by Wood, Lorena
Chapter 15
Nick woke feeling cold and weak. He must have been unconscious for a while because the sun was already going down. His arm didn’t hurt as much now. He tried to sit up and take inventory. He had lost a lot of blood, but the bleeding had stopped. The first shot had gone clean through his arm. The second shot went into his lower leg and didn’t come out. Thank goodness no arteries had been hit. He would have bled to death in minutes.
Agent Hollerman would know they were missing by now. They hadn’t called to check in for more than twelve hours. They were going east yesterday, so they would be looking in that direction. Unfortunately, they had turned north this morning, and they wouldn’t know that. His first objective was to get back to the radio, and then to find Whitney.
He tore off his shirt and tied up the wound on his arm so it wouldn’t start bleeding again. The pain triggered more nausea as he applied pressure. He made a sling out of the rest of the shirt, and tied his arm in place. His leg was burning, but he could walk on it. Still feeling cold and shaky, he was afraid he would go back into shock if he tried to walk to far.
“I have to help Whitney,” he said in a whisper. “Can’t fail.” He gritted his teeth and started back toward the cave. His vision blurred and he had to rest after a few feet. His legs felt like rubber and he was having difficulty ignoring his thirst.
When he finally made it up the mountain, he saw the packs tossed around at the entrance. If the shooter was lying in wait for him, this would make the perfect spot for an ambush. He sat by the packs and waited.
Not hearing a sound he started rummaging through the packs, hoping the killer had left him for dead. Thankfully he found a water bottle that hadn’t rolled down the slope when the packs were dumped. Still on constant alert, he downed some trail mix that had been stuffed in a side pocket. It stuck in his throat but he forced it down with more water. “Blood loss,” he thought to himself. “Need iron and fluids.” He searched for the high protein bars that had the most iron and found them under some other supplies. He ate one while stuffing the rest in his pockets.
“Orange juice. I think that helps.” He wasn’t sure, but they always made you drink orange juice after giving blood. Too bad that wasn’t in their supplies.
He managed to get himself into some warmer clothes, and make a better sling. Now he had to get Whitney. The climb up the mountain had taken a long time. He was extremely weak and at the same time, he was trying to be quiet. He crouched as low as he could with a bad arm, and eased himself toward to opening of the cave. His eyes searched the mountain for the signs of their struggle. The radio wasn’t there. Whitney was gone. He remembered his gun and slowly moved back down the mountain.
“I’m not thinking right.” He took a deep breath and tried to clear his head. Charging in there unarmed wasn’t a great idea. He turned back down the mountain to find the gun, but what if the killer had already found it? Nick picked his way down trying to remember the path he had taken. He remembered running and then falling. He searched the field and kept his eyes on the mountain. All that dodging and weaving to avoid being shot made it hard to remember. What if Whitney was still alive and he was wasting time looking for his gun?
“What good will it do if I can’t get to her in time? The killer probably took it already,” he muttered as he kept his eyes searching the ground for clues. His foot stepped into a hole and he almost fell. It looked like the same hole that had tripped him up last time. Nick dropped to his knees and searched the ground with his good hand.
“Yes! I can’t believe he left it.” His hand felt the sun baked steel at the same time he saw it. Why hadn’t the killer bothered to take it? “Maybe he just thinks I’m dead,” he told himself making a prayer out of it in the same breath. “Whitney, I’m coming.”
He stopped and thought about Whitney. If she was alive, she might be able to hear his thoughts. “Whitney! Whitney, I’m here! Hold on.” He heard nothing in response.
He climbed back toward the cave and held the gun with his left hand. Ears and eyes on high alert he ducked into the dark opening, stopping for a moment to let his eyes adjust. Treading lightly and slowly through the dark he slid against the rocks to find his way. When he felt the walls opening up he froze. This was the room where he’d found the boy. The killer could be sitting right there in the dark waiting for him. He slowed his breathing and listened.
“Whitney?” He didn’t make a sound, but he was shouting in his head. “Are you here?” No answer. His heart raced as his mind flashed with pictures of what he might find. He could hardly breathe as he felt his way across the room. She wasn’t there. The room was empty.
Nick continued to explore the room looking for anything that would lead him to Whitney. What he found was another small opening that led to different tunnel. After following it for a few feet he began to see light coming from the other end. He came out to a rocky ledge and stared down. They were nowhere to be seen. Nick sat down and leaned his back against the edge of the cave. He had to think. Where would he take her and where was the boy?
He lowered himself from the ledge and landed in the brush below. His pulse quickened when he saw the ATV tracks. Now he knew how the killer was getting around and he had something to follow. If they were already dead, the killer would have just left them in the cave. What did that psycho want with Whitney? Since it would be dark soon, he followed the trail as fast as he could go. After leaving the mountain he followed it a few miles into the woods, and then he had to stop. The trail converged with three or more ATV trails. He couldn’t tell which one the killer had taken.
The emotions of the day boiled up and he couldn’t hold it back any longer. His shoulders shook as he started silently weeping. He had failed her. “No,” he told himself. “She’s not dead yet. I would know it.” He sat down and wiped away the tears. “Whitney,” he yelled in his head, “can you hear me?” As soon as he got enough strength back he would pick a trail and go looking for her.
