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I will escape.
We all will.
Another earring.
I pocket this one too, thrilled that we’re definitely on the right trail. We’re getting closer. I can feel it deep in my bones. Soon, I’ll have them all back.
My mind still reels with Rowdy’s confession a couple of nights ago. He slept with a man. Not just any man, but Wild’s cousin, Evan.
Maybe there could be some acceptance in our family.
At least Rowdy would understand Ronan’s desires and my complicated attraction to both males and females.
A sharp whistle ahead has me abandoning the replaying of my conversation with Rowdy. I catch up with Wild and we both trot over to the clearing near a creek where Rowdy waits. He’s crouched, investigating something on the ground.
“What is it?” I ask, peering over his shoulder.
“Puke.” He points at the mess that swarms with flies. “Can’t be more than a couple of days old.”
“We’re close,” Wild says, grinning at me. “Thank fuck.”
Relief floods through me as I survey the abandoned camp. They didn’t do as good of a job covering their tracks, which means they’re getting careless. Enough time has passed that they think they’ve gotten away with the abduction of my family.
We’re still here. Still hunting.
Getting closer and closer by the day.
The gap is nearly closed.
Thunder rumbles in the distance as I notice a breeze that smells like rain. Traveling in the rain won’t be fun, but we will be able to move quicker. The sounds of thunder and rain will mask our own trek. Plus, the weather will stall the big group ahead of us. Rain is good news.
Wild wanders over a hill to where the babbling creek can be heard while Rowdy creeps around the perimeter, no doubt looking for our next direction.
Something flutters near the charred logs leftover from the fire. I find myself fixated on it and make my way over to it. At first, I think it’s a small animal with dark hair. I’m trying to figure out what kind of animal has hair like this when I notice the binding around it.
The same one Raegan uses to tie her hair back.
My stomach lurches with worry. They cut her hair. Those fuckers cut her hair. Is she okay? Did they cut anything else off?
Images of them removing her fingers or tongue molest my mind. Bile surges up my throat and I puke not far from where the last person did. I spit out the bitterness before scooping up the bundle of her hair. Bringing it to my nose, I inhale her lingering familiar scent.
Fuck.
Please, Rae, be okay.
Wild or Rowdy calls out something, their tone panicked, but I’m unable to focus on anything but the hair in my fist tickling over my skin. For as far back as I can remember, my sister has had thick, long tresses. One of my favorite things about her is the way her ponytail swishes back and forth when she walks.
It’s all gone.
Just like she is.
“Dude,” Wild grunts, grabbing me by my backpack and hauling me to my feet. “What part of ‘bear’ do you not understand?”
I follow his hand that’s pointing to a grizzly pawing at the remains of something gory just beyond the trees surrounding the camp. Rowdy off to my right has his rifle pointed at the bear, motioning to where we need to go behind him. With slow, measured movements, me and Wild make our way over to Rowdy. If he has to shoot the bear and the kidnappers are close, we’ll give away our element of surprise.
Fucking bear.
The bear lets out a guttural warning growl as it stands over the mound of remains. It eyes us, teeth bared and slobber running from its mouth. He’s protecting his find from other would-be hunters like ourselves.
