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“That’s it, open your fucking eyes!”
“Ann?” my voice comes out as a rasp.
“I can’t do this by myself, Dad. You need to help me.”
“Do what?”
“I’m sorry.”
Ann digs her finger into my shoulder. Pain spears through my chest, and I sit upright.
“Fuck!”
“I said I was sorry. Come on, soldier, on your feet.”
With my good arm slung over her shoulder, we manage to get me into a standing position. The world spins, and I lean heavily on her.
“Dad, they’ve been scouting the woods for you. I have no freaking idea how they didn’t find you, but we need to keep moving.”
“Do we know who they are?”
“Men with guns? Who the fuck cares? We’ve gotta move.”
My legs feel like jelly as Ann drags me through the woods. I have my eyes closed, knowing she’ll lead the way. After what feels like hours, I collapse at the edge of a field.
“No, no, no. Dad, you’ve got to get up.”
“C-Can’t.”
“Fuck.” Opening my eyes, Ann has both hands fisted into her hair. She’s not looking at me, but out across a field in front of us.
“Stay here. Don’t you fucking die on me,” she hisses before she runs away.
The only noise around me is the sound of crickets in the air. There seem to be so many of them.It’s the wrong time of year for them, isn’t it?It’s my last thought as the dark takes over, and I’m finally at peace.
Ann
The trek across the field to the car and Simon was fraught with danger. It meant me being out in the open, but I had no choice. I’ve never been so thankful to another person when I came upon Simon pacing up and down, waiting for us.
“What the hell happened, Ann? Where’s your dad?”
Breathing heavily, I climb into the driver’s seat and start the car. “He’s on the other side of the field.”
Simon gets into the passenger side. I don’t wait for him to shut the door before I push the accelerator to the floor and drive at a reckless speed toward my dad.
“For fuck’s sake, slow down and turn on the headlights!”
“Can’t, he’s injured and being pursued.”
Simon scrambles between the seats and pulls out a first-aid kit. “How bad?”
“He’s lost a lot of blood. I think he’s been shot twice, and he’s got a graze on his head.”
Slamming on the brakes, I put the car in park and jump out. Simon follows me. Even in the dark, Dad looks pale. Simon drops down beside him, putting his ear to Dad’s face.
“He’s still breathing. Let’s get him into the back of the car.”
Opening the back door of the old back Escalade, it flies up in the air, and together, we bundle Dad into it. Simon moves the back seats so they’re lying flat, then he climbs in beside Dad.
