Authors: Kelly Van Hull
I can’t stop thinking about my dad’s letter. All of it is heartbreaking, but I keep going back to what he said about Burke poisoning everyone. Why would he do that? If he’s capable of killing millions, he won’t think twice about doing away with my parents, especially if he feels they have broken the law. His law.
Thinking of them now brings me back to what I have to do next. I’ve got to get back. They have sacrificed so much for me and Brody. It’s time I figure out a plan for what I can do for them.
“No way,” Kit says. Her arms are folded across her chest and she is glaring at me.
“I’ll never ask you for anything ever again. I promise. Please, you just have to trust me.”
“You won’t ask me for anything ever again because you won’t be alive to ask!”
“We don’t know that. Kit, please, just trust me.” I beg again. “I don’t know why, but I know this is what I have to do. You know I’ll do it anyway; I just need your support. ‘Besties forever’, remember?” I’ve used this line in the past, but usually for something trivial like the end of her ice cream cone. The best bite of the whole cone. Melted into the bottom, making a perfect combination of soggy and sweet crunch. Now it just seems like a silly thing to say, given the situation.
“I’ll think about it,” she says. She has unfolded her arms, but she still has the skin crease folded into a road between her eyebrows.
“You have to promise you won’t leave without telling me. Let’s just get to town so we can use the phone and figure something out. Randy may have gotten them out already. If he has, then you going back would be for nothing.”
“Yes. I can agree to that, but we have to leave soon. I can’t stand it anymore. Kit, I can’t explain it, but I know they’re in trouble. Your parents probably are too. We have to find out.”
“Okay, but I’m coming. Brody can stay with Jess. We’ll talk to Grant and Bentley about it. They can come up with a plan.”
“Since when do we need them for a plan?” I smile.
“Right. I can’t get used to this new you.” At this, she seems to feel a little better. In her mind, it may buy her a little time, but I’m leaving and we both know it.
We don’t leave that day. Most of camp is busy burying bodies and Jack gives short eulogies for those we knew. He seems to be the most upset about Beth, as I’m sure he feels bad he couldn’t save her. Of course, he doesn’t want us to venture into town. He’s adamant that it is more dangerous than ever since breaking into the safety camp. He thinks it’s best to move everyone out of Tent City.
Bentley does something that surprises me. After the short funerals, he gathers everyone in Tent City and gives a speech. For the last couple of years, I know that he has gotten to know these people as one big family, but now he is saying good-bye.
He is instructing everyone to disband and move on. He tells all the kids to move off in separate packs. In this case, having high numbers is dangerous. He asks everyone to see him with instructions of good places to hide out.
I can’t help but think he knew this was coming. Everything he says seems to make sense; some kind of backup plan. I see some of them pack up and say their good-byes, making their own way without instructions from Bentley.
Our group consists of Bentley, Jack, Grant, Kit, Callie, Jonah, Jess, Avery, DJ, Brody, and me, but no Wes. He seems to accept this and quietly makes off on his own, not before thanking Bentley again for rescuing him. Of course, he didn’t say rescue, but something along the lines of, “Thanks bro. See ya around.”
We can’t leave until the next morning because Bentley is giving last minute instructions to the groups who have asked for help.
I’m ready to get out of here, but I also feel sad about leaving this place. I know I won’t be back. This is where Brody learned to climb a tree. It’s where Kit fell in love. It’s where I found myself.
We are going to a place called, Sylvan Lake. It’s up higher than we are now and Bentley thinks we can nestle up even higher, and hopefully not be seen. We won’t be going on raids for awhile so we will have to fish out of the lake for food. The only thing I’m thinking about is when I can make a break for it.
Bentley has promised to help me contact Randy, so I wait as patiently as I can to leave this place we called home. Every second we spend here is a second keeping me from knowing what’s going on with Mom and Dad. I can’t get away from the urgent sense of danger that churns in the pit of my stomach. I just know something is wrong.
I’ve packed what is only absolutely necessary, and Bentley has loaded the wheelers up with as much food as they will hold.
Some of the kids have opted to stay in Tent City. I can tell this worries Bentley, but everyone is free to do as they wish.
Jonah drives one of the wheelers with Jess and the baby secured in a sling that drapes over her shoulder. Jack drives the other with Avery and Brody with him.
It’s slow going with the rest of us only keeping up a brisk walk. It’s painful for me to move, but I dare not say anything, as Jack will give his seat up and force me to ride. He’s hurt worse than I am. The bullet ended up going straight through my shoulder, another discovery by Doctor Jack. It makes it a little difficult to breath, but mostly I’m okay. I have stopped saying no to the morphine, as it makes it bearable to move.
It takes most of one day to get to Sylvan Lake and I’m exhausted with the effort. The prize of what was waiting for us was well worth it. It’s not a huge lake, but it’s pristine, and in the middle there is a huge boulder island.
Already I can picture teaching Brody to swim, with the prize being the island. But it’s too cold now, as we are reaching the end of October. Soon it will snow and we will have more things to worry about. They will anyway. I know Kit will take good care of Brody.
There’s a sandy beach that seems oddly out of place. It’s completely desolate here, which is a little unsettling because it looks like it was once some kind of tourist spot. There are picnic tables, long ago abandoned and rusted with neglect.
