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I shake my head. “No, but I heard something. Like something heavy stepping on a branch.”
We stay where we are, each of us straining our ears to catch another sound. It’s like the whole forest in frozen, holding its breath, waiting for our next move. Only the familiar rush of the river meets my ears.
“Well, we can’t stand here forever,” Reed says. “Whatever it was must have gone in the opposite direction. We need to keep moving. Just stay alert.”
I start to doubt myself. Had I really heard something, or had it been my imagination? I’ll admit that I’m pretty wired, leaving the cabin to hike into the wilderness. I’m hyperaware of all the dangers that lie out here for us, and I’m terrified one or more of us won’t make it. I keep reminding myself that we won’t make it if we remain in the cabin over winter and that we have no choice but to move, but that doesn’t make it any less terrifying.
We get back on the move.
“You know what I’m most looking forward to when we reach home?” I say. “Real coffee.”
“Hell, yeah,” agrees Cade.
“You’ll be wanting coffee, too, won’t you, Darius?” I call to him. “Black with no sugar, I remember.”
Cade glances to Darius and snorts. “Black with no sugar? That’s not how Dax drinks it. He’s one of those freaking half skim soya latte orders.”
“You are?” I realize something and laugh. “So, I’m not a coffee psychic, then?”
Darius grimaces. “Afraid not.”
He’d just said it to make me feel better. Or maybe he’d been embarrassed about his half skim soya latte? Either way, I think it’s cute.
Cade is leading us now, his head down, shoulders broad. I distract myself by watching the way the muscles of his back move beneath the thin material of his t-shirt. His brother sticks close by him. This isn’t easy for Darius, but he doesn’t complain. I’m frightened enough by what lies ahead, and I can see. I can’t imagine being Darius, hiking into unknown territory. I appreciate how he and Cade work together, though, the synchronicity they have. Darius trusts Cade completely, and any time we reach an area that’s harder to navigate—with fallen branches or rocky ground—Cade tells Darius. Darius then places his hand on Cade’s shoulder and allows his brother to guide him through.
While of course I want us to reach safety, I’m also worried about what will happen when we’re back in normal society.
Darius suddenly stops. “Did you hear voices?”
“Voices?” I echo.
“Are you hearing things now, Dax?” Cade teases. “Voices in your head telling you what to do?”
But Darius doesn’t laugh. Lines appear between his brows, and he gives his head a slight shake. “I could have sworn I heard someone speaking.”
“Could it have been the wind in the trees?” I suggest. “Sometimes it sounds like whispering.”
His lips tighten. “I don’t think so.”
Another thought occurs to me. “What if it’s a search and rescue team? What if they’re still looking for us?”
Hope blooms inside me. If we’ve been found, then we won’t have this terrifying hike ahead of us.
Are we about to be rescued?
I lift my face to the sky. “Hello? Is anyone out there?”
Reed catches my arm. “Laney, stop it.”
“Why? What if Darius is right and he did hear someone? They’ll be able to help us.”
The others join in, shouting ‘help!’ and ‘we’re over here!’ Then we fall silent, listening intently again. No response comes. All I can hear is the twittering of birds, buzzing of insects, and the constant rush of the nearby river. The hope I’d felt a moment ago dies as quickly as it arrived. No one is out here except us. Darius must have been mistaken.
Reed has clearly come to the same conclusion. “Let’s keep going.”
We all nod, put our heads back down, and keep walking. Though we’re worried about winter drawing in, I’m glad it’s fall now, and not summertime. At least it’s not too hot, or that would make the hike even harder.
I call up to Cade, “Are we going to—”
