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Sadie dug farther into the dirt, only taking breaks to drink water. She imagined digging her way into this deep abyss to find rib cages holding bloody hearts or skulls with fresh eyes still in their sockets. Yet there were the shadows that swirled in the dirt around her, never stopping, not even as nightfall descended and the quiet shifted into nature’s noise and vibrato once more.
The hole grew wider, and the flashlights shone above her where she’d set them out around the edge of the dirt. It was as if she was standing inside her own grave.
Her muscles cramped, her fingers locking as she tossed out one final clump of dirt. The chilly night air blew down on her, and she dropped the shovel, her body swaying. Reaching up, she grabbed a flashlight and the sack of food she’d brought from inside the cabin, finally taking a break to eat dinner. Dirt and sweat covered most of her body, but she was too exhausted to care. The digging was getting nowhere, and really, how far should she keep going? To the center of the Earth? Dig through to the other side of the world to see if the shadows would still follow? If she knew she could get answers, she would dig forever. Too tired to climb out, she sank to the ground, leaning against the dirt wall so she wouldn’t collapse.
Sadie inhaled deeply, catching her breath as she flexed aching, blistered fingers. She lifted the flashlight, watching as the shadows moved around the dirt.
“Can you tell me why I’ve smelled River several times now?” she whispered.
Taking out an apple from inside the plastic bag, she pierced its skin with her teeth, the sweet flavor bringing a hint of strength back to her. She checked her phone, seeing missed texts from Skyler and Charlie. It was almost midnight, and she would message them both back in the morning. She didn’t know if they had an early shift or were together, and she sure as hell didn’t want to interrupt them having sex.
Sadie finished the apple and tossed the core into the plastic bag. Exhaustion washed over her, and she didn’t think her aching limbs could lift her from the hole.
She was about to push herself up and collapse on the porch swing with a heavy blanket to sleep, since she was too tired to shower, when honey and sandalwood invaded the small space. With a gasp, she pointed the flashlight around the hole, but it was empty. Not even a single shadow slid against the dirt. Only River’s heavenly scent, becoming stronger, intoxicating.
Pressing a hand to the dirt, Sadie murmured, “Are you in here?” Were River’s ashes somehow speaking to her in this manner?
Her eyes fluttered shut momentarily as she waited when a light stirring filled the air, the wind blowing stronger, making her teeth chatter. A tinkling entangled with a soft melody that grew louder, bolder. It was the same dark song as in her dreams. Or was she dreaming now? She had to be awake, her heart dancing inside her rib cage, harder, fiercer. But if she wasn’t, she would find a way not to fall through the darkness.
Shoving herself from the ground, Sadie gripped the hole’s edges and pulled herself out. Her chest heaved while she took in breaths on all fours before relaxing to her knees.
Swishing sounded from behind her, and she whirled in its direction. She grabbed one of the flashlights, pointing its light around the woods.
“Are you there?” Sadie called into the darkness. “Whoever you are, just show yourself to me. If it’s help you want, I can try to do that.” Although she wasn’t sure what she could even do to help anyone, but if it was River… She swore to herself if it was him, she would follow him wherever he led her. It didn’t matter if it was to a bottomless pit of flames, she would. And then she could find out why he left, why he couldn’t confess to her his hidden truth.
Only the deep and alluring melody of the wind continued to speak, to sing, violins and flutes melding into one. Strange clicking sounds reverberated through the trees, seeming to come from everywhere. Hand trembling, she lifted the light to the oak tree, the carved names on the trunk were moving. Her eyes widened—not only the names but the entirety of the trunk. When she peered around, it was all of the trees. Their bodies expanded and deflated as if they were breathing. The noise was coming from inside the trees.
“What’s happening?” she breathed, goosebumps collecting along her flesh, the hairs at the back of her neck rising.
As another gust of breeze blew past her, it seemed to whisper, “My sweet nightmare, follow them.”
Sadie stumbled, her back slamming into a tree, its bark rising and falling against her. She pushed away from it, and in the distance, two bright white orbs caught her attention. Flashing, then remaining lit.
Covering her mouth, she squinted as more lights appeared. Follow was what she was supposed to do. Follow was what she had wanted to do the past two nights. So far, the ground stayed whole, not vanishing below her feet. These otherworldly occurrences didn’t frighten her—instead, they called to her very heart, her being.
She stepped forward as unintelligible whispering echoed, the trees seeming to discuss with one another in a secret language.
Sadie walked toward the lights, but the closer she came to them, the farther they went back, making it appear as though she’d never catch up.
She squeezed the flashlight while skirting around trees, the whispering unfurling inside her ears. As her desperation grew, the orbs of light halted, and as they finally allowed her to catch up, the white glowed a brilliant orange inside of lanterns. Behind them, more flickered to life, the light inside swaying in the same direction, guiding her to where they wanted her to go.
Charlie’s voice shouted in Sadie’s head for her to turn back, to leave the cabin and woods behind. But she couldn’t, wouldn’t. Not when whatever she was following could possibly lead her to River’s spirit. It wasn’t only his scent she’d smelled, but the name he’d called her had drifted with the wind. An inkling coursed through her that she was about to uncover something, and there would be no turning back.
Ducking below several low-hanging branches, she followed the eerie glow of the lanterns, casting their wavering shadows. Up in the trees, hundreds of white moths rested, their wings unmoving as if they were studying her. They were the ones she’d seen above her the previous night when she’d fallen. Beneath the silvery light of the moon, silhouettes glided along the trees, the ground. Her heart beat rapidly, fighting to break out of her chest.
And then, a dark form stepped from behind a trunk. As the light caught on it, the creature edged toward her. It was the same one that had been in her last dream. Dark fur covered its muscular body, and two sets of alabaster horns spiraled atop its goat skull. Its hands and feet were skeletal, pure bone. The creature lifted an alabaster digit, motioning her forward as it had before, this time through an area where vines hung like a curtain.
But this creature wasn’t alone—from the trees, figures slinked out as shadows, then changed into whole forms. The shadows were these creatures… Their heads were various animal skulls. Antelope, cows, deer, horses, and others she couldn’t name. Their hands and feet were all human bone, the rest of their bodies furred except for their skeletal tails. Perspiration dotted her brow and upper lip, her heart pounding faster when they each pointed in the same direction as the first creature, their heads bowed.
Sadie didn’t dare close her eyes, for fear everything before her would vanish, that the melody would halt its enchanting sound. Something about these creatures reminded her of the sculptures River would make, as if he were speaking through them somehow.
“Thank you,” Sadie said to them, even though she wasn’t sure what she would uncover. She pushed the hanging vines aside and slipped through.
The trees on the other side formed a circle, their trunks gently moving, inhaling, exhaling. Lit lanterns dangled from their limbs. And then, as if by dark magic, a fire ignited in the middle of the space, its flames black and orange, licking across the logs to highlight a circular opening in the ground.
The goat-skulled creature stepped out from behind her, the flames illuminating the hollow black spaces of its sockets.
“Why did you lead me to this spot? Is River here? Or is it someone else?” she asked, unable to read anything from the creature’s neutral expression.
