Page 138 of Forsaking All Others

You were fine five minutes ago,” I hiss. “What happened?”

“Something bit me,” she pants, putting her hand to her forehead, “on my back. And I feel really, really….”

I catch her just as she falls forward, her dead weight dragging us both down to the forest floor.

It’s then that I see the dart in her back. It hasn’t gone too far in because her jacket is so thick, but it’s definitely gone far enough to knock her out.

“Ohhh, fuck!”

Rolling her off me, I draw out my knife, tuck her tomahawk into my belt, and cover her completely with leaves.

‘She’s not dead, so they must have just wanted her out of the way while they catch me. She’s safer if I’m away from her for the moment. I have to take out whoever is after me before they can get me. Is that what happened to the person in the clearing? Are they knocked out, too? Fuck, fuck, fuck.’

I’m aware that anyone my father hired would be a veteran, trained in all types of warfare and terrain. They could be watching me right now, just waiting for a clear shot. I’m at a distinct disadvantage, apart from the fact that I’ve been surviving in this forest for a few weeks now, and I know how to walk through these damp woods with very little sound.

‘Except I’ve just run through the woods hell for leather and made no effort to reduce noise.’

Crouching, I begin to make my way through the woods towards where I’d seen the body. If I’m right, the woman lying in the clearing will have a tranquiliser dart in her, but she might also have supplies that could be invaluable in helping me evade and fight an attacker.

‘I need something, anything, an advantage of any kind.’

Creeping through the underbrush, I stay low, willing myself invisible to any sniper as I reach the edge of the clearing and bite my lip in consternation. I know I’ll expose myself if I’m to get to the body in the clearing, but I have to know if they’re dead or alive and just who they are. And I have to know if there’s anything in their pack I can use.

Deciding to commando crawl across the stretch of grass, I wriggle my way to the body as fast as I can. I don’t know what I expect to find when I get there, but it sure as hell isn’t what I see.

Claire is naked, and every inch of her body has been carved with words.

I lean to the side and dry retch again and again. Right now I’m a sitting duck, but I can’t do anything about it.

Finally, spent and feeling like a limp rag doll, I make myself look at her body again to try to discern what the words say just as her eyes flicker open and she screams to the heavens.

104

I stand and call for them to come down, sensing immediately where they’re hiding.

Cat descends the spruce first, Thorun behind, looking strangely half asleep.

As they walk towards me I open my arms and Thorun walks straight into them, sobbing into my neck as I enfold her.

Cat stands back, her eyes on the body before us.

“Cat,” I hold one arm out to her, the invitation obvious.

At first I don’t think she’ll accept, but weeks of trying to survive in this harsh landscape, and this night, have taken more from her than I’d imagined. Making some unseen decision, she takes the two steps and allows me to embrace her too.

Holding them both I breathe in their scents and allow them a moment to feel my warmth and know that, while I’m here, they’re safe.

“Are you hurt?”

Thorun, wracked with sobs, shakes her head, but Cat pulls back and points to Claire, her body covered with the bloodied words, ‘no other.’

“I’m guessing this is a message from your stalker,” she whispers.

“And I’m guessing that,” I nod to Silke’s body strapped to the back of my quad bike, a tranquiliser dart lodged in her jugular, “is a message from yours.”

Cat sighs heavily.

“I had thought they wouldn’t kill anyone. They darted Thorun in the back.”