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Darian’s muscles ripple along his arms as he lifts the heavy lid of the casket, the worn hinges protesting the movement with a loud snap. He forces the lid open, and the rattling sound reverberates around us, echoing through the cemetery.
My pulse races.
It feels like we’re in the final sprint, an excited apprehension fills my veins at the relief in sight once we get the amulet.
My excitement is muted as the putrid scent of decay and rot fills the air, causing bile to rise in my throat.
My eyes are drawn to the decomposed corpse resting in the center of the casket. Its skeletal frame ravaged by time, with remnants of decayed flesh clinging to the bones. Nestled in the gap between two of the higher ribs, just below the sternum is the rounded top of the amulet.
In the distance blue and red lights flash in my peripherals, accompanied by the growing sound of an approaching engine.
“There’s someone coming,” I whisper urgently, and my heart pounds faster in my chest.
Darian quickly bends down, retrieving the amulet as the chain tears through brittle fragments of neck bone before striding to the side of the hole.
With minimal effort, he pulls himself over the edge and extends the object toward me. My fingers fumble as I rush to unclaspmy necklace, adding the newest amulet to my collection, letting out a relieved sigh.
As I clasp the chain back around my neck, the flickering lights draw closer to the spot where we left the SUV and dread pools in my stomach.
The engine abruptly cuts off, plunging the area into silence until voices echo through the air from the opposite direction and my heart nearly stops in my chest.
There’s no way out.
My pulse races, and I look to Darian in desperation.
He has a plan, right?
He must have a plan.
His jaw pulsates as he scans the area, his eyes flicking back and forth in search of a solution before addressing me, “Lara you need to go. They won’t know anyone was helping me because there’s only one shovel.”
He gestures toward a shadowed section of the cemetery, his grip firm on my arm as he guides me with a sense of urgency.
“Head that way until you find the fence, follow it until you find the back exit.”
Shouts from behind us and the sound of a barking dog grab Darian’s attention, but he doesn’t pause as he continues, “The exit will be locked but there’s headstones near the fence that’s might be tall enough to climb over the gate. I’ll get their attention to buy you time.”
“But-” I start to voice my protest, the rush of adrenaline making my heart thump in my chest as he interrupts me.
“Go, Lara. Go!” He demands and shoves me gently into the darkness, the abrupt movement nearly causing me to stumble. I watch with wide eyes as he jogs toward the approaching police and K-9 Unit.
The shouts grow louder as they undoubtedly spot Darian, and I watch their flashlights illuminate his form as he bursts into a sprint, leading them away from me.
My heart lurches in my chest but the barking spurs me into motion.
I scramble to my feet, running in the direction he originally sent me.
I refuse to let Darian’s efforts be in vain.
My leg muscles turn to jelly and my chest heaves with exertion by the time I reach the fence line and the barking fades away.
No one seems to be following me as I cautiously make my way in the darkness until I stand before a small closed gate, just wide enough for a riding mower to pass through. Just beyond it are headstones, some over a foot taller than the others, positioned right next to the fence.
Standing next to the most imposing headstone, it appears almost insurmountably tall, but it will give me the best chance to get over the 12-foot fence.
I make three failed attempts to hoist myself on top, losing grip each time and sliding roughly to the ground as the fatigue from the hike days ago echoes in my arms.
Whether it’s determination or desperation fueling my movements, I manage to drag myself over the edge, panting from exerting strength I didn’t know I possessed.
