Page 95 of Into the Mist

“Yeah, we are, but not too far for us to walk—even if I’m not very steady on my feet. There—take this right,” said Ford, “and pretty soon we should come to a small, overpass-like bridge. Here’s hoping it’s still standing.”

“I see it! It’s just after that big clump of pines,” said Mercury. “Careful, looks like several of them have splintered.”

“Yeah, I see ’em,” said Stella. “I can take the ditch to get around them.”

“The bridge is still standing! That’s a relief,” said Ford. “My idea is to have you pull off the road and park under the bridge. It goes over Willow Creek, which winds through Madras. The creek is pretty intermittent and dries out a lot, especially in the summer. It hasn’t been raining long, so I figured it wouldn’t be too swollen.”

“I think I can pull off on the right side. Doesn’t look too steep. Mercury, maybe you should get out and scout down there, though, and see if there’s anywhere for me to park under the bridge.”

“No problem.” Mercury left the truck and made her way down a gentle incline that led to a shallow creek. She felt a wave of relief as she studied the area under the bridge, and then returned quickly to the truck. “It’s perfect—just like underneath a highway overpass. There’s a cement section down there where you can park the truck. The creek has water in it, but it’s shallow—nothing like that river back on 26. And I didn’t see any sign of green fog, but if you back the truck in, you could park it so that it’d be positioned to get the hell out fast.”

“Good idea,” said Stella, who expertly guided the truck down the incline and then backed it under the bridge and parked it where it was securely out of the rain and poised to be driven away.

The kids were awake, but sleepy-eyed. They yawned and stretched as everyone climbed out of the truck, but unlike normal six-year-olds under normal circumstances, the boys didn’t need to be told to stay close. They remained in their sister’s shadow—and their sister stuck to Imani like a refrigerator magnet. But Mercury had nodoubt which twin was Cayden. Wherever she was, she felt his intense gaze following her.

“Okay, let’s get our backpacks on and head to the heart of town,” said Mercury.

Stella spoke to the three kids. “It’s going to seem like a long way, but once we get there, we’ll be able to rest. And if we don’t like it in Madras, don’t worry. We’ll leave. That’s why we’re not taking the truck with us—so that no one can take our wheels and stop us from leaving.”

The twins huddled closer to their big sister, who draped her arms protectively around their shoulders. “But what if the people there won’t let us leave? What if they try to take us away from you?”

Cayden nodded his head emphatically and stared at Mercury as his eyes filled with tears.

“You know I’m superhero strong, right?” Mercury asked all three kids, but her gaze remained on the twin she thought of as her special boy.

The three children nodded.

“Well, I give you my word: I won’t let anyone take you away from us,” said Mercury.

Georgie blinked fast as she attempted to keep frightened tears from spilling down her round cheeks. “Okay, we’ll try really hard to keep up with you and to be really good.”

“I need to speak with the adults—all of you. Over here. Gemma, would you stay with the kids?” Imani asked. Gemma nodded, and then Imani turned and marched several yards, with the adults following her.

“What is it?” Mercury asked.

“The kids need to stay here. They’re terrified—again—and this is one terror too many in a long list of what they’ve already been through to survive. Stella, you don’t think this is our permanent place?” Imani said.

Stella nodded. “I still have the feeling that we’re not staying here, but I can’t tell why.”

“Then what’s the point of dragging three exhausted, traumatized children into town? I’m one hundred percent against it,” Imani said firmly.

Mercury let out a long breath. “I can’t say I disagree with you. Would you want to stay here with the kids?” she asked Imani.

“Absolutely.”

“Stella?” Mercury turned to her friend.

“It would definitely be easier to get in and out of town without kids. Anyone who wants to stay with the truck and wait for us to come back should stay,” said Stella.

“I should go to Madras with you,” said Ford.

“Yeah, thanks. We seriously won’t know our way around without you guiding us,” said Mercury.

“No problem. I’m more than willing.” He smiled at Mercury.

“I refuse to remain here.” Karen’s thin lips disappeared as she pressed them into a colorless line.

“Karen, no one is excluding you,” said Mercury.