Jake backed up to the last trailer, still shaking his head no, still trying to look everywhere at once. His back touched the metal wall of the trailer and he held his knife out in a trembling hand, like it was his last line of defense.
Jake looked back at Stella, and Stella could see a realization dawning in his eyes now; she could see some of the old Jake back in those eyes. He shook his head no as tears slipped from his eyes. He tried to give her a smile, but his lips were trembling too badly. Im sorry, he whispered. I cant do this anymore. Im not going to let him take me while Im still alive.
Stella moved in front of David to block his view of what she knew was coming next. But she wasnt able to turn away in time and she saw Jake bring the hunting knife up to his own throat. He didnt hesitate, he slashed his own throat in one sharp cut; he opened up a wide gash in his flesh that spilled dark blood immediately.
Stella turned and nudged David forward into the night, keeping him away from the horrible sight of Jake. But she couldnt block out the sounds of Jakes gurgling throat, of the liquid thump as his body hit the ground, the sound of one leg kicking at the trailer in death spasms.
Run! Stella yelled at David.
They bolted for the group of vehicles.
As they got closer to the vehicles, Stella could hear something chasing them, crashing through the brush gaining on them.
The Suburban was only thirty feet away now. Twenty feet away. Ten.
Stella didnt dare turn and see what was chasing them; she opened the door of her Suburban and yelled at David. Get in!
David hopped inside and scrambled across the bench seat.
Stella jumped inside and slammed the door shut. Her fingers slapped at the door lock button. She rummaged in her purse for the keys to the truck. Her fingers finally curled around the keys. She tried to jab the key into the ignition with trembling fingers, but she was shaking too badly and she dropped the keys down onto the floorboard.
David sat up on his knees in the passenger seat as he stared out at the inky darkness outside the trucks windows.
Stella groped for the keys in the darkness down by her feet. Her fingers searched and searched and then she found them. She sat back up; she didnt look at David, she didnt look out the windows, she only concentrated on getting that damn key into the ignition. They were so close now to escape so close.
If the truck was going to start
You know it will start this time, her mind whispered.
She managed to finally slide the key into the ignition. She twisted the key. The motor turned, it made a tired and sputtering sound. She twisted the key again; the motor cranked and cranked. Over the sound of the engine trying to fire into life, Stella could hear something outside, like the wind itself had come alive the Dark Wind, thats what Jim Whitefeather had called it. Jim Whitefeather the first one taken.
She couldnt think about Jim Whitefeather right now.
Come on, damn it! Stella screamed at her Suburban just as something slammed into the side of the truck, rocking it so hard that Stella was afraid it was going to tip over. David flew backwards and fell into the passenger door. He hit his head on the passenger window, but not hard enough to break the glass. Stella almost lost the grip on the keys, but she held onto the steering wheel and kept twisting the key.
The truck started! The powerful engine roared to life.
Stella slammed the shifter into drive. She stomped on the gas pedal. The Suburbans back tires spun in the sand and shot up a rooster tail of dirt into the night air, but the tires caught traction and the truck climbed the small, rocky incline with ease and drove up onto
the items with a methodical slowness.
Yeah, Stella answered. Heading up north.
The cashier met Stellas blue eyes with her own dark eyes. I wouldnt be going anywhere right now if I was you.
Stella froze for an instant. Why not?
Theres a bad snowstorm coming.
The bell over the door dinged and Stella turned and saw an old man enter the store. He was dressed in overalls with a brown jacket over everything. He looked like he could be a farmer. He rubbed his hands together and stomped snow off of his boots onto the rug in front of the glass doors of the store.
Stella looked back at the cashier and slid the money to her. Were going to make it as far as we can. I also need fifty dollars on the white Suburban out there at the pumps.
The cashier nodded.
Stella looked around for David. A sudden panic rose inside of her when she couldnt see him anywhere. She hurried down the aisles and saw him right next to the old man. David held the old mans hand, and the old man stared straight ahead with ice-blue eyes, like he was seeing something that wasnt there.
David! Stella yelled and rushed at the old man. She pulled the mans hand out of Davids hand and stared at him. What the hell do you think youre doing? she asked the old farmer.
The old man shook his head like he was just waking up from a dream and didnt realize where he was. I I dont know.