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Get off the trail. It’s too easy to track you if you stick to the worn path.
She eyed the surrounding trees, the shadowy hillside, the unknown. Could she risk it? Biting her lip, she strained to hear. Was the thing closer? Had it given up? Was it even now waiting farther down the hill, ready to ambush her?
If only she had her damned phone! She could call or text, use her GPS to find out where she was or get hold of someone to help her, even if she had to call her older brother and listen to him read her the riot act. It didn’t matter.
Damn it, why had she listened to stupid Maddie and come up here?
Frustrated and sucking in her breath, she stuck to the path. She figured she was more than halfway down the hillside, and it was easier to slide down than climb up. Besides, the last time she’d seen the creature, it had been higher up. Once she reached the bottom, she would follow the creek, knowing that it would lead back to the Long property. From there, given enough moonlight, she could make her way home and hopefully sneak back into the house.
And tell no one? You’re scraped and bruised and probably have a sprained ankle or worse. Mom will find out. And what about that thing, the massive creature that chased you? Are you just going to forget about that, too? Get real, Bianca.
Battling tears, she kept on.
Another growl.
So close!
She jumped, scrambling faster, losing her footing on the gravel again.
“Shit!”
Down she went, her feet sliding out from under her as she began to roll down the hillside, the world dark and spinning. Scrabbling to grab hold of anything solid, she tumbled over rocks and twigs and pine cones that scraped and cut her bare arms and legs. She couldn’t help the cry that escaped her as she wildly grasped for grass or roots or shrubbery, something that would slow her plummet to the bottom of the ravine. Her heart was thudding, her mind spinning, her fingers bleeding, nails splitting as she clawed into the dry earth.
Oh, God, please help me!
Clunk! Her wrist banged into a scraggly sapling. “Yeeooow!” she cried, barreling downward, bouncing and spinning until suddenly she stopped, her body landing at the bottom of the chasm, dust and pine cones flying as she skidded over a bank and into a shallow creek. Cool water slid beneath her.
“Oooh.” The sound came from her own parched throat. She tried to lift her head, to get her bearings, but the world was spinning, starlit sky moving wildly, her vision swimming, her balance off.
Don’t stop! Get up. It’s still out there.
Dizzy, she attempted to focus. Her hair was wet, curls moving with the slow current. Pain wracked her body, and she coughed and snorted dust.
On your feet, Bianca!
Her mind was screaming at her, but she was woozy, her entire body aching. Bruises, she felt, were forming as she gazed upward to the stars far, far away, winking in the heavens. A thin veil of clouds scudded across the moon. The vision of the heavens was surreal, a balm over her pain.
For the love of God, you can’t just lie here!
Move!
It’s coming!
Her mind was screaming at her, yelling at her to get her battered body moving again. Water splashed against her legs and torso. With what she considered a monumental effort, she lifted her head, pain searing through her brain. Oh, God, was she seriously hurt? And where was the beast, that horrid monster with its bad breath, gold eye, and hairy arms? She squinted into the surrounding scrub brush and trees as she moved her arms and legs.
She saw nothing. No huge, towering Neanderthal. Heard not a whisper over the gurgle of the creek, water sliding over stones.
Thank God.
But he’s out there. Get up! Get out of here! Follow the creek back to the old Long logging camp. From there, you can get home.
But the others? Maddie . . .
Forget them. Forget her. Get the hell out. NOW!
She listened again, her ears straining, all her senses on alert. She noticed a weird, rotting smell. A skunk spray? The creature’s breath. Oh, dear God—
Something slimy slid over her leg.