There is some kind of store, emptied and raided, that will serve as a shelter for tonight. It only comfortably holds four or five, so we leave that to be Jess and Jonah’s dwelling for now.
The rest of us set up a huge tent, to be shared by those left. I see a sign for Harney Peak and feel a twinge of regret knowing I won’t be going on that hike with Bentley.
By the time we finish setting up, I’m too exhausted to even eat supper. I find my place in the tent and pass out.
I wake up hours later to find Bentley and Jack missing from the tent. When I peek out, I see them sitting by a campfire by the lake. I glance around the tent in the twilight and see Brody snuggled up to Kit and smile and the sweetness of it. She’s going to be a good mother. Careful not to disturb anyone, I slink out quietly.
I first go out to use the woods as a bathroom and hurry to avoid the chill. I’m deciding whether or not to go back to bed or head down to the makeshift campsite. I’ve opted for getting something to eat, as my stomach is now growling so loud, I’m afraid it’s going to wake the forest.
Jack and Bentley seem to be deep in a conversation and don’t notice I’ve come up on them. I hesitate, realizing they don’t know I’m behind them. They are by a small fire on the beach. Their backs are to me and the shadows of the flames flicker on the water. I feel a pinch of guilt as I realize I have the perfect opportunity to eavesdrop. I put it to the back of my mind, as I still find it fascinating that they even tolerate each other now.
Quietly, I move a little closer scrambling in my mind for an excuse as to why I’m sneaking up, instead of just making myself known. It’s probably even halfway dangerous to do this. Bentley always carries his pistol and he could become alarmed by the sudden noise and draw on me. But still, the voice inside me tells me to be quiet and listen.
I know I shouldn’t be doing this, but it doesn’t stop me. They seem to have switched topics just as I arrive in earshot. I don’t know why, but I know they are talking about me. It’s in the way their voices have become hushed whispers and how Jack glances back at the tent where I’m supposed to be sleeping. I almost can’t take it anymore and I’m about to announce myself.
“When are you going to tell her?” Bentley asks.
And this is why I don’t make myself known. This could be something I’ll never know. They are both so secretive and guarded with what they will, and will not, tell me. This could be my only opportunity.
“I don’t know that we should,” Jack says.
“She’ll never forgive you if you don’t,” Bentley says back, as he tosses some more wood chips in the fire.
“I don’t think knowing would do her any good. How would you feel? Wouldn’t you just rather go on with the hope? You know what it feels like more than anyone. Wouldn’t it be better to have the hope that maybe she was still alive?” Jack says, with hurt deep in his voice. His voice catches before he adds, “I would give anything for Mom to still be alive.”
“But she’s not, and lying to yourself to say she is won’t change that. How would you feel if someone kept that from you? Put yourself in her shoes. The truth is better than not knowing. We can’t afford to be in the dark,” Bentley adds, but my mind is no longer listening to what they are saying.
What do they mean? They know something. My mind is racing, scrambling to put all the pieces together. Kit must have told them what I was up to. She must have told them I was planning on going to town to call Randy. But how would they know what happened to
my
mom?
I clear my throat and they both turn around, clearly startled by my presence.
“Just tell me.”
Silence.
“If you don’t start talking, I swear to God…”
“Dani wait,” Bentley begins. I don’t wait.
It’s written all over his face. He doesn’t have to tell me. I don’t want to hear what he has to say. Jack’s right. I just need to find a way to rewind.
First I want to rewind my coming out of the tent in the first place. Rewind hearing what I’ve heard. Then I decide to go further. I want to rewind leaving home in the first place. But I’m on a roll now. I’m searching for the exact place I need to go with the rewind. My mind is spinning, but I’ve located it.
I rewind to the day before Drake died. There. I’ve found it. I’ve found the moment I can go to where everything is still okay. Life is tolerable there. No, not just tolerable. It’s good. I’m running towards the steep hills now.
The moon is bright so I don’t have trouble finding my way. I don’t know the area well, but I head past the sign that says Harney Peak. It’s a clearly marked trail and I take off. It’s probably not smart to be doing this in the dark, but I want to escape.
If I can’t rewind back all those years, I’m at least going to put some space between me and the jerks who have done nothing but lie to me. Treat me like a child, not old enough for the truth. I don’t want to have anything to do with them.
I run and run and run. I nearly stumble over a jutting rock a couple of miles up, dangerously threatening to throw me down a steep incline. But the voice inside tells me to climb.
One mile up
. Not far enough.
Two miles up
. Still not far enough.
But then Bentley catches me. Apparently he has kept up on his training too. He pulls on me so hard, I yelp in fear, unsure if it’s really him that has gotten to me or the ghost of more deaths. Always, more deaths.
“Just stop, Dani! You can’t change it! It’s happened! Pull yourself together.” He is panting now, bent over catching his breath.
He still has his fingers clenched around the bottom of my shirt, determined not to let go.
By now I’ve collapsed to my knees, not caring about the sharp rocks jutting into my knees. I welcome the pain. It’s a small distraction from having to process not having Mom and Dad anymore. I’m sobbing so hard by now that my chest is shuddering, eager to get some oxygen in.
“Why don’t we go back down? You need to pull yourself together for her. If she sees you unraveling, how do you expect her to be okay?” he says.