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At the end of the trail, beyond the tree line, I slowly turn on the spot, taking in the view. The mountain ridge that continues from where I’m standing. The forest. The flat stretch of ranches and farmlands to the west.
It truly is breathtaking up here.
Breathtaking and extremely windy. Loose tendrils of hair whip in my face, and the force of the wind causes me to take a half step back.
I stand on the spot for a few more minutes, then remove my water from my pack. I drink some of it, snack on the small amount of food I brought with me, and start back down the trail. My phone battery is nearly dead because I’ve taken so many photos, and I don’t have enough supplies to survive if I’m stuck up here. And I really don’t want to become the next victim Troy and his crew need to rescue.
I carefully navigate my way down the hiking path, relieved to have the shelter of the pine trees once I’m in the forest again. I don’t see anyone as I descend, and there aren’t any vehicles in the parking lot when I arrive, other than Troy’s truck. Dark clouds gather overhead, carrying with them the threat of a storm. The wind is now as strong here as it was on the ridge.
The rain starts coming down hard as I drive along the road leading to Maple Ridge. On the far side of the road, the shoulder is met by a steep embankment. A peaceful mix of forest and grass and wildflowers skirts the road on the passenger side. The road ahead and behind me is empty of cars. It’s like I’m the only person out here.
A Pushing Limits song is playing on the radio. One of my favorite songs of theirs. I sing along with the lyrics.
A deer darts from out of nowhere, leaping over the railing separating the grass from the road, and lands in front of the truck.
I jerk the steering wheel hard to the left and slam my foot on the brake, trying to avoid the poor animal. But the road is now slick and there’s not enough braking room between me and the far metal railing. Troy’s truck crashes through it with a terrifying crunch and continues down the embankment.
Screams fill the cab. My screams. Loud and piercing. And never-ending. I’m jostled like a rag doll, and the truck flips onto its side. Airbags deploy. Something hits my head hard.
Troy’s face flashes in my mind. His smile when he sees me. His kind and supportive words. The feel of his lips against mine.
And the world goes black.
To Be Continued in ONE MORE BETRAYAL...
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