by Amy Gaudette
More screams. Megan peered out a huge crack in the closet door. A looming, dark haired man grabbed Megan’s mother and threw her to the floor. They were so close Megan could smell his sweat.
Nausea washed over her as she tried in vain to keep Emma silent. A horrifying crash and Megan felt the floor shake. A bookshelf had fallen on her mother.
Another voice screamed. This time it came from her own soul. Two large evil eyes fell on the closet where she was hiding.
“To the light, Megan. Run to the light.”
Megan had no idea who was talking. The horrible smelling man took two steps towards the door. His face so close to hers. Only a broken board separated them. She could see lines etched into the side of his cheek.
Megan instinctively turned to hide deeper in the closet, tripping over boots, fumbling over a mop. She fell against the loosened boards on the wall. The door knob rattled and fell off. A large hand broke through the crack in the door, widening it. The baby began to cry in her arms. Seeing light shining through a large gap on the back wall, Megan lifted her leg and kicked with all the strength she had. Light. Air. She stumbled through the broken boards.
She was free. Holding the baby with all her might, she ran out of the hallway she had entered, down the stairs and out the kitchen door. Running, running, into the woods. Harder. Faster. Tears blinding her vision. She ran into the waning evening light.
Still, footsteps followed. Closer, pounding harder. Wheezing and coughing, the man gained ground. Megan tripped but caught herself. Propelling herself forward with no idea where to go. Once again, a voice.
“Towards the light Megan, run towards the light.” This time she followed it immediately.
She took a sharp left, holding the infant close, and ran after a shaft of light beaming through the woods. The setting sun illuminated a path and her pace became easier. Golden warmth enveloped her and the baby and gave her strength. She ran towards the sunset. Stumbling, she felt her little sister growing heavy in her arms. She didn’t know how much further she could keep going, but she wouldn’t stop. Footsteps behind her began to recede. Finally, with no more breath left inside her, she hid under the branches of an evergreen tree.
In that moment, the past collided with the present. She was no longer a child of seven.
But the same shaft of light was here. Megan knew — the light had overcome. It had overcome when she was a child, and it had overcome the darkness today. What was a horrible memory was now woven intricately with a Presence. A Light. She saw it, felt it, and ran toward it. The encompassing beams illuminated her deep within. And a powerful presence settled on her. She knew Who it was. Deep peace. A longing fulfilled. She felt so safe. It had been His voice all along.
Somehow she knew, if God had taken care of her, He had taken care of her baby sister, also. Her whole childhood, through all the terror and darkness, she had not been alone. She was not alone.
She sat on the cool ground for a time not wanting to move. Only the distant sound of a dog barking seemed to draw her back to the moment.
Her face wet with tears, she lifted her head, and stood up. For the first time in a very long time, Megan wasn’t afraid. It was time to go home.
✽✽✽
Darkness was descending abruptly after fruitless searching. Sam turned to Brady.
“Maybe we better head back.” Two long barks interrupted further conversation.
“Bear!” They shouted in unison. Brady and Sam took off running toward the sound. Bear’s bark continued loud and clear.
“Sounds like he treed a raccoon!” Brady hollered to Sam.
They grew closer and closer, crashing through the woods. Bear had to be in sight soon. Sam hoped they could find their way out as easily as they had found their way in.
Bear’s jubilant sounds filled the forest.
“He sure is happy about whatever he found.” A few more steps, and Sam nearly fell over, stopping dead in his tracks. Brady came running from behind, nearly knocking both of them to the ground.
Stunned, standing in front of them, disheveled and dirty, was the most beautiful sight they had ever seen. Megan.
Sam ran to her and scooped her up in his arms. Tears mingled with sweat and dirt, unashamedly running down Sam’s face. Brady embraced them both, unwilling to release either of them. Bear continued his raucus revelry. It took a few minutes before anyone could speak. Megan’s filthy face radiated light from within.
Sam held her face in his hands.
“Are you okay?” His eyes sought hers.
“Yes.” One word, loaded with meaning.
Brady grabbed one hand, Sam her other. Bear danced around them, his tail going every which way. Sam took a deep breath.
“Let’s go home.”
