As they crept by, Allie noticed winter roses growing, pale and unexpected, along the stone wall. She touched one with her black glove as she passed – it seemed too beautiful to be real. Her touch shook raindrops loose from the bush and they pattered on to the ground below.
From out of nowhere, Sylvain grabbed her arm, pulling her away from the wall. Catching her eye he gave her a warning look. Even now, in these circumstances, his blue eyes made her heart stutter. She nodded apologetically and, after a second, he let go, dropping back out of sight.
The second path was narrower and rougher than the main footpath – it had been much less travelled upon. Fallen branches and stones made it treacherous. It slowed them down and made it difficult – if not impossible – to move with stealth.
When they reached a point where the path was blocked completely by a fallen tree, they stopped. Grabbing a branch, Zoe hopped up on to it and over to the other side, light and quick as a squirrel.
Carter followed with more effort. Then, one by one, they helped each other across. After helping Rachel over, Allie grabbed the branch to pull herself up but the movement caused a stabbing pain in her knee. She clutched her leg, willing it to stop.
From below, a warm hand grabbed her arm to steady her and she looked down into Carter’s dark eyes.
‘You OK?’ he whispered.
She nodded and prepared to jump down. But before she could make the leap he grasped her waist and lifted her to the ground. It was exactly the kind of thing he used to do, back when they were friends, and Allie looked up at him in surprise.
Before she could think of the right thing to say though, Nicole jumped off the fallen tree, landing next to them.
‘Go,’ she hissed, pointing down the path.
Turning, Allie realised the others were already out of sight. The path ahead was empty.
Swearing under his breath, Carter took off into the dark.
Allie followed, but her knee was stiff and painful now and she couldn’t keep up the same pace.
Remembering how agile she’d been before the accident – how fast she could run – she hated Nathaniel and Gabe even more. They’d ruined everything.
Rounding a bend, she saw Carter waiting for her ahead. He was holding up a hand in warning. She slowed her pace, trying to disguise her limp.
When she reached him, Nicole and Sylvain were right behind her. Carter pointed to the left. A tiny path disappeared under the trees. He motioned that he would go first and she should follow.
She nodded.
The new path was so small it was hard to see it in the pitch dark – she could just make out Carter ahead of her, moving carefully.
They came to a narrow stream – barely more than a trickle – and he jumped over it.
Saying a silent prayer that her knee could take it, she jumped after him. The soft earth cushioned her landing and her knee held.
Only then did she see the cottage in the distance. It sat on the far side of the pond where last summer they’d all gone skinny-dipping. She hadn’t really noticed it then, probably because it was so overgrown it was nearly invisible. Bushes and trees surrounded it – ivy grew up its old stone walls.
She pointed at it and Carter nodded. This was the place.
Keeping a distance from the building, they made their way in a wide circle through the forest until they came to a cluster of bushes on one side. There Allie nearly ran into Rachel, who was huddled next to Zoe in the dark.
Carter hurried over to Zoe and spoke to her briefly, then returned to Allie’s side.
Leaning closer, he whispered, ‘We’re waiting for the guards to leave.’
Allie nodded to show she’d understood, and stared at the little house as if she were trying to see through the walls.
Nicole and Sylvain had joined them now – Sylvain stood next to Zoe behind the cover of a thick pine tree, watching the house intently. Nicole crouched low, beside them.
The sound of a door creaking open echoed in the silent woods, and they all froze. Allie felt exposed – the others had found better hiding places. She’d thought they had more time.
Her heart pounding in her ears, she looked around for more cover but it was too late; if she moved now they might be seen.
There was nothing else to do – so she stood very still. And tried not to breathe.
TWENTY
T
he two guards made no effort to be quiet. As they emerged from the cottage, Allie could hear their voices clearly across the distance. One of them barked a laugh and it echoed in the quiet like a gunshot.
Next to her, Carter stood watching them with fierce concentration, as if he were willing them to leave. In their hiding place nearby, Nicole had a hand on Rachel’s arm. Allie was relieved to see that Rachel’s dark eyes were alert and interested – she didn’t look afraid.
It seemed to take a lifetime for them to make their way down the footpath. When the guards disappeared into the trees, Allie inhaled deeply and felt the muscles in her shoulders relax.
Somewhere in the distance an owl hooted.
Emerging from her hiding place, Zoe sped silently to Sylvain’s side. After whispering something to him she took off into the forest.