Page 62 of In Her Fears
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Eric Edwards moved quietly through the moonlit forest.The knife in his right hand felt right, comfortable.He was oddly calm, his breathing steady, his purpose clear.He paused at the crest of a small rise, listening to the night sounds around him.The moon was full and bright overhead, the same moon that had witnessed Lina’s final night.
The memory twisted something inside him.Lina had been fragile, her depression a constant shadow even in their most intimate moments.She had shattered under the weight of exposure, and Elias had simply walked away, leaving her to crumble alone.
Movement in the distance drew his attention—a figure weaving through the trees about fifteen yards away.Eric froze, becoming one with the shadows as he assessed this unexpected presence.
The moonlight revealed that it was the deputy sheriff, Jake Hawkins.Eric pressed himself against the trunk of a massive oak, his dark clothing blending with the shadows.He saw that the man was alert but not expecting immediate danger.His focus seemed to be on finding someone—Elias, presumably—not on protecting himself from an attack.
Eric knew he had to dispose of this intruder before he could continue to the picnic spot where Elias would inevitably appear, drawn by the same anniversary.He began to move, sliding from shadow to shadow with the patience of a predator.Each step was placed with care to prevent any telltale snap of twigs.Fortunately for him, the forest floor was damp and not cluttered with underbrush.
The deputy stopped, turning slowly in place, his hand moving to his weapon.Something had alerted him—some subtle sound, perhaps, or the instinct that experienced law enforcement officers developed over years of facing danger.
Eric froze, becoming utterly still.He controlled his breathing, taking shallow, silent breaths as he watched the deputy scan the darkness.Jake’s gaze passed over Eric’s position without pausing, the shadows concealing him effectively.After a moment, the deputy resumed his search pattern, moving away from Eric’s position.
Eric stepped carefully over a fallen branch, his movements fluid and silent.The forest seemed to hold its breath around them.He tightened his grip on the knife.
Only a few yards separated them now.Still he hesitated.The deputy was younger and strong, surely well-trained and armed with a gun.Could he try to brush this man aside without severe damage to himself?Even death?
Then the deputy paused, reaching for his phone.The screen's glow illuminated his face as he checked something—a message, perhaps, or a map.The light made the deputy vulnerable, and his night vision would be compromised for several crucial seconds.Never one to waste an opportunity, Eric quickened his pace.
***
Jenna cautiously stepped into the clearing she’d been seeking, the moon casting a silvery glow over the open space.The scene was eerily familiar, matching the fragmented images from her dream, causing an unsettling sense of déjà vu.Suddenly, a rustling sound to her left drew her attention, and Elias emerged, his gaunt figure barely distinguishable against the darkened trees.
“What are you doing here?”he demanded, his voice edged with suspicion and something else—fear?
Before Jenna could respond, a sudden force collided with her from behind.She staggered but quickly twisted to face her attacker: Eric.His eyes were wild with madness, and a knife was in his hand.
Reacting on instinct, Jenna drove her knee upward into his him as she reached for her gun.But Eric was relentless.His knife flashed ominously as it arced downward.She felt its blade slice through fabric before grazing skin—a searing line of pain flared along her arm, causing her to drop the gun.They both tumbled onto the forest floor, locked in a fierce battle for the knife.
From the corner of her eye, Jenna caught sight of Elias.He had picked up a thick branch, and now he was standing over them, his gaunt face transformed by a strange determination.For a terrifying moment, Jenna couldn’t tell which of them he intended to strike.
“Elias—” she began, but her warning was cut short as the branch came down with surprising force, striking Eric across the shoulders.
Eric howled in pain, momentarily releasing his grip on Jenna.She seized the opportunity, scrambling backward through fallen leaves, her injured arm throbbing with every movement.Her gun lay several feet away, half-buried in leaves.
Eric scrambled to his feet, still holding the knife, aiming not for Jenna but for Elias.The two men collided with a sickening thud.Jenna launched herself toward her weapon, seizing the familiar grip as she rolled and came up in a shooter’s stance.
“Don’t move, Eric,” she ordered, her voice steady despite her racing heart.“Hands where I can see them.”
Eric raised his hands slowly, his eyes darting between Jenna and Elias, who still gripped the branch like a club.
“On your stomach, arms out to your sides,” Jenna commanded.“I will shoot if I have to.”
For a tense moment, she thought Eric might resist.Then his shoulders slumped, and he complied, lying face-down on the forest floor.Keeping her weapon trained on him, Jenna approached cautiously, retrieving her handcuffs from her belt.
The metal clicked around Eric’s wrists with cold finality.Only when he was secured did Jenna allow herself a deep breath, the adrenaline still coursing through her veins making her fingers tremble slightly.
She turned to Elias, who stood watching with an unreadable expression, the branch now hanging loosely from his fingers.
“Are you hurt?”she asked.
He shook his head no.
She pulled out her phone, tapping Jake’s number.It rang once, twice, three times, then went to voicemail.
“Jake,” she called, “I’ve got Eric in custody at the clearing.Call me.”