Epilogue
Megan felt wrapped up in a blanket of peace. A cool fall wind blew through the remnants of Rose’s garden. Leaves gathered in corners, tossed about aimlessly in the breeze. Sam held her hand as they sat on an old wooden bench.
“So after you escaped from Richard’s cabin, you ran as far and as fast as you could.”
“Right. The smell of death followed me. I thought at any minute he would pop out of the woods, those demonic eyes leering at me, and I would be finished. It was when I gave up, couldn’t go any further, that I felt God take over. When I ended up reliving those memories I realized I wasn’t alone. My mom’s abusive boyfriend was Richard but I never put two and two together. I didn’t live with her very much. Sometimes at a neighbors, sometimes with an aunt. My sister and I were separated in foster care and eventually I went to live with the Stantons. That evening at the picnic, I literally ran into him in the woods. He triggered my flashback. In my young and damaged mind, I couldn’t put the pieces together. I ended up living a solitary life, often on the run. But that all ended when God met me in the woods. God’s presence was indescribable. I couldn’t stop saying to myself, He is real. He is real.”
Sam took his arm and pulled Megan close.
“No wonder he wanted you out of the way. He must have recognized you.”
“Yes. That’s what I think happened. But I can’t tell you how much it meant to me to have you believe me. I think it’s also helping Brady deal with what he has to. I frightened him so bad, and then Richard chasing me out of the woods must have sent his mind over the edge.”
Sam sighed.
“I don’t think I will ever be able to describe how I felt when I saw you in the woods. You were the most beautiful sight I had ever seen.” Sam kissed her head.
Megan snuggled in closer. “What happens now? Have you heard from Doug or Gabe?”
“Doug was taken in again, but released on bail. What the future holds, I don’t think anyone knows. He was a critical help to us, and he’s cooperated with the authorities. But his hands aren’t clean. Rose has even been able to help some. This has brought some closure for her as well. Beverly was in the hospital for a while. She did intend to shoot Richard, but couldn’t do it. He died right in front of her. He had lived with stage four stomach cancer for quite some time. Always in denial. I think the Stantons will be in counseling for a long time.”
“What about Marie, the cook?” Megan wondered.
“She can’t talk fast enough. Let’s just say she’s filling in a lot of blanks.”
A commotion back at the lakehouse caught their attention. Bear was running down the driveway, greeting visitors.
“Did you invite anyone, Sam?”
“No. Rose didn’t mention it either.”
They stood up and walked back to the house. The car stopped and the backdoor opened. Brady jumped out. “Megan! Sam!” The young man ran as fast as his feet could carry him, and swung his arms wide. Sam and Megan both embraced him.
“Brady. I am so glad to see you. Are your parents here?” Megan glanced over.
“Yup. We all came. Rose invited us. It was my idea to make it a surprise.”
Sam grabbed Brady’s hand and gave it a vigorous shake. “You’re look
ing good, young man.”
Doug and Beverly approached quietly.
“Hey, Brady, let’s go find Bear. He’s going to be thrilled to see you.” Sam nodded to the Stantons, and he and Brady took off.
Beverly hung her head. “Megan. I am so sorry. For everything.” Doug reached out his arm and placed it around his wife. “We both are, more than we can ever say.” He held Megan’s gaze for a moment then reached inside his coat. Pulling out a small package, he handed it to Megan.
She took it and smiled. “Is this what I think it is?” She opened the brown wrapping paper and sighed. “I didn’t think I would ever see this again.”
“It was found in a hidden file box in the basement of Richard’s house.”
Megan pressed her journal against her chest. “For what it’s worth. I forgive you both. You have meant so much to me. You were the closest I ever had to a real family. I hope we can keep in touch.”
Doug smiled. “We would like that very much.” The Stantons embraced Megan. With tears in their eyes, Beverly and Doug turned and walked toward the house.
Megan hung back. She gazed at the turquoise blue sky, savoring the moment. Her heart overflowed with gratitude and a deep joy. She had discovered a love she had never even imagined existed. She had found a way out of darkness. The nightmares were fading. What more could she want? Maybe someday, she would find her sister. Right now, that was in God’s hands.
Fragrant aroma of baked garlic chicken wafted out on the air. She heard Rose’s welcoming voice. Megan moved toward the gathering of people and smiled. She had come home.