been here the whole time, could she have slipped past?

  The receptionist looked up from the computer.

  “I don’t know, I wasn’t here. I came on only a few minutes ago. I can ask Riley. He was on, I don’t think he has left yet.”

  At that, Riley came out of
the back room. “Someone call?”

  “Hey, Riley. Did you see the person that dropped off this note for Dr. T?”

  “No. I don’t think so. The note was sitting here on the desk after a large group of people checked in.”

  “About what time was that?”

  “Hmmm. I’d say around 7:30.”

  “Look. I know this is going to sound strange, but this woman’s life may be in danger. Can I speak to the manager about seeing the camera footage?”

  “I’m sorry, she’s gone home.”

  Sam shook his head. “I’m going to make a phone call. Then I might need to speak to whoever's in charge here.”

  Sam now deeply regretted not getting Megan a phone. He found Doug’s number that he had left with him and called him. No answer.

  Sam tried three times, still nothing. His gut told him something wasn’t right. Wait.

  He could call Brady. He had Brady’s number. Brady’s cell phone rang twice.

  “Hello?”

  “Brady. It’s Dr. Sam. How are you?”

  “’Kay.”

  “I’m really sorry to bother you. I’m trying to reach Megan. Is she staying with you?”

  “No. We dropped her off at the corner. She wanted to walk. She isn’t at the hotel?”

  Sam didn’t want Brady getting upset. He could already hear it in his voice.

  “Brady. Could you do me a big favor. Can you see if she is staying in your guest room?”

  “Sure. But I know she’s not. Dad invited her over, but she didn’t want to come.”

  Brady sounded defeated.

  “Is everything okay, Brady?”

  “Yeah, fine.” His voice expressionless. “I’m at her old room, no one’s here. Maybe she got in ahead of you and is already in her room.”

  Sam knew that was very unlikely. “I’ll check it out. Can I talk to your dad? I tried to call him, but there was no answer.”

  “He left after he dropped me off. Said he needed to pick up a beer. Whatever.”

  “I’m sorry things didn’t go the way you had hoped, Brady.”

  “I don’t know what to think anymore. Megan ditched on me out there. I know she was lying.”

  “Don’t be too hard on her. Look, I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Okay?”

  “I thought you were leaving. You know, flu outbreak and all?”

  “I can’t leave until I know where Megan is, flu outbreak or not. But do me a favor. As far as you know, I leave in the morning. Don’t tell anyone anything different. Okay?”

  “Sure, as long as you tell me what’s going on. Oh, hey, my dad’s coming in. Hang on.”

  Sam’s heart was racing. Panic was rapidly rising. Could she be on the run again? And if she was, he may never find her.

  “Hello, Doc. What’s up at this hour of the night?” He sounded miffed.

  “Doug. Where did you leave Megan?”

  “What do you mean, where did I leave Megan? Right where she wanted to be left. Dixon’s Corner. Why?”

  “She’s gone missing. That’s why. Someone left a note at the hotel, supposedly from her, stating that she would be at your place.”

  “Well, maybe she wanted some time to herself. She didn’t have any memory recall at the park. I really don’t think she is stable.”

  “Megan is as stable as anyone I know, Doug. And I think you know where she is, or at least, who took her.”

  “Look, Sam. She’s your patient. I don’t think it looks very good that you two are sharing a room over there. You have your reputation as well as the legalities of the whole thing to watch out for.”

  “Doug, you know that’s a lie. We have two rooms and have from day one. Megan trusted you. Like a daughter would her father. She never would have gone with you tonight if she hadn’t. I was there, Doug. I saw what looked like Richard and two other guys head into the woods after you. I will go to the police with everything I know. Be prepared.” Except that he had nothing. He hoped Doug would not call his bluff.

  Sam heard Brady asking what was going on. Then the phone went dead.

  He stepped back to the receptionist desk to find the manager.

  Tanya, who had been waiting on him, stammered something about the evening manager stepping out, and that he would be back shortly. Her demeanor had completely changed. Sam felt a chill run up his back. Something was very wrong. But what?

  “Police! Don’t move.”

  Chapter 24

  Sam turned only to be tackled by a linebacker wearing a blue uniform. His breath was shoved out of his lungs. His body paralyzed under the weight of the man pressing him into the floor. Two others rushed up and shackled his arms behind his back. Sam lay bruised and in shock.

  “What the heck is going on?” he croaked out.

  “You are under arrest for the disappearance of Megan Santle. You have the right to remain silent . . .”

  Sam felt his stomach turning. His body was yanked up off the floor and dragged to the police car. Not even at the death of his parents had he felt so hopeless, so powerless. His only thought was a prayer of desperation. Oh God, help me.

