Page 44 of Absolution

“Fell in… water. Almost drowned. Think I got pneumonia,” I whisper.

“Can you give me a little more detail? I’ll come pick you up asap, but I can’t look through every—”

“McGonaghan. A house in the woods. McGonaghan, Nate. Please come.”

“Where can I reach you?”

I look at the phone. No number. I look at the woman, and give up the thought.

“I don’t know,” I say faintly, a feeling of helplessness creeping into my chest.

“Middlebro, McGonaghan. I’ll find you. Gimme a day.”

“I don’t know if I have a day.”

“Sure you do. Nothing fucking kills you. Keep breathing, bro. Keep yourself motivated. Gotta go. Got some phone calls to make.”

“Thank you,” I gasp, then I let the phone slide out of my grip. I feel for it on the floor next to me, trying to put the handset back in its place, but I’m too uncoordinated.

My head is heavy and deep shudders run through me. I just need to sleep.

Voices penetrate the fog. Men’s voices. My heart jumps to my throat. They’ve come for me. The cops. Nathan can’t have gotten here yet.

“Chris?”

I’m still on the floor, curled up, my mouth dry as sandpaper, my lips cracked.

“Nate,” I croak.

The sound from the TV is too loud. Mrs. McGonaghan is nowhere to be seen. It’s dark outside. How long have I been here?

“Chris! What the fuck?” My brother darts to my side and crouches next to me. I’ve never seen anything so pretty. And he’s got a pretty fucking face as it is.

“Hi,” I whisper, “took you long enough.”

“In here,” he shouts.

Steps, a rustle, voices, more people.

“Can you stand?”

I shake my head.

Nate frowns, then looks up, over my shoulder. “We gotta carry him. You got any belongings here?”

“No.”

“You owe me a story, dude.”

I nod.

Strong arms grip under my arms and legs, steadying me in a tight grip between three men I’ve never seen before, big, burly. The ceiling comes rushing toward me and I close my eyes as a violent vertigo tilts my world.

Cold. Winter. Snow.

I tense up, the nightmare overwhelming me. My hands and feet hurt at the mere memory.

A car ride. I slip in and out of consciousness.

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