Page 125 of Kept in the Dark

Hailey’s call dropped again. Frustrated, she hit her steering wheel.

Pressing on the gas pedal, she sped toward the cabin, hoping she didn’t get pulled over in the process. She took a deep breath and wiped away her tears. Trey was right, she needed to get a grip, or she’d end up getting them all killed.

“I don’t know what the hell we’re walking into, but your sole focus needs to be getting Trinity out alive,” Sara said.

“We’re all going to get out of this,” Hailey said, shaking her head, though she knew it was an empty promise.

“We both know that’s not true. Save her and don’t even think twice about me. Get out and run as fast and as far away as you can.”

Hailey’s face contorted in pain. “No! I won’t leave you behind. I just got you back.”

“Stop trying to save me. You have a daughter who needs her mother. And for the first time in my life, I don’t need saving. This is the clearest decision I’ve ever made.”

Hailey didn’t respond. She didn’t want to have to choose. She didn’t want to lose her family. But she knew she would. Ryan hated them too much to let them live.

Sara stuck her pinky in the air. “Promise me.”

Hailey tried to blink away the single tear that slid down her cheek as she reluctantly wrapped her pinky around Sara’s.

The orange groves pooled together as she raced through the roads. Finally, she came upon a dirt road. If you didn’t know it was there, you’d miss it. Most people thought it was just an entry for tractors to get into the field, but it would lead to a cabin if you followed it long enough.

She turned onto the path, and they were quickly secluded as trees surrounded them. The thick branches shielded the moon and darkness loomed around them.

Hailey wondered what monsters may be hiding in the woods, watching them as they drove toward their own terror that waited for them at the end of the path.

“This is something right out of a horror movie,” Sara whispered.

The cabin came into view and Hailey had to fight against the panic attack that was threatening her. She breathed in and out, slowly counting to ten. Her daughter’s life depended on her to make rational decisions. She could have a mental breakdown after everyone was safe.

Hailey didn’t immediately get out of the car. Instead, she sat for a moment, taking in her surroundings, making sure Ryan wasn’t lying in wait. She glanced at Sara who was staring intently at the cabin, her gaze slowly following the tree line.

Hailey took one more look around. The dense woods and darkness made it difficult to see far into the brush so if anyone was hiding, she couldn’t see them.

Hailey said, “You can leave. I won’t blame you if you want to run away and start over. I’m the one who dragged you into this and I don’t think we’re going to come out of that house alive.”

Sara grasped Hailey’s hand. “We started this together, we’ll finish it together. I’m not leaving your side. Trinity needs us.”

Sara got out of the car first and Hailey followed. She wasn’t sure how they were going to overpower or outsmart Ryan, but when your child is in danger, most of your common sense and reasoning goes out the window and you're left with a primal instinct to protect- no matter the cost.

Placing her hand on the rusted knob of the front door, she paused. Once they stepped inside, they would not come back out.

Taking a breath, Hailey slowly turned the metal and pushed open the door. The wood barrier gave a sharp squeak. They both tensed at the noise that had alerted Ryan to their presence. She listened for footsteps. Hearing none, she pushed it open a little further and they walked inside.

The smell of whiskey and nicotine filled her, and Hailey wanted to gag. She was beginning to wonder if she would be able to do this, to save her daughter. Every fiber of her being was screaming at her to run, that she was in danger and she needed to flee.

Sara took her hand, leading her forward, reminding her she wasn’t alone.

Hailey forced herself to walk through the house, carefully looking for any sign of Trinity. There were no photos on the walls, no knick-knacks displayed, no signs of any human connection. Just a few pieces of furniture, dirty dishes, and trash strewn all over the house.

Hailey could hear Trinity’s faint cries coming from a back bedroom. She slowly pushed open the door, holding her breath for what she would find.

The moon, peaking through an opening in the dense woods, casted an eerie glow over the room. The cabin might have made a great romantic getaway if she didn’t know about the evil that lurked within its walls.

Trinity’s hands were zip tied in front of her, a gag in her mouth. Hailey wanted to cry but remained firm. She could cry when they were safe.

Trinity met her gaze, eyes wide as she shook her head. But before Hailey could say anything, she felt a sharp prick on her back.

“Don’t do anything stupid or I'll kill you in front of your kid, Princess.” Ryan said.

---