I toss the little bags of cookies through his window. “I’ll be there.”
“Lucas said to stay with you,” he repeats.
I glance up and down the empty road. He’s not going to let me out of his sight. What will the Dodge do if I’m alone? I need to ditch Farrow.
After hesitating a moment, I wipe the sweat above my chin and nod. “Lead the way then,” I tell him.
And I walk away just as his lips part to speak, but I’m gone before he has a chance to argue. Climbing into my car, I start the engine and fasten my seatbelt.
Checking my mirrors, I see half-a-dozen cars parked along the curb around me, but none of them look suspicious. Lucas has been arrested, and this is all connected somehow. Whatever the Dodge is going to do, it’ll be tonight.
Signaling, I grip the wheel and wait for him to pull out behind me. He drives past, throwing me a look as hegoes.
Yeah, he’s on to me.
Hitting the gas, I cruise behind him, driving up High Street, taking a right on Woodland, and a left on Fall Away Lane. The wind whips through the Jeep, making my hair fly, and I don’t even have to look in my rearview. I know the car is there.
I glance, recognizing the dark windows far behind me. The shape of the car seems different—the height of the vehicle and the position of the grill—but it’s too far behind me to see clearly.
But the lights are off, and it’s following me. Same as always.
I punch the car up another gear, picking up the pace. I’m sick of this shit.
“Who are you?” I ask the stalker in my mirror. “Are you her?”
The words float through my mind.Never lead danger home. Never lead it to where you’re alone.
The smell of wet soil and forest surround me, reminding me of a grave, and I look ahead, seeing Farrow turn onto Frontress Road. We speed down the river, toward the bridge, and my heart starts hammering. My pulse knocks against my throat, then down my arms, and I flit my gaze between the darkened headlights behind me and the bright taillights in front of me.
Farrow cuts a sharp right onto the bridge fifty yards ahead, and I flip on my blinker and curl my fingers around the wheel. I let off the gas to slow down for the turn as Farrow reaches the middle of the bridge. I swerve to follow, a lump lodges in my throat, and then…
I jerk the wheel to the left, laying on the gas.
My tires screech under me, and I race away, speeding off into the night before Farrow can follow. He’ll have to cross the bridge to have space to turn around, and I’ll bet he’s cursing me out right now.
Coasting away, I shift into fifth and keep my eyes peeled and my brights on. The car follows, gaining on me, and I turn and turn again, trying to make sure Farrow can’t follow like I know he’ll try. Speeding deep into the woods, I crawl down back roads and dark lanes, leading him—or her—the long way to the summer camp. It’ll be quiet, but there will be admins and counselors in the cabins, preparing for the arrival of the next session in two days.
Maybe the Dodge will finally introduce itself, but I’m still not stupid enough to be completely alone when they do.
My phone rings, lighting up with Farrow’s name, but I ignore it. Lucas is unavailable for him to alert, and he’s not going to call my family.
I pause.He might call Dylan or Hunter, though…
But it’s too late to worry about that now. Rain starts hitting my windshield like little bullets, and I flip on my wipers as cool drops land on my arms and thighs.
Barreling over a gravel hill, I start to descend, but orange traffic drums sit below as a barrier, warning of danger. Water rushes over the broken road, and I can’t go any farther.
“Shit,” I breathe out.
I have a moment to make a decision with really only one option. I swerve sharply to the left, racing down a thin path probably only meant for ATVs. I have no idea where it’s taking me. There are all sorts of remote little properties around the lake. I don’t even know how to get home from here. Does this road even lead me back to a cross street? Or does it take me to a dead end?
Never lead it to where you’re alonebeats in my head like a drum now. This didn’t work like I thought it would.
I reach over to my phone and try to dial Farrow, but I spot a glow through the streaks of rain in my windshield. I squint as the water streams down my face, and I think I make out a front porch light peeking out of the woods.
Exhaling a little, I race for the house, bouncing over the overgrown lawn, and halt the car in the yard. Standing up, I peer over the windshield. The windows are dark, no sign of life other than the security light… I try to zone in on the front door and a paper sign taped to its surface. I can’t read it from here, but my stomach sinks all the same. It could be a seasonal place. They could be out of town for the week and leaving instructions for deliveries. “Fuck,” I mutter, my chin trembling.
I want whoever is in the Dodge to make themselves known, but I don’t want to be completely alone out here.Dammit.
