“Thank god those ladders are retractable,” I reply.
We both peer over the porch edge, flashing a light below.
The killer is gone, footprints leading away from where she fell.
We were almost killed back there. And despite the easy comparison, we weren’t almost killed by a movie villain.
That was a person in a mask. A living, breathing person who has the problem-solving and planning abilities that Beck and I have. I have no idea if we’re evenly matched brain-wise, but the thought alone sends a chill down my spine.
This person could very well be planning their next attack.
I only feel the sting when I look down at my right hand. There’s a slash mark from my pinky across my palm and nicking my wrist. That freak had gotten so close to me that she was able to cut right below where I was holding my phone.
“Did you get hit?” I ask Beck.
“No,” she says, rolling off me. She eyes my hand, now squelching out blood as I hold my hand in a fist. “But you did. Shit. How close is that ranger station?”
I dig through my backpack for that first aid kit. I can’t tell if this is so deep that I need to go to the hospital, but it didn’t hit any tendons. I should count myself lucky.
“Not close enough,” I mutter as I pour water onto my cut.
“We need to get out of here,” Beck says. “I got her on the shoulder with my pocketknife. There’s no way she’s dead, and she’s gonna be pissed.” Beck drops her head into her hands. “Fuck, has she been following us since we were in town?”
Was that Vanessa?
“I don’t know.”
But I’m sure as hell not dealing with this alone anymore. Time to call Natalie.
Using my good hand, I fish out my walkie-talkie. “Hey, Natalie, are you there?”
For a few seconds, there’s silence. My stomach squeezes as my brain works through a plan B. We’d have to walk to the ranger station tomorrow if she doesn’t answer. In broad daylight, sure, but how is there any way to know if the killer left? If she can walk off after falling a story, who knows how much she can take?
There’s a click and then—“Yeah. What’s up?”
Natalie, right when we need her. If she were here right now, I’d fall to my knees in gratitude.
“Fuckin’ hallelujah,” Beck mutters.
I struggle to form words before saying, “Can you send your partner out to the old south watchtower? And have him bring a gun?”
Thirty-Two
Evan arrives in a jeep five minutes later, the headlights so bright they hurt my eyes after so long in the soft light of the watchtower. He examines my hand first. He’s gentle, but even his slightest touch makes me wince. I still can’t believe someonedidthis to me.
“I think you’re gonna be okay,” he says. “Let me get you patched up at the ranger station, and then I can drive you back to your campsite.”
His voice is high and uncertain, almost like he’s a nerd from an ’80s movie. But right now, he and his old jeep are my heroes. Beck and I pile in, leaving our backpacks on our laps and hands in our bags clutching our weapons. His car doesn’t have a roof, and somehow even that feels too vulnerable.
“The ride’ll be quick,” Evan assures, coaxing us to an easy under-twenty miles per hour as we move through the back roads around here.
I take in our savior as he drives. Evan is maybe twenty-five but could pass for someone who goes to our school. He’s pale despite how much time he must spend outdoors, no stubble on his face, the only signs of his age being a receding hairline pushing his wheat blond hairaway from his light eyes. His forest ranger uniform is wrinkled, almost as if he fell asleep in it.
He doesn’t speak any more on the five-minute drive back to the ranger station.
We step out of the car, every inch of space around us stretching on into oblivion. But it’s better than staying in the tower, wondering if our attacker will return. Evan will have a way to protect us beyond just the cabin if the killer comes back. If we have the choice, I’d rather have walls between us and the murderer.
As we walk, I repeat the facts back to myself. Natalie trusts Evan. Anywhere that isn’t out in the woods is better than being out here. We’ll be back at the welcome center soon. We’ll be able to leave town with our evidence soon after that. This is all going to end soon.
