Page 75 of The Girl in the River

The car sped up, riding her tail as she neared a ravine, and a frisson of alarm crept up her spine. Night shadows danced around her, a tree limb cracking and snapping off in the wind. The branch hit her windshield and bounced off, but it startled her and she swerved right slightly. Her tires churned on the graveled shoulder of the road and she tried to right herself, but the vehicle behind her sped up and rammed into her.

She screamed and clenched the steering wheel with clammy hands, struggling to stay on the highway, her car skidding. Branches broke like matchsticks as she sailed through the trees and the windshield shattered, glass spraying. The car bounced and bumped, diving toward the ravine.

Pain knifed through her body and for a moment the car hung, suspended in the air, teetering between two trees. She heaved a breath, trembling with fear as she forced herself to be still. The last thing she wanted was to dive into Lizard Creek and be covered in the reptiles.

One hand slid to the seat to find her phone but even that movement rocked the car and the branches broke, sending her plunging to the ravine below. Her lungs felt crushed as the air bag exploded and the front of the car slammed into the woods below. Her head hit something. The dash crumpled, crushing her legs, and a shard of glass stabbed her throat.

Tears blurred her eyes as she reached up to rip the air bag but when she touched her neck, she felt blood spurting, and the world started tilting and fading. Carrie’s ghostly face floated in front of her… A second later she saw the creek water rising as the car was sinking.

She closed her eyes, body jerking as she struggled for a breath that didn’t come. Resigned to her fate and knowing they’d finally won, she reached out for her daughter’s hand to take it.

NINETY-NINE

RIVER BOTTOM

“You sorry shits,” Ronnie bellowed as she guided the boat across the choppy water.

“You brought the law down on us bad. Now we have to make sure they don’t find out about what we’re cooking back here in these parts.” She slapped both her sons across their dumbass noggins and smiled as they cowered in fear, eyes bulging.

“Mama, we just did what you said,” Lloyd whimpered.

She sped up, soaring around the dark place where most folks around these parts got lost.

River Bottom was perfect for her business because no one came the hell out here to camp or hike and there wasn’t no damn waterfalls or scenic trails or sightseeing crap. Only woods and bugs and the river, the place that fed her soul. Some talked of the river monsters, but she intended to keep them alive, knowing the legends scared folks away.

She slowed the boat, cutting the engine and coasting through the coves until she reached her destination.

Docking the boat, she peered at the warehouse. It was dark and no one had followed her. The place was locked down for the night, the cargo safely tucked inside where no one knew the wiser.

“Out,” she ordered her boys. “And you better make damn sure none of ’em git away tonight. If word got out the law was around, someone might try something.”

“Whatever you say, Mama,” Chester said, rubbing at his bandaged hand like some big-ass baby.

“Yes, Mama,” Lloyd said. “They’ll be locked in tight.”

Ronnie slapped them both upside the head again, just for fun this time. “They better be. If even one gets loose, you’re in that river with the bloodsuckers.”

ONE HUNDRED

SOMEWHERE ON THE RIVER

Mia fixed Pixie’s sweet face in her mind for motivation, her energy returning slightly since she’d been rationing the water. She realized whoever had taken her had drugged her to keep her sedate. She was trying not to drink much but her mouth was cotton dry, her tongue thick, and she took a tiny sip.

Head spinning, she crawled to the cabin door and banged on it. “Let me out. At least show your face and tell me what you want!”

She leaned her head against the cold wood, battling nausea, and waited. But all she heard was the lapping of the river against the boat.

“Who are you?” she cried. “Where are you taking me?”

She closed her eyes at the silence but Kevin’s face appeared in her mind. Was he behind the door? Had he hired someone to take her?

Her head lolled and memories rose from the darkness, making her dizzy as if she was on a tilt-a-whirl.

“You’re beautiful, Jesse. I can’t wait to make you my wife. Forever.”

She shivered. He’d been so charming and romantic when they’d first met. Had played the hero by saving her fledgling business. Had doted on her with flowers and candy and fancy dinners out. Had promised her themoon.

Then one evening she hadn’t worn the dress he’d wanted and she’d questioned him about a discrepancy in Moonbeam’s financial records in front of his father. That night… he’d morphed into a monster. One slap across the face and she’d tried to get away. Had told him the engagement was off.

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