* * * *
Whitney woke hearing Nick shouting her name. She looked around for him, but he wasn’t there. She was still in the cabin, tied to a chair. She had fallen asleep again and had probably been dreaming.
The killer had brought the boy out and placed him on the couch in front of her. He was still tied with duct tape on his hands and feet. His shoes were missing, and his socks were filthy. He appeared to be sleeping. His color didn’t look very good. She wondered if he had been fed or given water over the last two days.
“Good morning sleeping beauty. Did you have a nice rest?” The form in front of her looked like a man, but he giggled like a child. “I’ve heard that using your abilities can really wear you out. Is that true?”
Whitney nodded and saw that the killer was still wearing a mask. “If you plan on killing us both, why are you afraid to let me see your face?”
“I’m not afraid of you,” he shot back sharply. “I just want to see what it takes for you to figure it out for yourself.”
He moved closer and bent toward her face. “Maybe you already know and you’re just not telling me. Do you know who I am?” The man kicked at her foot and made her jump.
Whitney shook her head no. “Is the boy alright? Has he had any food or water?”
“Don’t change the subject,” he said kicking her shin this time. “The boy is fine for now. He’s sleeping peacefully. Tell me who you think I am.” The killer moved back to get a chair and, placing it directly in front of her, he sat.
“I have no idea. I wish I did. I’d like to understand what makes you feel you have to do this,” Whitney said, eyes focused on the boy.
“I bet you would. But you’d never understand.” The man moved so that he blocked her view of the child. “You’ve been special all your life. All you had to do was read someone’s mind and you knew what it would take to win their favor. I’ve had to work for everything all my life. I’m making the way easier for others. You’re just a little diversion for me. I have to admit,” he said chuckling qu
ietly, “at first I was afraid of you. But now I realize I needed a little distraction. Everyone needs a hobby, right?”
Whitney could see this man was not quite rational. She wondered if he realized how unstable he appeared.
“When you were reading about the metaphysical world, did you learn what makes you able to block my abilities?”
“Some people can just do it. I’m quite intelligent you know. It’s probably easier for people with higher intelligence.”
“Is that what the books said?”
“No. I just figured that part out myself. Now, let’s get started with some experiments.”
Whitney tried to keep her breathing calm so the killer wouldn’t see how terrified she felt. She wasn’t interested in being experimented on and she was hoping it wouldn’t involve anything painful. She tried to open her mind to his vibrations.
She was desperate to find a way out. Why couldn’t she figure out his thoughts? Was it the strange vibrations from a deluded mind or was it her fear of tapping into that mind?
The killer could see her working on something, and he sat back and smiled. She was doing her part in the game without having to ask. He would wait to see what she could figure out before he started testing other areas. He decided to make it interesting, so he started thinking about killing her. Maybe if he got real excited, she would read the thoughts. He hadn’t given much thought to how he would do it. His mind had been focused on the knowledge he wanted to acquire first.
He pictured himself with a knife and pictured her reaction. The excitement of the power he held was making him hard. God, this was so good. With the boys he had felt compelled, but with her it was becoming something else. He looked her over and saw that she was a beautiful woman. Her smooth tan skin looked like it would feel so soft to touch. It had been so long since he had been with a woman. Actually, he had never really been with any woman, they had been just girls. He could picture himself removing her clothes and touching those breasts. Maybe he could convince her if she cooperated, he would let her live.
He smiled as he thought of the fun he could have experimenting with her in new ways. Maybe he would keep the boy around to watch first. If he killed him now, the woman would be less likely to cooperate. He wouldn’t lose track of his main objective, but he could have so much fun gaining all the data he needed. He couldn’t help laughing out loud.
Whitney had been concentrating on reading his thoughts. She could sense a feeling a sense of exhilaration coming off of him. He must be feeling quite powerful with his two victims so helpless. She couldn’t discern complete thoughts, but what she felt gave her a sense of dread. When he laughed out loud she was so startled she jumped. Whitney tried to will herself to stay calm.
“Maybe you’re right. You and the boy probably need some water. I’ll go get it and you just stay right there.” He laughed at his humor and walked into the kitchen.
At least he was helping them stay alive. She didn’t like thinking about what he planned, but she was hoping it would give her some other options. If she could only gain his trust enough to get out of this chair. “Nick, are you out there?”
* * * *
Nick had stopped for the night. He was huddled under a tree buried in pine needles and leaves. The extra clothes he had thrown on were helping, but it would get cold up in the mountains tonight. He was still weak from losing blood. He snacked on the protein bars and sipped the little water he had carried. He wasn’t strong enough to carry much, but he wished he’d found the flashlight. A fire would be nice, but he was afraid to risk it.
“Nick.”
He sat up so fast his arm slid off his chest and he yelped in pain. “Whitney, is that you?”
“Nick. It’s me. Thank God you’re alive.”
“You too baby. Are you okay? Has he hurt you?”
“I’m okay. The boy’s here too. We’re tied up in a cabin somewhere.”
“Do you have any idea where you are? How long did it take you to get there?
