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I moved toward the house, turning my flashlight off.
What did I have on my body?
I’d only brought a blanket and the solar light, but that was too small, too flimsy.
The flashlight was all I had.
I kept it gripped in my hand, my arms loose at my sides so I wasn’t locked up.
Step by step, my heart pounding louder and louder in my eardrums, I edged toward the house.
When I got past the shed, I stopped and exclaimed my relief. There was no new vehicle, but a light was on upstairs in the house. It had been Vicky and Howard getting a ride back. The car must’ve left when I was leaving the coop, but then why were the ladies going crazy?
Was there something inside the coop and I hadn’t realized?
Oh, God. Miss Sylvia Rivera hadn’t wanted me to leave. Maybe it’d been just outside, and I was the one who let it in?
Horror speared me. I turned to run back to the coop—but a hand wrapped around my arm and pulled me back.
I screamed, reacting on instinct. I twisted my arm down and out of their grasp and swung with the other one, the one holding my flashlight.
“Hey—whoa!” a male voice barked as he twisted to catch my other arm right before the flashlight would’ve hit his head. His face scrunched up in anger and he shoved me back, taking several steps away from me. He held both hands up in surrender. “Hold on. It’s me, Travis. I’m not here to attack you.”
Travis.
Not…whoever I thought it might be. I jerked backwards, bent over and sucked in some air before I was steady enough to speak. “Holy shit, Travis! Holy shit!” I shook my head and pretended to hit him with the flashlight. “Announce yourself. Jesus”
He laughed but kept an eye on the flashlight. “I thought you’d be in bed. I pulled in and shit went nuclear in the coop. I thought maybe a coyote was trying to get in or something.”
“No. Or…” I looked back. They were still worked up. “I don’t think so.” I walked back that way and I went in through the cage first, so if the hens ran out, they still wouldn’t be loose. Travis was right behind me.
I threw open the inside door, and the hens ran out. Every single one of them.
I wasn’t able to count them, but I went inside, my heart in my throat about what I was going to find. But there was nothing. No predator inside at all.
“Are you here about Brett? I fell asleep in the coop. I haven’t checked my phone. Is he okay?” I looked around. “Is he here with you? Wait…” Where was his truck?
Travis stood in the middle of the cage, the hens running around him, and he had the coldest look on his face.
A chill went down my spine. “Travis?”
He continued to stare at me, hard. He looked like a stranger.
I didn’t know this Travis.
A chill sliced through my whole body, and pieces began connecting to one another.
“Travis? Is Brett okay?”
He’d been interested in me for a long time.
But no… The killings had started north in the Midwest, leaving a trail to here.
The truck on the road, the guy watching…
I would’ve recognized Travis. Wouldn’t I?
“Little Billie, you need to know my secret.” My mom’s voice came to me, echoing through my mind. I frowned. Why was I remembering her at this moment?
