She lost all sense of direction. Where was she?
Tears blurred the world around her. Abby scrubbed at them. All her fault. She’d been the one to sneak out of her house because she needed to unburden her heart.
She’d been so proud that she’d managed to open the window in her bedroom and climb down the old pine tree near it without so much as waking a soul.
Her mother had drilled into her head the dangers of sneaking out at night when Abby had done it before. Only her mother had no idea how many times she’d done just that after their talk.
She should’ve taken her mother’s warning seriously.
Abby ducked behind another tree and stopped to listen. How close was the person following her?
It took everything inside her to step from the hiding place.
Go. Move. Don’t stay here.
With her heart thundering in her chest, she kept trudging through the snow.
But she had no idea where she was and very little was visible through the whiteout.
Tears poured from her eyes. Sticking to her face. Blinding her vision. She was lost and someone was coming after her. What if it was Charlie? Maybe Charlie came to her house to meet up instead of the bridge.
Relief flooded her limbs. That had to be it. Charlie was following her, probably wondering why she was running.
She turned. “Charlie? Is that you?”
No answer. A noise to her left had her jerking around. She squinted through the storm. Was that a flashlight?
No!
Abby ran. As fast as the deep snow would allow. She hated Colorado. When they were old enough, she and Charlie were going to drive to California and never look back.
Her footsteps stumbled on a fallen branch. She tumbled down into a ravine filled with a partially frozen stream. The ice cracked and freezing water poured over her covering her jacket and clothes.
Screaming, Abby clawed at the nearby snow-covered terrain until she had her feet under her.
She glanced over her shoulder. The light was closer weaving through the woods. Following her footprints.
Her teeth chattered from the wet clothes and the cold seeping into her bones so much that she was certain her pursuer would find her by the noise alone.
She wouldn’t die out here. Not like this. Not with her heart burdened with guilt.
Abby grabbed hold of the frozen earth of the ravine’s bank and fought her way up to the top.
A terrifying thought occurred, and she searched her pockets only to realize she’d lost her phone. She had no way to call for help.
It had to be well after midnight. By now, Charlie would have called her parents and they the police. People were looking for her. It was only a matter of time. She just had to stay hidden for a little longer.
Abby stumbled along. Putting one foot in front of the other, she reached what appeared to be something different. The area was cleared of trees. She realized this was the road. She’d made a full circle and was back on the road again!
She could walk easier on the flat surface. Maybe someone would happen along and save her.
As she walked, Abby imagined sitting in front of a warm fire safe and secure from this nightmare.
A smile played on her lips.
Keep walking. You’ve got this.
Abby struggled to control her breathing. She didn’t want to give away her location. The person following her would have to find another way across the water, right? They wouldn’t want to get wet like her. That would buy her some time.