“I don’t know. I woke up here.”
“He shot you with some kind of dart gun. Is he there with you?”
“Yes. I won’t be able to talk to you when he comes back in the room. He keeps asking me questions.”
“That okay. Keep him talking. I’m on a trail following his tracks. He used an ATV. Can you tell where I am?
Whitney focused her mind. She could tell where she felt the vibrations, but she had no idea if it was north or south. She was completely lost.
“Nick. I can tell that you are still a ways away. But I can’t tell you which direction to go.”
“Just keep tabs on me, and I’ll try one of the trails. If you think I’m getting closer, let me know. If I seem farther, you can tell me that too.”
“Okay. Be careful. How badly are you hurt? You feel pretty weak.”
“Now that I know you’re okay, I’m feeling a hundred percent better. You just hang on and keep him busy.”
“Hurry Nick. I don’t know how much time we have.”
“I’m coming.”
Nick stood up and started walking. He waited for her to let him know if she felt any change.
“Whitney?” No answer. The killer must have walked back into the room. Nick bent down to check the trail. He had chosen the one with the freshest tracks. He thought he could see a smaller set of wheels following the ATV. It looked like it was pulling a small trailer. That made sense. He was using the trailer to carry his victims away. He started going faster feeling more certain he was on the right trail. The moon was bright enough that he could make out the silhouettes of the trees. He stumbled over the roots and rocks and tried to keep his balance. He lifted his feet higher while focusing on the faint light of the trail ahead.
* * * *
The killer walked back into the room and sat by the boy. He lifted his head and dribbled some water into Dustin’s mouth. Whitney could see him swallowing a little, but he coughed and choked on it. The killer patiently waited for the coughing to stop, and dribbled some more down his throat. Then he lifted up a glass of milk and dribbled that down his throat. When he was finished he brought another glass of water to Whitney.
“Why is he sleeping so much? What’d you do to him?”
“I’ve added a little sedative to his water. I wouldn’t want him waking up and letting you know my name.”
So the boy knew him. “How do I know you haven’t put that in my glass too?”
“Because I need you to be awake. I can’t learn anything with you sleeping, and it wouldn’t be any fun. Now drink this.” He tipped the edge of the glass toward her lips and Whitney sipped it. She couldn’t taste anything in it but it didn’t matter. She had no choice. She drank the water and it felt good on her parched throat.
“There, now you’re both all better. Let’s move on to business. Have you figured out my name yet?”
Whitney watched him placing the glasses on the coffee table. He was too slim to be Coach Hunter, and he was definitely a man. Ann Marie had been in jail when all this had happened, so it couldn’t be her anyway. His build was slight, but tall. She couldn’t think of anyone who fit his profile.
“I still have no idea. I’ve tried. I can sense your presence, but that’s about all. What would you like me to do now?”
“I’d like to try my meditation trick again and you let me know if it seems like I’ve gone away.” The man walked over to the desk and pulled out a black case. He walked over to a black leather chair and put himself in a reclined position. He pulled the machine out of his case and put on earphones and dark sunglasses. She watched as he turned it on and laid back.
Once she saw the lights flashing behind the glasses, she realized what he was doing. It was a light and sound machine. Some people thought the pulsing sounds and lights helped them meditate. She had never used one, but she had read about it. He lay quietly for about a while, but she could still sense his presence. He seemed quite excited to be the center of all this experimenting. Whitney tried to contact Nick
again.
“Nick.”
“Whitney, you okay?”
“Still here. You’re getting closer.”
“What’s happening there?”
“He’s trying to meditate.”
“Meditate? What the heck?”
“When we get out of this, I’ll tell you all about it. Be careful. I can tell you’re still quite weak.”
“I wish I could have called for help. Is there anything there you can use?”
Whitney looked around. “I don’t see a phone, but I’ve only been in this room. From the trees outside, I think we’re in the middle of nowhere. He may have a radio somewhere.”
Whitney could feel Nick’s exhaustion. His breathing was labored and he was in pain. She looked over at the masked figure in the chair.
“Nick. I think he’s sleeping.”
“Good, that’ll give me more time.”
“Listen, I don’t think he’s going to do anything right away. If I’m quiet maybe he’ll sleep a while. It’s late. He was probably up early this morning like we were. Why don’t you take a rest.”
“I can’t. I have to keep going.”
“Then what? How are you going to help me if you pass out before you get here? You won’t have enough strength to kill a flea if you do make it. I’ll let you know if I get into trouble. Take a nap and rest.”
Nick wanted to say no, but his body was giving out. He bent over to try and get his breath.
“Whitney, I can’t just leave you there.”
“I’ll let you know when he wakes up. I’m going to take a nap too. Do it Nick. Rest. I…”
“I love you too Whitney. Did you know that?”
“I was hoping. I love you. Now if you really love me, go to sleep.”
Nick tried to get comfortable. He’d take a fifteen minute nap and then get moving again. That was the first time they had spoken those words. Now that he had said them it felt bitter sweet. What if that was the first and last time he could tell her. He was determined not to let that happen, but his body won out over his mind and he drifted off to sleep.