Page 57 of Brought to Light

heavy with the promise of a downpour.

"You got a weapon?" he asked me, raising a brow.

"Generally not."

Rick rolled his eyes and reached into the center console, grabbing knife and flipping it around to pass it to me by the handle.

"Best not use it if you can't use it well," he grunted. "But just in case."

I took it, grateful. I wasn't afraid to use my fists—once upon a time, I'd been good at that—but I didn't know what we'd be up against, and I felt grateful for the extra backup.

I jumped out of the truck, the scent of damp earth filling my nostrils. Panicked energy surged through my veins as I hurriedly scanned the trail, searching for any sign of Hannah.

Rick led the way, his long strides eating up the distance between us and wherever Hannah might be. The urgency in his movements matched my own, and it gave me a glimmer of hope that perhaps he was telling the truth. Perhaps he truly wanted to help find her.

The towering trees seemed to close in around us and the air grew thick with an unnatural stillness, as if nature itself held its breath in anticipation. My ears strained to hear Hannah. Her voice, a struggle, anything that could lead the way, but all I heard was the wind.

Suddenly, Rick halted, his body tense. He slowly raised a finger to his lips, signaling for silence. He pointed to the right and my eyes scanned the darkness, catching a movement up ahead.

A lumbering figure approached, but still far enough away that we were able to conceal ourselves behind a thicket of trees.

"It's Doug."

"Doug Samuels?"

"Man's no good. Landis's lackey." Rick's eyes were focused, zeroed in on his target. "Wait until he turns on the trail. I'm gonna confront him. You sneak up behind him and take him out."

I should have questioned any plan that involved me 'taking him out' but all I cared about was getting to Hannah. Trusting Rick was my only option.

Rick held a hand up, ready to signal. Doug's footsteps grew louder, each crunch of his boots on the ground sending a shiver down my spine. The moon peeked out from behind the clouds, casting a ghostly glow over the path before me. I tightened my grip on the knife tucked in my belt, my knuckles turning white.

As I advanced closer to Doug, I could see his hulking figure more clearly. He was a towering man, built like a boulder with powerful arms that hung by his sides as he trudged along the trail. His bushy beard and wild hair blowing in the wind.

Finally, Rick's hand dropped, and I sprang into action, moving swiftly and silently towards Doug. The adrenaline coursed through my veins, sharpening my senses and heightening my awareness of every sound and movement around me.

"Doug, we need to talk."

Doug froze, his body tensing at the sound of Rick's voice. He slowly turned around, eyes widening with surprise. "What the hell are you doing here?" he growled.

Ignoring the question, Rick pressed on. "Where is she? Where's Hannah?"

Doug's lips curled into a sinister grin. "You're too late," he sneered. "She's long gone."

If it was a lie, it wouldn't have mattered. My rage was all-consuming. I ran forward, faster than my mind could even process my movements. Grabbing Doug, I wrapped my arm around his neck, locking him in a chokehold. The mass of him should have been a point in his favor, but adrenaline and the element of surprise had me taking him down in no time. He dropped to the ground on his knees, then fell on his face as I released my hold.

"Nice," Rick said as my breath came in ragged gasps. "Tie his hands with this." He tossed me a large zip tie and I didn't have to be told twice. I knew the big lunk would wake up sooner than later.

Rick busied himself, taking Doug's weapon out of the holster at his waist. "Should be just up ahead," he murmured, gesturing with a nod.

"Let's go. We don't have much time."

* * *

The woods felt alive, a living entity with its own breath and heartbeat, sending shivers down my spine. I could taste the salt on the air, the ocean not far, the darkness thick as ink.

As we passed a clearing, Rick gestured with his hand again and I stopped to take note of my other senses. A deep murmuring, the smell of blood.

The sound grew louder, reverberating through the air like a warning. I tightened my grip on the knife, my heart pounding in my chest as we cautiously made our way towards the source.

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