AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Josie said, “Did you see him?”
Savannah shook her head slowly. “Not his face or anything. I just saw…like, something move. He was wearing yellow, like a yellow shirt or jacket or something.”
Josie released Savannah’s other shoulder, attempting to give the girl some space, but Savannah kept her hands clamped over Josie’s wrist. “Savannah, can you tell us what happened?”
Standing several feet away from them, Luke shifted from foot to foot. “Josie,” he said. “It will be dark before we know it. We should get going.”
She silenced him with a raised palm, keeping her eyes on Savannah. Though the sun was fading, they still had a couple of hours before it turned completely dark.
“We were walking,” said the girl. “I was scared of the Woodsman. I get nightmares a lot. I usually go into Kayleigh’s room at night, and she hugs me in bed until I fall back to sleep. She always said he wasn’t real, but I didn’t believe her. Last night I had another bad dream and so I went into her room again. In the morning, Mom and Dad were out. Kayleigh said she would prove to me that the Woodsman wasn’t real. We could go for a walk in the woods together and she could show me there was no one out here. We walked and walked and walked. I stopped to pick a flower and when I turned around, she was gone. I yelled her name and then I heard all this noise.”
“What kind of noise?” asked Josie.
“Like trees breaking or something,” Savannah replied. “And Kayleigh screamed.”
“Could you see her?”
She shook her head. “I couldn’t tell where she was. I looked around and around, but I didn’t see her. But then, between these two trees, I saw this huge guy run across. He had on a yellow shirt or something. Maybe a jacket—oh! And blue jeans! I saw his blue jeans!”
“That’s good,” Josie said. “What else can you tell me?”
“I heard Kayleigh again. She said, ‘He’s got me! He’s got me!’ and then she screamed for me to run so I did. I just ran and ran and ran until I couldn’t hear her anymore. I fell. Three times. I got scared. I didn’t know which way was the right way or the way back to the house and I was afraid if I kept going, he would get me, too, so I hid under that tree.”
Under his breath, Luke muttered, “Good lord.”
Josie patted Savannah’s hands. “I’m glad you told me. You did a good job. I just have a few more questions.”
“Josie,” Luke protested.
Blue grunted.
“Quick ones,” Josie said as Savannah’s grip tightened on her wrist. “Do you know how long ago this happened?”
Savannah stared at her, uncomprehending. Josie remembered how bad Harris was at estimating time at this age and rephrased. “You said you walked and walked and walked before this happened. Had you stopped at all before that? To rest or anything?”
Savannah shook her head.
“So you didn’t need a rest before that?”
Another headshake.
“Good,” said Josie. “Do you have any idea what part of the woods this happened in?”
“I don’t know the parts of the woods,” Savannah said, her voice almost a whisper.
Josie smiled. “Your parents said you and Kayleigh walk out here sometimes. Are there any markers—certain trees or rocks—that you recognize or use to tell how far from home you are or where in the forest you are?”
“I don’t know. Kayleigh usually knows where we are. Well, sometimes we get lost, but she always finds the way back to the house.”
“Okay,” Josie said. “You’re doing great, Savannah. One more question. What was Kayleigh wearing today when you two left the house?”
“Um, shorts. Black ones, and her blue hoodie.”
“Under her hoodie?” asked Josie.
Savannah’s lower lip trembled. “I don’t remember.”
“That’s okay, that’s all right,” Josie said quickly. “How about her shoes?”
