Page 49 of Embers Glow After the Fire

"You think I'm stupid." Brendon accuses. "Go catch your flight." He steps away.

Christian grabs his shoulder and whirls him back. He clamps onto his wrist and drags him forward on the trail.

Brendon tries to pull away but his strength is no match.

They veer off a fork leading up into a new stretch of the forest.

"Where are you going?" Brendon swallows.

Christian stomps ahead in silence. His angry grip tightens around Brendon's wrist with each step.

The trail splits again and they climb deeper, circling back, directed toward Dennis and Robbie's cabin. He thinks. The path narrows and trees close in. Limbs start to hinder the way.

"Duck," Christian commands. He holds a branch overhead and pulls Brendon under, letting it swing back after they clear it.

The light from his phone aims at a tent, pitched in the middle of the woods, tucked behind a wall of shrubs and saplings. The faint glow of a bonfire dances in the distance, highlighting the familiar facade of Dennis and Robbie's cabin.

"This is insane Christian! You're hiding in the woods?"

There's fury in his eyes as he bends down to unzip the tent and his grip loosens just enough for Brendon to step back.

He gathers a hiking pack and hurls it over his shoulder. "Let's go." he reaches for Brendon's wrist again.

Brendon coils away and bolts into the dark, past the saplings and toward the bonfire, his phone shoots from his hand when his sleeve catches on a broken limb that slices his shoulder.

Christian's bag hits the dirt and his footsteps track behind.

Brendon darts to his right, turning away from his destination, hoping to climb faster than his pursuer. Counting on his longer legs to out maneuver Christian’s speed against the incline. It may be his only chance at getting distance between them.

Chapter 20

Stalker

Fireflies float over the yard, dimming into the dark and transporting to a new spot each time they spark back to existence. Matthew swigs his second blueberry beer. The heat off the bonfire roasts his skin and sweats his drink. He traces the damp ring on his lap with a finger between darting glances toward shifting shadows in the firelight at the trail’s entrance. He hopes for more night cuddled up with Brendon, but his gut warns that wish won’t be answered.

Eli appears from the void, backlit by the beam of flashlight shaking in Phoenix’s hand.

“I think Brendon is in trouble.” He folds, propping on bent knees, trying to catch his breath.

“What?” Dennis perks in his chair.

Matthew jumps up, spilling beer over the hot stones surrounding the fire. The alcohol pops and sizzles in the blaze. “Whats the matter?” His hearts pounds.

“There’s some guy.” Eli points back.

“I think it’s the husband.” Phoenix adds.

“You left him alone?” Matthew feet push him toward the trail.

“Matty!” Robbie calls. “Wait!”

They clomp down the foothill, trying to balance against gravity’s pull.

“Brendon?” Matthew calls into the dark. He should have grabbed a light. His own echo off the lake below is the only response.

A beam bounces from behind, spotlighting trees one second and sky he next. Robbie catches up.

“Fuck sake!” he gasps. “Any sign of them?”

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