The end…
The scent of Dad’s blood made me nauseous as I fought to keep the truck on the road. The snow billowed in front of me like miniature cyclones, making it impossible to see where the street started and ended.
“Come on!” I said in a loud voice, reaching up to adjust my rearview mirror. I cringed at the sight of the bloodied handprint I left on the glass and tightened my grip on the wheel. My dad’s blood—I had his blood all over my hands and clothes.
He groaned next to me; his breath grew more ragged by the moment. Tears blurred my vision. This wasn’t supposed to happen, not to him.
“Hang on Daddy, I’ll get you some help,” I said.
Yet, I didn’t know if I’d find any. Nor did I know if the men who attacked him would go back to look for his body. Picking up my cell phone I attempted to dial out again. Beep, beep, beep.
“Come on you piece of crap.” I slammed the phone down on the seat. Nothing worked up here in the wilderness—at least not consistently.
The winds hit the side of the truck with gale like force, and I struggled to gain control of my vehicle. My windshield wipers thumped across my window with a constant thwack-thwack as I drove into the white out. My eyes darted back and forth, searching for signs of the road ahead, but the surroundings were lost. I felt like I was flying a ship in one of the Star Wars movies, the snow coming at me like I’d jumped into light speed.
One moment everything lay swathed in ivory, and in the next moment, all I saw was a large outcropping of rocks.
I slammed on the brakes, but it was too late.
“No!”
I heard the crash, then the metal buckled around me. Dad cried out—but the dizziness washed over me as my head struck the steering column. I tried forcing my eyes open, to focus on getting us out of the truck. But I couldn’t move.
Somewhere in the distance, a horn blared. Help, I thought, someone’s come to help. But after a moment, I realized it was my horn that disrupted the tranquil night. I took a deep breath, the scent of fire ensnaring my senses. Panic enveloped me as I pushed my head up, attempting to slide across the seat to my dad. But I couldn’t budge. My legs were pinned.
“Daddy, wake up!” I said, reaching over to touch his shoulder. Even as I shook him, he didn’t respond. “C’mon! Please.”
A low growl erupted outside the truck door, and I let out a soft sob. I didn’t know who or what was there—but I was sure whatever it was my father and I wouldn’t be able to outrun it.
Crack! The truck door was ripped off its hinges and the bitter wind stung my cheeks. I attempted not to scream, my life wavered before my eyes. My dad’s decision to investigate the supernatural in Alaska would be our demise. Why hadn’t I objected to coming here? Why didn’t I demand we settle down some place warm? Why? But it was too late for questions now.
That fateful summer day drifted to the forefront of my mind, as did the four words, which secured my destiny.
We’re moving to Alaska.
If only I could go back.
****
Talon’s eyes met mine, and I sobbed. He took one look at me and my dad and he tore the seat belt off me. Then he hefted me from the truck.
“It’s okay, Ima,” he said. “Calm down, we’ll get you out of here.”
I peered around because I didn’t see anyone else. Just then Carsen and Ferren bounded into the open, their eyes wide with terror. My head throbbed, and I set it against Talon’s shoulder, everything around me blurred.
Carsen came over to us and Talon growled, grasping me tighter in his arms. He stepped away from Carsen.
“I’ve got her,” Talon said with an edge to his voice.
Ferren shot a look between the two guys. “Talon, it’s okay, you can hand her over to Carsen, he’s not going to hurt her.”
Talon hesitated, his haunted eyes met mine and I inhaled deeply, finding security in his arms. It was like I belonged to him and I didn’t want him to let me go.
At last, he slid me into Carsen’s arms and walked away from us. I sobbed as Carsen’s familiar scent washed over me. I clung tight to him, letting him nestle me into his chest.
“Please, save my dad, he’s all I have,” I whispered.
Ferren and Talon went around to the other side, removing him from the truck.
“He’s lost a lot of blood,” Talon said in a soft voice.
“We need to get him the elders, now,” Ferren said.
I tried to ignore the pain and dizziness, but I felt it taking over. “Thank you,” I managed to mutter. There was something else I was supposed to tell them, something important.
I attempted to lift my head, but Carsen gently pushed it back down against him. “Be still, Ima, I’ll take care of you.”
“But the men know about you, they’re coming,” I said before darkness consumed me.
****
My lids fluttered as I awakened. The walls were vaguely familiar and I recognized the interior of Carsen’s grandma’s house. Tilting my head to the side, I saw Dad lying motionless, his skin too pale, and his face gaunt.
Fighting back the panic, I darted up and pain shot through my head. I cringed and touched my temples to find a bandage covering my forehead. Yet, my bumps and bruises were of little concern to me compared to my father’s well being.
Moving to his side, I reached out a quivering hand to touch his hand. His skin was ice cold, his chest barely rose and fell.
A sob escaped my lips.
“Come child,” Carsen’s grandma said guiding me away from him. “This is no place for you this night.”
“But my dad!” I cried.
“We’ve asked him some questions and the decision was his to make, he’ll survive.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means, young one, he chose life and will need time to heal. Now come along, we’ve got lots to do.”
The old woman led me to the house next door then left. I spotted Ferren sitting motionless in her room and I swallowed hard, wondering if she was still angry with me.
“You scared the hell out of us tonight,” she said.
Surprise fluttered through my body when she stood to hug me.
“I’ve missed you,” I cried.
“I’ve missed you too, Ima. I’m sorry for acting like such a witch.”
I sniffled as we pulled apart, my mind reeling with the remembrance of Jefferson. He had to be stopped.
“Let me get you some clean clothes to change into.” Ferren eyed me. “They’ll be a kind of big but it’s better than having to wear those.”
Rummaging through her closet, she grabbed a pair of jogging pants with a pull string and a heavy sweatshirt.
“Did you guys hear me when I mentioned Jefferson?” I asked.
“Yes. The tribal leaders are in session, deciding how to handle things.”
How could they sit and wait like this? Panic raced through my blood at the thought of Jefferson barging in and hurting my friends.
“Listen, I’ll give you some privacy so you can change. If you’re hungry I can put on some soup or something.”
“Soup would be great.” My pulse quickened as I began to devise a plan.
It was my fault my friends were in danger. And I felt obligated to fix the problem. But it was more than that, Jefferson had nearly killed my father tonight and there was no way I’d let him hurt someone else.
After I changed, I poked my head around the corner to make sure Ferren wasn’t around. Slipping on a pair of her boots, I climbed out her bedroom window, dropping to the snowy ground below. Cold air nipped at my face as I dashed across the yard to a snowmobile.
The key was in the ignition. Thank God for small favors. I turned the snowmobile on then sped from the yard toward my house. I wasn’t sure what I’d do once I got there, but one thing was for sure, Jefferson wasn’t going to get away with this.