Page 64 of Seeking Evil

“I hear it. That’s the wind.” Dawn’s face broke into a smile.

“Thank You, God.” Sierra was laughing with joy so hard that she almost fell over. “Let’s get out of here.”

“Amen.”

With the end in sight, Sierra had a surge of adrenaline. Holding onto Dawn’s arm, the two hurried toward the sound.

Darkness was all that was visible ahead. Yet the noise grew stronger. It took Sierra a second to realize it was dark out.

The two stumbled from the tunnel and out into fresh air.

Dawn sank to the ground weeping.

Sierra bent over and clutched her knees and sucked in breath after breath. The dust in her lungs had her coughing uncontrollably as the clean air entered her body.

When the coughing subsided, she straightened and looked around. The sky was full of stars. The full moon gave light. Where were they?

“Can you help me up?”

Sierra’s attention diverted to where Dawn sat on the ground. She clasped Dawn’s hand and pulled her up.

“Thanks. Any idea where we are?”

Sierra looked around for the lights of Pinedale and didn’t find them. “I’m guessing we’re on the opposite side of the mountain from town.” Nothing but countryside all around. She wanted to cry. Did she share the truth with Dawn?

“What is it?” Dawn must have sensed something was wrong.

Sierra pointed down below. “That looks like wilderness. We could be walking for miles before we get through it and are able to reach a house.”

“No. Oh, no!” Dawn was exhausted. They both were. They’d been walking for hours. “I don’t think I can go on.” Her wrist had swollen to twice its size. The endless walking had taken its toll.

“Stay here for a second.”

Dawn didn’t respond. Sierra moved along the side of the mountain looking for some way to the other side. Though they were both skilled climbers, neither had equipment and Dawn wouldn’t be able to use her wrist. There had to be another way over. There had to be.

“Lord, You didn’t bring us all this way only to have us die up here. Show me how to get us safely over the mountain. Please, Lord.”

She kept walking while trying to keep a close eye on Dawn.

The farther she walked, the more discouraged she became. It would take hours to go through the wilderness area, but crossing the mountain wasn’t an option.

Sierra returned to Dawn. “There’s no way to the summit without proper equipment. We’ll have to hike down through the woods.” Sierra sat beside Dawn for a few minutes. They both needed rest, but until Henry and his partner were captured they were both in danger.

“I’m ready now.” Dawn had shown more strength than any law person Sierra had ever run into before.

“We’ll go slow. It’ll be okay.” Sierra stumbled to her feet not sure who she was trying to convince. “The grade is steep.” And it was dark. The stars didn’t exactly lend a whole lot of light.

“What if he’s waiting for us somewhere out here?”

Sierra tried to shove aside the nagging truth. Henry had gone to great lengths to make sure she and Dawn died in the tunnel. He couldn’t afford to let them live.

“We’ll deal with that if it comes up, okay?”

Sierra once more looped her arm through Dawn’s as the two started down the steep side of the mountain.

“I’m never going to climb again after this.” Dawn said with a brittle laugh. “I’m going to go home and hug my fiancé and never leave Oklahoma again.”

“Don’t let Henry win. You and I should plan a climb together after this is over. We’ll do it for the ones who didn’t get away.”

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