Critters stir. Crickets chirp. Peepers croak a lullaby. Tuned into every sound, I sleep the way I did while deployed—in short stretches, one eye always open.
A sudden silence snaps me to attention, rushing adrenaline through my veins. Someone’s out there.
Confirming my suspicions, a dim flashlight beam skates across my tent wall. Shadow men. Two of them. I scoot out the back, pressing deep into the darkness behind the rock.
Dammit.My pistol’s back there.
As I weigh the risk of going back, a tenor voice sing-songs, “I know you’re in there. Come out, come out, wherever you are. All-ee-all-ee-in-free.”
Close by, a gunshot cracks the air.
Ears ringing, I jump.
The high, creepy voice screeches, “Don’t kill her! It’s not time.”
While they argue, I stretch out my hands, plunging into the pitch-black nothingness. No moonlight, no trail markers, branches claw at my sleeves. My only hope is to find the path before they find me.
The ghosts stalk me, silent except for an occasional muttered threat. “That’s right, honey. Run. Hide.”
The next shot explodes, sending bark flying from a tree. Thankfully, the miss is far to my left.
When thunder growls in the distance, I glance up, dread rising. If lightning strikes, they’ll pick me off like those ducks at the fair.
Scrambling up a trunk, jackknife open, I steady my breath. Should it come to it, I’ll go for the jugular—fast—deep, no hesitation.
All night, I strain to detect any human sounds, but if they’re out there, the storm and wind mask them well.
Finally, the gray dawn light bleeds through the clouds. I hop out of my tree in the unrelenting downpour. Following last night’s muddy footsteps, I circle back to recover my gear.
No way.
It’s all gone.
Everything.
Shit, I'm so fucked.
Chapter 5
Kade
Present day
Before my reception dies, I shoot off a quick text to Sergeant Griffin.
Me: S & R underway.
Griff: Wait for me.
Sure thing, asswipe.Ignoring his directive, I send a thumbs-up emoji and trudge up the steep path.
After I show the exchange to Jeffrey, he snorts out a laugh. “You have taken passive-aggressive to new levels, my friend.”
I smirk. He’s known me for too long to miss the nuance.“Thanks. Who the hell asks the search team to pause when someone’s been gone for almost a week?”
Not waiting for his response, I nod at Becca. “Go, girl. Go find.”
She surges forward, tail high, nose near to the ground.