  Sam had his pockets emptied, his fingerprints taken, and he was allowed one phone call. Gabe. Unceremoniously, he was ushered into a prison cell. Pacing back and forth, he tried to pray. “God, send your angels to guard Megan.” Sam fought despair through prayer.

  Sam also prayed for Rose, who would hear of what had happened from Gabe. He prayed for Brady, and lastly he tried to pray for Mayor Richard. A man chained by a darkness that held him captive without bail. A man whose evil stench reached far beyond his office.

  Sam found praying for Richard nearly impossible. He remembered the diagnosis revealed in the lab work that they had done on him in the hospital.

  Dying. A fitting end for a man like him. Cancer eating away from the inside. A bitterness seeped into Sam’s mouth. Reality checked him. Anger flooded his mind and heart. No. Richard had no right to die. He needed to face his sin, his accusers. Payment needed to be extracted from his soulless body. It was only right. Justice had to be served. Dying was too easy. Sam wanted retribution.

  Retribution for what? Did he actually know Richard had done anything? All he knew for sure was his opinion of him when he was in the hospital. Sam’s thoughts sparred back and forth.

  There was no solace in sleep that night. Anxiety at what had happened to Megan caused acute restlessness. He paced. He argued with the guards. Finally, worn out, exhaustion took over. Even in his sleep he couldn’t escape the images his mind tormented him with. Sam dreamed Richard was running. Megan was in front of him, trying to stay ahead. She looked back again and again, horrified at how close he was getting. Sam also, was in this desperate race. He finally started closing in on Richard, he was within arms reach when he realized there was a gun in his hands. He held the gun, and pointed it at Richard’s head. He aimed and shot. Sam watched as he fell and rolled over and over. Relief flooded him. He had stopped evil. As soon as Sam was close enough, he looked down at the body only to see he wasn’t looking into Richard’s face on that body, it was his own.

  Sam startled awake. Sweat soaked his T-shirt. He rolled over, trying to put the image he had seen out of his mind. Weights pressed in on him, so heavy it was hard to breath. Was he having a heart attack? What was wrong with him? Shouldn’t he know? After all, he was a doctor.

  Sam knew. He rolled over and fell to his knees. This time not praying for what he wanted, but praying that God’s will be done. He knew he would do whatever he could, but for now, he needed to release Megan into His hands. He also knew he needed to pray for Richard. That wasn’t so easy.

  Sam felt the cold fingers of hatred that had wound their way into his heart. He didn't even know the whole story and he already despised the man. His pride, his vanity, his desire to control everyone was obvious. But had he even committed a crime? Sam sat back up on his bed.

  His heart betrayed him. He knew he was seeing Richard through the eyes of Megan. I need to guard my heart better.
He admonished himself. But there is something . . .

  He didn’t get to finish his thought. The insistent rattling of his door opening was his only indication that it was probably morning. He forced his aching body off of the cot, blinking to clear the image of the cell door. Gabe was shown in. Giving Sam his usual lopsided grin, Gabe was a blessed sight. After a hearty handshake, the two sat down to talk.

  “You look like heck.”

  Sam attempted a half-smile.

  Gabe’s face turned serious. “Last you told me you were headed back to town with Megan. You needed to return to work, and you wanted Megan kept safe somewhere. What happened?”

  “I met with Doug Stanton yesterday. He wanted us to work this out. What I didn’t realize is that when he left, he must have slipped something into my coffee. By the time I got back to the hotel, I could barely put one foot in front of the other. I was supposed to pick up Megan. We were going back to Thomas Park and into the woods in hopes it would spark the rest of her memory return. I never took her. But someone else did.” Sam’s voice croaked weakly.

  Gabe gave Sam a funny look. “Are you sick?”

  “I’ve felt better.”

  “You should call your hospital and let William know you may have the flu. He might change his mind about having you return.”

  Sam laughed quietly. “How ironic.”

  “So who took Megan over to the park? Doug?”

  “Yes. He had Brady call her and offer to take both of them out to the site. Brady is Doug’s son who had been there at the picnic with them. She checked with the receptionist who said she thought I had checked out. Megan trusted Doug. She went with him. Fortunately, I had only swallowed a small amount of coffee. I woke up, Megan was gone. Brady wasn’t answering his phone. Megan had tried calling me, it sounded like she thought I had left without telling her. She mentioned that Doug offered to take her and Brady out to the park. As soon as I could I headed out after them. When I got there I saw two cars hidden in a camping spot about three hundred yards before the trail that they had taken into the woods. I figured that was Richard or his hired men. I hid my car and slipped into the woods, hoping to cut Megan off before she got there.”