Chapter 17 - The Wilderness Chase
The forest was a maze of darkness and freezing cold
the wind howling through the branches above me like a warning.
I ran without looking back
my breath coming in ragged gasps that burned my lungs in the winter air.
Behind me
I could hear the shouting of the guards and the beams of their flashlights cutting through the trees.
"He went this way!"
one of them yelled
the heavy footsteps crashing through the underbrush.
I tripped over a hidden root
falling hard onto the frozen earth
the pain radiating through my shoulder.
I forced myself up
refusing to give in to the exhaustion or the pain
because Megan was still waiting for me.
I had to get back to the highway
back to the police
before my mother's team could find me.
The woods began to slope downward
leading toward the icy lake we had passed earlier.
I realized I was running in circles
the disorientation of the dark wilderness playing tricks on my mind.
The flashlights grew closer
the bright beams sweeping across the trees just yards behind me.
"Jake
stop running!"
my mother's voice echoed through the dark
sounding twisted and unhinged.
"You can't survive out here alone
come back to your family!"
The word "family" coming from her mouth sounded like a curse.
I reached the edge of the lake
the black water reflecting the stars above
offering no escape route.
I was cornered.
I hid behind a massive oak tree
holding my breath as the footsteps slowed down near my position.
"He's around here somewhere
find him
now,"
the head guard ordered
his flashlight beam sweeping directly over the trunk of my tree.
I looked around desperately for a weapon
my hand settling on a heavy
jagged stone half-buried in the dirt.
I pried it loose
my fingers freezing against the cold rock.
As the guard stepped around the side of the tree
his flashlight illuminating my face
I lunged forward.
I smashed the stone against his hand
sending the heavy flashlight flying into the dark water with a splash.
He cried out in pain
and I used the momentum to push past him
running along the shoreline toward the main road.
In the distance
I heard the beautiful sound of a police siren
growing louder and closer by the second.
The flashing lights appeared through the trees at the top of the ridge
illuminating the forest in a saving blue glow.
"Over here!"
I screamed with the last bit of energy in my lungs.
"Help me!"
The shouting caught the attention of the officers
and several figures began descending the ridge with powerful searchlights.
My mother's remaining guard realized the game was up
turning around and vanishing back into the deep woods to escape arrest.
I collapsed onto the gravel path as Detective Miller reached me
his face filled with immense relief.
"I got you
son
you're safe,"
he said
helping me stand up.
"We need to get to the hospital
Miller
Megan..."
I gasped
clutching his jacket.
"The hospital is secure
Jake
May you like
and your wife is out of surgery."
"Let's go home."
